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A systematic series of industrial-relevant polystyrene-based anion exchange resins that are functionalized with hydro- or fluorocarbon chains are compared regarding their adsorption behavior toward perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA) in respect to their charge, chain length, and type of chain. The results clearly show the dominance of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption process as uncharged adsorber materials showed no adsorption at all. In contrast, the charged adsorber materials showed in general a PFCA removal of 80% to 30% over the experiment depending on effluent fraction.
Unexpectedly, for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) the highest removal rate is found with consistently >90%. Despite observing significant benefits in the adsorption of PFCA for fluoroalkylated adsorbers in comparison to their non-fluorinated counterparts, this effect of fluoroalkylation is comparatively small and can not be clearly attributed to fluorophilic interactions between the fluoroalkyl chains. These findings help clarifying that the introduction of fluorocarbon moieties in adsorber materials is not necessary in order to remove fluorocarbon molecules from the environment.
Amphiphilic nanogels (ANGs) are promising carriers for hydrophobic cargos such as drugs, dyes, and catalysts.
Loading content and release kinetics of these compounds are controlled by type and number of hydrophobic groups in the amphiphilic copolymer network. Thus, understanding the interactions between cargo and colloidal carrier is mandatory for a tailor-made and cargo-specific ANG design. To systematically explore the influence of the network composition on these interactions, we prepared a set of ANGs of different amphiphilicity and loaded these ANGs with varying concentrations of the solvatochromic dye Nile Red (NR). Here, NR acts as a hydrophobic model cargo to optically probe the polarity of its microenvironment. Analysis of the NR emission spectra as well as measurements of the fluorescence quantum yields and decay kinetics revealed a decrease in the polarity of the NR microenvironment with increasing hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic groups in the ANG network and dye–dye interactions at higher loading concentrations. At low NR concentrations, the hydrophobic cargo NR is encapsulated in the hydrophobic domains. Increasing NR concentrations resulted in probe molecules located in a more hydrophilic environment, i.e., at the nanodomain border, and favored dye–dye interactions and NR aggregation.
These results correlate well with release experiments, indicating first NR release from more hydrophilic network locations. Overall, our findings demonstrate the importance to understand carrier–drug interactions for efficient loading and controlled release profiles in amphiphilic nanogels.
This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors.
Homochirality is an obvious feature of life on Earth. On the other hand, extraterrestrial samples contain largely racemic compounds. The same is true for any common organic synthesis. Therefore, it has been a perplexing puzzle for decades how these racemates could have formed enantiomerically enriched fractions as a basis for the origin of homochiral life forms. Numerous hypotheses have been put forward as to how preferentially homochiral molecules could have formed and accumulated on Earth. In this article, it is shown that homochirality of the abiotic organic pool at the time of formation of the first self-replicating molecules is not necessary and not even probable. It is proposed to abandon the notion of a molecular ensemble and to focus on the level of individual molecules. Although the formation of the first self-replicating, most likely homochiral molecule, is a seemingly improbable event, on a closer look, it is almost inevitable that some homochiral molecules have formed simply on a statistical basis. In this case, the non-selective leap to homochirality would be one of the first steps in chemical evolution directly out of a racemic “ocean”. Moreover, most studies focus on the chirality of the primordial monomers with respect to an asymmetric carbon atom. However, any polymer with a minimal size that allows folding to a secondary structure would spontaneously lead to asymmetric higher structures (conformations). Most of the functions of these polymers would be influenced by this inherently asymmetric folding. Furthermore, a concept of physical compartmentalization based on rock nanopores in analogy to nanocavities of digital immunoassays is introduced to suggest that complex cell walls or membranes were also not required for the first steps of chemical evolution. To summarize, simple and universal mechanisms may have led to homochiral self-replicating systems in the context of chemical evolution. A homochiral monomer pool is deemed unnecessary and probably never existed on primordial Earth.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Aleksey I. Ekimov (prize share 1/3), Louis E. Brus (prize share 1/3), and Moungi G. Bawendi (prize share 1/3) for groundbreaking inventions in the field of nanotechnology, i.e., for the discovery and synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals, also termed quantum dots, that exhibit size-dependent physicochemical properties enabled by quantum size effects. This feature article summarizes the main milestones of the discoveries and developments of quantum dots that paved the road to their versatile applications in solid-state lighting, display technology, energy conversion, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and image-guided surgery.
The plant secondary metabolite families of coumarin and 4-hydroxy coumarin have a broad pharmacological spectrum ranging from antibacterial to anticancer properties. One prominent member of this substance class is the synthetic but naturally inspired anticoagulant drug and rodenticide warfarin (coumadin). A vast number of publications focus on the identification of warfarin and its major cytochrome P450-mediated phase I metabolites by liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection techniques. For the first time, electron ionization (EI) induced high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometric (HR-qToF-MS) data of in-liner derivatized warfarin and selected hydroxylated species is provided in this study as an alternative to LC-MS/MS approaches. Furthermore, the characteristic fragments and fragmentation pathways of the analyzed methyl ethers are concluded. The obtained data of analytical standards, specific deuterated and 13C-labeled compounds prove inductive cleavage of the acyl or acetonyl side chain, methyl migration, and H-migration, along with consequential inductive cleavage as predominant fragmentation routes. Based on the HR-spectral data, commonalities and differences between the analyzed compounds and fragment groups were evaluated with future applicability in structure elucidation and spectra prediction of related compounds.
The emission of ultrafine particles from small desktop Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers has been frequently investigated in the past years. However, the vast majority of FFF emission and exposure studies have not considered the possible occurrence of particles below the typical detection limit of Condensation Particle Counters and could have systematically underestimated the total particle emission as well as the related exposure risks. Therefore, we comparatively measured particle number concentrations and size distributions of sub-4 nm particles with two commercially available diethylene glycol-based instruments – the TSI 3757 Nano Enhancer and the Airmodus A10 Particle Size Magnifier. Both instruments were evaluated for their suitability of measuring FFF-3D printing emissions in the sub-4 nm size range while operated as a particle counter or as a particle size spectrometer. For particle counting, both instruments match best when the Airmodus system was adjusted to a cut-off of 1.5 nm. For size spectroscopy, both instruments show limitations due to either the fast dynamics or rather low levels of particle emissions from FFF-3D printing in this range. The effects are discussed in detail in this article. The findings could be used to implement sub-4 nm particle measurement in future emission or exposure studies, but also for the development of standard test protocols for FFF-3D printing emissions.
AbstractSince the 1950s, Warfarin has been used globally as both a prescription drug and a rodenticide. Research has shown that warfarin and other rodenticides are present in the environment and food chain. However, emerging contaminants are subject to degradation by biotic and abiotic processes and advanced oxidation processes. In some cases, detecting the parent compound may not be possible due to the formation of structurally changed species. This approach aims to identify hydroxylated transformation products of warfarin in a laboratory setting, even after the parent compound has undergone degradation. Therefore, the Fenton reaction is utilized to insert hydroxylation into the parent compound, warfarin, by hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals generated by Fe2+/Fe3+ redox reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Using multiple reaction monitoring, a GC–MS/MS method, incorporating isotopically labeled reference compounds, is used to quantify the expected derivatized species. The analytes are derivatized using trimethyl-3-trifluoromethyl phenyl ammonium hydroxide, and the derivatization yield of warfarin is determined by using isotopically labeled reference compounds. The method has a linear working range of 30 to 1800 ng/mL, with detection limits ranging from 18.7 to 67.0 ng/mL. The analytes are enriched using a C18-SPE step, and the recovery for each compound is calculated. The Fenton reaction generates all preselected hydroxylated transformation products of warfarin. The method successfully identifies that 4′-Me-O-WAR forms preferentially under the specified experimental conditions. By further optimizing the SPE clean-up procedures, this GC–MS-based method will be suitable for detecting transformation products in more complex matrices, such as environmental water samples. Overall, this study provides a better understanding of warfarin’s degradation and offers a robust analytical tool for investigating its transformation products.
Here, we report a comparative study of different sum parameter analysis methods for the extraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from manufactured consumer products, which can be measured by combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Therefore, a hydrolysis-based extraction method was further developed, which accounts for the addition of hydrolyzable covalently bound polyfluoroalkylated side-chain polymers (SFPs) to the extractable organic fluorine portion of the mass balance proposed as "hydrolyzable organically bound fluorine" (HOF). To test this hypothesis, the method was applied to 39 different consumer products containing fluoropolymers or monomeric PFAS taken from four different categories: outdoor textiles, paper packaging, carpeting, and permanent baking sheets. We also evaluated the method's efficiency by extracting four synthesized fluorotelomer polyacrylate reference compounds. The total fluorine (TF) and extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) values were measured through CIC using established protocols. The TF values ranged from sub-ppb to %-levels, depending on the compound class. All samples showed results for hydrolyzed organofluorine (HOF) between 0.03 and 76.3 μg/g, while most EOF values were lower (<LOD to 58.1 μg/g). Moreover, the methods were contrasted with the "total hydrolyzable precursor" (THP) assay analyzed using gas-chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which yielded concentrations of 6:2–10:2 fluorotelomer alcohols (<LOD-568 μg/g) for textile and paper samples. Furthermore, targeted analytical investigation of 25 compounds via liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was conducted and accounted for significantly lower sum amounts (<LOD-0.98 μg PFAS/g). To estimate the fluorine mass balance of all methods, the fluorine levels of target analytical data were calculated and compared to the sum parameter values and evaluated. Finally, the efficiency of the extraction method was approximated by the recovery analysis of four selected SFP model compounds compared to their TF values, yielding 36.7–74.0% after extraction and 3.8–36.3% after processing the extract for the HOF sum parameter.
Protein modifications such as oligomerization and tyrosine nitration alter the immune response to allergens and may contribute to the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases. In this mini-review, we summarize and discuss relevant findings for the major birch and grass pollen allergens Bet v 1 and Phl p 5 modified with tetranitromethane (laboratory studies), peroxynitrite (physiological processes), and ozone and nitrogen dioxide environmental conditions). We focus on tyrosine nitration and the formation of protein dimers and higher oligomers via dityrosine cross-linking and the immunological effects studied.
High polarity analyte(s) in aqueous media: determination of L-PFOA and L-PFOS in ground water
(2022)
The CCQM-K156 comparison was coordinated by TUBITAK UME on behalf of the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) for National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) which provide measurement services in organic analysis under the 'Comité International des Poids et Mesures' Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Perfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) such as PFOS and PFOA have been used in numerous industrial applications and products. Because of their high stability and resistance to biodegradation, atmospheric photooxidation, direct photolysis and hydrolysis, they are extremely persistent in the environment. The European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive lists PFOS as a priority hazardous substance that poses a significant risk to the aquatic environment. The use of PFOS-containing Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFFs) has been banned since June 2011 in the EU. As relatively water-soluble, effectively non-degradable compounds, PFOS and PFOA migrate to ground water. They are not removed in the conventional drinking water treatment, and therefore cause health risks in polluted areas. The EU Drinking Water Directive and the European Commission has proposed a limit value of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA.
This study provides the means for assessing measurement capabilities for determination of high polarity measurands in a procedure that requires extraction, clean-up, analytical separation and detection. Successful participation in CCQM-K156 demonstrates measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with a molecular mass of 200 g/mol to 700 g/mol, having high polarity pKow -2, in a mass fraction range from 0.5 ng/kg to 500 ng/kg in aqueous media.
Nine NMIs and DIs participated in the CCQM-K156 key comparison. Seven institutes reported their results. SPE was applied in the sample pre-treatment and LC-MS was applied for detection. All participating laboratories applied isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) techniques for quantification. Participants established the metrological traceability of their results using certified reference materials (CRMs) from NMIs with stated traceability; where commercially available high purity materials were used the purity was determined in-house. The CCQM-K156 results for L-PFOA and L-PFOS range from 2.75 ng/kg to 5.50 ng/kg with a % RSD of 19.5 % for L-PFOA and from 2.04 ng/kg to 4.45 ng/kg with a % RSD of 21.3 % for L-PFOS. The KCRV was assigned using a Hierarchical Bayesian Random Effects Model (HB REM) estimator from the values reported by six of the participants. One participant result of L-PFOS and one result of L-PFOA were excluded from the KCRV for technical reasons. The KCRV was 4.9 ng/kg ± 0.4 ng/kg for L-PFOA and 3.8 ng/kg ± 0.4 ng/kg for L-PFOS. The six institutes that were included in the assignment of consensus KCRV all agreed within their standard uncertainties.
To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
AbstractIn this study, we present a screening method based on molecular absorption spectrometry to study PFAS uptake and fate in plants. To evaluate the suitability of this method we analyzed plant extracts with molecular absorption spectrometry (MAS) as well as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for mass balance studies (w(F)). French bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) were grown on soil spiked using eight PFAS substances that vary in chain length and functional group composition. Specifically, these include three short-chained (C4–C5), five long-chained (C7–C10) carboxylic acids, one sulfonic acid and one sulfonic amide moieties. To investigate substance-specific PFAS uptake systematically, PFAS were spiked as single substance spike. Additionally, we studied one mixture of the investigated substances in equal proportions regarding w(F) and four PFAS mixtures of unknown composition. After 6 weeks, the plants were separated into four compartments. We analyzed the four compartments as well as the soil for extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) by high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace-molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) as well as for sum of ten target-PFAS by LC–MS/MS. All three short-chained PFAS perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutanoic sulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) were determined in high concentrations mainly in the fruits of the investigated plants while long-chained PFAS perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were mainly determined in roots. PFBS was determined in remarkably high concentrations in leaves compartment by both quantification methods. Overall, comprehensive results of single substance spikes were in good agreement for both methods except for a few cases. Hence, two phenomena were identified: for mixed PFAS spikes of unknown composition huge differences between EOF and sum of target PFAS were observed with systematically higher EOF values. Overall, both methods indicate comparable results with MS being more reliable for known PFAS contamination and MAS being more valuable to identify PFAS exposure of unknown composition.
Graphical Abstract
A collaborative trial involving 16 participants from nine European countries was conducted within the NORMAN network in efforts to harmonise suspect and non-target screening of environmental contaminants in whole fish samples of bream (Abramis brama). Participants were provided with freeze-dried, homogenised fish samples from a contaminated and a reference site, extracts (spiked and non-spiked) and reference sample preparation protocols for liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Participants extracted fish samples using their in-house sample preparation method and/or the protocol provided. Participants correctly identified 9-69% of spiked compounds using LC-HRMS and 20-60% of spiked compounds using GC-HRMS. From the contaminated site, suspect screening with participants’ own suspect lists led to putative identification of on average ~145 and ~20 unique features per participant using LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS, respectively, while non-target screening identified on average ~42 and ~56 unique features per participant using LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS, respectively. Within the same sub-group of sample preparation method, only a few features were identified by at least two participants in suspect screening (16 features using LC-HRMS, 0 features using GC-HRMS) and non-target screening (0 features using LC-HRMS, 2 features using GC-HRMS). The compounds identified had log octanol/water partition coefficient (KOW) values ranging from -9.9 to 16 and mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 68 to 761 (LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS). A significant linear trend was found between log KOW and m/z for the GC-HRMS data. Overall, these findings indicate that differences in screening results are mainly due to the data analysis workflows used by different participants. Further work is needed to harmonise the results obtained when applying suspect and non-target screening approaches to environmental biota samples.
