Speciation of essential nutrient trace elements in coconut water
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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

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Ghaya Alchoubassi1, Katarzyna Kińska1, Katarzyna Bierla1
1Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM UMR 5254, Hélioparc, 64053 Pau, France.
Abstract:
Coconut water (Cocos Nucifera) is shown to be a source of essential elements present in the form of low-molecular weight stable complexes known for their bio-availability. The total element concentrations were in the range of 0.2-2.7, 0.3-1, 3-14 and 0.5-2 ppm for Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn, respectively, and varied as a function of the origin of the nut and its maturity. Speciation was investigated by size-exclusion chromatography - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) - electrospray-OrbitrapMS. The metal species identified included: iron complexes with citrate and malate: FeIII(Cit)3(Mal), FeIII(Cit)2(Mal)2, FeIII(Mal)2, glutamine: FeIII(Glu)2 and nicotianamine: FeII(NA); copper complexes with phenylanine: CuII(Phe)2 and CuII(Phe)3 and nicotianamine: CuII(NA); zinc complexes with citrate: ZnII(Cit)2 and nicotianamine ZnII(NA) and manganese complex with asparagine MnII(Asp)2. The contributions of the individual species to the total elements concentrations could be estimated by HILIC - ICP MS.
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