This work investigated the anaerobic degradation of the model azo dye Remazol Yellow Gold RNL in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) and two submerged anaerobic membrane (SAMBR) bioreactors, one of which (SAMBR-1) was operated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) in its interior. The reactors were operated at 35 °C with a hydraulic retention time of 24 h in three operational phases, aimed to assess the effect of external sources of carbon (glucose) or redox mediator (yeast extract) on the removal or color and organic matter. The results showed that removal efficiencies of COD (73-94%) and color (90-94%) were higher for SAMBR-1 when compared to SAMBR-2 (operated without PAC) and UASB reactors. In addition, the presence of PAC in SAMBR-1 increased reactor stability, thereby leading to a lower accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The microfiltration membrane was responsible for an additional removal of ~50% of soluble residual COD in the form of VFA, thus improving permeate quality. On its turn, PAC exhibited the ability to adsorb byproducts (aromatic amines) of azo dye degradation as well as to act as source of immobilized redox mediator (quinone groups on its surface), thereby enhancing color removal.

BackgroundThe soluble antigen preparation of adult schistosomes (SWAP) has often been used to probe host responses against these blood-dwelling parasites. Despite its long-established use there is limited knowledge about its composition. The information we provide here on the molecular composition of SWAP may contribute as a guide for a rational selection of antigenic targets.MethodsLabel-free quantitative shotgun proteomics was employed to determine the composition and abundance of SWAP constituents. Briefly, paired adult Schistosoma mansoni worms were sonicated in PBS pH 7.2 and ultracentrifuged for recovery of the soluble supernatant. An aliquot was subjected to trypsin digestion. Resulting peptides were separated under ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and analysed using an orbitrap mass spectrometer. Spectral data were interrogated using SequestHT against an in-house S. mansoni database. Proteins were quantified by recording the mean area under curve obtained for up to three most intense detected peptides. Proteins within the 90th percentile of the total SWAP mass were categorized according to their sub-cellular/tissue location.ResultsIn this work we expanded significantly the list of known SWAP constituents. Through application of stringent criteria, a total of 633 proteins were quantitatively identified. Only 18 proteins account to 50 % of the total SWAP mass as revealed by their cumulative abundance. Among them, none is predicted as a secreted molecule reinforcing the point that SWAP is dominated by cytosolic and cytoskeletal proteins. In contrast, only 3 % of the mass comprised proteins proposed to function at the host-parasite interfaces (tegument and gut), which could conceivably represent vulnerable targets of a protective immune response. Paradoxically, at least 11 SWAP proteins, comprising ~25 % of its mass, have been tested as vaccine candidates.ConclusionsOur data suggest that use of SWAP to probe host responses has greatest value for diagnostic purposes or assessing intensity of infection. However, the preparation is of limited utility as an antigen source for investigating host responses to proteins expressed at or secreted from worm-host interfaces. The data also pose the question as to why vaccination with SWAP, containing so many proposed vaccine candidates, has no additive or even synergistic effects on the induction of protection.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0943-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study focuses on the determination of the chemical profile of 24 non-aged Brazilian artisanal sugarcane spirits (cachaça) samples through chromatographic quantification and chemometric treatment via principal component analysis (PCA) and Kohonen’s neural network. In total, forty-seven (47) chemical compounds were identified in the samples of non-aged artisanal cachaça, in addition to determining alcohol content, volatile acidity, and copper. For the PCA of the chemical compounds’ profile, it could be observed that the samples were grouped into seven groups. On the other hand, the variables’ bearings were grouped together, making it difficult to separate the components in relation to the sample groups and reducing the chances of obtaining all the necessary information. However, by using a Kohonen’s neural network, samples were grouped into eight groups. This tool proved to be more accurate in the groups’ formation. Among the chemical classes of the compounds observed, esters stood out, followed by alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenol, and copper. The abundance of esters in these samples may suggest that these compounds would be part of the regional standard for cachaças produced in the region of Salinas, Minas Gerais.

