Optical methods of detecting pollutants and measuring their concentration in the atmosphere

Summary Modern optical methods of monitoring air pollution are based on the interactions between matter and light. From this point of view, absorption, scattering and emission of light are the three types of such an interaction which are to be taken into consideration and on which methods of measuring atmospheric pollutants are based. These methods allow on-the-spot determinations or those on a long optical path. Some details are given concerning light sources and detectors used, and three different monitoring apparatus are described.

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Optische Methoden zum Nachweis atmosphärischer Verunreinigungen und zur Messung ihrer Konzentration

Zusammenfassung Moderne optische Methoden zur Überwachung der Luftverunreinigung beruhen auf der Wechselwirkung zwischen Licht und Materie. Die drei Grundprinzipien der Absorption, Streuung und Emission werden betrachtet und entsprechende Geräte diskutiert. Bestimmungen an Ort und Stelle sowie auf weitere Entfernung sind möglich. Lichtquellen, Detektoren sowie drei Typen von Monitoreinrichtungen werden beschrieben.

Presented at the 6th Annual Symposium on Recent Advances in the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, April 21–23, 1976; Vienna, Austria     

The use of reference materials in the finnish industry

Summary A report is given on the results of a survey of the use of reference materials in the chemical industry of Finland. It has been found that there is virtually no production of reference materials in Finland and that most of the materials used are not certified. Mostly, different materials are used which are pharmacopoeia standards with regard to their physical properties. Some companies were found to use more than 100 different reference materials.

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Verwendung von Referenzmaterialien in Finnland

Zusammenfassung Es wird über das Ergebnis einer Umfrage zur Benutzung von Referenzmaterialien in der chemischen Industrie Finnlands berichtet. Es ergab sich, daß in Finnland praktisch keine solchen Substanzen hergestellt werden und die meisten der verwendeten Materialien nicht zertifiziert sind. Meist werden verschiedenartige chemische Substanzen verwendet, die in Bezug auf ihre physikalischen Eigenschaften einem Arzneibuchstandard entsprechen. Einige Firmen benutzen mehr als 100 verschiedene Referenzmaterialien.

Presented at Euroanalysis III conference, Dublin, August 20–25, 1978     

Air pollution measurement as a tool for practical policy and control strategy

Summary The problems of air pollution are discussed and possibilities for control and monitoring by analytical measurement are presented.

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Messung der Luftverschmutzung als Mittel für praktische Kontrollmanahmen

Zusammenfassung Die Problematik der Luftverschmutzung wird diskutiert und Möglichkeiten zur Kontrolle und Überwachung besprochen.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1. 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Separation and preconcentration

Summary A general review is given on separation and pre-concentration methods. Among the various procedures especially chromatography and ion-exchange for separation, and absorption and extraction for preconcentration are discussed in detail.

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Trennung und Anreicherung

Zusammenfassung Ein allgemeiner Überblick wird gegeben, wobei zur Trennung besonders chromatographische und Ionenaustausch-Methoden, zur Anreicherung Absorptions- und Extraktionsverfahren ausführlicher diskutiert werden.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1. 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Chemical analysis and water quality

Summary The development of analytical standards for water quality is considered on an historical basis and the present day position reviewed in relation to other bases for quality assessment. The analytical aspects have developed strongly, and continuously, during the past hundred years for fresh water; and there are now many well established compendia of analytical methods, based on collaborative and other cooperative studies. By contrast the standards and analytical methods for sea water have only developed much more recently. Some of the particular analytical problems which arise in the examination of fresh water, rivers and oceans will be considered, together with questions of the automation of methods.Analytical standards still play a very important role in the assessment of water quality. However, there is now a need for quicker methods, automatic methods and in some cases approximate methods which may not have the accuracy and precision of the more detailed procedures but which give results of sufficient accuracy for specific purposes.

