EMQAL: Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories

The Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories (EMQAL) is a two-year Joint Master Degree. The course is funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Programme, providing a number of attractive scholarships for European and non-European students. EMQAL prepares professionals for analytical laboratories, focusing on laboratory management and quality systems, along with complementing their technical knowledge. The EMQAL aims at training students in the most relevant issues concerning quality systems and management in analytical laboratories, and to become an expert in: Quality management, Analytical methods and Data Analysis. EMQAL promotes mobility. The students will attend one academic year of lectures in one of the European universities of the EMQAL consortium, and a 12 months master thesis at other European university, with the possibility to spend three-months in one of the non-EU partners. The language of instruction and examination is English. Further information is available at www.emqal.org

Antimony in Polyethylene Terephthalate-Bottled Beverages: The Migration Puzzle

A novel strategy to assess the main variables that potentially affect the migration of antimony from PET bottles to beverages, including mineral waters and juices, is herein proposed. In a preliminary step, an LC-ICP-MS method previously used for water analysis was optimized to correct identify Sb species present in the studied matrices using HRMS. Subsequently, the influence of temperature and storage time up to 30 days on Sb migration from PET bottles into peach and pineapple juices of the same brand was studied. Storing PET bottled drinks at elevated temperatures (i.e., in a hot car or in summer) can cause antimony migration to exceed the limits allowed in the EU or USA. Because the behavior observed differed from the results reported for Sb migration in mineral waters, a second approach was proposed: three mineral water and two juice samples were kept in different PET containers and stored at an elevated temperature (up to 60 °C) to understand the role of the PET type and matrix simultaneously. This study demonstrated that both matrix characteristics and type of PET bottle greatly influence antimony leaching, highlighting the need to consider these variables together when conducting migration experiments. The obtained results can be helpful for developing future legislation concerning migration of pollutants from packing to food commodities

Migration of antimony from polyethylene terephthalate used in mineral water bottles.

The influence of storage time and temperature on Sb migration from PET bottles into mineral water was studied in short-term tests lasting up to 15 days and long-term studies lasting up to 220 days. Samples purchased were stored in three different coloured bottles: clear (CL), light blue (LB) and dark blue (DB). Sb migration was assayed by HG-AFS for total determination and HPLC-ICP-MS for speciation analysis. Migration studies showed that waters stored at 4 and 20 oC were not subject to Sb migration. At 40 oC there was a significant increase in Sb concentration, although the maximum limit established by the European Union (5.0 ug/L) was not exceeded, whereas at 60 oC samples were subject to considerable Sb migration after 30 days of storage. In this case, the maximum limit established by the European Union was exceeded and both Sb (V) and Sb (III) were detected

Arsenosugar standards extracted from algae: Isolation, characterization and use for identification and quantification purposes

Sulfate (SO4-sug) and sulfonate (SO3-sug) arsenosugar standard solutions were obtained using preparative liquid chromatography. Several commercial algae samples were characterized (total contents and speciation) to select the most appropriate in relation to their arsenosugar contents. Water extracts from the selected sample (Fucus vesiculosus) were fractionated using a Hamilton PRP-X100 preparative column, and the presence of arsenic species in the isolated fractions was ascertained by IC-ICP-MS. Two of the fractions successfully presented only one arsenic species corresponding to sulfate and sulfonate arsenosugars at suitable concentrations. To unequivocally confirm the presence of both compounds, high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESITOF/ MS) was used and the exact mass determined with errors lower than 0.5 ppm. The standard solutions obtained were successfully used to identify and quantify SO4-sug and SO3-sug in several edible algae samples purchased in local market. Total arsenic content for analysed samples ranged from 34 to 57 mg·kg-1, concentration values found for SO3-sug ranged from 5 to 36 mg As·kg-1 and SO4-sug was only found in fucus with a concentration of 9,3 mg As·kg-1

Characterization of Musts, Wines, and Sparkling Wines Based on Their Elemental Composition Determined by ICP-OES and ICP-MS

t: Samples from the different processing stages in the elaboration of sparkling wine (cava) including must, base wine, and sparkling wine of Pinot Noir and Xarel·lo grape varieties from different vineyard qualities (A, B, C, D) have been analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques to determine their elemental composition. The resulting data has been used to characterize these products according to oenological features and product qualities. For this purpose, box plot diagrams, bar charts, and principal components analysis (PCA) have been used. The study of the behavior of each given species has pointed out the relevance of some elements as markers or descriptors of winemaking processes. Among others, Cu and K are abundant in musts and their concentrations progressively decrease through the cava production process. S levels suddenly increase at the base wine step (and further decay) due to the addition of sulfites as preserving agents. Finally, concentrations of Na, Ca, Fe, and Mg increase from the first fermentation due to the addition of clarifying agents such as bentonite. PCA has been applied to try to extract solid and global conclusions on trends and chemical markers within the groups of samples more easily and efficiently than more conventional approaches

