Extractable Pb Research Articles

Simultaneous decomplexation of Pb-EDTA and elimination of free Pb ions by MoS2/H2O2: Mechanisms and applications

The critical challenge of effectively removing Pb-EDTA complexes and Pb(II) ions from wastewater is pivotal for environmental remediation. This research introduces a cutting-edge bulk-MoS2/H2O2 system designed for the simultaneous decomplexation of Pb-EDTA complexes and extraction of free Pb(II) ions, streamlining the process by eliminating the need for subsequent treatment stages. The system exhibits outstanding efficiency, achieving 98.1% decomplexation of Pb-EDTA and 98.6% removal of Pb. Its effectiveness is primarily due to the generation of reactive oxygen species, notably •OH and O2•- radicals, facilitated by bulk-MoS2 and H2O2. Key operational parameters such as reagent dosages, Pb(II): EDTA molar ratios, solution pH, and the presence of coexisting ions were meticulously evaluated to determine their impact on the system's performance. Through a suite of analytical techniques, the study confirmed the disruption of Pb–O and Pb–N bonds, further elucidating the decomplexation process. It also underscored the synergistic role of bulk-MoS2’s adsorption properties and the formation of PbMoO4-like precipitates in enhancing Pb elimination. Demonstrating the bulk-MoS2/H2O2 system as a robust, one-step solution that meets stringent Pb emission standards, this study provides in-depth insights into the removal mechanisms of Pb-EDTA, affirming its potential for broader application in wastewater treatment practices.

Functionalization of Na2Ca2Si3O9/Ca8Si5O18 Nanostructures with Chitosan and Terephthalaldehyde Crosslinked Chitosan for Effective Elimination of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Media

Lead poses significant health risks to humans, including neurological and developmental impairments, particularly in children. Additionally, lead pollution in the environment can contaminate soil, water, and air, endangering wildlife and ecosystems. Therefore, this study reports the straightforward fabrication of Na2Ca2Si3O9/Ca8Si5O18 nanostructures (NaCaSilicate) utilizing a sol-gel technique. Additionally, the produced nanostructures underwent further modification with chitosan (CS@NaCaSilicate) and chitosan crosslinked with terephthalaldehyde (CCS@NaCaSilicate), resulting in new nanocomposite materials. These samples were developed to efficiently extract Pb(II) ions from aqueous media through complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity for Pb(II) ions by the NaCaSilicate, CS@NaCaSilicate, and CCS@NaCaSilicate samples is 185.53, 245.70, and 359.71 mg/g, respectively. The uptake of Pb(II) ions was characterized as spontaneous, exothermic, and chemical, with the best description provided by the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, a 9 M hydrochloric acid solution effectively eliminated Pb(II) ions from the synthesized samples, attaining a desorption efficacy surpassing 99%. Additionally, the fabricated samples exhibited efficient reusability across five successive cycles of adsorption and desorption for capturing Pb(II) ions.

Development of a dispersive micro-solid phase extraction method based on using cobalamin as a green adsorbent for the extraction of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from oil samples

ABSTRACT A dispersive micro-solid phase extraction procedure using cobalamin as a green sorbent has been developed for the extraction of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from oil samples. At first, a desired amount of oil sample was dissolved in chloroform. Then, the specified amount of cobalamin was added and vortexed. After centrifuging, the separated solid particles were dissolved in nitric acid solution. Finally, the analytes were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Effects of different analytical parameters such as amounts of sample and cobalamin, vortex time, complexing agent amount, type and volume of dissolving solvent, and temperature on the extraction efficiency of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions were investigated and optimised. Under optimised conditions, calibration curves were established with the linear ranges of 1.5–150 μg Kg−1 for Cd(II) and 1–150 μg Kg−1 for Pb(II). The detection limits were found to be 0.48 and 0.34 µg Kg−1 along with extraction recoveries of 89.1% and 94.8% for Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, respectively. The proposed method demonstrated good repeatability, with the relative standard deviation ranging from 3.8% to 4.1% (n = 6, C = 10 μg Kg−1 of each cation). Finally, the method was successfully applied to determine the concentrations of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in various oil samples.

