Concentration of Cr, Fe, Co and Zn in some Nigerian food grains

Abstract

Elemental analysis of some Nigerian grains for cobalt, zinc, iron, and chromium, was done by thermal NAA. The concentration of these essential trace elements were found as follows: rice /0.18–0.98 ppm Cr, 27–307 ppm Fe, 0.133–0.237 ppm Co, 12.4–17.8 ppm Zn/; soyabean /0.32–0.59 ppm Cr, 67–81 ppm Fe, 0.244–0.358 ppm Co, 42–45 ppm Zn/; maize /0.05–0.75 ppm Cr, 22.7–47.6 ppm Fe, 0.20–0.65 ppm Co, 15.8–33.4 ppm Zn/; ground-nut /0.22–2.02 ppm Cr, 27.2–34.8 ppm Fe, 0.08–1.73 ppm Co, 24.3–38.2 ppm Zn/. No pattern was established for the elemental concentration in the grain samples. The result obtained suggest that an average diet of these grains will provide an adequate concentration of these essential elements.