Mineral Analysis
Minerals are inorganic substances that occur naturally and any part of it has the characteristics of the whole, has a certain chemical formula, is generally in solid form, and is rarely found in liquid form. Depending on the development of technology, chemical compounds obtained synthetically in laboratories are not considered minerals. These artificial compounds are not natural and do not occur under natural conditions. These are called artificial minerals. They are not considered natural even though they have crystalline structures that are structurally similar to those of natural minerals.The most needed minerals in animal nutrition are salt, calcium and phosphorus. However, it is not possible to meet some minerals in natural feeds. Therefore, these minerals must be added to the feed. During the production of feeds, necessary salt and mineral additives are provided. In order to measure the minerals in the feed, mineral analysis is carried out in the laboratories.
Many laboratories offer different services on food analysis. Mineral analysis is one of these services. Mineral analyzes are carried out to detect heavy metals and mineral substances in food products.
Within the scope of mineral analysis, many different analyzes are made. A few of them can be counted as follows:
• Sodium determination
• Iron determination
• Calcium determination
• Nickel determination
• Lead determination
• Cadmium determination
• Arsenic determination
• Mercury determination
• Tin determination
• Determination of lead and cadmium in ceramic materials
Hemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in human blood, contains iron in its structure. Iron deficiency causes anemia in humans. Iron occurs naturally in a variety of foods. However, iron also enters the body from food dyes containing iron. It is harmful if taken in excess.
Copper also functions in the structure of some enzymes in the human body. The human body needs to take copper naturally. However, due to some agricultural or industrial applications, copper can be added to the structure of foods. When taken in excess, it causes various diseases.
Zinc plays a role in many metabolic events in the human body and adults need to consume a certain amount of zinc. Zinc is a component of many vitamin and mineral remedies. It is naturally found in meat products and nuts. Zinc passing into foods by unnatural means can cause poisoning.
Almost all of the metals listed and analyzed above are metals that are beneficial and not harmful to the human body when taken in certain proportions and naturally. However, the excess amount entering the human body due to both agricultural spraying and wrong practices causes poisoning and discomfort.
In this case, mineral analyzes are carried out in various laboratories in order to prevent the negative effects that may be encountered in case of missing or excess mineral substances in foodstuffs.