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Chemische Analyse und Wasserqualität

Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung analytischer Standards zur Beurteilung der Wasserqualit ät wird auf historischer Grundlage betrachtet und die gegenwärtigen Verhältnisse werden in Beziehung zu anderen Kriterien der Qualitätsbeurteilung diskutiert. Für Süßwasser haben sich die Methoden während der letzten hundert Jahre kontinuierlich weiter entwickelt und es existieren zahlreiche gut eingeführte Handbücher und Sammelwerke. Auf dem Gebiet der Meereswasseranalyse hat die Entwicklung jedoch erst viel später eingesetzt. Einige spezielle analytische Probleme, die bei der Wasseruntersuchung auftreten, werden zusammen mit Fragen der Automation erörtert.Bei der Beurteilung der Wasserqualität spielen analytische Standards immer noch eine sehr wichtige Rolle. Es werden allerdings gegenwärtig schnellere und automatisierte Methoden benötigt, sowie auch angenäherte Verfahren, die vielleicht nicht die Reproduzierbarkeit und Genauigkeit der eingehenderen Methode aufweisen, jedoch für spezielle Zwecke ausreichende Ergebnisse liefern.

Presented at the 6th Annual Symposium on Recent Advances in the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, April 21–23, 1976; Vienna, Austria.     

Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy: Its present and future position in analytical chemistry

Summary This review (with 179 references) is mainly intended to facilitate judgements about the present and future position of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) among both various established spectroscopic methods and AES methods based on novel plasma sources for liquid analysis. It is considered that a thorough and critical comparison of the capabilities and cost of ICP-AES with those of the existing outfit of a laboratory must be made in each individual situation separately to judge whether ICP-AES as a supplement to or a replacement of one or more established techniques is an economic proposition. From this point of view ICP-AES is reviewed as a relatively new method for the analysis of liquids and dissolved solids.The principle of the method and the basic instrumentation are briefly outlined. The distinction between low-power argon ICPs and high-power nitrogen-argon ICPs is pointed out and the viability of both approaches in the analysis of real samples is noted. Analytical performance is discussed in terms of detection limits, precision, accuracy and dynamic range. Applications of real-sample analysis are given as illustrative examples.A list is included of the best detection limits of 67 elements in aqueous solutions as reported for argon ICPs operated with pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizers. Detection limits of 15 elements in oil are given to illustrate the potentials of low-power argon ICPs in the field of organic liquid analysis. The detection limits of As, Sb, Bi, Se and Te as achieved by combining hydride generation with an argon ICP, are presented to demonstrate recent progress in the determination of elements for which the detection power was hitherto less satisfactory than desired.With regard to precision, the behaviour of ICPs is pointed out as fluctuation-nose limited systems that are dominated by a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1 % in both background and net signals as generated in the source. The dependence of the RSD in the eventually measured net signals (gross signal minus background signal) on the ratio of concentration to detection limit is discussed.An extensive discussion of accuracy incorporates detailed reference to factors such as spectral interferences and reagent impurities, nebulization and transport interferences, solute vaporization interferences, and ionization interferences, which may affect the accuracy attained in ICP-AES. It is shown that ICP-AES is relatively free from interferences so that a fair degree of accuracy can be reached, if proper precautions are taken, which, in comparison with AES methods using other excitation sources, or AAS, are not excessive. It is added, however, that the measures needed to ensure fair accuracy will become increasingly severe as the analyte concentration approaches the detection limit more closely or the composition of the sample becomes more complex. It is noted that under these conditions the problems that arc spectroscopists had to face in trace analysis using dc arc spectrography are again encountered, in particular as regards the correct isolation of a net line signal from a background spectrum whose structure depends on the sample composition.The advantages of the large linear dynamic range of three to five orders of magnitude are mentioned.The numerous applications of ICP-AES reported in literature are illustrated with a list of classes of materials for which analyses were described recently.Spectrometers enter into the discussion as indispensable parts of ICP equipment that are necessary for complete analytical instruments and the price of which may be a multiple of that of the ICP source itself. Alternative spectrometers for ICP-AES are grouped into three categories depending on the type of analysis problem: 1) general survey analysis, 2) routine multielement analysis and non-routine multielement analysis with limited flexibility, and 3) flexible single-element analysis.This classification, which fits in with general cost and performance considerations, is used as a convenient basis in the subsequent assessment of the position of ICP-AES among established spectroscopic methods. This assessment encompasses comparisons of the capabilities of ICP-AES, flame AES, flame and furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), de arc AES, spark AES, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS).The position of ICPs with respect to alternative novel plasma sources for liquid analysis by AES is discussed in the light of the historic development. This eventually led to the present situation in which there are at least twelve manufacturers of spectroscopic equipment that are marketing ICP apparatus and one marketing a dc plasma source for liquid analysis, while a renewed commercialization of a capacitively coupled microwave plasma (CMP) is stimulating new interests in CMPs. As to microwave-induced plasmas (MIP), attention is drawn in particular to the TM₀₁₀ cavity that permits the generation of atmospheric pressure plasmas in helium. These have excellent characteristics as element-selective detectors in gas chromatography and also have many potential applications in multielement and single-element analysis in general, especially for the analysis of microsamples, if these are separately evaporated and atomized, e.g. by electrothermal means, prior to their introduction into the MIP.