Mn-modified bamboo biochar improves soil quality and immobilizes heavy metals in contaminated soils

Soil contamination by heavy metals is becoming increasingly serious and needs to be solved urgently. Modified biochar is an effective strategy to solve this problem, and previous studies have only focused on the remediation of single heavy metal contaminated soils through biochar. However, the effects of metal-modified bamboo biochar on soil improvement and the passivation of heavy metals are still unknown. In this study, the Mn-modified bamboo biochar was prepared and the effects of Mn-modified bamboo biochar on soil improvement and the passivation of heavy metals were investigated. The results showed that Mn-modified bamboo biochar can improve the physical and chemical properties of soil, and immobilize heavy metals (i.e., Pb, As, Cd, and Cu). After adding Mn-modified bamboo biochar, soil pH decreased by 0.08–0.70, organic matter content increased by 8.00–45.13%, and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen content increased by 1.84–5.78%. The diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Pb, As, Cd, and Cu decreased by 21.25–58.65%, 7.76–34.02%, 36.44–46.50%, and 3.13–35.21%, respectively, while the acid-extractable Pb, As, Cd, and Cu decreased by 27.81–43.31%, 23.91–26.01%, 17.56–50.60%, and 7.94–18.09% respectively. These results indicated that Mn-modified bamboo biochar can improve the physicochemical properties of the soil and effectively inactivate multi-heavy metals in contaminated soil, Mn-modified bamboo biochar is a potential alternative agent for the management of multi-heavy metal contaminated soils.

Accumulation Assessment of Mo4+, Pb++, and Cu++ in the Acidic Water of Copper Mines with Lemna minor and Lemna gibba

Pollutants accumulate in aquatic habitats due to mining activities. The duckweed family includes water plants such as Lemna gibba and Lemna minor, which are tiny, delicate, free-floating aquatic plants. L. minor and L. gibba were used in this study to examine the accumulation capacities of Mo4+, Pb++, and Cu++ in acidic fluids from copper mining. Two reactors were assigned to L. gibba and L. minor, respectively. These plants and the reactor water were gathered daily for 8 days. Acid mine water pH, temperature, and electric conductivity were also tested daily. L. gibba and L. minor were cleaned, dehydrated, and burned in a drying oven for a whole day at 300 °C. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy) was used to determine the Mo4+, Pb++, and Cu++ content of the plant and water samples. The Mo, Pb, and Cu concentrations in the copper mining acidic fluids were 30 ± 4, 260 ± 12, and 15,535 ± 322 μg L−1, respectively. Regarding Mo, Pb, and Cu extraction from copper mining acidic fluids, L. gibba and L. minor performed more efficiently than control samples, gathering 29 and 177 times more Mo, 30 and 109 times more Pb, and 495 and 1150 times more Cu, respectively. Considering these findings, L. gibba and L. minor are good plants for rehabilitating polluted waters and can efficiently remove Mo, Pb, and Cu from acid mine fluids.

Development of a vortex-assisted switchable-hydrophilicity solvent-based liquid phase microextraction for fast and reliable extraction of Zn (II), Fe (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) from various baby food products

