Total Mn Research Articles

INFLUENCE OF SOME AMINO ACIDS AND MICRO-NUTRIENTS TREATMENTS ON GROWTH AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF Echinacea purpurea PLANT

Two field trials were carried out during 2011 and 2012 seasons at the Experimental Farm, Horticulture Dept., of Agric Fac., Benha Univ., to evaluate the effect of some amino acid treatments i. e. tryptophan and glutamic acid each at 200 ppm and some micro-nutrients treatments i. e. Fe, Zn and Mn each at 150 ppm as well as their combinations on growth, total caffeic acid derivatives and total alkamides as well as chemical constituents of Echinacea purpurea plants. Results showed that different applied treatments of amino acid and/or micro-nutrients treatments led to significant increase of the studied growth parameters i.e. plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weights of herb/plant, number of flowering heads/plant, fresh and dry weights of flowering heads/plant as compared with control plants in both seasons. However, the tallest plant, the highest number of flowering heads as well as their fresh and dry weights were recorded by 200ppm tryptophan-sprayed plants combined with Zn at 150ppm, whereas the highest number of branches and suckers/plant were scored by the combined treatment between glutamic acid at 200ppm and Fe at 150ppm in both seasons. Moreover, the heaviest fresh and dry weights of herb/plant were registered by 200ppm glutamic acid treatment combined with Zn at 150ppm in both seasons. In addition, the obtained vigrous growth of Echinacea purpurea plants with different treatments was accompanied by pronounced increase in leaves total free amino acids, Fe, Zn and Mn contents of treated plants in both seasons. Furthermore, total caffeic acid derivatives and total alkamides were increased by spraying all treatments of amino acids and micro-nutrients as well as their combinations, especially the combined treatment between glutamic acid at 200ppm and Fe or Zn each at 150ppm. Consequently, it is preferable to spray Echinacea purpurea plants with tryptophan or glutamic acid each at 200 ppm as well as Fe or Zn each at 150 ppm and their combinations for enhancing the growth and chemical constituents of this plant.

Quantitative determination of the Mn site distribution in ultrathinGa0.80Mn0.20As layers with high critical temperatures: A Rutherford backscattering channeling investigation

The Mn dopant distribution in ultrathin (20 nm) highly doped (nominal $x$ = 0.20) ${Ga}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Mn${}_{x}$As epitaxial films with critical temperatures close to 175 K and magnetization of 100 emu/cm${}^{3}$ is analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in a random and channeling configuration. We could quantify the total concentration and the respective fraction of substitutional, interstitial, and random site Mn ions in as-grown and annealed samples. The measured total Mn concentration is $x$ = 0.23. In the as-grown state 30% of the Mn dopant is located on interstitial sites. Thermal annealings at 180 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C for several hours monotonically reduce the interstitial Mn fraction to 11%. Simultaneously the fraction of randomly located Mn is increased by the same amount. The substitutional Mn concentration is stable under these annealing conditions. The effective Mn concentration could be increased to $x$ = 0.13. However, the critical temperature does not increase proportionally with the magnetization. A comparison of the magnetization values demonstrates that the interstitial Mn ions are already incorporated during the growth in the form of Mn${}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$-Mn${}_{i}$ clusters.

Improvement of a sample preparation procedure for multi-elemental determination in Brazil nuts by ICP-OES

Various sample preparation procedures, such as common wet digestions and alternatives based on solubilisation in aqua regia or tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, were compared for the determination of the total Ba, Ca, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn contents in Brazil nuts using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). For measurement of Se, a hydride generation technique was used. The performance of these procedures was measured in terms of precision, accuracy and limits of detection of the elements. It was found that solubilisation in aqua regia gave the best results, i.e. limits of detection from 0.60 to 41.9 ng ml−1, precision of 1.0–3.9% and accuracy better than 5%. External calibration with simple standard solutions could be applied for the analysis. The proposed procedure is simple, reduces sample handling, and minimises the time and reagent consumption. Thus, this can be a vital alternative to traditional sample treatment approaches based on the total digestion with concentrated reagents. A phenomenon resulting from levels of Ba, Se and Sr in Brazil nuts was also discussed.

