Analysis of acrylamide in coffee and dietary exposure to acrylamide from coffee

An analytical method for analysing acrylamide in coffee was validated. The analysis of prepared coffee includes a comprehensive clean-up using multimode solid-phase extraction (SPE) by automatic SPE equipment and detection by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray in the positive mode. The recoveries of acrylamide in ready-to-drink coffee spiked with 5 and 10 μg l⁻¹ were 96±14% and 100±8%, respectively. Within laboratory reproducibility for the same spiking levels were 14% and 9%, respectively. Coffee samples (n = 25) prepared twice by coffee machines and twice by a French Press Cafetière coffee maker contained 8±3 μg l⁻¹ and 9±3 μg l⁻¹ acrylamide. Five ready-to-drink instant coffee prepared twice contained 8±2 μg l⁻¹. Hence, the results do not show significant differences in the acrylamide contents in ready-to-drink coffee prepared by coffee machine, French Press or from instant coffee. Medium roasted coffee contained more acrylamide (10 μg l⁻¹) than dark roasted coffee (5 μg l⁻¹). Males aged 35–45 years, drinking on average 1.1 l coffee per day are exposed to the highest doses of acrylamide from coffee. The dietary intake of acrylamide from coffee comprises, on an average, 10 μg day⁻¹ for males and 9 μg day⁻¹ for females aged 35–45 years. Probabilistic modelling of the exposure of Danish consumers (all adults) to acrylamide from coffee shows a mean exposure of 6.5 μg day⁻¹ and a 95 percentile of 18 μg day⁻¹.     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of volatile compounds from wine samples: optimisation of the method

This study describes a liquid–liquid extraction technique for extracting volatile compounds from wine using dichloromethane and ultrasounds. This technique permits the simultaneous extraction of different samples with high reproducibility. After the preliminary tests, several parameters (sample volume, solvent volume and extraction time) were optimised using a factorial design to obtain the most relevant variables. The analytical characteristics were obtained such as calibration graphs, detection limits ranging from 0.0238 mg L⁻¹ for 1-pentanol to 0.261 mg L⁻¹ for octanoic acid, quantification limits and relative standard deviation from 2.1 to 6.2%. Extraction yields were calculated giving a range 9.16–1.2%. The optimised conditions were applied to the extraction of samples of young wines from the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja category using gas chromatography and a flame ionisation detector.     

Effect of irradiation on anti-nutrients (total phenolics, tannins and phytate) in Brazilian beans

The Brazilian bean varieties Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Carioca and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp var. Macaçar were irradiated with doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 kGy and subsequently stored at ambient temperature for 6 months. The anti-nutrients phenolic compounds, tannins and phytate were determined to be 0.48 mg g⁻¹ dry basis, 1.8 mg g⁻¹ dry basis and 13.5 μmol g⁻¹ dry basis in the raw non-irradiated Carioca beans and 0.30 mg g⁻¹ dry basis, 0.42 mg g⁻¹ dry basis and 7.5 μmol g⁻¹ dry basis in the raw non-irradiated Macaçar beans. After soaking and cooking a higher content of phenolic compounds and a lower phytate content was observed in both bean varieties. Tannin content was not affected by soaking and cooking of Carioca beans, but higher after soaking and cooking of Macaçar beans. Using radiation doses relevant for food did not effect the content of the anti-nutrients under investigation in both bean varieties.     

Classification of green coffee beans by differences in protein composition obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

It is well known that proteins and peptides play an important role in the flavour of roasted coffee, but little is reported in the literature about their characterization. In view of the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in the analysis of proteins in complex mixtures, two varieties of coffee green beans, Arabicas and Robustas, were analyzed by this technique, in order to obtain fingerprints of their native proteins. Differences were observed between Arabicas and Robustas green beans, and cluster analysis allows differentiation of samples of the same variety from different plantations.     

Detection of alcohols in gas chromatographic effluent by laser-light scattering

A laser-light-scattering detector that is sensitive to alcohols has been developed for gas chromatography. The detector consists of a miniature concentric nebulizer that uses a cold atomization gas and an Ar⁺ laser. Calibration curves for the alcohols exhibit characteristic sigmoidal shapes. Signal-to-noise ratios were optimized by examining the photomultiplier tube temperature, collection wavelength and detection scheme (i.e., photon counting vs. direct current detection). Limits of detection for five test alcohols were in the 2–8 μg/s range.     