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Contaminants of emerging concern are organic compounds used in large quantities by the society for various purposes. They have shown biological activity at low concentrations, which gives great environmental relevance. The difficulty to detect and quantify contaminants of emerging concern in the environment stimulates the development of appropriate analytical methods. In this work a chemometric approach to positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI) optimization for the simultaneous determination of contaminants of emerging concern in water samples by liquid chromatography-ion trap-time of flight-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-IT-TOF-HRMS) was applied. Three types of phase modifiers were used: formic acid, ammonium hydroxide and formic acid/ammonium formate. The effects of operational parameters such as mobile phase modifier concentrations, mobile phase flow rate, heating block temperature and drying gas flow rate were evaluated by the 2 4 − 1 fractional factorial experimental design, resolution IV, in the screening phase and by Doehlert experimental design. Initial factorial experimental design studies indicated that the phase modifier ammonium hydroxide was more efficient compared to the other evaluated modifiers. It provided higher ion intensities to the majority of analytes. Doehlert experimental design allowed finding a region indicative of the optimum experimental conditions for most analytes. The best experimental condition observed was 3.5 mM ammonium hydroxide concentration; 0.0917 mL/min of mobile phase; 300°C heating block temperature; and drying gas at 200 kPa. These optimized parameters resulted in decreased detection limits of the method. The optimized method was applied to the evaluation of water samples coming from the Rio Doce basin -Minas Gerais/Brazil utilizing multivariate exploratory techniques such as principal component analysis and Kohonen neural network. In this way, the use of chemometric approach showed to be a promising way to optimize the simultaneous determination of twentyone contaminants of emerging concern in aqueous matrices by LC-IT-TOF-HRMS using ESI.

A liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method for simultaneous analysis of four chemically and structurally different antineoplastic drugs (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil and ifosfamide) was developed. The assay was performed by isocratic elution, with a C18 column (5 µm, 250 x 4.6 mm) and mobile phase constituted by water pH 4.0-acetonitrile-methanol (68:19:13, v/v/v), which allowed satisfactory separation of the compounds of interest. LLE, with ethyl acetate, was used for sample clean-up with recoveries ranging from 60 to 98%. The linear ranges were from 0.5 to 100 µg mL -1 , for doxorubicin and 1 to 100 µg mL -1 , for the other compounds. The relative standard deviations ranged from 5.5 to 17.7%. This method is a fast and simple alternative that can be used, simultaneously, for the determination of the four drugs in plasma, with a range enabling quantification of the drugs in pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence and therapeutic drug-monitoring studies.Uniterms: Antineoplastic drugs/simultaneous determination in plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction. Highperformance liquid chromatography/diode array detector.Um método de extração líquido-líquido (ELL) combinado com cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência-detector de arranjo de diodos foi desenvolvido para análise simultânea de quatro fármacos antineoplásicos quimicamente e estruturalmente diferentes (ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, fluoruracila e ifosfamida). O estudo foi realizado sob condições isocráticas, com coluna C18 (5µm, 250 x 4.6 mm) e fase móvel constituída por água pH 4.0-acetonitrila-metanol (68:19:13, v/v/v), que permitiu separação satisfatória dos analitos de interesse. A ELL, com acetato de etila, foi utilizada para limpeza da amostra, com recuperação variando de 60 a 98%. As faixas foram lineares de 0,5 a 100 µg mL -1 para doxorrubicina e 1 a 100 µg mL -1 para os outros compostos. O desvio padrão relativo variou de 5,5 a 17,7%. Este método é uma alternativa rápida e simples que pode ser usado, simultaneamente, para a determinação dos quatro fármacos em plasma, com uma faixa que permite quantificá-los em estudos de farmacocinética, bioequivalência e monitorização terapêutica.Unitermos: Fármacos antineoplásicos/determinação simultânea em plasma. Extração líquido-líquido. Cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência/detector de arranjo de diodos.