Total and Extractable Manganese and Iron in Some Cultivated Acid Soils of India: Status, Distribution and Relationship with Some Soil Properties

A total of 400 surface soil (0–15 cm) samples were collected from cultivated soils representing four soil series, namely, Hariharapur, Debatoli, Rajpora and Neeleswaram in Orissa, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala states of India, respectively, and were analyzed to measure the contents of total and extractable Mn and Fe, to establish the relationship among total and extractable Mn and Fe and soil properties, and to characterize the spatial distribution pattern of Mn and Fe in some cultivated acid soils of India. The contents of total as well as extractable Mn and Fe varied widely with extractants and soil series. However, the amounts of Mn or Fe extracted by diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA), Mehlich 1, Mehlich 3, 0.1 mol L−1 HCl and ammonium bicarbonate DTPA (ABDTPA) were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.01). Based on the DTPA-extractable contents and the critical limits (2 mg Mn kg−1 soil and 4.5 mg Fe kg−1 soil) published in the literature, Mn and Fe deficiencies were observed in 7%–23% and 1%–3% of the soil samples, respectively. The content of soil organic carbon (SOC) had greater influence on total and DTPA-extractable Fe than did soil pH. Geostatistical analysis revealed that total and DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe contents in the acid soils were influenced by soil pH, SOC content, and exchangeable cations like potassium, calcium and magnesium. Spatial distribution maps of total and DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe in soil indicated different distribution patterns.

Expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171 can promote manganese(II) oxidation under oxygen-restricted conditions

Manganese (Mn) is one of the most abundant elements on the Earth’s crust. Nowadays, soluble Mn(II) contamination in groundwater and surface water as well as industrial wastewater is a critical environmental issue in some regions of the world. The application of Mn(II)-oxidizing microorganisms to treat Mn(II)-contaminated water is one of the most useful approaches to solve this problem. However, dissolved oxygen is a primary limitation factor for both microbial growth and Mn(II) oxidation in bioreactor systems utilizing microbial biofilms. In the study reported here we demonstrated that heterologous expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171 not only enhanced the bacterial cell density but also improved the total Mn(II) oxidation activity of the recombinant strain BMB-VHb+ under oxygen-restricted conditions. Previous experiments have verified that VHb, an oxygen carrier, can facilitate the transport of oxygen into bacterial cells. Importantly, we revealed for the first time that the expression of VHb promoted the Mn(II) oxidation rate of each recombinant bacterial cell. There are two possible explanations: (1) VHb improves the concentration of substrate intracellular oxygen, and (2) VHb itself may have oxidase activity. Based on these results, we suggest that this strategy has potential applications for the treatment of the Mn(II)-contaminated water.

Comparison of Three Micronutrient Soil-Test Extractants in Three Greek Soil Types

The purpose of the present study was to compare the ability of three micronutrient soil-test extractants [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), Mehlich 3, and Soltanpour and Schwab] to determine plant-available concentrations of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in three soils (from parent material Marl, Gneiss schist, and Peridotite) from central Macedonia, northern Greece. In black plastic bags containing 3 kg of air-dried soil, self-rooted olive plants (cv. Chondrolia Chalkidikis) were grown for about 5 months and irrigated with distilled water during the experimental period. At the end of the experimental period, the three extractants were evaluated, based on correlation analysis among leaf micronutrient concentrations, total plant micronutrient content of olive plants, and soil micronutrient concentrations determined by each extractant. The largest extractable concentrations of Mn, Fe, and Zn were determined by Mehlich 3, compared to the other two soil-test extractants. However, for the correlation analysis, the greatest correlation coefficient between leaf Mn (and total plant Mn content) and soil extractable Mn was achieved when DTPA was used (varying from 0.76 to 0.88, depending on soil type). Therefore, it is concluded that DTPA was a better extractant to determine plant-available Mn than the other extractants for the three soils studied. For correlations between leaf Fe and Zn concentrations and also for total plant Fe and Zn content, and soil extractable concentrations, the type of extractant and soil type play a very important role in determining the best correlation. This means that in each soil type the greatest correlation was achieved with the use of other extractant. For example, for Fe in the Marl and Peridotite soils the best correlation was found for Mehlich 3, whereas in the Gneiss schist the best correlation was achieved for DTPA (R = 0.72–0.94). For Zn, in the Gneiss schist soil the best extractant in determining plant available concentration was Soltanpour and Schwab (R = 0.49–0.60), whereas in the other two soil types DTPA was found to be the most reliable extractant (R = 0.51–0.78). Therefore, soil type should be carefully and thoroughly studied by the researchers in similar future experiments.

