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Analysis of Minerals and Heavy Metals Using ICP-OES and FTIR Techniques in Two Red Seaweeds (Gymnogongrus griffithsiae and Asparagopsis taxiformis) from Tunisia

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Abstract

In this study, the mineral and heavy metals (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), and lead (Pb)) in two red Tunisian seaweeds Gymnogongrus griffithsiae (G. griffithsiae) and Asparagopsis taxiformis (A. taxiformis), were evaluated. Mineral and trace element analyses were achieved using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to predict the major functional groups that would be implicated in the seaweeds mineral uptake. Our results showed that the studied A. taxiformis species had much higher mineral and heavy metal concentrations than G. griffithsiae. Na (200.60 mg/kg) was the most abundant element followed by K (137.84 mg/kg) > P (35.93 mg/kg) for A. taxiformis species. However, only Na (165.23 mg/kg) and P (51.19 mg/kg) were detected in G. griffithsiae alga. As regards heavy and toxic metals, allowable concentrations have been found in both seaweeds. The concentration ranges for the most undesirable heavy metals were as follows: Pb (0.39–0.51 mg/kg), As (0.11–0.40 mg/kg), Cd (0.01–0.02 mg/kg), and Hg (0.00–0.02 mg/kg). According to FTIR analysis, the major functional groups present in the studied seaweeds were carboxyl, hydroxyl, sulfate, and phosphate groups that are considered as excellent binding sites for metal retention.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Pr. Habib Langar, specialist in marine and algal taxonomy at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST, Tunisia) for his precious help in the identification of seaweed species, and Ing. Sabiha Bachwell Sellami, Principal Engineer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries (Tunisia) for her help in conducting ICP-OES analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Higher School of Food Industries of Tunis (ESIAT), University of Carthage, 58 Avenue Alain Savary, 1003, Tunis El Khadra, Tunisia

    Aida Selmi, Ramla Khiari, Ahmed Snoussi & Nabiha Bouzouita

  2. Laboratory of Organic and Structural Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST) El Manar, Campus Universitaire El-Manar, 2092, El Manar Tunis, Tunisia

    Aida Selmi, Ahmed Snoussi & Nabiha Bouzouita

  3. Laboratory of Wind Energy Management and Waste Energy Recovery, Research and Technology Center of Energy (CRTEn), B.P. N°95, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Ramla Khiari

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  1. Aida Selmi
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Selmi, A., Khiari, R., Snoussi, A. et al. Analysis of Minerals and Heavy Metals Using ICP-OES and FTIR Techniques in Two Red Seaweeds (Gymnogongrus griffithsiae and Asparagopsis taxiformis) from Tunisia. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 2342–2350 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02335-0

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