Determinação de teores de metais em diferentes tipos de água de coco

Abstract

Coconut water is considered a natural isotonic drink, it has nutritional, energetic and therapeutic properties, due to the presence of mineral elements in its chemical composition. Traditionally, in coastal regions the drink is consumed directly in the fruit. But factors like; market expansion; transport; storage and shelf life, coconut water has been subjected to appropriate conservation processes. Such procedures aim to increase the shelf life and maintain the original sensory characteristics, as well as the chemical composition of the natural product. In Brazil, industrialized coconut water is classified as: whole; standardized; reconstituted; dehydrated and concentrated. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the levels of mineral elements, calcium (Ca); sodium (Na); magnesium (Mg); manganese (Mn); iron (Fe) and potassium (K), in five samples of coconut water; one in natura and four processed (two integral and two reconstituted), by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (EAA). The levels found were analyzed according to data from the literature, norms and decrees. In all samples the metals of interest were detected. The results showed that sample C of the integral type was the one that presented the greatest conformity with the values found in the literature for in natura coconut water. In three samples, higher levels of Na and K were detected, possibly from additives. Ca and Mg varied within the range, while F and Mn in low concentration. Only one sample showed K concentration above the limit allowed by law. All processed samples showed Na and K contents different from those declared on the nutritional label, with a possible consequence of the difficulty of nutritional control and impacts on the health of the consumer.