Radiochim. Acta 2018; 106(6): 525–533 Mohammed Messaoudi*, Samir Begaa, Lylia Hamidatou, M’hamed Salhi, Hamza Ouakouak, Mohammed Mouzai and Aïcha Hassani Neutron activation analysis of major and trace elements in Arabica and Robusta coffee beans samples consumed in Algeria https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2017-2875 Received September 5, 2017; accepted November 16, 2017; published online February 8, 2018 Abstract: The Algerian neutron activation analysis labo- ratory is highly involved in nutrition applications in the framework of research activities using the Es-Salam research reactor. The main objective of this work is to con- tribute, by using nuclear analytical techniques, for study- ing a large number of natural food samples consumed in Algeria related to nutrition and human health. The pre- sent study focuses on the analysis of the most popular beans consumed worldwide, namely, the coffee species of Arabica and Robusta, based on the international mar- kets. Chemical content of samples was assessed by instru- mental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and k 0 -INAA techniques, through the irradiation of samples during 6 h at a thermal neutron flux of 4.5 × 10 13 cm −2 s −1 of Es-Salam research reactor. A total of 17 elements were assessed such as, (Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Zn, Lu and Th) obtained by using INAA and k 0 -INAA meth- ods, While we used the radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA and k 0 -RNAA) to determine Selenium at low level concentrations, the accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing CRM and SRM. QC/QA was evalu- ated by using the statistical parameter U-score. Results were compared with those obtained for samples from Brazilian, Caribbean, Indian and Kenyan coffee beans reported in the literature. The daily intake of essentials and toxic elements was determined and compared with the recommended values. The probable cumulative intake of toxic elements was found to be well below the tolerance limits. Keywords: Trace elements, coffee Arabica, coffee Robusta, Neutron activation analysis method, Algeria, human nutrition. 1 Introduction In recent years, many authors all across the world, reported several studies on the importance of elemental constituents of the plant food, seeds, herbal drug plants, fresh fruits and vegetables. Most of these studies concluded that essential metals can produce toxic effects when the metal intake is in high concentrations, whereas non-essential metals are toxic even in very low concentrations to human health [1–9]. Plant foods and beans can contribute significantly to human nutrition and health, because they contain almost all of the mineral and organic nutrients established as essential for human nutrition [10, 11]. The vast majority of trace element determinations in food and beverages are carried out because of their nutritive importance and toxic effects [1]. The word ‘coffee’ is probably derived from the former Kingdom of Kaffa (today part of Ethiopia), where coffee (Coffea sp.) was first cultivated in approximately the fifth to the eighth century [12]. Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world after water, with over 400 billion cups consumed yearly [13, 14], and it is one of the main products on the international markets, in association with oil, corn, sugar, and paper pulp [15, 16]. Today coffee is the most important food commodity worldwide and ranks second, after crude oil, among all commodi- ties [17]. Coffee species belong to the Rubiaceae family, i. e. coffee Arabica (∼75 % of the world’s production), coffee Canephora, also called Robusta (∼25 %) and coffee Liberica (<1 %) [18, 19]. The coffee Robusta is hardier and more robust, and also less susceptible to pest ravages and rough handling than Arabica coffee [20, 21]. The coffee Arabica beans are valued the most highly by the trade, *Corresponding author: Mohammed Messaoudi, Nuclear Research Centre of Birine, P.O. Box 180, Ain Oussera, 17200 Djelfa, Algeria; and Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), P.O. Box 92, Vieux-Kouba, 16308, Alger, Algeria, E-mail: messaoudi2006@yahoo.fr Samir Begaa, Lylia Hamidatou and M’hamed Salhi: Nuclear Research Centre of Birine, Ain Oussera, 17200 Djelfa, Algeria Hamza Ouakouak and Aïcha Hassani: Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Vieux-Kouba, 16308, Alger, Algeria Mohammed Mouzai: Nuclear Research Center of Draria CRND, COMENA, Algiers, Algeria Authenticated | messaoudi2006@Yahoo.fr author's copy Download Date | 10/7/18 4:37 PM