Search results for "Contaminants."
showing 5 items of 55 documents
A novel TiO2-assisted magnetic nanoparticle separator for treatment and inactivation of bacterial contaminants in aquatic systems
2014
Ferromagnetic nanoparticles (Fe-nanoparticles) have been functionalized with recombinant poly- Glu [glutamic acid]-tagged silicatein, a biomineral-synthesizing enzyme from siliceous sponges that forms the inorganic silica skeleton of those animals. The biocatalytic activity of silicatein was used to form a titania (TiO2) shell around the iron nanoparticle core, using the water-soluble non- natural substrate titanium bis(ammonium lactato)-dihydroxide (TiBALDH). Thereby the diameter of the nanoparticles increases from 7 nm to ≈22 nm. This procedure also allows the layer-by-layer fabrication of titania/silica- Fe-nanoparticles. SEM/EDX analysis confirmed the presence of the Ti and Si signals i…
Contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil of a botanic garden localized next to a former manufacturing gas plant in Pale…
2010
The Botanical Garden lies within the city of Palermo, a few meters away from one of the largest unused Manufacturing Gas Plant in Sicily. The total concentrations of PAHs (23 compounds) in the soil of Botanical Garden ranged from 947 to 18,072 microg/kg. The wide range of PAH concentrations (RSD=84%) found in the soil samples indicates heterogeneous levels of contamination in the area and this can be explained by considering the different tree distributions which prevents the homogeneous deposition of pollutants on the soil. Soils collected in the Botanical Garden generally showed the highest PAH concentrations, being almost 2-3 times higher than the concentration samples obtained in the ur…
Effect of pulsed electric field on Maillard reaction and hydroxymethylfurfural production
2020
Abstract As an emerging nonthermal processing technology, the application of pulsed electric field (PEF) has received increasing attention not only for its capability to inactivate enzymes and microorganisms or to enhance mass transfer during the extraction process but also for its potential to inhibit the formation of chemical contaminants during processing, such as the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). HMF is a potential carcinogen to humans that can be produced via the Maillard reaction (MR). Compared with thermal treatment, PEF can minimize the extent of MR, reducing the contents of HMF. However, in some cases, MR and HMR may be promoted, closely associated with PEF conditions a…
Universal method to determine acidic licit and illicit drugs and personal care products in water by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight
2016
Graphical abstract
A new approach for the measurement of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and H2S in air from anthropogenic and natural sources: Examples from Mt. Amiata…
2017
Real-time measurements of GEM and H2S discharged from natural and anthropogenic sources are a valuable tool to investigate the dispersion dynamics of these contaminants in air. In this study, a new approach to measure GEM and H2S concentrations in air, carried out by coupling a portable Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometer with high frequency modulation of light polarization (Lumex RA-915M) and a pulsed fluorescence gas analyzer (Thermo Scientific Model 450i), was applied to two distinct areas: (i) in the surroundings of Piancastagnaio (Siena, Central Italy), located in the eastern flanks of Mt. Amiata (a 200,000Â years old volcano), where three geothermal plants are operating and whose ex…