Development of a rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and naphthalene residues in honey using HS-SPME coupled with GC–MS

The tropical cookbook: Termite diet and phylogenetics—Over geographical origin—Drive the microbiome and functional genetic structure of nests

Termites are key decomposers of dead plant material involved in the organic matter recycling process in warm terrestrial ecosystems. Due to their prominent role as urban pests of timber, research efforts have been directed toward biocontrol strategies aimed to use pathogens in their nest. However, one of the most fascinating aspects of termites is their defense strategies that prevent the growth of detrimental microbiological strains in their nests. One of the controlling factors is the nest allied microbiome. Understanding how allied microbial strains protect termites from pathogen load could provide us with an enhanced repertoire for fighting antimicrobial-resistant strains or mining for genes for bioremediation purposes. However, a necessary first step is to characterize these microbial communities. To gain a deeper understanding of the termite nest microbiome, we used a multi-omics approach for dissecting the nest microbiome in a wide range of termite species. These cover several feeding habits and three geographical locations on two tropical sides of the Atlantic Ocean known to host hyper-diverse communities. Our experimental approach included untargeted volatile metabolomics, targeted evaluation of volatile naphthalene, a taxonomical profile for bacteria and fungi through amplicon sequencing, and further diving into the genetic repertoire through a metagenomic sequencing approach. Naphthalene was present in species belonging to the genera Nasutitermes and Cubitermes. We investigated the apparent differences in terms of bacterial community structure and discovered that feeding habits and phylogenetic relatedness had a greater influence than geographical location. The phylogenetic relatedness among nests' hosts influences primarily bacterial communities, while diet influences fungi. Finally, our metagenomic analysis revealed that the gene content provided both soil-feeding genera with similar functional profiles, while the wood-feeding genus showed a different one. Our results indicate that the nest functional profile is largely influenced by diet and phylogenetic relatedness, irrespective of geographical location.

Facile Synthesis of Lithium Sulfide Nanocrystals for Use in Advanced Rechargeable Batteries

This work reports a new method of synthesizing anhydrous lithium sulfide (Li2S) nanocrystals and demonstrates their potential as cathode materials for advanced rechargeable batteries. Li2S is synthesized by reacting hydrogen sulfide (H2S) with lithium naphthalenide (Li-NAP), a thermodynamically spontaneous reaction that proceeds to completion rapidly at ambient temperature and pressure. The process completely removes H2S, a major industrial waste, while cogenerating 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, itself a value-added chemical that can be used as liquid fuel. The phase purity, morphology, and homogeneity of the resulting nanopowders were confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The synthesized Li2S nanoparticles (100 nm) were assembled into cathodes, and their performance was compared to that of cathodes fabricated using commercial Li2S micropowders (1-5 μm). Electrochemical analyses demonstrated that the synthesized Li2S were superior in terms of (dis)charge capacity, cycling stability, output voltage, and voltage efficiency.

PAL SPME Arrow--evaluation of a novel solid-phase microextraction device for freely dissolved PAHs in water

After more than 25 years, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has gained widespread acceptance as a well-automatable and flexible microextraction technique, while its instrumental basis remained mostly unchanged. The novel PAL (Prep And Load solution) SPME Arrow combines the advantages of SPME with the benefits of extraction techniques providing larger sorption phase volumes such as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). It thereby avoids the inherent drawbacks of both techniques such as limitations in method automation in the case of SBSE, as well as the small sorption phase volumes and the lacking fiber robustness of classical SPME fibers. This new design is based on a robust stainless steel backbone, carrying, the screw connection to the PAL sampler, the enlarged sorption phase, and an arrow-shaped tip for conservative penetration of septa (hence the name). An outer capillary encloses this phase apart from enrichment and desorption processes and rests against the tip during transfer and penetrations, resulting in a homogeneously closed device. Here, we present an evaluation and a comparison of the novel PAL SPME Arrow with classical SPME fibers, extracting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as model analytes, from the freely dissolved fraction in lab water and groundwater via direct immersion using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as common sorption phase material. Limits of detection, repeatabilities, and extraction yields were determined for the PAL SPME Arrow and compared to data of classical SPME fibers and SBSE bars. Results indicate a significant benefit in extraction efficiency due to the larger sorption phase volume. It is accompanied by faultless mechanical robustness and thus better reliability, especially in case of prolonged, unattended, and automated operation. As an exemplary application, the water-soluble fraction of PAHs and derivatives in a roofing felt sample was quantified.

