Direct determination of sulfite in food samples by a biosensor based on plant tissue homogenate

In the work described here, a biosensor was developed for the determination of sulfite in food. Malva vulgaris tissue homogenate containing sulfite oxidase enzyme was used as the biological material. M. vulgaris tissue homogenate was crosslinked with gelatin using glutaraldehyde and fixed on a pretreated Teflon membrane. Sulfite was enzymatically converted to sulfate in the presence of the dissolved oxygen, which was monitored amperometrically. Sulfite determination was carried out by standard curves, which were obtained by the measurement of consumed oxygen level related to sulfite concentration. Several operational parameters had been investigated: the amounts of plant tissue homogenate and gelatin, percentage of glutaraldehyde, optimum pH and temperature. Also, some characterization studies were done. There was linearity in the range between 0.2 and 1.8 mM at 35 °C and pH 7.5. The results of real sample analysis obtained with the biosensor agreed well with the enzymatic reference method using spectrophotometric detection.     

Behaviour of organic pollutants in paper and board samples intended to be in contact with food

This paper deals with the study of volatile compounds present in a set of three paper and board (P&B) samples of different composition, surface treatment, grammage and thickness. The volatile compounds released by the packaging material (P&B) can be trapped on the food and may then affect the safety and health of consumers. To evaluate if the recycled P&B could be used as food packaging material, adsorption studies have been performed with a selection of chemical substances. The adsorption isotherms are provided. Partition coefficients between paper and air have been calculated for a series of volatile compounds used as model compounds to represent different families of contaminants commonly present in P&B. Values from 4 to 3243 were obtained at different temperatures. The analysis of volatile compounds have been carried out by automatic headspace coupled on-line with GC/MS in SIM mode. The results obtained are shown and discussed.     

Development of solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction methods for the determination of chlorophenols in cork macerate and wine samples

Tri-, tetra- and pentachlorophenol (TCP, TeCP and PCP) can be considered the precursors in the formation of corresponding chloroanisoles, known to be powerful odorants in corks and wine. Determining the presence of these chlorophenolic compounds in cork soaking solutions (ethanol/water mixtures, 12% (v/v) ethanol used for cork quality control testing), or in wine can be achieved by acetylation/gas chromatography electron-capture detection. In order to reach the required sensitivity, a previous preconcentration step is necessary. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) have given good results for the preconcentration of TCP, TeCP and PCP in such matrices. The use of Oasis HLB cartridges gives acceptable recoveries for the three compounds when different volumes (50-250 mL) of cork macerate with concentrations ranging from 20 to 150 ng/L are processed. Preconcentration based on HS-SPME has also been optimised with a 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane fibre and in situ derivatization. The HS-SPME method allows chlorophenols in a cork soaking solution and in wine to be determined with a limit of detection of 1 ng/L for each compound (in cork macerate) and a repeatability of around 0.5%-5% (n=8) for a concentration level of 30 ng/L.     

离子色谱柱切换技术同时测定食品中的多种成分

采用离子色谱柱切换技术同时测定了保留性质差别较大的有机酸以及不同价态的无机阴离子。由于柱切换基本不影响色谱基线,该法有较高的灵敏度。同时测定了食品中的乙酸,山梨酸、苯甲酸、糖精、氯离子和磷酸根。     

Formulation–composition map of a lecithin-based emulsion

Formulation–composition map is an interesting tool to predict the nature of an emulsion, stability, viscosity and nevertheless to decide the mixing protocol of its ingredients. Information based on optimum formulation (environmental conditions at which the affinity of an emulsifier for oil and for aqueous phase is same), which is depicted through hydrophilic–lipophilic deviation (HLD) concept, is necessary to make a formulation–composition map of an emulsion. In order to apply this concept in food emulsions, it is necessary to determine characteristic constants of each component of the system, i.e. the aqueous phase, the oil phase and the emulsifier at equilibrium. In this work formulation–composition map of a sunflower oil–water–lecithin system, based on the knowledge of phase behavior of lecithin at equilibrium and emulsification, was made. The shape of inversion line on formulation–composition map was not the classical stair type rather an almost vertical inversion line at water-fraction (f_w) near 0.20 was observed. It was supposed to be linked to the viscosity of oil phase which was 50 times the viscosity of aqueous phase. Additionally, emulsions were of oil-in-water (O/W) type for f_w higher than 0.20, but their viscosity and the drop size behavior with respect to salt concentration as formulation variable did not show the existence of transitional inversion line on formulation–composition map. Such map in advance can certainly facilitate the guidelines for dynamic emulsification.     

Biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants

This review article provides an overview of the most recent literature on biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants. Due to the large number of publications, only papers published between 2000 and January 2003 were considered. Also, while not all of the published literature could be reviewed here, over 200 references are cited to provide a good overview of research undertaken in the last two years. Older publications are covered by a number of earlier review articles. This article provides an introduction into the field including specific consideration of the application areas, describes the typical biosensor assay format used, and is subsequently structured according to the biorecognition elements used (i.e., nucleic acids, enzymes, whole cells, tissue and whole organisms, antibodies and receptors, and biomimetic materials). In addition, a section on microbiosensing systems is provided. Since only very few microbiosensors with applications in environmental and food systems have been published, enabling technology is also covered in this article.Abbreviations BOD biological oxygen demand - cfu colony forming units - DNP dinitrophenol - GFP green fluorescent protein - NASBA nucleic acid sequence-based amplification - PCR polymerase chain reaction - ppt parts per trillion - QCM quartz crystal microbalance - SPR surface plasmon resonance     

Dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction of alcohols

A method was developed using dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for extraction and determination of 9 alcohols from water samples. Four different solvents, hexyl acetate, n-octanol, o-xylene and n-decane were studied as extractants. The analytes were extracted using 0.8 microl of n-octanol from the headspace of a 2 ml sample solution. The effect of sampling volume, solvent volume, sample temperature, syringe plunger withdrawal rate and ionic strength of the solution on the extraction performance were studied. A semiautomated system including a variable speed stirring motor was used to ensure a uniform movement of syringe plunger through the barrel. The method provided a fairly good precision for all compounds (5.5-9.3%), except methanol (16.4%). Detection limits were found to be between 1 and 97 microg/l within an extraction time of approximately 9.5 min under GC-MS in full scan mode.     

Simple and versatile operational fractionation of Fe and Zn in dietary products by solid phase extraction on ion exchange resins

A simple and versatile protocol, based on use of solid phase extraction on strong ion exchangers and off-line detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, was devised to fractionate iron and zinc in common dietary food and beverages products, i.e., bee honeys, fruit juices and tea infusions. In the procedure proposed, cation exchanger Dowex 50Wx4 and anion exchanger Dowex 1x4 were used separately for distinguishing broadly meant the cationic metal fraction and the fraction of stable anionic metal complexes, respectively, after retention of metal species and their exhaustive elution by means of a 4.0 mol l⁻¹ HCl solution. The third fraction, referred to the residual metal species, was retrieved by difference between total soluble metal contents and sum of metal quantities in separated cationic and anionic fractions. The fractionation pattern observed for both metals was described and discussed.     

Detection ofFusarium trichothecenes (nivalenol,deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol) by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Separation and determination ofFusarium trichothecenes: nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, were carried out by highperformance liquid chromatography with UV detection, and methanol—water (30/70) as mobile-phase on Lichrosorb RP-18 column. Detection limits were 2, 3, 3 and 5ng per injection of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, respectively. The method appears to be adequate for detection of the above trichothecenes in contaminated corn and rice as well as in cultures ofFusarium spp. A preliminary TLC purification was necessary for detection of fusarenone in corn.     

Selenium speciation in foods: Preliminary results on potatoes

The present paper deals with the speciation of selenium in potatoes (enriched or not in selenium). The study was carried out by using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) for quantifying selenium. Results obtained provide evidence that the selenium content in the protein fraction is rather independent from the selenium added to the plants during their growth. On the contrary, the amount of Se in the non-protein fraction (water and starch) in Se-enriched sample is significantly higher than in non-enriched one, suggesting that it is the main selenium-storing site. In this fraction the Se(VI)/Se(IV) ratio seems independent from selenium application but it may be related to the redox conditions. The accumulation of selenium in the non-protein fraction is tentatively ascribed to the “Se–starch interaction” that should be able to modulate both the Se absorption into proteins and, possibly, its toxic effect for the plant itself.