Particle size characterization of titanium dioxide in sunscreen products using sedimentation field-flow fractionation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry

Sedimentation field-flow fractionation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (SdFFF-ICP-MS) was successfully applied to investigate particle size distribution of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in sunscreen samples after hexane extraction to remove organic components from the samples. Three brands of sunscreen products of various sun protection factor (SPF) value were used as samples. Different particle size distribution profiles were observed for sunscreen samples of various brands and SPF values; however, the particle size distributions of titanium dioxide in most sunscreen samples investigated in this work were larger than 100 nm. The titanium dioxide concentrations were higher for the products of higher SPF values. By comparing the results obtained from online SdFFF-ICP-MS and those from the off-line ICP-MS determination of titanium after acid digestion, ICP-MS was found to effectively atomize and ionize the titanium dioxide particle without the need for acid digestion of the samples. Therefore, the online coupling between SdFFF and ICP-MS could be effectively used to provide quantitative information of titanium dioxide concentrations across particle size distribution profiles.     

Flow field-flow fractionation for hydrodynamic diameter estimation of gold nanoparticles with various types of surface coatings

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection was applied for estimating the hydrodynamic...     

Novel biphasic structured composite prepared by in situ silica filling in natural rubber latex

The sol‐gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane in natural rubber (NR) latex was conducted to produce in situ silica‐filled NR latex, followed by adding sulfur cross‐linking reagents to the latex in a liquid state. The latex was cast and subjected to sulfur curing to result in a unique morphology in the NR composite of a flexible film form. The contents of in situ silica filling were controlled up to 35 parts per one hundred rubber by weight. The silica was locally dispersed around rubber particles to give a filler network. This characteristic morphology brought about the composite of good dynamic mechanical properties. Synchrotron X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy suggested that the sulfidic linkages of the sulfur cross‐linked composites were polysulfidic, S_x (x ≥ 2), and a fraction of shorter polysulfidic linkages became larger with the increase of in situ silica. The present observations will be of use for developing a novel in situ silica‐filled NR composite prepared in NR latex via liquid‐phase soft processing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New reference material for analysis of elements in glutinous rice produced at the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)

Reference materials play an important role for evaluating the accuracy of analytical results, and are essential parts of good laboratory practice. They represent a key tool for quality control of chemical analyses. In Thailand, the demand of food and environmental reference materials is constantly increasing, and the National Institute of Metrology (NIMT, Thailand) is responding to the urgent needs for affordable materials, which require collaborative efforts at the national level. This paper describes the preparation of a new glutinous rice reference material, along with homogeneity and stability studies and the analytical work carried out for the certification of the contents of inorganic elements. The incurred material was collected from an actual rice paddy field. Material preparation along with homogeneity and stability testing were carried out at the Environmental Research Training Centre (ERTC). The homogeneity study was designed to have three experimental conditions; (A) 10 bottles of candidate materials being analyzed each with 2 replicates, (B) 20 bottles with 2 replicates, (C) 10 bottles with 7 replicates, in order to study the suitable treatments for homogeneity testing in the reference material production. It was shown that a minimum number of 10 bottles with duplicate analyses are enough to demonstrate the homogeneity of candidate reference material. Certification of a candidate reference material in a single laboratory using reference method was confirmed with an interlaboratory comparison participated by a certain number of well recognized testing laboratories in Thailand. Further elaborative results will be discussed.     

Flow field-flow fractionation: a versatile approach for size characterization of α-tocopherol-induced enlargement of gold nanoparticles

Flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) was used for size characterization of gold nanoparticles. The measured particle sizes obtained from FlFFF for the commercial 10 nm gold nanoparticle standard and the gold nanoparticles synthesized in the laboratory were in good agreement with those measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, the capability of α-tocopherol to induce enlargement of gold nanoparticles by catalysis of the reduction of AuCl₄⁻ by citrate was observed by monitoring the changes in particle size of gold nanoparticles using FlFFF. The effects of α-tocopherol and incubation time on enlargement of the gold nanoparticles were examined. Higher concentrations of α-tocopherol resulted in larger nanoparticles. At fixed α-tocopherol concentration, larger nanoparticles were formed at longer incubation times.     

