[Exploration and practice of ideological and political education in instrumental analysis courses: a case study on chromatography course teaching].

Instrumental analysis is an important professional course for many chemistry majors. Its teaching content is rich, diverse and is closely related to daily life. Moreover, this course contains a large number of ideological and political resources. This study investigates chromatography technology in instrumental analysis as an example, focusing on aspects such as chromatography knowledge, solution preparation, standard operations, and guided experiments, to deeply explore the elements of ideological and political education and organically integrate them into the teaching of instrumental analysis courses. Academic teaching of professional knowledge increases the diversity and richness of the teaching content and enhances the innovative skills of the students. In addition, this teaching method can inspire students to establish life goals and great ideals, with the aim of ultimately cultivating moral people.

Analytical Methods for the Determination of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Solid and Liquid Environmental Matrices: A Review.

Among the various compounds regarded as emerging contaminants (ECs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are of particular concern. Their continuous release into the environment has a negative global impact on human life. This review summarizes the sources, occurrence, persistence, consequences of exposure, and toxicity of PPCPs, and evaluates the various analytical methods used in the identification and quantification of PPCPs in a variety of solid and liquid environmental matrices. The current techniques of choice for the analysis of PPCPs are state-of-the-art liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS2). However, the complexity of the environmental matrices and the trace levels of micropollutants necessitate the use of advanced sample treatments before these instrumental analyses. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) with different sorbents is now the predominant method used for the extraction of PPCPs from environmental samples. This review also addresses the ongoing analytical method challenges, including sample clean-up and matrix effects, focusing on the occurrence, sample preparation, and analytical methods presently available for the determination of environmental residues of PPCPs. Continuous development of innovative analytical methods is essential for overcoming existing limitations and ensuring the consistency and diversity of analytical methods used in investigations of environmental multi-class compounds.

Towards a greater understanding of the deep eutectic phenomenon through examination of the lidocaine-NSAID therapeutic deep eutectic systems.

Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (THEDES) have been attracting increasing attention in the pharmaceutical literature as a promising enabling technology capable of improving physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties for difficult-to-deliver drug compounds. The current literature has explored amide local anaesthetics and carboxylic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) as commonly used THEDES formers for their active hydrogen-bonding functionality. However, little is known about what happens within the "deep eutectic" region where a range of binary compositions present simply as a liquid with no melting events detectable across experimentally achievable conditions. There is also very limited understanding of how parent compounds' physicochemical properties could impact upon the formation, interaction mechanism, and stability of the formed liquid systems, despite the significance of these information in dose adjustment, industrial handling, and scaling-up of these liquids. In the current work, we probed the "deep eutectic" phenomenon by investigating the formation and physicochemical behaviours of some chosen lidocaine-NSAID systems across a wide range of composition ratios. Our data revealed that successfully formed THEDES exhibited composition dependent Tg variations with strong positive deviations from predicted Tg values using the Gordon-Taylor theory, suggesting substantial interactions within the formed supramolecular structure. Interestingly, it was found that the parent compound's glass forming ability had a noticeable impact upon such profound interaction and hence could dictate the success of THEDES formation. It has also been confirmed that all successful systems were formed based on charge-assisted hydrogen bonding within their THEDES network, affirming the significant role of partial protonisation on achieving a profound melting point depression. More importantly, the work found that within the "deep eutectic" region there was still an ideal, or thermodynamically preferrable "THEDES point", which would exhibit excellent stability upon exposure to stress storage conditions. The discoveries of this study bring the literature one step closer to fully understanding the "therapeutic deep eutectic" phenomenon. Through correlation between parent reagents' physicochemical properties and the synthesised products' characteristics, we establish a more educated process for the prediction and engineering of THEDES.

GC-MS and ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometric Analysis for Detection and Quantification of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria) Essential Oils Adulteration.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> White turmeric essential oil (WTEO) is known to have high commercial value since it has been used to improve immunological function, increase blood circulation, ease toxin clearance and stimulate digestion. However, there is no standard to regulate the specific characteristics of white turmeric essential oil. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop an analytical technique for WTEO authentication from vegetable oils, namely palm oil (PO), coconut oil (VCO) and soybean oil (SO), using FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics, as well as GC-MS spectroscopy. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The WTEO was obtained by hydrodistillation method. Pure WTEO and vegetable oils were scanned in the MIR region (4000-650 cm¹) of FTIR spectroscopy and the spectra were further analyzed using chemometrics. <b>Results:</b> The extraction yielded 0.103% v/w WTEO, a dark purple color with a specific pungent odor. Discriminant analysis separated pure WTEO and adulterated WTEO with 100% accuracy at wave numbers 4000-650 cm¹. The best PLS regressions to quantify SO, VCO, PO and concentration in WTEO were at wave numbers 4000-1100, 1400-1050 and 2100-650 cm¹, respectively. <b>Conclusion:</b> The FTIR and chemometrics combination effectively authenticates white turmeric essential oil from any possible adulterants, such as vegetable oil.

