Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is often said that analytical chemistry is the chemistry that is most widely used by non-chemists. This statement effectively explains how essential analytical data are for development of other nonchemical disciplines. Progress in materials science, food science and technology, and environmental monitoring and protection can not occur without the parallel development of increasingly sensitive and accurate analytical techniques and methods applied to materials, foods, and ecosystems. In material science, analytical methods allow accurate identification of the composition, characteristics, and quality of a wide variety of systems like alloys, coatings, polymers, and composite materials. Moreover, analytical chemistry plays key role in the process analytical technology which is used to design, analyze, and control manufacturing processes in the chemical industries. Тhe globalization of food production poses new requirements towards chemical analysis methods in order to ensure food quality and quarantine consumer health. Furthermore, an environment increasingly threatened by old and new emerging forms of pollution requires more and more sensitive and up-to-date analytical monitoring tools. Finally, the need to manage the information contained in huge datasets obtained by modern analytical instruments imposes the continuous development of more data driven target oriented chemometric tools.

This topic is devoted to publishing original research papers, short communications, application notes, and critical reviews about the latest developments in the fields of characterization of materials, food, and environment. Contributions related to the application of new pretreatment techniques and those aimed at maximizing analytical information by means of chemometric techniques are also encouraged. 

Dr. Gavino Sanna
Prof. Dr. Domenica Tonelli
Prof. Dr. Oscar Núñez
Prof. Dr. Stefan Tsakovski
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Analytica analytica	-	1.8	2020	12.8 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Foods foods	4.7	7.4	2012	14.3 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Molecules molecules	4.2	7.4	1996	15.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Processes processes	2.8	5.1	2013	14.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Separations separations	2.5	3.0	2014	12.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Analytica Foods Molecules Processes Separations

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Supplementary material:
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13 pages, 1290 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Ethanol Content in Alcoholic Products by LF-NMR

by Gianluca Farine, Maria Scilinguo, Chiara Calvagna, Silvia Romano, Marco Polito and Salvatore Sgrò

Analytica 2024, 5(3), 458-470; https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica5030031 - 12 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a technique used for many years by chemists for elucidation of molecular structure. Technological progress over the years has enabled this technique, making it easier to use. Thus, the LF-NMR (low-field NMR) was introduced as a side technique, [...] Read more.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a technique used for many years by chemists for elucidation of molecular structure. Technological progress over the years has enabled this technique, making it easier to use. Thus, the LF-NMR (low-field NMR) was introduced as a side technique, characterized by low management costs and shorter analysis time than its main counterpart. The application of ¹H LF-NMR for the quantification of ethyl alcohol in different alcoholic matrices is herein described, comparing the results obtained with this technique with those determined by a reference gas chromatographic method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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15 pages, 2659 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Rapid Non-Destructive Detection Technology in the Field of Meat Tenderness: A Review

by Yanlei Li, Huaiqun Wang, Zihao Yang, Xiangwu Wang, Wenxiu Wang and Teng Hui

Foods 2024, 13(10), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101512 - 13 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1480

Abstract

Traditionally, tenderness has been assessed through shear force testing, which is inherently destructive, the accuracy is easily affected, and it results in considerable sample wastage. Although this technology has some drawbacks, it is still the most effective detection method currently available. In light [...] Read more.

Traditionally, tenderness has been assessed through shear force testing, which is inherently destructive, the accuracy is easily affected, and it results in considerable sample wastage. Although this technology has some drawbacks, it is still the most effective detection method currently available. In light of these drawbacks, non-destructive testing techniques have emerged as a preferred alternative, promising greater accuracy, efficiency, and convenience without compromising the integrity of the samples. This paper delves into applying five advanced non-destructive testing technologies in the realm of meat tenderness assessment. These include near-infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, Raman spectroscopy, airflow optical fusion detection, and nuclear magnetic resonance detection. Each technology is scrutinized for its respective strengths and limitations, providing a comprehensive overview of their current utility and potential for future development. Moreover, the integration of these techniques with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology is explored. The fusion of AI with non-destructive testing offers a promising avenue for the development of more sophisticated, rapid, and intelligent systems for meat tenderness evaluation. This integration is anticipated to significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the quality assessment in the meat industry, ensuring a higher standard of safety and nutritional value for consumers. The paper concludes with a set of technical recommendations to guide the future direction of non-destructive, AI-enhanced meat tenderness detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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21 pages, 2789 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

by Pamela Cabarcos-Fernández, Ivan Álvarez-Freire, Nelida Cristina Rubio, Ana Maria Bermejo-Barrera, Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro, Ines Sánchez-Sellero and Maria Jesus Tabernero-Duque

Molecules 2024, 29(3), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030592 - 25 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1032

Abstract

Some South American countries have ancient traditions that may pose legal problems, such as the consumption of coca leaves, as this can provide positive results for cocaine use after the analysis of biological samples. For this reason, it is necessary to find specific [...] Read more.