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ICP-AES: Gegenwärtige und zukünftige Stellung in der Analytischen Chemie

Zusammenfassung Diese Übersicht (mit 179 Literaturzitaten) beabsichtigt hauptsächlich, die gegenwärtige und zukünftige Stellung der atomaren Emissions-Spektrometrie unter Verwendung eines induktiv gekoppelten Hochfrequenz-Plasmas (ICP-AES) sowohl unter den verschiedenen herkömmlichen, »bewährten« spektroskopischen Methoden als auch unter den AES-Methoden mit neuen Plasmaquellen für Flüssigkeitsanalysen zu verdeutlichen. Nach gründlichem und kritischem Vergleich der Leistungsfähigkeit und Kosten der ICP-AES gegenüber schon bestehenden Laboreinrichtungen muß die Wirtschaftlichkeit der ICP-AES je nach Situation als mögliche Ergänzung oder als möglicher Ersatz zu den herkömmlichen Techniken bewertet werden. Im Hinblick darauf wird die ICP-AES als eine relativ neue Methode zur Analyse von Flüssigkeiten und gelösten Feststoffen untersucht.Das Prinzip der Methode und die Grundausrüstung werden kurz erklärt. Dabei wird auf den Unterschied eines Argon-ICPs niedriger Leistung gegenüber einem Stickstoff-Argon-ICP hoher Leistung hingewiesen und die Fähigkeit dieser beiden Arten für Analysen realer Proben besprochen. Die Analysenfähigkeit im allgemeinen wird anhand von Nachweisgrenzen, Genauigkeit, Richtigkeit und dynamischem Bereich diskutiert. Typische Anwendungsbeispiele werden erwähnt.Eine Zusammenstellung der besten Nachweisgrenzen von 67 Elementen in wäßrigen Lösungen wird für Argon-ICPs mit pneumatisch und mit Ultraschall betriebenem Zerstäuber gegeben. Nachweisgrenzen von 15 Elementen in Öl werden angeführt, um die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von Argon-ICPs niedriger Leistung auch im Bereich der organischen Flüssigkeitsanalysen zu zeigen. Die Nachweisgrenzen von As, Sb, Bi, Se und Te, die durch eine Kombination von Hydridbildung und Argon-ICP erreichbar sind, werden dargestellt, um den neuesten Fortschritt in der Elementbestimmung zu zeigen, wo bisher das Nachweisvermögen noch nicht ausreichend war.Bei der Behandlung der Genauigkeit wird auf die Eigenschaft des ICPs als ein durch Schwankungsrauschen in der Lichtquelle begrenztes System hingewiesen, was durch die relative Standardabweichung (RSD) von 1 %, sowohl in den Untergrund- als auch Nettosignalen, wie sie die Quelle selbst bewirkt, deutlich wird. Die Abhängigkeit der RSD in den schließlich gemessenen Nettosignalen (Bruttosignal minus Untergrundsignal) vom Verhältnis Konzentration zu Nachweisgrenzen wird diskutiert.Eine ausführliche Besprechung der Richtigkeit umfaßt detaillierte Angaben über Faktoren wie spektrale Interferenzen, Reagensunreinheiten, Zerstäubungsund Transportinterferenzen, Verdampfungsinterferenzen und schließlich Ionisationsinterferenzen, die alle für die erreichte Richtigkeit ausschlaggebend sein dürften. Es wird gezeigt, daß die ICP-AES relativ frei von Interferenzen ist, so daß gute Richtigkeit in beträchtlichem Maß erreicht werden kann, wenn geeignete Vorsichtsmaßnahmen getroffen werden, die weniger aufwendig als diejenigen anderer AES-Methoden oder der AAS sind. Es wird jedoch ausgeführt, daß die zur Erzielung guter Richtigkeit erforderlichen Maßnahmen, immer aufwendiger werden, sobald die Analysenkonzentration sich mehr und mehr der Nachweisgrenze nähert oder die Proben komplexer werden. Dazu ist zu sagen, daß hier wieder die gleichen Probleme