This manuscript describes the development of a novel liquid phase microextraction (LPME) method for the extraction and determination of Zn (II), Fe (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) in various infant/baby food and supplements products. The method is based on vortex-assisted extraction combined with a switchable-hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) sample preparation. The SHS, which undergoes reversible phase changes triggered by pH change, enables selective extraction and easy phase separation. A flame atomic absorption spectroscopy was used in the final determination step. Optimization studies revealed, that the optimal pH of the sample solution (after digestion) during analytes extraction is 5.5. A l-proline is added to the sample (375 mM) to ensure the complexation of the target metal cations. After the complexation step, 750 µL of SHS - a N, N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine along with 0.9 mL of 2 M of acetic acid solution is added (hydrophilicity switch-on stage) and mixed manually to obtain a homogeneous solution. In the last stage, 0.45 mL of 10 M NaOH solution (hydrophilicity switch-off stage) is added to the sample solution and a vortex for 100 s is applied to ensure the effective extraction and separation of the complex containing the analytes. At this stage, a cloudy solution is immediately obtained. Finally, the effective phase separation is obtained at the centrifugation step (4000 rpm for 2 mins). The method limit of detection was as 0.03, 0.009, 0.6, and 0.2 ng/L for Zn (II), Fe (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) respectively with RSD% below 2.0 %. The analysis of certified reference materials and real samples proved the full applicability of the method for routine analysis, contributing to the field of heavy metal analysis and ensuring the safety of baby products. According to the AGREE methodology, this method can be named as green analytical chemistry method with a score of 0.77.

Zn-doped MoO3 nanorods for dispersive solid phase extraction of trace Pb(II) from water and food samples

A rapid, and environmentally friendly dispersive solid phase extraction method based on Zn-doped MoO3 nanorods for efficient extraction of trace level of Pb(II) from water and food samples was established before high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection. The sorbent characterization studies were carried out using BET, FE-SEM, XRD, and FT-IR techniques. To achieve effective phase separation and accurate analytical data, the adsorption and desorption procedures have been precisely adjusted. The presented approach demonstrated a wide working range (9.3–500 µg L−1), a relatively low detection limit (3.1 µg L−1), and very good extraction recoveries (90–104%) under optimum conditions. The matrix effect was investigated by the addition of interference ions. The presence of many different anions and cations in the environment did not lead to negative results and selectivity towards the analyte was observed. The method was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials (TMDA - 64.3 and INCT-OBTL-5). The enhancement factor has been determined as 10.9. The suggested method worked efficiently to extract and determine Pb(II) from water, tea, and oil samples.

Enhancing Lead Passivation in Contaminated Soil: Impacts of the Chemical Modification of Oxygen-Containing Groups (OCGs) on the Surface of Hydrochar

ABSTRACT In this study, we selected walnut shell-derived pristine HC (pHC) and two modified derivatives obtained by oxidative and alkali treatments (designated mHC-O and mHC-A, respectively) to investigate the passivation performance of Pb(II) in contaminated soil. The yields of mHC-A and mHC-O were 70.58% and 95.38%, respectively, after posttreatment. According to the XPS, FTIR, and acidity titration results, the amounts of the three major OCGs (i.e. C−O, C=O, and O−C=O) all increased after H2O2 oxidation. Moreover, chemical modification fundamentally changed the structural characteristics of pHC. DTPA extraction tests indicated that the extractable Pb content after 30 days of incubation decreased by 13.60%, 19.32% and 14.53% at 7% (w/w) doses of HC, mHC-O and mHC-A, respectively, compared to that of the control. Furthermore, mHC-O was superior to pHC and mHC-A in terms of Pb passivation efficiency, which was consistent with the results of BCR sequential extraction and leaching tests using three root exudates. For mHC-O at the 7% dose, the contents of bioavailable Pb in the contaminated soil were 19.85 and 8.83 mg/kg based on DTPA leaching and BCR analysis, respectively, while they were 0.616, 0.564 and 0.07 mg/kg in the root exudate leaching tests of Ophiopogon japonicus, radish and spinach, respectively, indicating that the root exudate leaching method lowered the bioavailable Pb content compared to the DTPA and BCR methods. Overall, Oxidation posttreatment with HC could improve the passivation of Pb in contaminated soils.

