Determination of metals in heavy oil residues by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

A method is proposed for the sample preparation of heavy oil residues characterized by viscosity of more than 700 mm²/sec at 100°C to study their elemental composition. It is shown that a wide range of elements can be determined in heavy oil residues by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (IC-AES) when the sample dissolved in an organic solvent is injected into the instrument. The optimal parameters for the determination of metals in heavy oil residues by ICP-AES are selected, including an organic solvent and the method of sample dilution. The results of elemental analysis of heavy residues of oils from Chernigovskoe, Shpakovskoe, and Samarskoe deposits are compared. The developed method for determining metals in heavy oil residues significantly reduces the analysis time and does not require complex sample preparation.     

Determination of trace elements in olive oil by ICP-AES and ETA-AAS: A pilot study on the geographical characterization

The determination of trace elements in edible oils is important because of both the metabolic role of metals and possibilities for adulteration detection and oil characterization.The most commonly used techniques for the determination of metals in oil samples are inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). For this study, a microwave assisted decomposition of the olive oil in closed vessels using a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was applied as sample preparation.The low achievable LODs enable the determination by ICP-AES of even very low concentrations of most elements of interest. The proposed ICP-AES method permits the determination of Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn in olive oils. Elements present in small amounts (Al, Co, Cu, K, Mn, Ni) were measured by ETA-AAS in the same sample digest. The concentrations of Al, Co, Cu, K, Mn, and Ni were in the range from 0.15 to 1.5 μg/g and differ according to the geographical origin of the oils. For the amounts of Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn in the samples, no significant differences according to the geographical origin of the oils could be observed, the mean concentrations being 15.31, 3.26, 33.10, and 3.39 μg/g, respectively. The Ca content varies in the range of 1.3 to 9.0 μg/g.The dependency of the trace elemental content of olive oils on their geographical origin can be used for their local characterization.     

The Famous Amazonian Rosewood Essential Oil: Characterization and Adulteration Monitoring by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Fingerprinting

Direct infusion of samples via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is shown to characterize unequivocally genuine samples of Amazonian Aniba rosaeodora Ducke (Rosewood) essential oils obtained either from the wood or leafs. The ESI-MS also distinguishes the essential oils from synthetic linalool; hence, adulteration by the synthetic oil is also clearly detected. The analysis requires no pretreatment or preseparation, and the most polar components of the essential oil are extracted with an acidified 1:1 methanol/water solution. This simple extract is then analyzed by direct infusion ESI-MS in the positive ion mode, which provides characteristic fingerprintings of the sample composition. The ESI-MS fingerprinting can be used therefore as a simple and fast (few minutes) method for authenticity and quality control of this famous Amazonian essential oil.     

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for trace multi-element determination in vegetable oils,margarine and butter after stabilization with propan-1-ol and water

The quantitative evaluation of trace elements in foodstuffs is of considerable interest due to the potential toxicity of many elements, and because the presence of some metallic species might affect the overall quality (flavor and stability) of these products. In the present work, an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of six elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Mn) in olive oil, soy oil, margarine and butter. Organic samples (oils and fats) were stabilized using propan-1-ol and water, which enabled long-time sample dispersion in the solution. This simple sample preparation procedure, together with an efficient sample introduction strategy (using a Meinhard K3 nebulizer and a twister cyclonic spray chamber), facilitated the overall analytical procedure, allowing quantification using calibration curves prepared with inorganic standards. Internal standardization (Sc) was used for correction of matrix effects and signal fluctuations. Good sensitivities with limits of detection in the ng g⁻¹ range were achieved for all six elements. These sensitivities were appropriate for the intended application. The method was tested through the analysis of laboratory-fortified samples with good recoveries (between 91.3% and 105.5%).     

Determination of trace elements in petroleum products by inductively coupled plasma techniques: A critical review

The fundamentals, applications and latter developments of petroleum products analysis through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are revisited in the present bibliographic survey. Sample preparation procedures for the direct analysis of fuels by using liquid sample introduction systems are critically reviewed and compared. The most employed methods are sample dilution, emulsion or micro-emulsion preparation and sample decomposition. The first one is the most widely employed due to its simplicity. Once the sample has been prepared, an organic matrix is usually present. The performance of the sample introduction system (i.e., nebulizer and spray chamber) depends strongly upon the nature and properties of the solution finally obtained. Many different devices have been assayed and the obtained results are shown. Additionally, samples can be introduced into the plasma by using an electrothermal vaporization (ETV) device or a laser ablation system (LA). The recent results published in the literature showing the feasibility, advantages and drawbacks of latter alternatives are also described. Therefore, the main goal of the review is the discussion of the different approaches developed for the analysis of crude oil and its derivates by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques.     

