Abstract
This study evaluated the quantitation of synthetic phenolic antioxidants and trace
elements in virgin palm oil. A Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid
Chromatography coupled with Ultra Violet Visible detection spectrophotometry was
employed for the analysis of synthetic antioxidants. The synthetic antioxidants studied
were Butylatedhydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT), 2-ethylhexyl
4 methoxycinnamate (EEMC) and Propyl gallate (PG). A proposed ICP-OES using oilwater micro emulsion as sample preparation method was used for metallic element
analysis because it is not only reproducible, accurate and reliable but also convenient
because it provided a sample extraction capable of breaking down the complex matrix
in virgin palm oil. The limits of detection for BHA, BHT, EEMC and PG were found
to be 0.041, 0.057, 0.06 and 0.03 mg/L respectively while the limits of quantification
values were 0.56, 0.49, 0.05 and 0.04 mg/L respectively. None of the synthetic
antioxidants was detected in the samples studied. This was an indication that local
farmers probably preserved the oil samples prior to storage by traditional methods. The
elemental analysis of virgin palm oil is necessary to decide if the oil is suitable for food,
fuel or raw materials for the chemical industry. The concentrations of metallic elements
found in the oil samples analysed in this study ranged between 0.006 mg/kg in Ubiaja
plantation and 161.576 mg/kg in Benin City plantation respectively. Tin recorded high
concentration in Benin City plantation and Pb a low concentration in Ubiaja plantation.
The concentrations of metallic elements were rather high in most samples hence the oil
is best suitable for use as raw material for the chemical industry. It can therefore be
concluded that the level of environmental pollution on the plantation be eradicated or
reduced to the barest minimum to improve the quality of the virgin palm oil for human
consumption.
Oladunni Bola Olafisoye, Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju, Otolorin Adelaja Osibote. (2020) Synthetic antioxidants and metallic elements as additives/contaminants in virgin palm oil , Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 8, Issue 2.
-
Views
778 -
Downloads
71
Article Details
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