Mobile proximal gamma-ray spectrometry (GS) is an emerging approach to estimate soil texture directly in the field. It relies on gamma radiation emitted during the natural decay of potassium-40 (K-40) and other isotopes. The K-40 counts are correlated with total K content, mineralogical soil composition and therefore with soil texture. Yet, it is not clear if K fertilisation impacts the ratio of K-40 to total K which would necessitate to take the fertilisation history into account for soil sensing applications. To elucidate this question, a well-documented long-term experiment was selected. The soils of the Rengen grassland experiment (55 plots) were investigated for total K (XRF-K) and for K-40 via mobile proximal GS. No significant differences in XRF-K and K-40 were found between the treatments with and without K fertilisation, although formely published results point to negative and positive K balances, respectively. Fertiliser analysis revealed a ratio of K-40 to total K that was almost identical to the natural abundance of 0.0117%. It was concluded that it is not necessary to take K fertilisation history into account when predicting soil texture from mobile proximal GS on agricultural land for, e.g., precision farming purposes.
Solid wastewater-based fertilizers were screened for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by the extractable organic fluorine (EOF) sum parameter method. The EOF values for ten sewage sludges from Germany and Switzerland range from 154 to 7209 mg kg−1. For thermal treated sewage sludge and struvite the EOF were lower with values up to 121 mg kg−1. Moreover, the application of PFAS targeted
and suspect screening analysis of selected sewage sludge samples showed that only a small part of the EOF sum parameter values can be explained by the usually screened legacy PFAS. The hitherto unknown part of EOF sum parameter contains also fluorinated pesticides, pharmaceutical and aromatic compounds. Because these partly fluorinated compounds can degrade to (ultra-)short PFAS in wastewater treatment plants they should be considered as significant sources of organic fluorine in the environment. The combined results of sum parameter analysis and suspect screening reveal the need to update current regulations, such as the German fertilizer ordinance, to focus not solely on a few selected PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) but
consider an additional sum parameter approach as a more holistic alternative. Moreover, diffusion gradient in thin-films (DGT) passive samplers were utilized as an alternative simplified extraction method for PFAS in solid wastewater-based fertilizers and subsequently quantified via combustion ion chromatography. However, the DGT method was less sensitive and only comparable to the EOF values
of the fertilizers in samples with >150 mg kg−1, because of different diffusion properties for various PFAS, but also kinetic exchange limitations.
On the use of Carbograph 5TD as an adsorbent for sampling VVOCs: validation of an analytical method
(2023)
A standardised method for the analysis of very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs) in indoor air is still missing. This study evaluates the use of Carbograph 5TD as an adsorbent for 60 compounds (47 VVOCs + 13 VOCs) by comparing their recoveries with different spiking modes. The influence of the spiking of the tubes in dry nitrogen, humidified air or along the whole flushing duration mimicking real sampling was investigated. 49 substances (36 VVOCs from C1 to C6) had recoveries over 70% on the adsorbent in humidified air and were validated. The linearity of the calibration curves was verified for every spiking mode and the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined. The LOQs were lower than the existing indoor air guideline values. The robustness of the method was considered by studying the influence of the sampling volume, the sampling flow rate, the humidity level and the storage of the tubes. In general, the most volatile or polar substances were the less robust ones. The combined measurement uncertainty was calculated and lies below 35% for a vast majority of the substances. An example of an emission chamber test using polyurethane foam is shown: Carbograph 5TD performs much better than Tenax® TA for VVOCs and emissions from n-butane were quantified with combined measurement uncertainty.
Outer membrane lipopolysaccharides (LPS) play a crucial role in determining attachment behavior and pathogenicity of bacteria. The aim of this study was to develop a simple procedure for anchoring bacterial lipopolysaccharides to polystyrene (PS) microparticles as a model system for in situ attachment studies. By using a swellcapture methodology, commercially available LPS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain ATCC 27316 serotype 10.22) was anchored onto PS microparticles in a proof-of-concept study. A detailed chemical and morphological characterization has proven the success of LPS incorporation. It was shown that the coverage and structure of the LPS film was concentration dependent. The procedure can easily be adapted to LPS of other bacterial strains to generate a synthetic model toolkit for attachment studies.
BPA is a chemical commonly used in the production of polymer-based materials that can have detrimental effects on the thyroid gland and impact human reproductive health. Various expensive methods, such as liquid and gas chromatography, have been suggested for detecting BPA.
The fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) is an inexpensive and efficient homogeneous mix-and-read method that allows for high-throughput screening. FPIA offers high specificity and sensitivity and can be carried out in a single phase within a timeframe of 20–30 min. In this study, new tracer molecules were designed that linked the fluorescein fluorophore with and without a spacer to the bisphenol A moiety. To assess the influence of the C6 spacer on the sensitivity of an assay based on the respective antibody, hapten–protein conjugates were synthesized and assessed for performance in an ELISA setup, and this resulted in a highly sensitive assay with a detection limit of 0.05 µg/L. The lowest limit of detection was reached by employing the spacer derivate in the FPIA and was 1.0 µg/L, working range from 2 to 155 µg/L. The validation of the methods was conducted using actual samples compared to LC–MS/MS, which served as the reference method. The FPIA and ELISA both demonstrated satisfactory concordance.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used for durable water-repellent finishing of different fabrics and textiles like outdoor clothing, carpets, medical textiles and more. Existing PFAS extraction techniques followed by target analysis are often insufficient in detecting widely used side-chain fluorinated polymers (SFPs) that are barely or non-extractable. SFPs are typically copolymers consisting of a non-fluorinated backbone with perfluoroalkyl side-chains to obtain desired properties. We compared the accessible analytical information and performance of complementary techniques based on oxidation (dTOP assay, PhotoTOP), hydrolysis (THP assay), standard extraction, extractable organic fluorine (EOF), and total fluorine (TF) with five functional textiles and characterized 7 further textiles only by PhotoTOP oxidation. The results show that when applied directly to textile samples, oxidation by dTOP and PhotoTOP and also hydrolysis by the THP are able to capture large fractions of the TF in form of perfluoroalkyl side-chains present in the textiles while methods relying on extracts (EOF, target and non-target analysis) were much lower (e.g., factor ~25-50 lower). The conversion of large fractions of the measured TF into PFCAs or FTOHs from fluorinated side chains is in contrast to previous studies. Concentrations ranged from <LOQ to over ~1000 mg F/kg after oxidation/hydrolysis and <LOQ to over 2000 mg F/kg for TF, while EOF and target PFAS in extracts were detected at much lower concentrations (up to ~ 60 mg F/kg) (amount of fluorine in the order: extraction << EOF << oxidation/hydrolysis ≤ TF). Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) from THP and PhotoTOP both represented the chain-length distribution in the textiles showing that long-chain SFPs are still used in current textiles. Further advantages and disadvantages of the applied methods are discussed.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) nowadays appear in close to 24% of consumer products that contain engineered nanomaterials. Thus, they are expected to be released into the environment, where their fate and effect are still undetermined. Considering the evidenced efficacy of the single particle Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (sp ICP-MS) technique in the study of nanomaterials, this work reports on the use of sp ICP-MS along with an online dilution sample introduction system for the direct analysis of untreated and spiked seawater samples, as part of a larger scale experiment studying the fate of Ag (ionic and nanoparticles) in seawater mesocosm systems. Silver nanoparticles coated with branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI@AgNPs) or ionic silver (Ag+) were introduced gradually into the seawater mesocosm tanks at very low, environmentally relevant concentrations (50 ng Ag L− 1 per day, for 10 consecutive days, up to a total of 500 ng Ag L− 1 ), and samples were collected and analyzed daily, within a consistent time window. Using very low detector dwell time (75 μs) and specialized data treatment, information was obtained on the nanoparticles’ size distribution and particle number concentration, as well as the ionic silver content, of both the AgNPs and the Ag+ treated seawater mesocosm tanks. The results for the AgNP treated samples indicated the rapid degradation of the added silver particles, and the subsequent increase of ionic silver, with recoveries close to 100% for the first days of the experiment. On the other hand, particle formation was observed in the Ag+ treated seawater tanks, and even though the number concentration of silver-containing nanoparticles increased throughout the experiment, the amount of silver per particle remained relatively constant from the early days of the experiment. In addition, the online dilution sample introduction system for the ICP-MS proved capable of handling the untreated seawater matrix without significant contamination issues and downtime, while the low dwell time and data treatment procedure developed were shown to be suitable for the analysis of nanomaterials at the low nm-scale, despite the complex and heavy matrix introduced into the ICP-MS.
For the first time, µ-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) mapping combined with fluorine K-edge µ-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (µ-XANES) spectroscopy was applied to depict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and inorganic fluoride in samples concentrations down to 100 µg/kg fluoride. To demonstrate the matrix tolerance of the method, several PFAS contaminated soil and sludge samples as well as selected consumer product samples (textiles, food contact paper and permanent baking sheet) were investigated. µ-XRF mapping allows for a unique element-specific visualisation at the sample surface and enables localisation of fluorine containing compounds to a depth of 1 µm. Manually selected fluorine rich spots were subsequently analysed via fluorine K-edge µ-XANES spectroscopy. To support spectral interpretation with respect to inorganic and organic chemical distribution and compound class determination, linear combination (LC) fitting was applied to all recorded µ-XANES spectra. Complementarily, solvent extracts of all samples were target-analysed via LC-MS/MS spectrometry. The detected PFAS sum values range from 20 to 1136 µg/kg dry weight (dw). All environmentally exposed samples revealed higher concentration of PFAS with a chain length >C8 (e.g. 580 µg/kg dw PFOS for Soil1), whereas the consumer product samples showed a more uniform distribution with regard to chain lengths from C4 to C8. Independent from quantified PFAS amounts via target analysis, µ-XRF mapping combined with µ-XANES spectroscopy was successfully applied to detect both point-specific concentration maxima and evenly distributed surface coatings of fluorinated organic contaminants in the corresponding samples.
The interaction of microcroplastics (MP) with dissolved organic matter, especially humic substances, is of great importance in understanding the behavior of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Surface modification by humic substances plays an essential role in transport and interaction of MP with abiotic and biotic components. Previous studies on the interaction between MP and humic substances were largely based on a model compound, humic acid (Sigma-Aldrich). In our work, we therefore investigated the interaction of natural organic matter (NOM) sampled from a German surface water with low-density polyethylene particles (LDPE). Highpressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the incubation solutions after modifications due to the presence of LDPE, and Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the incubated microplastics. While the studies of the solutions generally showed only very small effects, Raman spectroscopic studies allowed clear evidence of the binding of humic fractions to MP. The comparison of the incubation of NOM and a lignite fulvic acid which also was tested further showed that specific signatures of the humic substances used could be detected by Raman spectroscopy. This provides an elegant opportunity to conduct broader studies on this issue in the future.
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a material extrusion-based technique often used in desktop 3D printers. Polymeric filaments are melted and are extruded through a heated nozzle to form a 3D object in layers. The extruder temperature is therefore a key parameter for a successful print job but also one of the main emission driving factors as harmful pollutants (e.g., ultrafine particles) are formed by thermal polymer degradation. The awareness of potential health risks has increased the number of emission studies in the past years. However, studies usually refer their calculated emission data to the printer set extruder temperature for comparison purposes. In this study, we used a thermocouple and an infrared camera to measure the actual extruder temperature and found significant temperature deviations to the displayed set temperature among printer models. Our result shows that printing the same filament feedstocks with three different printer models and with identical printer set temperature resulted in a variation in particle emission of around two orders of magnitude. A temperature adjustment has reduced the variation to approx. one order of magnitude. Thus, it is necessary to refer the measured emission data to the actual extruder temperature as it poses a more accurate comparison parameter for evaluation of the indoor air quality in user scenarios or for health risk assessments.
This paper discusses the feasibility of a novel strategy based on the combination of bioprinting nano-doping technology and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis for the preparation and characterization of gelatin- based multi-element calibration standards suitable for quantitative imaging. To achieve this, lanthanide up-conversion nanoparticles were added to a gelatin matrix to produce the bioprinted calibration standards. The features of this bioprinting approach were com- pared with manual cryosectioning standard preparation, in terms of throughput, between batch repeatability and elemental signal homogeneity at 5 μm spatial resolution. By using bioprinting, the between batch variability for three independent standards of the same concentration of 89 Y (range 0–600 mg/kg) was reduced to 5% compared to up to 27% for cryosectioning. On this basis, the relative standard deviation ( RSD ) obtained between three independent calibration slopes measured within 1 day also reduced from 16% (using cryosectioning ) to 5% (using bioprinting), supporting the use of a single standard preparation replicate for each of the concentrations to achieve good calibration performance using bioprinting. This helped reduce the analysis time by approximately 3-fold. With cryosectioning each standard was prepared and sectioned individually, whereas using bio-printing it was possible to have up to six different standards printed simultaneously, reducing the preparation time from approximately 2 h to under 20 min (by approxi- mately 6-fold). The bio-printed calibration standards were found stable for a period of 2 months when stored at ambient temperature and in the dark.
Climate change may increase the overall susceptibility of peatlands to fire. Smoldering fires in peatlands can cause substantial emissions of greenhouse gases. It is, however, less clear how smoldering affects the soil pore water quality. In this study, soil samples were collected from agricultural fen and disturbed bog study sites in Germany and Lithuania to quantify the effect of peat burning on pore water composition. The samples were air dried and smoldered under ignition temperature (approximately 200 °C) with different durations (0, 2, 5, and 10 h). Pore water samples were extracted from the soil to determine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions, fluoride, extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF), and sulfate concentrations. The results showed that soil smoldering changes the peat pore water chemistry and that changes differ between fens and bogs. The smoldering duration is likewise influential. For fen grasslands, 2 and 5 h of smoldering of peat caused a >10-fold increase in DOC (up to 1600 mg L−1) and EOF concentrations. The fluoride (up to 60 mg L−1) and sulfate concentrations substantially exceededWHOdrinking water guidelines. In contrast, the temperature treatment decreased theDOC concentrations of samples from raised bogs by 90 %. The fluoride concentrations decreased, but sulfate concentrations increased after smoldering of the bog samples. DOC, fluoride, and sulfate concentrations of bogs varied significantly between the smoldering duration treatments. For all peat samples, the extracted DOMwas dominated by humic-like substances before smoldering, but the fraction of low molecular weight substances increased after smoldering combustion. In conclusion, smoldering alters the biogeochemical processes in both peatland types and possibly impair the water quality of adjacent water resources especially in fen peat landscapes.