Magnetic Porous Ion Imprinted Polymer Based on Surface Polymerization and Nano-ZnO as Sacrificial Support for Selective Extraction and determination of Pb (II) in Water Samples and Cosmetics

Magnetic Porous Ion Imprinted Polymer Based on Surface Polymerization and Nano-ZnO as Sacrificial Support for Selective Extraction and determination of Pb (II) in Water Samples and Cosmetics

An Eco‐Friendly Approach for Determination of Lead in Biological Samples after Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction

AbstractThe present research proposes investigating deep eutectic solvents for extracting Pb from biological samples for further determination by GF AAS. Among the synthesized solvents, the DES obtained from choline chloride and oxalic acid (ChCl : Ox) in a molar ratio 1 : 1 presented the best lead (Pb) extraction efficiency. Subsequently, it was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). For extraction, the optimized conditions were: 40 mg of sample, 400 μL of DES (ChCl : Ox) added, and 30 min at 95±5 °C. The supernatant was diluted, and the Pb was determined by GF AAS. The optimized instrumental conditions for Pb determination were 900 °C and 2100 °C, pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, respectively, using Pd as a chemical modifier. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.04 and 0.12 μg g−1, respectively. The method's accuracy was evaluated by analyzing the certificate reference materials, and good agreement was obtained between the determined and certificate values. The greenness of the proposed method was evaluated by green star and eco‐scale metrics. Thus, the proposed method proved simple, efficient, and eco‐friendly for determining Pb in biological samples.

Lead extraction from food samples by combined cloud point-micro solid phase extraction

An economic strategy was investigated for extraction of Pb(II) by merging cloud point extraction (CPE) and micro solid phase extraction (μSPE) using montmorillonite (MMT) as a natural sorbent. In this context, Pb(II) was adsorbed onto MMT as 4-(pyridyl-2-azo)-resorcinol (PAR) complex and transferred into micellar phase of Triton X-114. Subsequently, Pb(II) were eluted from MMT by 0.5 mol L−1 of HNO3 and quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The central composite design of response surface methodology was used to study the effects of some experimental parameters such as pH, MMT amount, surfactant concentration, and temperature while the desirability function approach was utilized to define the best conditions for Pb(II) extraction. The calibration curve was linear from 0.02 to 10.0 µg L−1 of and an enrichment factor of 95.6 was obtained for 50.0 mL sample. The limit of detection for was 0.006 µg L−1 and the relative standard deviations for five replicate analysis of 1.0 µg L−1 and 5.0 µg L−1 of Pb(II) were 2.8% and 1.5%, respectively. The method was assessed for its environmental friendliness using the analytical AGREEnness calculator. The applicability of the method were evaluated by determination of Pb(II) in certified reference materials and food samples.

Bioleaching for metals removal from mine tailings flotation fractions

This study investigated two bioleaching strategies for removing heavy metals from three mine tailings fractions generated by flotation processes. On the one hand, bioleaching with microbial consortia of acidophilic mesophiles and moderate thermophiles efficiently extracted Co, Cu, Zn, and As, while the leaching of Pb was facilitated through the use of organic acids produced by a heterotrophic bacterium and a fungus. Approximately 100% Co, 68% Zn, 63% As, and 31% Cu were bioleached with acidophilic mesophiles from the barite tailings (BT) sample after 14 days, whereas for the barite concentrate (BC) sample the results showed about 100% Co, 70% Zn and As, and 45% Cu removal at the same period. The sulfide concentrate (SC) sample underwent bioleaching with both consortia, acidophilic mesophiles and moderate thermophiles over 28 days. Approximately, 67% of Co, 28% of Zn, 56% of As, 28% of Cu, and 6% of Mn were extracted from the sample using mesophiles, whereas the leaching efficiency with the moderate thermophiles was about 72% of Co, 50% of Zn, 28% of As, 36% of Cu, and 5% of Mn in 20 L bioreactors. On the other hand, bioleaching of Pb was explored using the bacterium Gluconobacter oxydans and the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum for the production of gluconic acid and citric acid, respectively. Additionally, besides glucose-based media, glycerol and crystal sugar were tested as alternative and cheaper carbon sources. The metabolic activity of P. simplicissimum allowed a maximum Pb leaching of 39–43% from the BT sample in 28 days in glycerol-based medium, while for the BC sample, the maximum Pb extraction was around 60% in glucose-based medium. A lower extraction of Pb was achieved with G. oxydans for both samples. The maximum extraction of 34% and 39% of Pb was reached within 7 days when glucose was used as the carbon source. Further optimization should address both the enhancement of metals removal and – especially for the organic acid bioleaching – the reduction of costs related to media formulation and fungal biomass production on a larger scale.