Assessment of arsenic bioaccessibility in raw and cooked edible mushrooms by a PBET method

The present study reports arsenic analysis in Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus before and after being cooked. Furthermore, arsenic in raw and cooked mushroom was determined in the gastric and gastrointestinal bioaccessible fractions obtained after simulating human digestion by means of an in vitro physiologically based extraction test (PBET). Several certified reference materials (SRM 1568a, SRM 1570a, CRM 7503-a, BC211 and IPE-120) were analysed to evaluate the proposed methods. Total arsenic content was 1393, 181 and 335 μg As kg-1 for L. edodes, A. bisporus and P. ostreatus, respectively, and decreased by between 53% and 71% in boiled mushroom and less than 11% in griddled mushroom. High bioaccessibility was observed in raw, boiled and griddled mushroom, ranging from 74% to 89% and from 80% to 100% for gastric and gastrointestinal extracts, respectively, suggesting the need to consider the potential health risk of consumption of the mushrooms analysed

Antimony speciation in spirits stored in PET bottles: identification of a novel antimony complex

Total antimony and its +V and +III oxidation state species were determined in twelve spirit samples (Greek raki and tsipouro) stored in polyethylene terephthalate bottles. Reliable and reproducible results were obtained following direct analysis by using ICP-MS providing total Sb concentrations between 0.4-4 mu g L-1. Antimony speciation analysis by LC-ICP-MS was also assessed, showing the presence of both inorganic Sb species along with an unknown Sb complex, which was the predominant species in all samples analysed. The structure of this complex was investigated by using liquid chromatography with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. The analysis gave evidence for an acetaldehyde-bisulphite pyruvate Sb complex with the formula: C7H14O12S2Sb. The proposed ligands are organic substances expected to be present in the raki matrix. In addition, the influence of high temperature storage conditions and extended exposure times up to two weeks, on Sb migration from PET bottles into raki samples was investigated. Total Sb and Sb species content was determined by ICP-MS and LC-ICP-MS, respectively. The concentrations determined were in the range of 5.6 to 28 mu g Sb per L spirit after a week of storage at 60 degrees C. In which case, inorganic Sb(V) and Sb(III) became the predominant species in comparison to the 'novel' organic Sb complex

Data fusion approaches for the characterization of musts and wines based on biogenic amine and elemental composition

Samples from various winemaking stages of the production of sparkling wines using different grape varieties were characterized based on the profile of biogenic amines (BAs) and the elemental composition. Liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) combined with precolumn derivatization with dansyl chloride was used to quantify BAs, while inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques were applied to determine a wide range of elements. Musts, base wines, and sparkling wines were analyzed accordingly, and the resulting data were subjected to further chemometric studies to try to extract information on oenological practices, product quality, and varieties. Although good descriptive models were obtained when considering each type of data separately, the performance of data fusion approaches was assessed as well. In this regard, low-level and mid-level approaches were evaluated, and from the results, it was concluded that more comprehensive models can be obtained when joining data of different natures

Aplicación de la metodologia de aula invertida 'Team Based Learning' en cinco assignaturas en la Facultad de Química a través de un proyecto de aprendizaje reflexivo/experiencial

La metodología de Aula Inversa "Team Based Learing" (TBL) se ha aplicado en 5 asignaturas en la Facultat de Química de la Universitat de Barcelona. El proyecto se ha desarrollado en un entorno reflexivo/experiencial en el que los profesores (10 en total)han actuado como profesores y observadores. Este funcionamiento les ha permitido adquirir una experiencia que facilitará la futura aplicación de la metodología TBL, la cual ha sido valorada positivamente por docentes y estudiantes

EMQAL: Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories

The Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories (EMQAL) is a two-year Joint Master Degree. The course is funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Programme, providing a number of attractive scholarships for European and non-European students. EMQAL prepares professionals for analytical laboratories, focusing on laboratory management and quality systems, along with complementing their technical knowledge. The EMQAL aims at training students in the most relevant issues concerning quality systems and management in analytical laboratories, and to become an expert in: Quality management, Analytical methods and Data Analysis. EMQAL promotes mobility. The students will attend one academic year of lectures in one of the European universities of the EMQAL consortium, and a 12 months master thesis at other European university, with the possibility to spend three-months in one of the non-EU partners. The language of instruction and examination is English. Further information is available at www.emqal.org