Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements

Abstract Purpose The study evaluates and provides an overview of the nutritional importance of 19 selected food wastes as aids in human/livestock/soil/plant health. Methods Nitric acid-digested extracts of food wastes belonging to four different classes (fruits, vegetables, oilseeds and beverages) w...

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Main Authors: Saranya Kuppusamy, Kadiyala Venkateswarlu, Mallavarapu Megharaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2017-10-01
Series:International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0178-2
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author Saranya Kuppusamy
Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
Mallavarapu Megharaj
author_facet Saranya Kuppusamy
Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
Mallavarapu Megharaj
author_sort Saranya Kuppusamy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose The study evaluates and provides an overview of the nutritional importance of 19 selected food wastes as aids in human/livestock/soil/plant health. Methods Nitric acid-digested extracts of food wastes belonging to four different classes (fruits, vegetables, oilseeds and beverages) were analysed for different elements in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Results Our study recommends spent coffee grounds, tea leaves, radish peel, watermelon rind and pineapple skin that contain substantially high concentrations of essential elements such as N, P, K, S and Fe for their use as: (a) substrates for composting, (b) biofertilizers, (c) soil amendments, and (d) bioadsorbents of toxins. Although these food wastes are rich in essential nutrients, we do not suggest them for the preparation of food supplements as they contain non-essential elements in concentrations beyond the human safety limits. However, food wastes like banana peel, plum pomace and pistachio shell that contain low and permissible concentrations of toxic elements can be recommended as dietary supplements for oral intake in spite of their lesser essential elemental composition than the other residues examined. Conclusions Our study confirms that food wastes are rich sources of essential nutrients and there is need to harness their real industrial systems.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2195-3228
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language English
publishDate 2017-10-01
publisher OICC Press
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series International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-a34699407b7b472c8687abe1011015c52025-01-02T22:59:02ZengOICC PressInternational Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture2195-32282251-77152017-10-016436737310.1007/s40093-017-0178-2Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elementsSaranya Kuppusamy0Kadiyala Venkateswarlu1Mallavarapu Megharaj2Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National UniversityFormerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya UniversityCentre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South AustraliaAbstract Purpose The study evaluates and provides an overview of the nutritional importance of 19 selected food wastes as aids in human/livestock/soil/plant health. Methods Nitric acid-digested extracts of food wastes belonging to four different classes (fruits, vegetables, oilseeds and beverages) were analysed for different elements in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Results Our study recommends spent coffee grounds, tea leaves, radish peel, watermelon rind and pineapple skin that contain substantially high concentrations of essential elements such as N, P, K, S and Fe for their use as: (a) substrates for composting, (b) biofertilizers, (c) soil amendments, and (d) bioadsorbents of toxins. Although these food wastes are rich in essential nutrients, we do not suggest them for the preparation of food supplements as they contain non-essential elements in concentrations beyond the human safety limits. However, food wastes like banana peel, plum pomace and pistachio shell that contain low and permissible concentrations of toxic elements can be recommended as dietary supplements for oral intake in spite of their lesser essential elemental composition than the other residues examined. Conclusions Our study confirms that food wastes are rich sources of essential nutrients and there is need to harness their real industrial systems.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0178-2Food wastesNutrientsEssential elementsWaste management
spellingShingle Saranya Kuppusamy
Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
Mallavarapu Megharaj
Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Food wastes
Nutrients
Essential elements
Waste management
title Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
title_full Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
title_fullStr Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
title_short Evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
title_sort evaluation of nineteen food wastes for essential and toxic elements
topic Food wastes
Nutrients
Essential elements
Waste management
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0178-2
work_keys_str_mv AT saranyakuppusamy evaluationofnineteenfoodwastesforessentialandtoxicelements
AT kadiyalavenkateswarlu evaluationofnineteenfoodwastesforessentialandtoxicelements
AT mallavarapumegharaj evaluationofnineteenfoodwastesforessentialandtoxicelements