Quantitative analysis of precious metals in automotive shredder residue/combustion residue via EDX fluorescence spectrometry

The recovery of precious metals from automotive shredder residue (ASR) dust/combustion residue is an option that is not usually considered due to the lack of available information. Therefore, before any disposal or recovery application can be considered, it is necessary to determine the significance of the levels and distribution of precious metal in ASR dust/ASR combustion residue. In the present study, quantitative analysis of precious metals (Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu) in the ASR residue samples was performed using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) fluorescence spectrometer. With the fundamental parameter (FP) method, the X-ray intensity is obtained and the quantitative analysis is performed using theoretical calculation. This method is very effective for quantitative analysis of unknown samples without standard samples. Further, in order to analyse the precious metal distribution within the ASR combustion residues, the microstructural characterisation and elemental mapping were also carried out with the aid of field emission scanning election microscopy combined with electron dispersive spectroscopy (FE-SEM EDS). Significant amount of Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu element concentrations in the ASR residue were identified. Total precious (Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu) metals obtainable values are representing about 12.23 wt% from its initial ASR dust/combustion residues. Considering their relevant concentrations, these metals should be properly recovered for recycling purposes before to dispose or landfill.     

Evaluation of alumina slurry dispersion by nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation as a comparison to conventional dispersion evaluation methods

In this paper, we evaluated the particle dispersion degree of alumina slurry containing a dispersant by solvent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation and compared it with conventional dispersion evaluation methods such as viscosity, particle size, and sedimentation height measurements. The dispersion of slurry was evaluated via numerical analysis of the transverse relaxation time (T₂). The effect of the changes in different parameters of the experiment in terms of milling time, solid loading, and dispersant amount was investigated by NMR relaxation as well as conventional methods. The results of NMR relaxation measurements revealed that T₂ correlates well with other dispersion evaluation methods; thus, it is an efficient technique to evaluate the dispersion of alumina slurry, specifically, when studying the effect of the change in milling time and dispersion amount.     

Molecular insight for the role of key residues of calreticulin in its binding activities: A computational study

Calreticulin (CRT) is localized to and has functions in multiple cellular compartments, including the cell surface, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the extracellular matrix. Mutagenesis studies have identified several residues on a concave β-sheet surface of CRT critical for CRT binding to carbohydrate and other proteins/peptides. How the mutations of these key residues in CRT affect the conformation and dynamics of CRT, further influencing CRT binding to carbohydrates and other proteins to signal the important biological activities remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of three key point mutations (C105A, C137A and W319A) on CRT conformation and dynamics via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that these three key residues mutations induced the changes of CRT local backbone flexibility and secondary structure of CRT N-domain, which could further affect CRT’s binding activity. C137A mutation led to dramatic decrease of the overall size of CRT due to the P-domain fold back to the globular domain and formed new inter-domain contacts, which can cause blockage of CRT’s binding with other large substrates. Furthermore, for CRT concave β-strand surface patch containing lectin binding site, CRT C105A, C137A and W319A point mutation resulted in the changes in solvent accessible surface area, key residues’ side chain atom positions and dynamical correlated motions between residues. All these changes could directly affect CRT binding behavior. Results of this study provide molecular and structural insights into understanding the role of key residues of CRT in its binding behavior.     

Making Use of the Direct Process Residue: Synthesis of Bifunctional Monosilanes

The industrial production of monosilanes Me_nSiCl_4−n (n=1–3) through the Müller–Rochow Direct Process generates disilanes Me_nSi₂Cl_6−n (n=2–6) as unwanted byproducts (“Direct Process Residue”, DPR) by the thousands of tons annually, large quantities of which are usually disposed of by incineration. Herein we report a surprisingly facile and highly effective protocol for conversion of the DPR: hydrogenation with complex metal hydrides followed by Si−Si bond cleavage with HCl/ether solutions gives (mostly bifunctional) monosilanes in excellent yields. Competing side reactions are efficiently suppressed by the appropriate choice of reaction conditions.     

Determination,residue and risk assessment of trifloxystrobin,trifloxystrobin acid and tebuconazole in Chinese rice consumption

A simple and rapid analytical method for the detection of trifloxystrobin, trifloxystrobin acid and tebuconazole in soil, brown rice, paddy plants and rice hulls was established and validated by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Acceptable linearity (R² > 0.99), accuracy (average recoveries of 74.3–108.5%) and precision (intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations of 0.9–8.8%) were obtained using the developed determination approach. In the field trial, the half-lives of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole in paddy plants were 5.7–8.3 days in three locations throughout China, and the terminal residue concentrations of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole were <100 and 500 μg/kg (maximum residue limits set by China), respectively, at harvest, which indicated that, based on the recommended application procedure, trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole are safe for use on rice. The risk assessment results demonstrated that, owing to risk quotient values of both fungicides being <100%, the potential risk of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole on rice was acceptable for Chinese consumers. These data could provide supporting information for the proper use and safety evaluation of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole in rice.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定茶汤中7种苯甲酰脲类农药残留

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)法,结合溶剂提取和固相富集技术同时测定茶汤中氟啶脲、除虫脲、啶蜱脲、氟虫脲、氟铃脲、伏虫隆和杀铃脲7种苯甲酰农药残留的方法。研究了提取溶剂的种类、用量和提取时间,以及固相富集小柱的固定相和流动相对7种苯甲酰脲类农药的提取率、分离度、灵敏度和重现性等的影响。结果表明,在最佳条件下,7种苯甲酰脲类农药在6.5min内被完全分离。7种苯甲酰脲类农药残留的检测限(DL)和定量限(QL)分别为0.08~1.00ng/mL和0.09~3.02ng/mL,加标回收率为90%~105%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于7%(n=6)。利用所建立的方法成功测定了不同茶汤中上述7种苯甲酰脲类农药残留。该方法具有耗时短、灵敏度高、稳定性好等优点,有助于茶叶安全饮用的准确评价。     

