Comparing different means of signal treatment for improving the detection power in HPLC-ICP-MS

Transport of Nanoparticles into Plants and Their Detection Methods

Nanoparticle transport into plants is an evolving field of research with diverse applications in agriculture and biotechnology. This article provides an overview of the challenges and prospects associated with the transport of nanoparticles in plants, focusing on delivery methods and the detection of nanoparticles within plant tissues. Passive and assisted delivery methods, including the use of roots and leaves as introduction sites, are discussed, along with their respective advantages and limitations. The barriers encountered in nanoparticle delivery to plants are highlighted, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches (e.g., the stem as a new recognition site) to optimize transport efficiency. In recent years, research efforts have intensified, leading to an evendeeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms governing the interaction of nanomaterials with plant tissues and cells. Investigations into the uptake pathways and translocation mechanisms within plants have revealed nuanced responses to different types of nanoparticles. Additionally, this article delves into the importance of detection methods for studying nanoparticle localization and quantification within plant tissues. Various techniques are presented as valuable tools for comprehensively understanding nanoparticle-plant interactions. The reliance on multiple detection methods for data validation is emphasized to enhance the reliability of the research findings. The future outlooks of this field are explored, including the potential use of alternative introduction sites, such as stems, and the continued development of nanoparticle formulations that improve adhesion and penetration. By addressing these challenges and fostering multidisciplinary research, the field of nanoparticle transport in plants is poised to make significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and environmental management.

Inorganic Arsenic Determination in Food: A Review of Analytical Proposals and Quality Assessment Over the Last Six Years

Here we review recent developments in analytical proposals for the assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) content in food products. Interest in the determination of iAs in products for human consumption such as food commodities, wine, and seaweed among others is fueled by the wide recognition of its toxic effects on humans, even at low concentrations. Currently, the need for robust and reliable analytical methods is recognized by various international safety and health agencies, and by organizations in charge of establishing acceptable tolerance levels of iAs in food. This review summarizes the state of the art of analytical methods while highlighting tools for the assessment of quality assessment of the results, such as the production and evaluation of certified reference materials (CRMs) and the availability of specific proficiency testing (PT) programmes. Because the number of studies dedicated to the subject of this review has increased considerably over recent years, the sources consulted and cited here are limited to those from 2010 to the end of 2015.

Improving detection power in trace analysis using wavelet transform

Environmental analysis most often is trace analysis. Therefore, the concentrations are commonly in the lower working range near the limit of detection of the corresponding analytical method. However, whenever the instrument's analytical noise is too large, it dominates the signal curves and analytes cannot be detected anymore. Furthermore, the evaluation of peaks with defined baselines is hindered very much. One possibility for de-noising is wavelet transform which is presented in this work. Different wavelet functions are applied and Symlet4 is suggested as the most powerful for analytical peaks that resemble Gaussian distribution curves, as it improves limits of detection by factors 6 to 7. The comparison of different wavelet functions has been carried out for two modern analytical scopes. At first, chromatograms are de-noised for the speciation of four arsenic compounds via the coupling of HPLC and ICP-MS. Secondly, the determination of cadmium is shown by HR-CS AAS, which is one of the most recently developed devices in atomic absorption spectrometry and allows the registration of three-dimensional spectra in order to investigate the spectral vicinity of analytical lines. On the basis of these investigations, we recommend using wavelet transform with Symlet4 for all analytical techniques which are resulting in similar signal curves.