Jacek Namieśnik—Analytical Chemist and Dedicated Biker: From Wine Analysis to Toxic Compounds

Jacek Namieśnik, who died at the age of 69, was one of the most influential analytical chemists in Poland at the second half of the 20th century and the first two decades of the 21st century [...]

Phytochemical and proximate analysis of ipomoea cairica tuber

The analyses for nutrients of Ipomoea cairica tuber were carried out and the phytochemical and proximate parameters were determined. The phytochemical analyses looked into the alkaloid, flavonoid, cyanogenic glycoside, tannin, phytate and saponin contents of Ipomoea cairica tuber while the proximate composition determination was aimed at the protein, carbohydrate, moisture, lipid, ash and fibre contents. The methods applied for these analytical determinations were mainly those of the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC, 2005). Each type of analysis (whether proximate or phytochemical) were carried out in triplicate and the mean values determined. The phytochemical analyses showed that Ipomoea cairica tuber had; flavonoid (1.52±0.03 %), Alkaloid (2.10±0.28 %), Tannin (0.05 %), Saponin (1.24±0.04 %), Cyanogenic glycoside (0.05 %), and phytate (0.02 %). The proximate analysis showed that Ipomoea cairica tuber had; Carbohydrate (11.7±0.1 %), protein (4.2±0.2 %), ash (0.6±0.1 %), lipid (0.51±0.07 %), moisture (72.7±0.2 %), and fibre (10.3±0.6 %). These results show that Ipomoea cairica tuber can be used as a substitute for other mostly consumed carbohydrate foods like yam and cocoyam.

Autobiography of an Analytical Chemist

Most of my research directions were opportunistic. Having worked with lasers in the early stages of laser applications in analytical chemistry, attending conferences, workshops, and administrative meetings that were not exactly aligned with our own research, locating to a building or in a department that housed scientists with different backgrounds, having certain specialized equipment at the right time, and having funding agencies that were broad-minded clearly contributed to my ventures into diverse fields. Most of all, it had to be the many eager minds that I have had the fortune to work with. I have always tried to suggest research topics that might be interesting to the individual coworker rather than something straight out of my own research proposals. Only then did each person actually own the project rather than consider it a chore. After all, we work in the field of analytical chemistry, in which almost anything we do can fit in.

Applications of Nanomaterials for Water Treatment

Development of new technologies, progressive urbanization, increasing consumerism and industrial boom in developing countries has led to elevated pollution of the environment. The spectrum of pollutants produced and released to the environment has increased in the last few decades including the agricultural, industrial, pharmaceutical and plastic industries. In the developed and underdeveloped countries where environmental pollution goes on increasing day by day, the concern of mankind to the threat of humanity increases which comes from anthropogenic degradation of the environment. An analytical chemist is always in search of cheaper, quicker, more sensitive, more reliable, precise methods of analysis. To achieve such a goal many properties of the materials are studied. Nanotechnology meets many of the conditions mentioned above and is very economic. So, analytical nanotechnology is an important tool for preconcentration and separation of pollutants at low levels.

Novel analytical methods to study the fate of mycotoxins during thermal food processing

Food processing can lead to a reduction of contaminants, such as mycotoxins. However, for food processing operations where thermal energy is employed, it is often not clear whether a reduction of mycotoxins also results in a mitigation of the toxicological impact. This is often due to the reason that the formed degradation products are not characterized and data on their toxicity is scarce. From the perspective of an analytical chemist, the elucidation of the fate of a contaminant in a complex food matrix is extremely challenging. An overview of the analytical approaches is given here, and the application and limitations are exemplified based on cases that can be found in recent literature. As most studies rely on targeted analysis, it is not clear whether the predetermined set of compounds differs from the degradation products that are actually formed during food processing. Although untargeted analysis allows for the elucidation of the complete spectrum of degradation products, only one such study is available so far. Further pitfalls include insufficient precision, natural contamination with masked forms of mycotoxins and interferences that are caused by the food matrix. One topic that is of paramount importance for both targeted and untargeted approaches is the availability of reference standards to identity and quantity the formed degradation products. Our vision is that more studies need to be published that characterize the formed degradation products, collect data on their toxicity and thereby complete the knowledge about the mycotoxin mitigating effect during food processing.

Nutritive Values of the Leaves of Crescentia Cujete (Ugbuba)

Mineral and proximate analysis of Crescentia Cujete (Ugbugba) leaves were examined using the methods recommended by Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC). The leaves contained 51.00+1.05% moisture, 2.30+0.2% ash, crude protein 51.00+0.43%, crude lipid 1.90+0.08%, crude fibre 4.00+0.12%, carbohydrates 40.40+0.02%. The minerals ranges from mg/g dry weight K(30.02 + 0.03), Na (12.10+0.32), Ca (60.00+0.01). Mg (361.42+0.01), P(14.19 +0.42), Mn (6.32 + 1.01), Fe (2.43+0.01), Cu (13.04+0.10), Zn (1.20+0.43), Na/K (0.40) and Ca/P (2.14), K, Mg, Ca and Fe were found in significant concentrations. The findings showed that Crescentia Cujete leaves are source of nutrients for edible purpose, a good Na/K ratio for lowering blood pressure.