Photochemical mobilization of dissolved hydrocarbon oxidation products from petroleum contaminated soil into a shallow aquifer activate human nuclear receptors.

Elevated non-volatile dissolved organic carbon (NVDOC) concentrations in groundwater (GW) monitoring wells under oil-contaminated hydrophobic soils originating from a pipeline rupture at the National Crude Oil Spill & Natural Attenuation Research Site near Bemidji, MN are documented. We hypothesized the elevated NVDOC is comprised of water-soluble photooxidation products transported from the surface to the aquifer. We use field and laboratory samples in combination with complementary analytical methods to test this hypothesis and determine the biological response to these products.

Ultrahigh performance LC/FT-MS non-targeted screening for biomass burning organic aerosol with MZmine2 and MFAssignR.

In recent years, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LC/FT-MS) based non-targeted screening (NTS) methods have become increasingly popular for comprehensive analysis of complex organic mixtures. However, applying these methods for environmental complex mixture analysis is challenging due to the extreme complexity of natural samples and a lack of standard samples or surrogates for environmental complex mixtures. Furthermore, limited molecular markers in the databases and insufficient data processing software workflows make the application of these methods more challenging for environmental complex mixtures.

Impacts of Nutrients on Alkene Biodegradation Rates and Microbial Community Composition in Enriched Consortia from Natural Inocula.

There is a growing need for biological and chemical methods for upcycling plastic waste streams. Pyrolysis processes can accelerate plastic depolymerization by breaking polyethylene into smaller alkene components which may be more biodegradable than the initial polymer. While the biodegradation of alkanes has been extensively studied, the role microorganisms play in alkene breakdown is not well understood.

MFAssignR: Molecular formula assignment software for ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry analysis of environmental complex mixtures.

Ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry is widely used for nontargeted analysis of complex environmental and biological mixtures, such as dissolved organic matter, due to its unparalleled ability to provide accurate mass measurements. Accurate and efficient characterization of these mixtures is critical to being better able to evaluate their effect on human health and climate. This characterization requires accurate mass signals free from isobaric interferences, instrument noise, and mass measurement biases, allowing for molecular formula identification.

Measurement of cations, anions, and acetate in serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue by ion chromatography.

Accurate quantification of cations and anions remains a major diagnostic tool in understanding diseased states. The current technologies used for these analyses are either unable to quantify all ions due to sample size/volume, instrument setup/method, or are only able to measure ion concentrations from one physiological sample (liquid or solid). Herein, we adapted a common analytical chemistry technique, ion chromatography and applied it to measure the concentration of cations; sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (Na , K , Ca , and Mg ) and anions; chloride, and acetate (Cl , OAc) from physiological samples.