Gaseous nitryl azide N4O2: A joint theoretical and experimental study

Gaseous nitryl azide N₄O₂ is generated by the heterogeneous reaction of gaseous ClNO₂ with freshly prepared AgN₃ at −50 °C. The geometric and electronic structure of the molecule in the gas phase has been characterized by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and quantum chemical calculations. The experimental first vertical ionization energy of N₄O₂ is 11.39 eV, corresponding to the ionization of an electron on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) {4a″(π_{nb(N4–N5–N6)})}⁻¹. An apparent vibrational spacing of 1600 ± 60 cm⁻¹ (ν_asO1N2O3) on the second band at 12.52 eV (π_{nb(O1–N2–O3)}) further confirms the preference of energetically stable chain structure in the gas phase. To complement the experimental results, the potential-energy surface of this structurally novel transient molecule is discussed. Both calculations and spectroscopic results suggest that the molecule adopts a trans-planar chain structure, and a five-membered ring decomposition pathway is more favorable.     

Automated on-line gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in olive oil

An on-line combination of gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography has been designed using either a laboratory-built or a commercially available LC-GC apparatus to determine organophosphorus pesticides in olive oil. Gel permeation chromatography was used for sample pretreatment, viz. to separate the low-molecular-mass pesticides from the higher-molecular-mass fat constituents of the oil. A mixture of n-decane and the azeotropic mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane was found to give an adequate separation between the fat and the organophosphorus pesticides. The pesticide-containing fraction, monitored by a UV detector, was transferred on-line to the gas chromatograph using a loop-type interface. n-Decane (6%, v/v) was added to the eluent in order to widen the application range of the transfer technique towards more volatile pesticides. After solvent evaporation through the solvent vapour exit and subsequent GC separation, the compounds were selectively detected with a thermionic or a flame photometric detector. The set-up allowed the direct analysis of oil samples after dilution in the gel permeation chromatography eluent without further sample clean-up. Detection limits were about 5 and 10 μg/kg with the thermionic and the flame photometric detector, respectively, when using an injection volume of only 30 μl of the 20-fold diluted oil. The total procedure was linear in the 0.01–10 mg/kg range for both detectors. For twenty organophosphorus pesticides, the relative standard deviations were 3–13% at the 20–60 μg/kg level.     

Determination of perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in sewage sludge samples using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A new method is developed for the determination of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in sewage sludge samples. The analytes in sewage sludge samples are extracted by methanol and formic acid, cleaned by C18 solid-phase extraction, then separated, identified and quantitated by liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS). A C18 column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) with gradient elution of MeOH–H₂O (60:40) containing 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate and MeOH–H₂O (80:20) is used for the chromatographic separation. [M−K]⁻ ions at m/z 498.93 for PFOS and [M−COOH]⁻ ion at m/z 368.97 for PFOA are selected for QTOF-MS in the negative electrospray ionization mode. The detection limits for PFOS and PFOA in sewage sludge samples are 0.5 and 0.8 ng/g, respectively. The spiked recoveries are in the range of 85–114 and 71–98% for PFOS and PFOA, respectively. The proposed method is successfully applied to the analysis of PFOS and PFOA in 16 sewage sludge samples from China. PFOS and PFOA are detected in most sewage sludge samples and the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA are up to 5383 and 4780 ng/g (oven dry weight), respectively.     

Diagnostics of water-containing gas mixtures using thermal laser-induced gratings

Laser-induced gratings (LIGs) experiments, employing vibrational-overtone excitation of H₂O molecules through rovibrational transitions of the (2 1 1) ← (0 0 0) band around 820 nm to produce gratings, have been performed in humid ambient air, in a room-temperature cell with neat water vapor or that diluted in buffer gas at pressures of 0.02–4 bar, and in the vicinity of premixed atmospheric pressure CH₄-air flame, with the aim to investigate the feasibilities of the techniques for accomplishing gas diagnostics or tracing H₂O at various temperatures and pressures.

In highly vibrationally-excited H₂O rapid multi-stage collisional thermalization processes occur, and as a result both strong oscillatory (due to standing acoustic waves) and stationary (due to stationary density modulations) contributions to LIGs have been observed in gas mixtures.

Temporal profiles of LIG signals recorded at various conditions of gas mixtures employed have been analysed in frame of a model of a two- or three-stage R–T, V–V′, and V–T collisional relaxation of H₂O and buffer gas molecules. The informative parameters, like adiabatic sound velocity, gas temperature, H₂O mole fraction have been derived. The results of the analysis are presented, demonstrating possibilities and challenges of the technique in application to gas diagnostics.     

