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Introduction: The safety and quality of many medicinally important herbs are compromised since farmers and small organizations are involved in the cultivation, aggregation, and primary processing of these herbs. Such organizations often lack adequate quality control facilities. To improve the safety and quality of herbal products, simple, rapid, and affordable quality control systems are required. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of microwave oven‐drying for moisture content (MC) determination and sample preparation of herbs in small organizations. Methods: Microwave oven‐drying (720 W) and convective oven‐drying at 105°C for MC determination were compared. The effects of three different drying methods (microwave oven‐drying, low‐temperature convective drying, and freeze‐drying) on in vitro antioxidant and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity were determined, similarity analysis was conducted using HPLC signature spectra, and validation was performed with LC‐MS focusing on one herb. Results: Microwave oven‐drying at 720 W significantly reduced the drying time (from hours to minutes), whereas the spatial variation of temperature in convective ovens set at 105°C can cause about 10% underestimation of MC. Microwave oven‐drying showed similar macro‐properties like freeze‐drying and higher extractability (10%–20%) and in vitro antioxidant capacity (33%–66%) and lower PPO activity compared to low‐temperature convective drying. HPLC signature spectra revealed strong similarity of soluble components between freeze‐dried and microwave oven‐dried herbs. LC‐MS analysis demonstrated more common compounds between freeze‐dried and microwave oven‐dried Centella asiatica extracts, whereas convective tray‐dried samples had fewer compounds common with samples obtained by freeze‐drying or microwave oven‐drying. Conclusions: Microwave oven‐drying is rapid (tens of min) and shows small batch‐to‐batch variation compared to oven‐drying at 105°C. The in vitro antioxidant assays and signature spectra can be used for assessing the source and purity or quality of a specific herb variety. The research explores the suitability of microwave oven‐drying for moisture content determination and sample preparation for quality control of herbal materials. Results indicate that microwave oven‐drying significantly reduces drying time, exhibits properties similar to freeze‐drying, and enhances extractability and antioxidant capacity. HPLC and LC‐MS analyses reveal that microwave oven‐drying can protect many of the target bioactive in herbs. In conclusion, microwave oven‐drying offers a rapid and reliable alternative to traditional oven‐drying methods for ensuring herb safety and quality in small‐scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to efficiently extract valuable bioactive compounds from green coffee beans (GCBs), meeting the rising demand for natural compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The study sought to overcome the limitations of conventional extraction techniques, such as low efficiency, prolonged processing, and heat‐sensitive compound degradation, by employing an eco‐friendly solvent and high‐pressure assisted extraction. Experiments were conducted at different pressure levels (300, 400, and 500 MPa), treatment times (10, 20, and 30 min), and using water, ethanol, and their combination (1:1) as solvents. The study evaluated the impact of these variables on radical scavenging activity (RSA), caffeine content, chlorogenic acid (CGA) levels, total phenolic content (TPC), pH, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Results were compared with conventional extraction and untreated extracts. High‐pressure processing (HPP) significantly enhanced RSA, reaching a maximum of 94.872 ± 0.290%, except for ethanol extracts. CGA content decreased with increasing pressure, correlating with improved antioxidant activity. Caffeine content remained higher even at shorter treatment times (1.170 ± 0.131 mg/mL). The ethanolic extract at the lowest pressure and time yielded the highest TPC (74.130 ± 1.141 mg of GAE/mL). Importantly, pH showed no significant variations. SEM analysis revealed a denser microstructure in the residual green coffee powder. Voltammetric tests confirm potent antioxidant properties due to its polyphenolics oxidizing within the potential range. This study demonstrates HPP as an eco‐friendly method for extracting bioactive compounds from GCBs. It effectively addresses the limitations of conventional extraction techniques, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative. Practical applications: High‐pressure‐assisted extraction is a novel method of extracting bioactives from natural products. The current study proposes the innovative approach to optimize the processing parameters for extracting the bioactives (total phenols, CGA, and caffeine) from the GCB under HPP with improved antioxidant properties. This greener approach of high‐pressure‐assisted extraction is an alternative method to conventional extraction. This can be achieved with limited time of extraction using water or ethanol:water as a prospective alternative solvent devoid of harmful chemicals to extract with higher natural antioxidant capacity. Also, extensive research on green coffee extracts has demonstrated that extracted bioactives find applications as functional ingredients, natural preservatives, and potential natural antioxidants in the pharmaceutical and food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of experiments on the leaching of rare earth elements (REEs) from Miocene brown coals of the Sergeevskoe deposit with water and alkaline and acid solutions was carried out. Using a set of methods (ICP MS, XRD analysis, heavy concentrate analysis, SEM EDS, and IR spectrometry), it was revealed that acid leaching was the most effective: 72–99% of REEs was extracted with a 1 M solution of hydrochloric acid in 24–48 h. This fact indicates that most of the REEs in the brown coals of the Sergeevskoe deposit were associated with the organic matrix in the form of complexes with the carboxyl groups of humic and fulvic acids. The high percentage of REE extraction indicates the possibility of using coals from the Sergeevskoe deposit as an easily enriched source of REEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk assessment of heavy metals (HMs) in sewage sludge (SS) is essential before land application. Six HMs in nineteen SS collected in the Yangtze River Delta were analyzed to assess risks to environment, ecosystem, and human health. HMs concentrations were ranked in the order of Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd, with Cu, Zn, and Ni in a total of 16% of samples exceeding the legal standard. Zn showed greatest extractability according to EDTA-extractable concentrations. HMs in 16% of SS samples posed heavy contamination to the environment with Zn as the major pollutant. HMs in 26% of samples posed ecological risk to the ecosystem and Cd was the highest risky HM. The probabilistic health risk assessment revealed that HMs posed carcinogenic risks to all populations, but non-carcinogenic risks only to children. This work will provide fundamental information for land application of SS in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of rice bran stabilization thermal treatments on oxidative stability, extractability, and antioxidant potential was investigated. Freshly milled rice bran samples of the variety “Ld 368 –red” were subjected to four heat treatments: steaming, hot air drying, microwave treatment, and a combination of microwave and steaming. Solvent extraction was used to obtain rice bran oil (RBO). The Phenolic, γ-oryzanol contents and antioxidant potential of RBO were analyzed. Oil yield, free fatty acid content (FFA), and peroxide value (PV) were measured during 50-days storage at room temperature, with data collected at an interval of 10 days. The highest extraction yield was in coupled treatment (22.26 %). The coupled treatment and microwave were the most effective for the stabilization of rice bran in terms of oxidative stability, which provided the lowest FFA value (2.950 % & 2.993 %) and PV (0.518 & 0.620 mEqv/kg oil) (p ≤ 0.05). The lowest increment of FFA (2.945 %) and PV (4.23 mEqv/kg) was detected in RB stabilized by coupled treatment in 50 days of storage time. The microwaved sample exhibited the highest total phenolic content (4.147±0.190 mg GAE/g of extract), γ-oryzanol content (1.536±0.0173 %), and the highest antioxidant activity/ lowest IC50 value among the stabilized sample.

Amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) play an important role in wheat allergies and potentially in non-coeliac wheat sensitivity. Food processing could be important to mitigate the pathogenic properties of ATIs, e.g., by denaturation, glycation, enzymatic hydrolysis, cross-linking, and oxidation and reduction. These modifications also impact the solubility and extractability. The complex solubility behaviour of ATI isoforms (water and salt soluble, but also chloroform–methanol soluble, solubility depending on the redox state) becomes even more complex upon processing due to denaturation and (bio)chemical modifications. This significantly hinders the feasibility of quantitative extraction. Moreover, changes in biofunctionality may occur during the process of extraction, and the changes in ATI due to food processing will be more difficult to assess. Heat treatment decreases the extractability of ATIs with water, NaCl, and other buffer extracts, and binding of IgE from wheat-allergic persons to ATIs as observed with Western blotting is decreased or absent. IgE binding is reduced with the total extract in chaotropic and reducing agents. However, it can be increased when the proteins are hydrolyzed by proteases. Fermentation involving certain species of Fructolactobacilli (FLB), followed by baking, decreases the amount of ATIs and IgE binding to ATIs. In yeast-fermented bread, the amount of ATIs decreased in a similar manner, but IgE binding was more prominent, indicating that there was a modification of ATIs that affected the epitope recognition. When isolated ATIs are ingested with high ATI degrading FLB, the immune response in mice is less elevated in vivo, when compared with ATI without high ATI degrading FLB. The pathogenic effects on the skin of dogs and one wheat-allergic child are also decreased when soluble proteins or isolated ATIs are reduced with the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase NADPH system. Glycation on the other hand has been shown to potentiate the allergenic properties of ATIs as evidenced by the large increase in IgE binding. The impact of food processing on the pathogenic properties of ATIs is hardly studied in vivo in humans. There seem to be opportunities to mitigate the pathogenic properties in vitro, but potentiation of pathogenic properties is also frequently observed. This requires a deeper understanding on the impact of food processing on the pathogenicity of ATIs.

Hibiscus sabdariffa is a tropical plant with red calyxes whose anthocyanins, phenols, and antioxidant activity make it attractive to consumers both from a nutritional and medicinal standpoint. Its seasonality, perishability, and anthocyanin instability, led to the setup of stabilization methods comprising drying and powdering. However, its properties can often be altered during these stabilization processes. Treatments such as dehumidified-air-drying, infrared drying, and oven-drying, and their combination showed better quality preservation. Moreover, powder production enables superior biomolecule extractability which can be linked to a higher bioaccessibility. However, the required temperatures for powder production increase the bioactive molecules degradation leading to their antioxidant activity loss. To overcome this issue, ambient or cryogenic grinding could be an excellent method to improve the biomolecule bioavailability and accessibility if the processing steps are well mastered. To be sure to benefit from the final nutritional quality of the powder, such as the antioxidant activity of biomolecules, powders have to offer excellent reconstitutability which is linked to powder physicochemical properties and the reconstitution media. Typically, the finest powder granulometry and using an agitated low-temperature reconstitution media allow for improving anthocyanin extractability and stability. In this review, the relevant physicochemical and processing parameters influencing plant powder features from processing transformation to reconstitution will be presented with a focus on bioactive molecules and antioxidant activity preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The wine sector is constantly evolving, in order to adapt to consumer tastes. The organoleptic characteristics in wines are the main factors to obtain quality wines. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are responsible in an important way for positive aspects in quality wines, such as body and color stability in red wines, but they are also responsible for sensory characteristics that can be negative for their quality when found in excessive concentrations. One strategy to improve grapevines and wines is to obtain new varieties, so our research institute has been selecting some of them from direct crosses between Monastrell and other considered premium varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. RESULTS: A quantitative analysis in grapes, seeds and wines was carried out during three consecutive seasons (2018, 2019 and 2020) in order to characterize PAs composition and concentration in the following new varieties: MC80 (Monastrell × Cabernet Sauvignon), MC98, MC4, MC18 and MS10 (Monastrell × Syrah). Other aspect to study was the extraction capacity of the different new varieties of PAs during maceration process into must/wine. CONCLUSION: In general, the results showed higher concentrations in PAs in most crosses for the three seasons studied compared to Monastrell variety. It was remarkable that a higher concentration of epigallocatechin was found in most of the wines elaborated with the crosses, being a positive aspect from an organoleptic point of view, since this compound provides softness to the wines. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting can turn organic waste into a valuable soil amendment that can improve physical, chemical, and biological soil quality. Compost amendments can also contribute to the remediation of areas anthropogenically degraded by metals. However, it is well known that compost, particularly self-produced compost, can show enrichment in metals. An experimental study was conducted to examine the short- and long-term distribution and the mobility of metals in soils amended with a self-produced compost when it was added alone or in combination with different doses of a natural zeolite to soil. The aim was also to study the interest of managing moderately metal-contaminated kitchen garden soils by assessing the chemical extractability, phytoavailability, and oral bioaccessibility of metals. When zeolite was added to compost alone, it had the tendency to better reduce extractability of Cd and Zn at 25%, and those of Pb at 15%. When the self-produced compost alone or in co-application with zeolite at these doses was applied to soils, the results showed (1) a decrease of NH4NO3-extractable Zn; (2) a reduction of Pb environmental availability, but not Pb bioaccessibility, and (3) an increase of ryegrass biomass. Nevertheless, the risk posed by the self-produced compost was minimal when applied at the proper rate (0.6% w/w). In the selected experimental conditions, the study recommends that self-produced compost be mixed with 15% zeolite to maximize vegetal biomass and minimize environmental risk. The question of sustainability of the results with repeated compost addition is also raised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of temperature and ethanol concentration on the kinetics of anthocyanin adsorption and desorption interactions with five cell wall materials (CWM) of different composition were investigated. Using temperatures of 15 °C and 30 °C and model wine with ethanol concentrations of 0% and 15% (v/v) over 120 min, the adsorption and desorption rates of five anthocyanin-glucosides were recorded in triplicate. Small-scale experiments were conducted using a benchtop incubator to mimic a single berry fermentation. Results indicate that more than 90% of the adsorption occurs within the first 60 min of the addition of anthocyanins to CWM. However, desorption appears to occur much faster, with maximum desorption being reached after 30 min. The extent of both adsorption and desorption was clearly dependent not only on temperature and ethanol concentration but also on the CWM composition.

