Analysis of organic compounds in samples characterized by different composition of the matrix is very important in many areas. A vast majority of organic compound determinations are performed using gas or liquid chromatographic methods. It is thus very important that these methods have negligible environmental impact. Chromatographic techniques have the potential to be greener at all steps of the analysis, from sample collection and preparation to separation and final determination. The paper summarizes the approaches used to accomplish the goals of green chromatography. While complete elimination of sample preparation would be an ideal approach, it is not always practical. Solventless extraction techniques offer a very good alternative. Where solvents must be used, the focus should be on the minimization of their consumption. The approaches used to make chromatographic separations greener differ depending on the type of chromatography. In gas chromatography it is advisable to move away from using helium as the carrier gas because it is a non-renewable resource. GC separations using low thermal mass technology can be greener because of energy savings offered by this technology. In liquid chromatography the focus should be on the reduction of solvent consumption and replacement of toxic and environmentally hazardous solvents with more benign alternatives. Multidimensional separation techniques have the potential to make the analysis greener in both GC and LC. The environmental impact of the method is often determined by the location of the instrument with respect to the sample collection point.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and binding effects of gooseberry, a less-studied berry, and to compare with blueberry and cranberry in the model of interaction with human serum albumin (HSA). The relationship between the scavenging properties of dietary polyphenols of the selected berries and their affinities for HSA were investigated by fluorescence analysis. In order to perform the extraction and identification of the antioxidants present in the samples, different types of extraction solvents were used, such as water, ethyl acetate, and diethyl ether. The polyphenols, tannins, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid contents, and the total antioxidant capacities (TACs) of the berry extracts were assessed by using ESI-MS, FTIR, and radical scavenging assays. The contents of bioactive compounds and the levels of TACs in water extracts differed significantly and were the highest in water extracts in comparison with other extracts in all the investigated berries (P \ 0.05). Gooseberry water extracts contained: polyphenols (mg GAE/g DW)-5.37 ± 0.6, tannins (mg CE/g DW)-0.71 ± 0.2, anthocyanins (mg CGE/g DW)-12.0 ± 1.2, ascorbic acid (mg AA/g DW)-5.15 ± 0.5, and TACs (lMTE/g DW) by ABTS and FRAP assays were 15.53 ± 1.6 and 6.51 ± 0.7, respectively. In conclusion, the bioactivity of gooseberry was lower than blueberries and cranberries. The antioxidant and binding properties of gooseberries in comparison with widely consumed blueberries and cranberries can be used as a new source for food supplementation.

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3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a heat-induced food contaminant that has been widely investigated for decades. This paper presents an overview of current knowledge about 3-MCPD, including its formation routes, occurrence in various foodstuffs, analytical approach, toxicological aspects, and future research perspectives. So far, 3-MCPD was determined in its free and bound form in thermally treated foods, edible oils and fats, and infant foods including human breast milk. Contaminants in infant foods and human breast milk were highlighted in this paper as a serious problem as they can pose a potential hazard for infants. The analytical approach of 3-MCPD determination has been modified for over a decade. Nowadays, the method based on determining the derivative of this compound by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry is widely used. However, there is still a big need for developing new methods that would produce repeatable results. Some of the toxicologic aspects associated with 3-MCPD still remain unknown. A number of studies on the carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of 3-MCPD were carried out on rodents; however, no clinical studies on humans have been reported so far. Moreover, both detrimental effect on kidneys and antifertility activity have been widely reported. The knowledge of 3-MCPD absorption into body fluids and tissues and its metabolic pathways is based on sometimes conflicting data derived from different studies. In conclusion, although a lot of research has been carried out on 3-MCPD, there is still a need for further research in this area.

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