Cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione as a derivatizing agent for the analysis of aldehydes by micelar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array detection

Aldehydes are important compounds in a large number of samples, especially food and beverages. In this work, for the first time, cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione (CHD) was used as a derivatizing reagent aiming aldehyde (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and valeraldehyde) analysis by MEKC‐DAD. The optimized separation of the derivates was performed using a voltage program (+20 kV, 0–15 min.; +23 kV, 15–17 min.) at a temperature of 26°C, and using as the running buffer a mixture containing 100 mmol/L of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 29 mmol/L of sodium tetraborate at pH 9.2, with maximum absorbance at 260 nm. CHD was compared with two other derivatizing agents: 3‐methyl‐2‐benzothiazolinone hydrazone and phenylhydrazine‐4‐sulfonic acid. The CHD‐aldehyde derivatives were also characterized by LC‐MS. The calibration curves for all aldehydes had r² above 0.999 and LODs ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 mg/L. The optimized methodology was applied in sugar cane brandy (cachaça) samples successfully. CHD showed to be an alternative derivatization reagent due to its stability, aqueous solubility, high selectivity and sensitivity, reduced impurities, and simple preparation steps.     

Determination of nitrofuran and chloramphenicol residues by high resolution mass spectrometry versus tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography based method, coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS), was developed to permit the detection and quantification of various nitrofuran and chloramphenicol residues in a number of animal based food products. This method is based on the hydrolysis of covalently bound metabolites and derivatization with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde. Clean-up is achieved by a liquid/liquid and a reversed phase/solid phase extraction. Not only are the four conventional nitrofurans (nitrofurantoin, furazolidone, nitrofurazone and furaltadone) detected, but also nifursol, nitrovin and nifuroxazide. Furthermore, an underivatizable nitrofuran (nifurpirinol) and another banned drug (chloramphenicol) can be quantified as well. The compounds are detected in the form of their precursor ions, [M + H]⁺ and [M − H]⁻, respectively. The mass resolving power of 70,000 FWHM, and the applied mass window ensure sufficient selectivity and sensitivity. Confirmation is obtained by monitoring the HRMS resolved product ions which were derived from the unit-mass resolved precursor ions. The multiplexing capability of the utilized Orbitrap instrument provides not only highly selective, but also sensitive confirmatory signals. This method has been validated according to the CD 2002/657/EC for the following matrices: muscle, liver, kidney, fish, honey, eggs and milk.     

表面增强拉曼光谱在食源性致病微生物检测中的应用研究

食源性致病微生物导致的食源性疾病已成为全球化的公共卫生问题。快速、有效地检测食源性致病微生物是实现食源性疾病预防与控制的关键环节，也是保障食品安全的技术关键。表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)具有简单、快速、灵敏度高等优点，在食品安全、生物医学、环境监控等领域展现出良好的应用前景。介绍了近年来SERS在食源性致病微生物检测中的应用研究进展。对SERS技术概况、SERS增强理论及SERS增强基底进行了简要介绍，重点回顾了SERS在食源性致病微生物检测中的应用和发展现状。在食品安全分析方面，利用SERS与模式识别方法相结合对食品中常见食源性致病微生物能实现快速、有效鉴别，部分研究已应用于不同食品样品的分析，体现了SERS作为“指纹图谱”的分析优势；在医学诊断方面，SERS可对病理样品(如血液、尿液等)中食源性致病微生物进行快速检测，缩短了样本分析时间，使食源性疾病的快速诊断成为可能；随着微流控技术的发展，微流控平台结合SERS技术被称为“芯片实验室”应用于食源性致病微生物的检测，可提高分析的可控性，稳定性，特异性和灵敏度。通过对比分析，发现不同研究可采用不同分离方法、不同基底、不同目标捕获方式等实现了食源性致病微生物的检测，展示了不同方法间的差异性。已有研究表明了SERS在食源性致病微生物检测中应用可克服传统方法耗时等缺点，实现灵敏快速分析，为食品安全实时监控，食源性疾病即时诊断提供了有效的分析工具。同时，指出了SERS技术应用于食源性致病微生物分析依然面临很大挑战，(1)大多数研究并没有聚焦于实际样品，而标准培养液和实际样品的SERS检测存在较大差异，实际样品组分会对SERS响应产生干扰；(2)不同方法结果有较大差异，主要是由于纳米增强基底差异，吸附方式原理的差异，稳定性的差异等，因此需要更多深入研究进一步优化条件；(3)期望建立标准化的SERS方法替代传统技术，充分展示SERS作为新兴分析工具快速、灵敏、简捷的优势应用于食品安全，医学诊断等领域。将来，随着研究的深入及相关学科的发展，SERS作为极具潜力的快速分析工具，将在食品安全，生物医学等领域具有更广阔的应用前景。     

Recent breakthroughs of antibacterial and antiviral protective polymeric materials during COVID-19 pandemic and after pandemic: Coating,packaging, and textile applications

The global epidemic owing to COVID-19 has generated awareness to ensuring best practices for avoiding the microorganism spread. Indeed, because of the increase in infections caused by bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the global demand for antimicrobial materials is growing. New technologies by using polymeric systems are of great interest. Virus transmission by contaminated surfaces leads to the spread of infectious diseases, so antimicrobial coatings are significant in this regard. Moreover, antimicrobial food packaging is beneficial to prevent the spread of microorganisms during food processing and transportation. Furthermore, antimicrobial textiles show an effective role. We aim to provide a review of prepared antimicrobial polymeric materials for use in coating, food packaging, and textile during the COVID-19 pandemic and after pandemic.     

