Structural investigations of molecular solutes within nanostructured ionic liquids.

Ionic liquids (ILs) containing sufficiently long alkyl chains form amphiphilic nanostructures with well-defined polar and non-polar domains. Here we have explored the robustness of these amphiphilic nanostructures to added solutes and gained insight into how the nature of the solute and IL ions affect the partitioning of these solutes within the nanostructured domains of ILs. To achieve this, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) investigations were performed and discussed for mixtures of 9 different molecular compounds with 6 different ILs containing imidazolium cations.

Validation and application of a modified QuEChERS method for extracting neonicotinoid residues from New Zealand maize field soil reveals their persistence at nominally hazardous concentrations.

The widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides is controversial due to their persistence in the environment and concern for the long-term consequences of their use. We present a simple, low-cost method for the sensitive and efficient extraction from soil of thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid, the three neonicotinoid insecticides approved in New Zealand as seed coatings. We have validated this method by applying it to uncontaminated soil samples spiked with environmentally relevant concentrations of the three targets.

Leaf Stable Isotope and Nutrient Status of Temperate Mangroves As Ecological Indicators to Assess Anthropogenic Activity and Recovery from Eutrophication.

We measured nitrogen stable isotope values (δN), and total phosphorus (%P) and total nitrogen (%N) contents in leaves of the temperate mangrove ( sp. ) from three coastal ecosystems exposed to various levels of human impact (Manukau, high; Mangawhai, low; and Waitemata, intermediate) in northern New Zealand. We measured δN values around 10‰ in environments where the major terrestrial water inputs are sewage.