Mineral Composition of Date Palm Fruit and Pit by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Abstract

The mineral composition of date palm available in Peshawar, Pakistan has not been reported previously. The current study was therefore, undertaken to investigate the minerals composition of date palm fruit and pit. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.; Mashkeel variety) was obtained from a local market in Peshawar, Pakistan. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used for the determination of mineral metals. The important mineral metals determined in date palm fruit and pit was Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Ni2+, Si4+, Co2+, Fe3+, and Mo6+. However, Mo6+ was not detected in the date palm fruit while K+ was absent in the pit samples. Higher amount of these elements were recorded in both the samples. From the current findings, it is deduced that the date palm could be a rich source of essential mineral elements. The results were also compared with the data reported for the date palms grown in various countries of the world.