Chromium speciation using sequential injection analysis and multivariate curve resolution

This work proposes a new method for determination of the oxidative stability of edible oils at frying temperatures using near infrared emission spectroscopy (NIRES). The method is based on heating an oil sample at a fixed temperature, followed by the acquisition of the emission spectra with time using a home-made spectrometer with an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) as monochromator. The induction time, related to the oxidative stability, is determined by means of the emission band at 2900 nm and its increase and broadening during the heating time. After the induction period, this band also provides information related to the oxidation rate of the sample. Twelve samples of edible oils, of different types and from different manufacturers, were analyzed for oxidative stability with mean repetitivity of 3.7%. The effects of nitrogen insertion, heating temperature and the presence of antioxidant compounds on the oxidative stability were evaluated.     

Liquid-phase microextraction utilising plant oils as intermediate extraction medium--towards elimination of synthetic organic solvents in sample preparation

Hollow fibre based liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) using fatty oils and essential oils as the organic phase was evaluated to develop sample preparation technology eliminating the use of hazardous organic solvents. Basic drugs were extracted from different aqueous samples (0.2 to 1 mL) through approximately 15 microL of either almond oil, arachis oil, olive oil, soy-bean oil, anise oil, fennel oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil (organic phase) immobilised within the pores of a polypropylene hollow fibre and into 20 microL of 10 mM HCOOH (acceptor phase) present inside the lumen of the hollow fibre. The extraction performance of the essential oils was comparable with the solvents normally used in LPME (dihexyl ether, n-octanol, and dodecyl acetate) in terms of extraction recovery and extraction speed. Whereas all essential oils tested were compatible with human urine, only anise oil was successful for plasma. The fatty oils provided lower recoveries than the essential oils due to higher viscosity, but all the fatty oils were compatible both with urine and plasma samples. In spite of the multi-component nature of the oils tested, they were not found to seriously contaminate the acceptor phases during extraction. In conclusion, fatty oils and essential oils may serve as alternative organic phase in LPME, eliminating the use of hazardous organic solvents.     

Rapid screening of mixed edible oils and gutter oils by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Authentication of edible oils is a long-term issue in food safety, and becomes particularly important with the emergence and wide spread of gutter oils in recent years. Due to the very high analytical demand and diversity of gutter oils, a high throughput analytical method and a versatile strategy for authentication of mixed edible oils and gutter oils are highly desirable. In this study, an improved matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) method has been developed for direct analysis of edible oils. This method involved on-target sample loading, automatic data acquisition and simple data processing. MALDI-MS spectra with high quality and high reproducibility have been obtained using this method, and a preliminary spectral database of edible oils has been set up. The authenticity of an edible oil sample can be determined by comparing its MALDI-MS spectrum and principal component analysis (PCA) results with those of its labeled oil in the database. This method is simple and the whole process only takes several minutes for analysis of one oil sample. We demonstrated that the method was sensitive to change in oil compositions and can be used for measuring compositions of mixed oils. The capability of the method for determining mislabeling enables it for rapid screening of gutter oils since fraudulent mislabeling is a common feature of gutter oils.     

Flame AAS/flame AES for trace determination in fresh and used lubricating oils with sample introduction by hydraulic high-pressure nebulization

In hydraulic high-pressure nebulization (HHPN) an aerosol is produced by means of an HPLC-pump and a special nebulization nozzle, applying a pressure of about 200 bar. This spray technique has been employed for sample introduction of mineral oil samples in flame atomic absorption/flame emission spectrometry. The determination of the trace elements Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Ni, Pb, Si and V has been investigated. Viscosity hardly acts upon the sensitivity of the determination, thereby avoiding a time consuming dilution of oil samples. By means of two interconnecting sampling valves a calibration method based on the standard addition technique can be performed which is both simple and easy to carry out. In samples of used oils, results for Cu and Pb equalled those of XRF-analysis. Regarding Fe traces, data obtained from AAS and XRF measurement correlate. In comparison with sample uptake by pneumatic nebulization, which is restricted to diluted oil samples, detection limits decrease by a factor of 2 to 4, indicating the dilution required in pneumatic nebulization.     

Flame AAS/flame AES for trace determination in fresh and used lubricating oils with sample introduction by hydraulic high-pressure nebulization

In hydraulic high-pressure nebulization (HHPN) an aerosol is produced by means of an HPLC-pump and a special nebulization nozzle, applying a pressure of about 200 bar. This spray technique has been employed for sample introduction of mineral oil samples in flame atomic absorption/flame emission spectrometry. The determination of the trace elements Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Ni, Pb, Si and V has been investigated. Viscosity hardly acts upon the sensitivity of the determination, thereby avoiding a time consuming dilution of oil samples. By means of two interconnecting sampling valves a calibration method based on the standard addition technique can be performed which is both simple and easy to carry out. In samples of used oils, results for Cu and Pb equalled those of XRF-analysis. Regarding Fe traces, data obtained from AAS and XRF measurement correlate. In comparison with sample uptake by pneumatic nebulization, which is restricted to diluted oil samples, detection limits decrease by a factor of 2 to 4, indicating the dilution required in pneumatic nebulization.     