Effect of Power and Exposure Time on the Microwave-Assisted Roasting of Refractory Gold Ore

Reserves of high-grade gold ore worldwide are decreasing, and some industries have started processing refractory gold ore. Refractory gold ore contains sulfide minerals such as pyrite (FeS2), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), galena (PbS), and sphalerite (ZnS). Gold in refractory ores occurs as fine-size gold-bearing sulfide minerals. In this study, the microwave-assisted roasting method has been investigated as a pretreatment for a refractory gold ore. This method can provide rapid heating radiation, cause micro-cracks, and trigger the decomposition of sulfide minerals. The presence of additive helps in the oxidation of sulfide minerals. The microwave-assisted roasting was carried out using variations in microwave power and time. Microwave power between 300 - 600 watts significantly affected the increase in roasting temperature and weight loss of refractory gold ore. The highest temperature reached 567°C in roasting at 800 watts for 30 minutes. The optimum condition for microwave roasting was achieved at 400 watts of power with a roasting time of 30 minutes. Metals extraction of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe reached 97.2%, 82.7%, 16.1%, and 2.1% in water leaching.

In vitro bioaccessibility round robin testing for arsenic and lead in standard reference materials and soil samples.

In this study, we assessed the suitability of using a standard reference material (SRM) other than National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2710a or NIST 2711a in USEPA Method 1340 to determine arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) and the capabilities of Canadian-based laboratories to perform the method. Five laboratories participated in an initial round robin study and analyzed NIST 2710a, NIST 2711a, BGS119, and Enviromat SS-2. Intra- and inter-laboratory variability were generally acceptable with percentage relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 20%. The mean total As and Pb concentrations obtained for BGS119 (332 and 936 mg/kg, respectively) and the mean IVBA values (As = 14.3% and Pb = 78.1%) suggested it may be a suitable and acceptable SRM, whereas the concentration of As in Enviromat SS-2 as received (3.2 mg/kg) was deemed too low. Ten soil samples from sites with varying land use were analyzed in a follow-up round robin study using the modified IVBA method that included BGS119 as SRM. The concentrations of As and Pb in the IVBA extracts reported by the participating laboratories were comparable. The mean As IVBA values for the field-collected samples ranged from 0.1% to 56.4%; for Pb, they ranged from 7.0% to 121%. The lowest IVBA values were measured in mine site samples; the highest values were associated with smelter-affected soils. The low IVBA values correlated with high iron content. Intra- and interlaboratory reproducibility were acceptable (RSD < 30%). Based on the findings of the study, laboratories can use the modified method to provide reproducible and comparable As and Pb IVBA data. The use of BGS119 as an alternative SRM to assess contaminated sites in the province of British Columbia for regulatory purposes is recommended, as it is representative of As and Pb concentrations in contaminated soils in British Columbia. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1486-1495. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Preparation of modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (l-Arg-CS/MWCNTs-COOH/Fe3O4) as sorbent for dispersive solid phase extraction of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) in wastewater samples