Background. Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is considered a particularly valuable plant for humans. A number of methods have been developed to select the species’ gene pool that produces high-quality fruits. Breeders need to know which of them ensures identification of the best ancestors. The objective of this work was to compare the effectiveness of the most frequently used techniques for selecting a valuable gene pool according to taste, extractability, weight, kernel yield, and overall fruit score. They were presented in the Program and Methods for Walnut Breeding (method 1) and the Program and Methodology of Variety Studies for Fruit, Berry and Nut Crops (method 2).Materials and methods. Statistical data processing was performed using the licensed Stadia-8 software.Results. Comparing the results with the program requirements for new cultivars, all the ancestors selected according to method 1 had better taste and higher kernel weight, while according to method 2 12.5% of the forms showed lower values. The recommended kernel yield of 50% or more turned out to be lower than the threshold value in 14.29% (method 1) and 62.5% (method 2) of the selected ramets. Evaluation by to method 1 showed that the group of the “superior quality” breeding category had higher average values in taste (by 3.63%), weight (7.86%), extractability (4.25%), and kernel yield (9.9%). When selecting the first-rank forms by method 1, the values were higher in extractability (by 0.25%), weight (5.26%), taste (3.09%), kernel yield (7.55%), and overall score (7.61%). In the average values for the first-rank and second-rank forms, the excess was by 4.44, 21.91, 4.75, 9.67, and 9.86%, respectively.Conclusions. When selecting a promising walnut gene pool, method 1 provides for stricter selection and higher food quality indicators (taste, extractability, weight, kernel yield, and overall fruit score) compared to method 2.

The establishment of operation protocols for olive oil (OO) extraction at non-industrial scale is crucial for research purposes. Thus, the present study proposes a simple and cost-effective method for OO extraction at the laboratory scale (LS) level. To validate the proposed methodology, industrial OO extraction (IS) was performed in parallel, using the same cultivars 'Galega vulgar' (GV), 'Cobrançosa' (COB) and 'Arbequina' (ARB) collected from the same orchards, within the same period. Obtained results showed highest extractability for COB and ARB, of about 53%, while GAL showed 50%. All produced OO showed values lower than the regulated limits for the physicochemical parameters (acidity, K232, K268 and ΔK), classifying them as extra virgin OO (EVOO). Highest total phenolic content was observed for COB, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.05) between extraction methods. Regarding fatty acid composition, oleic acid (C18:1) showed the lowest percentage for ARB, with about 66% and 68%, for LS and IS, respectively, and the highest for GV with about 72% for both LS and IS. Furthermore, all samples from both extraction methods were compared to the European Community Regulation, with fatty acid composition within the regulated levels for EVOO. This work showed promising results regarding extraction yields and OO extractability, as well as its quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The optimized combustion conditions can utilize the heating value in coal and transform REY to easily leachable forms. • REY greatly enriched in ash below 45 μm, caused by the small mineral grain size and extensive mineral fragmentation in boiler. • The enhanced acid leachability was related to thermal decomposition of flurocarbonates, aluminophosphates, and organic-bound REY in coal. • Different speciation transformation behavior of REY during combustion resulted in distinct REY leaching behavior for different ash types. The extraction of rare earth elements (REE) from coal ash has attracted significant attention, but satisfactory solutions have not yet been achieved. Indeed, the REE extractability is largely determined by the transformation behavior of REE during coal combustion. This study found that the controlled combustion conditions of circulated fluidized-bed boiler (CFB) can both utilize the heating value and enhance the recovery of REE from coal. Tests were conducted using a bituminous coal with REE concentration of approximately 149 ppm in an industrial 35 t/h CFB boiler with controlled boiler loads and coal sources. Advanced automated image analysis by scanning electron microscopy (AIA-SEM) and sequential leaching procedure were employed to clarify the speciation transformation behavior of REE in boilers and investigate the effects of these transformations on the leachability of REE. Approximately 75 % of REE partitioned into fly ash and enriched in particles < 45 μm (∼710 ppm) after combustion. Acid leaching tests under mild conditions (1 M HCl at 60 ℃ and S/L = 1:25) performed on coal, bulk ashes, and sieved ashes revealed an improvement in REE leaching ratio from coal (21.34 %) to fly ash (71.07 %). Particle size played a crucial role in acid extractability, particularly for middle and heavy REE in cyclone ash but had no influence on those in fly ash. The dominant forms of REE in coal including Ca-REE fluorocarbonates (36.7 %), aluminophosphates (12.0 %), and organic-bound REE (approximately 20 %) significantly decreased, contributing to the formation of leachable rare earth oxides (∼65 %) in ash. Furthermore, the small size of REE mineral grains in coal (over 50 % below 5 μm) and extensive mineral fragmentation occurring in boiler resulted in the enrichment and enhanced REY leachability in fine ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interphase distribution of lanthanides(III) from chloride solutions (0.01 M HCl + 0.1 M NaCl) in 2 : 1 : 1.5 hexane–isopropanol–water ternary systems was studied using Cyanex 572 as an extractant. It was determined that the extractability of lanthanides increases in the order La < Nd < Sm < Eu < Gd Tb Yb, which corresponds to the increase in the atomic number. It was shown that the studied system allows both the efficient separation of heavy group metals and the separation of metals in the light and medium groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the extractability of three curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) from turmeric powder in several solvents using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the diode-array detection method. These solvents include water, milk (homogenized, 2% reduced fat, low fat, fat free, soy, almond, coconut, and milkadamia), and aqueous ethanols (0%, 4%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 100%). Ambient water was able to extract only 0.55 mg/g of curcuminoids, whereas warm water extracted more than four-fold higher amounts (2.42 mg/g). Almond, coconut, and milkadamia milk were able to extract only small amounts of curcuminoids at ambient temperatures (0.01–0.07 mg/g). The extractability of curcuminoids in these milk types did not improve, even in warm conditions (0.08–0.37 mg/g). Whereas dairy and soy milk extracted 6.76–9.75 mg/g of curcuminoids under ambient conditions, their extractability increased significantly in warm conditions by 30–100% higher (11.7–14.9 mg/g). The solubility of curcuminoids also varied remarkably in different proportions of aqueous-alcohol mixtures. With 4% ethanol, only 1.7 mg/g of curcuminoids were extracted, and the amounts improved with the increase in ethanol content up to 50% (32.2 mg/g), while 100% ethanol extracted a similar amount as 50% ethanol (34.2 mg/g). This study suggests that the extractability of curcuminoids from turmeric will be dependent on the type of diets consumed with the turmeric supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, phenolic extractability