Ratiometric green–red fluorescent nanosensors for fluorometrically monitoring pH in the acidic range were designed from 80 nm-sized polystyrene (PS) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), red emissive reference dyes, and a green emissive naphthalimide pH probe, analytically and spectroscopically characterized, and compared regarding their sensing performance in aqueous dispersion and in cellular uptake studies. Preparation of these optical probes, which are excitable by 405 nm laser or LED light sources, involved the encapsulation of the pH-inert red-fuorescent dye Nile Red (NR) in the core of self-made carboxylated PSNPs by a simple swelling procedure and the fabrication of rhodamine B (RhB)-stained SiO2-NPs from a silane derivative of pH-insensitive RhB. Subsequently, the custom-made naphthalimide pH probe, that utilizes a protonation-controlled photoinduced electron transfer process, was covalently attached to the carboxylic acid groups at the surface of both types of NPs. Fluorescence microscopy studies with the molecular and nanoscale optical probes and A549 lung cancer cells confirmed the cellular uptake of all probes and their penetration into acidic cell compartments, i.e., the lysosomes, indicated by the switching ON of the green naphthalimide fluorescence. This underlines their suitability for intracellular pH sensing, with the SiO2-based nanosensor revealing the best performance regarding uptake speed and stability.
Detailed knowledge about soil composition is an important prerequisite for many applications, for example precision agriculture. Current standard laboratory methods are complex and time-consuming but could be complemented by non-invasive optical techniques. Its capability to provide a molecular fingerprint of individual soil components makes Raman spectroscopy a very promising candidate. A major challenge is strong fluorescence interference inherent to soil, but this issue can be overcome effectively using shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS). A customized dual-wavelength diode laser emitting at 785.2 and 784.6 nm was used to investigate 117 soil samples collected from an agricultural field along a distance of 624 m and down to depths of 1 m. To address soil spatial heterogeneity, a raster scan approach comprising 100 measurement spots per sample was applied. Based on the Raman spectroscopic fingerprint extracted from intense fluorescence interference by SERDS, 13 mineral soil constituents were identified, and even closely related molecular species could be discriminated, for example polymorphs of titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate. For the first time, the capability of SERDS is demonstrated to predict the calcium carbonate content as an important soil parameter using partial least squares regression (R2 = 0.94, root mean square error of cross-validation RMSECV = 2.1%). Our findings demonstrate that SERDS can extract a wealth of spectroscopic information from disturbing backgrounds enabling qualitative and quantitative soil analysis. This highlights the large potential of SERDS for precision agriculture but also in further application areas, for example geology, cultural heritage and planetary exploration.
The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires good ecological status of the marine environment. This also includes the Wadden Sea located in the southeastern part of the North Sea and its chemical status of sediments. Based on results from campaigns conducted in the 1980s, 32 surface sediment samples were taken in 2014 to check whether the sampling strategy required for characterizing the trace element content in sediments is representative and to determine the degree of pollution and potential changes over the last decades. For this purpose the elemental mass fractions of 42 elements were assessed in the ≤20 μm grain size fraction of the surface sediments.
Based on cluster analysis a clear correlation between the element distribution and the geographical location of the sampling locations of the German Wadden Sea could be found. As a result of the principal component analysis, three sub-catchments were significantly separated from each other by the characteristic element distributions in the sediments (Norderney and Weser, Elbe and offshore areas, and North Friesland). With the help of discriminant analysis, the classification was confirmed unambiguously. Small anomalies, such as potentially contaminated sites from WWII, could be identified. This proved that the sampling strategy for sediment characterization with reference to trace elements in the Wadden Sea of the German Bight is representative.
The impact of regulation and changes on the overall sediment quality is most evident when looking at the environmentally critical elements such as As, Cd, Hg, and Cr. For these elements the mean mass fractions show a significant reduction over the last three decades. Current sediments feature only slightly elevated mass fractions of Ag, Cd, Ce, Cs, Nd, Pb and Se at some sampling locations.
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used as active agents in disinfectants, antiseptics, and preservatives. Despite being in use since the 1940s, there remain multiple open questions regarding their detailed mode-of-action and the mechanisms, including phenotypic heterogeneity, that can make bacteria less susceptible to QACs. To facilitate studies on resistance mechanisms towards QACs, we synthesized a fluorescent quaternary ammonium compound, namely N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-[2-[(4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-7-yl)amino]ethyl]azanium-iodide (NBD-DDA). NBD-DDA is readily detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy with standard GFP/FITC-settings, making it suitable for molecular and single-cell studies. As a proof-of-concept, NBD-DDA was then used to investigate resistance mechanisms which can be heterogeneous among individual bacterial cells. Our results reveal that the antimicrobial activity of NBD-DDA against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is comparable to that of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a widely used QAC, and benzyl-dimethyl-dodecylammonium chloride (BAC12), a mono-constituent BAC with alkyl-chain length of 12 and high structural similarity to NBD-DDA. Characteristic time-kill kinetics and increased tolerance of a BAC tolerant E. coli strain against NBD-DDA suggest that the mode of action of NBD-DDA is similar to that of BAC. As revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), NBD-DDA is preferentially localized to the cell envelope of E. coli, which is a primary target of BAC and other QACs. Leveraging these findings and NBD-DDA‘s fluorescent properties, we show that reduced cellular accumulation is responsible for the evolved BAC tolerance in the BAC tolerant E. coli strain and that NBD-DDA is subject to efflux mediated by TolC. Overall, NBD-DDA’s antimicrobial activity, its fluorescent properties, and its ease of detection render it a powerful tool to study resistance mechanisms of QACs in bacteria and highlight its potential to gain detailed insights into its mode-of-action.
Estrogens are endocrine disrupting chemicals and of high concerns due to demonstrated harmful effects on the environment and low effect levels. For monitoring and risk assessment, several estrogens were included in the "watch list" of the EU Water Framework Directive which sets very low environmental quality standard (EQS) levels for Estrone (E1) and 17β-Estradiol (E2) of 0.4 ng L−1 and for 17α-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) of 0.035 ng L−1 requiring sensitive detection methods, as well as extensive sample preparation. A sensitive, derivatization-free, isotope dilution calibration HPLC-MS/MS method for a panel of 5 selected estrogens (including the 3 estrogens of the EU WFD watchlist), and a procedure for the reproducible preparation of a representative whole water matrix including mineral water, humic acids and solid particulate matter are presented. These are used in a diligent comparison of classical solid phase extraction (SPE) on hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) phase to SPE on an estrogen-specific molecularly imprinted polymer phase (MISPE) for ultra-trace levels of the analytes (1–10 ng L−1). Additionally, a two-step procedure combining HLB SPE disks followed by MISPE is evaluated. The tow-step procedure provides superior enrichment, matrix removal and sample throughput while maintaining comparable recovery rates to simple cartridge SPE. Estimated method quantification limits (MQLs) range from 0.109–0.184 ng L−1 and thus meet EQS-levels for E1 and E2, but not EE2. The representative whole water matrix provides a reproducible comparison of sample preparation methods and lays the foundation for a certified reference material for estrogen analysis. The presented method will serve as the basis for an extended validation study to assess its use for estrogen monitoring in the environment.
The development of the microbiologically influenced corrosion ( MIC ) -specific inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry ( ICP-ToF-MS ) analytical method presented here, in combination with the investigation of steel-MIC interactions, contributes significantly to progress in instrumental MIC analysis. For this, a MIC-specific staining procedure was developed, which ensures the analysis of intact cells. It allows the analysis of archaea at a single cell level, which is extremely scarce compared to other well-characterized organisms. The detection method revealed elemental selectivity for the corrosive methanogenic strain Methanobacterium -affiliated IM1. Hence, the possible uptake of individual elements from different steel samples was investigated and results showed the cells responded at a single-cell level to the different types of supplemented elements and displayed the abilities to uptake chromium, vanadium, titanium, cobalt, and molybdenum from solid metal surfaces. The methods developed and information obtained will be used in the future to elucidate underlying mechanisms, compliment well-developed methods, such as SEM-EDS, and develop novel material protection concepts.
The environmental fate of the frequently used broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) is of high concern regarding the potential evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Moreover, it is known that AMX is prone to hydrolysis, yielding a variety of hydrolysis products (HPs) with yet unknown effects. Studies to identify those HPs and investigate their formation mechanisms have been reported but a long-term study on their stability in real water samples was missing. In this regard, we investigated the hydrolysis of AMX at two concentration levels in four distinct water types under three different storage conditions over two months. Concentrations of AMX and four relevant HPs were monitored by an LC-MS/MS method revealing pronounced differences in the hydrolysis rate of AMX in tap water and mineral water on the one hand (fast) and surface water on the other(slow). In this context, the occurrence, relative intensities, and stability of certain HPs are more dependent on the water type than on the storage condition. As clarified by ICP-MS, the main difference between the water types was the content of the metals copper and zinc which are supposed to catalyze AMX hydrolysis demonstrating an effective method to degrade AMX at ambient conditions.
Accessions of one plant species may show significantly different levels of susceptibility to stresses. The Arabidopsis thaliana accessions Col-0 and C24 differ significantly in their resistance to the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). To help unravel the underlying mechanisms contributing to this naturally occurring variance in resistance to Pst, we analyzed changes in transcripts and compounds from primary and secondary metabolism of Col-0 and C24 at different time points after infection with Pst. Our results show that the differences in the resistance of Col-0 and C24 mainly involve mechanisms of salicylic-acid-dependent systemic acquired resistance, while responses of jasmonic-acid-dependent mechanisms are shared between the two accessions. In addition, arginine metabolism and differential activity of the biosynthesis pathways of aliphatic glucosinolates and indole glucosinolates may also contribute to the resistance. Thus, this study highlights the difference in the defense response strategies utilized by different genotypes.
Phosphorus (P) recovery is obligatory for all sewage sludges with more than 20 g P/kg dry matter (DM) from 2029 in Germany. Nine wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were chosen to investigate variations of phosphorus contents and other parameters in sewage sludge over the year. Monthly sewage sludge samples from each WWTP were analyzed for phosphorus and other matrix elements (C, N, H, Ca, Fe, Al, etc.), for several trace elements (As, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn) and loss of ignition. Among the nine WWTPs, there are four which have phosphorus contents both above and below the recovery limit of 20 g/kg DM along the year. Considering the average phosphorus content over the year, only one of them is below the limit. Compared to other matrix elements and parameters, phosphorus fuctuations are low with an average of 7% over all nine WWTPs. In total, only hydrogen and carbon are more constant in the sludge.
In several WWTPs with chemical phosphorus elimination, phosphorus fuctuations showed similar courses like iron and/or aluminum. WWTPs with chamber flter presses rather showed dilution efects of calcium dosage. As result of this study, monthly phosphorus measurement is highly recommended to determine whether a WWTP is below the
20 g/kg DM limit.
Current trends in materials and life sciences are flanked by the need to push detection limits to single molecules or single cells, enable the characterization of increasingly complex matrices or sophisticated nanostructures, speed up the time of analysis, reduce instrument complexity and costs, and improve the reliability of data. This requires suitable analytical tools such as spectroscopic, separation and imaging techniques, mass spectrometry, and hyphenated techniques as well as sensors and their adaptation to application-specific challenges in the environmental, food, consumer product, health sector, nanotechnology, and bioanalysis. Increasing concerns about health threatening known or emerging pollutants in drinking water, consumer products, and food and about the safety of nanomaterials led to a new awareness of the importance of analytical sciences. Another important driver in this direction is the increasing demand by legislation, particularly in view of the 17 sustainable development goals by the United Nations addressing clean energy, industry, and innovation, sustainable cities, clean water, and responsible consumption and production. In this respect, also the development of analytical methods that enable the characterization of material flows in production processes and support recycling concepts of precious raw materials becomes more and more relevant. In the future, this will provide the basis for greener production in the chemical industry utilizing recycled or sustainable starting materials.
This makes analytical chemistry an essential player in terms of the circular economy helping to increase the sustainability of production processes. In the life sciences sector, products based on proteins, such as therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies, increase in importance. These increasingly biotechnologically produced functional biomolecules pose a high level of complexity of matrix and structural features that can be met only by highly advanced methods for separation, characterization, and detection. In addition, metrological traceability and target definition are still significant challenges for the future, particularly in the life sciences.
However, innovative reference materials as required for the health and food sector and the characterization of advanced materials can only be developed when suitable analytical protocols are available. The so-called reproducibility crisis in sciences underlines the importance of improved measures of quality control for all kinds of measurements and material characterization. This calls for thorough method validation concepts, suitable reference materials, and regular interlaboratory comparisons of measurements as well as better training of scientists in analytical sciences.
The important contribution of analytical sciences to these developments is highlighted by a broad collection of research papers, trend articles, and critical reviews from these different application fields. Special emphasis is dedicated to often-overlooked quality assurance and reference materials.
In coastal systems, organisms are exposed to amultitude of stressors whose interactions and effects are poorly studied. Pharmaceutical drugs and Climate Change consequences, such as lowered pH, are examples of stressors affecting marine organisms, as bivalves. Although a vast literature is available for the effects of these stressors when acting individually, very limited information exists on the impacts that the combination of both can have on marine bivalves. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the impacts of a simulated ocean acidification scenario (control pH, 8.0; lowered pH, pH 7.6) on the effects of the antiepileptic carbamazepine (CBZ, 1 μg/L) and the antihistamine cetirizine (CTZ, 0.6 μg/L), when acting individually and combined (CBZ + CTZ), on the edible clam Ruditapes philippinarum. After 28 days of exposure, drug concentrations, bioconcentration factors and biochemical parameters related to the clams' metabolic capacity and oxidative stress were evaluated. The results showed that R. philippinarum clams responded differently to pharmaceutical drugs depending on the pH tested, influencing both bioconcentration and biological responses. In general, drug combined treatments showed fewer impacts than drugs acting alone, and acidification seemed to activate at a higher extension the elimination processes that were not activated under control pH. Also, lowered pH per se exerted negative impacts (e.g., cellular damage) on R. philippinarum and the combination with pharmaceutical drugs did not enhance the toxicity.