Flow field-flow fractionation-inductively coupled optical emission spectrometric investigation of the size-based distribution of iron complexed to phytic and tannic acids in a food suspension: implications for iron availability

Flow field–flow fractionation–inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (FlFFF–ICP–OES) was applied to achieve the size-based fractionation of iron in a food suspension in order to gain insights into iron availability. The binding of iron with phytic and tannic acids, employed as model inhibitors of iron availability in foods, was investigated at pH 2.0 (representing stomach fluid), pH 5.0 (the transition stage in the upper part of the duodenum), and pH 7.0 (the small intestine). In the presence of phytic acid, iron was found as a free ion or it was associated with molecules smaller than 1 kDa at pH 2.0. Iron associated with molecules larger than 1 kDa when the pH of the mixture was raised to 5.0 and 7.0. In the presence of tannic acid, iron was again mostly associated with molecules smaller than 1 kDa at pH 2.0. However, at pH 5.0, iron and tannic acid associated in large molecules (∼25 kDa), while at pH 7.0, most of the iron was associated with macromolecules larger than 500 kDa. Iron size-based distributions of kale extract and tea infusion containing phytic and tannic acids, respectively, were also examined at the three pH values, with and without enzymatic digestion. Without enzymatic digestion of the kale extract and the tea infusion at pH 2.0, most of the iron was released as free ions or associated with molecules smaller than 1 kDa. At other pH values, most of the iron in the kale extract and the tea infusion was found to bind with ~2 kDa and >500 kDa macromolecules, respectively. Upon enzymatic gastrointestinal digestion, the iron was not observed to bind to macromolecules >1 kDa but <500 kDa, due to the enzymatic breakdown of large molecules to smaller ones (<1 kDa). Figure Flow field–flow fractionation was exploited in order to achieve size-based iron fractionation and thus investigate iron-binding behavior under gastrointestinal conditions     

Mechanisms of red blood cells agglutination in antibody-treated paper

Recent reports on using bio-active paper and bio-active thread to determine human blood type have shown a tremendous potential of using these low-cost materials to build bio-sensors for blood diagnosis. In this work we focus on understanding the mechanisms of red blood cell agglutination in the antibody-loaded paper. We semi-quantitatively evaluate the percentage of antibody molecules that are adsorbed on cellulose fibres and can potentially immobilize red blood cells on the fibre surface, and the percentage of the molecules that can desorb from the cellulose fibre surface into the blood sample and cause haemagglutination reaction in the bulk of a blood sample. Our results show that 34 to 42% of antibody molecules in the papers treated with commercial blood grouping antibodies can desorb from the fibre surface. When specific antibody molecules are released into the blood sample via desorption, haemagglutination reaction occurs in the blood sample. The reaction bridges the red cells in the blood sample bulk to the layer of red cells immobilized on the fibre surface by the adsorbed antibody molecules. The desorbed antibody also causes agglutinated lumps of red blood cells to form. These lumps cannot pass through the pores of the filter paper. The immobilization and filtration of agglutinated red cells give reproducible identification of positive haemagglutination reaction. Results from this study provide information for designing new bio-active paper-based devices for human blood typing with improved sensitivity and specificity.     

Flow field-flow fractionation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of chemical mechanical polishing slurries

Alumina- and silica-based chemical mechanical polishing slurries were analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility of field-flow fractionation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FFF-ICP-MS). After FFF separation ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si were measured by ICP-MS to obtain size distributions, mean particle size, number average-, mass average-, Z average- diameters, minimum and maximum particle sizes, dominant particle size, and particle size ranges (breadth of size distribution, and polydispersity) characteristics. Five commercial alumina and 13 silica slurry samples were characterized. Broad distributions were detected and two polydispersity calculations were compared. Most silica samples and one alumina sample show monomodal normal distributions. Asymmetric distributions were observed for a few silica and most alumina slurries. The degree of deviation from normal distribution was assessed. Mean particle sizes of alumina slurries varied between 150 and 350 nm with the maximum detected particle of less than 680 nm. Silica slurries exhibited maximum particle sizes of less than approximately 400 nm with the mean particle sizes ranging from 110 to 220 nm. Trace metals (Fe, Ti and Zr) coeluted with Al, Si; whereas, Pb appeared to be present as colloidal fractions.