Mineral composition of fruit by-products evaluated by neutron activation analysis

Author(s)

de Matuoka e Chiocchetti, Gabriela ^[1] ; De Nadai Fernandes, Elisabete A. ^[1] ; Bacchi, Marcio Arruda ^[1] ; Pazim, Rogerio Augusto ^[1] ; Vicino Sarries, Silvana Regina ^[1] ; Tome, Thais Melega ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Radioisotopos LRi, CENA, BR-13416000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; v. 297, n. 3, p. 399-404, SEP 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Brazil is one of the largest producers of fruits cropping 40 million tons per year. In agro-food processing, approximately 50 % of raw material is discarded generating large amounts of by-products. The lack of information on the nutritional quality of agroindustrial by-products precludes their potential use in the manufacture of food products accessible to all. In this context, the objective of this work was to investigate the nutritional quality of by-products of the industrial processing of fruits. Samples of bagasse, peel and seeds of several fruits (banana, camu camu, coconut, cupua double dagger u, guava, jackfruit, mango, orange, papaya, pineapple, and soursop) were analysed by neutron activation analysis for the determination of Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sc and Zn. In general, higher levels of minerals were found in the by-products rather than in the pulps of fruits. This indicates that the use of the by-products should be encouraged, thereby reducing the economic and environmental impact of waste generated by agroindustrial processing. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/14566-8 - Potential use of agroindustrial byproducts in food: a study of nutrient availability
• Grantee: Gabriela de Matuoka e Chiocchetti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master