Comparison of the fatty acid composition of five different fat tissues in Swedish Landrace pig

Fat is one of the most important edible products derived from slaughtered pigs and its fatty acid composition depends, among others, on the location in the carcass. The main objective of the present study was to compare the fatty acid composition of the five different fat tissues (taken from the lard, subcutaneous fat from back area, intramuscular fat from M. Longissimus dorsi, intermuscular fat from round and subcutaneous fat from belly region) in Swedish Landrace pig breed. A significantly higher share of total polyunsaturated fatty acid content was found in intermuscular fat (especially higher share of linoleic (18:2 n6) and γ-linolenic (18:3 n-3) acid), compared to other fat depots (p<0.05). Total saturated fatty acid content was highest in lard fat, mainly due to a higher share of stearic acid (18:0). The highest share of total n-6 fatty acids was found in intermuscular fat, while intramuscular fat had the highest n-6/n-3 ratio (which is inconsistent with the nutritional recommendable values). Subcutaneous fat from back and belly region had similar content of major fatty acids. The obtained data confirm that the various pig adipose tissues are different in their fatty acid composition

Preliminary investigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in street dust of Pančevo, Serbia

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a common name for a large group of organic compounds with two or more fused aromatic rings. PAHs are well known for their toxicity [1,2]. Because of that they keep attracting great interest on many environmental studies. PAHs can have natural or anthropogenic origin. In nature, PAHs are produced during fires and volcanic eruptions, during formation of petroleum and coal, as a result of diagenesis of organic matter and by biosynthesis. The main anthropogenic sources of PAHs are processing of coal and crude oil, combustion and vehicle traffic [3]. Urban street dust is the sink of PAHs from different sources [4,5]. There is a general agreement that the higher amounts of PAHs in street dusts, the higher human exposure risk to these pollutants via inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact [6]. The aim of this study was a preliminary investigation of PAHs in street dust of the Pančevo city, Serbia. A representative composite street dust sample was collected from different locations in the Pančevo city. Using a set of stainless steel sieves the particles were fractioned into three sizes with diameters of: < 63 μm, 63 – 250 μm, and 250 – 500 μm. The street dust particles were extracted and the extracts were cleaned up and fractionated using column chromatography. PAHs were analysed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in a selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The ions monitored were: m/z = 128 (naphthalene), m/z = 152 (acenaphthylene), m/z = 154 (acenaphthene), m/z = 166 (fluorene), m/z = 178 (phenanthrene and anthracene), m/z = 202 (fluoranthene and pyrene), m/z = 228 (benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene), m/z = 252 (benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo[e]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene), m/z = 276 (indeno[1,2,3-c,d] pyrene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene), and m/z = 278 (dibenzo[a,h]anthracene). The results showed that all PAHs investigated were present in the analysed composite sample. Furthermore, a non-target screening of the extracts indicated presence of some other environmentally important aromatic hydrocarbons such as: acetophenone, benzophenone, biphenyl and retene. The analysis of the distribution pattern of the PAHs different in size in different size fractions revealed a possible size fractionation of three- and tetracyclic PAHs. These results indicate that PAHs represent an important component in the street dust of the Pančevo city and point to the need for future investigation of the dust samples from this locality

Naftni zagađivači u aluvijalnim sedimentima - uticaj intenziteta kontakta sa podzemnim vodama na dejstvo mikroorganizama