auftauchen, mit denen sich die Bogenspektroskopiker bei der Anwendung des Gleichstrombogens in der Spurenanalyse zu befassen hatten, besonders hinsichtlich der korrekten Abtrennung eines Nettosignals vom Untergrundspektrum, dessen Struktur von der Probenzusammensetzung abhängt.Der Vorteil des großen linearen dynamischen Bereichs über drei bis fünf Größenordnungen wird erwähnt.Die zahlreichen Anwendungen der ICP-AES werden in einer Liste nach denjenigen Matrialklassen aufgeführt, die in der neuesten Literatur beschrieben sind.Spektrometer werden als unentbehrlicher Teil einer ICP-Ausrüstung diskutiert, der zu einem vollständigen Analysengerät gehört und dessen Preis ein Vielfaches von dem der ICP-Quelle selbst betragen kann. Die unterschiedlichen Spektrometer für die ICP-AES werden in drei Gruppen eingeteilt, abhängig von der Art des Analysenproblems: 1. Allgemeine Übersichtsanalysen, 2. routinemäßige Multielementanalysen und nichtroutinemäßige Multielementanalysen mit beschränkter Flexibilität, und 3. flexible Einzelelementanalysen. Diese Klassifikation, angepaßt an die allgemeinen Kosten und Leistungsbetrachtungen, wird als nützliche Basis zur nachfolgenden Einschätzung der Stellung der ICPAES unter den herkömmlichen, »bewährten« spektroskopischen Methoden verwendet. Diese Einschätzung schließt Leistungsvergleiche zwischen ICP-AES, Flammen-AES, Flammen- und Ofenatomabsorptionsspektrometrie, Gleichstrombogen-AES, Funken-AES und Röntgenfluorescenzspektrometrie (XRFS) ein.Die Stellung des ICPs gegenüber anderen neuen Plasmaquellen für Flüssigkeitsanalysen durch AES wird im Hinblick auf die geschichtliche Entwicklung behandelt. Diese führte schließlich zu der heutigen Situation, wo mindestens 12 Hersteller von Spektrometerausrüstungen ICP-Geräte (einer mit einer Gleichstromplasmaquelle) anbieten, währenddem erneuter Handel mit einem kapazitiv gekoppelten Mikrowellenplasma (CMP) neue Interessen an CMPs weckt. Was Mikrowellen induzierte Plasmen (MIP) betrifft, wird die Aufmerksamkeit speziell auf den TM₀₁₀-Hohlraum gerichtet, der die Erzeugung von Helium-Plasmen bei atmosphärischem Druck ermöglicht. Diese MIPs haben ausgezeichnete Eigenschaften als element-selektive Detektoren in der Gas-Chromatographie und bieten auch viele Verwendungsmöglichkeiten bei allgemeinen Multielement- und Einzelelementanalysen, speziell für Mikroproben, wenn diese vor der Eingabe in das MIP getrennt verdampft und atomisiert werden (z.B. elektrothermisch).

     

Rapid and simple method for measuring the linearity of sucrose gradients

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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On the investigation of nitroparaffins by conversion into hydroxamic acidsII. Determination of primary nitroparaffins

Teil I: siehe [4]     

A simple procedure for the thin-layer chromatographie separation and determination of prostaglandins and other metabolites formed from 14C-arachidonic acid in human blood platelets

Summary A three-step TLC procedure for the radiochemical assay of various compounds formed by human platelets from labeled arachidonic acid has already been described [6]. The present paper deals with the simplification of the above procedure. The simplified procedure involves a 3-solvent development of the same TLC plate and can be used for routine separation and quantification of labeled arachidonic acid metabolites formed in human blood platelets.

