Study of essential and toxic elements content in medicinal herbs harvested in Ukraine

Purpose: Medicinal plants can origin both from their cultivation, and from collection in natural locations, therefore investigation of their chemical composition is indispensable for assuring the appropriate quality. Thus, the aim of the studies was evaluation of medicinal plants collected in natural locations in Ukraine in the light of their elemental contents, taking into consideration both essential elements - P, Cu, Zn, Fe, and toxic – Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni. Methods: The microwave-assisted digestion was applied for preparation of the samples prior to analysis of plant samples to quantitative determination of investigated elements by the flame technique of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The results of studies show that there is a large differentiation of medicinal herbs originating from Ukraine from the point of view of their elemental contents. In many cases, e.g. birch leaves, the impact of botanical plant species on the level of elements was crucial. Hence, the loadings of principal components confirmed that the highest influence on the differentiation of studied plant samples had the concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cd and Fe. The impact of a place of growth on the level of selected elements such as Cd and Fe in St John’s wort was noticed, too. The analysis of toxic metals concentration in all studied plant samples has also shown that Pb and Cd level didn’t exceed the norms established by the European Union Commission in 2006. Conclusion: It is recommended to monitor heavy metals concentrations in medicinal herbs originating from Ukraine available in the European pharmaceutical market.

Catalyst and Elemental Analysis Involving Biodiesel from Various Feedstocks

The world is currently faced with the depletion of fossil fuel energy sources and their use is associated with environmental pollution. This has triggered the need to seek alternative energy sources that are renewable, sustainable and environmentally benign. Biodiesel, an alternative fuel of interest, is obtainable from biomass feedstocks. In existing biodiesel fuel, there are concerns that it is a contaminant due to its elemental contents, which over time also affect its quality. This study aimed to investigate the influence of a bifunctional catalyst on the conversion of free fatty acids and the elemental composition of biodiesel obtained from waste oils of sunflower and palm feedstocks. The synthesised catalyst was characterised using BET, XRD, FTIR and SEM while ICP-OES and Rancimat were used for elemental contents and oxidation in feedstocks and biodiesels. The effect of Cu, Zn and Fe metals on the stability of synthesised biodiesel was further studied. The catalyst showed characteristics of bifunctionality with improved textural properties necessary for the conversion of high free fatty acids feedstocks to biodiesel, despite increasing Ca content within the produced biodiesel. Sunflower biodiesel showed superior fuel quality, although palm biodiesel had more oxidation stability. An increase in the concentration of metals decreased the induction period, with Cu and Fe being more effective than Zn metal.

Effects of exogenous melatonin supplementations on some elemental contents in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seedling tissues

A multi-directional relationship may be conceivable between elements and melatonin in sessile organisms. Melatonin is an important hormone that helps regulate metabolism. This study investigated how different doses (0 μM/control, 250 μM, 500 μM, 1000 μM, and 1500 μM) of exogenous melatonin supplementations (EMS) affected the elemental contents in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. ssp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seedling tissues (root, stem, and needle). Two different application forms (root-dipping and needle-spraying) were selected in the study. In the samples of seedling tissues, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg)/ppm; chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), selenium (Se), silicium (Si), silver (Ag), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo)/ppb were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Of the 18 elements examined, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between all seedling tissues and different doses of EMS. The results show that EMS may have the regulatory effect on seedling tissue element metabolism.

Physicochemical Properties and Lignin Degradation of Thermal-Pretreated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) are recoverable lignocellulosic biomass serving as feedstock for biofuel production. The major hurdle in producing biofuel from biomass is the abundance of embedded recalcitrant lignin. Pretreatment is a key step to increase the accessibility of enzymes to fermentable sugars. In this study, thermal pretreatments at moderate temperatures ranging from 150 °C to 210 °C, at different durations (30–120 min) and EFB particle sizes (1–10 mm), were employed to maximize lignin degradation. Observation through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed disruptions in EFB structure and the removal of silica bodies and other impurities upon thermal pretreatment. Remarkable changes on the elemental contents and functional groups occurred, as was evident from the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. The smallest EFB size yielded higher lignin degradation—about 2.3-fold and 1.2-fold higher—than the biggest and moderate tested EFB sizes, indicating a smaller particle size provides a higher surface area for bioreaction. Furthermore, applying a longer duration of treatment and a higher temperature enhanced lignin degradation by up to 58%. This study suggests that moderate thermal treatment could enhance lignin degradation by altering the physicochemical structure of EFB, which is beneficial in improving biofuel production.

A Green Method for the Enhancement of Antifungal Properties of Various Textiles Functionalized with Silver Nanoparticles

Development of textiles functionalized with nanoparticles has received growing interest. A wide range of nanoparticles can be deposited on textile fibers, which brings new properties to the final product. Although many methods for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on textiles are possible, the current trend focuses on how this can be carried out in a cheaper and greener manner. Therefore, the present study aims to propose a green method for the enhancement of antifungal of textiles using AgNPs. Textile properties such as surface morphology, elemental contents, density, water absorption, and antifungal capability were comprehensively characterized. This study found that the deposition of AgNPs on the textiles can be successfully carried out using the proposed method, confirmed by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) inspections. The water absorption capability of the treated textiles was lower compared to untreated textiles. In addition, the effective antifungal capability of the treated textiles has been approved, although after 5 washing cycles.

Correcting field determination of elemental contents in soils via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

ABSTRACT Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry has been useful worldwide for determining soil elemental content under both field and laboratory conditions. However, the field results are influenced by several factors, including soil moisture (M), soil texture (T) and soil organic matter (SOM). Thus, the objective of this work was to create linear mathematical models for conversion of Al2O3, CaO, Fe, K2O, SiO2, V, Ti and Zr contents obtained by pXRF directly in field to those obtained under laboratory conditions, i.e., in air-dried fine earth (ADFE), using M, T and SOM as auxiliary variables, since they influence pXRF results. pXRF analyses in field were performed on 12 soil profiles with different parent materials. From them, 59 samples were collected and also analyzed in the laboratory in ADFE. pXRF field data were used alone or combined to M, T and SOM data as auxiliary variables to create linear regression models to predict pXRF ADFE results. The models accuracy was assessed by the leave-one-out cross-validation method. Except for light-weight elements, field results underestimated the total elemental contents compared with ADFE. Prediction models including T presented higher accuracy to predict Al2O3, SiO2, V, Ti and Zr, while the prediction of Fe and K2O contents was insensitive to the addition of the auxiliary variables. The relative improvement (RI) in the prediction models were greater in predictions of SiO2 (T+SOM: RI=22.29%), V (M+T: RI=18.90%) and Ti (T+SOM: RI=11.18%). This study demonstrates it is possible to correct field pXRF data through linear regression models.