Seasonal concentrations of eight total and bioavailable heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb an Fe), along with some physico chemical properties of soil in vegetable farms around the rock quarry in Durumi, Abuja was assessed to know the level of heavy metal pollution of the soil. Control and actual soil samples were collected from depths of 0.0 -5.0cm and 5.0 - 10.0cm during dry and rainy seasons. Heavy metal concentrations varied inconsistently in samples and control. Dry season levels of Zn(5.20mg/kg), Mn(19.44mg/kg), Ni(1.69mg/kg) and Pb(4.56mg/kg) and rainy season levels of Zn (0.26mg/kg), Pb(22.53mg/kg) at soil depth of 0.0 - 5.0cm, and dry season levels of Zn(1.19mgkg) and Ni(1.62mg/kg) along with rainy season levels of Cr (0.44mg/kg), Cd (0.06mg/kg), Zn(0.09mg/kg) and Fe(6.74mg/kg) at soil depth of 5.0 -10.0cm were all higher in samples than controls. However, seasonal mean total heavy metals in the soil samples were lower than the Maximum Allowable Limits (mg/Kg) for World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). During dry season, heavy metals that indicated anthropogenic content, had anthropogenic levels that ranged in the order: Cd(16.67%) < Cu(54.17%)
Modification processes can change the physicochemical and structural properties of native starch, thereby increasing its industrial applications. Finger millet starch (FMS) was modified with casava starch (CS), guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG) modifiers at the ratios of 95:5%, 90:10%, 80:20% and 75: 25%, for each of the modifier. The proximate and mineral compositions of the modified starch were determined using standard methods. Atomic absorption spectrometry method was used to quantify the mineral contents of the modified starch. Proximate contents of the modified FMS starch varied according to the type of the modifier and FMS/modifier ratios. Concentrations of carbohydrate in CS (66.97±0.03%), GG (64.42±0.05%) and XG (64.64 ± 0.01%) FMS modified starches were highest at 10%, 25% and 5% of the modifier contents repectively. The highest levels of fat in GG (8.91±0.02%), XG (7.89±0.01) and ash (3.55±0.02%) in CS modified starches were recorded when the quantity of the modifiers were increased to 25%. Fatty acid levels in the modified starches varied in the order of XG (7.74±0.03%) at 20% > GG (7.13±0.02%) at 25% > CS (5.14±0.20%) at 10%. At 25% modifier contents, levels of mineral element were highest in the modified CS and GG starches. Modifications decreased Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu contents, while the concentrations Na, K, Ca and P increased. The modified starches can be used for production of some foods for specific health purposes.
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