Determination of Trace Elements in Some Macro/Micro Algae Samples by Inductive Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

This study investigated the elemental composition of seven macro/micro algae species collected from Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The algae samples were prepared using a microwave digestion protocol and analyzed for major and trace elements. The dominant elements across all species were sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (p), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) with Na concentrations ranging from 432885.22±39056.18 to 1232879.58±21924.43 µg/kg. Trace elements such as Mg, Al, Li, Be, Cd, and Sb were present at much lower levels or below detection limits. Notably, Ni concentrations in Aphanizomenon floş-aquae (258.57±11.12 µg/kg) and Cladophora glomerata (273.44±14.58 µg/kg) and Na in Dunaliella salina (462320.32±2032.57 µg/kg) exceeded the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acceptable limits (Ni: 571±28 µg/kg; Na: 680000±23000 µg/kg). The concentrations of Ca, K, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were within IAEA-defined safety thresholds. These results suggest that most of the studied algal species are rich in essential nutrients and exhibit low levels of toxic metals supporting their potential as functional biological resources in food or pharmaceutical applications.