of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from two California regions (Sonoma County and Central Coast) and its relation with skin cell wall composition was investigated. Phenolic grape composition, wine phenolic content as well as berry and pomace cell wall composition of three sites per region were determined. Grape cell wall material (CWM) composition, and thus pomace CWM composition, was impacted by the growing region. The process of fermentation modified CWM composition, solubilizing some of the compounds such as pectin and polysaccharides making pomace CWM composition from different sites more similar in the case of Sonoma County and more different for the samples grown in the Central Coast. Growing region had a significant impact on grape phenolics, particularly on flavan−3-ols and polymeric phenols, whereas polymeric pigments and anthocyanin contents were more similar among samples. Wines made from Sonoma County grapes showed higher anthocyanin and polymeric phenol content when compared to wines made from Central Coast grapes. Comparing wine to grape phenolic composition suggests a large difference in extractability based on region. Of all the CWM components analyzed, only lignin and the amount of cell wall isolated were found to have a significant impact on phenolic extractability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Chihuahua, Mexico, the cultivation of vines (Vitis vinifera L.) Tempranillo variety was established, in order to have options for growing grapes for wine, since it has climates suitable for the cultivation of this species and this allows obtaining crops that meet with the specifications for vinification; where the objective of the present study was to determine the technological maturity and characterize the phenolic composition of grapes of the Tempranillo variety, to specify the harvest date (harvest), weight of berries and their components in Chihuahua, Mexico; made in 2016, in three vineyards: one located in the municipality of Aldama (Pasado Meridiano) and two in the municipality of Cuauhtémoc (FACIATEC and Hacienda Bustillos). The experimental design was randomized complete blocks; the samplings were carried out weekly, from the beginning of the veraison (ripening) until the harvest; Chemical analyzes were carried out: soluble solids (°Brix), total titratable acidity (ATT) and pH, to monitor technological maturity; In addition, the total polyphenol index (phenolic maturation) was quantified. The optimum result in berry quality for vinification was presented by the vineyards located in the municipality of Cuauhtémoc (FACIATEC) and H. Bustillos; however, the berries from the Pasado Meridiano vineyard showed a very early maturation, and in the quantification of total polyphenols it is lower compared to the rest of the vineyards, thus reflecting a low color intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Berry pomaces obtained after commercial juice production contain phytochemicals which may find use as antioxidants, food additives and biomedical products. Oil extraction from seeds provides additional value but the availability of phytochemicals before and after oil extraction is not well established. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study defines the content and composition of phytochemicals from raspberry and black currant pomaces after extraction with water-ethanol mixes, but also before and after milling/ oil extraction. METHODS: The total phenol (TPC), total anthocyanin (TAC) and antioxidant content of extracts was assessed. Their phytochemical composition was studied using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MSn). RESULTS: TPC and TAC increased with increasing % ethanol. Anthocyanins were major components in blackcurrant pomace and were more readily extracted than total phenols. Total oil content and composition was not influenced by solvent pre-extraction. Milling/ oil extraction markedly increased TPC from raspberry but not from blackcurrant pomace. LC-MSn confirmed characteristic phytochemical compositions and that increasing % ethanol increased yield of certain components. Milling increased specific ellagitannins, proanthocyanins and triterpenoids from raspberry. CONCLUSIONS: Milling/ oil extraction increased the yield and phytochemical diversity of extracts from raspberry but not from blackcurrant pomace which suggests that the phytochemicals from blackcurrant pomace are largely available on the pomace surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape processing generates large amounts of by-products, including seeds rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that subjecting grape seeds to a single ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with aqueous ethanolic solutions yields both flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols in the final extract. Notably, the water content in ethanol significantly influences the extractability of tocochromanols more than flavan-3-ols. Solid-to-solvent ratios of 1:50 to 1:2 were tested for both analytical and industrial applications. A sustainable analytical approach for recovering flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols using 60% and 96.4% ethanol extractions was validated and employed to profile nineteen genotypes of lesser-studied interspecific grape crosses (Vitis spp.). Different genotypes showed a wide range of concentrations of tocopherols (1.6–6.3 mg/100 g), tocotrienols (1.0–17.4 mg/100 g), and flavan-3-ols (861–9994 mg/100 g). This indicated that the genetic background and maturity of the plant material are crucial factors from an industrial perspective due to the initial concentration of bioactive compounds. Finally, the study also discussed the fundamental aspects of hydrophobic antioxidant extractability from the lipid matrix with aqueous ethanol solutions and the limitations of the workflow, such as the non-extractable tocochromanols and their esters and the losses of these lipophilic antioxidants during extraction. [Display omitted] • Seeds of grape crosses (Vitis spp.) consist of diverse phytochemical profiles. • Sustainable water-ethanol methods for phytochemical extraction were proposed. • Tocochromanols are co-extractable during the flavan-3-ols recovery from grape seeds. • Solid-to-solvent ratios 1:50 and 1:2 tested for analytical and industry applications. • The presence of non-extractable and bound tocochromanols in grape seeds was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of operation protocols for olive oil (OO) extraction at non-industrial scale is crucial for research purposes. Thus, the present study proposes a simple and cost-effective method for OO extraction at the laboratory scale (LS) level. To validate the proposed methodology, industrial OO extraction (IS) was performed in parallel, using the same cultivars ‘Galega vulgar’ (GV), ‘Cobrançosa’ (COB) and ‘Arbequina’ (ARB) collected from the same orchards, within the same period. Obtained results showed highest extractability for COB and ARB, of about 53%, while GAL showed 50%. All produced OO showed values lower than the regulated limits for the physicochemical parameters (acidity, K232, K268 and ΔK), classifying them as extra virgin OO (EVOO). Highest total phenolic content was observed for COB, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.05) between extraction methods. Regarding fatty acid composition, oleic acid (C18:1) showed the lowest percentage for ARB, with about 66% and 68%, for LS and IS, respectively, and the highest for GV with about 72% for both LS and IS. Furthermore, all samples from both extraction methods were compared to the European Community Regulation, with fatty acid composition within the regulated levels for EVOO. This work showed promising results regarding extraction yields and OO extractability, as well as its quality parameters.