A Review of Advances in Bioanalytical Methods for the Detection and Quantification of Olanzapine and Its Metabolites in Complex Biological Matrices.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that significantly affects the social and professional life of patients, causing distortion of reality and loss of identity and cognitive abilities. Psychopharmacological treatment is an integral part of modern psychiatry, and the introduction of new "atypical" antipsychotic drugs has brought significant progress in the treatment of this disorder. One of these drugs is olanzapine, which has an effective effect on the productive symptoms of schizophrenia while having an almost minimal potential to cause extrapyramidal syndrome. However, its effectiveness is confronted with frequent side effects, referred to as "metabolic disorders". Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness of treatment and to minimize the side effects caused by olanzapine, it is recommended to monitor the drug level during therapy. This article reviews the bioanalytical methodologies that enable efficient extraction and sensitive analysis of olanzapine. We considered the advantages and disadvantages of different sample pretreatment methods, including traditional and novel strategies. The analytical conditions required for the separation and detection of olanzapine and its metabolites were analyzed using chromatographic methods combined with various detectors.

Hair fixative traces on footwear - Establishing a link between footwear and the victim's hair after kicks to the head.

Kicking a person laying on the floor in the head is a crime whose forensic investigation could profit from additional microtraces capable of linking a suspected footwear, and by extension its owner, to the victim and their injuries. The transfer of hair fixatives (hair gel, hair wax, hair spray, hair foam, etc.) represents such a trace and was consequently practically evaluated throughout this study. This study consists of two parts: The first part, the differentiation study, encompasses the visual, and instrumental analysis of a variety of different hair fixatives to determine their analysability and differentiation potential. The visual examination was conducted using alternate light sources and filter lenses. Subsequently, the instrumental analysis was carried out, whereby the focus lay on Fourier Transform Infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The second part is comprised of different experiments including a test-transfer and pendulum experiments to assess the process and the potential variables of the transfer of hair fixative traces between hair and fabric shoes during a kick. This helped to determine the effect of the kick strength and the behaviour of differing hair products. Retrieval methods to secure hair fixative traces of footwear and from the hair of a victim were developed. These were subsequently tested out on an acute case example..

Differentiating True and False Cinnamon: Exploring Multiple Approaches for Discrimination.

This study presents a comprehensive literature review that investigates the distinctions between true and false cinnamon. Given the intricate compositions of essential oils (EOs), various discrimination approaches were explored to ensure quality, safety, and authenticity, thereby establishing consumer confidence. Through the utilization of physical-chemical and instrumental analyses, the purity of EOs was evaluated via qualitative and quantitative assessments, enabling the identification of constituents or compounds within the oils. Consequently, a diverse array of techniques has been documented, encompassing organoleptic, physical, chemical, and instrumental methodologies, such as spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Electronic noses (e-noses) exhibit significant potential for identifying cinnamon adulteration, presenting a rapid, non-destructive, and cost-effective approach. Leveraging their capability to detect and analyze volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles, e-noses can contribute to ensuring authenticity and quality in the food and fragrance industries. Continued research and development efforts in this domain will assuredly augment the capacities of this promising avenue, which is the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in conjunction with spectroscopic data to combat cinnamon adulteration.

Optimization of biogas potential using kinetic models, response surface methodology, and instrumental evidence for biodegradation of tannery fleshings during anaerobic digestion.

The optimization of the batch size experiment was run for a hydraulic retention time of 45 days using proteolytic enzyme pretreatment. The highest amounts of biogas were produced in comparison to conventional BDS (25:75), which is not processed with enzymes, and there was an increase in the biogas generation of 13.9 and 18.57%. The kinetic models show the goodness of fit between 0.993 and 0.998 and the correlation coefficient's value domain was [-1, 1] from a statistical perspective. The Box-Behnken design was carried out using the response surface methodology at different levels of independent parameters to optimize the process. Different instruments were evaluated to determine the chemical structure change and the contamination of the different treatments and the raw sample of tannery fleshings was determined. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to determine the loss of weight on thermal degradation. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was carried out to determine the different functional groups, such as -OH, -CH, -NH, and C-O, present in the samples of tannery fleshings. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were carried out to determine the morphological alterations in the substrate, digestate, enzyme-pretreated fleshings, and the chemical composition of samples.

