THE INFLUENCE OF THE USE OF ZEOTEX ZEOLITE SOLUTION ON THE REDUCTION OF THE

CONCENTRATION OF NITRATES AND HEAVY METALS IN LETTUCE LEAVES

The nitrate content of vegetables varies over a wide range (1 - 10,000 mg/kg) and depends on the
type, origin, cultivation and storage conditions of the vegetables (JECFA, 1995). According to
AESAN (2011), vegetables account for 80-85% of total daily nitrate intake.

Along with nitrates, by consuming vegetables, a certain amount of toxic heavy metals such as
cadmium, lead, chromium, etc. can be introduced into the body.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of the length of soaking lettuce in water
with ZEOTEX zeolite relative to control (lettuce without soaking) and soaking the lettuce in pure
water to reduce the concentration of nitrates and heavy metals in lettuce leaves.

The concentration of nitrates and heavy metals were determined in lettuce leaves control
samples, soaking in water as well as in treated lettuce samples (soaked in water with ZEOTEX

zeolite added) by prescribed methodology.

The experiment was carried out in three treatments with different times of soaking of lettuce in
water with the addition of ZEOTEX zeolite (10, 20 and 30 min.).

The experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences in Osijek, at the
Department of Agroecology and Environmental Protection.

NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS
The nitrate concentration in the control sample of lettuce was 2265.07 mg NO3-/kg of fresh lettuce,
which is below the prescribed allowable nitrate concentration in leafy vegetables under EU
Regulation 1881/2006 (4000 mg mg NO3-/kg).

However, it is important to note that soaking lettuce in water containing zeoilt reduced the nitrate
concentration in lettuce leaves in comparison to control and in lettuce soaking in clean water.
Namely, rinsing lettuce in clean water is a common way of washing lettuce before consumption.

The obtained results show a decrease in the nitrate concentration in lettuce leaves from:

- 11,22% after soaking in water,

- 8,94% after 10 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution,

- 35,92% after 20 minutes soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution

- 41,72% after 30 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution.

All results are presented graphically and are consistent with the intended effect and use of
ZEOTEX zeolite for the purpose of removing nitrates and heavy metals from vegetables and fruits.
HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS

The term “heavy metals” has been very commonly used over the past few decades to refer to a
group of metals and semi-metals (metalloids) that have been linked to contamination and
potential toxic effects (Duffus, 2003).

The transfer of heavy metals from soil to plant and food is the basis for the entry of heavy metals
into the food chain. The influence of man on the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and the
uptake of heavy metals in soil by agro-technical measures is quite large, and therefore agro-
technical measures and production processes should be directed towards reducing the
bioavailability of toxic heavy metals, above all Cd and Pb.

The choice of growing site and type of vegetable is also very significant as it may be too high (above
MDC) in vegetables produced in urban gardens.

The lowest concentrations can be expected in fruit vegetables and the highest in root vegetables
(Lončarić, 2015).

The results of the Co, Cr, Pb, and Cd heavy metals concentration in the lettuce leaf after soaking in
ZEOTEX Zeolite solution indicate a decrease in the concentration of the heavy metals.
Only concentratin of Cr showed an increase in concentration after soaking in a solution with
ZEOTEX Zeolite for 30 min.

The decrease in concentration depending on the heavy metal was in the following order:

Co

- 1,71 % after 10 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution,

- 18,14 % after 20 minutes soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution

- 32,76 % after 30 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution.

Cr

- 18,24 % after 10 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution,

- 22,75 % after 20 minutes soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution

- 0 % after 30 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution.

Pb

- 3,23% after 10 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution,

- 19,04 % after 20 minutes soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution

- 18,80 % after 30 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution.

Cd

- 42,59 % after 10 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution,

- 22,33 % after 20 minutes soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution

- 45,14 % after 30 min soaking in ZEOTEX zeolite solution.

References:
http://www.aecosan.msssi.gob.es/en/AECOSAN/web/seguridad_alimentaria/subdetalle/nitratos.htm

http://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/

http://www.agroekologija.com/agri-conto-cleen/wp-
content/uploads/2015/06/Utjecaj_poljoprivrede_na_kakvocu_hrane_u_pogranicnom_podrucju.pdf

Ph.D. Brigita Popović, associate professor