To Örebro University

Ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) is a widely used spice which beyond nutritional properties exhibit therapeutic properties. It is sold fresh or dried. In order to characterize this food more in detail, the content of 29 elements in ginger was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The either fresh or dry powdered products, were bought in (super)markets in Zagreb (Croatia) and Örebro (Sweden) in either loose form or packaged in plastic or glass. For analysis, all samples were dried and homogenised prior to digestion using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The content of metals and metalloids, grouped according to their orbitals (“block”) and definitions as “toxic”, bioavailability, and Geochem, was assessed. Most abundant element found in all samples was K (2940 mg/kg – 50500 mg/kg), followed by Mg (1080 mg/kg – 3680 mg/kg), Ca (786 mg/kg – 2240 mg/kg), Mn (18.6 mg/kg – 789 mg/kg), Na (52 mg/kg – 987 mg/kg), Al (6.09 mg/kg – 1070 mg/kg), and Fe (32.1 mg/kg – 779 mg/kg). Metals founds in the earth-crust are correlated in the ginger products, which suggests similar uptake pattern. Statistical analysis showed that the origin of the samples as well processing method (drying, grinding) have an impact on the elemental pattern in ginger, whilst no correlation between packaging material (none, glass, plastic) and elemental contents in the products was found.

Cerium is widely used as a modifier to enhance the catalytic performance of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts due to its exceptional low-temperature properties. However, the effects of different cerium precursors on catalytic performance remains unclear. In this study, VOx-WOx/TiO2 catalysts are modified using Ce(NO3)3·6H2O (cata-N), CeO2 (cata-O), and Ce(OH)4 (cata-OH), and their synergistic removal of NOx and chlorobenzene (CB), as well as their resistance to water and sulfur poisoning, were systematically investigated. Among the tested catalysts, cata-N demonstrated superior CB (45.0-93.3 %) and NOx (31.9-90.37 %) removal efficiencies under synergistic conditions, along with excellent water resistance (T90 = 193 °C with 5 % H2O). In contrast, cata-OH exhibited the highest sulfur resistance, maintaining a denitrification efficiency of 20 % after 10 h of sulfur exposure, compared to 9 % for cata-N and 8 % for cata-O. Characterization revealed that Ce(NO3) 3·6H2O improved cerium dispersion, leading to enhanced the redox properties and acidity (especially Brønsted acid sites (BAS)) in cata-N. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and In-situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (In-situ DRIFTS) results revealed that the well-dispersed cerium atoms contributed additional BAS in the form of Ce-OH, while also forming Ti-O-Ce bonds. These Ti-O-Ce bonds facilitated the formation of Ti-OH on the TiO2 surface. Ti-OH significantly enhanced the adsorption of NH3 and CB, thereby promoting both the NH3-SCR and CB oxidation processes. This study offers new insights into the role of cerium precursors and provides a practical strategy for tuning BAS of catalysts in multiple pollutants removal.

Calcium oxide (CaO), utilized in semi-dry/dry desulfurization systems at municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plants, demonstrates some capability to remove polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This study assessed the gas-phase PCDD/F removal performance of CaO, activated carbon (AC) and CaO-AC mixtures. Alone, CaO achieved removal efficiencies of only 31.9% for mass and 50.8% for I-TEQ concentration. However, CaO-AC mixtures exhibited significantly higher efficiencies, reaching 96.0% and 92.5% for mass and I-TEQ concentrations, respectively, surpassing those of AC alone, which were 74.7% and 58.5%. BET analysis indicated that CaO's limited surface area and pore structure are major constraints on its adsorption performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the π-π electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction enhances the adsorption between AC and PCDD/F, with adsorption energies ranging from -1.02 to -1.24 eV. Additionally, the induced dipole interactions between CaO and PCDD/F contribute to adsorption energies ranging from -1.13 to -1.43 eV. Moreover, with increasing chlorination levels, PCDD/F molecules are more predisposed to accept electron transfers from the surfaces of AC or CaO, thereby facilitating adsorption. The calculation for mixed AC and CaO showed that CaO modifies AC's properties, enhancing its ability to adsorb gas phase PCDD/Fs, with the higher adsorption energy and more electrons transfer, aligning with gas phase PCDD/Fs adsorption experiments. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of how CaO influences the PCDD/F adsorption performance of AC.

