“DETECTION OF ADULTERANTS IN
TURMERIC POWDER”
 A project report submitted to the Department of Chemistry,
Tilottama College, Tilottama - 2, Rupandehi in the partial
fulfillment for the requirement of NEB +2 Science in
Chemistry
Submitted By:
 Aadarsh Kharal
 Class: 11
 Section: H
 Roll No: 1
“ACKNOWLEDGEMENT”
 I want to say thanks to our Chemistry lab teacher “Mr.Deepak
Thapa” who provided me with this opportunity to do research
on
this
project
of
Chemistry:
“DETECTION
OF
ADULTERANTS IN TURMERIC POWDER”. I came in
TILOTTMA COLLAGE with my own dream to learn too
much things and I am learning it on proper way.
“ABBREVIATIONS”
 HCl
= Hydrochloric Acid
 PbCrO4 = Lead Chromate
 Ml
= Milliliter
“CERTIFICATE”
This is to certify that Aadarsh Kharal, a student of
Class 11 has successfully completed the research on
the below mentioned project under the guidance of
Mr. Deepak Thapa during the year 2079 in partial
fulfillment of Chemistry practical examination
conducted by NEB.
Signature of chemistry teacher
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that project work entitled “STUDY
OF ADULTERANTS IN TURMERIC POWDER”,
submitted to the Department of Chemistry, Tilottama
Campus for the
Subject Chemistry under the guidance of Mr. Deepak
Thapa is a record of original work done by me. I
Further declare that this project or any part of it has
not been submitted elsewhere for any other
School/Institute.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
S.N
TOPICS
Page Numbers
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I
2. ABBREVIATIONS
II
3. CERTIFICATE
III
4. DECLARATION
IV
5. INTRODUCTION
1
6. OBJECTIVES
3
7. METHODOLOGY
4
8. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5
9. CONCLUSION
6
10. RECOMMENDATION
7
11. BIBILIOGRAPHY
8
“INTRODUCTION”
Turmeric is a common spice that comes from the root of Curcuma longa. It contains a
chemical called curcumin, which might reduce swelling.
Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used
to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and
cheeses. Because curcumin and other chemicals in
turmeric might decrease swelling, it is often used to treat
conditions that involve pain and inflammation.
History
Turmeric has been used in Asia for centuries and is a major part
of Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Unani, and the
animistic rituals of Austronesian peoples. It was first used as a dye, and then later for
its supposed properties in folk medicine.
From India, it spread to Southeast Asia along with Hinduism and Buddhism, as the
yellow dye is used to color the robes of monks and priests. Turmeric has also been
found in Tahiti, Hawaii and Easter Island before European contact. There is
linguistic and circumstantial evidence of the spread and use of turmeric by
the Austronesian peoples into Oceania and Madagascar. The populations
in Polynesia and Micronesia, in particular, never came into contact with India, but
use turmeric widely for both food and dye. Thus independent domestication events
are also likely.
Turmeric was found in Farman , dating to between 2600 and 2200 BCE, and in a
merchant's tomb in Megiddo, Israel, dating from the second millennium BCE. It was
noted as a dye plant in the Assyrians’ Cuneiform medical texts from Ashurbanipal’s
library at Nineveh from 7th century BCE. In Medieval Europe, turmeric was called
As “Indian saffron."
1
Adulteration
As turmeric and other spices are commonly sold by weight, the
potential exists for powders of toxic, cheaper agents with a
similar color to be added, such as lead (II, IV) oxide ("red lead").
These additives give turmeric an orange-red color instead of its
native gold-yellow and such conditions led the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to issue import alerts from 2013 to
2019 on turmeric originating in India and Bangladesh.Imported
into the United States in 2014 were approximately 5.4 million
kilograms (12 million pounds) of turmeric, some of which was
used for food coloring, traditional medicine, or supplement.
Lead detection in turmeric products led to recalls across the
United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom
through 2016.
