Complexation of silver and dissolved organic matter in soil water extracts.

An important aspect of the behaviour and fate of silver (Ag) in soils is the interaction with dissolved organic matter (DOM). The complexation and strength of binding of Ag(+) with DOM in soil water extracts was examined and modelled based on a range of chemical and quality DOM measurements. Silver ion binding measured by addition of the (110m)Ag radioisotope in addition to a cation exchange resin technique were used to determine strongly complexed Ag in solutions. Silver was found to be up to 70% strongly complexed. The variability in Ag(+) binding by DOM across different soils was closely related (R(2) = 0.8) to the mid-infrared spectra of these extracts. The affinity of Ag(+) for DOM was stronger in solutions containing a greater content of humic and aromatic structures. The ability of Ag(+) to complex with DOM could result in increased mobilisation of this metal in the soil environment.

Influence of the nature of soil organic matter on the sorption behaviour of pentadecane as determined by PLS analysis of mid-infrared DRIFT and solid-state 13C NMR spectra.

The nature of soil organic matter (SOM) functional groups associated with sorption processes was determined by correlating partitioning coefficients with solid-state (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and diffuse reflectance mid-infrared (DRIFT) spectral features using partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis. Partitioning sorption coefficients for n-pentadecane (n-C(15)) were determined for three alternative models: the Langmuir model, the dual distributed reactive domain model (DRDM) and the Freundlich model, where the latter was found to be the most appropriate. NMR-derived constitutional descriptors did not correlate with Freundlich model parameters. By contrast, PLS analysis revealed the most likely nature of the functional groups in SOM associated with n-C(15) sorption coefficients (K(F)) to be aromatic, possibly porous soil char, rather than aliphatic organic components for the presently investigated soils. High PLS cross-validation correlation suggested that the model was robust for the purpose of characterising the functional group chemistry important for n-C(15) sorption.

Use of direct headspace-mass spectrometry coupled with chemometrics to predict aroma properties in Australian Riesling wine.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of a direct headspace-mass spectrometry electronic nose instrument (MS e_nose) combined with chemometrics as rapid, objective and low cost technique to measure aroma properties in Australian Riesling wines. Commercial bottled Riesling wines were analyzed using a MS e_nose instrument and by a sensory panel. The MS e_nose data generated were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS1) regression using full cross validation (leave one out method). Calibration models between MS e_nose data and aroma properties were developed using partial least squares (PLS1) regression, yielding coefficients of correlation in calibration (R) and root mean square error of cross validation of 0.75 (RMSECV: 0.85) for estery, 0.89 (RMSECV: 0.94) for perfume floral, 0.82 (RMSECV: 0.62) for lemon, 0.82 (RMSECV: 0.32) for stewed apple, 0.67 (RMSECV: 0.99) for passion fruit and 0.90 (RMSECV: 0.86) for honey, respectively. The relative benefits of using MS e_nose will provide capability for rapid screening of wines before sensory analysis. However, the basic deficiency of this technique is lack of possible identification and quantitative determination of individual compounds responsible for the different aroma notes in the wine.

Prediction of atrazine sorption coefficients in soils using mid-infrared spectroscopy and partial least-squares analysis.

This study explored the potential of mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) with partial least-squares (PLS) analysis to predict sorption coefficients (Kd) of pesticides in soil. The MIR technique has the advantage of being sensitive to both the content and the chemistry of soil organic matter and mineralogy, the important factors in the sorption of nonionic pesticides. MIR spectra and batch Kd values of atrazine were determined on a set of 31 soil samples as reference data for PLS calibration. The samples, with high variability in soil organic carbon content (SOC), were chosen from 10 southern Australian soil profiles (A1, A2, B, and C in one case). PLS calibrations, developed for the prediction of Kd from the MIR spectra and reference Kd data, were compared with predictions from Koc-based indirect estimation using SOC content. The reference Kd data for the 31 samples ranged from 0.31 to 5.48 L/kg, whereas Koc ranged from 30 to 680 L/kg. Both coefficients generally increased with total SOC content but showed a relatively poor coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.53; P > 0.0001) and a high standard error of prediction (SEP =1.22) for the prediction of Kd from Koc. This poor prediction suggested that total SOC content alone could explain only half of the variation in Kd. In contrast, the regression plot of PLS predicted versus measured Kd resulted in an improved correlation, with R2 = 0.72 ( P > 0.0001) and standard error of cross-validation (SECV) = 0.63 for three PLS factors. With the advantages of MIR-PLS in mind, (i) more accurate prediction of Kd, (ii) an ability to reflect the nature and content of SOC as well as mineralogy, and (iii) high repeatability and throughput, it is proposed that MIR-PLS has the potential for an improved and rapid assessment of pesticide sorption in soils.