Redox-dependent changes in manganese speciation in Baltic Sea sediments from the Holocene Thermal Maximum: An EXAFS, XANES and LA-ICP-MS study

Manganese (Mn) enrichments in sediments of the deep basins of the Baltic Sea are believed to consist of Ca–Mn–carbonates that form from Mn oxides following periodic inflows of oxygen-rich North Sea waters. However, a range of Mn-bearing mineral phases, that besides Mn-carbonates (e.g. Ca-rhodochrosite), can include Mn-sulfides are known to be present in marine sediments, with formation mechanisms that are sensitive to redox conditions. In this study, we use high resolution synchrotron EXAFS and XANES combined with LA-ICP-MS and micro-XRF, to investigate the nature of the Mn enrichments in sediments from the Holocene Thermal Maximum (approx. 8000–4000cal.yrBP) at a site in the northern Gotland Basin. Analyses were performed on epoxy-embedded sediment sequences. We specifically address the role of changes in redox conditions in bottom waters, as inferred from sediment molybdenum (Mo) contents, for Mn sequestration. We find that an up-core increase in Mo, indicating a transition into more anoxic and sulfidic (euxinic) bottom water conditions, is accompanied by a decline in total sediment Mn contents. While Mn-carbonates dominate the Mn mineral fraction in the low-Mo interval, in the more sulfidic, high Mo interval, Mn is associated with framboidal pyrite. Mn/Fe ratios in the sulfidic interval vary between the investigated sequences but reach values of up to 7.7mol%. This exceeds ratios previously reported for sedimentary pyrite and EXAFS spectra indicate that sulfide bound Mn is predominately tetrahedrally coordinated when Mn/Fe ratios are high. This suggests that Mn is incorporated in other Fe–S phases such as mackinawite besides pyrite. There is also evidence for the presence of a low concentration of Mn associated with detrital aluminosilicates throughout the investigated intervals. Our results suggest that increased bottom water euxinia inhibited the formation of Mn-carbonate at this site during the Holocene Thermal Maximum, possibly due to a more rapid reduction of Mn oxides in more sulfidic bottom waters.

Mn accumulation and tolerance in Celosia argentea Linn.: A new Mn-hyperaccumulating plant species

Identifying a hyperaccumulator is an important groundwork for the phytoextraction of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Celosia argentea Linn., which grew on a Mn tailing wasteland, was found to hyperaccumulate Mn (14 362mgkg−1 in leaf dry matter) in this study. To investigate Mn tolerance and accumulation in C. argentea, a hydroponic culture experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Results showed that the biomass and the relative growth rate of C. argentea were insignificantly different (p>0.05) at the Mn supply level ranging from 2.5mgL−1 (control) to 400mgL−1. Manganese concentrations in leaves, stems, and roots reached maxima of 20228, 8872, and 2823mgkg−1 at 600mgMnL−1, respectively. The relative rate of Mn accumulation increased by 91.2% at 400mgMnL−1. Over 95% of the total Mn taken up by C. argentea was translocated to shoots. Thus, C. argentea exhibits the basic characteristics of a Mn-hyperaccumulator. This species has great potential to remediate Mn-contaminated soil cheaply and can also aid the studies of Mn uptake, translocation, speciation, distribution and detoxification in plants.