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Einfaches Verfahren zur dünnschichtchromatographischen Trennung und Bestimmung von Prostaglandinen und anderen aus ¹⁴C-Arachidonsäure in menschlichen Thrombocyten gebildeten Metaboliten

Zusammenfassung Ein dreistufiges dünnschicht-chromatographisches Verfahren für die radiochemiche Untersuchung verschiedener Verbindungen, die durch Thrombocyten aus Arachidonsäure gebildet werden, wurde bereits früher beschrieben [6]. Diese Methode ist jetzt in verschiedenen Punkten verbessert und vereinfacht worden. Durch eine Entwicklung mit 3 verschiedenen Lösungsmitteln auf derselben Platte kann die routinemäßige Trennung und Bestimmung von Metaboliten radioaktiv markierter Arachidonsäure durchgeführt werden.

     

Linear titration plots for the potentiometric titration of partially neutralized weak acids and bases

Summary A linear titration plot method has been derived for the determination of partially neutralized weak acids or weak bases from pH-titration data. A FORTRAN program calculates the total concentration of acid or base in solution as well as the fraction remaining to be neutralized. The program also detects the presence of strong acid with a weak acid or a strong base with a weak base. The weak acid or base may be polyfunctional with overlapping dissociation steps. Activity coefficients are calculated iteratively.

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Lineare Titrationskurven für die potentiometrische Titration von teilweise neutralisierten schwachen Säuren und Basen

Zusammenfassung Lineare Titrationskurven werden für potentiometrische Titrationen von schwachen Säuren und Basen, die bereits teilweise neutralisiert sind, abgeleitet. Eine Fortran-Prozedur berechnet sowohl die Gesamtkonzentration der Säure oder Base als auch den Neutralisationsgrad. Das Rechenprogramm erfaßt auch die Anwesenheit einer starken Säure zusammen mit einer schwachen Säure oder einer starken Base zusammen mit einer schwachen Base. Die schwache Säure oder Base darf mehrere überlappende Dissoziationsstufen aufweisen. Aktivitätskoeffizienten werden mittels eines Iterationsverfahrens berechnet.

     

Laboratorial diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and new insights for the future of fungal diagnosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent mycosis in Latin-America. As for other mycosis, its importance of has been largely underestimated, partially due to the limited geographical distribution of the etiologic fungal agent (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). However, the advent of AIDS and other immune suppressing conditions is creating an emergent need for improved diagnostic tests envisaging simpler, cheaper, faster and more sensitive and accurate detection of pathogenic fungi, especially those causing systemic and opportunistic diseases. Routine laboratorial diagnosis of PCM disease relies mainly on direct observation of the fungus. However, culture growing is slow and, too often, definite diagnosis can only be obtained at later growing stages. Immunodiagnosis is also widely employed, although usually cumbersome and complex. Enzyme-based immunoassays are more amenable to automation for high-throughput testing, but may lead to cross-reactivity with other fungi. Plus, molecular diagnosis relying on polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic-acid hybridization, although still at early stages of application to routine diagnosis of P. brasiliensis, has triggered the development of techniques for its improved specific detection, thus contributing for epidemiological studies as well. In the future, microarrays and newer biosensing technologies, coupled to new bionanotechnological tools, will certainly improve diagnosis of PCM and other mycosis through very specific and sensitive pathogen biomolecular detection.     

Characterization of carbon nanotubes and analytical methods for their determination in environmental and biological samples: A review

In the present paper, a critical overview of the most commonly used techniques for the characterization and the determination of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is given on the basis of 170 references (2000–2014). The analytical techniques used for CNT characterization (including microscopic and diffraction, spectroscopic, thermal and separation techniques) are classified, described, and illustrated with applied examples. Furthermore, the performance of sampling procedures as well as the available methods for the determination of CNTs in real biological and environmental samples are reviewed and discussed according to their analytical characteristics. In addition, future trends and perspectives in this field of work are critically presented.     

