Browsing by Author "Corregidor, Victoria"
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- Castanea sativa shells and fruits: Compositional analysis by proton induced X-ray emissionPublication . Corregidor, Victoria; Antonio, Amilcar L.; Alves, Luís C.; Cabo Verde, SandraChestnut fruits, from Castanea sativa Miller species, have been previously characterized mainly to study the nutritional and biochemical parameters, with mineral contents receiving less attention from the researchers, although these minerals are essential for several mechanisms in human body. In this study, a detailed elemental compositional analysis was performed using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) to characterize two varieties of Castanea sativa Miller chestnuts (Longal and Judia). This study comprises the composition of the outer shells (pericarp), inner shells (episperm) and the edible fruits. From our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of up to 20 elements on the shells and the fruits are reported. Furthermore, by PIXE it was possible to quantify them, allowing significant improvements in the assessment of chestnuts composition. Essential and nonessential elements were quantified on a food item that is used mainly for human consumption but it is also incorporated in animal feeding.
- A Física aplicada à qualidade alimentar: identificação de metais por “pixe” em castanhasPublication . Antonio, Amilcar L.; Corregidor, Victoria; Alves, Luís C.; Santos, Pedro M.P.; Teubig, Pamela; Galaviz, Daniel; Cabo Verde, SandraA concentração na castanha de minerais como o cálcio, potássio, o magnésio e outros tem sido estudada tradicionalmente por absorção atómica ou por espectrofotometria de UV-VIS [1-2]. Neste trabalho foi estudada a composição elementar de duas variedades (Longal e Judia) de castanha europeia (Castanea sativa Mill.) com a técnica PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Emission). Os resultados preliminares mostram que a composição difere de acordo com a variedade, nos elementos maioritários e nos minoritários. Este estudo é parte de um projecto mais amplo, que visa avaliar o efeito do processamento pós-colheita de alimentos com feixe de electrões e raios-X.
- Heavy elements in chestnutsPublication . Corregidor, Victoria; Alves, Luís C.; Santos, Pedro M.P.; Teubig, Pamela; Galaviz, Daniel; Antonio, Amilcar L.; Cabo Verde, SandraChestnut fruit (CasChestnuts, Castanea sativa, heavy elements, PIXEtanea sativa Miller) are an important food resource in several countries. Portugal is the third largest European producer, with an average production of 25 thousand tons [1], being mainly produced in the North region of Trás-os-Montes. Earlier studies on chestnuts elemental composition were performed by atomic absorption to detect Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn or by UV-VIS spectrophotometry to detect P [2-3]. In this work the elemental composition of two cultivars (Longal and Judia) of Castanea sativa Miller were studied by means of PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Emission), using a broad proton beam at CTN-IST, Lisbon. Element identification (from Si to Pb) and quantification (following the method described in [4]) was done. Preliminary results show different composition according with the cultivar, not only in the major and minor elements (as it is described in the bibliography) but also in the trace elements, which includes the presence of Pb and other heavy elements. These preliminary results are part of a wider project that aims to evaluate chestnut fruits decontamination treatment with high energy electron beam and X-rays technology.