Rapid Analytical Technique Research Articles

3‐Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane Capped ZnO Quantum Dots for Acrylamide Detection

AbstractAcrylamide (AA) is a carcinogenic, neurotoxin, and pregnancy‐harmful agent produced in food thermal processing. A specified excellent analytical technique performance is desired for detecting low AA concentration for human protection from its adverse impacts. A photoluminescent sensor APTES capped zinc oxide quantum dots (APTES/ZnO QDs) has been synthesized for AA quantification. Different capping agent's effects, for instance, triethanolamine (TEA), oleic acid (OA), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), and ethyl acetate (EA) on ZnO QDs are examined. The photoluminescence (PL) response of pristine ZnO QDs and APTES/ZnO QDs probe toward AA concentrations is investigated. This developed sensor exhibits selectivity as well as sensitivity for detecting AA ranging from 0.01 to 8.0 mM with a strong correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9998 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0019 mM, which is lesser than the WHO and European Union's guideline value. The possible photoluminescence enhancement mechanism of the APTES/ZnO QDs probe for AA detection is studied. Additionally, the reliability and performance of this facile, rapid, and precise analytical technique for quantifying AA in potato chip samples is confirmed and revealed satisfactory recoveries from 99.30 to 101.69% with relative standard deviations (RSD) from 1.4 to 1.6%.

Development and validation of a simple method for the determination of triamcinolone acetonide in nasal spray

A rapid, convenient, and sensitive analytical technique for quantitative analysis of triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) in pharmaceutical nasal spray dosage form using the blue tetrazolium colorimetric reaction and UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated. Beer’s law of the developed method was proven in the concentration range of 10–40 µg/mL and showed a specific linear relationship with coefficient value R2 = 0.998. The LOQ level was 9.99 µg/mL, with (RSD = 0.26%). From precision assay, RSD values have been obtained for the repeatability and intermediate precision, which were found to be (RSD = 1.65%) and (RSD = 2.01%), respectively, indicating that the method is reproducible. Recovery studies showed mean recoveries in the range of (100.08–103.65 %), meeting the acceptance criteria for accuracy. In addition, we compared the results of the developed method UV–Vis spectrophotometric procedure with those of a well-established official USP analytical procedure (HPLC), and the results showed good agreement. The proposed UV method represents a potential alternative to the official USP analytical assay procedure (HPLC) for estimating TAC in nasal spray forms. Furthermore, it has the potential to be implemented in routine use for rapid qualitative and quantitative determinations for TAC.

The role of potassium in depth profiling of the tumor border in bone-invasive oral cancer using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS): a pilot study

PurposeMicroscopic tumor spread beyond the macroscopically visible tumor mass in bone represents a major risk in surgical oncology, where the spatial complexity of bony resection margins cannot be countered with rapid bone analysis techniques. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has recently been introduced as a promising option for rapid bone analysis. The present study aimed to use LIBS-based depth profiling based on electrolyte disturbance tracking to evaluate the detection of microscopic tumor spread in bone.MethodsAfter en bloc resection, the tumor-infiltrated mandible section of a patient’s segmental mandibulectomy specimen was natively investigated using LIBS. Spectral and electrolytic depth profiles were analyzed across 30 laser shots per laser spot position in healthy bone and at the tumor border. For the histological validation of the lasered positions, the mandibular section was marked with a thin separating disc.ResultsSolid calcium (Ca) from hydroxyapatite and soluble Ca from dissolved Ca can be reliably differentiated using LIBS and reflect the natural heterogeneity of healthy bone. Increased potassium (K) emission values in otherwise typically healthy bone spectra are the first spectral signs of tumorous bone invasion. LIBS-based depth profiles at the tumor border region can be used to track tumor-associated changes within the bone with shot accuracy based on the distribution of K.ConclusionDepth profiling using LIBS might enable the detection of microscopic tumor spread in bone. In the future, direct electrolyte tracking using LIBS should be applied to other intraoperative challenges in surgical oncology to advance rapid bone analysis by spectroscopic–optical techniques.

Identifying Factors to Facilitate the Implementation of Decision-Making Tools to Promote Self-Management of Chronic Diseases into Routine Healthcare Practice: A Qualitative Study.

