Mineral Contents of Several Indonesian Rice Varieties

Abstract

Rice is an important food commodity in the world, even the majority of Indonesia's population consumes rice as a staple food. The chemical composition of rice consumed is very complex. Rice contains organic ingredients and minerals. At present, the mineral as a nutrient has not been widely recognized by the public as well as the adequacy of calories, protein or vitamins. Analysis of mineral content in several Indonesian rice varieties (such as Kewal Bulu Hideung, Jalahawara, Pandan Wangi, Rojolele, Bendang Pulau, Batang Piaman, Cisantana, Sokan, Ciherang, Sidrap, and Kewal Gudril) carried out in Shimadzu laboratory, Osaka-Japan, using EDX-7000/8000 Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometers. With these tools a variety of macro and micro minerals can be analyzed from each rice sample, including phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), Rubidium (Rb), silicon (Si). Based on the results, the mineral content for various types of kinds of rice tested was varied. The highest mineral content was found in Kewal Bulu Hideung rice (3.884%), and the lowest was Sokan (1.677%). The mineral content found in succession from the largest to the smallest found in all rice tested were P, K, S, Ca, and Zn. The mineral content found only in special varieties were Mn, Fe, Rb, Si, Cu.