In this study, phenolic extractability of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from two California regions (Sonoma County and Central Coast) and its relation with skin cell wall composition was investigated. Phenolic grape composition, wine phenolic content as well as berry and pomace cell wall composition of three sites per region were determined. Grape cell wall material (CWM) composition, and thus pomace CWM composition, was impacted by the growing region. The process of fermentation modified CWM composition, solubilizing some of the compounds such as pectin and polysaccharides making pomace CWM composition from different sites more similar in the case of Sonoma County and more different for the samples grown in the Central Coast. Growing region had a significant impact on grape phenolics, particularly on flavan−3-ols and polymeric phenols, whereas polymeric pigments and anthocyanin contents were more similar among samples. Wines made from Sonoma County grapes showed higher anthocyanin and polymeric phenol content when compared to wines made from Central Coast grapes. Comparing wine to grape phenolic composition suggests a large difference in extractability based on region. Of all the CWM components analyzed, only lignin and the amount of cell wall isolated were found to have a significant impact on phenolic extractability.

The objective of this study is to assess the effects of installation and operation of a high-power ultrasound machine (HPU) for the treatment of olive paste by using ultrasound technology in order to evaluate the best way installation and the best definition of the operating conditions of the machine. The study was conducted installing in an industrial olive oil mill a continuous processing ultrasound machine, which used a frequency of 20 kHz able to work at 3200 kg h−1 as feed capacity. Checking of performance has been carried out by the assessment of the different operating and process conditions, assessing in particular the impact of the ultrasound treatment before and after the malaxation phase on performance indicators of the continuous olive oil plant (plant extractability, olive paste rheological characteristic) and on selected chemical properties of the olive oil extracted (quality parameters, antioxidant content, and volatile profiles). In the tested conditions, high-power ultrasound treatment did not produce significant effect on the legal parameters (free acidity, peroxide index and spectrophotometric indexes), while a significant increase in the content of phenolic compounds was generally observed; higher enhancements were more evident when the high-power ultrasound treatment was carried out before the malaxation phase.

Optimal water supply is one of the most important factors in quality wine making. However, water availability is limited in several wine regions and water shortage is getting even worse due to climate change, especially under arid climate conditions. Therefore, proper water management of the vineyards, the amount and the timing of irrigation will play a crucial role in sustainable viticulture in the near future. In this study, the effect of timing of moderate water deficit on berry texture characteristics and phenolic maturity were investigated. 'Kékfrankos' grapevines were submitted to different water regimes: moderate water deficit from berry set until veraison (WD1), moderate water deficit from veraison until harvest (WD2), no water deficit (C). Concentration of the phenolic components of the grape berry skins and berry mixture for the Glories indices were measured by spectrophotometer (UVmini-1240 CE UV-VIS, Shimadzu, Japan). Cell and seed maturity indices (CMI%, SMI%) were also calculated. Berry texture characteristics were monitored by a TA.XT Plus Texture Analyser (Stable Micro System, UK). Berry skin and seed texture properties were affected by water regimes. Skin and seed hardness of WD1 were significantly lower than those of WD2. Significant differences were found in berry hardness between the treatments (C>WD1>WD2). Berry gumminess, resilience and chewiness of WD2 were lower compared to C and WD1. Anthocyanin extractability was higher when plants were not subjected to post-veraison water limitations (WD1). Furthermore, the seed maturity index was lower when water deficit occurred between berry set and veraison. Pre-veraison water deficit resulted in delayed ripening, softer seeds and thus higher phenol extractability compared to WD2 and C. Late seasonal water deficit resulted in thicker skins, which was accompanied by lower anthocyanin extractability than in WD1 and C. It seems that anthocyanin extractability is influenced by the actual water status of the grapevine rather than skin textural properties. However, there are some connections between skin texture parameters and maturity indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bark on trees protects the plant against environmentally adverse conditions as well as fungi and insect attacks. There are different chemical substances, mostly in the outer bark of trees, which can stop fungi from developing. Bark as a by-product of wood plantations is available in high quantity and can serve as an excellent source for the production of eco-fungicides. In the presented article, bark of various poplar clones from two short-rotation coppices (SRC) in Poland and Germany was examined to determine the chemical composition, the possible extraction of potential fungicides (terpenes, aromatic and phenolic substances), and influence of their extracts on slowing the growth of mold fungi. It was proved that the content of the fungicidal substances depends strongly on the clone type. Two methods of extraction—Soxhlet and batch—were compared to obtain fungicidal extracts. Fungicidal substances were found in extracts gained with both approaches. Triterpenes, fatty acids, aldehydes, and alcohols were primarily the active fungicides in the Soxhlet extracts, whereas phenolic substances act as fungicides in the batch extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the extractability of three curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) from turmeric powder in several solvents using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the diode-array detection method. These solvents include water, milk (homogenized, 2% reduced fat, low fat, fat free, soy, almond, coconut, and milkadamia), and aqueous ethanols (0%, 4%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 100%). Ambient water was able to extract only 0.55 mg/g of curcuminoids, whereas warm water extracted more than four-fold higher amounts (2.42 mg/g). Almond, coconut, and milkadamia milk were able to extract only small amounts of curcuminoids at ambient temperatures (0.01–0.07 mg/g). The extractability of curcuminoids in these milk types did not improve, even in warm conditions (0.08–0.37 mg/g). Whereas dairy and soy milk extracted 6.76–9.75 mg/g of curcuminoids under ambient conditions, their extractability increased significantly in warm conditions by 30–100% higher (11.7–14.9 mg/g). The solubility of curcuminoids also varied remarkably in different proportions of aqueous-alcohol mixtures. With 4% ethanol, only 1.7 mg/g of curcuminoids were extracted, and the amounts improved with the increase in ethanol content up to 50% (32.2 mg/g), while 100% ethanol extracted a similar amount as 50% ethanol (34.2 mg/g). This study suggests that the extractability of curcuminoids from turmeric will be dependent on the type of diets consumed with the turmeric supplements.

