Improving the Detectability of Microplastics in River Waters by Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

Detection of microplastics in environmental samples requires fast, sensitive and selective analytical techniques, both in terms of the size of the microparticles and their concentration. Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) allows the detection of plastic particles down to ca. 1 µm and down to concentrations of 100 particles per mL.

How to trust size distributions obtained by single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a technique widely used to obtain direct information about the number concentration and the size distribution of nanoparticles in liquid suspensions. However, its methods still lack clear quality control strategies to confirm the validity of the information derived from them. Only the detection of the complete size distribution of the nanoparticles in a sample over the size critical value ensures obtaining unbiased quantitative information, otherwise information should be restricted to report the presence of nanoparticles over a certain size and number concentration since their actual total number concentration is underestimated and the size overestimated.

Analytical applications of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: a comprehensive and critical review.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) refers to the use of ICP-MS as a particle counting technique. When ICP-MS measurements are performed at very high data acquisition frequencies, information about (nano)particles containing specific elements and their dissolved forms can be obtained (element mass per particle, size and number and mass concentrations). As a result of its outstanding performance, SP-ICP-MS has become a relevant technique for the analysis of complex samples containing inorganic nanoparticles.

Evaluation of hydrodynamic chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for speciation of dissolved and nanoparticulate gold and silver.

In this study, hydrodynamic chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry has been evaluated for the simultaneous determination of dissolved and nanoparticulate species of gold and silver. Optimization of mobile phase was carried out with special attention to the column recovery of the different species and the resolution between them. Addition of 0.

Detection, size characterization and quantification of silver nanoparticles in consumer products by particle collision coulometry.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in industrial and consumer products owing to its antimicrobial nature and multiple applications. Consequently, their release into the environment is becoming a big concern because of their negative impacts on living organisms. In this work, AgNPs were detected at a potential of + 0.

Wine markers in archeological potteries: detection by GC-MS at ultratrace levels.

The detection of organic residues that remain absorbed into the pores of ceramic artifacts constitutes a source of information regarding their management. Taking into account the poor conservation state of the potteries and the low amount of the organic tracers together with the main drawbacks to get the relevant information concerning different aspects of past societies, the detection of organic biomarkers is still an analytical challenge. In this work, an improved analytical methodology to maximize the recovery of organic markers related to wine in archeological ceramics is presented.

Probing some organic ukiyo-e Japanese pigments and mixtures using non-invasive and mobile infrared spectroscopies.

Non-invasive identification of organic colourants in paintings still remains a challenging issue, especially in the case of extremely thin layers of paint on printed paper such as Japanese ukiyo-e prints. Because prints are fragile artworks, various non-invasive analytical methods need to be employed. The present work focuses on results obtained by combining fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy in the near-infrared range (FORS NIR) with mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy.

Comparison between non-invasive methods used on paintings by Goya and his contemporaries: hyperspectral imaging vs. point-by-point spectroscopic analysis.

The development of non-invasive techniques for the characterization of pigments is crucial in order to preserve the integrity of the artwork. In this sense, the usefulness of hyperspectral imaging was demonstrated. It allows pigment characterization of the whole painting.

Detection, characterization and quantification of inorganic engineered nanomaterials: A review of techniques and methodological approaches for the analysis of complex samples.

The increasing demand of analytical information related to inorganic engineered nanomaterials requires the adaptation of existing techniques and methods, or the development of new ones. The challenge for the analytical sciences has been to consider the nanoparticles as a new sort of analytes, involving both chemical (composition, mass and number concentration) and physical information (e.g.

Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis to understand the role of tannin-based dyes in the degradation of historical wool textiles.

An innovative approach, combining field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, is presented to investigate the degradation mechanisms affecting tannin-dyed wool. In fact, tannin-dyed textiles are more sensitive to degradation then those dyed with other dyestuffs, even in the same conservation conditions. FESEM-EDX was first used to study a set of 48 wool specimens (artificially aged) dyed with several raw materials and mordants, and prepared according to historical dyeing recipes.

Microcharacterization of a natural blue pigment used in wall paintings during the Romanesque period in northern Spain.

In Romanesque wall paintings in Aragon (Spain), the pigment used for creating blue was a very characteristic mineral, aerinite, which came from local ores in the southern Pyrenees. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction, and reflectance spectroscopy were used to make a detailed microcharacterization of this rare blue pigment in order to improve the knowledge of its composition and possible variability, from samples of medieval paintings and some mineral ores. New analytical data on the chemical composition of the blue pigment are reported here, together with the characterization of its microstructure, and the heterogeneity of the natural pigment made by the features of the ore itself.

Positive and negative-mode laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) for the detection of indigoids in archaeological purple.

Laser-based ionization techniques have demonstrated to be a valuable analytical tool to study organic pigments by mass spectrometric analyses. Though laser-based ionization techniques have identified several natural and synthetic organic dyes and pigments, they have never been used in the characterization of purple. In this work, positive and negative-mode laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) was used for the first time to detect indigoids in shellfish purple.

Discovering the composition of ancient cosmetics and remedies: analytical techniques and materials.

This article reviews the analytical techniques and procedures used in the study of ancient cosmetics, therapeutic chemicals, and remedies found in historical and archaeological sites. Well consolidated techniques based on molecular and atomic spectroscopy, for example FT-IR, Raman, SEM-EDX, and XRD, and analytical procedures based on high-performance chromatography and mass spectrometry, for example GC-MS and HPLC-MS are reviewed. The advantages of recently introduced techniques based on synchrotron radiation and on direct mass spectrometric techniques are also discussed.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the chemical characterisation of modern and archaeological figs (Ficus carica).

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after alkaline hydrolysis, solvent extraction and trimethylsilylation, and analytical pyrolysis using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for in situ derivatisation followed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis (Pyrolysis-silylation-GC/MS) were used to investigate the hydrolysable and soluble constituents, and the polymerised macromolecules of an archaeological fig (Ficus carica) recovered in Zaragoza (Spain), as well as of modern figs. The main aim was to study the compositional alterations undergone by the fig tissues in a particular archaeological environment: the fig was in a vessel and covered by a layer of a mixture of orpiment and gypsum. A comparison between the GC/MS results from modern and archaeological figs revealed that degradative reactions took place, leading to the disappearance/depletion of reactive (unsaturated fatty acids) and sensitive compounds (phytosterols and triterpenes).

Chemical investigation on black pigments in the carved decoration of sixteenth century alabaster tombs from Zaragoza (Spain).

An analytical protocol based on optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses, analytical pyrolysis in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane followed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis (Py-silylation-GC/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after alkaline hydrolysis, solvent extraction and trimethylsilylation was used to study the origin and nature of black pigments from the carved inscriptions of several panels of two alabaster tombs dated from the mid-sixteenth century. Optical microscopy and SEM observation showed the presence of an amorphous very dark-brown substance, from translucent to opaque. EDX analyses revealed that the samples were mainly made up of C and O, thus highlighting the organic nature of the material used in the inscriptions.