Full physicochemical characterization of malic acid: Emphasis in the potential as food ingredient and application in pectin gels

Malic acid, a carboxylic acid most found in fruits, is a smooth taste substance used as flavoring and preservative agent in foods, although not as used as citric acid. There are no studies focusing in quantitative results or investigations on its physicochemical properties, useful to the food industry, or even the confirmation of its calcium chelating, buffer texturizer and antioxidant alleged properties. Thus, the aim of this work was the assessment of most physicochemical properties of malic acid, solid and in solution, that could be useful to the food industry understand its real potential. The following analyses were carried out: melting point; structure (NMR, XRD, FTIR and SEM/EDS); TGA/DTG; solubility, hygroscopicity; antioxidant activity, iron chelating and antibacterial activities and stability of pectin gels. The melting temperature found was 129.71 °C. TGA/DTG exhibited first loss of mass around 140 °C. In the temperature range of 10 to 55 °C, it exhibited a high solubility in water, from 48.12 to 61.49 (100w), respectively. The tested bacteria, related to food spoilage, were inhibited by DL-malic acid 10% or higher. Chelating and antioxidant activities showed expressive results even in 1% solution. Pectin gels with malic acid had stronger structure and less syneresis than citric acid gels. In addition, calcium chelating, buffer texturizer and antioxidant properties were confirmed. Thus, malic acid has potential to be applied in a wide variety of food products as fortified beverages, frozen and refrigerated items, oils, pectin gels, hard and soft candies, and biofilms, due to all the characteristics quantified.     

光电化学技术应用于抗氧化分析的研究进展

在新陈代谢过程中, 机体会产生大量以自由基为主要形式的氧化活性物质, 而抗氧化剂可以通过电子转移的方式捕获并中和自由基, 从而有效抵御自由基引起的细胞损害, 以保障和维护人体健康. 食品作为人体外源性抗氧化剂的重要来源可以有效补充因体内代谢及体液排出而损失的抗氧化物质, 因此对食品中抗氧化物质消除自由基的能力即抗氧化能力的测定和评价具有重要意义. 光电化学技术作为一种简单快捷、 低成本、 低背景且高灵敏度的测定方法, 能够有效克服光学法、 色谱法和电化学法等传统测试手段在抗氧化容量分析中的不足. 本文综述了基于半导体及其复合材料的光电化学传感平台的构建及食品体系抗氧化容量分析的研究进展, 评论了多种检测体系的特点并对其研究前景进行了展望.     

Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods: Part II

This is the part II of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS–MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the “conventional” detectors). The Part II starts with briefly introducing the main quantitation methods and then addresses the performance related to quantification: linearity of signal, sensitivity, precision, trueness, accuracy, stability and measurement uncertainty. The last section is devoted to practical considerations in validation. With every performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to handle it, specifically in the case of LC–MS methods.     

Column preconcentration and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of rhodium in some food and standard samples

In the present work, an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of ultra‐trace amounts of rhodium after adsorption of its 2‐(5‐bromo‐2‐pyridylazo)‐5‐diethylaminophenol/tetraphenylborate ion associated complex at the surface of alumina. Several factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as the pH, type of eluent, sample and eluent flow rates, sorption capacity of alumina and sample volume were investigated and optimized. The relative standard deviation for eight measurements of 0.1 ng/mL of rhodium was ±6.3%. In this method, the detection limit was 0.003 ng/mL in the original solution. The sorption capacity of alumina and the linear range for Rh(III) were evaluated as 0.8 mg/g and 0.015–0.45 ng/mL in the original solution, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of rhodium content in some food and standard samples with high recovery values.     

Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Thiabendazole in Fruits Using Ag−MoS2 Electrode

Herein, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) modified MoS₂ (Ag−MoS₂) was applied to the surface of glassy carbon (GC) to produce a robust electrochemical sensor for the detection of thiabendazole, a common antifungal in the post-harvesting of fruits. Cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed thiabendazole exhibited an irreversible, diffusion-controlled process on Ag−MoS₂ with a two-fold increase in peak current than the pristine MoS_2. A square wave voltammetry was used for the detection of TBZ. The developed sensor exhibited a linear range between 1–10 μM with LOD down to 0.1 μM (S/N>3). Analysis of TBZ in mango and banana matrices gave a recovery of 91.6–100.4 % indicating the suitability of the sensor for food safety monitoring.