Determination of Selected Essential Metals in Wheat Triticum Aestivum Samples Collected from Shiretigray Ethiopia Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
| dc.contributor.advisor | Merid Tessema | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ashebrom Beletew | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-09-23T08:55:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-09-23T08:55:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In this study, the concentrations of essential metals, copper, iron, zinc, and magnesium were determined in wheat grain samples collected from the local market in Shire, Ethiopia, using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sample preparation involved washing, drying, grinding, sieving, and digestion with a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid under optimized conditions (15 ml acid mixture, 250°C, 3 hrs.). The average concentrations of Cu (7.72 ppm), Fe (43.27 ppm), Zn (28.43 ppm), and Mg (436.56 ppm) were assessed against permissible limits set by the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and literature values. The concentrations of copper and magnesium were found to be well below both WFP and FAO limits, and aligned with literature values, indicating no risk of toxicity. Zinc concentration was slightly below the maximum permissible levels and consistent with typical literature ranges, suggesting adequate dietary contribution. However, the iron concentration exceeded the WFP permissible limit of 40 ppm, though it remained within the FAO upper limit of 50 ppm. This elevated level may reflect iron-rich soil or agricultural practices, and it raises potential concerns for individuals with iron metabolism disorders. Recovery studies yielded acceptable values—79.4% for Cu, 85.1% for Fe, 115.4% for Zn, and 112.18% for Mg—thereby confirming the reliability of the analytical method. Overall, the study concludes that wheat grains contain safe and nutritionally beneficial levels of Fe, Zn, and Mg. However, the borderline recovery observed for Cu, while potentially acceptable at lower concentration levels, indicates that further validation or method optimization may be necessary. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9035 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Wheat Triticumaestivum Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry | |
| dc.title | Determination of Selected Essential Metals in Wheat Triticum Aestivum Samples Collected from Shiretigray Ethiopia Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy | |
| dc.type | Thesis |