The influence of the intensity of interaction between oil pollutants and ground waters in alluvial sediments on the effect of microbial activity was investigated in this work. The study was based on a comparison of detailed analyses of two fractions of an oil pollutant originating from a Danube alluvial formation near the Pancevo Oil Refinery: fraction 1. separated from the aqueous layer by decantation. presumed to have been in less intensive interaction with water. and fraction 2. isolated from the aqueous emulsion by extraction with chloroform. presumed to have been in stronger interaction with water, Both fractions were shown to originate from the same type of oil pollutant. Nevertheless. significant compositional differences between the two fractions were observed. A significantly pronounced domination of even carbon number homologues of C-18-C-24 n-alkanes in fraction 2. atypical for crude oil pollutants, compared to the corresponding distribution observed in fraction 1, suggested a more intense activity. i.e., a much better effect of microorganisms in direct contact with the oil pollutant within the aqueous environment. The identification of even carbon number C-14-C-18 n-alcohols and C-14-C-18 fatty acids, as well as cholesterol, in fraction 2, suggested that microorganisms of the algal type in non-photosynthetic conditions were most probably responsible for the mentioned microbial processes.Procenjivan je uticaj intenziteta interakcije između naftnog zagađivača i podzemne vode aluvijalne formacije na intenzitet mikrobiološkog dejstva. U tom cilju poređani su sastavi dve frakcije naftnog zagađivača iz jednog pijezometra (krug Rafinerije nafte Pančevo, aluvijalna formacija reke Dunav): frakcije 1, odvojene od vode dekantovanjem (slabija interakcija sa vodom) i frakcije 2, izdvojene iz vode ekstrakcijom (jača interakcija sa vodom). Dokazano je da obe frakcije vode poreklo od istog naftnog zagađivača. Znatno veća obilnost normalnih alkana sa izrazitom dominacijom parnih homologa (C18–C24) u frakciji 2 nego u frakciji 1 ukazuje na intenzivniju aktivnost mikroorganizama u vodenoj sredini. Alkoholi normalnog niza sa parnim brojem ugljenikovih atoma (C14–C20), holesterol i masne kiseline normalnog niza sa parnim brojem ugljenikovih atoma (C14–C18) u frakciji 2 dokaz su da su za mikrobilošku aktivnost u nefotosintetičkim uslovima odgovorni mikroorganizmi algalnog tipa

Phytoremediation of outdoor air : a review

For the purpose of improving a country's economy, urbanization, industrialization, and technical advancement all had detrimental environmental effects. One of the most serious consequences of the aforementioned phenomenon is air pollution. Various air pollutants emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources have been found to have negative effects on the environment and human health after prolonged exposure. Insufficient technologies are used to reduce air pollution as a result of problems in the industry sector, including high maintenance costs, machine failure, and expensive technical equipment. Technological innovations like phytoremediation, which is sustainable and friendly to the environment, are being used to improve outdoor air quality. Cost efficiency, convenience of in-situ application, eco-friendly treatment, and the ability to improve the aesthetic value of the nearby environment are advantages of phytoremediation over other conventional remediation approaches. Numerous studies in the field of the outdoor air phytoremediation have found highly beneficial results, but also challenges in applying the suggested method. Plant tolerance to pollutants, environmental parameters, plant-specific features, composition of air pollutants, uncertainty in plant-microbe interactions, and plant antagonism have all emerged as a result of the use of plants in outdoor air pollution remediation. To become a complementary or alternative tool for engineering-based remediation methods, the remedy process must be optimized with supplementary treatments or the best combination junction with other methods must be found

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Three Ocimum basilicum L. Cultivars from Serbia

Basil essential oil (BEO) contains a wide range of chemical compounds whose content may vary depending on chemotypes, environmental conditions, agronomic techniques and particularly the origin of the plant. In our present study, essential oils (EOs) were isolated by hydrodistillation method from dry herbs of three basil cultivars and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Two of the tested cultivars belong to sweet basil group (B-1 and B-2) while the third one was large leafed 'Genovese' basil (B-3). EO content in the dry herb was 0.65%, 0.41% and 0.62% respectively. The main classes of compounds of B1EO and B3EO were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38.39% and 37.95%), oxygenated monoterpenes (25.44% and 28.04%) and phenylpropanoids (17.43% and 15.71%). The main constituents of both EOs were monoterpene alcohol linalool (13.68% and 15.38%), phenoyl derivate eugenol (10.83% and 8.97%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbon alpha-bergamotene (8.12% and 9.25%). In both EOs, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene was detected in considerable amount (7.03% and 8.07%). The most abundant compound classes in B2EO were oxygenated monoterpenes (52.07%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (24.27%) and phenylpropanoids (10.95%). Linalool was the dominant compound (40.97%), followed by epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene (8.70%) and methyl chavicol (7.92%). The results showed complex chemical composition of BEOs and pointed out the presence of biologically active compounds of importance for different branches of the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry. Although there are differences in the chemical composition of the BEOs, the obtained results show that all of the tested cultivars are rich in compounds which are responsible for biological activities

