Microwave assisted low temperature synthesis of sodium zirconium phosphate (NaZr<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>)

Sodium zirconium phosphate [NaZr₂P₃O₁₂], a potential ceramic matrix for fixation of high level nuclear waste, was synthesized by heating the mixture of sodium carbonate [Na₂CO₃], zirconyl nitrate hydrate [ZrO(NO₃)₂·5H₂O] and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate [NH₄H₂PO₄] in air, in a resistance heated furnace and a microwave heating system respectively in the temperature range 450 to 650°C. The mixture heated for 1 h in a resistance furnace at 450°C yielded a poorly crystalline NaZr₂P₃O₁₂ [NZP]. Increasing the temperature to 650°C produced a highly crystalline product. The same mixture heated in a microwave oven at 450°C for 1 h however, yielded the most crystalline NZP.In an alternate method, the mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) and diammonium hydrogen phosphate [(NH₄)₂HPO₄] heated in resistance furnace at 650°C for the same period did not react in air. It also did not yield the pure product at 450°C when heated in microwave assembly for 1 h.The authors thank the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the financial support for this work under the project No. 2000/37/19/BRNS/1959 dtd09-02-02.     

Determination of triclosan in foodstuffs

A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method coupled with an ultraviolet detector was developed to determine triclosan which had migrated into foodstuffs from packaging materials. The method includes extraction with hexane, followed by evaporation to dryness and residue re-dissolution in ACN 90%. Chromatographic separation was performed with a Kromasil 100 C18 column (15 cm x 0.4 cm ID, 5 microm particle size) at 30 degrees C and using ACN and water as mobile phases. Regarding recoveries, good results (higher than 83% and lower than 112%) were obtained for the three representative food matrixes selected (orange juice, chicken breast meat, and Gouda cheese).     

富锌排铅咀嚼片安全性毒理学评价

对富锌排铅咀嚼片(RZLR)进行了急性毒性试验、Ames试验、骨髓微核试验、精子畸形试验和30 d喂养试验。结果表明,小鼠急性毒性LD50(BW)>21 500 mg/kg,属无毒级;Ames试验、小鼠骨髓微核试验、精子畸形试验和30 d喂养试验结果均为阴性;30 d喂养试验也未显示明显毒性。本研究证实RZLR是一种安全、无毒副作用的保健食品。     

Thermal analysis,state transitions and food quality

Thermal properties of food systems are important in understanding relationships between food properties and changes in food quality. Concentrated food systems (low-moisture and frozen foods) are seldom in an equilibrium state and they tend to form amorphous, non-crystalline structures. Several glass transition-related changes in such foods affect stability, e.g., stickiness and caking of powders, crispness of snack foods and breakfast cereals, crystallisation of amorphous sugars, recrystallisation of gelatinised starch, ice formation and recrystallisation in frozen foods and rates of non-enzymatic browning and enzymatic reactions. Relationships between glass transition, water plasticisation and relaxation times can be shown in state diagrams. State diagrams are useful as stability or quality maps and in the control of rates of changes in food processing and storage.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

废聚丙烯塑料等离子体热解研究——水蒸气的加入对改善气体品质的影响

以聚丙烯为试验物料，利用N2热等离子体在等离子体反应器内进行了一系列热解试验，重点考察了气体产物成分及含量。在反应过程中加入过热水蒸气以改善气体品质，在本实验条件下，气体产物中CO与H2之和可以达到40%，C2H2可达到5%。     

Do proficiency tests always verify laboratories’ performance? The case of FAPAS PT 0270

In this paper, the case of FAPAS PT 0270 “Doramectin and Oxfendazole in Sheep Liver” is discussed. During evaluation of the data received from participants (determination of total, oxidised oxfendazole residue and calculation of the sum of oxfendazole and oxfendazole sulfone residues), significant differences were observed between the results obtained by use of two analytical approaches. This phenomenon can be explained by the route of oxfendazole metabolism, which results in the presence of fenbendazole in the sample. This was not predicted by the provider; consequently, not all the necessary tests on the material were conducted. Due to the high uncertainty of the z-scores in this test, the results of the PT cannot be used for purposes of evaluation, and the benefits of participation in PT 0270 are questionable.     

固体超强酸SO_4~(2-)/SiO_2-TiO_2催化合成异维生素C钠

在异维生素C钠(D-VcNa)的合成过程中,以SO42-/S iO2-TiO2复合固体超强酸作为酯化反应催化剂,2-酮基-D-葡萄糖酸(2-KGA)和甲醇为原料,采用精馏脱水酯化工艺,不断除去酯化过程中产生的水。催化剂的最佳焙烧温度为550℃,催化剂用量为2.5%;反应时间3~4 h,产品收率为88.6%,催化剂的重复使用性较好,催化体系优于硫酸法。     

Application of differential scanning calorimetry in food research and food quality assurance

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is the most widely used thermal analytical technique in food research and it has a great utility in quality assurance of food. Proteins are the most studied food components by thermal analysis including studies on conformation changes of food proteins as affected by various environmental factors, thermal denaturation of tissue proteins, food enzymes and enzyme preparations for the food industry, as well as effects of various additives on their thermal properties. Freezing-induced denaturation of food proteins and the effect of cryoprotectants are also monitored by DSC. Polymer characterization based on DSC of polysaccharides, gelatinization behaviour of starches and interaction of starch with other food components can be determined, and phase transitions during baking processes can be studied by DSC. Studies on crystallization and melting behaviour of fats observed by DSC indicate changes in lipid composition or help characterizing products. Thermal oxidative decomposition of edible oils examined by DSC can be used for predicting oil stability. Using DSC in the freezing range has a great potential for measuring and modelling frozen food thermal properties, and to estimate the state of water in foods and food ingredients. Research in food microbiology utilizes DSC in better understanding thermoadaptive mechanisms or heat killing of food-borne microorganisms. Isothermic microcalorimetric techniques provide informative data regarding microbial growth and microbial metabolism.     

Application of a sequential extraction procedure to study the release of elements from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash

The release of five elements (Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) from a municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (BA) under different extraction conditions has been investigated by performing the three-step sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Standards, Measurements and Testing Program of the European Union. A fourth step (strong acid attack) has been added in order to calculate the mass balance. The results of this study provide information on the potential mobility of the studied elements. Almost all of the Cr and part of the Mn are extracted with strong acid which indicates low potential mobility in the environment. Most of the Cu is extracted under oxidizing conditions. Pb and Zn are released under acidic condition, indicating the possibility of their mobilization by changes in pH. The reproducibility of the sequential extraction procedure is also discussed.     

蒙脱石-石墨-聚氯乙烯复合电极测定制药废水中苯酚

报道了当制药废水PH8．0时，用蒙脱石－石墨－聚氯乙烯复合电极可以直接测定苯酚的含量而不受水杨酸存在的干扰，苯酚浓度在1．0μg/mL-25.0μg/mL范围内峰电流与浓度有良好的线性关系，I＝1．262c-0.046，相关系数r=0.998，检出限为0．1μg/mL，用该方法测定模拟制药废水中苯酚，其平均回收率为101．7％。