Sample Preparation for the Determination of Metals in Food Samples Using Spectroanalytical Methods—A Review

Abstract

The present article gives an overview of recent publications and modern techniques of sample preparation for food analysis employing atomic and inorganic mass spectrometric techniques, such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, chemical vapor generation atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Among the most frequently applied sample preparation techniques for food analysis are dry ashing, usually with the addition of an ashing aid, and acid digestion, preferably with the assistance of microwave energy. Slurry preparation, particularly with the assistance of ultrasound, is increasingly used to reduce acid consumption and sample preparation time. Direct analysis of solid samples is gaining importance in the field of food analysis as it offers the highest sensitivity, avoids the use of acids and other aggressive reagents, makes possible the analysis of micro‐samples, and can be applied for fast screening analysis, e.g., of fresh meat.     

57Fe Mössbauer investigation of the ternary hydride Pd3FeHx

Ordered alloys of Pd₃Fe are shown to readily absorbe hydrogen through electrolytic loading. The resultant ternary hydride phase is observed to retain the fcc structure of Pd₃Fe with approximately the same lattice constant. The ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine field determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy is found to be 30% smaller in the hydride compared to Pd₃Fe. The reduction appears to be associated with a perturbation of the Pd moment by hydrogen. The results suggest the occupation of one type of interstitial site in the structure. The absence of the site in disordered Pd₃Fe would explain the much smaller hydrogen capacity observed for this alloy.     

Mathematical programming methods for the optimal design of turbine blade shapes

This paper describes some optimization techniques for the design of turbine blade profiles with a vibration constraint. The vibration characteristics were modelled by a Timoshenko beam with idealized boundary conditions permitting the system dynamics to be simulated by differential equations. Elliptical cross-sectional shapes were assumed, resulting in an optimization problem in a finite number of variables. The methods used were (1) a direct handling of the differential equations describing the system, in which penalty function transformations were used, and (2) a finite difference discretization with the system equations replaced by finite difference approximations. In the latter formulation the vibrational frequencies are the eigenvalues of the system while in the former case they are regarded as control parameters.This paper includes a numerical study of these methods and their implementation together with a discussion of results.     

Single-ion approach to the susceptibility of an intermediate valence compound paramagnetic Imse

The magnetic properties of an intermediate valence compound are discussed within a single-ion framework. The effects of configuration mixing, crystalline electric fields, and external magnetic fields are included in the hamiltonian. The method incorporates in one single consistent approach both coherent (quantum) and incoherent (thermal) fluctuations. Numerical evaluation of the susceptibility and field dependent magnetization with parameters appropriate for TmSe yields results in good agreement with experiment.     

Effect of radiofrequency on the sheath-plasma resonance in a low-density plasma

Summary Bohm's theory on plasma probes has been modified, by taking into account the effect of the applied RF voltage on the ion saturation current, for explaining the experimentally detected behaviour of the plasma sheath resonance frequency in a low-temperature and low-density plasma

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Riassunto La teoria di Bohm sulle sonde nei plasmi è stata modificata, tenendo conto dell'effetto dovuto alla tensione RF applicata sulla corrente ionica di saturazione. Si spiega cosi l'andamento della frequenza di risonanza plasma-guaina ionica, rilevato sperimentalmente, in un plasma a bassa temperatura e bassa densità.

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Резюме Предлагается модификация теории Бома для плазменных зондов, которая учитывает влияние приложенного радиочастотного напряжения на ионный ток насыщения. Предложенная модификация позволяет объяснить экспериментально обнаруженное поведение резонансной частоты плазменной оболочки при низкой температуре и при низкой плотности плазмы.

     

Ion synthesis and optical properties of gold nanoparticles in an Al2O3 matrix

Single-crystal Al₂O₃(0001) and Al₂O₃(1120) substrates are implanted by 160-keV Au⁺ ions with doses from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm^?2. Some of the implanted samples are air-annealed at 800–1200°C. The properties of the synthesized composite layers are studied by Rutherford backscattering and linear optical reflection measurements, and their nonlinear optical characteristics are examined by RZ-scanning using a picosecond Nd: YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The Rutherford backscattering spectra indicate that the implanted impurity concentrates near the surface of the Al₂O₃. The formation of gold nanoparticles in the Al₂O₃ can be judged from the characteristic optical plasmon resonance band in the reflectance spectra of the samples irradiated to a dose higher than 6.0 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2. The synthesized particles are shown to be responsible for nonlinear optical refraction in the samples. The nonlinear refractive index, n ₂, and the real part of the third-order susceptibility, Rex⁽³⁾, of the composite layers are determined.     

Allometric scaling laws of metabolism

One of the most pervasive laws in biology is the allometric scaling, whereby a biological variable Y is related to the mass M of the organism by a power law, Y=Y₀M^b, where b is the so-called allometric exponent. The origin of these power laws is still a matter of dispute mainly because biological laws, in general, do not follow from physical ones in a simple manner. In this work, we review the interspecific allometry of metabolic rates, where recent progress in the understanding of the interplay between geometrical, physical and biological constraints has been achieved.

For many years, it was a universal belief that the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of all organisms is described by Kleiber's law (allometric exponent b=3/4). A few years ago, a theoretical basis for this law was proposed, based on a resource distribution network common to all organisms. Nevertheless, the 3/4-law has been questioned recently. First, there is an ongoing debate as to whether the empirical value of b is 3/4 or 2/3, or even nonuniversal. Second, some mathematical and conceptual errors were found these network models, weakening the proposed theoretical arguments. Another pertinent observation is that the maximal aerobically sustained metabolic rate of endotherms scales with an exponent larger than that of BMR. Here we present a critical discussion of the theoretical models proposed to explain the scaling of metabolic rates, and compare the predicted exponents with a review of the experimental literature. Our main conclusion is that although there is not a universal exponent, it should be possible to develop a unified theory for the common origin of the allometric scaling laws of metabolism.     

Impurity effects in the optical absorption of quantum rings

We study the interplay between impurity scattering and Coulomb interaction effects in the absorption spectrum of neutral bound magnetoexcitons confined in quantum-ring structures. Impurity scattering breaks the rotational symmetry of the ring system, introducing characteristic features in the optical emission. Signatures of the optical Aharonov–Bohm effect are still present for weak scattering and strong Coulomb screening. Furthermore, an impurity-induced modulation of the absorption strength is present even for a strong impurity potential and low screening. This behavior is likely responsible of recent experimental observations in quantum-ring structures.