Behaviour of fenitrothion residues in leaves and soil of vineyard after treatment with microencapsulate and emulsified formulations

The rate of decline of fenitrothion residues was investigated in leaves and soil of vineyard over 2 months after treatment with two different kinds of commercial formulations: emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and microencapsulate (ME). Fenitrothion residues were determined with GC-NPD after acetone extraction of soil and leaves. The measured initial deposits in soil and leaves varied between 2.6 and 3.8?mg?kg^?1 and between 89 and 101?mg?kg^?1, respectively. Fenitrothion residues in soil dropped at 0.1–0.2?mg?kg^?1 after 60 days following application with EC formulation showing a more rapid decline than the ME. Fenitrothion residues in leaves from ME formulation treatment showed a longer persistence and lower decline rate than those from EC formulation. During the experimental period, fenitrothion remaining in leaves from ME application was 10 times more than from the EC one. Mathematically defined decline curves were established by determining optimal relationships between fenitrothion residues and time. The RF1st-order and RF1.5th-order equation achieved the best adjustment to the experimental data of fenitrothion dissipation on leaves for the ME and EC formulation, respectively, giving fenitrothion half-lives of about 2–3 days for ME and <1 day for EC formulation. In vineyard soil, the best adjustment to the experimental data for ME and EC formulation was achieved by the 1st-order and 1.5th-order equations, respectively, giving fenitrothion half-lives in soil of about 17–21 days for ME and 5 days for EC formulation.     

Catalytic steam reforming of biomass over Ni-based catalysts: Conversion from poplar leaves to hydrogen-rich syngas

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents from 5 wt%–20 wt%and CaO-12.5%Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with CaO contents from 1.4 wt%–9.8 wt%have been prepared.The structure of the catalysts was characterized using X-ray diffraction(XRD),N2 adsorption-desorption,transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The performance of catalytic steam reforming of the poplar leaves to the hydrogen-rich syngas was tested in a fixed-bed reactor.The results indicate that the 7.0wt%CaO-12.5wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibits the best performance for the catalytic steam reforming of poplar leaves to hydrogen-rich syngas.The ratio of H2:CO can reach ca 5:1 in the hydrogen-rich syngas.The yield of H2 can reach 273.30 mL/g(poplar leaves).In the CaO-Ni/SBA-15 catalyst,Ni active component mainly fills the role of catalytic steam reforming of the poplar leaves,and CaO active component mainly plays the role as water-gas shift and CO2 sorbent.     

Simple method for the determination of trace levels of pesticides in honeybees using matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography

A simple multiresidue method for the determination of insecticides in honeybees is described. The developed method is based on the matrix solid-phase dispersion technique. A total number of 12 insecticides (azinfos-methyl, buprofezin, chlorpyriphos, chlorpyriphos-methyl, diazinon, ethion, fenitrothion, fipronil, methidathion, phosalone, pirimicarb, propoxur) used on flowering fields are determined by this method. The method uses Florisil and silica as dispersing agents, alumina and silica as cleanup adsorbents and a low polarity solvent system to elute pesticide residues from the honeybee samples. The insecticides were quantified using capillary gas chromatography with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The method has shown good recovery (70-110%) for various levels of spiked samples (0.01-1.0 mg/kg). The relative standard deviations were in the range of 2-8% for all pesticides studied. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.005-0.05 mg/kg. The procedure can be applied for the determination of residues of low-polarity and medium polarity pesticides in honeybee samples.     

Extraction of antimony and arsenic from fresh and freeze-dried plant samples as determined by HG-AAS