This study examined the changes in extractability and fractionation of arsenic (As) that can be caused by the drying of strongly polluted anoxic soil samples. Two untreated and manure-amended soils were incubated for 7 and 21 days in flooded conditions. Thereafter, As water- and 1 M NH4NO3-extractability and As fractionation in a 5-step sequential extraction according to Wenzel were examined in fresh, oven-dried and air-dried samples. Soil treatment with manure considerably affected the results of the sequential extraction. Air-drying caused a significant decrease in As extractability with 1 M NH4NO3 and in As concentrations in the F1 fraction. The highest reduction of extractability (30–41%) was found in manure-treated soils. Oven-drying resulted in a smaller reduction (5–34%) of As extractability. These effects were explained by opposing processes of As mobilization and immobilization. Sequential extraction did not allow for balancing As redistribution due to drying, as As loss from the F1 fraction was smaller than the confidence intervals in the other fractions. The results showed that for the precise determination of As extractability in anoxic soils, fresh samples should be analyzed. However, oven-dried samples may be used for a rough assessment of environmental risk, As the order of magnitude of easily soluble As did not change due to drying.

Antioxidant polyphenols nepetoidin A and B are widely spread in Lamiaceae family yet often remain undetected due to their purported instability and poor extractability with polar solvents typically used for phenolics extraction. Coextraction of nepetoidins may confer additional, or enhance existing, bioactivities of polyphenol extracts. This study includes a detailed analysis of nepetoidin extractability from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves, and a survey of their occurrence in basil tissue cultures and peltate trichomes. Coextraction of nepetoidins with the major polyphenol rosmarinic acid was possible with solvent mixtures, yet substantially less efficient than that with the respective preferred solvents. Nepetoidin, but not rosmarinic acid levels in extracts from dried leaves were dramatically reduced. However, this was not due to degradation suggested by earlier reports, but to reduced extractability, which could be restored by wetting the tissue with water prior to addition of nonpolar solvent. Nepetoidins were found to accumulate at high levels in basil callus and suspension cultures. Correlation analysis revealed three novel compounds that are coextracted with nepetoidins and are proposed to represent nepetoidin dimers. Candidate signals for nepetoidin and rosmarinic acid glycosides were also detected in dedifferentiated basil cells. By contrast, nepetoidins were not enriched in basil peltate trichomes. This study establishes optimized recovery procedure for nepetoidins, reports their production by dedifferentiated basil cells, and illustrates how sample preparation methodology affects the phytochemical findings. Key message: This study reports an improved method for the recovery of polyphenolic nepetoidins from fresh and dry plant tissue and demonstrates their high abundance in dedifferentiated Ocimum basilicum cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of lanthanide chlorides from 0.5 M NaCl solutions in three-component water-organic systems of 1 : 1 : 1 composition is studied using mixtures of trioctylamine and dicyclohexylamine salts with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric and caprylic acids and mixed dicyclohexylammonium salts as extractants. It is shown that the extractability of lanthanides in systems with various mixtures of binary extractants mainly increases with the increasing atomic number of the metal. The extraction selectivity when using mixtures of binary extractants is observed mainly in the extraction of heavy lanthanides, which can be used to separate heavy lanthanides from the light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of lanthanide nitrates from 0.5 M NaNO3 solutions in 1 : 1 : 1 ternary aqueous organic systems using mixtures of trioctylammonium dialkyl phosphate and dicyclohexylammonium caprylate as extractants was studied. The extractability of lanthanides was shown to increase in the series La < Pr < Nd, Sm, Eu < Gd < Tb < Dy < Ho < Er < Tm, in which the atomic number of the metal increases. The selectivity of extraction in the ternary system was observed during the extraction of heavy lanthanides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the in vitro extraction of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) from moist snuff into water and into artificial saliva. A similar, previous study evaluated the levels of BaP that remained in the moist snuff after the extraction but did not measure the levels of BaP in the water or saliva extract. The previous study showed that the remaining levels of BaP in the solid material were between 96.3% and 109.6% relative to the initial level of BaP, when the snuff was washed with water and between 99.4% and 108.3% from the initial level of BaP, when the snuff was washed with both saliva and water. Nine moist snuff samples (eight being the same brands as evaluated in the previous study) were analyzed in the present study. Several improvements were made compared to the previous study regarding the extraction conditions. The extraction was performed for 1 h at 37 °C, using a mechanical agitator. The previous study used a commercially available artificial saliva which had an adjusted pH but did not contain enzymes or salts. This saliva was replaced with complete artificial saliva containing salts, mucin and enzymes. The results indicated that the level of BaP extracted in 100 mL water from 5 g of moist snuff at 37 °C ranged between 1.0% and 1.7% of the initial level present in tobacco. For artificial saliva, the extracted level of BaP was between 2% and 3.9% from the initial level, depending on the moist snuff brand. Although the BaP level extracted from the moist snuff with artificial saliva remained very low, the surfactant character of artificial saliva increased BaP extraction relative to water by a factor of approximately two. This study supports the previous reported finding that the vast majority of BaP in moist snuff is not extracted in water or artificial saliva. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 29 (2020) 21–26] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur (S) is one of six important macronutrients and due to the strong reduction of atmospheric S, it has to be fertilized to cover the S demand of plants - especially of those with a high S demand. In addition to regular S fertilizers, FeSO4 × 7 H2O was tested as a compound for a new S fertilizer. A pot experiment was conducted in order to test if FeSO4 × 7 H2O, a by-product in TiO2 production from ilmenite (FeTiO3), can be used in mixtures with limestone (CaCO3) or hydrated lime [Ca(OH)2] as an S fertilizer for summer rape (Brassica napus L). The results showed that S fertilization in the form of FeSO4 × 7 H2O/lime mixtures resulted in the same effects on the S and phosphorus (P) availability to summer rape as a gypsum/CaCO3 mixture. Application of S as FeSO4 × 7 H2O/lime mixtures resulted in the same seed yields of summer rapes as compared to S application as a gypsum/CaCO3 mixture. These results indicate that FeSO4 × 7 H2O/lime mixtures can be used as a combined mineral S and lime fertilizer.