Semiquantitative estimation of the mycotoxins citrinin, Ochratoxin A, Aflatoxin M1 and penicillic acid on thin-layer chromatograms with a grey scale

Summary Spots of citrinin, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin M₁ and penicillic acid on thin-layer chromatograms can be semi-quantitatively estimated by using a grey scale, commonly used in photo laboratories. The detection limits are 0.01 g for citrinin, 0.006 g for ochratoxin A, 0.002 g for aflatoxin M₁ and 0.01 g for penicillic acid. Standard curves for these mycotoxins are given.

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Halbquantitative Bestimmung der Mycotoxine Citrinin, Ochratoxin A, Aflatoxin M₁ und Penicillinsäure auf Dünnschicht-Chromatogrammen mit Hilfe eines Graukeils

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe eines in Photolabors gebräuchlichen Graukeils können dünnschicht-chromatographische Flecke der obengenannten Mycotoxine halbquantitativ bestimmt werden. Die Nachweisgrenzen betragen 0,01 g für Citrinin, 0,006 g für Ochratoxin A, 0,002 g für Aflatoxin M₁ und 0,01 g für Penicillinsäure. Eichkurven werden angegeben.

     

Biosensors and rapid diagnostic tests on the frontier between analytical and clinical chemistry for biomolecular diagnosis of dengue disease: a review

The past decades have witnessed enormous technological improvements towards the development of simple, cost-effective and accurate rapid diagnostic tests for detection and identification of infectious pathogens. Among them is dengue virus, the etiologic agent of the mosquito-borne dengue disease, one of the most important emerging infectious pathologies of nowadays. Dengue fever may cause potentially deadly hemorrhagic symptoms and is endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical world, being also a serious threat to temperate countries in the developed world. Effective diagnostics for dengue should be able to discriminate among the four antigenically related dengue serotypes and fulfill the requirements for successful decentralized (point-of-care) testing in the harsh environmental conditions found in most tropical regions. The accurate identification of circulating serotypes is crucial for the successful implementation of vector control programs based on reliable epidemiological predictions. This paper briefly summarizes the limitations of the main conventional techniques for biomolecular diagnosis of dengue disease and critically reviews some of the most relevant biosensors and rapid diagnostic tests developed, implemented and reported so far for point-of-care testing of dengue infections. The invaluable contributions of microfluidics and nanotechnology encompass the whole paper, while evaluation concerns of rapid diagnostic tests and foreseen technological improvements in this field are also overviewed for the diagnosis of dengue and other infectious and tropical diseases as well.     

A new and consistent parameter for measuring the quality of multivariate analytical methods: Generalized analytical sensitivity

Generalized analytical sensitivity (γ) is proposed as a new figure of merit, which can be estimated from a multivariate calibration data set. It can be confidently applied to compare different calibration methodologies, and helps to solve literature inconsistencies on the relationship between classical sensitivity and prediction error. In contrast to the classical plain sensitivity, γ incorporates the noise properties in its definition, and its inverse is well correlated with root mean square errors of prediction in the presence of general noise structures. The proposal is supported by studying simulated and experimental first-order multivariate calibration systems with various models, namely multiple linear regression, principal component regression (PCR) and maximum likelihood PCR (MLPCR). The simulations included instrumental noise of different types: independently and identically distributed (iid), correlated (pink) and proportional noise, while the experimental data carried noise which is clearly non-iid.     

A Facile Semisynthesis and Evaluation of Garcinoic Acid and Its Analogs for the Inhibition of Human DNA Polymerase β

Garcinoic acid has been identified as an inhibitor of DNA polymerase β (pol β). However, no structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of garcinoic acid as a pol β inhibitor have been conducted, in part due to the lack of an efficient synthetic method for this natural product and its analogs. We developed an efficient semi-synthetic method for garcinoic acid and its analogs by starting from natural product δ-tocotrienol. Our preliminary SAR studies provided a valuable insight into future discovery of garcinoic acid-based pol β inhibitors.     

