TECHNOLOGICAL OPERATIONS TO REDUCE THE CONTENT OF HEAVY METALS IN ARTIFICIALLY GROWN MUSHROOMS (AGARICUS)

Abstract

Mushrooms are a part of people's food products, as well as a valuable resource of food, pharmaceutical and other branches of national and agricultural economy. Mushrooms and their harvesting are of great importance for food industry enterprises, precisely in providing people with high-value food products. The uniqueness of mushrooms is manifested in obtaining an additional source of vitamins and minerals that benefit the human body. Due to the high content of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin D3, mushrooms are popular among vegetarians, people who lead a healthy lifestyle and simply connoisseurs of delicious mushroom dishes. The purpose of the work is to determine the content of heavy metals in artificially grown mushrooms (Agaricus) and to develop technological operations to reduce their content in the product. Research methodology. Laboratory analyzes were carried out in a certified and accredited laboratory – the Scientific and Measuring Agrochemical Laboratory of the Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. Observations, records and measurements were carried out according to generally accepted methods: – determination of the content of mobile forms of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu); – after extraction with an acetate-ammonium buffer solution pH 4.8 by the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry in accordance with SSU 4770. Our research was carried out on the basis of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection of the Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. As the researched material, we chose a species of cultivated champignon mushrooms (Agaricus) from different manufacturers, sold in two store chains, namely: "ATB-Market", manufacturer Ukraine: TM "Zelena Kraina" and "Silpo", manufacturer – Ukraine: TM " Persha Khvylia" and the third sample – mushrooms are sold at retail, the manufacturer is Ukraine. The assigned tasks in the work, performed in accordance with the research program, which includes: – determination of the level of contamination of cultivated mushrooms with heavy metals; – optimization of technological operations with a decrease in the concentration of heavy metals in cultivated mushrooms; implementation of ecological and economic efficiency of the obtained results. To study the effect of water without mineral residue on the change in concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu) in cultivated mushrooms, the following technological operations were included in the processing: – chopping mushrooms; – soaking chopped mushrooms in tap water for one day; – soaking chopped mushrooms for one day in water obtained by boiling and settling; – soaking chopped mushrooms in distilled water for one day. The technology of mushroom processing in all variants was the same, the difference was only in the water. In particular, the first option included the use of ordinary tap water – the control, the second option – included the use of the same tap water, but with the separation of the mineral part from it, by boiling and settling. A third option involved tap water passed through a still. Water as a solvent for this study was used from one batch for all options. Scientific novelty. The conducted research made it possible to determine the levels of accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) in cultivated mushrooms and the changes in these toxicants due to the improvement of technological operations of the processing of these products in the conditions of the city of Vinnytsia. Conclusions. It was established that of the three investigated options, the most effective way to reduce the content of heavy metals in cultivated mushrooms is the method of soaking them for one day in distilled water, namely Pb – from 1.1 to 1.4 times, Cd – from 2.0 to 5, 0 times, Zn – from 1.2 to 1.9 times, Cu3 – from 1.3 to 4.0 times.