Some South American countries have ancient traditions that may pose legal problems, such as the consumption of coca leaves, as this can provide positive results for cocaine use after the analysis of biological samples. For this reason, it is necessary to find specific markers that help differentiate legal from illegal consumption, such as tropacocaine, cinnamoylcocaine, and especially hygrine and cuscohygrine. In this work, two techniques for collecting biological samples are compared: the Quantisal^® Oral Fluid collection device and passive drooling. Once the samples were collected, they were subjected to solid-phase extraction for subsequent injection into GC-MS. Different validation parameters included in international guides have been studied to evaluate whether the proposed method is valid for the defined purpose, placing special emphasis on the study of the matrix effect and little value on GC-MS analyses. With respect to this parameter, an increase in the signal was found for CUS and t-CIN, but it was not significant for the rest of the substances studied. The recoveries have varied significantly depending on the way of working, being higher when working with standardized areas. After carrying out work with the oral fluid samples collected from laboratory volunteers, the method was applied to two real samples. The results obtained support the need for further research to overcome certain limitations presented by the device. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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23 pages, 5322 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) Fingerprinting and Chemometrics for Coffee Classification and Authentication

by Nerea Núñez, Javier Saurina and Oscar Núñez

Molecules 2024, 29(1), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010232 - 31 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2121

Abstract

Nowadays, the quality of natural products is an issue of great interest in our society due to the increase in adulteration cases in recent decades. Coffee, one of the most popular beverages worldwide, is a food product that is easily adulterated. To prevent [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the quality of natural products is an issue of great interest in our society due to the increase in adulteration cases in recent decades. Coffee, one of the most popular beverages worldwide, is a food product that is easily adulterated. To prevent fraudulent practices, it is necessary to develop feasible methodologies to authenticate and guarantee not only the coffee’s origin but also its variety, as well as its roasting degree. In the present study, a C18 reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) technique coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was applied to address the characterization and classification of Arabica and Robusta coffee samples from different production regions using chemometrics. The proposed non-targeted LC-HRMS method using electrospray ionization in negative mode was applied to the analysis of 306 coffee samples belonging to different groups depending on the variety (Arabica and Robusta), the growing region (e.g., Ethiopia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Indonesia, India, Uganda, Brazil, Cambodia and Vietnam), and the roasting degree. Analytes were recovered with hot water as the extracting solvent (coffee brewing). The data obtained were considered the source of potential descriptors to be exploited for the characterization and classification of the samples using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). In addition, different adulteration cases, involving nearby production regions and different varieties, were evaluated by pairs (e.g., Vietnam Arabica—Vietnam Robusta, Vietnam Arabica—Cambodia and Vietnam Robusta—Cambodia). The coffee adulteration studies carried out with partial least squares (PLS) regression demonstrated the good capability of the proposed methodology to quantify adulterant levels down to 15%, accomplishing calibration and prediction errors below 2.7% and 11.6%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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18 pages, 3458 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Paper-Based Microfluidic Chips for Food Hazard Factor Detection: Fabrication, Modification, and Application

by Meiqi Liang, Guozhi Zhang, Jie Song, Mingqian Tan and Wentao Su

Foods 2023, 12(22), 4107; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12224107 - 13 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2763

Abstract

Food safety and quality are paramount concerns for ensuring the preservation of human life and well-being. As the field of food processing continues to advance, there is a growing interest in the development of fast, instant, cost-effective, and convenient methods for detecting food [...] Read more.

Food safety and quality are paramount concerns for ensuring the preservation of human life and well-being. As the field of food processing continues to advance, there is a growing interest in the development of fast, instant, cost-effective, and convenient methods for detecting food safety issues. In this context, the utilization of paper-based microfluidic chips has emerged as a promising platform for enabling rapid detection, owing to their compact size, high throughput capabilities, affordability, and low resource consumption, among other advantages. To shed light on this topic, this review article focuses on the functionalization of paper-based microfluidic surfaces and provides an overview of the latest research and applications to colorimetric analysis, fluorescence analysis, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, as well as their integration with paper-based microfluidic platforms for achieving swift and reliable food safety detection. Lastly, the article deliberates on the challenges these analytical methods and presents insights into their future development prospects in facilitating rapid food safety assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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20 pages, 3470 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Ten Plant Growth Regulators in Bean Sprouts by Mixed Solid Phase Extraction Columns Separation and LC-MS/MS

by Chenggang Cai, Feng Yao, Chuanpeng Li, Yannan Xiang, Pinggu Wu, Zhengyan Hu, Junlin Wang and Ruiyu Zhu

Processes 2023, 11(9), 2586; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092586 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1730

Abstract

(1) Background: Plant growth regulators (PGRs) can accelerate growth or improve the quality and quantity of bean sprouts but are forbidden to use in bean sprout cultivation, as the sprouting process’s increased chemicals will disturb the PGRs analysis. This article aimed to increase [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Plant growth regulators (PGRs) can accelerate growth or improve the quality and quantity of bean sprouts but are forbidden to use in bean sprout cultivation, as the sprouting process’s increased chemicals will disturb the PGRs analysis. This article aimed to increase the accuracy and level of sensitivity of the LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of 10 PGRs after mixed solid phase extraction (SPE) purification. (2) Methods: An LC-MS/MS detection method for 10 kinds of PGRs was established based on ESI ionization in the positive ion mode for 6-furfurylaminopurine (6-KT), paclobutrazol (PBZ), indole-2-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and in the negative ion mode for gibberellin A3 (GA₃), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA), forchlorfenuron (FCF), thidiazuron (TDZ), and 6-benzyl adenine (6-BA). (3) Results: The 10 PGR compounds were detected within a concentration range of 1.0–50 ng/mL. The average recovery was 68.3–97.3% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 4.6–15.2% (n = 6); the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 2 and 5 ng/g, respectively. PGRs were surveyed in 36 soybean sprouts and 33 mungbean sprouts; the results showed that 4-CPA and IAA were detected in 10 soybean sprouts and 10 mungbean sprouts, respectively. Five samples contained both 4-CPA and IAA. (4) Conclusions: The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive for the detection of PGR residues in bean sprout products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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