Hydrogeochemical Evaluation of Groundwater in Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State Nigeria

Ibillo town, located in Edo State, Southsouth Nigeria, is an important agricultural and commercial center. In recent years, rapid development has created an increase in demand for groundwater and frequently facing water scarcity as well as quality problems. Hydrogeochemical evaluations of ionic abundance in groundwater systems in Ibillo was conducted by collecting a total of 50 groundwater samples for Dry and Rainy seasons, and were subjected to analysis for chemical and microbial characteristics. The study reveal that pH in the area is slightly acidic to alkaline ranging from 5.9 to 8.1. The electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) values was noted higher during the rainy season. The abundance of major ions in the groundwater is in the order of K>Na>Ca>Mg =Cl>HCO3>SO4>NO3. Total hardness, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cl, HCO3, SO4, NO3, Fl, NO2 and PO4 do not exceed the WHO permissible limit during both seasons. Ca and Mg in majority of the groundwater samples are within the permissible limit with few exceptions irrespective of seasons. K, Pb and Ni exceed the permissible limit during both seasons while Cr, Zn and Ba concentrations partially conform to the WHO limits irrespective of seasons. Most of the groundwater samples examined have high E. coli and total bacterial counts. A comparison of the results with relevant standards show that the water require various form of treatment to bring the microbial contents to standards required for domestic and industrial uses respectively. The type of water that predominates in the study area is Na-K-Cl type and mixed type. Besides, suitability of water for irrigation is evaluated based on sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percent and salinity hazard. It is observed that majority of samples irrespective of seasons fall in “excellent-good” zone indicating water is fit for irrigation purposes. The groundwater in this study area can be said to be partially good for industrial sectors but it require a little treatment for it to be completely suitable for industry.

Effect of EDTA washing of metal polluted garden soils. Part II: Can remediated soil be used as a plant substrate?

In a field experiment on metal contaminated and EDTA-remediated soil we studied plant performance, mycorrhizal associations and prospects of potential re-use of remediated soil as a garden substrate. Two experimental plots of 4×1×0.3m were filled, one with remediated and the other with original contaminated soil. Selected cultivars were rotated over the course of 16months. Pb, Zn, Cd and micronutrient plant uptake was measured and their phytoaccessibility was analyzed by the DTPA method. Plant fitness was assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange measurements and evaluation of root colonization were analyzed with mycorrhizal fungi. Remediation reduced Pb and Cd concentrations in roots, green parts and fruits in most of the plants. Phytoaccumulation of Zn was reduced in one half of the cultivars. Some plants suffered from Mn deficiency as total soil Mn was reduced 4-fold and phytoaccessibility of micronutrients Cu, Fe and Mn for 54, 26 and 79%, respectively. Plant biomass was reduced. Photosynthetic parameters of plants grown in original and remediated soil were similar, except for the reduction in Spinacia oleracea. The frequency of mycorrhizal colonization in the roots of Pisum sativum was reduced five-fold and no significant changes were found in Allium cepa roots. Remediation reduced plant uptake of Pb below the concentration stipulated by legislation. Measures to reduce plant accumulation of other toxic metals and to revitalize remediated soil are needed.

Concentration and Distribution of Fe, Al, Mn and Cr in Soils

The concentration and distribution of metal (Fe, Al, Mn and Cr) elements in agricultural and non-agricultural soils were investigated in upstream of the Pearl River, China. The result showed that total Fe, Al and Cr concentrations in agricultural soils were higher than those in non-agricultural soils, while total Mn concentrations in agricultural soils were lower than those in non-agricultural soils, indicating that agricultural input, such as water irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, may have led to the accumulation of Fe, Al and Cr in agricultural soils. Total concentrations of the metal elements in agricultural and non-agricultural soils were compared with the background values of Yunnan soil, the result showed Fe, Al, Mn and Cr were lower in both agricultural and non-agricultural soils in the study area.

