Authentication of Iberian dry-cured ham: New approaches by polymorphic fingerprint and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry

Foods with high added value, such as Iberian dry-cured products, are susceptible to fraud. Many attempts have been made to differentiate the commercial/quality categories of Iberian dry-cured hams by analytical determinations. However, as discrimination by such means is not fully reliable, legislation to prevent fraudulent practice is based on administrative controls and certification. Here, new analytical approaches based on ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (UHRMS) and crystallographic techniques applied to the lipid fraction, in combination with chemometrics, are studied. The results of the triacylglycerol profile determined by UHRMS and the fingerprint provided by the thermograms obtained by differential scanning calorimetry offer the promise of analytic discrimination of Iberian dry-cured ham categories. In addition, these determinations, in combination with chemometrics, may prove extremely useful to authenticate many foods containing high to moderate amounts of lipids

Aplication of headspace techniques to the extraction of volatile organic compounds from paprika oleoresin

5 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla.-- Investigación.[ES] Se han aplicado las técnicas de espacio de cabeza estático y dinámico para la extracción y concentración de los compuestos orgánicos volátiles de la oleorresina de pimentón. En espacio de cabeza dinámico se han utilizado las variantes de arrastre con borboteo y espacio de cabeza dinámico propiamente dicho. Con el fin de estudiar la influencia de la temperatura en ambas técnicas de extracción, se han realizado pruebas a tres temperaturas diferentes en cada una de ellas, estudiando la influencia de la misma en el proceso de aislamiento de los CVOs. La separación e identificación de los CVOs extraídos se ha llevado a cabo mediante HRGC/MS. Todas las técnicas presentadas son de aplicación simple y reproducibles con facilidad.[EN] Static and dynamic headspace techniques have been applied to the extraction and concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paprika oleoresin. In dynamic headspace, both purge and trap and sweeping techniques have been used. In order to show the influence of temperature on the extraction techniques, three differents temperatures have been applied to each technique. The separation and identification of the extracted VOCs has been carried out through HRGC/MS. The extraction techniques are simple and easily reproducible.Peer reviewe

Search for gamma-ray emission from a galactic supernova with the anticoincidence system of SPI

International audienceThe detection of the very early gamma-emission of a Type Ia supernova (SNIa) could provide a deep insight on the explosion mechanism and nature of the progenitor. However this has not been yet possible as a consequence of the expected low luminosity and the distance at which all the events have occurred up to now. A SNIa occurring in our Galaxy could provide a unique opportunity to perform such measurement. The problem is that the optical flux would probably be so attenuated by interstellar extinction that would prevent triggering the observations with gamma-spectrometers at the due time. In this paper we analyse the possibility of using the anticoincidence system (ACS) of the spectrometer SPI on board of the INTEGRAL space observatory for detecting the early gamma-ray emission of a SNIa as a function of the explosion model and distance as well as of pointing direction. Our results suggest that such detection is possible at about 6 - 12 days after the explosion and, at the same time, we can discard missing any hidden explosion during the lifetime of INTEGRAL

Evidence for a specific pattern of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in bivalves

7 pages, 9 figures, 1 table.-- PMID: 14655693 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Nov 15, 2003.The occurrence of the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) was studied in four different bivalve species (mussels, oysters, carpetshells, and cupped oysters) collected in three different sampling stations at the Spanish Coast from 1994 onward. The analysis revealed an unexpected isomer distribution of chlorosubstituted dioxins and furans characterized by a complex mixture of TCDF and TCDD, including both toxic and nontoxic isomers and highly chlorinated congeners, mainly OCDD. Principal component analysis revealed similarities between identical species collected from the different sites. A dioxin fingerprint could be easily distinguished between bivalve species collected in the same sampling point. The dioxin fingerprint found in filter-feeders was also compared to other marine species showing remarkable differences. Due to the habits of the bivalve species, sediment samples were also analyzed within this study. No similarities in the pattern were found for both matrices, the sediments and the bivalves. In the absence of a potential source of these toxicants affecting these species the hypothesis of a specific metabolism of the bivalves is suggested. No values higher than 4 pg WHO-TEQ/g whole weight were determined, and all samples met the current limit proposed by European Regulations. Independently of the bivalve species considered, the major contribution to the total WHO-TEQ comes from 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, at about the same levels of the 2,3,7,8-TCDD and 1,2,3,7,8-PCDD.The authors are grateful to M. G. Martrat, M. A. Adrados, J. Sauló, and M. Ábalos, for their helpful collaboration in this study and their encouragement. The authors also would like to thank Eric Jover for the statistics, Nuria García for the helpful comments, and Dr. Bert van Bavel and Prof. Gunilla Lindström from the University of Orebro for their helpful comments in the final conclusions.Peer reviewe

Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in adipose tissue from Spanish people

We have analyzed 19 samples of human adipose tissue obtained from general population of Madrid (Spain), determining the levels of tetra- to octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans. We found that PCDD are present in higher concentrations than PCDFs, with the levels for PCDDs increasing by about two orders of magnitude with chlorination, from tetra- to octa-. The distribution of PCDFs among groups of congeners was more uniform than that of PCDDs. The concentration of penta-, hexa- and hepta-congeners was usually below 70 pg/g. Levels and patterns of PCDDs and PCDFs in Spanish adipose tissues were similar to those found in other industrialized countries.Peer reviewe

Polychlorinated naphthalenes in sediments from the Venice and Orbetello lagoons, Italy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contamination caused by polychlorinated naphthalenes in two polluted Mediterranean lagoons. Surface sediment samples from Venice and Orbetello lagoons were analysed using HRGC-HRMS. The levels of the sum of mono- to octa-CN ranged from 0.03 to 1.51 ng/g. Differences in PCN levels were observed as a function of the sampling site, with levels at the industrial sites exceeding those at the control sites. Although the PCN patterns and profiles resembled one another in different sediment samples, they differed considerably when compared with those in the technical PCN formulation Halowax 1014.Peer reviewe