Higher soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were suspected to result in higher extractability and bioavailability of benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P) in soils. In this study, we investigated the influence of pH, EC and ageing on the extractability of B[ a ]P in two contracting soils (varied largely in soil texture, clay mineralogy and organic carbon content) over 4 months. Dilute sodium hydroxide (0.2 mol L−1) and sodium chloride (0.1 mol L−1) solutions were used to adjust soil pH and EC either separately or simultaneously. Extractability of B[ a ]P in these soils was monitored using a mild solvent extraction using butanol (BuOH, end-over-end shake over 24 h), and an exhaustive mix-solvent extraction using dichloromethane/acetone (DCM/Ace, v:v = 1:1) facilitated by sonication and a subsequent NaOH saponification method following the DCM/Ace extraction. Results showed that increased pH and/or EC significantly increased the B[ a ]P extractability in the sandy soil (GIA). Variance analysis of contribution of pH and/or EC modification and ageing time on changes in B[ a ]P extractability indicated that in GIA > 55% and over 25% of the changes in B[ a ]P extractability was attributed to increased pH&EC and pH only respectively. While ageing resulted in >85% of the change in B[ a ]P extractability in the clayey soil (BDA), following by increased pH&EC (contribution < 15%). Large amount of non-extractable residue (NER) were formed over the ageing period, up to 95% and 79% in GIA/BDA and its modified soils, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between B[ a ]P BuOH extractability and the exhaustive sequential extraction using DCM/Ace followed by NaOH saponification for all soils (p < 0.001). With slopes of the correlations close to 1, our results indicated that the simple mild solvent BuOH extraction was equivalent to the complex sequential DCM/Ace and NaOH saponification extraction in these soils. Unlabelled Image • Ageing process of B[ a ]P was monitored in two soils with pH and/or EC modified. • Elevated pH and/or EC dramatically influenced B[ a ]P extractability in the sandy soil. • While B[ a ]P extractability in the clayey soil was mainly influenced by ageing time. • Large amount of non-extractable B[ a ]P residue was formed during the ageing period. • BuOH extraction was equivalent to an exhaustive sequential extraction in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of phenolic maturity in Vitis vinifera L. requires a multidisciplinary approach to understand how the evolution of berry flavonoids and cell wall material influence the colour and the textures of red wine. This is a challenging issue which involves researchers of viticulture and enology, and the results of their work are of particular interest for the producers of high-quality red wines. This review reports the current knowledge regarding phenolic maturity, describing the sensorial traits of the different compounds, the evolution of berry flavonoids and the methodologies used to evaluate their characteristics. Finally, the role of cell wall material in influencing the extractability of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was shown. By means of a critical review of the results, it can be hypothesised that prolonged ripening improved colour characteristics and mouthfeel properties, thanks to the higher amounts of extractable skin flavonoids associated with lower amounts of seed proanthocyanidins, and to the increased affinity of the cell wall material for the proanthocyanidins most involved in the perception of unpleasant astringency.

Amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) play an important role in wheat allergies and potentially in non-coeliac wheat sensitivity. Food processing could be important to mitigate the pathogenic properties of ATIs, e.g., by denaturation, glycation, enzymatic hydrolysis, cross-linking, and oxidation and reduction. These modifications also impact the solubility and extractability. The complex solubility behaviour of ATI isoforms (water and salt soluble, but also chloroform-methanol soluble, solubility depending on the redox state) becomes even more complex upon processing due to denaturation and (bio)chemical modifications. This significantly hinders the feasibility of quantitative extraction. Moreover, changes in biofunctionality may occur during the process of extraction, and the changes in ATI due to food processing will be more difficult to assess. Heat treatment decreases the extractability of ATIs with water, NaCl, and other buffer extracts, and binding of IgE from wheat-allergic persons to ATIs as observed with Western blotting is decreased or absent. IgE binding is reduced with the total extract in chaotropic and reducing agents. However, it can be increased when the proteins are hydrolyzed by proteases. Fermentation involving certain species of Fructolactobacilli (FLB), followed by baking, decreases the amount of ATIs and IgE binding to ATIs. In yeast-fermented bread, the amount of ATIs decreased in a similar manner, but IgE binding was more prominent, indicating that there was a modification of ATIs that affected the epitope recognition. When isolated ATIs are ingested with high ATI degrading FLB, the immune response in mice is less elevated in vivo , when compared with ATI without high ATI degrading FLB. The pathogenic effects on the skin of dogs and one wheat-allergic child are also decreased when soluble proteins or isolated ATIs are reduced with the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase NADPH system. Glycation on the other hand has been shown to potentiate the allergenic properties of ATIs as evidenced by the large increase in IgE binding. The impact of food processing on the pathogenic properties of ATIs is hardly studied in vivo in humans. There seem to be opportunities to mitigate the pathogenic properties in vitro , but potentiation of pathogenic properties is also frequently observed. This requires a deeper understanding on the impact of food processing on the pathogenicity of ATIs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor VZ declared a past co-authorship with the authors PW and AA., (© 2023 Weegels and America.)