A novel approach for the fractionation of organic components and microbial degraders in ADM1 and model validation based on the methanogenic potential.

The anaerobic digestion model No 1 (ADM1), with fixed fractions of the substrate components, is currently used to simulate methane production during the anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste activated sludge (WAS). However, the goodness-of-fit for the simulation is not ideal due to the different characteristics of WAS from different regions. In this study, a novel methodology based on a modern instrumental analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for the fractionation of organic components and microbial degraders in the WAS is investigated to modify the fractions of the components in the ADM1. The combination of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses were used to achieve a rapid and accurate fractionation of the primary organic matters in the WAS that was verified using both the sequential extraction method and the excitation-emission matrix (EEM). The protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents in the four different sludge samples measured using the above combined instrumental analyses were 25.0 - 50.0%, 2.0 - 10.0%, and 0.9 - 2.3%. The microbial diversity based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was utilized to re-set the initial fractions of the microbial degraders in the ADM1. A batch experiment was utilized to further calibrate the kinetic parameters in the ADM1. Based on the above optimization of the stoichiometric and kinetic parameters, the ADM1 with full parameter modification for WAS (ADM1-FPM) simulated the methane production of the WAS very well with a Theil's inequality coefficient (TIC) of 0.049, which was increased by 89.8% than that of the default ADM1 fit. The proposed approach, with its rapid and reliable performance, demonstrated a strong application potential for the fractionation of organic solid waste and the modification of ADM1, which contributed to a better simulation of methane production during the AD of organic solid wastes.

Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents: A comprehensive review of their thermodynamics, microstructure and drug delivery applications.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are multicomponent liquids that are usually formed by coupling a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor leading to strong non-covalent (NC) intermolecular networking and profound depression in the melting point of the system. Pharmaceutically, this phenomenon has been exploited to improve drugs' physicochemical properties, with an established DES therapeutic subcategory, therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (THEDES). THEDES preparation is usually via straightforward synthetic processes with little involvement of sophisticated techniques, which, in addition to its thermodynamic stability, make these multi-component molecular adducts a very attractive alternative for drug enabling purposes. Other NC bonded binary systems (e.g., co-crystals and ionic liquids) are utilized in the pharmaceutical field for enhancing drug's behaviours. However, a clear distinction between these systems and THEDES is scarcely discussed in the current literature. Accordingly, this review provides a structure-based categorization for DES formers, a discussion of its thermodynamic properties and phase behaviour, and it clarifies the physicochemical and microstructure boundaries between DES and other NC systems. Additionally, a summary of its preparation techniques and their experimental conditions preparation is supplied. Instrumental analysis techniques can be used to characterize and differentiate DES from other NC mixtures, hence this review draws a road map to for this purpose. Since this work mainly focuses on pharmaceutical applications of DES, all types of THEDES including the highly discussed types (conventional, drugs dissolved in DES and polymer based) in addition to the less discussed categories are covered. Finally, the regulatory status of THEDES was investigated despite the current unclear situation.

Characterization and modelling of odor-active compounds release behavior from Fu-brick tea during boiling-water extraction by molecular sensory science approach.

The odor-active compounds in Fu-brick tea and their release behaviors during boiling-water were studied. Fifty-one odor-active compounds were identified, and their release behaviors were identified by continuously recovering 16 sections of condensed water combined with sensory, instrumental, and nonlinear curve fitting analysis. The odor intensities of condensed water and the concentrations of odor-active compounds could be significantly fitted (p < 0.01) to power-function type curves. Hydrocarbons showed the fastest release rate, while organic acids showed the slowest. The release rates had very little correlation with their concentrations, molecular weights, and boiling points. Most odor-active compounds (≥70 %) released need to evaporate more than 24 % of the added water during boiling-water extraction. Meanwhile, on the basis of odor activity value (OAV) calculation, the aroma recombination experiments were performed to explore the odor-active compounds that made major contributions to the formation of the aroma profile of each condensed water.