Six extraction media (acetic acid, EDTA, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, NaOH, MeOH/H2O, acetonitrile/H2O) were tested for their ability to extract antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) from freeze-dried poplar leaves, pine shoots and spruce shoots, as well as from a peat matrix. Additionally, the extraction efficiency of Sb and As in fresh and freeze-dried elder leaves and poplar leaves was compared. Total concentrations of Sb and As of aliquots (approximately 220 mg) of the freeze-dried samples were analysed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HG-AAS) after open vessel digestion with adequate mixtures of nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, and perchloric acid. Three reference materials GBW 07602 Bush Branches and Leaves, GBW 07604 Poplar Leaves, and SRM 1575 Pine Needles were analysed with every batch of samples to ensure the accuracy and precision of the applied analytical procedures. The use of hydrofluoric acid in the digestion mixture leads to distinctly lower As values (down to 40%) than actual concentrations in the investigated plant materials. Extraction efficiencies were generally low and lower for Sb than for As. Solutions of 0.66 mol L(-1) NaOH liberated highest amounts of Sb with approximately 10% for poplar leaves, and approximately 19% each for pine shoots and spruce shoots. Distinctly higher concentrations of As in NaOH extracts of poplar leaves (22%), pine shoots (32%), and spruce shoots (36%) were quantified. Extraction experiments resulted in yields of 7-9% from fresh elder and poplar leaves, respectively, and 8-13% for freeze-dried samples for Sb. The corresponding values for As were 10-35% for the fresh material and 7-37% for the freeze-dried samples.     

高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱检测中国杨树型蜂胶、巴西绿蜂胶和杨树胶中的酚类化合物及真伪鉴别

建立了用于检测中国杨树型蜂胶、巴西绿蜂胶和杨树胶中23种酚类化合物的高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱（HPLC/Q-TOF MS）法，并进行了差异性分析。蜂胶和树胶样品用甲醇-水（1：1，v/v）溶解后，过0.45 μm有机相滤膜后进样。采用Agilent Eclipse Plus C₁₈色谱柱分离，以乙腈和0.1%（体积分数）甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱，电喷雾正离子模式全扫描方式检测，扫描范围为m/z 100~1000，外标法定量。结果表明，23种酚类化合物在10~200 μg/L范围内线性关系良好，相关系数均大于0.99。桔皮素和刺芒柄花素的检出限和定量限分别为0.2和1 μg/L，其他化合物的检出限和定量限分别为2和10 μg/L。在10、25和50 mg/kg 3个添加水平下，23种酚类化合物在3种样品基质中的提取回收率为70.2%~122.6%，RSD值均小于10%。水杨苷、肉桂酸、咖啡酸和香豆酸可以作为中国杨树型蜂胶掺假鉴别的特征化合物，咖啡酸、阿魏酸、白杨素、咖啡酸苯乙酯、松属素、高良姜素、香豆酸、异鼠李素、山柰素和阿替匹林C可以作为辨别中国杨树型蜂胶和巴西绿蜂胶的特征化合物。该结果对蜂胶产品的质量控制具有一定的参考意义。     

Rapid method for the analysis of plutonium isotopes in a soil sample within 60 min.

A rapid method for the determination of Pu isotopes in a soil sample within 60 min of starting sample pretreatment was developed. The large reduction in the analysis time was attained by the rapid and perfect digestion of the sample using an alkaline fusion method with an induction heating machine. Pu concentrations were then determined by flow injection/ICP-MS using a solid extraction resin after preconcentration by batch extraction with a chelate resin. The limits of detection for 239Pu and 240Pu were 9.2 fg and 4.3 fg, corresponding to 0.03 and 0.05 Bq kg(-1), respectively, under our analytical conditions, which satisfy the lower detection limits (0.5 Bq kg(-1) of 239Pu, and 2 Bq kg(-1) of 240Pu) required for rapid analysis techniques by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. This method provides a powerful and practical technique for emergency monitoring in and around nuclear facilities that handle large amounts of plutonium.     

Development of a certified reference material (NMIJ CRM 7505-a) for the determination of trace elements in tea leaves

A certified reference material (CRM) for trace elements in tea leaves has been developed in National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ). The CRM was provided as a dry powder (<90 μm) after frozen pulverization of washed and dried fresh tea leaves from a tea plant farm in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Characterization of the property value for each element was carried out exclusively by NMIJ with at least two independent analytical methods, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), high-resolution (HR-) ICP-MS, isotope-dilution (ID-) ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Property values were provided for 19 elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Zn and Co) and informative values for 18 elements (Ti, V, Cr, Y, and all of the lanthanides, except for Pm whose isotopes are exclusively radioactive). The concentration ranges of property values and informative values were from 1.59% (mass) of K to 0.0139 mg kg(-1) of Cd and from 0.6 mg kg(-1) of Ti to 0.0014 mg kg(-1) of Lu, respectively. Combined relatively standard uncertainties of the property values were estimated by considering the uncertainties of the homogeneity, analytical methods, characterization, calibration standard, and dry-mass correction factor. The range of the relative combined standard uncertainties was from 1.5% of Mg and K to 4.1% of Cd.     