Microanalysis of dialkylphosphorus metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in human blood by capillary gas chromatography and by phosphorus-selective and ion trap detection

A procedure for the determination of dialkyphosphorus metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in human blood has been worked out. Dimethyl and diethyl phosphates, phosphorothioates and phosphorodithioates, extracted with diethyl ether from plasma acidified with hydrochloric acid, were methylated with diazomethane and analysed by capillary gas chromatography with an alkali flame ionization detector and an ion trap detector. The extraction of metabolites was preceded by n-hexane extraction of parent organophosphorus pesticides without a negative effect on the efficiency of metabolite extraction. If plasma samples, containing 2 μ/ml of each metabolite, were not saturated with sodium chloride before extraction, only dialkyl phosphorothioates were recovered by more than 80%. The recoveries of other metabolites were less than 25%. The extraction of plasma samples saturated with sodium chloride resulted in higher recoveries of all metabolites. At concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 2.8 μg/ml the accumulation effeciencies (%±S.D.) of dimethyl and diethyl phosphorothioates were 92±20 and 97±11, and those of corresponding phosphorodithiotes 79±7 and 71±4. A significantly lower recovery (36±12%) was determined for dimethyl phosphate at concentrations in plasma below 2 μg/ml. The recovery of diethyl phosphate was dependent on the initial metabolite concentration in plasma being 31±5% at concentrations lower than 0.5 μg/ml, 51±12% at concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 μg/ml and 97±3% at concentrations at or above 2 μg/ml. Detection limits of metabolites in plasma using the phosphorus selective detector were 150 ng/ml for dimethyl phosphate and 50 ng/ml for other metabolites. Those values were for dialkyl phosphates and phophorothioates three to five times lower and for diakyl phosphorodithiotes even 30 times lower than detection limits achieved by the use of ion trap detector. The procedure was applied for the evidence and confirmation of human poisoning with organophosphorus pesticides.     

Analysis of acrylamide in different foodstuffs using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Acrylamide levels over a wide range of different food products were analysed using both liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS–MS) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS–MS). Two different sample preparation methods for HPLC–MS–MS analysis were developed and optimised with respect to a high sample throughput on the one hand, and a robust and reliable analysis of difficult matrices on the other hand. The first method is applicable to various foods like potato chips, French fries, cereals, bread, and roasted coffee, allowing the analysis of up to 60 samples per technician and day. The second preparation method is not as simple and fast but enables analysis of difficult matrices like cacao, soluble coffee, molasses, or malt. In addition, this method produces extracts which are also well suited for GC–MS–MS analysis. GC–MS–MS has proven to be a sensitive and selective method offering two transitions for acrylamide even at low levels up to 1 μg kg⁻¹. For the respective methods the repeatability (n=10), given as coefficient of variation, ranged from 3% (acrylamide content of 550 μg kg⁻¹) to 12% (acrylamide content of 8 μg kg⁻¹) depending on the food matrix. The repeatability (n=3) for different food samples spiked with acrylamide (5–1500 μg kg⁻¹) ranged from 1 to 20% depending on the spiking level and the food matrix. The limit of quantification (referred to a signal-to-noise ratio of 9:1) was 30 μg kg⁻¹ for HPLC–MS–MS and 5 μg kg⁻¹ for GC–MS–MS. It could be demonstrated that measurement uncertainties were not only a result of analytical variability but also of inhomogeneity and stability of the acrylamide in food.     

The enthalpies of formation of two dibenzocyclooctadienones

The standard molar enthalpies of formation (Δ_fH_m⁰(s)/kJmol⁻¹) for 2,3:6,7-dibenzocycloocta-2,6-dien-1-one and 2,3:7,8-dibenzocycloocta-2,7-dien-1-one [6H-11,12-dihydro-dibenzo[a,e]cycloocten-5-one (ketone 1) and 10H-11,12-dihydrodibenzo[a,d]-cycloocten-5-one (ketone 2), respectively] were derived from enthalpies of combustion, measured by means of a microbomb calorimeter. The fusion and vaporization enthalpies of these compounds were obtained from DSC and correlation gas chromatography measurements. The standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gas phase were calculated by combining the condensed phase standard molar enthalpies of formation with the fusion and vaporization enthalpies adjusted to 298.15 K. Values for Δ_fH_m⁰(g) of (−39.9±5.5) and (−14.8±5.3) kJ mol⁻¹ were obtained for 2,3:6,7-dibenzocycloocta-2,6-dien-1-one and 2,3:7,8-dibenzocycloocta-2,7-dien-1-one, respectively. Quantum chemical calculations are reported for the compounds investigated experimentally and an additional four isomers. Isomerization enthalpies are derived from computed energies. The enthalpies of formation are also calculated by group additivity, compared with the experimental values and then correlated with the structure of the molecules investigated. The X-ray analysis of ketone 1 is also reported.     