液相色谱串联质谱法测定水果中复硝酚钠残留量

以甲醇提取样品,采用超高效液相色谱串联质谱法(UPLC–MS/MS)测定水果中复硝酚钠的残留量。以甲醇–10 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液(体积比为60∶40)为流动相,质谱采用电喷雾负离子MRM检测模式。对硝基苯酚钠和5-硝基愈创木酚钠的线性范围为0.05~2.00 mg/L,检出限为0.01 mg/kg,邻硝基苯酚钠的线性范围为2.5~100.0 mg/L,检出限为0.5 mg/kg,线性相关系数均大于0.995。实际样品中对硝基苯酚钠、邻硝基苯酚钠和5-硝基愈创木酚钠的加标回收率分别为83.0%~93.4%,81.0%~87.4%,83.0%~91.8%,测定结果的相对标准偏差小于7%(n=6)。该法操作简单、快捷,精密度、准确度高,适用于水果中复硝酚钠的残留分析。     

UV-assisted degradation of propiconazole in a TiO2 aqueous suspension: identification of transformation products and the reaction pathway using GC/MS

Photocatalytic degradation of propiconazole, a triazole pesticide, in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) under ultraviolet (UV) illumination was performed in a batch type photocatalytic reactor. A full factorial experimental design technique was used to study the main effects and the interaction effects between operational parameters in the photocatalytic degradation of propiconazole in a batch photo-reactor using the TiO₂ aqueous suspension. The effects of catalyst concentration (0.15–0.4 gL^?1), initial pH (3–9), initial concentration (5–35 mg L^?1) and light conditions were optimised at a reaction time duration of 90 min by keeping area/volume ratio constant at 0.919 cm² mL^?1. Photocatalytic oxidation of propiconazole showed 85% degradation and 76.57% mineralisation under UV light (365 nm/30 Wm^?2) at pH 6.5, initial concentration 25 mg L^?1 and constant temperature (25 ± 1 °C). The Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model has successfully elucidated the effects of the initial concentration on the degradation of propiconazole and the data obtained are consistent with the available kinetic parameters. The photocatalytic transformation products of propiconazole were identified by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The pathway of degradation obtained from mass spectral analysis shows the breakdown of transformation products into smaller hydrocarbons (m/z 28 and 39).     

Development of GC–MS/MS method for environmental monitoring of 49 pesticide residues in food commodities in Al-Rass,Al-Qassim region,Saudi Arabia

The harmful effects of pesticide residues are a threat to our health. Therefore, the current study aimed to validate a simple method for the determination of pesticide residues in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables from Al-Rass, Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1430 samples were collected from a local market and then analyzed for monitoring of 49 pesticide residues. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) multi-residue extraction method followed by gas chromatography equipped with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) was successfully implemented. This 17-min-run analytical method detects and quantifies pesticide residues with acceptable validation performance parameters in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, linearity, the limit of quantification, accuracy, and precision. The linear range of the calibration curves ranged from 10 to 300 µg/L, all the pesticide LODs ranged from 0.0005 to 0.0024 mg/kg, and the pesticide LOQs ranged from 0.0011 to 0.0047 mg/kg. The recovery values at the three fortification levels ranged from 78 % to 107 %, and the precision values (expressed as RSD%) were less than 20 % for all of the investigated analytes. The results showed that 138 (9.65 %) of the analyzed samples were contaminated with pesticide residues, 40 (2.80 %) of the analyzed samples exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) of the European Commission regulations (EC) for pesticides residues, 98 (6.85 %) of the analyzed samples were contaminated with residues below the MRL, and 1292 (90.35 %) of the analyzed samples were pesticide residue-free. Coriander contained the highest percentage (46.88 %) of pesticide residues, particularly tetradifon that representing 18.75 % noncompliance with the MRL, followed by parsley, with 20.59 % pesticide residues (10.29 % non-compliance). Multiple pesticide residues were observed most frequently in tomatoes and dates which were contaminated with buprofezin and ethion respectively.     

吉林某弹药销毁场土壤炸药污染调查及其赋存状态研究

研究吉林某军事弹药销毁场土壤炸药污染程度以及炸药在土壤中的赋存状态,为炸药和重金属污染土壤修复提供针对性策略。采集了某弹药销毁厂焚烧销毁区表层土壤样品,分析了其理化性质和常见重金属元素含量,测试了土壤全样和不同颗粒度土壤样品中炸药污染物的含量,并结合热重-傅里叶变换红外光谱(TGA-FTIR) 对炸药污染土壤样品热力学行为的表征,探讨了炸药污染物的赋存状态,炸药和重金属组合污染特征等。土壤中含有高浓度的TNT、DNT、ADNT、RDX等炸药污染物及其降解产物,并表现出土壤细颗粒富集趋势,其中土壤全样中TNT总浓度达到了1.66×104 mg·kg-1,远远高于EPA推荐的土壤TNT指导限值,RDX超过了以土壤环境为目标的指导限值;销毁活动还造成了土壤中Pb、Cu、Zn重金属浓度的升高,分别为400 mg·kg-1,318 mg·kg-1,1030 mg·kg-1。土壤中受到重金属和有机质等因素的影响,土壤中经过长期老化的炸药污染物的热解行为明显不同于自由态的炸药分子,热解温度升高、过程延长。在销毁区炸药污染土壤的修复中,应加强炸药污染物与重金属相互作用的研究,并在修复治理实践中采取协同修复的策略。