Application of Analytical Chemistry to Foods and Food Technology

Fabrication of dual layered double hydroxide/cobalt oxide sorbent on pencil graphite for solid-phase microextraction and HPLC analysis of environmental pollutants

This study describes the synthesis of Co/Al-LDH through an electrochemical method on a pencil graphite substrate, followed by the partial conversion of Co/Al-LDH to Co3O4 via a calcination method on the same substrate. The obtained sorbent served as an extraction phase for the direct solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of environmental pollutants, including chlorophenols and aromatic hydrocarbons, from wastewater samples. The extracted analytes were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). Under optimal conditions, the linear dynamic range (LDR) extended for each extracted analyte over a concentration range of 1-500 μg L-1. The coefficients of determination (R2) for the target analytes ranged from 0.9946 to 0.9987. The limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.29-0.69 μg L-1, while the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.96-2.1 μg L-1. Moreover, spike recovery (SR) for real samples ranged from 90.0 to 113.0 %, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method. The developed coating showed excellent efficiency and sensitivity for the extraction of chlorophenols and aromatic hydrocarbons from real samples. This work is novel in that it enables the simultaneous extraction of analytes with different polarities using two types of sorbents on the same substrate.

Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis

Throughout history, analytical chemistry has been a key area for many other scientific fields [...]

Flavor Profiling Using Comprehensive Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Metabolites in Tomato Soups

Trained sensory panels are regularly used to rate food products but do not allow for data-driven approaches to steer food product development. This study evaluated the potential of a molecular-based strategy by analyzing 27 tomato soups that were enhanced with yeast-derived flavor products using a sensory panel as well as LC-MS and GC-MS profiling. These data sets were used to build prediction models for 26 different sensory attributes using partial least squares analysis. We found driving separation factors between the tomato soups and metabolites predicting different flavors. Many metabolites were putatively identified as dipeptides and sulfur-containing modified amino acids, which are scientifically described as related to umami or having "garlic-like" and "onion-like" attributes. Proposed identities of high-impact sensory markers (methionyl-proline and asparagine-leucine) were verified using MS/MS. The overall results highlighted the strength of combining sensory data and metabolomics platforms to find new information related to flavor perception in a complex food matrix.

A shared future: chemistry's engagement is essential for resilience of people and planet

Strengthening resilience-elasticity or adaptive capacity-is essential in responding to the wide range of natural hazards and anthropogenic changes humanity faces. Chemistry's roles in resilience are explored for the first time, with its technical capacities set in the wider contexts of cross-disciplinary working and the intersecting worlds of science, society and policy. The roles are framed by chemistry's contributions to the sustainability of people and planet, examined via the human security framework's four material aspects of food, health, economic and environmental security. As the science of transformation of matter, chemistry is deeply involved in these material aspects and in their interfacing with human security's three societal and governance aspects of personal, community and political security. Ultimately, strengthening resilience requires making choices about the present use of resources as a hedge against future hazards and adverse events, with these choices being co-determined by technical capacities and social and political will. It is argued that, to intensify its contributions to resilience, chemistry needs to take action along at least three major lines: (i) taking an integrative approach to the field of 'chemistry and resilience'; (ii) rethinking how the chemical industry operates; and (iii) engaging more with society and policy-makers.