This study, as part of the COMPAR-EU project, utilized a mixed-methods approach involving 37 individual, semi-structured interviews and one focus group with 7 participants to investigate the factors influencing the implementation and use of self-management interventions (SMIs) decision tools in clinical practice. The interviews and focus group discussions were guided by a tailored interview and focus group guideline developed based on the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD) framework. The data were analyzed using a directed qualitative content analysis, with a deductive coding system based on the TICD framework and an inductive coding process. A rapid analysis technique was employed to summarize and synthesize the findings. The study identified five main dimensions and facilitators for implementation: decision tool factors, individual health professional factors, interaction factors, organizational factors, and social, political, and legal factors. The findings highlight the importance of structured implementation through SMI decision support tools, emphasizing the need to understand their benefits, secure organizational resources, and gain political support for sustainable implementation. Overall, this study employed a systematic approach, combining qualitative methods and comprehensive analysis, to gain insights into the factors influencing the implementation of SMIs' decision-support tools in clinical practice.

Illuminating Progress: The Contribution of Bioluminescence to Sustainable Development Goal 6-Clean Water and Sanitation-Of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims at ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation. The routine monitoring of water contaminants requires accurate and rapid analytical techniques. Laboratory analyses and conventional methods of field sampling still require considerable labor and time with highly trained personnel and transport to a central facility with sophisticated equipment, which renders routine monitoring cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. Moreover, these methods do not provide information about the actual toxicity of water, which is crucial for characterizing complex samples, such as urban wastewater and stormwater runoff. The unique properties of bioluminescence (BL) offer innovative approaches for developing advanced tools and technologies for holistic water monitoring. BL biosensors offer a promising solution by combining the natural BL phenomenon with cutting-edge technologies. This review provides an overview of the recent advances and significant contributions of BL to SDG 6, focusing attention on the potential use of the BL-based sensing platforms for advancing water management practices, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring the well-being of communities.

Determination of fluoride content in infant food samples by sample stacking capillary electrophoresis-indirect UV detection and the estimation of daily-fluoride-intake

Fluoride ion plays a major role in the decline of the prevalence and severity of dental caries. However, exposure to a high level of fluoride causes dental and skeletal fluorosis and reduced levels of intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. This study reports a rapid, selective, sensitive, and economic capillary electrophoresis-sample stacking technique for fluoride analysis in infant food samples. Indirect UV detection of fluoride was performed by 10 mmol/L chromate in the separation electrolyte and 0.1 mmol/L cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was added to the separation medium as an electroosmotic flow modifier. The buffer pH was adjusted to 9.37. The conductivity of the separation electrolyte was increased with 10 mmol/L Na2SO4 and sample stacking was performed. The injections were administered throughout 200 s duration. The limit of detection of the method was 0.0079 mg/L. The method was applied to 7 various commercially available infant food samples which are in puree and powdered form. The fluoride concentrations ranged from 2.28 – 3.85 µg fluoride/g infant food. The proposed method is suitable for the rapid and sensitive determination of fluoride content in infant formulas, and it is recommended that fluoride content be determined by reliable methods in all commercial infant food samples.

Characterization, quantification and a multi-computational in silico toxicity assessment of impurity (feruloyl methane) in synthetic curcumin using RP-HPLC-UV technique

Feruloyl Methane (FM) is a common impurity in Synthetic Curcumin (SC) that affects its purity and potency. The identification and quantification of FM is crucial to ensure the quality and safety of SC based drugs. The current study aims to develop and validate a simple, rapid and cost-effective analytical technique for the precise and accurate quantification of FM in SC using RP-HPLC with a UV-Vis detector (Ultraviolet/Visible) and assessment of its toxicity by multi-computational methods. The developed HPLC method with a UV-Vis detector enabled accurate identification and quantification of FM in SC. The optimized method was validated in accordance with ICH guidelines Q2(R1) and all parameters were found to be within the standard acceptance range. The ideal run time was determined to be 10 min and the impurity eluting at a retention time of 2.65 min was characterized using spectral techniques viz., mass spectrometry, FTIR and 1 H NMR, confirming the presence of FM. The amount of FM in SC was estimated to be 8.26 µg/kg. In addition, toxicity assessments using in silico tools such as ProTox- II, ADMETlab 2.0 and PASS Online indicated that the presence of FM in SC is not safe for human consumption. In conclusion, the developed method is not only capable of quantifying FM but also aids in distinguishing Natural Curcumin (NC) adulterated with SC and can be applied to a wide range of fields such as natural drug analysis, food analysis and toxicity prediction.

