Quantification of inorganic constituents in Brazil nuts and their products by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

• Published in: Food science & technology Vol. 116; p. 108383
• Main Authors: Moraes de Brito, Robson Carlos, Pereira Junior, João Batista, Dantas, Kelly das Graças Fernandes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2019
• Subjects: Brazil nuts; ICP-OES; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; Nuts; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; Brazil nuts; Nuts; ICP-OES
• ISSN: 0023-6438; 1096-1127
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2019.108383

This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn in Brazil nuts and their products (almonds, cookies and oil), which are often consumed in Belém-PA. Samples were digested using diluted oxidant mixture in a microwave oven and macronutrients (Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Na and P) and micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn) were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Concentration ranges (μg g−1) of the selected elements were compared with those reported in other studies. The accuracy of the analytical procedure was evaluated using an addition and recovery study, and recoveries were within an acceptable range from 81 to 111%. The LOD and LOQ varied from 0.02 to 19.4 and 0.08–64.8 μg g−1, respectively. The results show large concentrations of macronutrients ranging from 142 to 6708 μg g−1. Micronutrient levels ranged from 0.1 to 151 μg g−1. The results indicated that there was a wide variation in levels of the studied elements depending on the type of sample.
•Analysis of inorganic constituents in Brazil nuts and their products by ICP-OES is developed.•Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn are determined in seven Brazil nuts samples.•The accuracy of the analytical procedure was evaluated using addition and recovery experiments.•The LOD and LOQ varied from 0.02 to 19.4 and 0.08–64.8 μg g−1, respectively.