This study discusses the organic and inorganic composition of young inflorescence tissues of seven medical plants from the Prunus, Malus, and Chaenomeles families. These plants contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic properties, and the study determined 29 elements, including essential and potentially harmful ones, established correlations with inorganic and organic compounds, as well as antioxidative and cytotoxic effects. The elemental patterns show that the plants contribute beneficial essential elements to the human diet. The levels of toxic elements in the plants are within safe limits set by the World Health Organization for medicinal herbs. The results confirmed genus- and species-specific uptake and accumulation. Positive correlations between d-block metals and alkaline earth metals in the inflorescences were found alongside statistically significant differences between analyte categories regarding macro-, micro- and trace elements and bioactive compounds. These correlations need to be considered when giving dietary recommendations or advice for uses as home-remedies.

Mango (Mangifera indica, L.) je vrlo popularno tropsko citrusno voće koje se može konzumirati svježe ili kao suho voće. Bogat je esencijalnim nutrijentima poput vitamina, dijetalnih vlakana i minerala, te biološki aktivnim tvarima koje nemaju nutritivnu vrijednost, ali pozitivno utječu na zdravlje. Sušeni mango odličan je izvor esencijalnih elemenata, no isto tako može sadržavati i potencijalno toksične elemente [1], [2]. Analizirani su komercijalno dostupni uzorci sušenog manga te mezokart i kora svježeg manga koji su osušeni prije analize. Prije multielementne analize metodom spektrometrije masa uz induktivno spregnutu plazmu (ICP-MS) optimizirana je metoda priprave uzorka različitim reagensima u uređaju za mikrovalno potpomognutu razgradnju. Dobiveni rezultati obrađeni su kemometrijskim metodama. Uspoređen je sadržaj elemenata u kori i mezokartu svježeg manga. U najvećoj udjelu određeni su makroelementi Ca, K, Mg i Na koji su važni za čovjekovo zdravlje, a mikroelementi prisutni u značajnijim količinama su Cu, Zn te Mn (> 3 mg kg−1), dok toksični elementi nisu pronađeni u udjelima iznad dopuštenih koji bi prema smjernicama EFSA (eng. The European Food Safety Authority) predstavljale opasnost za ljudsko zdravlje [3].

[1] B. Mirza et al., Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 61 (2021) 2125-2151.[2] S. K. Chang et al., J. Funct. Foods 21 (2016) 113-132.[3] EFSA Panel on Nutrition, EFSA J. 20 (2022) e200102

This study focused on the elemental analysis of commercially available dried mango, fresh mango and its peel. The general method consisted of microwave-assisted digestion followed by quantification of the analytes through inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Four different digestion mixtures (nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide) were tested. Using statistical tools (Student's test) and chemometric analysis (principal component analysis, PCA), the results obtained via different digestion procedures were compared. It was found that there only concentrated nitric acid less efficient than combinations of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide for the given plant material.

The accuracy of the method was verified with certified reference materials (NIST SRM 1547 – Peach leaves and NIST SRM 1573a - Tomato Leaves).The most abundant elements in all samples were macroelements: K, Ca, Mg and Na. Regarding the essential microelements, Mn, Cu and Zn were most abundant. No significant difference in the mass fractions of the elements between the dried mango samples were found except for Na content, which is significantly higher in one sample. Fresh mango contained more Ca than commercially available dried mango samples, while the mass fractions of other macroelements are similar. The most abundant trace element in commercially available dried mango samples was Rb, while it was found in smaller amounts in the self-dried sample. All samples had mass fractions of Cd and Pb below the respective permitted values given by the European Food Safety Authority of these heavy metals in food, namely 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg.

Comparing the dried fresh mango and its peel revealed that mango peel after drying contains statistically significantly higher contents of Ca, Mg, Mn, and Sr. The most abundant potentially toxic element in all samples was Al, with the highest mass fraction in the peel.

In concluding dried mango is a good source of essential elements, especially Ca, K, Mg and Mn. Toxic elements such as Cd, Pb, As, which would pose a danger to human health, were not found in contents above the permissible level. The small amount of dried mango, which can significantly contribute to the recommended daily intake (RDA) of essential elements, and the high nutritional value make mango an excellent and healthy snack.