A new modified multiwalled carbon nanotube (l-Arg-CS/MWCNTs-COOH/Fe3O4) as sorbent of dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) was synthesized for preconcentration and determination of Cu (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) in wastewater samples. The successful formation of sorbent was characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, SEM (Scanning electron microscope), and XRD (X-ray diffraction). Batch experiments such as solution pH, amount of adsorbent, extraction time, type and volume rate of eluent and etc were achieved to study the sorption process. At optimized conditions the adsorbent shows good recovery with 4mL ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) EDTA( as eluent. Good fitting of sorption kinetics by pseudo-second-order model was obtained. Limits of detection were found in the range of 0.10-0.12 μg L−1 for metal ions, the liner range was 5-1000 μg L−1 for Cd(II) and 10-1000 μg L−1 for Cu(II) and Pb(II) and the preconcentration factor 60, 65 and 55 for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The relative standard deviation was in the range of 1.5-2.3 %. Results showed that the new magnetic nanosorbent was an efficient DSPE adsorbent for preconcentration and determination of Cu (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) in wastewater samples.

Reapplication Potential of Historic Pb–Zn Slag with Regard to Zero Waste Principles

Smelting used to be less efficient; therefore, wastes obtained from historical processing at smelter plants usually contain certain quantities of valuable metals. Upon the extraction of useful metal elements, metallurgical slag can be repurposed as an alternative mineral raw material in the building sector. A case study was conducted, which included an investigation of the physico-chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties of Pb–Zn slag found at the historic landfill near the Topilnica Veles smelter in North Macedonia. The slag was sampled using drill holes. The mineralogical and microstructural analysis revealed that Pb–Zn slag is a very complex and inhomogeneous alternative raw material with utilizable levels of metals, specifically Pb (2.3 wt.%), Zn (7.1 wt.%), and Ag (27.5 ppm). Crystalline mineral phases of wurtzite, sphalerite, galena, cerussite, akermanite, wüstite, monticellite, franklinite, and zincite were identified in the analyzed samples. The slag’s matrix consisted of alumino-silicates, amorphous silicates, and mixtures of spinel and silicates. Due to the economic potential of Pb, Zn, and Ag extraction, the first stage of reutilization will be to transform metal concentrates into their collective concentrate, from which the maximum amount of these crucial components can be extracted. This procedure will include combination of gravity concentration and separation techniques. The next step is to assess the Pb–Zn slag’s potential applications in civil engineering, based on its mineralogical and physico-mechanical properties. Alumino-silicates present in Pb–Zn slag, which contain high concentrations of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and Fe2O3, are suitable for use in cementitious building composites. The goal of this research is to suggest a solution by which to close the circle of slag’s reutilization in terms of zero waste principles. It is therefore critical to thoroughly investigate the material, the established methods and preparation processes, and the ways of concentrating useful components into commercial products.

Micro solid phase extraction of lead and cadmium using functionalized nanodiamonds@CuAl2O4@HKUST-1 nanocomposite for FAAS analysis in food and water samples

This study focuses on the development and application of a novel nanocomposite (functionalized nanodiamonds@CuAl2O4@HKUST-1)-based µ-SPE method for the sensitive and selective extraction of Pb and Cd from food and water samples. The technique offers high sensitivity and selectivity, allowing accurate measurement of these metals at trace levels. The detection limit is 0.031 µg kg−1 for Cd and 0.052 µg kg−1 for Pb, with a relative standard deviation of 1.7 % for Cd and 4.8 % for Pb. The method was successfully applied to real samples and efficiently quantified Pb and Cd in food and natural water samples. The highest concentrations were found in red lentils (0.274 µg kg−1 Pb) and fresh mint (0.197 µg kg−1Cd), but still below recommended limits set by FAO/WHO (300 µg kg−1 for Pb and 200 µg kg−1 for Cd). It promises to ensure food safety, monitor environmental contamination, and informs regulatory decisions to protect public health.