Present-day methods for the determination of trace elements in oil and its fractions

The development and use of instrumental methods for the determination of a wide range of trace elements in oil is considered. Special attention is paid to methods of the direct introduction of samples into spectrometers. It is shown that preliminary sample preparation is in certain cases necessary for the determination of trace elements in oil. The main methods of sample preparation of oils, including methods of extraction of a series of trace elements from crude oil (extraction, membrane, sorption, etc.), are described.     

Direct olive oil authentication: detection of adulteration of olive oil with hazelnut oil by direct coupling of headspace and mass spectrometry, and multivariate regression techniques

Control of adulteration of olive oil, together with authentication and contamination, is one of the main aspects in the quality control of olive oil. Adulteration with hazelnut oil is one of the most difficult to detect due to the similar composition of hazelnut and olive oils; both virgin olive oil and olive oil are subjected to that kind of adulteration. The main objective of this work was to develop an analytical method able to detect adulteration of virgin olive oils and olive oils with hazelnut oil by means of its analysis by a headspace autosampler directly coupled to a mass spectrometer used as detector (ChemSensor). As no chromatographic separation of the individual components of the samples exists, a global signal of the sample is obtained and employed for its characterization by means of chemometric techniques. Four different crude hazelnut oils from Turkey were employed for the development of the method. Multivariate regression techniques (partial least squares and principal components analysis) were applied to generate adequate regression models. Good values were obtained in both techniques for the parameters employed (standard errors of prediction (SEP) and prediction residual error sum of squares (PRESS)) to evaluate its goodness. With the proposed method, minimum adulteration levels of 7 and 15% can be detected in refined and virgin olive oils, respectively. Once validated, the method was applied to the detection of such adulteration in commercial olive oil and virgin olive oil samples.     

GC-IMS技术结合化学计量学方法在食用植物油分类中的应用

建立了一种快速、无损分析食用植物油中挥发性有机物质的顶空进样/气相色谱-离子迁移谱(GC-IMS)联用方法。以芝麻油、菜籽油、山茶油共56个样品为研究对象,量取2 mL待测油样于标准样品瓶中,并用磁帽密封,直接进行GC-IMS分析检测。结果表明,基于GC-IMS三维谱中对应挥发性有机物质的特征峰强度可以有效表征不同类植物油的样品信息,选取对应三维谱中40个特征峰的强度作为变量,进行主成分(PCA)信息降维后,采用k最近邻(kNN)算法建立植物油种类的判别模型,训练集的识别率达到100%,预测集中仅有1个山茶油样品被误判成芝麻油样品,预测集的识别率达到94.44%。GC-IMS联用分析技术简单、快速、无损,可用于食用植物油等其他食品、农产品种类的快速分类识别。     

Characterization of a circular thin film plasma source for atomic emission spectroscopy

A plasma source for analytical atomic emission spectroscopy is described based on the electrical vaporization by capacitive discharge of a thin Ag film deposited on a polycarbonate membrane filter. The source is designed for the rapid, direct analysis of solid powder samples collected by filtration from fluid media. A concentric electrode system consisting of a ring-shaped graphite electrode placed on the thin film surface and a pointed graphite rod located under the membrane substrate results in a plasma with cylindrical symmetry and a radial current path. Discharge current vs time and intensity vs time profiles are compared for the concentric electrode geometry and the linear geometry used in previous studies. Two values of tank circuit inductance also are compared. Both neutral-atom and ion line radiation from an Mn sample are more intense when the center electrode is initially cathodic. The inside diameter of the ring-shaped electrode and thus the surface area of the Ag film exposed to the plasma have relatively little effect on the intensity of continuum background and line radiation from a sample deposited near the center of the film. Particle size effects, while significant, are smaller than with the linear electrode geometry. Analytical curves are presented for several lines using both a low-inductance and a high-inductance discharge. Log-log slopes range from about 0.85 to 1.05 for ion lines. Detection limits are somewhat poorer than with the linear geometry.     

基于~1H NMR指纹图谱结合多变量分析的地沟油检测方法

地沟油事件是中国近期发生的严重食品安全事故,而针对地沟油的检测目前尚无非常有效的方法报道.本研究对60种市售植物油和地沟油样品分别进行了核磁H谱测定,建立了12个鉴别指标,采用聚类分析技术对样品进行聚类分析,并将样品分为8大类,建立了判别函数.将未知样品的1H NMR数据代入判别函数,可检测和判别未知油的来源和品质.将该方法应用于两次盲测共69个样品,结果显示,两次盲测的正确率分别为91.9%和93.8%,可作为食用油品质检测的重要参考.     

