Large multiresidue analysis of pesticides in edible vegetable oils by using efficient solid-phase extraction sorbents based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe methodology followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The aim of this research was to adapt the QuEChERS method for routine pesticide multiresidue analysis in edible vegetable oil samples using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Several clean-up approaches were tested: (a) D-SPE with Enhanced Matrix Removal-Lipid (EMR-Lipid™); (b) D-SPE with PSA; (c) D-SPE with Z-Sep; (d) SPE with Z-Sep. Clean-up methods were evaluated in terms of fat removal from the extracts, recoveries and extraction precision for 213 pesticides in different matrices (soybean, sunflower and extra-virgin olive oil). The QuEChERS protocol with EMR-Lipid d-SPE provided the best reduction of co-extracted matrix compounds with the highest number of pesticides exhibiting mean recoveries in the 70-120% range, and the lowest relative standard deviations values (4% on average). A simple and rapid (only 5min) freeze-out step with dry ice (CO2 at -76°C) prior to d-SPE clean-up ensured much better removal of co-extracted matrix compounds in compliance of the necessity in routine analysis. Procedural Standard Calibration was established in order to compensate for recovery losses of certain pesticides and possible matrix effects. Limits of quantification were 10µgkg(-1) for the majority of the pesticides. The modified methodology was applied for the analysis of different 17 oil samples. Fourteen pesticides were detected with values lower than MRLs and their concentration ranged between 10.2 and 156.0µgkg(-1).

Application of the Doehlert design to optimize the signal obtained in photochemically induced fluorescence for the determination of eight phenylureas.

This work describes the optimization of a photochemically induced method for the detection of eight phenylureas has been developed by response surface methodology (RSM). These pesticides do not show native fluorescence but they were photolyzed into strongly fluorescent photoproducts under UV irradiation. The effect of the main variables affecting the yield of the photoderivatization reaction, and hence the fluorescence intensity, such as solvent, UV irradiation time and pH were optimized for each pesticide. A Doehlert design was applied in order to obtain maximum intensity fluorescence using response surface methodology. In general, a maximum was found for all pesticides using MeOH as organic solvent, except for diuron, whereas the effect of pH and irradiation time was different, according to each pesticide. Finally, the addition of beta-cyclodextrin upon the photochemically induced fluorescence intensity was investigate. The fluorescence intensity was only improved for monolinuron at a concentration of 4 x 10(-3) M of beta-cyclodextrin.

Catalytic degradation of high density polyethylene using zeolites.

Plastic wastes, which cause a serious environmental problem in urban areas, can serve as sources of energy. Catalytic treatment of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) has shown that the degradation of HDPE resulted in the production of a stream of gaseous hydrocarbons varied in the range C1-C8. The degradation was carried out using diluted forms of zeolites ZSM-5, USY and Mordenite (MORD) using a fluidized bed reactor (FBR). Effect of coke formation on the activity of the catalysts was screened by thermogravimetric (TGA). ZSM-5 showed a significant resistance to deactivation because of the nature of its small pore size compared with USY and MORD.