ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to determine the macro elements (Ca, K, P, Mg, Na, N), micro elements (Zn, Fe, Al, Cu and Mn) and heavy metals (Pb, Ni, As, Cd and Cr) in oranges, pawpaw and pineapples artificially ripened with different amounts of calcium carbide (0g/5kg, 10g/5kg, 20g/5kg, 30g/5kg) in Umudike, Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State. The samples were digested using the wet acid multiple Nutrient Digestion Method, heavy metals were determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. It was found that Ca (30.37%) Pb (10.52 mg/kg), Mg (3.80 %), P (1.89 %) were the predominant elements in calcium carbide. The fruits treated with 30g/5kg calcium carbide/fruit were quicker to ripen, 2 days (48 hours) for pawpaw, 6 days (144 hours) for oranges and 7 days (168 hours) for the pineapples. The concentration of macro elements as Ca, Mg, K, P and Na, micro elements as Zn, Cu, and Mn, and all the heavy metals ( Pb, Ni, As,Cr and Cd,) increased with increased amount of calcium carbide applied while N, Fe and Al decreased. The results of macro mineral in the artificially ripened fruits obtained showed highest concentration of Ca in pineapple at 30g/5kg (8.40%), K in pawpaw at control (0.62%), Na in pineapples at 30g/5kg(0.60 %), P in pineapples at 30g/5kg (1.42%) and N in unripe oranges (0.98 %). For the micro minerals, data obtained showed highest value for Zn in unripe oranges (4.44mg/kg), Cu in 30g/5kg pineapples (0.26 mg/kg), Fe in the unripe pawpaw (60.15mg/kg), Mn in pawpaw at 30g/5kg (2.86 mg/kg) and Al in pineapples at control (0.35 mg/kg). While for the heavy metals, data obtained showed highest value for Pb in 30g/5kg pawpaw (0.56mg/kg), Ni in 30g/5kg oranges (0.67 mg/kg), As in the 30g/5kg oranges (0.55mg/kg), Cr in the unripe oranges (0.12 mg/kg) and Cd in the 30g/5kg pineapples (0.16 mg/kg). The application of calcium carbide showed significant difference on the heavy metal, macro and micro minerals in the treated fruits at p<0.05.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv Acknowledgements v
Table of contents vi
List of tables ix
List of figures x
List of plates xi
List of Appendix xii
Abstract xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 5
1.3 Justification of the Study
6
1.4 Aim and Objectives 7
1.5 Significance of the Study
7
1.6 The Scope of the Study
8
1.7 Definition of Terms
8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Fruits and Human Health 9
2.2 Health Benefits of Some Common Fruits in
Nigeria. 10
2.
3 Mineral Elements and Heavy Metals in
Fruits. 11
2.4 Macro Minerals, Health Benefits, Deficiencies
and Risks 13
2.5 Micro minerals Health Benefits, Deficiencies and
Risks 15
2.6 Heavy Metals and their Toxicity 18
2.7 Fruit Ripening
20
2.8 Calcium
Carbide for Fruit Ripening 21
2.9 Other
Chemical Agents used in Artificial Ripening of fruits. 22
2.10
Possible Health Hazards Associated with Calcium
carbide
as Fruits Ripening Agent. 23
2.11 National
and International Laws and Legislatives 25
2.12 Critical
Analysis on Fruit Quality and Nutritional Values
26
2.13 The
Right Fruits to Consume 27
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study
Area 29
3.2 Methods 32
3.2.1 Fruits Samples and Calcium Carbide Samples Collection.
32
3.2.2
Fruits Samples Preparation 32
3.2.3 Application
of Calcium Carbide to the Selected Fruits 32
3.2.4
Ripening Process 33
3.2.5 Calcium Carbide
Sample Preparation and Digestion by
Wet-Acid
Digestion Method 34
3.2.6 Fruits Samples
Digestion by Wet -Acid Multiple Nutrient
Digestion
Method 34
3.2.7 Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) Determinations of the
Sample Digests 35
3.2.8 Potassium
and Sodium Determination using the
Flame
Photometric Method 35
3.2.9 Heavy Metal
Determination by the Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer 35
3.2.10. Phosphorus
Determination by Vanado Molydbate Yellow Method 36
3.3 Standards 36
3.4
Quality Assurance.