Monitoring the quality of frying oils using a nanolayer coated optical fiber refractometer

The analysis of the quality of food oils is of paramount importance, because the degradation of oils can lead to formation of harmful substances to the human organism. With the increase of the degradation of oils an increase of its refractive index occurs. The objective of this work is to develop and to characterize optical fiber refractometers sensitive to variations of refractive index of food oil samples. The optical fiber refractometers thanks to the intrinsic characteristics make them suitable for monitoring the quality of frying oils. They possess the advantages to require small volumes of sample for analysis, do not contaminate the sample, and supply the response in real time. In this work a long period grating (LPG) as refractometer is used because of their sensitivity to refractive index of the external media: degraded and not degraded frying oil samples. The oil samples had been characterized by the analysis of total polar components. The refractive index of oil is above 1.47, this region the LPG does not show enough sensitivity, a nanolayer of an organic material was coated onto the fiber. Using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique the response of LPG is modified according to the refractive index and thickness of the film. The deposition of the film modifies the rates effective modes of cladding, thus improving the response of the changes in the refractive index of the external media higher than that the refractive index of the cladding (n = 1.457).     

A New Method for Olive Oil Screening Using Multivariate Analysis of Proton NMR Spectra

A new NMR-based method for the discrimination of olive oils of any grade from seed oils and mixtures thereof was developed with the aim of allowing the verification of olive oil authenticity. Ten seed oils and seven monovarietal and blended extra virgin olive oils were utilized to develop a principal component analysis (PCA) based analysis of ¹H NMR spectra to rapidly and accurately determine the authenticity of olive oils. Another twenty-eight olive oils were utilized to test the principal component analysis (PCA) based analysis. Detection of seed oil adulteration levels as low as 5% v/v has been shown using simple one-dimensional proton spectra obtained using a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a room temperature inverse probe. The combination of simple sample preparation, rapid sample analysis, novel processing parameters, and easily interpreted results, makes this method an easily accessible tool for olive oil fraud detection by substitution or dilution compared to other methods already published.     

Determination of Phosphorus in Crude Oil and Middle Distillate Petroleum Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry

A method for the precise and accurate determination of phosphorus in crude oil and middle distillate petroleum products was developed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry to rapidly determine phosphorus as a control method. The presence of phosphorus is undesirable in petrochemical products as it complexes with other metals generating residues that interrupt normal operation of refineries. The presence of phosphorus may be due to some anti-fouling additives or the crude oils processed. Consequently, it is necessary to control the phosphorus present at trace levels in the crude oil and in process streams that present various densities and viscosities. The instrumental power, nebulizer flow, pump rate, read time, and the sample preparation conditions were optimized. The desired level of quantification for the petrochemical industry was achieved allowing the simultaneous analysis of diverse liquid petroleum products.     

Current Developments in Optical Emission Spectrometry with High-Frequency and Microwave Induced Plasmas

The state-of-the-art and trends of development with the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and microwave induced plasmas (MIP) as radiation sources for optical emission spectrometry arc presented. Especially techniques for sample introduction are discussed. Here special reference is given to the use of spark ablation as well as 10 direct sample insertion and slurry atomization for the direct analysis of powder samples. The development in MIP optical emission Spectrometry is shown to center on the improvement of the plasma sources, their characterization and their tailoring to various sampling techniques. Results of the use of pneumatic nebulization of liquids and electrothermal evaporation of dry solution residues will be presented.     

Development of an automated method for determining oil in water by direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction coupled on-line with infrared spectroscopy

A direct aqueous supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system was developed which can be directly interfaced to an infrared spectrometer for the determination of oil in water. The technique is designed to provide an environmentally clean, automated alternative to established IR methods for oil in water analysis which require the use of restricted organic solvents. The SFE-FTIR method involves minimum sample handling stages, with on-line analysis of a 500 ml water sample being complete within 15 min. Method accuracy for determining water samples spiked with gasoline, white spirit, kerosene, diesel or engine oil was 81-100% with precision (RSD) ranging from 3 to 17%. An independent evaluation determined a 2 ppm limit of quantification for diesel in industrial effluents. The results of a comparative study involving an established IR method and the SFE-FTIR method indicate that oil levels calculated using an accepted equation which includes coefficients derived from reference hydrocarbon standards may result in significant errors. A new approach permitted the derivation of quantification coefficients for the SFE-FTIR analyses which provided improved results. In situations where the identity of the oil to be analysed is known, a rapid off-line SFE-FTIR system calibration procedure was developed and successfully applied to various oils. An optional in-line silica gel clean-up procedure incorporated within the SFE-FTIR system enables the same water sample to be analysed for total oil content including vegetable oils and selectively for petroleum oil content within a total of 20 min. At the end of an analysis the SFE system is cleaned using an in situ 3 min clean cycle.