Optimization and validation of a method of analysis for fenitrothion and its main metabolites in forestry air samples using sorbent tubes with thermal desorption cold trap injection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An analytical methodology using thermal-desorption cold trap (TCT) and GC-MS was developed for the determination of the insecticide fenitrothion and its main metabolites, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol and fenitrooxon, in forestry atmospheres. The sampled atmosphere was pumped through a glass tube containing 100 mg of Tenax adsorbent at a flow rate of 50 ml min(-1). Adsorption/thermal desorption and breakthrough experiments were performed to test the ability to quantitatively trap the compounds. The detection limits of method for these compounds ranged between 1.6 and 2.1 ng m(-3). This methodology was developed to evaluate the persistence of fenitrothion in forest atmospheres after treatment. Spray application at 21.5 mg active ingredient m(-2) resulted in atmosphere levels of the insecticide of 78.3 ng m(-3) (after 2 h of application). Within 2-4 days following treatment, the presence of fenitrooxon fell to 50-55%. During this period residues of metabolites began to appear, disappearing 19 days later.     

Multiresidue determination of organophosphorus pesticides in ginkgo leaves by accelerated solvent extraction and gas chromatography with flame photometric detection

A rapid and simple method using accelerated solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction cleanup was developed and validated for the determination of 15 organophosphorus pesticides in ginkgo leaves by capillary gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. The pesticides were extracted at 100 degrees C under 1500 psi pressure in <20 min. The average recovery from 10 g ginkgo leaves, fortified at 3 levels ranging from 0.05 to 1.00 mg/kg, was 95.2% with a relative standard deviation of 4.6%. The limits of detection ranged from 1.11 x 10(-3) mg/kg (dimethoate) to 4.44 x 10(-3) mg/kg (dichlorvos). The proposed method showed acceptable accuracy and precision while minimizing environmental concerns, time, and labor. Furthermore, the method could be easily applied to the monitoring of these 15 organophosphorus pesticides in ginkgo leaves.     

Analysis of Fenitrothion and Metabolites in Stored Wheat

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the analysis of fenitrothion and its metabolites, fenitrooxon, S-methyl fenitrothion, demethyl fenitrothion, demethyl S-methyl fenitrothion, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, and dimethyl phosphorothioic acid in stored wheat has been developed. Simultaneous analysis of the extract was conducted using FPD-GLC after derivatization with diazoethane except for 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol which was analyzed directly by EC-GLC. Recoveries of all compounds from wheat fortified at the levels from 0.1 to 5.0 ppm were greater than 90%.

The developed method was used to quantitatively determine major metabolites found in grain treated with fenitrothion and stored at 20°C for 12 months. Demethyl fenitrothion, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, and dimethyl phosphorothioic acid were the major breakdown products of fenitrothion found in stored wheat. Confirmation of these metabolites was carried out by chemical derivatization plus FPD-GLC and by TLC.     

Rapid fusion method for determination of plutonium isotopes in large rice samples

A new rapid fusion method for the determination of plutonium in large rice samples has been developed at the Savannah River National Laboratory (Aiken, SC, USA) that can be used to determine very low levels of plutonium isotopes in rice. The recent accident at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in March, 2011 reinforces the need to have rapid, reliable radiochemical analyses for radionuclides in environmental and food samples. Public concern regarding foods, particularly foods such as rice in Japan, highlights the need for analytical techniques that will allow very large sample aliquots of rice to be used for analysis so that very low levels of plutonium isotopes may be detected. The new method to determine plutonium isotopes in large rice samples utilizes a furnace ashing step, a rapid sodium hydroxide fusion method, a lanthanum fluoride matrix removal step, and a column separation process with TEVA Resin? cartridges. The method can be applied to rice sample aliquots as large as 5 kg. Plutonium isotopes can be determined using alpha spectrometry or inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method showed high chemical recoveries and effective removal of interferences. The rapid fusion technique is a rugged sample digestion method that ensures that any refractory plutonium particles are effectively digested. The MDA for a 5 kg rice sample using alpha spectrometry is 7 × 10^?5 mBq g^?1. The method can easily be adapted for use by ICP-MS to allow detection of plutonium isotopic ratios.     

