Abstract
A preliminary study was conducted to classify brown rice by geographical origin using trace element concentrations. Twenty-six types of rice from 23 different prefectures were digested in nitric acid under microwave irradiation. The digests were then analysed for their trace element contents using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for 23 analytes, and the geographical features were observed in the concentrations of 18 analytes. The data obtained from these results were then analysed using SPSS, a statistical software package. Cluster analysis indicated that the composition of 5 analytes, Mg, Co, Ni, Te, and Au, represents the geographical origin of rice, such as the Tohkai-area, Kanto-Koshin-area and Kyushu-areas.
