Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Dark Energy with Phantom Crossing and the H0 Tension

We investigate the possibility of phantom crossing in the dark energy sector and the solution for the Hubble tension between early and late universe observations. We use robust combinations of different cosmological observations, namely the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), local measurement of Hubble constant (H0), Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) and SnIa for this purpose. For a combination of CMB+BAO data that is related to early universe physics, phantom crossing in the dark energy sector was confirmed at a 95% confidence level and we obtained the constraint H0=71.0−3.8+2.9 km/s/Mpc at a 68% confidence level, which is in perfect agreement with the local measurement by Riess et al. We show that constraints from different combinations of data are consistent with each other and all of them are consistent with phantom crossing in the dark energy sector. For the combination of all data considered, we obtained the constraint H0=70.25±0.78 km/s/Mpc at a 68% confidence level and the phantom crossing happening at the scale factor am=0.851−0.031+0.048 at a 68% confidence level.     

One‐pot synthesis of a multi‐template molecularly imprinted polymer for the extraction of six sulfonamide residues from milk before high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection

A highly selective molecularly imprinted polymer sorbent was synthesized and employed for the simultaneous determination of six sulfonamide antibiotic residues (sulfanilamide, sulfacetamide, sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole, sulfamerazine, and sulfamethizole) in milk samples. Multi‐analyte imprinted particles were used as a sorbent in solid‐phase extraction. Sulfonamides were separated on a high‐performance liquid chromatography column (Merck–Lichrospher RP18e, 5 μm 250 × 4 mm) and further identified and quantified by diode array detection. Several parameters including required loading of the molecularly imprinted polymer sorbent, mass of milk, volume, and type of elution solvent, as well as time for absorption and elution were investigated to obtain optimal experimental conditions. For comparison purpose, a non‐imprinted polymer was applied under the optimum conditions. The validation study according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC was based on the investigation of linearity, selectivity, stability, limits of detection and quantitation, decision limit, detection capability, trueness, precision, and ruggedness according to Youden's approach. The decision limit and detection capability values in the milk were achieved from 101.9 to 113.5 μg/kg and from 114.4 to 135.4 μg/kg, respectively, depending on the target sulfonamide drug. Finally, the optimized protocol was successfully applied to commercial milk samples and human breast milk.     

Separation and purification of scandium: From industry to medicine

Scandium and its compounds are used in many modern industrial fields due to its unique chemical and physical properties. It is mainly recovered from residues and wastes in the production of other metals. The exploitation of the ores and wastes could contaminate water and soil creating environmental problems. This paper discusses recent developments and tendencies in scandium separation, purification and preconcentration from different wastes, residues, environmental samples as well as in the production of radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine, both in the laboratory and on the industrial scale. The period reviewed here mainly includes publications that have appeared, since 2010.     

QbD approached comparison of reaction mechanism in microwave synthesized gold nanoparticles and their superior catalytic role against hazardous nirto‐dye

Microwave irradiation (MI) process characteristically enables extremely rapid “in‐core” heating of dipoles and ions, in comparison to conventional thermal (conductance) process of heat transfer. During the process of nanoparticles synthesis, MI both modulates functionality behaviors as well as dynamic of reaction in favorable direction. So, MI providing a facile, favorable and alternative approach during nanoparticles synthesis nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic performances. Although, conventionally used reducing and capping reagents of synthetic origin, are usually environmentally hazardous and toxic for living organism. But, in absence of suitable capping agent; stability, shelf life and catalytic activity of metallic nanoparticles adversely affected. However, polymeric templates which emerged as suitable choice of agent for both reducing and capping purposes; bearing additional advantages in terms of catalyst free one step green synthesis process with high degree of biosafety and efficiency. Another aspect of current works was to understand role of process variables in growth mechanism and catalytic performances of microwave processed metallic nanoparticles, as well as comparison of these parameters with conventional heating method. However, due to poor prediction ability with previously published architect OFAT (One factor at a time) design with these nanoparticles as well as random selection of process variables with their different levels, such comparison couldn't be possible. Hence, using gum Ghatti (Anogeissus latifolia) as a model bio‐template and under simulated reaction conditions; architect of QbD design systems were integrated in microwave processed nanoparticles to establish mechanistic role these variables. Furthermore, in comparison to conventional heating; we reported well validated mathematical modeling of process variables on characteristic of nanoparticles as well as synthesized gold nanoparticles of desired and identical dimensions, in both thermal and microwave‐based processes. Interestingly, despite of identical dimension, MI processed gold nanoparticles bearing higher efficiency (kinetic rate) against remediation of hazardous nitro dye (4‐nitrophenol), into safer amino (4‐aminophenol) analogues.     