In Coastal Systems, pollutants as pharmaceutical drugs exert changes from the molecular to the organism level in marine bivalves. Besides pollutants, Coastal Systems are prone to changes in environmental Parameters, as the alteration of salinity values because of Climate Change. Together, these Stressors (pharmaceutical drugs and salinity changes) can exert different threats than each Stressor acting individually; for example, salinity can change the physical-chemical properties of the drugs and/or the sensitivity of the organisms to them. However, limited Information is available on this subject, with variable results, and for this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the impacts of salinity changes (15,25 and 35) on the effects of the antiepileptic carbamazepine (CBZ, 1 (ig/L) and the antihistamine cetirizine (CTZ, 0.6 pg/L), when acting individually and combined (CBZ + CTZ), in the edible clam Ruditapes philippinarum. After 28 days ofexposure, drugs concentrations, bioconcentration factors and biochemical parameters, related to clam's metabolic caparity and oxidative stress were evaluated. The results showed that dams under low salinity suffered more changes in metabolic, antioxidant and biotransformation activities, in comparison with the remaining salinities under study. However, limited impacts were observed when comparing drug effects at low salinity. Indeed, it seemed that CTZ and CBZ + CTZ, under high salinity (salinity 35) were the worst exposure conditions for the dams, since they caused higher leveis of cellular damage. It Stands out that salinity changes altered the impact of pharmaceutical drugs on marine bivalves.
Nebivolol (NEB), a β-blocker frequently used to treat cardiovascular diseases, has been widely detected in aquatic environments, and can be degraded under exposure to UV radiation, leading to the formation of certain transformation products (UV-TPs). Thus, the toxic effects of NEB and its UV-TPs on aquatic organisms are of great importance for aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the degradation pathway of NEB under UV radiation was investigated. Subsequently, zebrafish embryos/larvae were used to assess the median lethal concentration (LC50) of NEB, and to clarify the sub-lethal effects of NEB and its UV-TPs for the first time. It was found that UV radiation could reduce the toxic effects of NEB on the early development of zebrafish. Transcriptomic analysis identified the top 20 enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in zebrafish larvae exposed to NEB, most of which were associated with the antioxidant, nervous, and immune systems. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pathways were reduced after UV radiation. Furthermore, the analysis of protein biomarkers, including CAT and GST (antioxidant response), AChE and ACh (neurotoxicity), CRP and LYS (immune response), revealed that NEB exposure reduced the activity of these biomarkers, whereas UV radiation could alleviate the effects. The present study provides initial insights into the mechanisms underlying toxic effects of NEB and the detoxification effects of UV radiation on the early development of zebrafish. It highlights the necessity of considering the toxicity of UV-TPs when evaluating the toxicity of emerging pollutants in aquatic systems.
The leaching behavior of scandium (Sc) from bauxite residues can differ significantly when residues of different geological backgrounds are compared. The mineralogy of the source rock and the physicochemical environment during bauxitization affect the association of Sc in the bauxite i.e., how Sc is distributed amongst different mineral phases and whether it is incorporated in and/or adsorbed onto those phases. The Sc association in the bauxite is in turn crucial for the resulting Sc association in the bauxite residue. In this study systematic leaching experiments were performed on three different bauxite residues using a statistical design of experiments approach. The three bauxite residues compared originated from processing of lateritic and karstic bauxites from
Germany, Hungary, and Russia. The recovery of Sc and Fe was determined by ICP-OES measurements. Mineralogical changes were analyzed by X-ray-diffraction and subsequent Rietveld refinement. The effects of various parameters including temperature, acid type, acid concentration, liquid-to-solid ratio and residence time were studied. A response surface model was calculated for the selected case of citric acid leaching of Hungarian bauxite residue. The investigations showed that the type of bauxite residue has a strong influence. The easily leachable fraction of Sc can vary considerably between the types, reaching ~20–25% in German Bauxite residue and ~50% in Russian bauxite residue. Mineralogical investigations revealed that a major part of this fraction was released from secondary phases such as cancrinite and katoite formed during Bayer processing of the bauxite.
The effect of temperature on Sc and Fe recovery is strong especially when citric acid is used. Based on the exponential relationship between temperature and Fe-recovery it was found to be particularly important for the selectivity of Sc over Fe. Optimization of the model for a maximum Sc recovery combined with a minimum Fe
recovery yielded results of ~28% Sc recovery at <2% Fe recovery at a temperature of 60 ◦C, a citric acid normality of 1.8, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 16 ml/g. Our study has shown that detailed knowledge about the Sc association and distribution in bauxite and bauxite residue is key to an efficient and selective leaching of Sc
from bauxite residues.
In this work, molecular imprinting was combined with direct fluorescence detection of the pesticide Glyphosate (GPS). Firstly, the solubility of highly polar GPS in organic solvents was improved by using lipophilic tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) and tetrahexylammonium (THA+) counterions. Secondly, to achieve fluorescence detection, a fluorescent crosslinker containing urea-binding motifs was used as a probe for GPS-TBA and GPS-THA salts in chloroform, generating stable complexes through hydrogen bond formation. The GPS/fluorescent dye complexes were imprinted into 2–3 nm fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on the surface of sub-micron silica particles using chloroform as porogen. Thus, the MIP binding behavior could be easily evaluated by fluorescence titrations in suspension to monitor the spectral changes upon addition of the GPS analytes. While MIPs prepared with GPS-TBA and GPS-THA both displayed satisfactory imprinting following titration with the corresponding analytes in chloroform, GPS-THA MIPs displayed better selectivity against competing molecules. Moreover, the THA+ counterion was found to be a more powerful phase transfer agent than TBA+ in a biphasic assay, enabling the direct fluorescence detection and quantification of GPS in water. A limit of detection of 1.45 μM and a linear range of 5–55 μM were obtained, which match well with WHO guidelines for the acceptable daily intake of GPS in water (5.32 μM).
Transparent polycarbonate coated with CeO2 nanozymes repel Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 biofilms
(2022)
Highly transparent CeO2/polycarbonate surfaces were fabricated that prevent adhesion, proliferation, and the spread of bacteria. CeO2 nanoparticles with diameters of 10–15 nm and lengths of 100–200 nm for this application were prepared by oxidizing aqueous dispersions of Ce(OH)3 with H2O2 in the presence of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as the capping agent. The surface-functionalized water-dispersible CeO2 nanorods showed high catalytic activity in the halogenation reactions, which makes them highly efficient functional mimics of haloperoxidases. These enzymes are used in nature to prevent the formation of biofilms through the halogenation of signaling compounds that interfere with bacterial cell–cell communication (“quorum sensing”). Bacteria-repellent CeO2/polycarbonate plates were prepared by dip-coating plasma-treated polycarbonate plates in aqueous CeO2 particle dispersions. The quasi-enzymatic activity of the CeO2 coating was demonstrated using phenol red enzyme assays. The monolayer coating of CeO2 nanorods (1.6 µg cm−2) and the bacteria repellent properties were demonstrated by atomic force microscopy, biofilm assays, and fluorescence measurements. The engineered polymer surfaces have the ability to repel biofilms as green antimicrobials on plastics, where H2O2 is present in humid environments such as automotive parts, greenhouses, or plastic containers for rainwater.
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a promising candidate for low-cost, nondestructive, and highthroughput mass quantification of microplastics in environmental samples. Widespread application of the technique is currently hampered mainly by the low sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy compared to thermoanalytical approaches commonly used for this type of analysis. This study shows how the application of NIR spectroscopy for mass quantification of microplastics can be extended to smaller analyte levels by combining it with a simple and rapid microplastic enrichment protocol. For this purpose, the widely used flotation of microplastics in a NaCl solution, accelerated by centrifugation, was chosen which allowed to remove up to 99 % of the matrix at recovery rates of 83–104 %. The spectroscopic measurements took place directly on the stainless-steel filters used to collect the extracted particles to reduce sample handling to a minimum. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were used to identify and quantify the extracted microplastics in the mass range of 1–10 mg.
The simple and fast extraction procedure was systematically optimized to meet the requirements for the quantification of microplastics from common PE-, PP-, and PS-based packaging materials with a particle size < 1 mm found in compost or soils with high natural organic matter content (> 10 % determined by loss on ignition). Microplastics could be detected in model samples at a mass fraction of 1 mg g-1. The detectable microplastic mass fraction is about an order of magnitude lower compared to previous studies using NIR spectroscopy without additional enrichment. To emphasize the cost-effectiveness of the method, it was implemented using some of the cheapest and most
compact NIR spectrometers available.
Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and in the man-made environment. Given their harmful effects on human health, an in-depth understanding of biofilms and the monitoring of their formation and growth are important. Particularly relevant for many metabolic processes and survival strategies of biofilms is their extracellular pH. However, most conventional techniques are not suited for minimally invasive pH measurements of living biofilms. Here, a fluorescent nanosensor is presented for ratiometric measurements of pH in biofilms in the range of pH 4.5–9.5 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nanosensor consists of biocompatible polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with pH-inert dye Nile Red and is surface functionalized with a pH-responsive fluorescein dye. Its performance was validated by fluorometrically monitoring the time-dependent changes in pH in E. coli biofilms after glucose inoculation at 37 °C and 4 °C. This revealed a temperature-dependent decrease in pH over a 4-h period caused by the acidifying glucose metabolism of E. coli. These studies demonstrate the applicability of this nanosensor to characterize the chemical microenvironment in biofilms with fluorescence methods.
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a promising candidate for low-cost, nondestructive, and high-throughput mass quantification of micro¬plastics in environmental samples. Widespread application of the technique is currently hampered mainly by the low sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy compared to thermo-analytical approaches commonly used for this type of analysis. This study shows how the application of NIR spectroscopy for mass quantification of microplastics can be extended to smaller analyte levels by combining it with a simple and rapid microplastic enrichment protocol. For this purpose, the widely used flotation of microplastics in a NaCl solution, accelerated by centrifugation, was chosen which allowed to remove up to 99 % of the matrix at recovery rates of 83–104 %. The spectroscopic measurements took place directly on the stainless-steel filters used to collect the extracted particles to reduce sample handling to a minimum. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were used to identify and quantify the extracted microplastics in the mass range of 1–10 mg. The simple and fast extraction procedure was systematically optimized to meet the requirements for the quantification of microplastics from common PE-, PP-, and PS-based packaging materials with a particle size < 1 mm found in compost or soils with high natural organic matter content (> 10 % determined by loss on ignition). Microplastics could be detected in model samples at a mass fraction of 1 mg g-1. The detectable microplastic mass fraction is about an order of magnitude lower compared to previous studies using NIR spectroscopy without additional enrichment. To emphasize the cost-effectiveness of the method, it was implemented using some of the cheapest and most compact NIR spectrometers available.
Bifunctional fluorescent molecular oxoanion probes based on the benzoxadiazole (BD) chromophore are described which integrate a thiourea binding motif and a polymerizable 2-aminoethyl methacrylate unit in the 4,7-positions of the BD core. Concerted charge transfer in this electron donor-acceptor-donor architecture endows the dyes with strongly Stokes shifted (up to >250 nm) absorption and fluorescence. Binding of electron-rich carboxylate guests at the thiourea receptor leads to further analyte-induced red-shifts of the emission, shifting the fluorescence maximum of the complexes to ≥700 nm. Association constants for acetate are ranging from 1–5×105 M−1 in acetonitrile. Integration of one of the fluorescent probes through its polymerizable moiety into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) grafted from the surface of submicron silica cores yielded fluorescent MIP-coated particle probes for the selective detection of antibiotics containing aliphatic carboxylate groups such as enoxacin (ENOX) at micromolar concentrations in highly polar solvents like acetonitrile.
Per- und polyfluorierte Alkylsubstanzen (PFAS) bilden eine sehr komplexe Schadstoffgruppe mit über 6300 Einzelsubstanzen, die in vielfältiger Form in die Umwelt eingetragen werden. Für ein effektives Monitoring dieser Schadstoffklasse benötigt es ein Zusammenspiel aus Summenparameter-Analytik zur hot-spot-Identifizierung und Klassifizierung von Belastungssituationen sowie einer nachgeschalteten target-Analytik zur Identifizierung von Eintragswegen, die zugleich ein tieferes Verständnis von Transformationsprozessen ermöglicht. In diesem Beitrag präsentieren wir eine optimierte Extraktions-Methode für die PFAS-Summenparameteranalytik. Mit Hilfe dieser können bisher verwendete zeit- und kostenintensive Festphasenextraktionen (SPE) umgangen und PFAS-Extraktionseffizienzen gesteigert werden. Die methodische Bestimmungsgrenze (LOQ) war mit 10,30 μg/kg (Fluor pro Bodenprobe) ausreichend für alle 9 untersuchten Realbodenproben.
Here, we describe an optimized fast and simple extraction method for the determination of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in soils utilizing high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR–CS–GFMAS). To omit the bias of the solid phase extraction (SPE) step commonly used during the analysis of extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) we optimized a fast and simple SPE-free extraction method. The developed extraction method consists of a liquid-solid extraction using acidified methanol without any additional SPE. Four extraction steps were representative to determine a high proportion of the EOF (>80% of eight extractions). Comparison of the optimized method with and without an additional SPE clean-up step revealed a drastic underestimation of EOF concentrations using SPE. Differences of up to 94% were observed which were not explainable by coextracted inorganic fluoride. Therefore, not only a more accurate but also a more economic as well as ecologic method (bypassing of unnecessary SPE) was developed. The procedural limit of quantification (LOQ) of the developed method was 10.30 μg/kg which was sufficient for quantifying EOF concentrations in all tested samples. For future PFAS monitoring and potential regulative decisions the herein presented optimized extraction method can offer a valuable contribution.
Most studies about the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with cells have focused on how the physicochemical properties of NPs will influence their uptake by cells. However, much less is known about their potential excretion from cells. However, to control and manipulate the number of NPs in a cell, both cellular uptake and excretion must be studied quantitatively. Monitoring the intracellular and extracellular amount of NPs over time (after residual noninternalized NPs have been removed) enables one to disentangle the influences of cell proliferation and exocytosis, the major pathways for the reduction of NPs per cell. Proliferation depends on the type of cells, while exocytosis depends in addition on properties of the NPs, such as their size. Examples are given herein on the role of these two different processes for different cells and NPs.
Increasing contamination of environmental waters with pharmaceuticals represents an emerging threat for the drinking water quality and safety. In this regard, fast and reliable analytical methods are required to allow quick countermeasures in case of contamination. Here, we report the development of a magnetic bead-based immunoassay (MBBA) for the fast and cost-effective determination of the analgesic diclofenac (DCF) in water samples, based on diclofenac-coupled magnetic beads and a robust monoclonal anti-DCF antibody. A novel synthetic strategy for preparation of the beads resulted in an assay that enabled for the determination of diclofenac with a significantly lower limit of detection (400 ng/L) than the respective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With shorter incubation times and only one manual washing step required, the assay demands for remarkably shorter time to result (< 45 min) and less equipment than ELISA. Evaluation of assay precision and accuracy with a series of spiked water samples yielded results with low to moderate intra- and inter-assay variations and in good agreement with LC–MS/MS reference analysis. The assay principle can be transferred to other, e.g., microfluidic, formats, as well as applied to other analytes and may replace ELISA as the standard immunochemical method.