Koštice badema (Prunus amygdalus) i marelice (Prunus armeniaca) su plodovi bogate nutritivne vrijednosti i izuzetne dobrobiti za ljudski organizam te kao takvi važan dio zdrave i raznolike prehrane. Osim esencijalnih masnih kiselina te antioksidansa, sadrže i važne minerale neophodne za neometanu funkciju staničnih procesa. Istraživanja su pokazala da bademi pridonose smanjenju kolesterola i rizika od kardiovaskularnih bolesti [2], a osim toga vrlo važnu ulogu imaju u prehrambenoj i kozmetičkoj industriji. Koštice marelice se u obliku ulja, osim u prethodno navedenim industrijama, koriste i u medicini radi svojih antifungalnih i antibakterijskih svojstava [3]. Budući da koštice marelice sadrže veliku količinu amigdalina, poznatijeg i kao vitamin B17, koji hidrolizom prelazi u cijanovodičnu kiselinu, konzumacija veće količine ovih plodova može biti opasna po zdravlje [4]. Usitnjeni i osušeni uzorci koštica badema i marelice podvrgnuti su multielementnoj analizi metodom spektrometrije masa uz induktivno spregnutu plazmu (ICP-MS) nakon priprave uzorka mikrovalno potpomognutom razgradnjom. U analiziranim uzorcima u najvećem udjelu prisutni su K, Mg i Ca, a manje zastupljeni Fe, Zn i Mn. Potencijalno toksični elementi nisu pronađeni u udjelima opasnima za zdravlje.

[1] N. P. Kalogiouri et al., Sep. 8, 28 (2021)[2] S. Li et al., Sci. Food Agric. 96(10) (2016) 3351-3357.[3] D. Čolić et al., Sci. Hortic. 275 (2021) 109-705.[4] D. Cigolini et al., Emerg. Med. J. 28.9 (2011) 804-805

The concentrations of chemical elements dissolved in seawater cover a range of far more than ten orders of magnitude due to natural abundance and solubility. Regarding to their mass concentrations, Cl, Na, Mg, S, Ca, and K (in this order) normally cover 99,95% of the dissolved matter. Trace elements are present in lower concentrations, but can play important roles in many biogeochemical processes, including nutrient cycling and the formation of marine sediments. Some of them can be highly toxic to marine organisms and may bioaccumulate in the food chain. Simultaneous multielement determination is challenging and requires analytical methods with high dynamic range. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) gives the possibility to quantify all major elements and about 20 trace and ultra-trace elements in seawater at natural concentration levels without time-consuming sample pre-treatment. The samples were diluted 1:60 and the external calibration was based on matrix matched standard solutions. The method was optimised for the accurate determination of major and trace elements in seawater samples, such as off the coast of Tanzania and Mozambique in the West Indian Ocean (WIO). This water body is warmer than many other aquatic systems and characterized by high salinity. Surface water as well as deep-water samples were analysed to provide a snapshot as to the occurrence of 42 elements in a water body at low latitudes, with monsoonal winds and reversing currents.

Fourteen of the 42 elements determined were below the limits of quantification in most of the samples. The results of the remaining elements were assessed based on sampling site (location), depth, pressure, salinity, oxygen content, conductivity, and water temperature. Only for Si and P changes in concentrations with depth (or pressure) were observed, having correlation coefficients of R=0.94 and R=0.97. The increases with depth were more pronounced in the samples from Mozambique (greater depths) than Tanzania. Conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen decreased with depth (vertical distance from the water surface) and pressure.Some alkali and alkaline earth metals, namely Li, Na, K, Rb, Mg, Ca, but also U and V were highly correlated with Cl and B but also with S.

A comparison of 18 elements determined in plankton from the same locations (van Aswegen, 2020) and in the water samples revealed very distinct patterns: whereas the plankton samples were dominated by Ca, followed by Mg, and Sr, the order in the water samples was Mg >> Ca > K.

Van Aswegen, J. D. (2020). Metal composition of zooplankton from the Western Indian Ocean (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University (South Africa))

Dandelion (lat. Taraxacum) belongs to the Asteraceae family, and it is known mainly for its medicinal properties. For many years it has been successfully used worldwide in the food industry as a completely non-toxic and edible plant. It is an extremely rich source of phenolic acids, flavonoids and terpenes. Dandelion is also a powerful source of vitamins and minerals (calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, silicon, zinc, manganese). Due to its high content of nutrients, dandelion is often used as an ingredient for preparing salads and as a substitute for coffee or tea.[1] Soil and plant contamination with potentially heavy elements such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sn, Zn is becoming the subject of scientific research due to their harmfulness to human health. Variations in concentration of these elements are caused by the chemical composition of the original rocks and anthropogenic activities as well as different soil properties such as sorption capacity. [2]

The aim of this research was to determine the elemental composition of dandelion from various regions of Croatia by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The samples for ICP-MS analysis were prepared by microwave digestion in a closed vessel.

REFERENCES

[1] B. Olas, Nutr. 2023, 28, 1–2.

[2] V. Mihaylova, G. Yotova, K. Marinova, A. Benderev, V. Lyubomirova, S. Tsakovski App. Sci. 2020, 9,2–3.