Metal Content and Physicochemical Parameters Used as Quality Criteria in Virgin Argan Oil: Influence of the Extraction Method

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 56; no. 16; pp. 7279 - 7284
• Main Authors: Marfil, Rocio, Cabrera-Vique, Carmen, Giménez, Rafael, Bouzas, Paula R, Martínez, Olga, Sánchez, Jose Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 27-08-2008
• Subjects: acidity; adulterated products; argan oil; Argania spinosa; Biological and medical sciences; chemical composition; Chemical Composition of Foods/Feeds; chemical constituents of plants; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; chromium; Chromium - analysis; copper; Copper - analysis; ETA-AAS; extraction; Fat industries; food composition; Food industries; food processing quality; Fruit - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insoluble sludges; iron; Iron - analysis; lead; Lead - analysis; magnesium; Manganese - analysis; metal content; metal ions; Metals - analysis; peroxide index; peroxides; physicochemical properties; plant fats and oils; Plant Oils - chemistry; product quality; Sapotaceae - chemistry; solids; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; traditional technology; Virgin argan oil; volatile compounds; water content; Morocco; Argania spinosa; metal content; Virgin argan oil; ETA-AAS; metal content; Quality; Use; Argania spinosa; Extraction oil; Metal; Method; Edible oil; Virgin oil
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf801002w

Metal content was determined in 26 samples of virgin argan oil from Morocco. An ETA-AAS with previous sample dilution with MIBK technique was used. In oil obtained by traditional method, Fe ranged from 0.8 to 4.0 mg/kg, Cu from 160.4 to 695.7 μg/kg, Cr from 10.3 to 55.3 μg/kg, Mn from 18.1 to 70.8 μg/kg, and Pb from 28.5 to 450.0 μg/kg. In oil obtained by a half-industrialized method, Fe ranged from 0.8 to 1.7 mg/kg, Cu from 158.4 to 385.0 μg/kg, Cr from 10.0 to 48.1 μg/kg, Mn from 15.0 to 68.5 μg/kg, and Pb from 32.0 to 100.0 μg/kg. Acidity value, peroxide index, K 270 and K 232, humidity and sludge volatile, and insoluble sludges in petroleum ether were also determined. A high variability in these quality parameters and a decrease of the quality in the oils obtained by the traditional method were observed.