Portable, antikörperbasierte Analysenverfahren für die Schadstofferfassung im Wasserkreislauf
(2021)
Die Wasseranalytik wird bestimmt von zwei Hauptbedarfen, einerseits der Erfassung der Gewässergüte und Grundwassergüte als Basis für die Bereitstellung einwandfreien Trinkwassers und zum anderen des Monitorings der Wasserqualität in den Prozessen der Wasseraufbereitung und der Abwasserreinigung. Für beide Anwendungsbereiche ist eine laborbasierte Analytik eher hinderlich, werden die Analysenergebnisse doch eigentlich vor Ort benötigt, um etwa Beprobungskampagnen rasch anpassen zu können. Des Weiteren werden die Daten auch schnell benötigt, um zeitnah in die technischen Prozesse einzugreifen. Organische Kontaminanten werden meist über chromatographische Verfahren, häufig gekoppelt mit einer massenspektrometrischen Detektion, in instrumentellen Labormethoden erfasst, und die hochauflösende Massenspektrometrie und die Non-target-Analytik haben viel zum Wissen über das Vorkommen, insbesondere von sogenannten „Emerging Contaminants“, beigetragen, sowie zum Verständnis der beteiligten Eintragspfade und Abbauwege. Moderne, portable Analysenmethoden und insbesondere Sensoren werden zukünftig aber ihren Platz in der Schadstofferfassung im Wasserkreislauf einnehmen. Dies gilt insbesondere für antikörperbasierte Analysenverfahren, da erst diese oft die nötige Selektivität und Sensitivität in die Detektionsmethoden einbringen.
One of the most important chemicals used in the production of polymer plastics and coatings is bisphenol A. However, despite the large number of studies on the toxicity and hormonal activity of BPA, there are still open questions and thus considerable media attention regarding BPA toxicity. Hence, it is necessary to develop a sensitive, simple, cost-efficient, specific, portable, and rapid method for monitoring bisphenol A and for high sample throughput and on-site screening analysis. Lateral flow immunoassays have potential as rapid tests for on-site screening. To meet sensitivity criteria, they must be carefully optimized. A latex microparticle-based LFIA for detection of BPA was developed. The sensitivity of the assay was improved by non-contact printing of spot grids as the control and test lines with careful parameter optimization. Results of the test could be visually evaluated within 10 min with a visual cut-off of 10 µg/L (vLOD). Alternatively, photographs were taken, and image analysis performed to set up a calibration, which allowed for a calculated limit of detection (cLOD) of 0.14 µg/L. The method was validated for thermal paper samples against ELISA and LC–MS/MS as reference methods, showing good agreement with both methods
In this work, we report an electrochemical immunosensor to detect ethinylestradiol in water samples, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a detection technique. For the development of this immunosensor, the direct modification of the working electrode of a screen-printed carbon electrode was carried out. First, to reduce the resistance of the electrode, electroreduced graphene was incorporated on the surface.
Second, a porous gold structure was electrodeposited on reduced graphene by electrodeposition and the dynamic hydrogen bubble template assisted method. Thus, a marked increase in surface area was obtained for anti-EE2 antibodies immobilization. Subsequently, the specific anti-EE2 antibodies were covalently immobilized using α-lipoic acid for attaching them to the gold surface.
The electrode modified with the antibodies was incubated for 30 min in the samples containing EE2, producing the specific Antigen antibody binding. As the charge transfer resistance of a redox probe in the electrode surface is governed by the surface blocking effects, the charge transfer resistance was related to the amount of EE2 captured to realize a quantitative determination. For this, the EIS measurements were performed in a 4 mM [Fe(CN)6]4−/3− solution in 0.1 M KCl. The obtained Nyquist diagrams were adjusted using the Randles circuit as an equivalent circuit to obtain the corresponding resistances. The developed methodology showed good selectivity, precision, and sensitivity; although the LOD obtained was higher than those presented in other published articles, it turned out to be an alternative that allows the determination of ethinylestradiol using a simple disposable electrode.
Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) was compared with standardized pump sampling regarding the prospects to assess airborne levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor environments. A historic railway water tower, which will be preserved as a technical monument for museum purposes, was sampled with both approaches because the built-in insulationmaterial was suspected to release PAHs to the indoor air. The 16 PAHs on the US EPA list were quantified using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in filters from pump sampling after solvent extraction and on SBSE devices after thermal desorption. SBSEwas seen to sample detectable PAHmasseswith excellent repeatability and a congener pattern largely similar to that observed with pump sampling. Congener patterns were however significantly different from that in the PAH source because release from the insulation material is largely triggered by the respective congener vapor pressures. Absolute masses in the ng range sampled by SBSE corresponded to airborne concentrations in the ng L−1 range determined by pump sampling. Principle differences between SBSE and pump sampling as well as prospects of SBSE as cost-effective and versatile complement of pump sampling are discussed.
Three chromatographic procedures were investigated regarding their potential for the quantification of aniline and 19 of its methylated and chlorinated derivatives in groundwater. These methods were based on liquid-liquid-extraction in combination with gas chromatography and single quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/MS) according to German standard DIN 38407-16:1999 and its extension using tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS-MS), both following liquid-liquid extraction, and as third alternative the direct injection of the water sample into a liquid chromatograph coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). Results were compared using fortified water and real-world contaminated groundwater used in an interlaboratory comparison. It could be shown that GC/MS and GC/MS-MS yielded results deviating less than 10% from each other while all three procedure displayed quantification results deviating less than 15% from the intercomparison reference values in case of each analyte in the concentration range between 1 and 45 µg L-1. Though GC/MS-MS displays a ten-fold higher sensitivity than single quadrupole GC/MS, the precision of both methods in the concentration range was similar. LC/MS-MS has the advantage of no further sample preparation due to the direct injection and leads for methylanilines and meta-, para- substituted chloroanilines to results sufficiently equivalent to the standardised GC/MS method. However, LC/MS-MS is not suitable for ortho-chloroaniline derivates due to significantly lower ion yields than meta- and para-substituted chloroanilines.
High-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GF-MAS) was employed for determining adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) in water. Organic chlorine was indirectly quantified by monitoring the molecular absorption of the transient aluminum monochloride molecule (AlCl) around a wavelength of 261.42 nm in a graphite furnace. An aluminum solution was used as the molecularforming modifier. A zirconium coated graphite furnace, as well as Sr and Ag solutions were applied as modifiers for a maximal enhancement of the absorption signal. The pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures were 600 °C and 2300 °C, respectively. Non-spectral interferences were observed with F, Br, and I at concentrations higher than 6 mg L-1, 50 mg L-1, and 100 mg L-1, respectively. Calibration curves with NaCl, 4-chlorophenol, and trichlorophenol present the same slope and dynamic range, which indicates the chlorine atom specificity of the method. This method was evaluated and validated using synthetic water samples, following the current standard DIN EN ISO 9562:2004 for the determination of the sum parameter adsorbable organic halides (AOX) for water quality. These samples contain 4-chlorophenol as the chlorinated organic standard in an inorganic chloride matrix. Prior to analysis, organic chlorine was extracted from the inorganic matrix via solid-phase extraction with a recovery rate >95%. There were no statistically significant differences observed between measured and known values and for a t-test a confidence level of 95% was achieved. The limits of detection and characteristic mass were found to be 48 and 22 pg, respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the range 0.1–2.5 ng with a correlation coefficient R2 = 0.9986.
Functional nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are of increasing relevance for many key technologies of the twenty-first century. This includes polymer and silica or silica-coated nanoparticles (NP) with covalently bound surface groups, semiconductor quantum dots (QD), metal and metal oxide NP, and lanthanide-based NP with coordinatively or electrostatically bound ligands, as well as surface-coated nanostructures like micellar encapsulated NP. The surface chemistry can significantly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, their processability and performance, as well as their impact on human health and the environment. Thus, analytical methods for the characterization of NM surface chemistry regarding chemical identification, quantification, and accessibility of functional groups (FG) and surface ligands bearing such FG are of increasing importance for quality control of NM synthesis up to nanosafety. Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification with special emphasis on bioanalytically relevant FG broadly utilized for the covalent attachment of biomolecules like proteins, peptides, and oligonucleotides and address methodand material-related challenges and limitations. Analytical techniques reviewed include electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance and vibrational spectroscopy, as well as X-ray based and thermal analysis methods, covering the last 5–10 years. Criteria for method classification and evaluation include the need for a signal-generating label, provision of either the total or derivatizable number of FG, need for expensive instrumentation, and suitability for process and production control during NM synthesis and functionalization.
Stormwater from urban areas can transport biocidally active substances and related transformation products from buildings into the environment. The occurrence of these substances in urban runoff depends on the availability of water, and on ultraviolet radiation exposure that causes photolytic reactions. In a systematic laboratory study, painted test specimens were exposed to either ultraviolet radiation, water contact, or a combination of both. Leaching of the biocidally active substances carbendazim, diuron, octylisothiazolinone, terbutryn, and selected transformation products of terbutryn and diuron were observed under various exposure conditions. Remaining concentrations of these substances in the paint were quantified. It was demonstrated that the distribution of active substances and transformation products in eluates and in the coatings themselves differs with exposure conditions. Strategies for environmental monitoring of biocide emissions need to consider the most relevant transformation products. However, environmental concentrations of biocidally active substances and transformation products depend on earlier exposure conditions. As a consequence, monitoring data cannot describe emission processes and predict expected leaching of biocidally active substances from buildings if the data are collected only occasionally.
A recently introduced inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight-mass spectrometer (ICP-ToF-MS) shows enhanced sensitivity compared to previous developments and superior isotope ratio precision compared to other ToF and commonly used single-collector ICP-MS instruments. Following this fact, an improvement for isotope dilution ICP-MS using the new instrumentation has been reported. This study aimed at investigating whether this improvement also meets the requirements of species-specific isotope dilution using GC/ICP-MS, where short transient signals are recorded. The results of the analysis of monomethylmercury (MMHg) of a sediment reference material show that isotope ratio precision of ICP-MS instruments equipped with quadrupole, sector-field, and time-of-flight mass analyzers is similar within a broad range of peak signal-to-noise ratio when analyzing one isotopic system. The procedural limit of quantification (LOQ) for MMHg, expressed as mass fraction of Hg being present as MMHg, w(Hg)MMHg, was similar as well for all investigated instruments and ranged between 0.003 and 0.016 μg/kg. Due to the simultaneous detection capability, the ICP-ToF-MS might, however, be more favorable when several isotopic systems are analyzed within one measurement. In a case study, the GC/ICP-ToF-MS coupling was applied for analysis of MMHg in sediments of Finow Canal, a historic German canal heavily polluted with mercury. Mass fractions between 0.180 and 41 μg/kg (w(Hg)MMHg) for MMHg, and 0.056 and 126 mg/kg (w(Hg)total) for total mercury were found in sediment samples taken from the canal upstream and downstream of a former chemical plant.
The allergenic and inflammatory potential of proteins can be enhanced by chemical modification upon exposure to atmospheric or physiological oxidants. The molecular mechanisms and kinetics of such modifications, however, have not yet been fully resolved. We investigated the oligomerization and nitration of the grass pollen allergen Phl p 5 by ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and peroxynitrite (ONOO–). Within several hours of exposure to atmospherically relevant concentration levels of O3 and NO2, up to 50% of Phl p 5 were converted into protein oligomers, likely by formation of dityrosine cross-links. Assuming that tyrosine residues are the preferential site of nitration, up to 10% of the 12 tyrosine residues per protein monomer were nitrated. For the reaction with peroxynitrite, the largest oligomer mass fractions (up to 50%) were found for equimolar concentrations of peroxynitrite over tyrosine residues. With excess peroxynitrite, the nitration degrees increased up to 40% whereas the oligomer mass fractions decreased to 20%. Our results suggest that protein oligomerization and nitration are competing processes, which is consistent with a two-step mechanism involving a reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI), as observed for other proteins. The modified proteins can promote pro-inflammatory cellular signaling that may contribute to chronic inflammation and allergies in response to air pollution.
Der Bedarf nach schnellen und kostengünstigen Analysemethoden in der (Trink-)Wasseranalytik steigt mit dem zunehmenden Eintrag pharmazeutisch aktiver Substanzen in die Umwelt.
Insbesondere die Kontamination mit Antibiotika erscheint neben ökotoxikologischen Effekten vor allem in Hinblick auf die Evolution resistenter Keime im Wasser besorgniserregend.
Wir berichten hier über die Entwicklung eines magnetpartikelbasierten Immunoassays (MBBA) zur Detektion des Breitbandantibiotikums Amoxicillin (AMX) in Wasserproben, der im Vergleich zum entsprechenden Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) eine wesentlich kürzere Analysendauer sowie einen breiteren Messbereich mit niedrigerer Nachweisgrenze aufweist. Das angewendete Assayprinzip ist dabei leicht auf weitere Analyten übertragbar und ermöglicht die Implementierung in einen Immunosensor.
Knowing the exact nutrient composition of organic fertilizers is a prerequisite for their appropriate application to improve yield and to avoid environmental pollution by over-fertilization.
Traditional standard chemical analysis is cost and time-consuming and thus it is unsuitable for a rapid analysis before manure application. As a possible alternative, a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was tested to enable a fast, simultaneous, and on-site analysis of several elements.
A set of 62 liquid pig and cattle manures as well as biogas digestates were collected, intensively homogenized and analysed for the macro plant nutrients phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sulphur as well as the micro nutrients manganese, iron, copper, and zinc using the standard lab procedure. The effect of four different sample preparation steps (original, dried, filtered, and dried filter residues) on XRF measurement accuracy was examined. Therefore, XRF results were correlated with values of the reference analysis. The best R2 s for each element ranged from 0.64 to 0.92. Comparing the four preparation steps, XRF results for dried samples showed good correlations (0.64 and 0.86) for all elements. XRF measurements using dried filter residues showed also good correlations with R2 s between 0.65 and 0.91 except for P, Mg, and Ca. In contrast, correlation Analysis for liquid samples (original and filtered) resulted in lower R2 s from 0.02 to 0.68, except for K (0.83 and 0.87, respectively). Based on these results, it can be concluded that handheld XRF is a promising measuring system for element analysis in manures and digestates.