Functionalized nanodiamonds with NiCoFe layered double hydroxides used as a novel adsorbent in dispersive solid phase microextraction for Pb(II) determination in juice samples

A new solid phase microextraction (SPME) method utilizing nanodiamonds@NiCoFe-LDH for the pretreatment and extraction of Pb(II) before sample determination through FAAS was developed. NiCoFe-LDH was synthesized by using a hydrothermal synthesis technique and then combined with functionalized nanodiamonds. For the characterization of nanodiamonds@NiCoFe-LDH composite, FT-IR, FE-SEM, and XRD were utilized. The analytical parameters (pH level, amount of sorbent, concentration of eluent, volumes of sample and eluent, desorption time), i.e., pH = 8.0, 5.0 mg, 0.5 mol/L, 50 mL, 1.5 mL, and 0.5 min, respectively, were studied to set the maximum efficiency of the developed method. Additionally, matrix effects were taken into consideration during the evaluation process using the standard addition method. The limit of detection (LOD) and the preconcentration factor (PF) were obtained as 0.62 ng mL-1 and 25, respectively. To confirm the accuracy of the newly developed method, certified reference materials (CRMs) (NIST SRM 1515 apple leaves and BCR-505 estuarine water) were employed. %RSD was calculated as 2.0–8.0. The optimized method was successfully implemented to quantify Pb(II) in commercially available fruit juices of various brands and flavors procured from local markets in Kayseri, Turkey. Compared to previously reported methods, the developed method demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, achieving a remarkably low LOD.

Extraction and enrichment of lead from contaminated soil using chelation reactions

Heavy metals such as lead (Pb) are significantly harmful to human health and may have disastrous effects on the ecosystem. Consequently, Pb-contaminated soil necessitates remediation to bring Pb levels below the standard threshold of 150 mg/kg. This study aimed to devise processes for extracting and enriching Pb using chelation reactions. Pb was effectively extracted from the soil using EDTA as the chelating agent, forming a complex ([Pb-HEDTA]-) that is solubilized in the solution. Extraction efficiency increased with higher EDTA/Pb molar ratios, remaining relatively constant at 100 or above. Elevated temperatures also enhanced Pb extraction; concentrations below 150 mg/kg were achieved at 25 °C or higher. The desorption of Pb followed the Langmuir equation, indicating uniform one-to-one Pb desorption. The addition of the chelating flocculant diethyldithiocarbamic acid (DDTC) concentrated Pb in the solid phase, reducing sludge volume. Pb transfer rate rose with increasing DDTC/[Pb-EDTA]2− ratio, peaking at 90 % with a ratio of 50. The presence and extraction of other elements (Fe, Cu, and Zn) did not impede Pb extraction and enrichment. Therefore, this study and its findings could provide the basis for further development of the Pb extraction process and mitigate the problem of Pb-contaminated soil when designing Pb extraction plants.

Protaetia brevitarsis larvae extract protects against lipopolysaccharides-induced ferroptosis and inflammation by inhibiting acid sphingomyelinase.

Inflammation and ferroptosis are implicated in various diseases and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been linked with these disorders. Recently, many edible insects, such as Gryllus bimaculatus, Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (PB) and Tenebrio molitor larvae, have been recommended as alternative foods because they contain lots of nutritional sources. In this study, we explored the potential of PB extract in preventing LPS-induced inflammation and ferroptosis in Hep3B cells. PB powder was extracted using 70% ethanol and applied to Hep3B cells. Co-treatment with LPS was conducted to induce ferroptosis and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory and anti-ferroptosis mechanisms of the PB extract were confirmed using Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. PB extract effectively prevented LPS-induced cell death and restored LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production, NF-κB signaling, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ferroptosis. Interestingly, PB extract reduced LPS-induced ceramide increase and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) expression. The use of the ASMase inhibitor, desipramine, also demonstrated a reduction in these pathways, highlighting the pivotal role of ASMase in inflammation and ferroptosis. Treatment with each inhibitor revealed that ferroptosis causes ER stress and that NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways are involved in inflammation. PB emerges as a potential functional food with inhibitory effects on LPS-induced inflammation and ferroptosis, making it a promising candidate for nutritional interventions.