Multivariate optimization of an ultrasound-assisted extraction procedure for Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn determination in ration to chickens

Recent advances in electrochemical sensor developments for detecting emerging pollutant in water environment

In the latest times, considerable studies have been performed closer to detecting emerging pollutant such as paracetamol in wastewater. Electrochemical sensor developments have recently started to determine in fewer concentrations effectively. The detection of paracetamol using standard protocols corresponding to electroanalytical techniques has a greater impact noticed in directing the detecting process toward biosensors. Non-enzymatic sensors are the peak of all electro analysis approaches. Functionalized materials, such as metal oxide nanoparticles, conducting polymers, and carbon-based materials for electrode surface functionalization have been used to create a fortification for distributing passive enzyme-free biosensors. Synergic effects are possible by enhancing loading capacity and mass transfer of reactants for attaining high analytical sensitivity using a variety of nanomaterials with large surface areas. The main focus of this study is to address the prevailing issues in the identification of paracetamol with the tasks in the non-enzymatic sensors field, followed by the useful methods of electro analysis studies.

Multivariate optimization of a goat meat alkaline solubilization procedure using tetramethylammonium hydroxide for metals determination using FAAS

In the present work, multivariate designs were used to optimize an alkaline dissolution, assisted by ultrasound energy, procedure of goat meat using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) aiming to determine Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na and Zn by flame atomic absorption (FAAS) and emission (FAES) spectrometry. The optimal conditions found for the dissolution were in the following ranges: 0.4-0.5 g for the sample mass, 12-15 min of sonication and using 700-1000 µL of 25% TMAH at a temperature of 50 °C. The obtained limits of quantification varied between 0.221 (Mg) and 7.60 (Ca) μg g^-1. Accuracy was assessed by comparing the results obtained by applying the proposed method with the digestion in an acid medium using a digesting block and by analyzing bovine liver certified reference material. The application of a t-test revealed that, at a 95% confidence level, there were no significant differences between the values obtained.

Combination of supramolecular solvent-based microextraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction for cadmium determination in flaxseed flour by thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

This study describes the development of a new analytical method for cadmium determination in flaxseed flour based on ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with supramolecular preconcentration followed by thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Cadmium from flaxseed flour was extracted by ultrasound-assisted radiation in acid medium (1.5 mol L-1HNO3) followed by liquid-liquid microextraction of the acid extractwith dodecanoic acid/THF supramolecular solvent using diethyl dithiophosphate as a chelating agent. The limit of detection and the analytical curve range were found to be 0.10 μg L-1 and 0.35 to 20.0 μg L-1, respectively. The cadmium concentration in the flaxseed flours was ranged from 0.11 ± 0.04 to 0.79 ± 0.03 µg g-1. The proposed methodis considered simpler, faster, low-cost, and environmentally friendly compared to procedures currently used for the determination of cadmium based on acid digestion and using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Current Perspective and Developments in Electrochemical Sensors Modified with Nanomaterials for Environmental and Pharmaceutical Analysis

Background:

Over the past few decades, environmental pollution has appeared to be one of the most crucial global problems. The widespread intensification of numerous hazardous pollutants in the environment need the modern researchers to develop viable, reproducible and cost-effective determination tools for the reliable environmental analysis. The beneficial, as well as perilous, biological compounds are receiving growing interest due to their variable composition which produces advantageous and toxic impacts on human and the environment. Several conventional analytical methods have been established for the pharmaceutical and environmental analysis. However, certain drawbacks limited their practices in the modern rapidly growing era of science and technology. The development of electrochemical sensors has emerged as more beneficial and promising tool as against other traditional analytical approaches, in terms of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, sensitivity, stability and reliability. Nonetheless, the over potential and low anodic/cathodic current response are both considered as bottlenecks for the determination of electroactive entities exploiting electrochemical sensors. Interestingly, these problems can be easily resolved by modifying the electrodes with a variety of conductive materials, especially nanostructures.

Objective:

This review covers different electrochemical methods, reported in the literature, for the environmental and pharmaceutical analysis through simple and cost-effective nanostructures-based sensors. The electrochemical techniques with different modes and the modification of electrodes with highly conductive and prolific polymeric and nanostructured materials used for the determination of different environmental and pharmaceutical samples are the main prominence of this review. Various kinds of nanomaterials, e.g. metal, metal oxide and their composites, have been synthesized for the fabrication of sensitive electrodes.

Conclusion:

Nanostructures played a pivotal role in the modification of electrodes, which substantially enhanced the capability and sensitivity of electrochemical sensors. The proper modification of electrodes has materialized the swift detection of electroactive compounds at very low limits and offered the feasible determination procedure without any kind of signal fluctuation and over potential. In crux, due to their enhanced surface area and excellent catalytic properties, nanomaterials recently appeared as the most promising candidates in the field of electrode modification and significantly impacted the detection protocols for various environmental pollutants, viz. pesticides, metal ions and drugs.

Synthesis of MnCo2O4 nanoparticles as modifiers for simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II)

The porous spinel oxide nanoparticles, MnCo₂O₄, were synthesized by citrate gel combustion technique. Morphology, crystallinity and Co/Mn content of modified electrode was characterized and determined by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction pattern analysis (XRD), simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). Nanoparticles were used for modification of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and new sensor was applied for simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in water samples with the linear sweep anodic stripping voltammetry (LSASV).The factors such as pH, deposition potential and deposition time are optimized. Under optimal conditions the wide linear concentration range from 0.05 to 40 μmol/dm³was obtained for Pb(II), with limit of detection (LOD) of 8.06 nmol/dm³ and two linear concentration ranges were obtained for Cd(II), from 0.05 to 1.6 μmol/dm³ and from 1.6 to 40 μmol/dm³, with calculated LOD of 7.02 nmol/dm³. The selectivity of the new sensor was investigated in the presence of interfering ions. The sensor is stable and it gave reproducible results. The new sensor was succesfully applied on determination of heavy metals in natural waters.

Extração assistida por ultrassom para determinação de Fe, K e Na em amostras de achocolatado em pó

Nos últimos anos o consumo de achocolatados tem aumentado, principalmente pelo público infantil. Dessa maneira o controle de qualidade do produto em relação a sua composição, principalmente quanto à concentração dos minerais, torna-se importante para facilitar a escolha do produto pelo consumidor. Um método simples e rápido para a determinação de Fe, K e Na em amostras de achocolatado utilizando extração assistida por ultrassom foi proposto. As análises foram realizadas por fotometria de chama e espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização em chama (FAAS). O método proposto mostrou-se simples, rápido e preciso, apresentando limites de detecção (LOD) para o método de 10 mg.100g-1 para K e Na e 0,2 mg.100g-1 para Fe, e valores de RSD menores que 13%. Foram analisadas 10 amostras de achocolatado em pó de diferentes marcas e as concentrações obtidas comparadas aos valores estabelecidos pela Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos (TACO) e aos valores informados nos rótulos dos produtos. Os resultados obtidos, para a maioria das amostras, não estavam de acordo com os valores estabelecidos na tabela TACO e com os valores informados nos rótulos.