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MITIGATION OF CADMIUM CONCENTRATION IN COCOA KERNELS

Abstract:

Cadmium is a toxic metal for plants, animals and man; its presence in the soil can be of anthropogenic or geogenic origin. This study evaluated a method to mitigate cadmium concentration in cocoa beans through a fast fermentation process using the enzyme pectintranseliminase (PTE). The research was carried out in Quevedo-Ecuador with samples acquired by the APROCANE association of the province of Esmeraldas and analyzed in parallel at the State Technical University of Quevedo and ESPOL. The experimental analysis focused on a completely randomized design, with eleven treatments and three replicates. The analysis of variance and separation of means was carried out with Tukey’s test at 5%. Fifteen healthy cocoa pods at maturity were used as a sample. After applying the PTE enzyme, pre-drying, washing, drying and recording variables according to each treatment were carried out. The results showed that the cadmium content in the beans was significantly reduced (p > 0.05) when PTE was applied. National cocoa showed lower cadmium content in the T6 treatment (1.07) (complete washing and sieve drying). In CCN-51 cocoa, the lowest level of cadmium was observed in treatment T9 (1.51) (complete washing and drying for 24 hours on a cement sieve). Concerning the control, the commercial cocoa showed the lowest levels compared to the other treatments, which could be related to the process to which it was subjected, treatments and remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals. It should be noted that the use of the PTE enzyme had a positive effect on the physical and sensory quality of the cocoa beans and the mitigation of cadmium in the cocoa beans.