Effects of digestive enzymes on the retained arsenic in dried Hijiki, Sargassum fusiforme

Abstract

Water-swollen samples of Hijiki, Sargassum fusiforme, were treated with two digestive enzymes, pepsin from porcine stomach mucosa and pancreatin from hog pancreas, at 37°C for 3, 6, 15 and 24 hr. Two fractions of arsenic, one dissolved and the other retained in the Hijiki residues were determined by thermal neutron activation analysis.

The concentration of the retained arsenic in the Hijiki residues was 27 μgAs/g dry residue weight after single treatment with pepsin, 25 μgAs/g dry residue weight after single treatment with pancreatin and 24 μgAs/g dry residue weight after successive treatment with pepsin followed by pancreatin.