The interphase distribution of lanthanide salts in ternary aqueous–organic systems of various compositions has been studied. It has been shown that the distribution of lanthanide salts in multicomponent aqueous–organic systems differs from their distribution in extraction systems. The order of extractability of lanthanide chlorides and lanthanide nitrates in a 1 : 1 : 1 system (0.5 M NaCl (NaNO3) in water–binary extractant in hexane–isopropyl alcohol) has been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated in vitro extractability of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from moist snuff, when the extracting agent was water or artificial saliva. The extraction was performed on nine brands of moist snuff samples that are commercially available and were purchased from the market in January 2018. The moist snuff brands were selected to represent brands with different tobacco cut size descriptors and flavors. For the measurement of PAHs, two different analytical methods were used, an HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) method for measuring only benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and a GC/MS/MS (Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry) method for measuring 21 PAHs (including BaP). These methods were modifications of preexistent methods reported in the literature. The results for BaP indicated that by extracting 500 mg of freeze-dried moist snuff with 6 portions of 20 mL water (120 mL), or with 4 portions of 20 mL artificial saliva, followed by two portions of 20 mL water, the BaP remains close to 100% in the solid material and it is not detected in the extracting solution. PAHs with a molecular weight similar or heavier than BaP also showed no extractability. Lighter PAHs such as fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and 5-methylanthracene showed a relatively good extractability. An intermediate group including fluoranthene, pyrene, and benz[a]anthracene showed some extractability in the conditions of this in vitro experiment. This study is not a substitute for clinical studies regarding PAH uptake in human users of moist snuff. However, the results indicate very limited bioavailability of BaP and heavier PAHs from moist snuff. Higher, but variable bioavailability was indicated for lighter PAHs. Important implications of these findings are that: 1) measurably different BaP content of two moist snuff products is unlikely to result in any meaningfully different consumer exposure to BaP; and 2) biomarkers for one PAH cannot necessarily be used as a reliable indicator of exposure to another PAH, particularly if the molecular weights of the precursor PAHs differ since their bioavailabilities can be very different. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 28 (2019) 214–223] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Phenolic extraction followed in wines made from Shiraz grapes of different ripeness degree. • As fermentation progressed more phenolics extracted in wines made from riper grapes. • Cell wall polysaccharide deconstruction was a determining factor for phenolic extractability. Abstract This study evaluated the relationship between cell wall breakdown, from Shiraz grapes harvested at three different ripeness levels and the colour and phenolics extracted during alcoholic fermentation into wines. Phenolic differences between the ripeness treatments were minimal after ¼ of the fermentation was completed. However, colour and phenolic content were significantly higher in finished wines made from 25°Brix grapes compared to those from 21°Brix and 23°Brix. Levels of grape cell wall polysaccharide deconstruction during fermentation was a determining correlative factor in relation to phenolic extractability. In this context, the de-pectination observed during ripening was found to enhance this deconstruction or "opening-up" of the grape pomace during fermentation, thus increasing the differential extraction of specific polyphenols, especially polymeric polyphenols, into the wines. Additionally, the degree of cell wall deconstruction seemed to play a role in the possible retention and extraction of specific grape proanthocyanidins, depending on their nature and polymer length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Sample matrices significantly affect in vitro immunodetection of food allergens. • Matrix affected more on the thermostability of salmon parvalbumin than mullet's. • Extractability and immunodetection of parvalbumin were affected by SDS, βME or EDTA. • The entire amino acid sequence of mullet parvalbumin is reported for the first time. Abstract Two fish parvalbumin models were established to study relationships among matrix effect, extractability, and thermostability during in vitro immunodetection using two parvalbumin-specific monoclonal antibodies (3E1 and PARV19). Our results illustrated that matrix-induced thermal instability of parvalbumin was due mainly to physical (hydrophobic effect) and chemical (thiol-disulfide interchange) interactions. The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, surfactant), β-mercaptoethanol (reducing agent) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, metal chelator) during sample preparation could not only increase the extractability of parvalbumin but also enhanced its immunodetection. Our findings demonstrated excess EDTA completely chelated Ca2+ in parvalbumin and rendered it undetectable using PARV19 (a Ca2+-dependent antibody). Overall, our resulted showed that matrix effect on in vitro analyte quantification cannot be underestimated. Any false negative or positive results could lead to severe or life-threatening allergic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to investigate distribution, fractionation, bioavailability and remobilization characteristics of bound soil-aged carbofuran and the effect of ageing in clay soil in a typical field of sugar beet at Loukkos in northwest Morocco. Results indicate that initially there were high levels of bound residues (BR) in the humin fraction, which decreased with incubation time and ageing of the BR. While in the fulvic and humic acid fractions, the amount of BR increased with the ageing of the BR and occurred predominantly (60%) in the fulvic acid fraction. The possibility of the mineralization and release of BR with ageing was studied using fresh soil and an incubation period of 90 days. The results indicate that the ageing of the residues have a great influence on the remobilization and mineralization rates of carbofuran BR; 9.45 to 14.90% of the total BR was released as extractable residues, and 1.95 to 4.15% was mineralized depending on the age of the residues in soil and the soil-aged carbofuran BR. The incorporation of the residues in the humin fraction is considered to be a threat to the environment. On the other hand, the clear prevalence of residues in the fulvic and humic acid fractions, may have an important effect on their bioavailability and movement in soil. Moreover, the re-extractability of BR could pose a potential environmental risk. Consequently, the BR remobilized must be taken into account when assessing for registration processes the environmental risk of pesticides persisting in soils.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of drinking-water treatment residuals (DWTR) in the amendment of a soil affected by mining activities (Aljustrel mine, Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt), considering the effects on its chemical, biochemical and ecotoxicological characteristics. The DWTR had neutral characteristics (pH 6.7) and an organic matter (OM) content of 575 g kg −1 dry matter (DM), which makes them a potential amendment for the remediation of mine degraded soils, as they may correct soil acidity and reduce the extractable metal fraction. An incubation assay, with soil and DWTR, with or without lime, was carried out to test the doses to be used in the assisted-phytostabilization experiment. Based on the results obtained, the doses of DWTR used were the equivalent to 48, 96, and 144 t DM ha −1 , with and without lime application (CaCO 3 11 t DM ha −1 ). Agrostis tenuis Sibth was used as the test plant. Some amendments doses were able to improve soil characteristics (pH and OM content), to decrease metal extractability by 0.01 M CaCl 2 (especially for Cu and Zn), and to allow plant growth, that did not occur in the non-amended soil. Copper, Pb and Zn concentrations in the plant material were lower than the maximum tolerable level for cattle feed, used as an indicator of risk of entry of those metals into the human food chain. The simultaneous application of DWTR (96 and 144 t ha −1 ), with lime, allowed a reduction in the mine soil ecotoxicity, as evaluated by some lethal and sub-lethal bioassays, including luminescence inhibition of Vibrio fischeri , Daphnia magna acute immobilization test, mortality of Thamnocephalus platyurus , and 72-h growth inhibition of the green microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata . However, DWTR were unable to increase soil microbial activity, evaluated by dehydrogenase activity, an important soil-health indicator. Also, OM content and N Kjeldahl , concentrations increased slightly but remained low or very low (P and K extractable concentrations were not affected). In general, the bioassays highlighted a decrease in soil ecotoxicity with the presence of lime and DWTR (144 t DM ha −1 ). In conclusion, DWTR are recommended to amend acidic soils, with high concentrations of trace elements, but an additional application of organic or mineral fertilizers should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]