REVIEW ON OPTIMIZATION OF ASTEROID CAPTURE ORBITS

小行星捕获对研究行星起源、地球生命来源、防御小行星撞击地球和开采行星矿产资源具有重要的意义。由于现有的推进器能力不足,小行星捕获任务中优化小行星捕获所需要的速度增量是任务成败的关键。本文分别从利用引力辅助轨道优化、连续小推力轨迹优化、小行星捕获任务轨道优化设计及小行星临时捕获等4 个方向介绍小行星捕获轨道优化方面国内外研究进展及现状。基于对上述研究现状的分析,尝试展望小行星捕获轨道优化研究的未来发展趋势。     

Simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs including amphetamines,benzodiazepines, cocaine,opioids, piperazines,zolpidem and metabolites in human hair samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs and metabolites, including 19 benzodiazepines, 19 amphetamines, two opiates, eight opioids, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, zolpidem, three piperazines and 21 metabolites in human hair samples, was developed and validated. Ten‐milligram hair samples were decontaminated, pulverized using a ball mill, extracted with 1 mL of methanol spiked with 28 deuterated internal standards in an ultrasonic bath for 60 min at 50°C, and purified with Q‐sep dispersive solid‐phase extraction tubes. The purified extracts were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in 0.1 mL of 10% methanol. The 75 analytes were analyzed on an Acquity HSS T3 column using gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid and quantified in multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization. Calibration curves were linear (r ≥ 0.9951) from the lower limit of quantitation (2–200 pg/mg depending on the drug) to 2000 pg/mg. The coefficients of variation and accuracy for intra‐ and inter‐assay analysis at three QC levels were 4.3–12.9% and 89.2–109.1%, respectively. The overall mean recovery ranged from 87.1 to 105.3%. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of 11 forensic hair samples obtained from drug abusers.     

Rapid and easy quantification of elemental sulphur in aqueous samples from biological reactors: the turbidimetric method revisited

Recent developments in wastewater treatment have led to a renewed interest to obtain elemental sulphur (S°) as a by-product from bioreactors. However, practical studies are limited by the gap of adequate analytical techniques for its determination. This paper provides a statistical study and matrix effect evaluation of an adapted spectrophotometric method for routine S° analyses in aqueous samples, based on a methodology previously described by Hart (1961). Four complex matrices were tested: domestic sewage and effluent samples from three different bioreactors. Tested performance criteria included linearity, matrix effect, limit of detection and quantification and S° recovery. Results were linear (R² = 0.99994) in the studied range (5 to 100 mg S° L^?1) and no matrix effect was observed. The accuracy was based on recovery values that varied from 100% to 106%. The colloidal S° separation and extraction protocol was also considered suitable for aqueous samples, reaching more than 99.0% of S° recovery.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of trace levels of nitrophenols in water samples after dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction

An efficient and fast dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was developed using MIL‐101(Cr)/poly (mercaptobenzothiazole)@magnetite nanoparticles for the preconcentration and determination of nitrophenols in river and rain water samples. High‐performance liquid chromatography‐Ultraviolet instrument was applied for the analysis of target nitrophenols. The effect of several variables on the extraction performance was explored via design of experiment approach. Limits of detection and linear dynamic ranges were attained in the range of 0.05–0.10 µg/L and 0.2–250 µg/L, respectively. The enrichment factors were in the range of 317–363. The precision (n = 3) of dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was in the range of 5.3–6.8%. Eventually, the method was utilized for the analysis of target nitrophenols in river and rain water samples.     

Validation of a HPLC/MS method for simultaneous quantification of clonidine,morphine and its metabolites in human plasma

A high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of morphine, morphine's major metabolites morphine‐3‐glucuronide and morphine‐6‐glucuronide, and clonidine, to support the pharmacokinetic analysis of an ongoing double‐blinded randomized clinical trial that compares the use of morphine and clonidine in infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Plasma samples were processed by solid‐phase extraction and separated on an Inertsil ODS‐3 (4 μm) column using an 0.1% formic acid in water–0.1% formic acid in methanol gradient. Detection of the analytes was conducted in the positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. The range of quantitation was 1–1000 ng/mL for morphine, morphine‐3‐glucuronide and morphine‐6‐glucuronide, and 0.25–100 ng/mL for clonidine. Intra‐day and inter‐day accuracy and precision were ≤15% for all analytes across the quantitation range. Extraction recovery rates were ≥94% for morphine, ≥90% for M3G, ≥87% for M6G and ≥ 79% for clonidine. Matrix effect ranged from 85–94% for clonidine to 101–106% for M3G. The method fulfilled all predetermined acceptance criteria and required only 100 μL of starting plasma volume. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to 30 clinical trial plasma samples.