Sinalbin degradation products in mild yellow mustard paste

Sinalbin degradation products in mild yellow mustard paste were investigated. The analyzed material consisted of a mild yellow mustard paste condiment and ground white mustard seeds which were originally used in the mustard paste production process. The samples were extracted in a Soxhlet extraction system and analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The only sinalbin degradation product in ground mustard seeds was 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetonitrile. The most abundant sinalbin degradation product in yellow mustard paste was 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol. Other compounds identified in this sample were: 4-methyl phenol, 4-ethyl phenol, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol and 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethanoic acid

Phthalate esters in glass jar metal lids from Serbian markets

Phthalate esters are plasticizers which are used to impart flexibility in PVC resins but also in other resins such as polyvinyl acetates and polyurethanes. A wide range of consumer products contain specific members of this family of chemicals. Phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC. Because of that they can enter the environment through losses during manufacturing processes and by leaching from final products [1]. Phthalate esters are suspected of having endocrine disrupting properties [2,3]. Exposure to high concentrations was shown to induce fetal death, cancer, liver and kidney injury and reproductive toxicity in animals [4,5,6]. Due to growing health concerns and environmental awareness, producers all over the world are increasingly forced to use non-phthalate plasticizers. However, phthalate esters are still found in many products, even in those which are used for food packaging and storage. The aim of our study was investigation of glass jar metal lids for presence of phthalate esters. Different glass jars with screw-on metal lids were bought at supermarkets in Belgrade, Serbia. All metal lids had a plastic seal ring that goes between the glass lid and the rim of the jar. The glass jars were washed according to the usual laboratory procedure, filled with distilled water, closed with screw-on metal lids and left upside-down for three days at room temperature. The water from glass jars was extracted with hexane. Hexane extracts were dried with Na2SO4, and evaporated to dryness under stream of nitrogen. Masses of all extracts were 0.2 mg. Procedural blank - a control sample containing distilled water in a glass jar without a metal lid was analyzed according to the same procedure. The resulting mass was negligible. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–MS was conducted using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph (HP5-MS column, 30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film thickness, He carrier gas, 1.5 cm3 min-1), coupled to an Agilent 5975C mass selective detector (70 eV). GC-MS analysis revealed that most of the compounds identified in these extracts were phthalate esters. However, the lids were divided into two distinct groups, based on the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol chain of the phthalate esters identified. One group contained phthalate esters with long alkyl chains (9, 10 or more C atoms). The second group contained phthalate esters with short alkyl chains (usually 4C atoms) with different degree of branching. Typical for the second group of lids were also squalene and 13-docosenamide, common plastic additives. It can be concluded that, regardless of the type of the containing phthalate esters, 0.2 mg of these compounds can migrate from the investigated metal lids into distilled water with which it is in contact, during three days at room temperature. Considering the composition of food products which are usually packed in this kind of containers but also the fact that the increased temperature is usually used during their production process, it can be presumed that migration of phthalate esters from metal lids into the food products contained in the glass jars might be even higher

