Use of computerized pattern recognition of triglyceride profiles in monitoring SCF-CO2 extraction of fatty oils

High pressure extraction of vegetable fatty oils by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide was investigated. Pressures from 9 to 20 MPa at 40°C were used. The extracts were monitored by high temperature capillary gas chromatography for sterol and tri-glyceride composition. The quality of the extracted oils was evaluated by numerical taxonomy methods. The extraction products compared well with the characteristics of commercial fatty oils of the same vegetable origin. No significant qualitative variation was detected in the pressure range studied.     

Preparation and Optical Characterization of Organoeuropium-Doped Silica Gels

Gels have been investigated as potential matrices for rare earth luminescence. The use of complexing ligands in the sol-gel synthesis of the rare-earth doped glasses has been suggested to improve the rare earth ion luminescence properties in these matrices due to the changes in the local environment experienced by the rare earth ion. In this work, transparent Eu3+-doped gels were prepared from Si(OCH3)4 and fluorinated and/or complex-forming Eu3+ precursors (Eu(fod)3, (CF3 SO3)3Eu, (CF3CO2)Eu · 3H2O, Eu(thd)3 and Eu(acac)3). Results of emission, fluorescence line narrowing and lifetimes studies of Eu3+-doped gels derived from Si(OCH3)4 and fluorinated/chelate Eu3+ precursors are presented. The results were interpreted in terms of the evolution of the Eu3+ fluorescence in systems varying from solutions to the gels densified to 800°C. Analysis of the fluorescence decays of the 5D0 state suggests that the use of the fluorinated Eu3+ precursors reduces the hydrophobic content in the silica gels matrices. FLN studies indicate that Eu3+ clustering occurred in all densified samples.     

Headspace solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography-mass detection method for the determination of butyltin compounds in wines

Butyltin compounds are widespread contaminants which have also been found in some wines, determined by liquid-liquid extraction followed by alkylation with a Grignard reagent and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. A promising alternative to this extraction/derivatization method is the one-step tetraethylborate in situ ethylation/solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) method. In this work, a SPME-GC-MS method for the determination of butyltin compounds in wine was optimised. The optimised parameters concerned the pre-treatment with tetramethylammonium hydroxide, matrix modification with sodium chloride, tetraethylborate concentration, extraction time and temperature, and the GC separation program. The analytical figures of merit of the optimised method (range, limit of detection (LOD) and reproducibility) were evaluated. The sensitivity (range 20-1421 kcounts μg⁻¹ l⁻¹ as Sn) and LOD (range, 0.01-0.2 μg l⁻¹ as Sn) depended greatly on the butyltin species to be measured and on the type of wine. For the tested species (monobutyltin, dibutyltin and tributyltin) the highest sensitivities were achieved for Port wine samples, followed by red wine>white wine>white Verde wine. The method allowed acceptable repeatability (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), 6-8%; n=4) and reproducibility (R.S.D., 8-9%; n=3).     

Headspace solid-phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry method for butyltin analysis in sediments: Optimization and validation

In this work, headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for analysis of butyltin compounds in sediment samples was upgraded by the introduction of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Optimization and validation of this method based on an one step procedure, tetraethylborate in situ ethylation with simultaneous extraction by headspace SPME, combined with tandem mass spectrometry is described. A simple leaching/extraction step of mono-(M), di-(D) and tri-(T) butyltin (BT) compounds from the sediment is required as sample pre-treatment. The combination of the two techniques headspace SPME and MS/MS, led to very little matrix interference which permitted to attain limits of detection three or more orders of magnitude lower than those attained in previous methods: 0.3 pg g^− 1 for MBT, 1 pg g^− 1 for DBT and 0.4 pg g^− 1 for TBT. Linear response range was from 0.02–1260 ng g^− 1 for MBT, 0.07–1568 ng g^− 1 for DBT and 0.04–2146 ng g^− 1 for TBT and RSD < 15% was also obtained. The method was efficiently applied to a real sample sediment from Sado River estuary in Portugal, revealing the existence of BTs pollution, as the TBT level of 189 ± 15 ng g^− 1 was much higher than the maximum established as provisional ecotoxicological assessment criteria.     

Rooteomics: the challenge of discovering plant defense-related proteins in roots

In recent years, a strong emphasis has been given in deciphering the function of genes unraveled by the completion of several genome sequencing projects. In plants, functional genomics has been massively used in order to search for gene products of agronomic relevance. As far as root-pathogen interactions are concerned, several genes are recognized to provide tolerance/resistance against potential invaders. However, very few proteins have been identified by using current proteomic approaches. One of the major drawbacks for the successful analysis of root proteomes is the inherent characteristics of this tissue, which include low volume content and high concentration of interfering substances such as pigments and phenolic compounds. The proteome analysis of plant-pathogen interactions provides important information about the global proteins expressed in roots in response to biotic stresses. Moreover, several pathogenic proteins superimpose the plant proteome and can be identified and used as targets for the control of viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematode pathogens. The present review focuses on advances in different proteomic strategies dedicated to the challenging analysis of plant defense proteins expressed during bacteria-, fungi- and nematode-root interactions. Recent developments, limitations of the current techniques, and technological perspectives for root proteomics aiming at the identification of resistance-related proteins are discussed.     

Development of a new sequential injection in-line cloud point extraction system for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of manganese in food samples

A preconcentration method for manganese determination by sequential injection cloud point extraction with subsequent detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been developed. The enrichment of Mn was performed after a preliminary on-line cloud point extraction and entrapment of manganese-containing surfactant aggregated within a minicolumn packed with cotton. The laboratory-made reagent 4-(5′-bromo-2′-thiazolylazo)orcinol (Br-TAO) and the surfactant Triton X-114 were used for cloud point extraction. The manganese ions were eluted with sulphuric acid solution and directly introduced into the FAAS. Chemical and flow variables affecting the preconcentration were studied. Using a sample volume of 2.80 mL the limit of detection and enrichment factor were calculated to be 0.5 μg L⁻¹ and 14, respectively. The sample frequency is 48 h⁻¹, considering a total run cycle of 75 s. The accuracy of the proposed method has been demonstrated by the analysis of the certified reference biological materials rice flour and tomato leaves. The method has been applied to determination of manganese in food samples.     

Buchwald protocol applied to the synthesis of N-heterotolan liquid crystals

A homologous series of the new N-heterotolans 8a-d were synthesized using two cross-coupling reactions mediated by copper and palladium/copper. The final compounds present the phenyl-pyridyl framework connected by the acetylene group. The evaluation of thermal properties for this series is described. All compounds exhibit the smectic A and X mesophase. For comparison were also synthesized compounds 10, 12, and 14. Their LC properties are reported.     

Coulomb-nuclear interference in the scattering of 3He and α-particles by 122,124Te, 124Sn and 114Cd

Angular distributions and excitation functions of the elastic and inelastic scattering of ³He and α-particles by ^122,124Te, ¹²⁴Sn and ¹¹⁴Cd at incident energies around the Coulomb barrier were measured. The experimental results were analyzed in the framework of the optical model and DWBA taking into account the interference between nuclear and Coulomb excitation. Nuclear and charge deformation parameters were deduced.