Quantitative non-destructive analysis of paper fillers using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy with PLS method

A quantitative non-destructive express method of determining fillers -kaolin and chalk- in paper was created using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy in the mid-IR and far-IR region (3800-245 cm^-1) combined with partial least squares (PLS) data analysis. Altogether, 30 two-component (cellulose pulp + kaolin and cellulose pulp + chalk) reference paper samples with known different filler concentrations and one reference paper sample without any fillers were prepared for calibration and validation. The reference values of filler concentrations in the prepared papers were determined by gravimetric analysis via dry ashing (for establishing accurate concentrations of fillers in paper) and ATR-FT-IR microspectroscopy (for evaluating homogeneity of the papers). Two-component (cellulose pulp + kaolin or cellulose pulp + chalk) PLS models were created with papers of different cellulose types and containing different amounts of fillers. The best model had root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) for determining the kaolin or chalk content in the two-component papers of 2.0 and 2.1 g/100 g, respectively. The performance indices were 90.4% and 92.9%, respectively. As a demonstration of practical applicability of the method, different papers from books, journals, etc. were analysed. It was concluded that the developed quantitative method is suitable for non-destructive express analysis of kaolin or chalk in paper. Graphical abstract.

Identification and classification of textile fibres using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy with chemometric methods

The possibility of classification of single- and two-component textile materials using ATR-FT-IR spectra and chemometric methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis, was assessed. Altogether 89 textile samples belonging to 26 different types (11 one- and 15 two-component textiles) were investigated. It was found that PCA classification using only two or three principal components (PCs) enables identifying different one- and two-component textiles, although with two important limitations: it was not always possible to distinguish between the cellulose-based fibres (cotton, linen and in some cases viscose) and it was only partly possible to distinguish between silk and wool. The statistical discriminant analysis can use as many PCs as there are sample classes and due to that can discriminate between single-component fibres, including viscose from linen and cotton as well as silk from wool. Besides that, in both of these cases, involving optical microscopy as an additional technique enabled unequivocal identification of the fibres. The possibilities of semi-quantitative analysis of mixed fibres (cotton-polyester, wool-polyester and wool-polyamide) with PCA were investigated and it was found that approximate quantitative composition is obtainable if for the mixed fibre sample a number of spectra are averaged in order to minimize the effect of structural inhomogeneity. For approximate content determination 25 spectra of selected two-component samples were registered for calibration and the averaged spectrum for each sample was computed. Due to the structural inhomogeneity of mixed textiles, obtaining accurate quantitative composition from real samples is not possible with ATR-FT-IR. The main problems with ATR-FT-IR-PCA classification are (1) difficulties in getting high quality spectra from some textiles (e.g. polyacrylic), (2) inhomogeneity of the textile fibres in the case of two-component fibres and (3) intrinsic similarity between the spectra of some fibres (e.g. cotton and linen). In order to test the homogeneity of mixed fibres, microscopic and IR-microspectroscopic analysis was carried out.

Valdecoxib Recovers the Lipid Composition, Order and Dynamics in Colon Cancer Cell Lines Independent of COX-2 Expression: An ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Study

Prostanoids play an important role in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes including inflammation and cancer. The rate-limiting step in the prostanoid biosynthesis pathway is catalyzed by cyclooxygenases (COXs). Aberrant expression of the inducible isoform COX-2 plays a significant role in colon cancer initiation and progression. In this study, we have hypothesized that COX-2 specific inhibitors such as Valdecoxib (VLX), being highly hydrophobic, may alter biophysical properties of cellular lipids. In this study, COX-2 expressing (HT29) and COX-2 non-expressing (SW620) colon cancer cell lines were treated with VLX and examined using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that VLX treatment decreased lipid fluidity in the cells irrespective of COX-2 expression status and affected order parameters of the lipids in both cell lines. Cluster analysis also indicated that the spectral differences between the two cell lines are profound and could be successfully differentiated. Valdecoxib treatment could enhance the composition, order and dynamics of the lipids of colon cancer cells independently of its COX-2 inhibitory mechanism. Valdecoxib has therapeutic effects upon colon cancer, therefore it can be used as an adjuvant and/or chemopreventive agent for colon cancer.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and quantitative multivariate analysis of paints and coating materials

The applicability of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with partial least squares (PLS) data analysis was evaluated for quantifying the components of mixtures of paint binding media and pigments, and alkyd resins. PLS methods were created using a number of standard mixtures. Validation and measurement uncertainty estimation was carried out. Binary, ternary and quaternary mixtures of several common binding media and pigments were quantified, with standard measurement uncertainties in most cases below 3g/100g. Classes of components - aromatic anhydrides and alcohols - used in alkyd resin synthesis were also successfully quantified, with standard uncertainties in the range of 2-3g/100g. This is a more demanding application because in alkyd resins aromatic anhydrides and alcohols have reacted to form a polyester, and are not present in their original forms. Once a PLS method has been calibrated, analysis time and cost are significantly reduced from typical quantitative methods such as GC/MS. This is beneficial in the case of routine analysis where the components are known.