Overview of the techniques used for the study of non-terrestrial bodies: Proposition of novel non-destructive methodology

Meteorites and impact glasses have been largely analysed using different techniques, but most studies have been focused on their geologicalemineralogical characterization and isotopic ratios, mainly of a destructive nature. However, much more information can be gained by applying novel non-destructive analytical procedures and techniques that have been scarcely used to analyse these materials. This overview presents some new methodologies to study these materials and compares these new approaches with the commonly used ones. Techniques such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), for elemental characterization, the hyphenated Raman spectroscopy- SEM/EDS and the combination of them, allow extracting simultaneous information from elemental, molecular and structural data of the studied sample; furthermore, the spectroscopic image capabilities of such techniques allow a better understanding of the mineralogical distribution. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (project ESP2014-56138-C3-2-R

Determination of diquat by flow injection-chemiluminescence

A simple, economic, sensitive and rapid method for the determination of the pesticide diquat was described. This new method was based on the coupling of flow injection analysis methodology and direct chemiluminescent detection; to the authors' knowledge, this approach had not been used up to now with this pesticide. It was based on its oxidation with ferricyanide in alkaline medium; significant improvements in the analytical signal were achieved by using high temperatures and quinine as sensitiser. Its high throughput (144 h(-1)), together with its low limit of detection (2 ng mL(-1)), achieved without need of preconcentration steps, permitted the reliable quantification of diquat over the linear range of (0.01-0.6) mu g mL(-1) in samples from different origins (river, tap, mineral and ground waters), even in the presence of a 40-fold concentration of paraquat, a pesticide commonly present in the commercial formulations of diquat.López-Paz, JL.; Catalá-Icardo, M.; Antón Garrido, B. (2009). Determination of diquat by flow injection-chemiluminescence. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 394(4):1073-1079. doi:10.1007/s00216-009-2609-zS107310793944Hayes WJ Jr, Laws ER Jr (1991) Handbook of pesticide toxicology, Academic Press, San DiegoUS Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/06WDW/contaminants/dw_contamfs/diquat.html (accessed in August 2008)Horwitz W (2000) Official methods of analysis of AOAC International 17th edition. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD, USAHara S, Sasaki N, Takase D, Shiotsuka S, Ogata K, Futagami K, Tamura K (2007) Anal Sci 23(5):523–531Rial Otero R, Cancho Grande B, Pérez Lamela C, Simal Gandara J, Aria Estevez M (2006) J Chromatogr Sci 44(9):539–542Aramendia MA, Borau V, Lafont F, Marinas JM, Moreno JM, Porras JM, Urbano FJ (2006) Food Chem 97(1):181–188Nuñez O, Moyano E, Galceran MT (2004) Anal Chim Acta 525(2):183–190Martinez Vidal JL, Belmonte Vega A, Sanchez Lopez FJ, Garrido Frenich AJ (2004) Chromatogr A 1050(2):179–184Lee XP, Kumazawa T, Fujishiro M, Hasegawa C, Arinobu T, Seno H, Sato K (2004) J Mass Spectrom 39(10):1147–1152De Almeida RM, Yonamine M (2007) J Chromatogr B 853(1–2):260–264De Souza D, Machado SAS (2006) Electroanalysis 18(9):862–872De Souza D, Da Silva MRC, Machado SAS (2006) Electroanalysis 18(23):2305–2313Picó Y, Rodriguez R, Manes J (2003) Trends Anal Chem 22(3):133–151Ishiwata T (2004) Bunseki Kagaku 53(8):863–864Carneiro MC, Puignou L, Galcerán MT (2000) Anal Chim Acta 408:263Luque M, Rios A, Valcarcel M (1998) Analyst 123(11):2383–2387Perez Ruiz T, Martínez Lozano C, Tomas V (1991) Int J Environ Anal Chem 44(4):243–252Perez Ruiz T, Martínez Lozano C, Tomas V (1991) Anal Chim Acta 244(1):99–104Townshend A (1990) Analyst 115:495–500López Paz JL, Catalá Icardo M (2008) Anal Chim Acta 625:173–179Pawlicová Z, Sahuquillo I, Catalá Icardo M, García Mateo JV, Martínez Calatayud J (2006) Anal Sci 22:29–34Albert García JR, Catalá Icardo M, Martínez Calatayud J (2006) Talanta 69:608–614Tomlin CDS (1997) The pesticide manual, 11th edn.The British Crop Protection CouncilUKCatalá-Icardo M, Martínez-Calatayud J (2008) Crit Rev Anal Chem 38:118–130Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. http://www.marm.es/ (accessed in September 2008)US Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/OGWWDW/contaminants (accessed in October 2008

Effect of the acrylic acid content on the permeability and water uptake of latex films

Acrylic acid (AA) is a monomer commonly employed in emulsion polymerization to provide electrostatic colloidal stability and improve specific film performance. The addition of AA not only modifies the kinetics of the polymerization, but also it takes part in the interaction between colloidal particles, which has a strong influence on their packing and consequent latex film properties. In this contribution a theoretical modeling of the latex film formation is presented and compared to experimental results: water vapor permeability and latex film capacitance are studied as a function of AA content. It has been shown that water uptake is mainly affected by film morphology which in turn is defined by intercolloidal interaction and drying rate.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Status, sources and contamination levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in urban and agricultural areas: a preliminary review in central–southern Italian soils

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are synthetic chemicals commonly used in agricultural activities to kill pests and are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They can be detected in different environmental media, but soil is considered an important reservoir due to its retention capacity. Many different types of OCPs exist, which can have different origins and pathways in the environment. It is therefore important to study their distribution and behaviour in the environment, starting to build a picture of the potential human health risk in different contexts. This study aimed at investigating the regional distribution, possible sources and contamination levels of 24 OCP compounds in urban and rural soils from central and southern Italy. One hundred and forty-eight topsoil samples (0–20 cm top layer) from 78 urban and 70 rural areas in 11 administrative regions were collected and analysed by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). Total OCP residues in soils ranged from nd (no detected) to 1043 ng/g with a mean of 29.91 ng/g and from nd to 1914 ng/g with a mean of 60.16 ng/g in urban and rural area, respectively. Endosulfan was the prevailing OCP in urban areas, followed by DDTs, Drins, Methoxychlor, HCHs, Chlordane-related compounds and HCB. In rural areas, the order of concentrations was Drins > DDTs > Methoxychlor > Endosulfans > HCHs > Chlordanes > HCB. Diagnostic ratios and robust multivariate analyses revealed that DDT in soils could be related to historical application, whilst (illegal) use of technical DDT or dicofol may still occur in some urban areas. HCH residues could be related to both historical use and recent application, whilst there was evidence that modest (yet significant) application of commercial technical HCH may still be happening in urban areas. Drins and Chlordane compounds appeared to be mostly related to historical application, whilst Endosulfan presented a complex mix of results, indicating mainly historical origin in rural areas as well as potential recent applications on urban areas. Contamination levels were quantified by Soil Quality Index (SoQI), identifying high levels in rural areas of Campania and Apulia, possibly due to the intensive nature of some agricultural practices in those regions (e.g., vineyards and olive plantations). The results from this study (which is in progress in the remaining regions of Italy) will provide an invaluable baseline for OCP distribution in Italy and a powerful argument for follow-up studies in contaminated areas. It is also hoped that similar studies will eventually constitute enough evidence to push towards an institutional response for more adequate regulation as well as a full ratification of the Stockholm Convention