Rapid and accurate determination methods based on data fusion of laser-induced breakdown spectra and near-infrared spectra for main elemental contents in compound fertilizers

Compound fertilizer occupies a dominant position in the structure of fertilizer products in China. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the key indicators affecting the fertilization efficiency and the price of compound fertilizers. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are two rapid analytical techniques suitable for online monitoring of the above components in compound fertilizer. However, accurate LIBS analysis needs to overcome matrix effects and interference from environmental elements, and NIRS also has the limitation of not being able to directly detect inorganic components in compound fertilizers. The combination of LIBS and NIRS techniques, namely LIBS-NIRS data fusion, has the potential to reduce interferences in the detection of single spectroscopic techniques and further improve the analysis accuracy. This study compared the LIBS-NIRS data fusion methods under different optimization conditions, and found that CARS-OPF (competitive adaptive reweighted sampling combined with outer product fusion) and CARS-EWF (competitive adaptive reweighted sampling combined with equal weight fusion) are two effective intermediate data fusion methods which can achieve better quantitative analysis results than single spectroscopic methods. The root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents in compound fertilizers by using CARS-OPF are 0.901, 0.693, and 1.52, respectively, and the RMSEP for those indicators by using CARS-EWF are 0.934, 0.719, and 1.60, respectively. In these two methods, the LIBS and NIRS characteristic variables of compound fertilizers are firstly screened by CARS algorithm, and then intermediate data fusion was carried out by using equal weight fusion or outer product fusion. Redundant variables in the original data can be well removed in the data fusion process to ensure the accuracy of the analysis. Therefore, the combined methods of LIBS-NIRS based on CARS-OPF and CARS-EWF could be well applied to the rapid and accurate detection of main elemental contents in compound fertilizers.

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Rapid Analytical Technique for Soil and Plant

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Rapid Analytical Technique for Soil and Plant

Workplace-based knowledge exchange programmes between academics, policy-makers and providers of healthcare: a qualitative study

BackgroundWorkplace-based knowledge exchange programmes (WKEPs), such as job shadowing or secondments, offer potential for health and care providers, academics, and policy-makers to foster partnerships, develop local solutions and overcome key...

Rapid, efficient, and green analytical technique for determination of fluorotelomer alcohol in water by stir bar sorptive extraction

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are one of the major classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Due to their potential toxicity, persistence, and ubiquitous presence in the environment, some common PFAS are voluntarily phased out; while FTOHs are used as alternatives to conventional PFAS. FTOHs are precursors of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and therefore they are commonly detected in water matrices, which eventually indicate PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies and thus a potential source of human exposure. Even though studies have been conducted nationwide to evaluate the degree of FTOHs in the water environment, robust monitoring is lacking because of the unavailability of simple and sustainable analytical extraction and detection methods. To fill the gap, we developed and validated a simple, rapid, minimal solvent use, no clean-up, and sensitive method for the determination of FTOHs in water by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) coupled with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Three commonly detected FTOHs (6:2 FTOH, 8:2 FTOH, and 10:2 FTOH) were selected as the model compounds. Factors such as extraction time, stirring speed, solvent composition, salt addition, and pH were investigated to achieve optimal extraction efficiency. This “green chemistry” based extraction provided good sensitivity and precision with low method limits of detection ranging from 2.16 ng/L to 16.7 ng/L and with an extraction recovery ranging 55%–111%. The developed method were tested on tap water, brackish water, and wastewater influent and effluent. 6:2 FTOH and 8:2 FTOH were detected in two wastewater samples at 78.0 and 34.8 ng/L, respectively. This optimized SBSE-TD-GC-MS method will be a valuable alternative to investigate FTOHs in water matrices.

