Simultaneous determination of traces of pyrethroids, organochlorines and other main plant protection agents in agricultural soils by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography

A solvent-free and simple method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was developed in order to determine simultaneously 36 common pesticides and breakdown products (mostly pyrethroids and organochlorine compounds) in soil. The analysis was carried out by gas chromatography with micro-electron-capture detection (GC-microECD). As far as we know, this is the first study about the SPME of pyrethroid insecticides from soil. Factors such as extraction temperature, matrix modification by addition of water, salt addition (% NaCl) and fiber coating were considered in the optimization of the HS-SPME. To this end, a 3 x 2(3-1) fractional factorial design was performed. The results showed that temperature and fiber coating were the most significant variables affecting extraction efficiency. A suitable sensitivity for all investigated compounds was achieved at 100 degrees C by extracting soil samples wetted with 0.5 mL of ultrapure water (0% NaCl) employing a polyacrylate (PA) coating fiber. Using the recommended extraction conditions with GC-microECD, a linear calibration could be achieved over a range of two orders of magnitude for both groups of analytes. Limits of detection (LODS) at the sub-ng g(-1) level were attained and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were found to be lower than 14% for both groups of pesticides. Matrix effects were investigated by the analysis of different soil samples fortified with the target compounds. The method accuracy was assessed and good recovery values (>70%, in most cases) were obtained. The method was also validated with a certified reference material (RTC-CRM818-050), which was quantified using a standard addition protocol. Finally, the proposed HS-SPME-GC-microECD methodology was further applied to the screening of environmental soil samples for the presence of the target pesticides.     

Adsorption and dissociation of H2O2 on Pt and Pt-alloy clusters and surfaces

The adsorption of H(2)O(2) on Pt and Pt-M alloys, where M is Cr, Co, or Ni, is investigated using density functional theory. Binding energies calculated with a hybrid DFT functional (B3PW91) are in the range of -0.71 to -0.88 eV for H(2)O(2) adsorbed with one of the oxygen atoms on top Pt positions of Pt(3), Pt(2)M, and PtM(2), and enhanced values in the range of -0.81 to -1.09 eV are found on top Ni and Co sites of the Pt(2)M clusters. Adsorption on top sites of Pt(10) yields a weaker binding of -0.48 eV, whereas on periodic Pt(111) and Pt(3)Co(111) surfaces, H(2)O(2) generally dissociates into two OH radicals. On the other hand, attempts to attach H(2)O(2) on bridge sites cause spontaneous dissociation of H(2)O(2) into two adsorbed OH radicals, suggesting that stable adsorptions on bridge sites are not possible for any of the clusters or extended surfaces that are being studied. We also found that the water-H(2)O(2) interaction reduces the strength of the adsorption of H(2)O(2) on these clusters and surfaces.     

Spin-polarized tunneling in nanostructured La2/3Sr1/3MnO3

We present magnetic and transport properties of nanocrystalline La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ powders prepared by a gel-combustion method using citric acid as the fuel. The coercive magnetic field H_c is significantly different to the field H_c^* for which the magnetoresistance (MR) is maximum. The MR at low fields (LFMR) exhibits a power-law dependence with magnetization, MR∝Mⁿ, with n=2.5–3.3 for temperatures ranging from 5 to 200 K. The results are discussed in terms of a distribution of particle size in our sample.     

Investigation of PAH and other hazardous contaminant occurrence in recycled tyre rubber surfaces. Case-study: restaurant playground in an indoor shopping centre

The objective of this case study was to investigate the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other hazardous organic chemicals in a recycled tyre playground surface (in an indoor restaurant of a shopping centre with limited ventilation). This study also aimed at underlining both the volatilisation of these compounds in the vapour phase above the sample and the partial leaching of contaminants from the playground surface to the runoff and cleaning water put in contact with the sample. Playground samples were extracted with ethyl acetate using ultrasonic energy followed by GC-MS analysis. In addition, the same samples were analysed by HS-SPME to study the volatilisation and the transfer of those organic compounds. The analysis confirmed the presence of a large number of hazardous substances. Thus, 14 of the 16 studied PAHs were identified in the extracts (including the considered most toxic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene) and nine of them were also detected in the vapour phase. Besides, nine PAHs were found in the runoff/cleaning water, yielding a total PAH concentration at the ppm level. The presence and the high concentrations of these chemical compounds in playgrounds should be a matter of concern owing to their high toxicity.     

Matrix solid-phase dispersion and solid-phase microextraction applied to study the distribution of fenbutatin oxide in grapes and white wine

The fate of the acaricide fenbutatin oxide (FBTO) during the elaboration of white wine is evaluated. Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) were used as sample preparation techniques applied to the semi-solid and the liquid matrices involved in this research, respectively. Selective determination of FBTO was achieved by gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (GC–AED). GC coupled to mass spectrometry was also used to establish the identity of FBTO by-products detected in must and wine samples. MSPD extractions were accomplished using C18 as dispersant and co-sorbent. Sugars and other polar interferences were first removed with water and water/acetone mixtures, then FBTO was recovered with 8 mL of acetone. When used in combination with GC–AED, the MSPD method provided limits of quantification (LOQs) in the low nanogram per gram range, recoveries around 90% and relative standard deviations below 13% for extractions performed in different days. Performance of SPME for must and wine was mainly controlled by the extraction temperature, time and fibre coating. Under final conditions, FBTO was extracted in the headspace mode for 45 min at 100 °C, using a 100 μm poly(dimethylsiloxane)-coated fibre. The achieved LOQs remained around or below 0.1 ng mL⁻¹, depending on the type of sample, and the inter-day precision ranged from 10% to 13%. FBTO residues in grapes stayed mostly on the skin of the fruit. Although FBTO was not removed during must and white wine elaboration, it remained associated with suspended particles existing in must and lees, settled after must fermentation, with a negligible risk of being transferred to commercialised wine. On the other hand, two by-products of FBTO (bis and mono (2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl) tin) were identified, for first time, in must and final white wines obtained from FBTO treated grapes. Found values for the first species ranged from 0.03 to 0.9 ng mL⁻¹.     

Nonlinear behavior of V–I curves at low temperatures in nanoparticles of La2/3B1/3MnO3 with B=Ca,Sr

We measure voltage–current curves at low temperature in La_2/3B_1/3MnO₃ samples (B=Ca,Sr). The powder oxides were prepared by different wet-chemical routes and low calcination temperatures were used for nanoparticles formation. We studied samples prepared by three different synthesis methods: gel-combustion, urea sol–gel and liquid-mix. Although the average particle size was almost the same for all the samples (30 nm), we found different behaviors in the V–I curves depending on the synthesis route. The obtained data are analyzed in the electronic tunneling picture.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-functions for Laguerre function expansions of Hermite type

We examine weighted L ^p boundedness of g-functions based on semigroups related to multi-dimensional Laguerre function expansions of Hermite type. A technique of vector-valued Calderón–Zygmund operators is used.     

Development of a solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography with microelectron-capture detection method for a multiresidue analysis of pesticides in bovine milk

A simple and rapid method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique followed by gas chromatography with microelectron-capture detection (GC-microECD) was developed for the simultaneous determination of more than 30 pesticides (pyrethroids and organochlorinated among others) in milk. To our knowledge, this is the first application of SPME for the determination of pyrethroid pesticides in milk. Negative matrix effects due to the complexity and lipophility of the studied matrix were reduced by diluting the sample with distilled water. A 2(5-1) fractional factorial design was performed to assess the influence of several factors (type of fiber coating, sampling mode, stirring, extraction temperature, and addition of sodium chloride) on the SPME procedure and to determine the optimal extraction conditions. After optimization of all the significant variables and interactions, the recommended procedure was established as follows: DSPME (using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/divinylbenzene (DVB) coating) of 1 mL of milk sample diluted with Milli-Q water (1:10 dilution ratio), at 100 degrees C, under stirring for 30 min. The proposed method showed good linearity and high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LOD) at the sub-ng mL(-1) level. Within a day and among days precisions were also evaluated (R.S.D.<15%). One of the most important attainments of this work was the use of external calibration with milk-matched standards to quantify the levels of the target analytes. The method was tested with liquid and powdered milk samples with different fat contents covering the whole commercial range. The efficiency of the extraction process was studied at several analyte concentration levels obtaining high recoveries (>80% in most cases) for different types of full-fat milks. The optimized procedure was validated with powdered milk certified reference material, which was quantified using external calibration and standard addition protocols. Finally, the DSPME-GC-microECD methodology was applied to the analysis of milk samples collected in farms of dairy cattle from NW Spain.     

Determination of dimethyl fumarate and other potential allergens in desiccant and antimould sachets

A method for the determination of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), benzothiazole (BT) and tert-butylphenol (TBP) in desiccant and antimould agents employed for protecting consumer products from humidity and mould has been developed. The method is based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by GC-MS analysis. Parameters that could affect the extraction of the compounds have been optimised using a multivariate approach. In the final conditions, the extraction is performed using only 0.5 or 1 mL ethyl acetate and applying ultrasound energy for 5 min. Simultaneous extractions could also be carried out in 5 min without losing efficiency. The method was validated showing good linearity (R ² >0.995). Both intra- and inter-day precisions were studied at several concentration levels, being satisfactory in all cases (RSD <10%). Recovery was evaluated in four real desiccant samples at different compound concentrations, ranging between 87% and 109%. Limits of detection and quantification were in the low nanogramme per gramme level, thus allowing the determination of DMF at concentrations well below the limit established by the recent EU Directive (0.1 μg/g). The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of the target compounds in several desiccant and antimould samples. Although most of them were simply labelled as “silica gel”, more than 70% of the tested samples contained high amounts of DMF, many of them at the high microgram per gramme level. Many samples also showed the presence of the other two potential allergens. These results demonstrate that the content of the “desiccant” sachets and tablets in consumer products does not usually belong with the label of the desiccant, and hence, the high risk of exposition to the powerful allergen DMF and other potentially harmful chemicals through consumer goods should be a matter of concern.