Thermogravimetric study on perovskite-like oxygen permeation ceramic membranes

The oxygen permeation properties of mixed-conducting ceramics SrFeCo_0.5O_3−δ (SFCO), Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BSCFO), La_0.2Sr_0.8Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (LSCFO) and Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BCCFO) were studied by thermogravimetric method in the temperature range 600–900 °C. The results show that the oxygen adsorption rate constants k_a of all material are larger than oxygen desorption rate constants k_d and both k_a and k_d are not strongly dependent on temperature in the studied temperature range. The oxygen vacancy contents δ(N₂) and δ(O₂) in nitrogen and oxygen and their difference Δδ = δ(N₂) − δ(O₂) play an important role in determining the temperature behavior of oxygen permeation flux J_O2.     

Determination of cilnidipine, a new calcium antagonist, in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection

A rapid, sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) has been developed and validated for the determination of cilnidipine, a relatively new calcium antagonist, in human plasma. The reversed-phase chromatographic system was interfaced with a TurboIonSpray (TIS) source. Nimodipine was employed as the internal standard (IS). Sample extracts following protein precipitation were injected into the HPLC–MS/MS system. The analyte and IS were eluted isocratically on a C18 column, with a mobile phase consisting of CH₃OH and NH₄Ac (96:4, v/v). The ions were detected by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detector in the negative mode. Quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the transitions m/z 491.2 → 122.1 and m/z 417.1 → 122.1 for cilnidipine and for the IS, respectively. The analysis time for each run was 3.0 min. The calibration curve fitted well over the concentration range of 0.1–10 ng mL⁻¹, with the regression equation Y = (0.103 ± 0.002)X + (0.014 ± 0.003) (n = 5), r = 0.9994. The intra-day and inter-day R.S.D.% were less than 12.51% at all concentration levels within the calibration range. The recoveries were between 92.71% and 97.64%. The long-term stability and freeze-thaw stability were satisfying at each level. The present method provides a modern, rapid and robust tool for pharmacokinetic studies of cilnidipine.     

Structure and conformational properties of carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride, O=C(N=S(O)F2)2

The molecular structure and conformational properties of O=C(N=S(O)F₂)₂ (carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride) were determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantumchemical calculations (HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G*). The analysis of the GED intensities resulted in a mixture of 76(12)% syn–syn and 24(12)% syn–anti conformer (ΔH⁰=H⁰(syn–anti)−H⁰(syn–syn)=1.11(32) kcal mol⁻¹) which is in agreement with the interpretation of the IR spectra (68(5)% syn–syn and 32(5)% syn–anti, ΔH⁰=0.87(11) kcal mol⁻¹). syn and anti describe the orientation of the S=N bonds relative to the C=O bond. In both conformers the S=O bonds of the two N=S(O)F₂ groups are trans to the C–N bonds. According to the theoretical calculations, structures with cis orientation of an S=O bond with respect to a C–N bond do not correspond to minima on the energy hyperface. The HF/3-21G* approximation predicts preference of the syn–anti structure (ΔE=−0.11 kcal mol⁻¹) and the B3LYP/6-31G* method results in an energy difference (ΔE=1.85 kcal mol⁻¹) which is slightly larger than the experimental values. The following geometric parameters for the O=C(N=S)₂ skeleton were derived (r_a values with 3σ uncertainties): C=O 1.193 (9) Å, C–N 1.365 (9) Å, S=N 1.466 (5) Å, O=C–N 125.1 (6)° and C–N=S 125.3 (10)°. The geometric parameters are reproduced satisfactorily by the HF/3-21G* approximation, except for the C–N=S angle which is too large by ca. 6°. The B3LYP method predicts all bonds to be too long by 0.02–0.05 Å and the C–N=S angle to be too small by ca. 4°.     

Speciation analysis of arsenic and selenium compounds in environmental and biological samples by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometer

