## 3 Results  
### Wd-Xrf  
The absolute concentration (measured in \(\mu\)g g\({}^{-1}\)) of the inorganic components determined through WD-XRF and the corresponding standard deviation of triplicate measurements are presented in Table 1[16]. For Sample 1 (from State of Para), the sample was constituted of the whole fruit, dried, and milled, whereas for Sample 2 (from State of Amazonas), the seeds and pericarp were separated from each other and dried and milled.  
Potassium was the element found in the highest concentration in fruit, pericarp, and seeds. Calcium had the next highest concentration, and in Sample 2, it was more concentrated in the pericarp than in the seeds. Our results for seeds are consistent with previously reported measurements [10; 11], but for Sample 1 (whole fruit) and Sample 2 (pericarp), we observed relatively higher values. Magnesium is another macronutrient present at a high concentration, and our results are in agreement with previously reported measurements taken using different methods [10; 11]. The two samples showed a high content of phosphorous, mostly in the seeds, while sulfur was present in both samples at similar concentrations. From Sample 2, it can be seen that chlorine was present at a higher concentration in the pericarp. The results for essential micronutrients, such as manganese, iron, copper, and zinc are in the ppm order. Our results for manganese content were relatively lower than previously reported values in [10] but in agreement with [11]. Interestingly, rubidium was present in Sample 1 (from Altamira, State of Para region). It is an alkaline element whose presence might be related to the high concentration of potassium. In a previous study carried out on _Andira surinamensis_[15], a plant used in traditional medicine and from the same region of Amazonian rainforest (Para), a similar pattern was observed: samples showed higher concentrations of calcium than potassium as well as high concentrations of strontium and barium, which are elements of the same group of calcium. It is well known that the presence of some non-essential elements is intrinsically related to the soil where the plants grow. These results may suggest that non-essential elements can be acquired through the same paths of some essential elements from the same chemical families [25].  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & **Measured Concentrations (\(\mu\)g g\({}^{-1}\))** & & \\ \hline  & **Sample 1** & & **Sample 2** & \\ \hline  & **Whole Fruit** & **Pericarp** & **Seed** \\ \hline Mg & 3200 \(\pm\) 140 & 1150 \(\pm\) 50 & 1990 \(\pm\) 50 \\ Al & ND \({}^{\star}\) & 105 \(\pm\) 5 & ND \\ Si & 540 \(\pm\) 30 & 280 \(\pm\) 20 & 120 \(\pm\) 10 \\ P & 3720 \(\pm\) 70 & 2570 \(\pm\) 50 & 3750 \(\pm\) 40 \\ S & 2240 \(\pm\) 50 & 2450 \(\pm\) 70 & 1850 \(\pm\) 30 \\ Cl & 3220 \(\pm\) 40 & 5070 \(\pm\) 60 & 1010 \(\pm\) 20 \\ K & 21,070 \(\pm\) 340 & 20,720 \(\pm\) 360 & 14,510 \(\pm\) 220 \\ Ca & 6340 \(\pm\) 110 & 7570 \(\pm\) 130 & 2020 \(\pm\) 60 \\ Mn & 33 \(\pm\) 3 & ND & ND \\ Fe & 70 \(\pm\) 2 & 103 \(\pm\) 3 & 43 \(\pm\) 3 \\ Cu & 50 \(\pm\) 1 & 60 \(\pm\) 4 & 40 \(\pm\) 1 \\ Zn & 50 \(\pm\) 6 & ND & 63 \(\pm\) 5 \\ Rb & 210 \(\pm\) 12 & ND & ND \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} \({}^{\star}\) ND: Not detected or below the quantification limit.  
\end{table}
Table 1: Concentration (\(\pm\)SD) of inorganic components in the _Bixa orellana_ samples as determined via WD-XRF.  
From Table 1, it is also possible to infer that the pericarp accumulates higher concentrations of macronutrients, such as potassium, calcium, and sulfur. The same behavior is observed with respect to micronutrients, iron, and copper. This result reinforces that the pericarp, currently considered a waste product in applications of _Bixa orellana_, may be considered as a source of important nutrients.