USING CHEMOMETRIC DATA TO DISCRIMINATE CO COA MASSES - ANALYSIS OF METAL CONTENTS APPLIED TO THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINAND PROCESS EFFECT

Using chemometric data to discriminate cocoa masses: analysis of metal contents applied to the determination of their geographical origin an d process effect. The copper zinc, iron, magnesium and manganese conte nts irt cocoa masses were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after wet digestion. These data were evaluated by principal component analysis in order to build a geographical model. Nevertheless, the co ntamination of cocoa nasses originating from the grinding tools, preva ils over origin variability of concentrations of metals. A part of the discrimination of cocoa masses was then based on copper and zinc cont amination.