Graphical Abstract

Screening of volatile compounds in honey using a new sampling strategy combining multiple extraction temperatures in a single assay by HS-SPME-GC-MS

This paper proposes a new optimization strategy for the extraction of volatile compounds from honey samples using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and separation/detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The new optimization strategy was based on the use of three different extraction temperatures in a single assay, aiming at extracting a high number of compounds with wide range of volatilities. As an analytical tool, experimental designs were used for the optimization. The variables extraction time (10-80 min), extraction temperature (0-60 °C), water volume (0.5-5 mL) and percentage of sodium chloride saturation in water (0-100%) were optimised using a five-level fractional central composite design with CAR/DVB/PDMS fibre. The final optimised combination of extraction times at each temperature was 60 min with the sample temperature being held at 60 °C for 36 min, 40 °C for 18 min and 0 °C for 6 min. The proposed method was compared to conventional methods which employ one or two extraction temperatures. It was found that the proposed method presented better results considering the response in terms of the arithmetic means of the peak areas. The use of multiple extraction temperatures for the HS-SPME procedure proved to be an excellent alternative for the screening of compounds present in honey with a wide range of volatilities.

Preparation and characterization of sodium dodecyl sulfate doped polypyrrole solid phase micro extraction fiber and its application to endocrine disruptor pesticide analysis

A robust in house solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) surface has been developed for the headspace (HS)-SPME determination of endocrine disruptor pesticides, namely, Chlorpyrifos, Penconazole, Procymidone, Bromopropylate and Lambda-Cyhalothrin in wine sample by using sodium dodecylsulfate doped polypyrrole SPME fiber. Pyrrole monomer was electrochemically polymerized on a stainless steel wire in laboratory conditions in virtue of diminishing the cost and enhancing the analyte retention on its surface to exert better selectivity and hence the developed polymerized surface could offer to analyst to exploit it as a fiber in headspace SPME analysis. The parameters, mainly, adsorption temperature and time, desorption temperature, stirring rate and salt amount were optimized to be as 70°C and 45min, 200°C, 600rpm and 10gL(-1), respectively. Limit of detection was estimated in the range of 0.073-1.659ngmL(-1) for the pesticides studied. The developed method was applied in to red wine sample with acceptable recovery values (92-107%) which were obtained for these selected pesticides.

Absorption and excretion of cranberry-derived phenolics in humans

Absorption and excretion of twenty cranberry-derived phenolics were studied following the consumption of cranberry juice, sauces, and fruits by healthy human volunteers. Plasma and urine samples were collected and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was employed for analysing urinary creatinine, which was used as a normalisation agent. Significant increases in the sum of plasma phenolics were observed with different concentration peaks (between 0.5 and 2h) for individual subjects. Some of the phenolics, such as trans-cinnamic, vanillic, p-coumaric acids, and catechin showed second plasma concentration peaks. All of cranberry-derived phenolics increased significantly in urine samples after the intake of each cranberry product. The high molecular weight quercetin and myricetin, which were abundant in cranberry foodstuffs, were not found in either plasma or urine samples. This study provided the fundamental information for understanding the absorption and excretion of phenolics in the human gastrointestinal system after dietary intake of cranberry products.

Characterization of organic particulates present in milk factory process waters used for reuse along with aerobically digested effluent wastewater

Wastewater from a dairy processor is being reused and recycled both within the plant and for irrigation. Flash pyrolysis GC-MS was used to examine nitrogen and phenol containing compounds (M.W.=35 to 450 g/mol) in the particulate fraction of the milk condensate, combined clean wastewater and aerobic bioreactor effluent. For comparison, the particulates were also prepared for standard GC-MS analyses using conventional solvent extraction methods. Compounds detected by pyrolysis GC-MS were found mostly in the bioreactor with the amino acid arginine (220 mg/kg) and the amino acid derivative 1-methyl-5-oxo-L-proline methyl ester (130 mg/kg) found at the highest concentrations. In comparison, sterols detected in the effluent were found at higher concentrations when using solvent extraction indicating some degradation with pyrolysis GC-MS. However, with few exceptions, particulates were generally found not to act as passive collectors capable of concentrating less water soluble chemicals.

Detection of naphthalene by real-time immuno-PCR using molecular beacon

A rapid and quantitative technique is urgently needed in detecting toxicological and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. Using a molecular beacon (MB), this study aimed at detecting the presence of naphthalene through an assay developed via a highly sensitive and robust, real-time fluorescent quantitative immuno-PCR (FQ-IPCR), which was then performed on serial dilutions of known naphthalene concentrations equivalent to 10-fold dilutions of 1-10(4) fg/mL. A correlation coefficient of 0.996 was identified, and a linear relationship between 1 fg/mL and 10 pg/mL, with y = 1.392x + 11.188, was obtained. A trace amount (1 fg/mL) of naphthalene congeners could be detected using this method. Five water samples were then used for validation, the results of which were further confirmed through a conventional enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Based on sensitivity and reproduction, the MB-based FQ-IPCR technique is a promising tool for monitoring environmental endocrine disruptors.