Heavy Metal Analysis and Physical-Chemical Characteristics of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Seed Oil from Rajasthan's Arid Zone

Abstract

We therein analyzed the physical and chemical conditions, nature of fatty acids, and concentration of heavy metals (ppm) in Cyamopsis tetragonoloba seed oil of dry area, Rajasthan. The level of heavy metals was determined by MP-AES. The identified metals were in that order (by abundance in the seed oil) Zn 26.15 ppm, Pb 0.49 ppm, Ni 0.15 ppm, Cu 0.17 ppm, As 0.80 ppm, Cd 0.03 ppm and Cr 0.19 ppm.

The physical and chemical features of the oil were studied. Based on the fundamental analysis, it contained 32.00 percent of oil. The fatty acids composition in the oil was ascertained via HPLC. The proportions of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 42.68, 12.38, and 44. 93, respectively.

The most prevalent fatty acid was linoleic acid of 25.56%, then linolenic acid 19.37%, palmitic acid 16.32%, oleic acid 12.04%, myristic acid 9.46% and lauric acid 9.52%. Palmitoleic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid were also found in small amounts,0.34%, 4.02% and 3.36%, repectively.