Phthalate esters in glass jar metal lids from Serbian markets

Phthalate esters are plasticizers which are used to impart flexibility in PVC resins but also in other resins such as polyvinyl acetates and polyurethanes. A wide range of consumer products contain specific members of this family of chemicals. Phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC. Because of that they can enter the environment through losses during manufacturing processes and by leaching from final products [1]. Phthalate esters are suspected of having endocrine disrupting properties [2,3]. Exposure to high concentrations was shown to induce fetal death, cancer, liver and kidney injury and reproductive toxicity in animals [4,5,6]. Due to growing health concerns and environmental awareness, producers all over the world are increasingly forced to use non-phthalate plasticizers. However, phthalate esters are still found in many products, even in those which are used for food packaging and storage. The aim of our study was investigation of glass jar metal lids for presence of phthalate esters. Different glass jars with screw-on metal lids were bought at supermarkets in Belgrade, Serbia. All metal lids had a plastic seal ring that goes between the glass lid and the rim of the jar. The glass jars were washed according to the usual laboratory procedure, filled with distilled water, closed with screw-on metal lids and left upside-down for three days at room temperature. The water from glass jars was extracted with hexane. Hexane extracts were dried with Na2SO4, and evaporated to dryness under stream of nitrogen. Masses of all extracts were 0.2 mg. Procedural blank - a control sample containing distilled water in a glass jar without a metal lid was analyzed according to the same procedure. The resulting mass was negligible. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–MS was conducted using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph (HP5-MS column, 30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film thickness, He carrier gas, 1.5 cm3 min-1), coupled to an Agilent 5975C mass selective detector (70 eV). GC-MS analysis revealed that most of the compounds identified in these extracts were phthalate esters. However, the lids were divided into two distinct groups, based on the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol chain of the phthalate esters identified. One group contained phthalate esters with long alkyl chains (9, 10 or more C atoms). The second group contained phthalate esters with short alkyl chains (usually 4C atoms) with different degree of branching. Typical for the second group of lids were also squalene and 13-docosenamide, common plastic additives. It can be concluded that, regardless of the type of the containing phthalate esters, 0.2 mg of these compounds can migrate from the investigated metal lids into distilled water with which it is in contact, during three days at room temperature. Considering the composition of food products which are usually packed in this kind of containers but also the fact that the increased temperature is usually used during their production process, it can be presumed that migration of phthalate esters from metal lids into the food products contained in the glass jars might be even higher

Analysis of Cedrus Atlantica (Atlas cedar) Needles as Potential Passive Samplers of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Air

Poster presented at: 17th European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry – EMEC 17; Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2016; Inverness, ScotlandAbstract: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5160

Comparison of Conventional and Novel Extraction Techniques of Phenolic Compounds from Plants

Phenolic compounds are the most common secondary metabolites in vascular plants with enormous structural diversities. Many phenolic compounds occur constitutively and determine the basic life processes of plants, but some stress factors contribute to increases in or de novo synthesis of phenolics, such as infection, plant tissue damage, UV radiation and elevated temperature. The interest in the extraction of phenolic compounds has been growing, due to their importance and possible positive effect on human health. Also, determination of phenolic compounds can be very helpful in estimation of pharmacological activity of medicinal plants. The recovery of these phenolic compounds from plants is mainly dependent on the method of extraction. The most utilized conventional methods are maceration, decoction, percolation, infusion, digestion, serial exhaustive extraction (SEE), and solid-liquid extraction (SLE) or Soxhlet extraction. These methods are mostly designated by utilizing larger volume of extraction solvents and manual procedures that are labor-intensive and mostly dependent on the investigator. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures during conventional solvent extraction may cause degradation of the phenolic compounds in plant cells and thus reduce the maximum recovery yields of the compounds. According to some studies, greener novel extraction methods have been generated with the purpose of filling the missing gaps of conventional methods. Novel extraction technologies like accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), shock wave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), supercritical CO2 extraction (SC–CO2), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) are getting more attention because of their shorter time and lower energy consumption, and higher extraction efficiency. These methods are also known to be environmentally friendly since they use smaller volumes of extraction solvents. The demand for new bioactive compounds will continue to encourage the search for innovative extraction techniques to achieve appreciable recovery yields from the plant materials