Search

A 120-day growth trial was completed to assess rearing water quality and fish performance in terms of growth, feed efficacy, digestive enzymes, immunity, and antioxidant activity of seabass fed an experimental diet (ED) supplemented with commercial wood charcoal (WC) and activated wood charcoal (AC). Three levels (0, 10, and 20 g) of WC and AC were administered, representing five treatments: control (CD) fish-fed ED without additives, (WC-1) fish-fed ED containing 10 g kg−1 WC, (WC-2) fish-fed ED containing 20 g kg−1 WC, (AC-1) fish-fed ED containing 10 g kg−1 AC, and (AC-2) fish-fed ED containing 20 g kg−1 AC. Three hundred fish (60.12 ± 0.20 g/fish) were stocked in 15 cement tanks (4.0 m × 2.0 m × 1.2 m, water volume 5 m3 each) at 20 fish/tank and a daily feed ration of 3% of body weight. Results revealed significant improvements with increased growth variables (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate), decreased FCR, and decreased ammonia levels and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Zn) content in rearing water, muscle, and liver with fish fed WC and AC supplemented diets. Furthermore, considerable improvements in digestive enzymes, immunity, and antioxidant activity, with enhanced kidneys, liver, intestines, gills, and spleen. Fish fed the WC-1 diet had a higher final weight (171.90 g), better FCR (1.25), and improved internal organs than the other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to determine the concentration for 17 congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and element contamination in poultry that is close to petroleum refinery at Al-Hashemiya Municipality, Zarqa Governorate, Jordan. Ten different samples (chicken) were collected to cover ten different locations of poultry farms in Al-Hashemiya Municipality. These locations are considered polluted areas as a result of exhaust gases produced from the refinery. The 17 PCDD/Fs congeners and elements of Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Se, Hg, Cr, and Ni were determined for three parts of each sample (liver, muscle, and gizzard). All samples were analyzed for PCDD/Fs after a Soxhlet extraction procedure and cleanup by column chromatography; then, all compounds were identified and determined using GC-MS techniques. The elements were analyzed after digestion and measured using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and validated with the Lab Mix24 RM NCS ZC73016 reference material. The highest total sum concentration of PCDD/Fs was found in liver samples to be 214.07 ng/kg (dry weight), while the highest sum of toxicity equivalent to PCDD/Fs of 22.54 ng TEQ/kg was found in gizzard samples. For element concentrations, the highest total sum of 16.89 mg/kg (dry weight) was found in liver samples. The concentration level of the elements of Se, Hg, Cr, and Ni for all parts of the chicken was within an acceptable range according to Jordanian standards and therefore the measured level of heavy and trace elements in the poultry samples (chicken) does not pose a danger to public health. The chickens found in poultry farms near the refinery are more likely to contain a higher concentration of PCDD/Fs congeners due to exhaust gas exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parecoxib sodium is a widely used parenteral cyclooxygenase 2 selective inhibitor to relieve acute postoperative pain following gynecologic laparotomy surgery. To ensure the quality of the drug, a detailed quality specification is indispensable. Nevertheless, it is unavoidable to introduce inorganic impurities during the drug preparation process and how to assess and control them matters. This study proposed an analytical procedure for the determination of elemental impurities (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Co, V, Ni, Li, Sb, and Cu) in parecoxib sodium, where an easier and safer digestion protocol, graphite digestion, combined with an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was adopted when compared with microwave digestion. Moreover, the study also discussed whether should they be listed in specification to comply with ICH Q3D guidelines after test of process validation batches. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the above elemental impurities reached to 0.05, 0.125, 0.375, 0.075, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 6.25, 2.25 and 7.5 ppm, respectively, and recovery in accuracy item ranged from 90.2% to 129.9%, reflecting a sensitive and accurate method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sales of bottled water have been increasing around the globe. This study was carried out to assess the trace elements present in bottled water. For the study of bottled water, a total of 100 samples of different volumes (20 L and 1 L) were selected. The physicochemical assessments were performed as per the methods described in the American Public Health Association, 2005. Average values of pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and turbidity were found to be 5.96 ± 0.54, 59.97 ± 58.65, 4.42 ± 3.69, and 0.408 ± 0.19, respectively. Likewise, average values of total hardness (as CaCO3), calcium (as CaCO3), magnesium (as CaCO3), chlorine, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, fluoride, sodium, and potassium were found to be 14.78 ± 8.43, 3.26 ± 1.55, 11.51 ± 7.92, 7.51 ± 3.21, 0.0032 ± 0.0017, 0.0091 ± 0.0116, 0.2520 ± 0.0127, 0.0080 ± 0.0082, 0.047 ± 0.0139, 12.65 ± 10.90, and 1.41 ± 2.00, respectively; meanwhile residual chlorine, zinc, silver, cadmium, and lead were below detection limit. All the physicochemical characteristics of bottled water were found to be within International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) guidelines. From the physicochemical aspects, the bottled water was found to be within the permissible value set by IBWA. Pearson's correlation revealed significant association between trace elements. Levene's test for equity of variances indicated that the majority (iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, fluoride, sodium, and potassium) of trace elements and seasons (monsoon and postmonsoon) demonstrated a statistically significant distribution (at 95% confidence interval). At elevated concentrations, some elements can be harmful to human health and can cause morphological abnormalities, mutagenic effects, reduced growth, and increased morbidity and mortality in humans but it all depends upon a person's metabolic factors, genetic factors, and ability to excrete trace elements through different routes, etc. Water could have percolated down from the surface to the ground water and as such the difference in concentration of trace elements in monsoon and postmonsoon seasons could be noticeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of trace mineral (Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) premixes from inorganic and chelated (chelated to 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid or hydroxy analog of methionine; Mintrex™, Novus International Inc., St. Charles, MO, USA) sources, in rockfish, ( Sebastes schlegeli). fed diets containing mineral inhibitor phytic acid. Seven isonitrogenous (46% crude protein/ CP) and isocaloric (16.63 KJ available energy per g diet) semi-purified diets comprising of a Basal control and diets supplemented either with the inorganic (I) or chelated premix (M) at three different levels of 0.75 (I0.75/M0.75), 1.5 (I1.5/M1.5) and 3 (I3/M3) g kg−1 diets were formulated. Twenty-four fish averaging individual wet body weight of 9 ± 0.2 g (Mean ± SD) were fed one of the experimental diets in quadratic group for 16 weeks. Average weight gain ( WG) of fish fed M3 was significantly higher than that of fish fed Basal control and I1.5 diets ( P < 0.05). Whereas, data for the liver and whole body trace mineral contents showed a higher Cu and Zn saturation among fish fed M3 and M1.5 diets ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, hepatic Cu-Zn super oxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) activity was recorded to be highest for fish fed M3 diet. Whereas, hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance ( TBARS) value was lowest in fish fed M3 diet ( P < 0.05). Challenge test with E. tarda showed an improved disease resistance among the fish fed different levels of trace mineral premixes. Therefore, these results demonstrated a higher efficiency of chelated compared to inorganic source of trace mineral premixes in marine rockfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposed are simple and available techniques that can be used for rapid and reliable environmental control specifically of natural water by means of instrumental and visual tests in outdoor conditions. Developed are the chemical colorimetric modes for fast detection of socially dangerous trace impurities in water such as Co(II), Pd(II), and Rh(III) as well as NO2--ions and Fe(III) serving as model impurities. Application of portable digital devices and scanner allows estimating the color coordinates and increasing the accuracy and sensitivity of the tests. The combination of complex formation with preconcentration of colored complexes replaces the sensitive but time-consuming and capricious kinetic method that is usually used for this purpose at the more convenient and reliable colorimetric method. As the test tools, the following ones are worked out: polyurethane foam tablets with sorbed colored complexes, the two-layer paper sandwich packaged in slide adapter and saturated by reagents, and polyethylene terephthalate blister with dried reagents. Fast analysis of polyurethane foam tablets is realized using a pocket digital RGB-colorimeter or portable photometer. Express analysis of two-layer paper sandwich or polyethylene terephthalate blister is realized by visual and instrumental tests. The metrological characteristics of the developed visual and instrumental express analysis techniques are estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the metals content in water, sediment, macroalgae, aquatic plant, and fish of Batang Ai Hydroelectric Reservoir in Sarawak, Malaysia. The samples were acid digested and subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry analysis for Na, K, Mn, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mg, Fe, Sn, Al, Ca, As, Se, and Hg. The total Hg content was