High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activities in rice varieties

The analytical method for the determination of phenolic compounds in rice varieties was developed. The method consisted of extraction of phenolic compounds from rice before analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Reversed phase HPLC equipped with photodiode array detection was used and the separation condition was optimized. Under the optimum condition, twelve phenolic compounds were separated within 24 min. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was used to extract free phenolic compounds from rice with the optimum extraction condition of 70% methanol and extraction time of 15 min. While, bound phenolic compounds were extracted using alkaline hydrolysis for 15 min. Six varieties of Thai rice including pigment and non-pigment rice in their brown and polished forms were investigated. All of 12 phenolic compounds were detected as free phenolic compounds in all samples. Ferulic acid was the most abundant free phenolic compounds in all samples, while ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were found as bound phenolic compounds in some samples. The content of phenolic compounds, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity detected in pigment rice and brown form were higher than non-pigment rice and polished form.     

Preconcentration and Simultaneous Determination of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Grilled Pork Samples by Ion-Pair-Based Surfactant-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

An effective ion-pair-based surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been evaluated for the extraction and preconcentration of four heterocyclic aromatic amines (i.e., 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ); 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx); 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP); and 1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-B]indole (Harmane)). In the extraction method, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as both ion-pairing and disperser agent and 1-octanol was selected as extraction solvent. The effects of various parameters on the extraction efficiency such as kind and concentration of surfactant, kind and volume of extraction, salt addition, vortex extraction, and centrifugation time were investigated. Under the selected condition, the method provided high enrichment factor in the ranged of 124–145. Good linearity was 0.01–1000 μg kg^?1 with the correlation coefficient (R ²)?>?0.999. The limit of detection was 0.01 μg kg^?1 for all compounds. The matrix match calibration was used for quantitation of the target analytes in grilled pork samples. The proposed method was successfully applied to analysis of heterocyclic aromatic amines in grilled pork samples where good recoveries were obtained in the range of 90 and 106 %.     

Characterization of associated proteins and phospholipids in natural rubber latex

Non-rubber components present in natural rubber (NR) latex, such as proteins and phospholipids, are presumed to be distributed in the serum fraction as well as surrounding the rubber particle surface. The phospholipid-protein layers covering the rubber particle surface are especially interesting due to their ability to enhance the colloidal stability of NR latex. In this study, we have characterized the components surrounding the NR particle surface and investigated their role in the colloidal stability of NR particles. Proteins from the cream fraction were proteolytically removed from the NR latex and compare to those from the serum fractions using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealing that both fractions contained similar proteins in certain molecular weights such as 14.5, 25 and 27 kDa. Phospholipids removed from latex by treatment with NaOH were analyzed using (1)H-NMR spectroscopy and several major signals were assignable to -(CH(2))(n)-, -CH(2)OP, -CH(2)OC═O and -OCH(2)CH(2)NH-. These signals are important evidence that indicates phospholipids associate with the rubber chain. The colloidal behavior of rubber lattices before and after removal of protein-lipid membrane was evaluated by zeta potential analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The lowest zeta potential value of NR particles was observed at pH 10, consequently leading to the highest stability of rubber particles. Additionally, SEM micrographs clearly displayed a gray ring near the particle surface corresponding to the protein-lipid membrane layer.     

Air-Agitated Cloud-Point Extraction Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Determination of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Smoked Sausages

An air-agitated cloud-point extraction procedure (AACPE), which is a new generation of cloud-point extraction procedure, has been investigated for extraction and preconcentration of four heterocyclic amines (i.e., 2-Amino-3,4-dimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-Amino-3,4,8-trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx), 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), and 1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-B]indole (harmane)) prior to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to enhance the extraction efficiency, the mixture of the aqueous sample solution and extraction solvent (Triton X-114) was repeatedly aspirated and dispensed using a syringe. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the AACPE procedure, including type and amount of salt, concentration of Triton X-114, extraction time (or number of air agitations), and centrifugation time, were investigated. No temperature controller was necessary. Under the optimum extraction condition, the linearity was achieved between 0.005 and 1.00 mg kg^?1 with the correlation coefficient (R ²) > 0.999. The low limit of detections (LODs) ranged from 0.001 to 0.003 mg kg^?1 with high enrichment factor (EF) more than 80. Matrix-matched calibration has been used for analysis of the target analytes in real samples. The applicability of the developed procedure was successfully evaluated by the determination of the heterocyclic amines in smoked sausage samples.     

Ionic Liquid-Based Vortex-Assisted Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Simultaneous Determination of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Fruit Juice Samples

A simple, rapid, and effective method was developed for preconcentration of neonicotinoid insecticides including clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid in fruit juice samples. Room-temperature ionic liquids [C₄MIM][PF₆] can be used as green extractant phases in vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (VALLME), being compatible with high-performance liquid chromatographic systems. The effect of extraction parameters, including the addition of salt, volume of (C₄MIM)(PF₆), vortex time, and centrifugation time is identified as the key parameters of the method. Under the selected conditions, the high enrichment factors of 100 could be achieved with the limit of detection in the range of 0.25–0.30 ng mL^?1 and with the relative standard deviations of lower than 2.68 and 5.38 % for retention time and peak area, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of fruit juice samples, and the recoveries of the analytes ranged from 95 to 108 % and relative standard deviations were lower than 7 %. The developed method proposes advantages in reduction of the exposure danger to toxic organic solvents used in the conventional liquid–liquid extraction, simplicity of the extraction processes, rapidity, and sensitivity improvement.     

Characterization of platinum–iron catalysts supported on MCM-41 synthesized with rice husk silica and their performance for phenol hydroxylation

Mesoporous material RH-MCM-41 was synthesized with rice husk silica by a hydrothermal method. It was used as a support for bimetallic platinum−iron catalysts Pt–Fe/RH-MCM-41 for phenol hydroxylation. The catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation with Pt and Fe at amounts of 0.5 and 5.0 wt.%, respectively. The RH-MCM-41 structure in the catalysts was studied with x-ray diffraction, and their surface areas were determined by nitrogen adsorption. The oxidation number of Fe supported on RH-MCM-41 was + 3, as determined by x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of all the catalysts displayed well-ordered structures, and metal nanoparticles were observed in some catalysts. All the catalysts were active for phenol hydroxylation using H₂O₂ as the oxidant at phenol : H₂O₂ mole ratios of 2 : 1, 2 : 2, 2 : 3 and 2 : 4. The first three ratios produced only catechol and hydroquinone, whereas the 2 : 4 ratio also produced benzoquinone. The 2 : 3 ratio gave the highest phenol conversion of 47% at 70 °C. The catalyst prepared by co-impregnation with Pt and Fe was more active than that prepared using a physical mixture of Pt/RH-MCM-41 and Fe/RH-MCM-41.