Characterization of the ashes of Nigerian red and white mangrove woods

An investigation of the analytical characterization of ashes of Nigerian red and white mangrove woods was carried out. The ashes obtained from the woods were subjected to intense heating in water to extract the chemical constituents. Some quantitiy of rock salt was also dissolved in water and analysed. The solution obtained from the ashes were differently analysed for K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, SO₄, PO₄, NO₃ and total solid. The pH of each sample solution was measured. Various concentrations of these cations and anions were obtained and they were found in each case to be more than those obtained from rock salt. Solutions obtained from the ashes of red and white mangrove woods have wide applications particularly in Nigeria as tasty food additive and in softening and accelerating the cooking time of yam, plantain and beans in particular.