analysed on the mercury analyser. Results showed that metals in water, sediment, macroalgae, aquatic plant, and fish are distinguishable, with sediment and biota samples more susceptible to metal accumulation. The distributions of heavy metals in water specifically Se, Sn, and As could have associated with the input of fish feed, boating, and construction activities. The accumulation of heavy metals in sediment, macroalgae, and aquatic plant on the other hand might be largely influenced by the redox conditions in the aquatic environment. According to the contamination factor and the geo accumulation index, sediment in Batang Ai Reservoir possesses low risk of contamination. The average metal contents in sediment and river water are consistently lower than the literature values reported and well below the limit of various guidelines. For fishes, trace element Hg was detected; however, the concentration was below the permissible level suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, rapid, and powerful microextraction technique was used for determination of palladium (II) ion in water samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). The different variables affecting the complexation and extraction conditions such as extraction and disperser solvent type, extraction time, pH, and concentration of chelating agent were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the ranges of 0.05-1 µg L-1 with detection limit of 0.02 µg L-1. The precision (RSD %) for ten replicate determination at 0.2 µg L-1 of palladium was better than 3.5% and the enrichment factor 166.5 was obtained from only 5.0 mL of sample. Under the presence of foreign ions, no significant interference was observed. Finally, accuracy and application of the method were estimated by using test samples of natural waters spiked with different amounts of palladium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly selective imprinted amino-functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 sorbent was prepared by surface molecular imprinting technique for selective removal of trace 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in water samples. The 2,4-DCP-imprinted amino-functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis and batch-mode binding studies. The imprinted functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 sorbent exhibited high selectivity and offered a fast kinetics for the adsorption of 2,4-DCP. The prepared sorbent was shown to be promising for selective removal of trace levels of 2,4-DCP in environmental water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-conductive polymer was used as an extraction matrix in electrosorption procedures. The monolithic porous polymer was prepared by the in situ stepwise polymerization of epoxy resin and diethylenetriamine as the curing agent and polyethylene glycol (PEG-1540) as the pore-forming reagent. The working electrode consisting of a metal wire coated with epoxy resin-based polymer was connected to a direct high-voltage power supply, employing a platinum wire as the counter-electrode. The aqueous solution of Cresol Red selected as a model target analyte was extracted by electrosorption-enhanced micro-column solid-phase extraction, and the concentration determined by UV-vis spectrophotometric methods. The experimental conditions, including the electric potential, the extraction and desorption time, the pH of the initial solution and ionic strength, were optimized. The results showed that the adsorption rate and capacity towards Cresol Red could be improved significantly by anodic polarization, while cathodic polarization had a smaller effect on the adsorption process. The kinetics of the process were determined as Lagergren first-order. The electrosorption isotherm was in good agreement with the Freundlich and linear equations. The equilibrium adsorption capacity was four-times higher at 300 V and 20 min, in comparison with the absence of an electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixing of waters with different compositions is a common phenomenon. The pH of mixed water can be calculated by introducing charge neutrality equation into the equations for equilibrium distribution calculation of species in water. In this paper, the equations thus obtained were solved by golden section method. To verify the calculation method, laboratory experiments were done for three sets of mixing water. The results showed the calculated pH values are in good agreement with measured ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes an integrated luminometer able to perform fluorescence (FL), room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and chemiluminescence (CL) measurements on seawater samples. The technical details of the instrumentation are presented together with flow injection (FI) manifolds for the determination of cadmium and zinc (by FL), lead (RTP) and cobalt (CL). The analytical figures of merit are given for each manifold and results are presented for the determination of the four trace metals in seawater reference materials (NASS-5, SLEW-2) and Scheldt estuarine water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]