Extraction and Estimation of Some Trace Elements from Different Fish Species from Tigris River, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

The objective of the current study involved the description of an important method of extracting some trace elements such as Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) from four fish species; Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius), Asian Jirri (Silurus triostegus), Himri (Barbas luteus) and Marmaritch (Mastacembleus mastacembleus) by using a mixture of strong acids in the edible muscle tissues of these fish species from Tigris river (Kurdistan Region, Duhok-Sharea). The minerals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The chemical analyses revealed that the concentrations of some trace elements in fishes were significantly different among fish species. Concentrations of Ca, Fe and Na were significantly higher in muscle of Himri (p> 0.001), whereas Cu and K were significantly higher in Crucian Carp (p> 0.001). Asian Jirri has the highest levels (p> 0.001) of Zn. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in Mn and Mg levels between fish species.Keywords: