Food metabolomics: Latest hardware—developments for nontargeted food authenticity and food safety testing

The analytical requirements for food testing have increased significantly in recent years. On the one hand, because food fraud is becoming an ever-greater challenge worldwide, and on the other hand because food safety is often difficult to monitor due to the far-reaching trade chains. In addition, the expectations of consumers on the quality of food have increased, and they are demanding extensive information. Cutting-edge analytical methods are required to meet these demands. In this context, non-targeted metabolomics strategies using mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers (mass spectrometry [MS]) have proven to be very suitable. MS-based approaches are of particular importance as they provide a comparatively high analytical coverage of the metabolome. Accordingly, the efficiency to address even challenging issues is high. A variety of hardware developments, which are explained in this review, have contributed to these advances. In addition, the potential of future developments is highlighted, some of which are currently not yet commercially available or only used to a comparatively small extent but are expected to gain in importance in the coming years.     

Lanthanide-mediated tuning of electronic and magnetic properties in heterotrimetallic cyclooctatetraenyl multidecker self-assemblies

The synthesis of a novel family of homoleptic COT-based heterotrimetallic self-assemblies bearing the formula [LnKCa(COT)₃(THF)₃] (Ln(iii) = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) is reported followed by their X-ray crystallographic and magnetic characterization. All crystals conform to the monoclinic P2₁/c space group with a slight compression of the unit cell from 3396.4(2) ų to 3373.2(4) ų along the series. All complexes exhibit a triple-decker structure having the Ln(iii) and K(i) ions sandwiched by three COT²⁻ ligands with an end-bound {Ca²⁺(THF)₃} moiety to form a non-linear (153.5°) arrangement of three different metals. The COT²⁻ ligands act in a η⁸-mode with respect to all metal centers. A detailed structural comparison of this unique set of heterotrimetallic complexes has revealed consistent trends along the series. From Gd to Yb, the Ln to ring-centroid distance decreases from 1.961(3) Å to 1.827(2) Å. In contrast, the separation of K(i) and Ca(ii) ions from the COT-centroid (2.443(3) and 1.914(3) Å, respectively) is not affected by the change of Ln(iii) ions. The magnetic property investigation of the [LnKCa(COT)₃(THF)₃] series (Ln(iii) = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) reveals that the Dy, Er, and Tm complexes display slow relaxation of their magnetization, in other words, single-molecule magnet (SMM) properties. This behaviour is dominated by thermally activated (Orbach-like) and quantum tunneling processes for [DyKCa(COT)₃(THF)₃] in contrast to [ErKCa(COT)₃(THF)₃], in which the thermally activated and Raman processes appear to be relevant. Details of the electronic structures and magnetic properties of these complexes are further clarified with the help of DFT and ab initio theoretical calculations.

A new class of heterotrimetallic COT-based self-assemblies accommodates metals from groups I–III in three different oxidation states and enables tuning of electronic and magnetic properties.     

Study of the initial stage of manganese dioxide electrodeposition on a rotating ring-disk electrode

The initial stage of electrodeposition of manganese dioxide has been studied on the platinum disk electrode and on the ring-disk electrode. Two current maxima were observed on the anodic voltammograms. It has been shown that the first rise in the current is associated with the formation of manganese dioxide (MD) nuclei on the electrode surface, and the second with their growth at the border between MnO₂ and bare platinum due to an increase in the perimeter of the nuclei. Electrodeposition on bare platinum proceeds at a higher rate than on the surface of growing MD. This is explained by the difference in the reaction mechanisms on these substrates. The first stage of the process on the growing MD is the chemisorption of Mn(II) ions with the formation of Mn(III) ions, which are then electrochemically oxidized to MD. Chemisorption is the slowest step in the whole process.     

High refractive index hyperbranched polyvinylsulfides for planar one‐dimensional all‐polymer photonic crystals

We report on the growth and characterization of one‐dimensional (1D) planar all‐polymer photonic crystals (PhC) with high dielectric contrast (Δn = 0.3) prepared by spin coating using hyperbranched polyvinylsulfide polymers (HB‐PVS) as high refractive index material and cellulose acetate as low refractive index material. Solution processable HB‐PVS show a near ultraviolet absorption inducing an increased refractive index in the visible‐near infrared (n = 1.68, λ = 1000 nm). HBPVS:Cellulose Acetate Distributed Bragg Reflectors show a very clear fingerprint of the photonic band gap possessing the expected polarized dispersion properties as a function of the incidence angle. Moreover, engineered microcavities tuned on the weak fluorescence spectrum of the HB‐PVS show directional fluorescence enhancement effects due to spectral redistribution of the emission oscillator strength. The combination of all these properties testifies the high optical quality of the obtained photonic structures thus indicating HB‐PVS as an interesting material for the preparation of such PhC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 73–80     

Combination of sorption properties of polydimethylsiloxane and solid‐phase extraction sorbents in a single composite material for the passive sampling of polar and apolar pesticides in water

Passive sampling techniques have been developed as an alternative method for in situ integrative monitoring of trace levels of neutral pesticides in environmental waters. The objective of this work was to develop a new receiving phase for pesticides with a wide range of polarities in a single step. We describe the development of three new composite silicone rubbers, combining polydimethylsiloxane mechanical and sorption properties with solid‐phase extraction sorbents, prepared as a receiving phase for passive sampling. A composite silicone rubber composed of polydimethylsiloxane/poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐N‐vinylpyrrolidone) was selected by batch experiments for its high sorption properties for pesticides with octanol‐water partition coefficients ranging from 2.3 to 5.5. We named this composite material “Polar/Apolar Composite Silicone Rubber”. A structural study by scanning electron microscopy confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of the sorbent particles and the encapsulation of particles within the polydimethylsiloxane matrix. We also demonstrate that this composite material is resistant to common solvents used for the back‐extraction of analytes and has a maximal resistance temperature of 350°C. Therefore, the characteristics of the “Polar/Apolar Composite Silicone Rubber” meet most of the criteria for use as a receiving phase for the passive sampling of pesticides.     

Immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography for determination of aflatoxin B1 in corn samples: interlaboratory study

An interlaboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column cleanup liquid chromatography (LC) method for the determination of aflatoxin B1 levels in corn samples, enforced by European Union legislation. A test portion was extracted with methanol-water (80 + 20); the extract was filtered, diluted with phosphate-buffered saline solution, filtered on a microfiber glass filter, and applied to an immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with deionized water to remove interfering compounds, and the purified aflatoxin B1 was eluted with methanol. Aflatoxin B1 was separated and determined by reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection after either pre- or postcolumn derivatization. Precolumn derivatization was achieved by generating the trifluoroacetic acid derivative, used by 8 laboratories. The postcolumn derivatization was achieved either with pyridinium hydrobromide perbromide, used by 16 laboratories, or with an electrochemical cell by the addition of bromide to the mobile phase, used by 5 laboratories. The derivatization techniques used were not significantly different when compared by the Student's t-test; the method was statistically evaluated for all the laboratories. Five corn sample materials, both spiked and naturally contaminated, were sent to 29 laboratories (22 Italian and 7 European). Test portions were spiked with aflatoxin B1 at levels of 2.00 and 5.00 ng/g. The mean values for recovery were 82% for the low level and 84% for the high contamination level. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 2 levels) as well as naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at 3 levels), the values for relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 9.9 to 28.7%. The values for relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 18.6 to 36.8%. The method demonstrated acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision for this matrix, as evidenced by the HorRat values.     

Two new "onium" fluorosilicates, the products of interaction of fluorosilicic acid with 12-membered macrocycles: structures and spectroscopic properties

Two novel compounds, (L(1)H)(2)[SiF(6)] x 2H(2)O (1) and (L(2)H)(2)[SiF(5)(H(2)O)](2) x 3H(2)O (2), resulting from the reactions of H(2)SiF(6) with 4'-aminobenzo-12-crown-4 (L(1)) and monoaza-12-crown-4 (L(2)), respectively, were studied by X-ray diffraction and characterised by IR and (19)F NMR spectroscopic methods. Both complexes have ionic structures due to the proton transfer from the fluorosilicic acid to the primary amine group in L(1) and secondary amine group incorporated into the macrocycle L(2). The structure of 1 is composed of [SiF(6)](2-) centrosymmetric anions, N-protonated cations (L(1)H)(+), and two water molecules, all components being bound in the layer through a system of NH[...]F, NH[...]O and OH[...]F hydrogen bonds. The [SiF(6)](2-) anions and water molecules are assembled into inorganic negatively-charged layers via OH[dot dot dot]F hydrogen bonds. The structure of 2 is a rare example of stabilisation of the complex anion [SiF(5)(H(2)O)](-), the labile product of hydrolytic transformations of the [SiF(6)](2-) anion in an aqueous solution. The components of 2, i.e., [SiF(5)(H(2)O)](-), (L(2)H)(+), and water molecules, are linked by a system of NH[...]F, NH[...]O, OH[...]F, OH[dot dot dot]O hydrogen bonds. In a way similar to 1, the [SiF(5)(H(2)O)](-) anions and water molecules in 2 are combined into an inorganic negatively-charged layer through OH[...]F and OH[...]O interactions.     

Direct and remarkably efficient conversion of methane into acetic acid catalyzed by amavadine and related vanadium complexes. A synthetic and a theoretical DFT mechanistic study

Vanadium(IV or V) complexes with N,O- or O,O-ligands, i.e., [VO{N(CH2CH2O)3}], Ca[V(HIDPA)2] (synthetic amavadine), Ca[V(HIDA)2], or [Bu4N]2[V(HIDA)2] [HIDPA, HIDA = basic form of 2,2'-(hydroxyimino)dipropionic or -diacetic acid, respectively], [VO(CF3SO3)2], Ba[VO(nta)(H2O)]2 (nta = nitrilotriacetate), [VO(ada)(H2O)] (ada = N-2-acetamidoiminodiacetate), [VO(Hheida)(H2O)] (Hheida = 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetate), [VO(bicine)] [bicine = basic form of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine], and [VO(dipic)(OCH2CH3)] (dipic = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate), are catalyst precursors for the efficient single-pot conversion of methane into acetic acid, in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under moderate conditions, using peroxodisulfate as oxidant. Effects on the yields and TONs of various factors are reported. TFA acts as a carbonylating agent and CO is an inhibitor for some systems, although for others there is an optimum CO pressure. The most effective catalysts (as amavadine) bear triethanolaminate or (hydroxyimino)dicarboxylates and lead, in a single batch, to CH3COOH yields > 50% (based on CH4) or remarkably high TONs up to 5.6 x 103. The catalyst can remain active upon multiple recycling of its solution. Carboxylation proceeds via free radical mechanisms (CH3* can be trapped by CBrCl3), and theoretical calculations disclose a particularly favorable process involving the sequential formation of CH3*, CH3CO*, and CH3COO* which, upon H-abstraction (from TFA or CH4), yields acetic acid. The CH3COO* radical is formed by oxygenation of CH3CO* by a peroxo-V complex via a V{eta1-OOC(O)CH3} intermediate. Less favorable processes involve the oxidation of CH3CO* by the protonated (hydroperoxo) form of that peroxo-V complex or by peroxodisulfate. The calculations also indicate that (i) peroxodisulfate behaves as a source of sulfate radicals which are methane H-abstractors, as a peroxidative and oxidizing agent for vanadium, and as an oxidizing and coupling agent for CH3CO* and that (ii) TFA is involved in the formation of CH3COOH (by carbonylating CH3*, acting as an H-source to CH3COO*, and enhancing on protonation the oxidizing power of a peroxo-VV complex) and of CF3COOCH3 (minor product in the absence of CO).     

Open tube combustion method of organic samples for stable carbon isotope analysis

A simple and effective method for the conversion of organic carbon into carbon dioxide for analysis of stable carbon isotopes (delta(13)C) in samples of various organic substances, soils, sedimentary rocks, oils and volatile organic liquids is presented. The conversion of organic carbon of the samples is carried out in a quartz reactor connected to a vacuum line for CO(2) freezing and purification. A solid organic sample mixed with CuO is placed at the reactor bottom and the reactor is subsequently filled with granular CuO. One end of the CuO column is preheated to 850 degrees C while the other end of the column in contact with the sample is kept at ambient temperature. Heating of the sample (850 degrees C) and the remainder of the column is then performed. The preheated part of the column provides efficient conversion of carbon into CO(2). The reactor for the conversion of volatile liquid organic compounds is filled with granular CuO. The column of CuO is heated to 850 degrees C. Samples of volatile liquids are introduced into the reactor through a septum using a microsyringe. Complete conversion takes 10 min for solid samples and 3 min for volatile liquids. The precision of the delta(13)C analysis for solid and volatile liquid organic substances is +/-0.1 per thousand and +/-0.04 per thousand, respectively.     

Effect of group II metal cations on catecholate oxidation.

The unexpected effects of Ca(2+) on the free-radical chain reactions of dopamine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and pyrocatechol oxidation are studied using oxygen consumption measurements, EPR-spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectrophotometry, and by potentiometric titration. It is found that the formation of Ca(2+)-catecholate complexes is accompanied by an increase in the dissociation constants (K(ai) ) of their phenolic hydroxyls. At pH>pK(ai) and in the presence of alkaline-earth metal cations, the rate of catecholate oxidation increases (Ca(2+), Mg(2+)> Sr(2+), Ba(2+)), whereas on addition of Zn ions the rate decreases. The effects of Group II metal cations on catecholate autoxidation are concomitant with a transient increase of the EPR signal for metal-semiquinonate complexes. Therefore, the effects of Ca(2+) and other alkaline-earth metal cations on catecholate autoxidation can be defined as 1) additional deprotonation of catechol OH-groups involved in the formation of M(2+)-catecholate complexes, the latter exceeding catechols in the susceptibility to dioxygen-induced oxidation and 2) formation of relatively stable free-radical intermediates responsible for chain propagation.