Analytical Methods for Nanomaterial Determination in Biological Matrices.

Nanomaterials are materials in which at least one of the three dimensions ranges from 1 to 100 nm, according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Nanomaterials can be categorized according to various parameters, such as their source, their shape, and their origin. Their increasing use in industrial settings, everyday items, electronic devices, etc. poses an environmental and biological risk that needs to be assessed and appropriately addressed. The development of reliable analytical methods for both characterization and quantification of nanomaterials in various matrices is essential. This review summarized the recent trends in analytical methodologies for the characterization and determination of nanoparticles in biological matrices.

Characteristics of Volcanic Tuff from Macicasu (Romania) and Its Capacity to Remove Ammonia from Contaminated Air.

In the present work, the capability of the volcanic tuff from Macicasu (Romania) to remove ammonia (NH3) from air with different contamination levels during 24 h of adsorption experiments was investigated. The natural zeolitic volcanic tuff was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The adsorption capacities varied between 0.022 mg NH3 g-1 zeolite and 0.282 mg NH3 g-1 zeolite, depending on the NH3 concentrations in the air and at the contact time. The nonlinear forms of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to fit the experimental data. Additionally, the adsorption of NH3 was studied using nonlinear pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), and Elovich kinetic model. Based on the total volume of pores of used volcanic tuff, the NH3 was removed from the air both due to the physical adsorption of NH3 gas and the ion exchange of NH4+ (resulted from a reaction between NH3 and H2O adsorbed by the zeolite). Depending on the initial NH3 concentration and the amount of volcanic tuff, the NH3 concentrations can be reduced below the threshold of this contaminant in the air. The adsorption capacity of NH3 per unit of zeolite (1 g) varied in the range of 0.022-0.282 mg NH3 g-1 depending on the NH3 concentration in the air.

Simultaneous Removal of Heavy Metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn and Pb) from Aqueous Solutions Using Thermally Treated Romanian Zeolitic Volcanic Tuff.

Increased concentrations of heavy metals in the environment are of public health concern, their removal from waters receiving considerable interest. The aim of this paper was to study the simultaneous adsorption of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn and Pb) from aqueous solutions using the zeolitic volcanic tuffs as adsorbents. The effect of thermal treatment temperature, particle size and initial metal concentrations on the metal ions sorption was investigated. The selectivity of used zeolite for the adsorption of studied heavy metals followed the order: Pb > Cr > Cu > Zn > Cd > Ni. The removal efficiency of the heavy metals was strongly influenced by the particle sizes, the samples with smaller particle size (0−0.05 mm) being more efficient in heavy metals removal than those with larger particle size (1−3 mm). Generally, no relevant changes were observed in heavy metals removal efficiency for the treatment temperatures of 200 °C and 350 °C. Moreover, at a higher temperature (550 °C), a decrease in the removal efficiencies was observed. The Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni sorption was best described by Langmuir model according to the high values of correlation coefficient. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model presented the best correlation of the experimental data.

Structure and properties of egg white protein films modified by high-intensity ultrasound: An effective strategy.

Edible films based on egg white protein (EWP) were prepared, and it were modified by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) to improve the functional properties. The findings indicated the properties of EWP films were improved at the appropriate time of HIUS treatment. With the increase of ultrasonic time, water vapor permeability (WVP) and tensile strength (TS) of EWP films ascended and then declined, and the best performance (3.30 g·mm/ m2·h·KPa for WVP, and 7.28 MPa for TS) was achieved when ultrasonic time was 10 min. Thermogravimetric analysis exhibited ultrasound could enhance the thermal stability of EWP films. The SEM reflected moderate ultrasonic treatment could make the EWP films smoother. The FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns of EWP films were changed by HIUS, which illustrated the secondary structure of the protein was altered. The transverse relaxation curve obtained by LF-NMR analysis showed the tightness between water and the films.

Instrumental and sensory techniques to characterize the texture of foods suitable for dysphagic people: A systematic review.

The interest to characterize texture-modified foods (TMFs) intended for people with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) has grown significantly since 2011. Several instrumental and sensory techniques have been applied in the analysis of these foods. The objective of the present systematic review was to identify the most appropriate techniques, especially for the food industry and clinical setting. The search was carried out in three online databases according to the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA). Across the multiple trials reviewed, Texture Profile Analysis and the Uniaxial Compression Test were most used as the instrumental technique for solid foods, and the Back Extrusion Test for fluid and semisolid foods. All trials used descriptive analysis as the sensory technique. However, the experimental conditions of the trials lacked standardization. Consequently, the results of the trials were not comparable. To properly characterize the texture of TMFs intended for OD by each technique, an international consensus is needed to establish standardized experimental conditions. Methods based on these techniques should also be validated by collaborative studies to verify repeatability, replicability, and reproducibility.

