Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics for the Discrimination of Animal Hair Fibers for the Textile Sector.

Analyzing the composition of animal hair fibers in textiles is crucial for ensuring the quality of yarns and fabrics made from animal hair. Among others, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a technique that identifies vibrations associated with chemical bonds, including those found in amino acid groups. Cashmere, mohair, yak, camel, alpaca, vicuña, llama, and sheep hair fibers were analyzed via attenuated total reflection FT-IR (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques aiming at the discrimination among them to identify possible commercial frauds.

Application of Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction as a Green Method for the Analysis of 10 Anti-Diabetic Drugs in Environmental Water Samples.

Due to the increased prevalence of diabetes, the consumption of anti-diabetic drugs for its treatment has likewise increased. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that is commonly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes and has been frequently detected in surface water and wastewaters, thus representing an emerging contaminant. Metformin can be prescribed in combination with other classes of anti-diabetic drugs; however, these drugs are not sufficiently investigated in environmental samples.

From a glimpse into the key aspects of calibration and correlation to their practical considerations in chemical analysis.

In this tutorial review, we provide a guiding reference on the good practice in building calibration and correlation experiments, and we explain how the results should be evaluated and interpreted. The review centers on calibration experiments where the relationship between response and concentration is expected to be linear, although certain of the described principles of good practice can be applied to non-linear systems, as well. Furthermore, it gives prominence to the meaning and correct interpretation of some of the statistical terms commonly associated with calibration and regression.

Wax screen-printable ink for massive fabrication of negligible-to-nil cost fabric-based microfluidic (bio)sensing devices for colorimetric analysis of sweat.

Fabric-based microfluidic analytical devices (μADs) have emerged as a promising material for replacing paper μADs thanks to their superior properties in terms of stretchability, mechanical strength, and their wide scope of applicability in wearable devices or embedded in garments. The major obstacle in their widespread use is the lack of a technique enabling their massive fabrication at a negligible-to-nil cost. In response, we report the development of a wax ink with proper thixotropic and hydrophobic properties, fully compatible with automatic screen-printing that allows the one step massive fabrication of microfluidics on a cotton/elastane fabric, with a printing resolution 400 μm (hydrophilic channel) and 1000 μm (hydrophobic barrier), without being necessary any post curing.

Ecotoxicity and rapid degradation of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) subjected to combined vacuum UV and UV-C treatment.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in a palette of commercially available disinfectants, sanitizers, and biocides. QACs are widely used because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties but the ubiquitous uses have resulted in frequent detection in aquatic and terrestrial matrices including domestic wastewater, surface waters, urban soils and sediments. An increased domestic QACs consumption has increased the environmental occurrence, and investigation of mitigation methods and effects on non-target organisms are in demand.