Fabrication of Ag nanostar and PEI-based SERS substrate for sensitive and rapid detection of SO2: Application for detection of sulfite residues in beer

Because of sulfite's potential toxicity, there is a growing concern about detecting and controlling its concentration in foods, alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and environmental samples to ensure public health. A branched polyethyleneimine-coated silver nano-star (AgNS@PEI) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate was synthesized in this study for use as a sensitive, simple, rapid, stable, and reproducible non-destructible sulfite detection analytical technique. The seed morphology of the nano-star was created by using hydroxylamine (NH2OH) solution as a primary reducing agent, followed by a slow secondary reduction by trisodium citrate dihydrate (HOC(COONa)(CH2COONa)2 2H2O), resulting in the complete growth of the silver nano-star. For extra stability and selective absorption of sulfur dioxide from the headspace extraction of SO2 from sulfites, the nano-stars were thin coated with branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI). The results showed that the thin-coated plasmonic substrates selectively absorb sulfur dioxide molecules, allowing sulfites in beer samples to be detected with a detection limit of 0.48 mg/L. Furthermore, the PEI-coated silver nano-star demonstrated increased stability and reproducibility, allowing for longer use of the substrate. Recovery experiments with recovery rates ranging from 95 to 112% and relative standard deviations ranging from 1.55 to 8.1% demonstrated that headspace extraction, selective SO2 absorption by the synthesized substrate, and subsequent SERS detections were reliable and valid for practical applications. Finally, this study developed an SO2-sensitive, selective, and robust Si@AgNS@PEI substrate for effective SERS detection and monitoring of sulfite levels in real-world environmental samples.

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC FINGERPRINTING AND CHEMICAL DETERMINATION OF STREPTOMYCIN, AMIKACIN, NEOMYCIN, AND GENTAMYCIN SULPHATE BY CONDENSING WITH NINHYDRIN REAGENT

Objective: The study aimed to develop a simple, efficient, inexpensive, rapid, and reproducible spectrophotometric analytical technique for aminoglycosides analysis by condensing with ninhydrin reagent. Methods: At a pH of 8.0, different aminoglycosides, including amikacin, gentamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin, were deaminated by the ninhydrin reagent. The working standard solution for each component was accurately placed into a series of 10 ml calibrated volumetric flasks, then 1 ml of the ninhydrin reagent was added and heated in a water bath for 15 min. The wavelength(s) of maximum absorption(s) was recorded after scanning the resultant purple complex from 350 nm to 930 nm. The final working concentrations ranged between 1600 and 2000 ug/ml. Results: The average weight of a neomycin sulphate tablet was 0.747g, with a standard deviation of 0.667%. After complexing with ninhydrin reagent at pH 6.0 for 10 to 15 min, all aminoglycosides developed purple coloration that lasted beyond 24 h, compared to the initial white, pale yellow, and colorless appearance of streptomycin, amikacin, neomycin, and gentamycin, respectively. The scanned spectra of the purple complex of ninhydrin formed after reaction with aminoglycosides in the visible region (350-900 nm) were similar, indicating the presence of a common parent structural moiety. At 550 nm, 650 nm, 750 nm, and 850 nm, distinct absorptions were observed. Amikacin, Streptomycin, and Gentamicin had the highest absorbance between 800 and 900 nm. After the reaction with ninhydrin, three distinct absorbances were observed in the Neomycin spectrum: between 380 and 400 nm, 580 and 600 nm, and around 800 nm. The comparative spectra for the four aminoglycosides and ninhydrin reagent with blank show a unique feature for the compounds. The coefficients of regression were 0.996 and 0.995, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed methods for analyzing streptomycin in streptomycin injections were successful. The percentage purity ranged from 017–110 % at 650 and 850 nm, which corresponds to the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) limit that streptomycin sulphate tablets should be between 97.00 and 110%.

