Quantitative Determination of Minerals and Toxic Elements Content in Tropical and Subtropical Fruits by Microwave-Assisted Digestion and ICP-OES

In the presented study, 15 tropical and subtropical fruits were studied for their mineral composition ranging from trace to major elements by ICP-OES after microwave digestion. The moisture amounts were assigned to be between 21.90 (tamarind) and 95.66% (pepino). The differences between the macroelement quantities of the fruits were established to be statistically significant (p<0.01). P and K quantities of fruits were displayed to be between 53.40 (pepino) and 927.74 mg/kg (tamarind) to 720.27 (pepino) and 13441.12 mg/kg (tamarind), respectively. While Ca quantities of fruits vary between 123.71 (pineapple) and 1519.76 mg/kg (blood orange), Mg quantities of fruits were established to be between 78.66 (pepino) and 875.02 mg/kg (tamarind). In general, the lowest macroelement quantities were determined in pepino fruit, but the highest P and K contents were determined in Gooseberry and Tamarind fruits, respectively. The microelement amounts of the fruits were established to be at very low levels compared to the macroelement contents. In general, the most abundant element in fruits was Fe, followed by Zn, Cu, Mn and B in decreasing order. In general, heavy metal quantities of fruits were detected at very low levels (except As and Ba). As and Ba quantities of fruits were assigned to be between 0.972 μg/g (mandarin) and 5.86 (kiwi) to 0.103 (pineapple) and 4.08 (avocado), respectively. As with macro and microelements, results regarding heavy metal concentrations varied depending on fruit types.