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The potential of utilizing inorganic constituents in processed animal proteins (PAPs) for species identification in animal feeds was investigated, with the aim of using these constituents to ensure the quality and authenticity of the products. This study aimed to quantify the inorganic content across various PAP species and assess whether inorganic analysis could effectively differentiate between PAP species, ultimately aiding in the identification of PAP fractions in animal feeds. Four types of PAPs, namely bovine, swine, poultry, and fish-based, were analyzed and compared to others made up of feathers of vegetal-based feed. Also, three insect-based PAPs (Cricket, Silkworm, Flour Moth) were considered in this study to evaluate the differences in terms of the nutrients present in this type of feed. Ionic chromatography (IC) was used to reveal the concentrations of NO3−, NO2, Cl−, and SO42−, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to detect Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Si, Sr, Ti, and Zn. The application of multivariate chemometric techniques to the experimental results allowed us to determine the identification capability of the inorganic composition to identify correlations among the variables and to reveal similarities and differences among the different species. The results show the possibility of using this component for discriminating between different PAPS; in particular, fish PAPs are high in Cd, Sr, Na, and Mg content; swine PAPs have lower metal content due to high fat; feathers and vegetal feed have similar Al, Si, and Ni, but feathers are higher in Fe and Zn; and insect PATs have nutrient levels comparable to PAPs of other origins but are very high in Zn, Cu, and K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to characterize Freisa red wines from Piedmont (northern Italy) according to their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and elemental composition. Moreover, the authors investigated whether it was possible to distinguish among the five different DOCs produced in Piedmont on the basis of these chemical parameters. The VOCs profile of Freisa wines was very similar, and the most abundant species detected were isoamyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, ethyl octanoate, and diethyl succinate. Conversely, elemental composition allowed us to partially distinguish one Freisa DOC with respect to the others. Multivariate statistical analysis applied to elemental composition revealed differences among Freisa wines and other red wines from different regions of Italy. In particular, Freisa wines featured higher concentrations of Cr and Ni metals, which are strongly correlated with the composition of the soil of Piedmont. These two elements are hence good candidates as chemical markers for Freisa wines from Piedmont. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an evaluation of the air of two Italian industrial cities, Turin and Biella, has been performed to identify the main sources affecting its quality and to evaluate its evolution along 15 years. These two cities are placed at the border of the Po valley, one of the most polluted areas of Europe, and the automotive and textile industries have been their main economic sectors. The elemental analysis of the PM10 collected there in 2007 has been performed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES. The results identify the urban activities and the soil/road dust resuspension as the main sources of metals. Biella was overall less polluted in PM10 than Turin, probably because of its smaller size, its smaller traffic volume, and the lower number of industries. However, the limit value imposed by the European legislation for daily average PM10 mass concentration (50 μg m−3) was frequently exceeded in the collected samples: 22% and 50%, respectively for Biella and Turin. The concentration of specific toxic metals regulated by Italian legislation was never higher than the limit value for Cd (4 ng m−3) and Pb (0.5 μg m−3), whereas it was exceeded for Ni (20 ng m−3) in 22% of the samples from Turin and only in the 5% of those from Biella. In the same way, the risk analysis, performed using the target hazard quotient (THQ), calculated for children and adult populations, did not reveal warning values. Only for Cd in children were concerning values found (median THQ = 4.9). Element concentrations showed a seasonal trend, with higher values in November and December due to a combination of stable atmospheric conditions and strengthening of anthropic sources (e.g., combustion for heat generation). Finally, data concerning the amount of Cd, Ni, and Pb in the atmosphere provided by the regional agency for environmental protection (ARPA Piedmont) have been used to follow the evolution of these elements from 2007 to 2021 in the two cities. The data reveal a significant reduction of the concentrations of all considered metals in all the sites (higher than 50%), however maintaining the seasonal variability observed in PM10 samples of 2007, with higher concentrations during the cold months and lower concentrations during the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the authenticity of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) has become more interesting in recent years. Italy is the first country in Europe in terms of number of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) oils, which connects consumers to a feeling of tradition and thus to higher quality standards. This work focused on the consideration of the inorganic content as a possible marker of EVOOs. Ten vegetable oils (VOs), eight Italian EVOOs and seven not Italian EVOOs were analyzed. After pretreatment by acid mineralization, Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sb, Se and Zn were determined by ICP-OES. The electrochemical properties of a selected group of EVOOs and other vegetal oils of different botanical origin were investigated by voltammetry. Carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) were prepared. The features observed in the voltammograms reflect the reactions of electroactive compounds, which are present in the oils. A chemometric treatment of the results was performed to assess the possibility to distinguish (i) the region of provenience considering the inorganic profile; and (ii) the plant species from which each oil was obtained on the basis of the current profile registered during voltammetric analysis. Inorganic composition seems to be a useful marker for the assessment of the geographical origin of an EVOO. The EVOO-CPEs voltammetry seems to have a good ability to distinguish the plant species of origin. This method could be useful to monitor the conservation status of the oils, as the redox profile is linked to the oxidative degradation state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]