36
3.5 Experimental
Design and Statistical Data Analysis 37
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS
4.1: The Chemical Characteristics of the Calcium Carbide
(CaC2) used for
Ripening of the Selected Fruits. 39
4.2: Ripening
Time and Shelf Life of Artificially Ripened Oranges, Pawpaw
and Pineapples
with Calcium Carbide at Different Inclusion Levels. 41
4.3:
Macro Elements Levels in the Selected Fruits before and
after Application
of Calcium Carbide. 43
4.4: Micro Elements Levels in the Selected Fruits before and after Application
of Calcium Carbide. 46
4.5: Heavy
Metals’ Levels in the Selected Fruits before and after Application
of Calcium Carbide. 49
CHAPTER 5.
5.1:
Discussion 52
5.2 : Conclusion 56
5.3: Recommendation 57
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
LIST OF TABLES
3.1: Showing
the 1-7 Scale Common in the Fruit Industry 33
4.1: Mean
± SD: The Chemical Characteristics of the Calcium
Carbide (Cac2) used for Ripening of the Selected Fruits. 40
4.2: Ripening Time of Artificially Ripened Fruits
at Different
Inclusion
Levels. 42
4.3: Mean of Macro Minerals Levels in the
Fruits Samples before
and
after Application of Different Levels of Calcium Carbide 45
4.4: Mean of Micro Minerals Levels in the
Fruits Samples before
and
after Application of Different Levels of Calcium Carbide. 48
4.5:
Mean of
Heavy Metals levels in the Fruits Samples before
and
after Application of Different Levels of Calcium Carbide. 51
LIST OF FIGURE
1. Map
Showing Umudike, the Study Area 31
5: Ananas comosus (pineapples) before Ripening. 38
Plate 6: Ananas comosus (pineapples) after Ripening 38
Plate 7:
Rocky Calcium Carbide. 38
Plate 8:
Crushed Calcium Carbide 38
LIST OD APPENDICES
1a: Profile Plot Showing Ca (%) in the Selected
Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
1b. Profile Plot Showing Mg (%) in the
Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application
1c. Profile Plot Showing K (%) in the Selected
Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application
1d. Profile Plot Showing P (%) in the Selected
Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application
1e. Profile Plot Showing Na (%) in the Selected
Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
1f. Profile Plot Showing N (%) in the Selected
Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
2a. Profile
Plot Showing Zn (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before
and after CaC2
Application
2b. Profile
Plot Showing Cu (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
2c. Profile
Plot Showing Fe (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
2d. Profile
Plot Showing Mn (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
2e.
Profile Plot Showing Al (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
3a.
Profile Plot Showing Pb (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application.
3b. Profile
Plot Showing Ni (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before
and after CaC2 Application.
3c. Profile
Plot Showing As (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before
and after CaC2
Application.
3d. Profile
Plot Showing Cr (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before
and after CaC2
Application.
3e. Profile
Plot Showing Cd (mg/kg) in the Selected Fruits before and
after CaC2 Application
DIKE, D (2023). Effects Of Calcium Carbide As A Ripening Agent On Heavy Metals, Macro And Micro Minerals In Selected Fruits In Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Dec 25, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-a-ripening-agent-on-heavy-metals-macro-and-micro-minerals-in-selected-fruits-in-ikwuano-lga-abia-state-7-2
DIKE, DIKE. "Effects Of Calcium Carbide As A Ripening Agent On Heavy Metals, Macro And Micro Minerals In Selected Fruits In Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 20 Jul. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-a-ripening-agent-on-heavy-metals-macro-and-micro-minerals-in-selected-fruits-in-ikwuano-lga-abia-state-7-2. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
DIKE, DIKE. "Effects Of Calcium Carbide As A Ripening Agent On Heavy Metals, Macro And Micro Minerals In Selected Fruits In Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 20 Jul. 2023. Web. 25 Dec. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-a-ripening-agent-on-heavy-metals-macro-and-micro-minerals-in-selected-fruits-in-ikwuano-lga-abia-state-7-2 >.
DIKE, DIKE. "Effects Of Calcium Carbide As A Ripening Agent On Heavy Metals, Macro And Micro Minerals In Selected Fruits In Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State" Mouau.afribary.org (2023). Accessed 25 Dec. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-a-ripening-agent-on-heavy-metals-macro-and-micro-minerals-in-selected-fruits-in-ikwuano-lga-abia-state-7-2