Characterization of odor-active compounds in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) leaf via gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactory-mass spectrometry, and electronic nose.

The leaf of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) is rich in odorant compounds, which is important natural materials for the production of flavor. It also contains phenolic acids, amino acids and peptides, which is a potential source of natural bioactive compounds. The study of odor-active compounds in bamboo leaves can provide a basis for the discovery of natural flavor. The leaf, stem, and powder of moso bamboo were analyzed by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). Main odor-active compounds in moso bamboo leaf were analyzed and characterized by (1) a gas chromatography olfactory mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS), (2) two-dimensional gas chromatography olfactory mass spectrometry (GC × GC-O-MS) and (3) electronic nose (E-nose). Based on aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), 13 key odor-active compounds with high flavor dilution (FD) factor (≥27), including 3-methyl-1-butanol, (E)-2-hexenal, ethyl hexanoate, (Z)-4-heptenenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, octanal, ethyl (Z)-3-hexenoate, 1-hexanol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal, (Z)-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-octen-3-ol and benzaldehyde, were further analyzed. The compounds detected by the above four methods were (E)-2-hexenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, octanal, (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal, 1-octen-3-ol and benzaldehyde, and all of which were the main and potential odorants of moso bamboo leaf.

Substances of emerging concern in Baltic Sea water: Review on methodological advances for the environmental assessment and proposal for future monitoring.

The Baltic Sea is among the most polluted seas worldwide. Anthropogenic contaminants are mainly introduced via riverine discharge and atmospheric deposition. Regional and international measures have successfully been employed to reduce concentrations of several legacy contaminants. However, current Baltic Sea monitoring programs do not address compounds of emerging concern. Hence, potentially harmful pharmaceuticals, UV filters, polar pesticides, estrogenic compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or naturally produced algal toxins are not taken into account during the assessment of the state of the Baltic Sea. Herein, we conducted literature searches based on systematic approaches and compiled reported data on these substances in Baltic Sea surface water and on methodological advances for sample processing and chemical as well as effect-based analysis of these analytically challenging marine pollutants. Finally, we provide recommendations for improvement of future contaminant and risk assessment in the Baltic Sea, which revolve around a combination of both chemical and effect-based analyses.

Identification techniques and detection methods of edible fungi species.

Edible fungi have high nutritional value and great potential. Confusion among edible fungi species, and foodborne diseases due to toadstool poisoning or death induced by inadvertent consumption exist across the world. Therefore, edible fungi must be accurately identified. Based on different substances in edible fungi, there are different detection methods, and the same method can use different identification technology. Sensory identification methods include morphological and odor methods. Instrumental analysis methods based on chemical composition include chromatographic, mass spectrometry and spectral technology. Molecular biology identification methods based on nucleic acids include molecular marker technology, sequencing technology, isothermal amplification technology and endogenous reference gene method. Method is channel, and technology is the means. The principles, advantages, disadvantages and applications of various identification techniques and detection methods were discussed in this work to provide reference for the identification research of edible fungi and technical support for preventing food safety incidents caused by toadstools.

Advances on the rapid and multiplex detection methods of food allergens.

With the gradually increasing prevalence of food allergy in recent years, food allergy has become a major public health problem worldwide. The clinical symptoms caused by food allergy seriously affect people's quality of life; there are unknown allergen components in novel food and hidden allergens caused by cross contamination in food processing, which pose a serious risk to allergy sufferers. Thus, rapid and multiplex detection methods are required to achieve on-site detection or examination of allergic components, so as to identify the risk of allergy in time. This paper reviews the progress of high-efficiency detection of food allergens, including enhanced traditional detection techniques and emerging detection techniques with the ability high-throughput detection or screening potential food allergen, such as xMAP, biosensors, biochips, etc. focusing on their sensitivity, applicability of each method in food, along with their pretreatment, advantages, limitation in the application of food analysis. This paper also introduces the challenges faced by these high-efficiency detection technologies, as well as the potential of customized allergen screening methods and rapid on-site detection technology as future research directions.