Optimization of clean-up sorbents for the simultaneous analysis of twenty preservatives in jerky samples using liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection

Ensuring consumer safety in the food industry requires rapid and reliable analytical techniques. This study presents a liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet detection method for the simultaneous determination of 20 preservatives in jerky samples, with a total analysis time of 24 min. Various sorbents and their combinations were evaluated for their matrix removal capabilities. The combination of C18 endcapped SPE, Z-Sep+, and Envi-Carb demonstrated effective removal of proteins and fatty acids. Validation experiments confirmed satisfactory correlation coefficients (> 0.9970), low limit of quantification (0.24–4.85 mg/kg), and low relative standard deviation (2.2%). The average spiked recoveries were 70.4%–112.3% at concentrations above 20 mg/kg. Among the detected preservatives in jerky samples, including sorbic acid, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, butylated hydroxyanisole, and p-cresol none exceed the legal limits. This method offers a rapid, straightforward approach for preservatives detection in jerky and has the potential for application in monitoring various dried meat products.

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis.

Electron microscopy is one of the tools required to characterize cellular structures. However, the procedure is complicated and expensive due to the sample preparation for observation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a very useful characterization technique due to its high resolution in three dimensions and because of the absence of any requirement for vacuum and sample conductivity. AFM can image a wide variety of samples with different topographies and different types of materials. AFM provides high-resolution 3D topography information from the angstrom level to the micron scale. Unlike traditional microscopy, AFM uses a probe to generate an image of the surface topography of a sample. In this protocol, the use of this type of microscopy is suggested for the morphological and cell damage characterization of bacteria fixed on a support. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas hunanensis (isolated from garlic bulb samples) were used. In this work, bacterial cells were grown in specific culture media. To observe cell damage, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were incubated with different concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs). A drop of bacterial suspension was fixed on a glass support, and images were taken with AFM at different scales. The images obtained showed the morphological characteristics of the bacteria. Further, employing AFM, it was possible to observe the damage to the cellular structure caused by the effect of NPs. Based on the images obtained, contact AFM can be used to characterize the morphology of bacterial cells fixed on a support. AFM is also a suitable tool for the investigation of the effects of NPs on bacteria. Compared to electron microscopy, AFM is an inexpensive and easy-to-use technique.

Investigation of the Real-Time Release of Doxycycline from PLA-Based Nanofibers

Electrospun mats of PLA and PLA/Hap nanofibers produced by electrospinning were loaded with doxycycline (Doxy) through physical adsorption from a solution with initial concentrations of 3 g/L, 7 g/L, and 12 g/L, respectively. The morphological characterization of the produced material was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The release profiles of Doxy were studied in situ using the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) electrochemical method on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and validated through UV-VIS spectrophotometric measurements. The DPV method has been shown to be a simple, rapid, and advantageous analytical technique for real-time measurements, allowing accurate kinetics to be established. The kinetics of the release profiles were compared using model-dependent and model-independent analyses. The diffusion-controlled mechanism of Doxy release from both types of fibers was confirmed by a good fit to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model.

Multivariate Curve Resolution Methodology Applied to the ATR-FTIR Data for Adulteration Assessment of Virgin Coconut Oil.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a functional food with important health benefits. Its economic interest encourages fraudsters to deliberately adulterate VCO with cheap and low-quality vegetable oils for financial gain, causing health and safety problems for consumers. In this context, there is an urgent need for rapid, accurate, and precise analytical techniques to detect VCO adulteration. In this study, the use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) methodology was evaluated to verify the purity or adulteration of VCO with reference to low-cost commercial oils such as sunflower (SO), maize (MO) and peanut (PO) oils. A two-step analytical procedure was developed, where an initial control chart approach was designed to assess the purity of oil samples using the MCR-ALS score values calculated on a data set of pure and adulterated oils. The pre-treatment of the spectral data by derivatization with the Savitzky-Golay algorithm allowed to obtain the classification limits able to distinguish the pure samples with 100% of correct classifications in the external validation. In the next step, three calibration models were developed using MCR-ALS with correlation constraints for analysis of adulterated coconut oil samples in order to assess the blend composition. Different data pre-treatment strategies were tested to best extract the information contained in the sample fingerprints. The best results were achieved by derivative and standard normal variate procedures obtaining RMSEP and RE% values in the ranges of 1.79-2.66 and 6.48-8.35%, respectively. The models were optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA) to select the most important variables and the final models in the external validations gave satisfactory results in quantifying adulterants, with absolute errors and RMSEP of less than 4.6% and 1.470, respectively.