微波消解样品-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定竹叶中9种必需微量元素

竹叶样品置于聚四氟乙烯罐中,加入硝酸及过氧化氢后在微波消解仪中按设定程序加热消解。所得样品溶液定容至25mL后用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定其中铬、锌、镍、钴、铁、硼、锰、铜和锶等9种元素的含量。9种元素的质量浓度在0.05～2.00mg.L-1范围内与其发射强度呈线性关系,方法的检出限(3s)在0.04～0.50μg.g-1之间。方法应用于分析了一种杨树叶标准物质(GBW 07604),所得9种元素的测定结果与证书值相符。方法的回收率在87.0%～107.6%之间。     

Validation of a solid-phase microextraction method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and fruit juice

A method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon, fenitrothion, fenthion, quinalphos, triazophos, phosalon and pyrazophos) in fruit (pears) and fruit juice samples was developed and validated. The samples were diluted with water, extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) using a flame photometric detector in phosphorous mode. Limits of detection of the method for fruit and fruit juice matrices were below 2 micrograms/kg for all pesticides. Relative standard deviations for triplicate analyses of samples fortified at 25 micrograms/kg of each pesticide were not higher than 8.7%. Recovery tests were performed for concentrations between 25 and 250 micrograms/kg. Mean recoveries for each pesticide were all above 75.9% and below 102.6% for juice, and between 70 and 99% for fruit except for pyrazophos in the fruit sample (with mean recovery of 53%). Therefore, the proposed method is applicable in the analysis of pesticides in fruit matrices and the use of the method in routine analysis of pesticide residues is discussed.     

Determination of daminozide in apples and apple leaves by liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry

A straightforward and efficient method was developed for the determination of intact daminozide in apples and apple leaves. After extraction with methanol and a clean-up step using a graphitized carbon cartridge, the extract was analysed by ion-trap liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation in the positive ion mode. Recoveries for apple were 98-102% with a R.S.D. < or = 11% (n = 6) and for leaves were 112-116% with a R.S.D. < or = 18% (n = 6). The limits of detection were 0.008 and 0.02 mg/kg for apples and leaves, respectively.     

SI-traceable certification of the amount content of cadium below the ng g(-1) level in blood samples by isotope dilution ICP-MS applied as a primary method of measurement

The development and implementation of a method for the certification of cadmium in blood samples at low ng g(-1) and sub ng g(-1) levels is described. The analytical procedure is based on inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ICP-IDMS) applied as a primary method of measurement. Two different sample digestion methods, an optimized microwave digestion procedure using HNO3 and H2O2 as oxidizing agents and a high-pressure asher digestion procedure, were developed and compared. The very high salt content of the digests and the high molybdenum content, which can cause oxide-based interferences with the Cd isotopes, were reduced by a chromatographic matrix separation step using an anion-exchange resin. All isotope ratio measurements were performed by a quadrupole ICP-MS equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer with membrane desolvator. This sample introduction set-up was used to increase sensitivity and minimize the formation of oxides (less MoO+ interference with the Cd isotopes). Because of the very low Cd concentrations in the samples and the resulting need to minimize the procedural blank as much as possible, all sample-processing steps were performed in a clean room environment. Detection limits of 0.005 ng g(-1) Cd were achieved using sample weights of 2.7 g. The method described was used to recertify the cadmium content of three different blood reference materials from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the European Commission (BCR-194, BCR-195, BCR- 196). Cadmium concentrations ranged between approximately 0.2 ng g(-1) and approximately 12 ng g(-1). For these materials, SI-traceable certified values including total uncertainty budgets according to ISO and Eurachem guidelines were established.     

Sensitive method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and surface waters by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A sensitive method for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of five organophosphorus pesticides (paraoxon, methyl-parathion, ethyl-parathion, guthion and fenitrothion) in fruits and tap and river water samples is described. For the determination of pesticides in fruits a simple and rapid sample preparation procedure was developed that allowed pesticides to be determined at 50-100 micrograms/kg levels with recoveries ranging from 83 to 118% and relative standard deviations below 6%. The determination of pesticide residues in surface water samples was also successfully accomplished. Concentrations at sub-ppb levels can be measured by using a solid-phase concentration step, the recoveries being over 80%. In analyses of both fruits and surface waters, the sensitivity levels achieved were 2-10 times lower than legal limits admitted in the European Economic Community.     

