Phytate determination Phytate was extracted from duplicate samples of dried food using diluted HCL.Extract was mixed with EDTA/NaOH solution and placed on an ion-exchange column. Phytate was eluted with 0.7M NaCl solution and wet-digested with a mixture of concentrated HNO3/ H2SO4 to release phosphorus, which was measured colorimetrically. The amount of phytate in the original sample was calculated as hexaphosphate equivalent(12