Determination Of some mineral elements in fresh and smoked fish of Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis noliticus</i>) and catfish (<i>Clarius gariepinus</i>) from Ibaji, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Catfish (Clarius gariepinus) and Tilapia fish (Oreochromis noliticus) were examined for mineral elements. Four of the mineral elements (Ca, Cu, Mn and Zn) were determined using a computer controlled solar 969 spectrophotometer while sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometry. The level of mineral elements in dry tilapia fish assayed Ca (16.2±1.3 mg/kg), Cu (4.89 ±0.53 mg/kg), Zn (2.39±0.42 mg/g) and Mn (11.7±0.7 mg/kg). These were higher than the level in fresh Tilapia fish which assayed Ca (18.1±7.3mg/kg), Cu (3.83±0.12 mg/kg), Zn (1.07±0.11 mg/kg) and Mn  (2.05±0.04 mg/kg). In the same way, the level of mineral elements in dry catfish assayed Ca (53.6±1.5 mg/kg), Cu (5.81±0.16 mg/kg), Zn (2.77±0.02 mg/kg) and Mn (3.70± mg/kg) were found to be higher than the level in the fresh sample which assayed Ca (23.9±4.3 mg/kg) Cu (4.59±0.08 mg/kg) and Zn (1.70±0.11 mg/kg), manganese in fresh catfish was below detection limit. The total solids, total ash, water soluble ash and acid soluble ash were also determined.

Key words: Mineral composition; source of protein, assayed; tilapia fish; total ash.