Preparation of magnetite/poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) nanoparticles for selective enrichment-determination of fenitrothion in environmental and biological samples

In the present study, a cross-linked nano-sized spherical magnetic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) is synthesized and used as an adsorbent for enrichment-determination of fenitrothion. A miniemulsion polymerization procedure was used to prepare the adsorbent. The magnetic adsorbent was characterized by FT-IR, SEM and TEM. The prepared magnetic adsorbent nanoparticles were mixed with magnetite nanoparticles for faster and more efficient magnetic precipitation. The reduced fenitrothion was coupled with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and then the blue colored complex was extracted. The blue derivative of fenitrothion was eluted by a 1 mL aliquot of 1-propanol prior to spectrophotometry at 571 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 2–230 ng mL⁻¹ of fenitrothion with relative standard deviation and recovery in the ranges of 0.9–5.1% and 97.2–100.0%, respectively. Selectivity of the method was evaluated, and the method was successfully applied to the determination of fenitrothion in various water, soil, urine and human plasma samples.     

An optimized method to extract poplar leaf proteins for two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis guided by analysis of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds

Commonly used methods for protein extraction from plant leaves, such as extraction with phenol or a combination of trichloroacetic acid and acetone, were ineffective for four tested cultivars of poplar. Moreover, multiple protocols for 2DE of the extracted proteins gave different results when protein profiles of relatively closely related plants were compared. Given that polycyclic compounds strongly hinder 2DE, we analyzed the impact of polyphenols and polysaccharides present in the plant tissues used for protein extraction, on the quality of 2DE protein profiles. Analysis of content of polyphenols and polysaccharides in leaves of poplar cultivars showed that even small differences in concentrations of analyzed metabolites accompany large differences between poplar cultivars when considering the susceptibility of samples to protein extraction for 2DE. High‐quality 2DE results were correlated with decreased amounts of polyphenols. Additional analysis using MS/MS suggested that only levels of total phenolics affected the results of 2DE. Soluble total nonstructural carbohydrates also had a negative effect, but the level of starch was not important. Finally, we present an optimized method for extraction of proteins from poplar leaves, which enables reliable comparative analysis of four different poplar cultivars, that is, “Eridano,” “Villafranca,” “NE‐42,” and “Luisa Avanzo,” which have not yet been used for the proteomic studies.     

Extraction of antimony and arsenic from fresh and freeze-dried plant samples as determined by HG-AAS

Six extraction media (acetic acid, EDTA, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, NaOH, MeOH/H₂O, acetonitrile/H₂O) were tested for their ability to extract antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) from freeze-dried poplar leaves, pine shoots and spruce shoots, as well as from a peat matrix. Additionally, the extraction efficiency of Sb and As in fresh and freeze-dried elder leaves and poplar leaves was compared. Total concentrations of Sb and As of aliquots (～220 mg) of the freeze-dried samples were analysed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HG-AAS) after open vessel digestion with adequate mixtures of nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, and perchloric acid. Three reference materials GBW 07602 Bush Branches and Leaves, GBW 07604 Poplar Leaves, and SRM 1575 Pine Needles were analysed with every batch of samples to ensure the accuracy and precision of the applied analytical procedures. The use of hydrofluoric acid in the digestion mixture leads to distinctly lower As values (down to 40%) than actual concentrations in the investigated plant materials. Extraction efficiencies were generally low and lower for Sb than for As. Solutions of 0.66 mol L^–1 NaOH liberated highest amounts of Sb with ～10% for poplar leaves, and ～19% each for pine shoots and spruce shoots. Distinctly higher concentrations of As in NaOH extracts of poplar leaves (22%), pine shoots (32%), and spruce shoots (36%) were quantified. Extraction experiments resulted in yields of 7–9% from fresh elder and poplar leaves, respectively, and 8–13% for freeze-dried samples for Sb. The corresponding values for As were 10–35% for the fresh material and 7–37% for the freeze-dried samples.