Determination of the most informative chemical elements for discrimination of rice samples according to the producing region.

Several approaches to assess the authenticity of food products have been developed, given that fraudulent products may impact consumers' confidence, affect commercial trades and lead to health risks. This paper proposes an approach to identify the chemical elements that optimally discriminate rice samples according to their producing region in the South of Brazil, the largest rice producer outside Asia. A combinatorial procedure on the concentration of 26 elements determined using inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and liquid chromatography hyphenated with ICP-MS from 640 rice samples was coupled with Support Vector Machine.

Effects of LaO nanoparticles and bulk-LaO on the development of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen and respective nutrient element concentration.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been progressively applied in the last decades, which may impact the environment. Synthesis of pigments, growing, and nutrient element uptake by plants can also be affected by NPs. The influence of lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (LaO NPs) on growth, pigment synthesis, and nutrient element uptake by Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.

Methodology for elemental analysis of a mineral fertilizer, some of its raw materials and limestone using microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP OES).

The elemental analysis of complex matrices such as superphosphate-fertilizers and agricultural inputs by means of microwave-induced plasma optical emission has been evaluated in the present study. A commercial single superphosphate-fertilizer and three certified reference materials - CRMs (multi-nutrient, phosphate rock and dolomitic limestone) were analysed. Samples were submitted for three different analyte extraction or decomposition procedures; microwave assisted digestion (MAD), extraction by heating on a metallic plate and ultrasound assisted extraction (US).

Arsenic speciation analysis in rice milk using LC-ICP-MS.

The consumption of rice milk has increased, mainly by individuals intolerant to lactose or allergic to cow milk. However, rice milk contains As. In this sense, the concentration of As in rice milk should be controlled.

Bioimaging Metallomics.

This chapter focuses on bioimaging in metallomics, which involves metal and metalloids distribution in animal tissues. It starts with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry followed by secondary ion mass spectrometry, synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence, and electron microscopy, including transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The basic principles of these techniques and their application for qualitative and quantitative imaging of elements are presented.

Toxic and nutrient elements in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis).

Toxic and nutrient elements were investigated in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) from South America. Fifty-four brands of commercialised yerba mate from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were analysed for Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Sr, and Zn, using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and Li, Be, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Co, As, Se, Rb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, La, Ce, Pb, Bi and U using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Antimony, Se, Ag and Bi were not detected in any sample whereas the limits of detection (LODs) of these elements were 0.

Authentication of yerba mate according to the country of origin by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) associated with chemometrics.

This study deals with the development of a method for classification of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) using attenuated total-reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and multivariate analysis. Fifty-four brands of yerba mate from southern South America were analysed in order to classify the commercialised yerba mate according to the respective country of yerba mate processing. The yerba mate was ground in a cryogenic mill, and the reflectance was directly measured in the region ranging from 4000 to 650 cm(-1).

Toxic and micronutrient elements in organic, brown and polished rice in Brazil.

Concentration levels of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl, Sn, Sb Co, Cu, Mn, Se, Zn, Cr, Ni and Mo in different types of rice cultivated in irrigated fields in Brazil were evaluated. Arsenic, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cu were found in higher concentrations in brown rice samples, suggesting the prevalence of these elements in the bran. Meanwhile, lower concentrations of Pb, Mo, Cr, Se and Co were found in parboiled rice.

Advantages and effects of nitrogen doping into the central channel of plasma in axially viewed-inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

The effects and benefits of N2 addition to the central channel of the ICP through the nebulizer gas used in ICP OES with axial view configuration were investigated in the present study. The N2 flow rate, nebulizer gas flow rate, RF power and sample uptake rate were evaluated and compared for two sample introduction systems (pneumatic nebulization/aerosol desolvation and conventional pneumatic nebulization). It was observed that N2 did not affect solution nebulization and aerosol transport but affects the ICP characteristics.

Lanthanides determination in red wine using ultrasound assisted extraction, flow injection, aerosol desolvation and ICP-MS.

This paper deals with the determination of the fourteen naturally occurring elements of the lanthanide series in red wine. Ultrasound (US) was used for sample preparation prior lanthanides determination using ICP-MS. Flow injection (FI) and pneumatic nebulization/aerosol desolvation were used for nebulization of aliquots of 50 μL of sample and its subsequent transportation to plasma.

Biomonitoring of essential and toxic metals in single hair using on-line solution-based calibration in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has been established as a powerful and sensitive surface analytical technique for the determination of concentration and distribution of trace metals within biological systems at micrometer spatial resolution. LA-ICP-MS allows easy quantification procedures if suitable standard references materials (SRM) are available. In this work a new SRM-free approach of solution-based calibration method in LA-ICP-MS for element quantification in hair is described.

Metal and hydrocarbon behavior in sediments from Brazilian shallow waters drilling activities using nonaqueous drilling fluids (NAFs).

The impact of drilling oil activities in the Brazilian Bonito Field/Campos Basin (Rio de Janeiro) shell drilling (300 m) using nonaqueous fluids (NAFs) was investigated with respect to Al, Fe, Mn, Ba, Co, Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, V, and aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in the sediment. Sampling took place in three different times during approximately 33 months. For the metals Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, V, and Zn, no significant variation was observed after drilling activities in most of the stations.

Determination of trace elements in paints by direct sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

A direct sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric (DS-GFAAS) method for the determination of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co and Cu in paints has been developed. Serigraphy, acrylic and tattoo paints were analysed. Approaches like pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, modifiers and sample mass introduced in the atomizer were studied.

Arsenic determination in marine sediment using ultrasound for sample preparation.

This work deals with As determination in marine sediment using ultrasound for sample preparation. It is shown that As can be quantitatively extracted from marine sediment using 20% (v/v) HCl and sonication. The slurry is centrifuged and the analyte is determined in the supernatant by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG AAS).

Determination of titanium and vanadium in Ziegler-Natta catalysts by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

A method for the determination of Ti and V using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP OES) in Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts is proposed. The concentrations of both Ti and V are efficiently determined after catalyst acid digestion with a mixture of HNO3 + HCl + HF and heating (160 degrees C for 6 h) or with 10% (v/v) H2SO4 and heating (160 degrees C for 6 h) or with 10% (v/v) H2SO4 and sonication (during 2 min). The V and Ti detection limits are 0.