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used as an ion chromatographic (IC) detector for the speciation analysis of arsenic and selenium. The arsenic and selenium species studied included arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine (AsB), selenite [Se(IV)] and selenate [Se(VI)]. Gradient elution using (NH₄)₂CO₃ and methanol at pH 9 allowed the chromatographic separation of all species in less than 12 min. Effluents from the IC column were delivered to the nebulization system of ICP-DRC-MS for the determination of arsenic and selenium. The potentially interfering ³⁸Ar⁴⁰Ar⁺ and ⁴⁰Ar⁴⁰Ar⁺ at the selenium masses m/z 78 and 80 were reduced in intensity by approximately 3 orders of magnitude by using 0.6 mL min⁻¹ CH₄ as reactive cell gas in the DRC while an Rpq value of 0.3 was used. Meanwhile, arsenic was determined as the adduct ion ⁷⁵As¹²CHH⁺ at m/z 89, which is more sensitive than ⁷⁵As. The limits of detection for arsenic and selenium were in the range of 0.002–0.01 ng mL⁻¹ and 0.01–0.02 ng mL⁻¹, respectively, based on peak height. The relative standard deviation of the peak areas for five injections of 5 ng mL⁻¹ As and Se mixture was in the range of 2–4%. The concentrations of arsenic and selenium species have been determined in urine samples collected locally. The major As and Se species in urines were AsB, DMA and probably selenosugar at concentration of 20–40, 15–19 and 17–31 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 94–105% for all the determinations. This method has also been applied to determine various arsenic compounds in two fish samples. In this study, a simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction method was used for the extraction of arsenic compounds from fish. The arsenic species were quantitatively leached with an 80% v/v methanol solution in a focused microwave field during a period of 5 min.     

The ν(OH/OD) band shape of strong hydrogen bonded dimers of phosphinic acids. Phenomenology and formation models

The infrared spectra of phosphinic acid R₂POOH dimers (R=CH₃, CH₂Cl, C₆H₅) have been studied in CCl₄ and CH₂Cl₂ solutions (T=300 K). The infrared spectra of deuterated R₂POOD dimers (R=CH₃, CH₂Cl) were also studied in the gas phase (T=400–550 K) and solid state (T=100–300 K). They are compared with previously studied spectra of the light (non-deuterated) dimers in the gas phase, in the solid state and in low-temperature argon matrices (T=12–30 K) in the 4000–400 cm⁻¹ spectral region. It is found that the strong and broad ν(OH) dimer bands have similar shapes, nearly equal values of bandwidth and low-frequency shift, and possess the Hadzi ABC structure irrespective of the type of acid, significant differences of dimerization enthalpies, influence of solvent, the type of H-bonded complexes (cyclic dimers in the gas phase, in solutions, and in inert matrices, and infinite chains in the solid state), and temperature in the range 12–600 K. Isotopic ratio of the first moments of light and deuterated acid bands has been measured. Analysis of the ν(OH/OD) band of hydrogen bonded dimers of phosphinic acids shows that the interaction between the two intermolecular bonds O–HOP in a cyclic complex plays virtually no role in the mechanism of the ν(OH/OD) band formation; the shape of ν(OH/OD) band is controlled mainly by the POOH(D)O fragment; and the band shape of strong hydrogen bonded complexes is formed by a number of vibrational transitions from the ground state to different combination levels in the region 3500–1500 cm⁻¹.     

Speciation of chromium by ion chromatography and laser-enhanced ionization: optimization of the excitation-ionization scheme

Ion chromatography and laser-enhanced ionization were combined for the speciation of chromium at the trace level. Several one- and two-step excitation schemes were examined, in the UV and visible regions of the spectrum. It was found that a near-resonant two-step/one-color excitation scheme, using a single strongly saturating laser for the simultaneous excitation of both steps of the (3d⁵4s) ⁷S₃→(3d⁵4p) ⁷P₃⁰→(3d⁴4s5s) ⁷D₄ sequence, provides the best analytical results. This scheme was applied to the determination of total chromium in solutions directly aspirated into the air–acetylene flame, and to the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) separated by ion chromatography. A detection limit of 0.5 ng/mL was obtained by direct solution aspiration, with a dynamic range covering four orders of magnitude. Detection limits of 5 ng/mL for Cr(III) and 4 ng/mL for Cr(VI) were obtained by ion chromatography and laser-enhanced ionization.     

Oxygen permeation and oxidative coupling of methane in membrane reactor: A new facile synthesis method for selective perovskite catalyst

A dense membrane of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (LSCF) perovskite was prepared by a new chelating agent, ethylene diamine N,N,N′,N′-tetra N-acetyl diamine (EDTNAD). As a potent ligand, EDTNAD provided a facile one-step method to form complexes of the four metal ions, simultaneously. The oxygen permeation flux through the pure perovskite LSCF dense membrane was measured over temperature range of 1073–1223 K, thickness of 0.7–1.0 mm and oxygen partial pressure of 0.1–1.0 bar. Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using LSCF disk in the atmospheric membrane reactor and over the temperature range of 1073–1173 K showed a C₂ selectivity of 100% and C₂ yield of 5.01% at 1153 K. Furthermore, OCM reaction data of the membrane reactor were discussed and compared with those of the fixed bed using the same perovskite powder as the catalyst.