Abstract
The levels of selected essential and non-essential metals in the white, red, and mixed teff grains collected from Bure, Debre Markos and Bahir Dar (Ethiopia) were determined by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). After proper sample pretreatment, the powdered teff was wet digested with the acid mixture (5 mL HNO3:1 mL HClO4) at 240 oC for 2:30 h over Kjeldhal digestion block. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was evaluated by analyzing the digest of the spiked samples with a standard solution of metals, and the percentage recoveries varied from 92% to 104%. The mean concentrations of metals determined (mg/kg, dry weight) were in the ranges of Al (713-1513) > Fe (252-1195) > Ca (233-348) > Zn (69-102) > Mn (20-45) > Cu (13-15) > Pb (1.8-2.8) > Cd (0.8-1.8). In this study, Al and Cd were determined in the teff for the first time. Analysis of variance indicated no significant difference between the mean concentrations of Cu and Mn among the white teff samples, Mn among the red teff samples and Cd and Pb among the mixed teff samples, but there was a significant difference for the other studied metals among the corresponding teff samples at 95% confidence level.
 
 KEY WORDS: Teff grain, Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter, Essential metals, Non-essential metals, Ethiopia
 
 Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2020, 34(3), 449-462.
 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v34i3.2
Highlights
Teff [Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter] is one of the major and indigenous cereal crops in Ethiopia, where it was originated [1]
An efficient digestion procedure for the determination of metals in the teff grain samples was optimized and validated through spiking method and a good percentage recovery was obtained for the metals of interest
The mean concentration levels of the metals in the three varieties of teff samples collected from the three sampling areas indicated that higher concentrations of Al and Fe were found in the white teff samples collected from Bure sampling area
Summary
Teff [Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter] is one of the major and indigenous cereal crops in Ethiopia, where it was originated [1]. It is considered a low-risk crop from the perspectives that it can be cultivated in a broad range of ecological surroundings and under tough environmental conditions. Teff can grow in altitudes ranging from sea level to 2800 meters above sea level under different moisture, soil, temperature, and rainfall regimes It grows in dry as well as water-logged soils, can tolerate anoxic situations better than maize, wheat, and sorghum and is resistant to many pests and diseases [2]. Teff is the dominant cereal by area coverage and second only to maize in production and consumption [3]
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