Lead chromate, a bright yellow chemical compound, was found
as an adulterant of turmeric in Bangladesh, where turmeric is
used commonly in foods and the contamination levels were up to
500 times higher than the national limit. Researchers identified a
chain of sources adulterating the turmeric with lead chromate:
from farmers to merchants selling low-grade turmeric roots to
"polishers" who added lead chromate for yellow color
enhancement, to wholesalers for market distribution, all unaware
of the potential consequences of lead toxicity. Another common
adulterant in turmeric, metanil yellow (also known as acid
yellow 36), is considered by the British Food Standards
Agency as an illegal dye for use in foods.
2
“OBJECTIVES”
The Objective of this project is detection of adulterants in
turmeric powder.
In this project:
1. To determine the curcumin content and presence of
adulterants in different marketed branded or unbranded
turmeric powder.
2. Turmeric powder is tested in laboratory by some tests to
detect the adulterants present.
3. More over different samples of turmeric powder are also
taken and their quality is specially analyzed.
3
“METHODOLOGY”
Turmeric powder is a popular natural dye used in cooked food. The powder is
often adulterated with rice powder, wheat powder etc. which makes the color of
the turmeric pale. To make the color bright, often lead chromate, which is a
poisonous chemical or coal tar dye was added to turmeric powder.
a)
DETECTION OF LEAD CHROMATE –
Reagents: Concentrated HCL and 1% diphenyl carbazide in rectified spirit.
Procedure: 1g of the turmeric powder sample was taken in a test tube and 5ml of
concentrated
HCL was added to it. The mixture was shaken thoroughly. Now 1ml of 1%
diphenyl carbazide reagent was added.
Detection: Appearance of pink to red color indicates the presence of lead
chromate, PbCrO4, in the sample.
b) DETECTION OF COAL TAR DYE–
Reagents: Concentrated HCL and petroleum ether (40-60°C).
Procedure: 5g of the sample was taken in a test tube and 10mL petroleum ether
was added to it. The mixture was shacked vigorously and was allowed to stand. 5
mL of conc.HCL was added and was again shacked thoroughly.
Detection: The aqueous acid becomes pink to red in color if coal tar is present.
Chemicals and reagents: For adulteration test: Propranolol, conc. HCl,
sulphuric acid, distilled water, petroleum ether.
4
“RESULTS AND DISCUSSION”
The results of chemical tests for adulterants showed that:
 In first test, it was found that there was no presence of
adulterants in the turmeric powder i.e. it is healthy to consume.
 In second test, it was found that there was presence of
adulterants (metanil yellow, artificial color, yellow lead salt,
etc.) in the turmeric powder i.e. it is not healthy to consume.
 The color of the solution turns pink when it has the presence
of the metanil yellow. Consuming turmeric powder rich in
metanil yellow will make you feel nauseous, cause stomach
disorders, and food poisoning.
5
“Conclusion”
The adulterants upon which we conducted the tests are
harmful to the human body. The health hazards caused by
some of the adulterants are given below;
Metanil yellow: It is a non-permitted category of food color.
Continued consumption of this toxic food color leads to adverse
life threatening effects in humans which can lead to cancer.
Artificial color: It may cause allergic reactions in some people
and hyperactivity in sensitive children.
Yellow lead salt: lead poisoning can be easily overlooked.
Exposure to high level of lead may cause anemia, weakness and
kidney and brain damage. Very high exposure of lead may lead
to death.
Thus, the methods developed for the qualitative estimation of
adulterants present in marketed turmeric powder can be used
with good reproducibility and reliability.
6
“RECOMMENDATION”
It is to certify that Aadarsh Kharal has successfully carried out
the project entitled “DETECTION OF ADULTERANTS IN
TURMERIC POWDER” under my guidance and supervision.
“
I recommend this project for the +2 degree of NEB.
Supervisor
Mr. Deepak Thapa
Department of Chemistry
Tilottama College
Tilottama - 2, Yogikuti,
Rupandehi, Nepal
7
Signature:
“Bibliography”
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric
 https://www.researchgate.net
 https://byjus.com/
 Heritage Chemistry Practical Book
 Friends
8