Mentha pulegium L.: A Plant Underestimated for Its Toxicity to Be Recovered from the Perspective of the Circular Economy

The aim of the study was to investigate the micromorphology of Mentha pulegium leaves and flowers harvested in three different Sicilian (Italy) areas with peculiar pedo-climatic conditions, and to characterize the phytochemical profile, the phytotoxic activity, and the eco-compatibility of their essential oils (EOs) for potential use as safe bioherbicides. Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) highlighted that M. pulegium indumentum consists of non-glandular and glandular trichomes of different types. Peltate trichomes of plants from the different sites showed few significant differences in dimension and abundance, but they were characterized by a surprisingly high number of secretory cells both in leaves and flowers. Phytochemical analyses showed that oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant class in all the EOs investigated (92.2–97.7%), but two different chemotypes, pulegone/isomenthone and piperitone/isomenthone, were found. The complex of morphological and phytochemical data indicates that soil salinity strongly affects the expression of the toxic metabolite pulegone, rather than the EO yield. Phytotoxicity tests showed a moderate activity of EOs against the selected species as confirmed by α-amylase assay. Moreover, the low toxicity on brine shrimp provided a rationale for the possible use of investigated EOs as eco-friendly herbicides.     

The Influence of Ionic Liquids Adsorption on the Electronic and Optical Properties of Phosphorene and Arsenene with Different Phases: A Computational Study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate the interfacial interactions of ionic liquids (ILs) on the α- and β-phases of phosphorene (P) and arsenene (As). Nine representative ILs based on the combinations of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ([EMIM]⁺), N-methylpyridinium ([MPI]⁺), and trimethylamine ([TMA]⁺) cations paired to tetrafluoroborate ([BF₄]⁻), trifluoromethanesulfonate ([TFO]⁻), and chloridion (Cl⁻) anions were used as adsorbates on the 2D P and As nanosheets with different phases to explore the effect of IL adsorption on the electronic and optical properties of 2D materials. The calculated structure, adsorption energy, and charge transfer suggest that the interaction between ILs and P and As nanosheets is dominated by noncovalent forces, and the most stable adsorption structures are characterized by the simultaneous interaction of the cation and anion with the surface, irrespective of the types of ILs and surfaces. Furthermore, the IL adsorption leads to the larger change in the electronic properties of β-phase P and As than those of their α-phase counterparts, which demonstrates that the adsorption properties are not only related to the chemical elements, but also closely related to the phase structures. The present results provide insight into the further applications of ILs and phosphorene (arsenene) hybrid materials.     

Determination of plutonium and other transuranic elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A historical perspective and new frontiers in the environmental sciences

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), particularly with sector field mass analyzers (SF-ICPMS), has emerged in the past several years as an excellent analytical technique for rapid, highly sensitive determination of transuranic elements (TRU) in environmental samples. SF-ICPMS has advantages of simplicity of sample preparation, high sample throughput, widespread availability in laboratories worldwide, and relatively straightforward operation when compared to other competing mass spectrometric techniques. Arguably, SF-ICPMS is the preferred technique for routine, high-throughput determination of ²³⁷Np and the Pu isotopes, excepting ²³⁸Pu, at fg-pg levels in environmental samples. Many research groups have now demonstrated the SF-ICPMS determination of ^239 + 240Pu activities, ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and other Pu atom ratios in several different application areas. Many studies have examined the relative contribution of global fallout vs. local/regional Pu sources in the environment through measurement of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and, in some cases, ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴²Pu/²³⁹Pu. “Stratospheric fallout”, which was deposited from thermonuclear tests, conducted largely during the 1952–1964 time period, is characterized by a well-defined ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu of ~ 0.18, while most other sources have different ratios. Examples of local/regional Pu sources are the Nevada Test Site, the Chernobyl plume, and accidents at Palomares, Spain and Thule, Greenland. The determination of Pu activities and atom ratios has stimulated much interest in the use of Pu as a marine tracer; several studies have shown that Pu is transported over long distances by ocean currents. ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratios > 0.20 in sediments and seawater of the North Pacific are ascribed to ocean current transport of fallout from the Pacific Proving Ground. In nuclear forensics, much effort is focused on detection and fingerprinting of small amounts of TRU in environmental samples consisting of bulk material or individual isolated particles. Activity measurements of ^239 + 240Pu, determined by SF-ICPMS, have the potential to supplement and/or replace ¹³⁷Cs as a tracer of erosion, deposition, and sedimentation. Undoubtedly, the application of SF-ICPMS in TRU analysis will continue to expand, witness new developments, and generate interesting unforeseen applications in upcoming years.