/concentration is a crucial step for the analysis of organic compounds at trace level concentrations and dispersed in complex matrices. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one of the techniques used for this purpose. In this work, a low cost apparatus for SPE was developed that uses nitrogen under positive pressure and ensures the maintenance of the sample flow, while also allows the simultaneous extraction of different samples without cross-contamination and sample contact with plastic materials. For the system set up, easily accessible materials were used such as hypodermic needles, stainless steel tubes, rubber stoppers, and 3-way valves from serum delivery apparatus.Keywords: large volume of sample; solid phase extraction; positive pressure. INTRODUÇÃOA cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) e a cromatografia gasosa (CG) são métodos analíticos comumente utilizados para análise de compostos orgânicos. Durante o processo analítico, a etapa de preparo e pré-concentração dos analitos das amostras é crucial para se chegar a um resultado final confiável.Muitas vezes, os compostos a serem avaliados se encontram dispersos em matrizes complexas de onde precisam ser extraídos e pré-concentrados. Os procedimentos para a preparação das amostras têm como finalidade concentrar os analitos, promover a redução ou até mesmo a eliminação de interferentes presentes nas amostras. Essas ações promovem a redução dos limites de detecção (LD) do método e tornam os extratos compatíveis com a técnica instrumental a ser utilizada. No caso das técnicas de cromatografia, por exemplo, é possível obter uma separação livre de interferentes, com detecção adequada e tempo reduzido de análise. [1][2][3][4] Dentre as técnicas de extração mais utilizadas, a extração em fase sólida (solid phase extraction -SPE) é, atualmente, uma das ferramentas mais poderosas e mais empregadas para extração e pré--concentração de compostos presentes em matrizes complexas. 5 A SPE emprega cartuchos recheados com adsorventes sólidos, modificados ou não, que possibilitam um mecanismo de retenção semelhante ao observado em uma coluna de cromatografia líquida. Dentre esses mecanismos estão a adsorção, a partição, a troca iônica, a exclusão por tamanho e a bioafinidade. [1][2][3][6][7][8] A execução da técnica de SPE consiste em quatro etapas, sendo elas (i) o condicionamento do cartucho, (ii) a permeação da amostra, (iii) a limpeza do cartucho para eliminar os interferentes menos retidos que os analitos (etapa opcional) e (iv) a eluição dos compostos de interesse. Desta maneira, vários são os fatores que podem interferir no processo de isolamento e concentração dos analitos. Tal interferência, ainda, pode ser agravada quando se faz necessário o uso de um maior volume de amostras para a análise de compostos em concentrações reduzidas. 3,8 A segunda etapa, permeação da amostra, baseia-se na passagem da amostra através da fase estacionária e pode ser considerada uma etapa crítica, pois a velocidade com que a amostra permeia a fase estacionária do cartucho influenc...

The goal of this work was to evaluate the performance of the LED irradiated photo-Fenton process on the removal of (i) estrogenic activity and (ii) seven endocrine disruptors (EDs) (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A, estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and estriol) from real wastewater treatment plant effluent (WWTPE). EDs are a group of contaminants of emerging concern present in WWTPE and which may be recognized by hormone receptors, thus harming animal and human health. The yeast estrogenic screen test (YES) was used to quantify estrogenic activity promoted by EDs in WWTPE samples before and after photo-Fenton treatment. Tests were performed following a factorial design with different iron (20, 40, and 60 mg L −1) and hydrogen peroxide (100, 200, and 300 mg L −1) concentrations in a laboratory scale LED photoreactor (λ = 455 nm, 1.5 L, 1.6 × 10 −6 Einstein s −1). EDs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Control experiments consisted of Fenton process, iron only, LED irradiation only, and H 2 O 2 only. Optimum experimental conditions for LED photo-Fenton resulted in 62% removal of estrogenic activity and 59% mineralization. In addition, treated WWTPE was not toxic to Aliivibrio fischeri and more than 80% of EDs were removed during LED irradiated photo-Fenton. Although Fenton process showed similar efficiency to that obtained by LED photo-Fenton, a higher volume of sludge was generated in the dark. Finally, results obtained in this study confirm the applicability of LED irradiated photo-Fenton process for improving the quality of WWTPE as an alternative to solar photo-Fenton in case solar radiation is not available, thus reducing hazards associated to WWTPE reuse or discharge.