Contamination of waters with pharmaceuticals is an alarming problem as it may support the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, fast and cost-effective analytical methods for potential on-site analysis are desired in order to control the water quality and assure the safety of its use as a source of drinking water. Antibody-based methods, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), can be helpful in this regard but can also have certain pitfalls in store, depending on the analyte. As shown here for the class of β-lactam antibiotics, hydrolysis of the β-lactam ring is a key factor in the immunochemical analysis as it influences antibody recognition. With the antibody used in this study, the limit of detection (LOD) in the immunoassay could be significantly reduced by hydrolysis for the five tested penicillins, with the lowest LOD for carbenicillin (0.2 nmol/L) and the greatest impact on penicillins G and V (reduction by 85%). In addition to enhanced quantification, our strategy also provides access to information about the degree of hydrolysis in water samples as shown for the most abundant penicillin amoxicillin.
Mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens Fusarium and Alternaria are a leading cause of loss in cereal production. On wheat-ears, they are confronted by bacterial antagonists such as pseudomonads.
Studies on these groups’ interactions often neglect the infection process’s temporal aspects and the associated priority effects. In the present study, the focus was on how the first colonizer affects the subsequent ones. In a climate chamber experiment, wheat-ears were successively inoculated with two different strains (Alternaria enuissima At625, Fusarium graminearum Fg23, or Pseudomonas simiae Ps9).
Over three weeks, microbial abundances and mycotoxin concentrations were analyzed and visualized via Self Organizing Maps with Sammon Mapping (SOM-SM). All three strains revealed different characteristics and strategies to deal with co-inoculation: Fg23, as the first colonizer, suppressed the establishment of At625 and Ps9. Nevertheless, primary inoculation of At625 reduced all of the Fusarium toxins and stopped Ps9 from establishing. Ps9 showed priority effects in delaying and blocking the production of the fungal mycotoxins. The SOM-SM analysis visualized the competitive strengths: Fg23 ranked first, At625 second, Ps9 third. Our findings of species-specific priority effects in a natural environment and the role of the mycotoxins involved are relevant for developing biocontrol strategies.
Rationale: (Eco-)toxicological effects are mostly derived empirically and are notcorrelated with metal uptake. Furthermore, if the metal content is determined,mostly bulk analysis of the whole organism population is conducted; thus, biologicalvariability is completely disregarded, and this may lead to misleading results. Toovercome this issue, we compared two different solid sampling techniques for theanalysis of single organisms.Methods: In this study, complementary electrothermal vaporization/inductivelycoupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV/ICP-MS) , laser ablation/inductivelycoupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA/ICP-MS)-based methods for the analysisof individual organisms were developed and the results obtained were comparedwith the concentrations obtained after digestion and measured using ICP-MS.For this purpose, a common (eco-)toxicological test organism, the mud shrimpCorophium volutator, was selected. As proof-of-concept application, these organismswere incubated with environmentally relevant metals from galvanic anodes, whichare often used for protection against metal corrosion in, for example, offshorewind farms.Results: The bulk analysis revealed that large quantities of the incubated elementswere detectable. Using the ETV/ICP-MS method, we could identify a highbiovariability within the population of organisms tested. Using the LA/ICP-MSmethod, it could be determined that the large quantities of the elements detectedwere due to adsorption of the metals and not due to uptake, which correlates wellwith the absence of (eco-)toxicological effects.Conclusions: The results obtained imply the efficiency of complementary methods toexplain the absence or presence of (eco-)toxicological effects. In particular, methodsthat allow for single-organism analysis or provide even a spatial resolution supportthe interpretation of ecotoxicological findings.
Background: Cathodic protection by sacrifcial anodes composed of aluminum-zinc-indium alloys is often applied to protect ofshore support structures of wind turbines from corrosion. Given the considerable growth of renewable energies and thus ofshore wind farms in Germany over the last decade, increasing levels of aluminum, Indium and zinc are released to the marine environment. Although these metals are ecotoxicologically well-studied, data regarding their impact on marine organisms, especially sediment-dwelling species, as well as possible ecotoxicological efects of galvanic anodes are scarce. To investigate possible ecotoxicological efects to the marine environment, the diatom Phaedactylum tricornutum, the bacterium Aliivibrio fscheri and the amphipod Corophium volutator were exposed to dissolved galvanic anodes and solutions of aluminum and zinc, respectively, in standardized laboratory tests using natural seawater. In addition to acute toxicological efects, the uptake of these elements by C. volutator was investigated.
Results: The investigated anode material caused no acute toxicity to the tested bacteria and only weak but signifcant efects on algal growth. In case of the amphipods, the single elements Al and Zn showed signifcant efects only at the highest tested concentrations. Moreover, an accumulation of Al and In was observed in the crustacea species.
Conclusions: Overall, the fndings of this study indicated no direct environmental impact on the tested marine organisms by the use of galvanic anodes for cathodic protection. However, the accumulation of metals in, e.g., crustaceans might enhance their trophic transfer within the marine food web.
Pharmacologically active compounds are often detected in wastewater and surface waters. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) was included in the European watch list of substances that requires its environmental monitoring in the member states. DCF may harmfully influence the ecosystem already at concentrations ≤ 1 μg L−1. The fast and easy quantification of DCF is becoming a subject of global importance. Fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) is a homogeneous mix-and-read method which does not require the immobilization of reagents. FPIA can be performed in one phase within 20–30 min, making it possible to analyse wastewater without any complicated pre-treatment. In this study, new tracermolecules with different structures, linking fluorophores to derivatives of the analyte, were synthesized, three homologous tracers based on DCF, two including a C6 spacer, and one heterologous tracer derived from 5-hydroxy-DCF. The tracer molecules were thoroughly assessed for performance. Regarding sensitivity of the FPIA, the lowest limit of detection reached was 2.0 μg L−1 with a working range up to 870 μg L−1. The method was validated for real wastewater samples against LC-MS/MS as reference method with good agreement of both methods.
In the present study, a novel and reliable analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 1,3,5-tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (TDBP-TAZTO) and 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBP-TAZ) in environmental samples using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer.
Firstly, for optimization of the liquid chromatography separation, mobile phases, oven temperatures, modifiers, and buffers were varied. Afterwards, the extraction efficiency of sediment and fish samples was tested with different techniques (pressurized liquid, solid-liquid, ultrasound-assisted, and Soxhlet extraction). Additionally, cleanup using modified multilayer silica gel (sediment) and gel permeation chromatography as well as Florisil® columns (fish) with several solvent mixtures were performed. The best results were obtained with the pressurized liquid extraction (optimal conditions: extraction solvent 100% toluene, extraction time 20 min, cycles two, extraction temperature 100 °C, and flushing volume 60%) compared to other solvent extraction methods. On the basis of this optimized analytical procedure, the method was validated with satisfactory values of correlation coefficient (R2) between 0.998 and 0.999 for both matrices in the calibration range of 2.0–502.0 μg kg−1 for TDBP-TAZTO and 16.6–770.6 μg kg−1 for TTBP-TAZ in sediment samples as well as 4.8–303.5 μg kg−1 and 47.4–742.5 μg kg−1 in fish samples (bream), respectively.Mean recoveries (n=5) were calculated for both analytes with spiked matrices at one concentration level (100 μg kg−1) between 98 and 114% with intra-day relative standard deviations less than 11%. The inter-day precision (n = 15) was also acceptable for both compounds < 11%. It was found that the limit of detection and limit of quantification were in the range of 0.4–1.3 μg kg−1 for TDBP-TAZTO and 10–28 μg kg−1 for TTBP-TAZ in surface sediment samples and 7–25 μg kg−1 and 22–80 μg kg−1 in fish samples (bream), respectively. The results indicated that these analytical methods could provide reliable and efficient approaches for quantification of TDBP-TAZTO and TTBPTAZ in sediment and fish samples.
The interaction of microplastics with freshwater biota and their interaction with other stressors is still not very well understood. Therefore, we investigated the ingestion, excretion and toxicity of microplastics in the freshwater gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis.
MP ingestion was analyzed as tissues levels in L. stagnalis after 6–96 h of exposure to 5–90 μm spherical polystyrene (PS) microplastics. To understand the excretion, tissue levels were determined after 24 h of exposure followed by a 12 h–7 d depuration period. To assess the toxicity, snails were exposed for 28 d to irregular PS microplastics (<63 μm, 6.4–100,000 particles mL−1), both alone and in combination with copper as additional stressor. To compare the toxicity of natural and synthetic particles, we also included diatomite particles. Microplastics ingestion and excretion significantly depended on the particle size and the exposure/depuration duration. An exposure to irregular PS had no effect on survival, reproduction, energy reserves and oxidative stress. However, we observed slight effects on immune cell phagocytosis. Exposure to microplastics did not exacerbate the reproductive toxicity of copper. In addition, there was no pronounced difference between the effects of microplastics and diatomite. The tolerance towards microplastics may originate from an adaptation of L. stagnalis to particle-rich environments or a general stress resilience. In conclusion, despite high uptake rates, PS fragments do not appear to be a relevant stressor for stress tolerant freshwater gastropods considering current environmental levels of microplastics.
During the last two decades, studies related to the occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment have received great attention from the international scientific community. The monitoring of the presence of these compounds is particularly important since they are known to induce adverse effects in aquatic environments, even at extremely low concentrations. This work aimed to apply a simple and effective methodology, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in the monitoring of 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17b-estradiol (E2) (a synthetic and a natural hormone, respectively), carbamazepine (CBZ, an antiepileptic), cetirizine (CET, an antihistamine) and caffeine (CAF, a stimulant) in water matrices with differing salinity and organic matter contents. ELISA was proven to be a valid and practical tool, especially for screening purposes in contrast to traditional chromatographic techniques which are prohibitively expensive for an application on a broader base. The main originality of this work was to establish seasonal and spatial effects on the occurrence of the referred contaminants by using the effectiveness of ELISA to screen those compounds in samples with different characteristics.
This work reports both the seasonal and spatial quantification of the referred contaminants in the aquatic environment of the central region of Portugal, with concentrations ranging as follows: 5–87 ng L-1, for
E2, 2–17 ng L-1, for EE2, 10–1290 ng L-1, for CBZ, 10–190 ng L-1, for CET, and 62–6400 ng L-1, for CAF.
Multiple works have studied possible associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and end stage renal disease (ESRD) showing, however, contradictory and inconsistent results. Here, we revisit the association between ESRD and HLA antigens, comparing HLA polymorphism (at HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 and DQA1 loci) in ESRD patients (n = 497) and controls (n = 672). Our data identified several HLA alleles that displayed a significant positive or negative association with ESRD. We also determined whether heterozygosity or homozygosity of the ESRD-associated HLA alleles at different loci could modify the prevalence of the disease. Few HLA allele combinations displayed significant associations with ESRD, among which A*3_26 combination showed the highest strength of association (OR = 4.488, P≤ 0.05) with ESRD. Interestingly, the age of ESRD onset was not affected by HLA allele combinations at different loci. We also performed an extensive literature analysis to determine whether the association of HLA to ESRD can be similar across different ethnic groups. Our analysis showed that at least certain HLA alleles, HLA-A*11, HLA-DRB1*11, and HLA-DRB1*4, display a significant association with ESRD in different ethnic groups. The findings of our study will help in determining possible protective or susceptible roles of various HLA alleles in ESRD.
The presence of microplastic (MP) particles in aquatic environments raised concern About possible enrichment of organic and inorganic pollutants due to their specific surface and chemical properties. In particular the role of metals within this context is still poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop a fully validated acid digestion protocol for metal analysis in different polymers, which is a prerequisite to study such interactions.
The proposed digestion protocol was validated using six different certified reference materials in the microplastic size range consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyvinyl chloride. As ICP-MS/MS enabled time-efficient, sensitive and robust analysis of 56 metals in one measurement, the method was suitable to provide mass fractions for a multitude of other elements beside the certified ones (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn). Three different microwaves, different acid mixtures as well as different temperatures in combination with different hold times were tested for optimization purposes.
With the exception of Cr in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, recovery rates obtained using the optimized protocol for all six certified reference materials fell within a range from 95.9% ± 2.7% to 112% ± 7%. Subsequent optimization further enhanced both precision and recoveries ranging from 103% ± 5% to 107 ± 4% (U; k = 2 (n = 3)) for all certified metals (incl. Cr) in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The results clearly show the analytical challenges that come along with metal analysis in chemically resistant plastics. Addressing specific analysis Tools for different sorption scenarios and processes as well as the underlying kinetics was beyond this study’s scope. However, the future application of the two recommended thoroughly validated total acid digestion protocols as a first step in the direction of harmonization of metal analysis in/on MP will enhance the significance and comparability of the generated data. It will contribute to a better understanding of the role of MP as vector for trace metals in the environment.
Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Untersuchung eines bestehenden pyrometallurgischen Prozesses zur Rückgewinnung von Tantal und Niob aus metallurgischen Reststoffen mit vorwiegend niedriger Wertstoffkonzentration.
Zur näheren Erforschung der im vorliegenden Stoffsystem ablaufenden Reduktionsprozesse wurden in einem Elektrolichtbogenofen Schmelzversuche im Pilotmaßstab durchgeführt. Als Reduktionsmittel diente Koks, welcher mithilfe einer Argon-gespülten Eisenlanze in die flüssige mineralische Schmelze eingebracht wurde. Während der Reduktionsbehandlung werden Refraktärmetalle wie Tantal und Niob in ihre Carbide überführt und anschließend in der erschmolzenen eisenbasierten Metallphase am Boden des Reaktors angereichert. Neben Tantal und Niob gelangt auch ein Teil des im Einsatzmaterial enthaltenen Titans als unerwünschtes Begleitelement in die Metallphase.
Sein Großteil verbleibt jedoch als Oxid in der Schlacke und wird dort hauptsächlich im Mineral Perowskit (CaTiO3) gebunden. Die erstarrten Schlackeproben wurden mit verschiedenen Methoden wie Röntgenfluoreszensanalyse, Röntgenbeugung und Rasterelektronenmikroskopie mit gekoppelter energiedispersiver Röntgenanalyse untersucht, um die Bildung tantalhaltiger Mineralphasen zu verschiedenen Stadien des Reduktionsprozesses zu verfolgen.
Die hier gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zeigen, dass weniger die durch das Einblasen von Koks verursachte Reduktionsreaktion, sondern das Absinken der tantalreichen Eisentröpfchen in der flüssigen mineralischen Schmelze, gefolgt von ihrer Anreicherung in die Metallphase, für die Kinetik ausschlaggebend ist.