Big data mining on trace element geochemistry of sphalerite

The determination of ore genesis is a main challenge in ore deposit research. Advanced and rapid analytical techniques have given rise to the accumulation of massive amounts of geoscientific data. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct data mining on ore geochemical data to efficiently extract useful metallogenic information. In this contribution, 4095 sets of sphalerite trace element data from 86 deposits of different origins (VMS, MVT, porphyry, epithermal, SEDEX, and skarn) were compiled and analyzed. Factor analysis revealed the effects of physicochemical conditions on sphalerite trace element compositions. Specifically, the high Mn-Fe-Cu-Co-In but low As-Ga-Ge-Sb-Pb concentration of sphalerite is commonly related to decreasing pH or increasing temperature; high sulfur fugacity favors the entry of Fe and Co (but not Ga or Sn) into the sphalerite lattice; and high salinity causes enrichment in Cd-Ga-Ge-Mn, but depletion in Ag-Cu-In-Sb. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals that the Mn-Ge-Sn contents in sphalerite have good potential to differentiate among ore genetic types, the Mn-Ge-In are used to determine between magmatic-hydrothermal and non-magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. Furthermore, machine learning models demonstrate high accuracy of sphalerite trace element data in distinguishing ore types, i.e., 93.02 % (random forest) and 92.82 % (gradient boosting), and its reliability was validated by receiver operating characteristics. Additionally, the blind tests by machine learning on sphalerite trace elements indicate that the Qingshuitang deposit (in the Qin-Hang metallogenic belt, South China), have been an MVT deposit, which is also supported by its low-temperature and high-salinity fluids, wallrock alterations (esp. bariteization), and the obvious age distinction between mineralization and local magmatism. This study highlights that machine learning and multivariate statistical analysis on sphalerite trace-element data can differentiate metallogenic origin and conditions.

Determination of burn rate affecting elements in composite solid propellant and its ingredients by microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry.

A study of trace metallic elements in solid propellant and its ingredients is important and critical as they affect ballistic properties of solid rocket motor during combustion. In the present study, an attempt is made to develop a rapid, single run and cost-effective analytical technique for the routine and direct analysis of multi elements. Trace level metallic impurities (burn rate affecting elements) present in premix, cured propellant slab and propellant ingredients such as ammonium perchlorate, aluminium, aluminium oxide, dioctyladipate, hydroxy terminated polybutadiene and toluene diisoycanate sourced from different suppliers and propellant slag are determined based on a relatively recent analytical technique, microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES). Analytical wavelengths are selected based on the sensitivity and interference effects. Precision and accuracy of the developed test procedure for the metallic impurities are demonstrated using replicate analyses of certified calibration standards. The limit of quantification and detection of elements studied is determined. Linear regression coefficients are greater than 0.995. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of MIP-OES technique for the determination of metallic impurities of solid propellant ingredients, pre-mix, cured slab and slag of solid propellants with shortened analysis time which achieved lower detection limits, higher accuracy and better repeatability.

Unlocking the Diagnostic Potential of Saliva: A Comprehensive Review of Infrared Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Salivary Analysis.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a noninvasive and rapid analytical technique that provides information on the chemical composition, structure, and conformation of biomolecules in saliva. This technique has been widely used to analyze salivary biomolecules, owing to its label-free advantages. Saliva contains a complex mixture of biomolecules including water, electrolytes, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids which are potential biomarkers for several diseases. IR spectroscopy has shown great promise for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, as well as for drug monitoring. Recent advancements in IR spectroscopy, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, have further enhanced its utility in salivary analysis. FTIR spectroscopy enables the collection of a complete IR spectrum of the sample, whereas ATR spectroscopy enables the analysis of samples in their native form, without the need for sample preparation. With the development of standardized protocols for sample collection and analysis and further advancements in IR spectroscopy, the potential for salivary diagnostics using IR spectroscopy is vast.