Determination of elemental mass fractions in sediments plays a major role in evaluating the environmental status of aquatic ecosystems. Herewith, the optimization of a new total digestion protocol and the subsequent analysis of 48 elements in different sediment reference materials (NIST SRM 2702, GBW 07313, GBW 07311 and JMC-2) based on ICP-MS/MS detection is presented. The developed method applies microwave acid digestion and utilizes HBF4 as fluoride source for silicate decomposition. Similar to established protocols based on HF, HBF4 ensures the dissolution of the silicate matrix, as well as other refractory oxides. As HBF4 is not acutely toxic; no special precautions have to be made and digests can be directly measured via ICP-MS without specific sample inlet systems, evaporation steps or the addition of e.g. H3BO3, in order to mask excess HF. Different acid mixtures with and without HBF4 were evaluated in terms of digestion efficiency based on the trace metal recovery. The optimized protocol (5 mL HNO3, 2 mL HCL, 1 mL HBF4) allows a complete dissolution of the analyzed reference materials, as well as quantitative recoveries for a wide variety of certified analytes. Low recoveries for e.g. Sr, Ba and rare earth elements due to fluoride precipitation of HF-based digestions protocols, can be avoided by the usage of HBF4 instead. Based on the usage of high purity HBF4 all relevant trace, as well as matrix elements can be analyzed with sufficiently low LOQs (0.002 μg L−1 for U up to 6.7 μg L−1 for Al). In total, 34 elements were within a recovery range of 80%–120% for all three analyzed reference materials GBW 07313, GBW 07311 and JMC-2. 14 elements were outside a recovery range of 80%–120% for at least one of the analyzed reference materials.
A sedimented freshwater suspended organic matter fortified with particles of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was employed in an interlaboratory comparison of thermoanalytical methods for microplastics identification and quantification. Three laboratories performed pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), three others provided results using thermal extraction desorption followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS). One participant performed thermogravimetry-infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and two participants used thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry (TGA-MS). Further participants used differential scanning microscopy (DSC), a procedure based on micro combustion calorimetry (MCC) and a procedure based on elemental analysis.
Each participant employed a different combination of sample treatment, calibration and instrumental Settings for polymer identification and quantification. Though there is obviously room for improvements regarding the between-laboratory reproducibility and the harmonization of procedures it was seen that the participants Performing Py-GC-MS, TED-GC-MS, and TGA-FTIR were able to correctly identify all polymers and to report reasonable quantification results in the investigated concentration range (PE: 20.0 μg/mg, PP: 5.70 μg/mg; PS: 2.20 μg/mg, PET: 18.0 μg/mg). Although for the other methods limitations exists regarding the detection of specific polymers, they showed potential as alternative approaches for polymer quantification in solid environmental matrices.
In this work, a method for species-specific isotopic analysis of sulfur via capillary electrophoresis hyphenated on-line with multicollector ICP-MS (CE/MC-ICP-MS) was developed. Correction for the mass bias caused by instrumental mass discrimination was realized via external correction with multiple-injection sample-standard bracketing. By comparing the isotope ratio measurement results obtained using the newly developed on-line CE/MC-ICP-MS method with those obtained via traditional MC-ICP-MS measurement after analyte/matrix separation by anion exchange chromatography for isotopic reference materials and an in-house bracketing standard, the most suitable data evaluation method could be identified. The repeatability for the sulfate-δ34S value (calculated from 18 measurements of a standard conducted over seven measurement sessions) was 0.57‰ (2SD) and thereby only twice that obtained with off-line measurements (0.30‰, n = 68). As a proof of concept for analysis of samples with a real matrix, the determination of the sulfur isotopic composition of naturally present sulfate was performed for different river systems. The CE/MC-ICP-MS results thus obtained agreed with the corresponding off-line MC-ICP-MS results within the 2SD ranges, and the repeatability of consecutive δ34S measurements (n = 3) was between 0.3‰ and 1.3‰ (2SD). Finally, the isotopic analysis of two different S-species in a river water sample spiked with 2-pyridinesulfonic acid (PSA) was also accomplished.
The potential release of hazardous substances from polymer-based products is currently in the focus of environmental policy. Environmental simulations are applied to expose such products to selected aging conditions and to investigate release processes. Commonly applied aging exposure types such as solar and UV radiation in combination with water contact, corrosive gases, and soil contact as well as expected general effects on polymers and additional ingredients of polymer-based products are described. The release of substances is based on mass-transfer processes to the material surfaces. Experimental approaches to investigate transport processes that are caused by water contact are presented. For tailoring the tests, relevant aging exposure types and release quantification methods must be combined appropriately. Several studies on the release of hazardous substances such as metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, flame retardants, antioxidants, and carbon nanotubes from polymers are summarized exemplarily. Differences between natural and artificial exposure tests are discussed and demonstrated for the release of flame retardants from several polymers and for biocides from paints. Requirements and limitations to apply results from short-term artificial environmental exposure tests to predict long-term environmental behavior of polymers are presented.
Diatoms play a key role in assessing the eco-toxicology of metals and are already part of several national and international guidelines and regulations. Data on metal uptake and its correlation with a natural metal composition of the diatoms are mostly lacking on a cellular basis - mainly due to the lack of a suitable method on both the preparation and detection side. Therefore, within this work a fully automated approach based on the on-line coupling of a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and an inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometer (ICP-ToF-MS) was applied to analyze single cells of the alga Cyclotella meneghiniana multi-elementally in order to provide a deeper insight into the metal composition and its response to environmental stress. Multi-elemental analysis in single diatoms also enables assessment of combined toxicity of a set of metals. A set of four fingerprint elements, characteristically for diatoms (Mg, P, Si, Fe), were identified and hence the investigation of environmental stress onto the cells was enabled by performing incubation experiments with environmentally relevant toxic elements. It could be shown at moderate environmental stress caused by increasing the metal concentration in the medium (zinc) that the fingerprint element concentrations remained stable and thus the suitability of the selected elements for algae tracing was demonstrated. With regard to further ecotoxicological assessments, a multivariate approach was successfully applied allowing for cell classification upon different incubation concentration levels. This multivariate approach also facilitated an effective identification of three different diatom species (Cyclotella meneghiniana, Thalassiosira weissflogii and Thalassiosira pseudonana).
Singlet oxygen can severely damage biological tissue, which is exploited in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In PDT, the effective range is limited by the distribution of the photosensitizer (PS) and the illuminated area. However, no distinction is made between healthy and pathological tissue, which can cause undesired damage. This encouraged us to exploit the more acidic pH of cancerous tissue and design pH-controllable singlet oxygen-generating boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes. A pH sensitivity of the dyes is achieved by the introduction of an electronically decoupled, photoinduced electron transfer (PET)-capable subunit in meso-position of the BODIPY core. To favor triplet-state formation as required for singlet Oxygen generation, iodine substituents were introduced at the chromophore core. The resulting pH-controlled singlet oxygen-generating dyes with pKa values in the physiological range were subsequently assessed regarding their potential as pH-controlled PS for PDT.
Using HeLa cells, we could successfully demonstrate markedly different pH-dependent cytotoxicities upon illumination.
Exploratory analysis of hyperspectral FTIR data obtained from environmental microplastics samples
(2020)
Hyperspectral imaging of environmental samples with infrared microscopes is one of the preferred methods to find and characterize microplastics. Particles can be quantified in terms of number, size and size distribution. Their shape can be studied and the substances can be identified. Interpretation of the collected spectra is a typical problem encountered during the analysis. The image datasets are large and contain spectra of countless particles of natural and synthetic origin. To supplement existing Analysis pipelines, exploratory multivariate data analysis was tested on two independent datasets. Dimensionality reduction with principal component analysis (PCA) and uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was used as a core concept. It allowed for improved visual accessibility of the data and created a chemical two-dimensional image of the sample. Spectra belonging to particles could be separated from blank spectra, reducing the amount of data significantly. Selected spectra were further studied, also applying PCA and UMAP. Groups of similar spectra were identified by cluster analysis using k-means, density based, and interactive manual clustering. Most clusters could be assigned to chemical species based on reference spectra. While the results support findings obtained with a ‘targeted analysis’ based on automated library search, exploratory analysis points the attention towards the group of unidientified spectra that remained and are otherwise easily overlooked.
Within the framework of precision agriculture, the determination of various soil properties is moving into focus, especially the demand for sensors suitable for in-situ measurements. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) can be a powerful tool for this purpose. In this study a huge diverse soil set (n = 598) from 12 different study sites in Germany was analysed with EDXRF. First, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify possible similarities among the sample set.
Clustering was observed within the four texture classes clay, loam, silt and sand, as clay samples contain high and sandy soils low iron mass fractions. Furthermore, the potential of uni- and multivariate data evaluation with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was assessed for accurate Determination of nutrients in German agricultural samples using two calibration sample sets. Potassium and iron were chosen for testing the performance of both models. Prediction of these nutrients in 598 German soil samples with EDXRF was more accurate using PLSR which is confirmed by a better overall averaged deviation and PLSR should therefore be preferred.
Antifoulingmittel im Wasser
(2019)
Elementanalytische Verfahren werden heute zu mehr eingesetzt als bloß zur Bestimmung von Metallgesamtgehalten in diversen Probenmatrizes. Sie stellen heute ein wichtiges Werkzeug zur Beantwortung lebenswissenschaftlicher Fragen aus Umwelt, Medizin und Biologie dar. In der vorliegenden Arbeit kommt die single-cell-ICP-Flugzeitmassenspektrometrie (single-cell-ICP-TOF-MS) zur Multielementanalytik in einzelnen Kieselalgen (Diatomeen) zum Einsatz und wird zukünftig ein wichtiges Werkzeug z.B. bei der Beantwortung
ökotoxikologischer Fragestellung sein.
Chlorination procedures are commonly applied in swimming pool water and wastewater treatment, yet also in food, pharmaceutical, and paper production. The amount of chlorine in water needs to be strictly controlled to ensure efficient killing of pathogens but avoid the induction of negative health effects. Miniaturized microfluidic fluorescence sensors are an appealing approach here when aiming at online or at-site measurements. Two meso-enamine-substituted boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes were found to exhibit favorable indication properties, their reaction with hypochlorite leading to strong fluorescence enhancement. Real-time assays became possible after integration of these fluorescent probes with designed two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic chips, incorporating a passive sinusoidal mixer and a microhydrocyclone, respectively. A comparison of the two microfluidic systems, including their abilities to prevent accumulation or circulation of microbubbles produced by the chemical indication reaction, showed excellent fluidic behavior for the microhydrocyclone-based device. After coupling to a miniaturized optical reader for fluorescence detection, the 2D microfluidic system showed a promising detection range of 0.04−0.5 mg L−1 while still being prone to bubble-induced fluctuations and suffering from considerably low signal gain. The microhydrocyclone-based system was distinctly more robust against gas bubbles, showed a higher signal gain, and allowed us to halve the limit of detection to 0.02 mg L−1. The use of the 3D system to quantify the chlorine content of swimming pool water samples for sensitive and quantitative chlorine monitoring was demonstrated.
Pharmaceuticals, certain food ingredients, and mammalian endogenous metabolic products in wastewater are mostly of human origin. They are anthropogenic markers.
Proper knowledge of their levels in wastewater helps to track sources of pollutants in natural waters and allows for calculation of removal efficiencies in wastewater Treatment plants. Here, we describe the development and application of an indirect competitive, multiplexing suspension Array fluorescence immunoassay (SAFIA) for the detection of carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DCF), caffeine (CAF), and isolithocholic acid (ILA) in wastewater, covering those classes of anthropogenic markers. The assay consists of haptens covalently conjugated to fluorescence-encoded polystyrene core/silica shell microparticles to create a site for competitive binding of the antibodies (Abs). Bound Abs are then stained with fluorophore-labeled Abs. Encoding and signaling fluorescence of the particles are determined by an automated flow cytometer.
For compatibility of the immunoassay with the 96-well microtiter plate format, a stop reagent, containing formaldehyde, is used. This enables a wash-free procedure while decreasing time-to-result. Detection limits of 140 ± 40 ng/L for CBZ, 180 ± 110 ng/L for CAF, 4 ± 3 ng/L for DCF, and 310 ± 70 ng/L for ILA are achieved, which meet the sensitivity criteria of wastewater analysis. We demonstrate the applicability of SAFIA to real wastewater samples from three different wastewater Treatment plants, finding the results in good agreement with LC-MS/MS. Moreover, the accuracy in general exceeded that from classical ELISAs. We therefore propose SAFIA as a quick and reliable approach for wastewater analysis meeting the requirements for process analytical technology.
A “turn-on” fluorescence sensing system based on a BODIPY-cobaloxime complex for the detection of H2S in liquid and gas phase was developed. To that aim, two cobaloxime complexes bearing an axial pyridyl-BODIPY ligand were initially evaluated as sensitive fluorescent HS− indicators in aqueous solution. The sensing mechanism involves the selective substitution of the BODIPY ligand by the HS− anion at the cobalt center, which is accompanied by a strong fluorescence enhancement. The selection of a complex with an ideal stability and reactivity profile toward HS− relied on the optimal interaction between the cobalt metal-center and two different pyridyl BODIPY ligands. Loading the best performing BODIPY-cobaloxime complex onto a polymeric hydrogel membrane allowed us to study the selectivity of the probe for HS− against different anions and cysteine. Successful detection of H2S by the fluorescent “light-up” membrane was not only accomplished for surface water but could also be demonstrated for relevant H2S concentrations in gas phase.
Tempeh is a common food in Indonesia, produced by fungal fermentation of soybeans using Rhizopus sp., as well as Aspergillus oryzae, for inoculation. Analogously, for economic reasons, mixtures of maize and soybeans are used for the production of so-called tempeh-like products. For maize, a contamination with the mycoestrogen zearalenone (ZEN) has been frequently reported. ZEN is a mycotoxin which is known to be metabolized by Rhizopus and Aspergillus species. Consequently, this study focused on the ZEN transformation during tempeh fermentation. Five fungal strains of the genera Rhizopus and Aspergillus, isolated from fresh Indonesian tempeh and authentic Indonesian inocula, were utilized for tempeh manufacturing from a maize/soybean mixture (30:70) at laboratory-scale. Furthermore, comparable tempeh-like products obtained from Indonesian markets were analyzed. Results from the HPLC-MS/MS analyses show that ZEN is intensely transformed into its metabolites alpha-zearalenol (alpha-ZEL), ZEN-14-sulfate, alpha-ZEL-sulfate, ZEN-14-glucoside, and ZEN-16-glucoside in tempeh production. alpha-ZEL, being significantly more toxic than ZEN, was the main metabolite in most of the Rhizopus incubations, while in Aspergillus oryzae fermentations ZEN-14-sulfate was predominantly formed. Additionally, two of the 14 authentic samples were contaminated with ZEN, alpha-ZEL and ZEN-14-sulfate, and in two further samples, ZEN and alpha-ZEL, were determined. Consequently, tempeh fermentation of ZEN-contaminated maize/soybean mixture may lead to toxification of the food item by formation of the reductive ZEN metabolite, alpha-ZEL, under model as well as authentic conditions.
In the recent decade, metal pyrithione complexes have become important biocides for antifouling purposes in shipping. The analysis of metal pyrithione complexes and their degradation products/species in environmental samples is challenging because they exhibit fast UV degradation, transmetalation, and ligand substitution and are known to be prone to spontaneous species transformation within a chromatographic system. The environmental properties of the pyrithione species, e.g., toxicity to target and non-target organisms, are differing strongly, and it is therefore inevitable to identify as well as quantify all species separately. To cope with the separation of metal pyrithione species with minimum species transformation during analysis, a capillary electrophoresis (CE)–based method was developed. The hyphenation of CE with selective electrospray ionization- and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ESI-, ICP-MS) provided complementary molecular and elemental information for the identification and quantification of pyrithione species. To study speciation of pyrithiones, a leaching experiment of several commercial antifouling paints containing zinc pyrithione in ultrapure and river water was conducted. Only the two species pyrithione (HPT) and dipyrithione ((PT)2) were found in the leaching media, in concentrations between 0.086 and 2.4 μM (HPT) and between 0.062 and 0.59 μM ((PT)2), depending on the paint and leaching medium. The limits of detection were 20 nM (HPT) and 10 nM ((PT)2). The results show that complementary CE-MS is a suitable tool for mechanistical studies concerning species transformation (e.g., degradation) and the identification of target species of metal pyrithione complexes in real surface water matrices, laying the ground for future environmental studies.
A fast and simple method for sulfur quantification in crude oils was developed by using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). For this, heavy crude oil samples were prepared as microemulsion (shake) and injected into a graphite furnace (shut). Finally, the concentration of sulfur was determined by monitoring in situ the transient molecular spectrum of GeS at wavelength 295.205nm after adding a germanium solution as molecular forming agent (and go). Zirconium dioxide in the form of nanoparticles (45–55nm) was employed as a permanent modifier of the graphite furnace. Calibration was done with an aqueous solution standard of ammonium sulfate, and a characteristic mass (m0) of 7.5ng was achieved. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated analizing, ten heavy crude oil samples with Sulfur amounts ranging between 0.3 and 4.5% as well as two NIST standard reference materials, 1620c and 1622e. Results were compared with those obtained by routine ICP-OES analysis, and no statistical relevant differences were found.
The large number of nanomaterial-based applications emerging in the materials and life sciences and the foreseeable increasing use of these materials require methods that evaluate and characterize the toxic potential of these nanomaterials to keep safety risks to people and environment as low as possible. As nanomaterial toxicity is influenced by a variety of parameters like size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry, high throughput screening (HTS) platforms are recommended for assessing cytotoxicity. Such platforms are not yet available for genotoxicity testing. Here, we present first results obtained for application-relevant nanomaterials using an automatable genotoxicity platform that relies on the quantification of the phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) for detecting DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and the automated microscope system AKLIDES® for measuring integral fluorescence intensities at different excitation wavelengths. This platform is used to test the genotoxic potential of 30 nm-sized citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as well as micellar encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeOx-NPs) and different cadmium (Cd)-based semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), thereby also searching for positive and negative controls as reference materials. In addition, the influence of the QD shell composition on the genotoxic potential of these Cd-based QDs was studied, using CdSe cores as well as CdSe/CdS core/shell and CdSe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs. Our results clearly revealed the genotoxicity of the Au-NPs and its absence in the FeOx-NPs. The genotoxicity of the Cd-QDs correlates with the shielding of their Cd-containing core, with the core/shell/shell architecture preventing genotoxicity risks. The fact that none of these nanomaterials showed cytotoxicity at the chosen particle concentrations in a conventional cell viability assay underlines the importance of genotoxicity studies to assess the hazardous potential of nanomaterials.
The knowledge of transformation pathways and identification of transformation products (TPs) of veterinary drugs is important for animal health, food, and environmental matters. The active agent Monensin (MON) belongs to the ionophore antibiotics and is widely used as a veterinary drug against coccidiosis in broiler farming. However, no electrochemically (EC) generated TPs of MON have been described so far. In this study, the online coupling of EC and mass spectrometry (MS) was used for the generation of oxidative TPs. EC-conditions were optimized with respect to working electrode material, solvent, modifier, and potential polarity. Subsequent LC/HRMS (liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry) and MS/MS experiments were performed to identify the structures of derived TPs by a suspected target analysis. The obtained EC-results were compared to TPs observed in metabolism tests with microsomes and hydrolysis experiments of MON.
Five previously undescribed TPs of MON were identified in our EC/MS based study and one TP, which was already known from literature and found by a microsomal assay, could be confirmed.
Two and three further TPs were found as products in microsomal tests and following hydrolysis, respectively. We found decarboxylation, O-demethylation and acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions to be the major mechanisms of MON transformation.
The most challenging part in performing a single cell ICP-MS (sc-ICP-MS) approach is the sample preparation, in particular the reduction of the ionic background. This step is, in many cases, time-consuming and required for each sample separately. Furthermore, sc-ICP-MS measurements are mostly carried out "manually", given the fact that present systems are not allowing for an automated change of samples. Thus, within this work, we developed an approach based on a HPLC system coupled on-line with sc-ICP-MS via a set of switching valves as well as an in-line filter for automated cell washing. This set-up enables the ionic background removal as well as analysis of single cells completely automated without any manual sample pretreatment. Our approach was applied for the analysis of the single celled diatom species Cyclotella meneghiniana, a marine diatom species, on the basis of Mg24 and facilitates testing in 11 min per sample, requiring only around 10,000 cells in a volume of 10 µL and approx. 10 mL of a 5% MeOH/95% deionized water (v/v) mixture. Even at extremely saline culturing media concentrations (up to 1000 mg L-1 magnesium) our on-line approach worked sufficiently allowing for distinction of ionic and particulate fractions. Furthermore, a set of diatom samples was analyzed completely automated without the need for changing samples manually. So, utilizing this approach enables analyzing a high quantity of samples in a short time and therefore in future the investigation of ecotoxicological effects is simplified for example in terms of metal accumulation by taking biovariability into account.
The total petrol hydrocarbon (TPH) content in soil is determined by gas chromatographic separation and flame ionisation detection according to ISO 16703 in routine laboratories for about 20 years. The development of the interlaboratory variability observed with this analytical procedure over 15 years in a proficiency testing scheme conducted annually with more than 170 participants is evaluated in detail. A significant improvement of the reproducibility standard deviation among participants is observed over the years and attributed to an increasing familiarity with the procedure. Nevertheless, the determination of TPH in the environmentally relevant mass fraction range between 500 mg/kg and 10 000 mg/kg in soils or sediments is far from reaching the reproducibility standard deviations predicted by the Horwitz curve. It is seen that laboratories with sporadic participation tend to report higher bias, while a core group of laboratories participating on a regular basis arrived at reproducibility standard deviations below 20 %. Results from a given laboratory obtained on two different samples tend to be highly correlated in the same PT round indicating a sound repeatability. Expectedly, the within-laboratory correlation between results from consecutive rounds was considerably lower. However, results from consecutive rounds with a temporal distance of 1, 2 or 3 years revealed largely similar correlations which suggests that the within-laboratory reproducibility adjusts to a constant level at least after a period of 1 year.
Microplastics can affect biophysical properties of the soil. However, little is known about the cascade of events in fundamental levels of terrestrial ecosystems, i.e., starting with the changes in soil abiotic properties and propagating across the various components of soil−plant interactions, including soil microbial communities and plant traits. We investigated here the effects of six different microplastics (polyester fibers, polyamide beads, and four fragment types: polyethylene, polyester terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene) on a broad suite of proxies for soil health and performance of spring onion (Allium fistulosum). Significant changes were observed in plant biomass, tissue elemental composition, root traits, and soil microbial activities. These plant and soil responses to microplastic exposure were used to propose a causal model for the mechanism of the effects. Impacts were dependent on particle type, i.e., microplastics with a shape similar to other natural soil particles elicited smaller differences from control. Changes in soil structure and water dynamics may explain the observed results in which polyester fibers and polyamide beads triggered the most pronounced impacts on plant traits and function. The findings reported here imply that the pervasive microplastic contamination in soil may have consequences for plant performance and thus for agroecosystems and terrestrial biodiversity.
The development of an automated miniaturized analytical system that allows for the rapid monitoring of carbamazepine (CBZ) levels in serum and wastewater is proposed. Molecular recognition of CBZ was achieved through its selective interaction with microbeads carrying anti-CBZ antibodies. The proposed method combines the advantages of the micro-bead injection spectroscopy and of the flow-based platform lab-on-valve for implementation of automatic immunosorbent renewal, rendering a new recognition surface for each sample. The sequential (or simultaneous) perfusion of CBZ and the horseradish peroxidase-labelled CBZ through the microbeads is followed by real-time on-column Monitoring of substrate (3,30,5,50-tetramethylbenzidine) oxidation by colorimetry. The evaluation of the initial oxidation rate and also the absorbance value at a fixed time point provided a linear response versus the logarithm of the CBZ concentration. Under the selected assay conditions, a single analysis was completed after only 11 min, with a quantification range between 1.0 and 50 µg L⁻¹. Detection of CBZ levels in undiluted wastewater samples was feasible after a simple filtration step while good recoveries were attained for spiked certified human serum, analyzed without sample clean-up.
The efficiency, relatively low cost and eco-friendly nature of hydrogen peroxide-assisted photocatalysis treatment procedures are significant advantages over conventional techniques for wastewater remediation. Herein, we evaluate the behaviour of g-cyclodextrin (g-CD) immobilised on either bare or chitosan (CS)–functionalised Fe3O4 nanoparticles, for photodegrading Bisphenol A (BPA) in ultrapure water and in real wastewater samples. The BPA removal efficiencies with Fe3O4/g-CD and Fe3O4/CS/g-CD were compared with those of Fe3O4/b-CD, and were monitored under UVA irradiation at near-neutral pH. The addition of H2O2 at low concentrations (15 mmol L-1) significantly increased BPA photodegradation in the presence of each nanocomposite. The highest catalytic activity was shown by both Fe3O4/g-CD and Fe3O4/CS/g-CD nanocomposites (,60 and 27%BPA removal in ultrapure water and real wastewater effluent, respectively). Our findings reveal the superior performance of g-CD-functionalised Fe3O4 relative to that of Fe3O4/b-CD. The use of CD-based nanocomposites as photocatalytic materials could be an attractive option in the pre- or post-treatment stage of wastewaters by advanced oxidation processes before or after biological treatment.
Gallium – a versatile element for tuning the photoluminescence properties of InP quantum dots
(2019)
With the goal to tune the emission properties of colloidal InP quantum dots, the incorporation of Ga was explored. Unexpectedly, depending on the nature of the gallium precursor, the photoluminescence shifted either to the red (gallium oleate) or to the blue (gallium acetylacetonate). In the first case, larger-sized InP/GaP core/shell nanocrystals were formed, while in the second case the formation of an InGaP alloy structure enabled the blue range of emission (475 nm) to be accessed.
Aldehyde moieties on 2D-supports or microand nanoparticles can function as anchor groups for the attachment of biomolecules or as reversible binding sites for proteins on cell surfaces. The use of aldehyde-based materials in bioanalytical and medical settings calls for reliable methods to detect and quantify this functionality. We report here on a versatile concept to quantify the accessible aldehyde moieties on particle surfaces through the specific binding and subsequent release of small reporter molecules such as fluorescent dyes and nonfluorescent chromophores utilizing acylhydrazone formation as a reversible covalent labeling strategy. This is representatively demonstrated for a set of polymer microparticles with different aldehyde labeling densities. Excess reporter molecules can be easily removed by washing, eliminating inaccuracies caused by unspecific adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces. Cleavage of hydrazones at acidic pH assisted by a carbonyl trap releases the fluorescent reporters rapidly and quasi-quantitatively and allows for their fluorometric detection at low concentration. Importantly, this strategy separates the signal-generating molecules from the bead surface. This circumvents common issues associated with light scattering and signal distortions that are caused by binding-induced changes in reporter fluorescence as well as quenching dye−
dye interactions on crowded particle surfaces. In addition, we demonstrate that the release of a nonfluorescent chromophore via disulfide cleavage and subsequent quantification by absorption spectroscopy gives comparable results, verifying that both assays
are capable of rapid and sensitive quantification of aldehydes on microbead surfaces. These strategies enable a quantitative
comparison of bead batches with different functionalization densities, and a qualitative prediction of their coupling efficiencies in bioconjugations, as demonstrated in reductive amination reactions with Streptavidin.
Draft standards for the determination of organic pollutants in the solid matter of environmental matrices such as sludge, treated biowaste and soil have been basically developed in the framework of the European standardization project HORIZONTAL. A research project financed by the German Federal Environment Agency was initiated to finalize some of these CEN standard drafts, since fully validated standard procedures are crucial for the evaluation of their reliability in the context of implementation in legislation on environmental health.
Approach: Appropriate test materials (< 2mm particle size) were prepared and homogenized from contaminated soils, sludge and treated biowaste containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, furans and dioxin-like-PCB and served, along with reference solutions, as the basis for international interlaboratory comparisons. Performance data of three analytical standard procedures were obtained by the statistical evaluation of results received from 11 to 29 participants per test material.
Results: The overall variation coefficients of reproducibility (between-lab standard deviations) for the sum parameters were roughly between 10 and 35 %. The variation coefficients of repeatability (within-lab standard deviations) range between 3 % and 8 % and show no trend considering the substance groups or matrices.
The highest coefficients of reproducibility were found for the analysis of PAHs, which were between 26 and 35 %, depending on the matrix, whereas 7-17 % reproducibility was observed for toxicity equivalents (TEQ) comprising dioxins, furans and dl-PCB.
Conclusions: Overall, the results confirm that the procedures described in the Technical Specifications are fit for purpose for all three matrices and that the feasibility of the HORIZONTAL approach, to cover several matrices with one standard per analyte, was thereby proven.
Gasoline adulteration is a frequent problem world-wide, because of the chance of quick, maximized profits. However, addition of cheaper ethanol or hydrocarbons like kerosene does not only result in economic damage but also poses problems for vehicles and the environment. To enable law enforcement forces, customers or enterprises to uncover such a fraudulent activity directly upon suspicion and without the need to organize for sampling and laboratory analysis, we developed a simple strip-based chemical test. Key to the favorable performance was the dedicated materials tailoring, which led to test strips that consisted of a cellulose support coated with silica, passivated with hexamethyldisilazane and functionalized covalently with a molecular probe. The probe fluoresces brightly across a broad solvent polarity range, enabling reliable quantitative measurements and data analysis with a conventional smartphone. The assays showed high reproducibility and accuracy, allowing not only for the detection of gasoline adulteration but also for the on-site monitoring of the quality of commercial E10 gasoline.