Mn2 +-sensitized near-IR emission from Nd3 +-activated Sr,Mn-metaphosphate glasses

We report on photoluminescence down-shifting and near-IR emission from Nd3+ centers in 50P2O5–(50-x)SrO–xMnO metaphosphate glasses. In those glasses, manganese exists predominantly in its divalent state with a Mn3+ fraction of less than 0.1% of total Mn. The Mn2+ ions are octahedrally coordinated so that a broad red emission band is observed after blue excitation. The emission peak red-shifts from 680 to 743nm, the lifetime decreases from 14.5 to 1.7ms and the internal quantum efficiency decreases from 36.5% to 2.5% with increasing Mn2+ concentration due to concentration quenching, but luminescence activity can still be observed in the pure manganese metaphosphate. The absorption bands of Mn2+ cover the broad region from 300 to 550nm, which allows for the sensitization of Nd3+. Energy transfer from Mn2+ to Nd3+ occurs through a multi-phonon assisted non-radiative down-shifting energy transfer process. A decrease of the emission intensity and lifetime for VIMn2+ is observed after doping with Nd3+ giving evidence for the energy transfer. A value of 89% is estimated for the maximum energy transfer efficiency.

Determination of in situ speciation of manganese in treated acid mine drainage water by using multiple diffusive gradients in thin films devices

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious environmental problem that creates acidic solution with high Mn concentrations. The speciation of residual Mn from AMD after an active treatment involving the addition of a neutralizing agent can reliably evaluate the treatment efficiency and provide knowledge of the Mn species being inputted into the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in situ lability and speciation of Mn using the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique with treated drainage water from a uranium mine (TAMD). DGT devices with different binding phases (Chelex-100 and P81 and DE81membranes) were used to perform the in situ speciation of Mn.A comparison of the results from deploying DGT in the laboratory and in situ shows that the speciation of Mn in TAMD should be performed in situ. Linear deployment curves (from in situ experiments) indicate that the DGT device containing the Chelex-100 binding phase can be used to evaluate Mn lability in TAMD. The labile Mn fraction (from in situ measurements) obtained using the device containing the Chelex-100 resin ranged from 63 to 81% of the total Mn concentration and, when compared to the speciation obtained using the CHEAQS software, indicated that this device was capable of uptaking the free Mn2+ and a portion of the MnSO4(aq). The values obtained using the DGT technique were compared to those from on site solid phase extraction, and a good agreement was found between the results. The amount of negative Mn species sampled by DE81 device was insignificant (<1.5%) for all of the sites. Sites containing a relatively small amount of Ca (<40mgL−1) and measured using devices containing the P81 membrane agreed with the concentration predicted by the CHEAQS software for positive Mn species (Mn2+ and Mn(OH)+). Nevertheless, the speciation obtained using the CHEAQS software indicated that the concentrations of positive Mn species were underestimated for sites with relatively high Ca concentrations (>150mgL−1), which take place due to the saturation of binding sites in the P81 membrane.

Characterization of indigenous barberry germplasm in Pakistan: variability in morphological characteristics and nutritional composition

Introduction . Barberry (Berberis aristata DC.), a small fruit, is found growing in the wild in the temperate region of northern Pakistan. Materials and methods . Three different locations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, i.e ., Topa, Banjosa and Neriyan Sharif, were explored; thirty accessions of barberry were identified and characterized on the basis of their growth habit, flowering, fruiting and chemical composition of fruits. Results . The accessions exhibited high diversity in their phenotypical/morphological traits such as growth habit, intensity and time of flowering, fruit setting, ripening time, productivity, and fruit shape and color. The location had a great impact on quantitative parameters. Accessions collected from Neriyan Sharif had significantly greater plant height, higher number of branches per plant, extended flowering duration (days), took more time to maturity (days) and had high fruit setting (%), while those from Topa had large-sized leaves and fruits with greater average fruit weight. The nutritional composition of fruits indicated that the accessions from Topa had higher carbohydrate, ash, total soluble solids and Mn contents, with significantly higher juice pH, and lower acidity; while the accessions from Neriyan Sharif had significantly higher moisture, protein, fat, fiber, K, Ca, Na, Fe, Cu, Pb and Cr contents and were highly acidic. The accessions collected from Banjosa were almost intermediate for the quantitative characteristics studied. Conclusions . The results suggested that not only the genotype but its growing location as well are the main factors that determine the growing habit, productivity and nutritional composition of barberry fruits, and this ultimately provides important information on how to make the best use of them.

Abundant Porewater Mn(III) Is a Major Component of the Sedimentary Redox System

Soluble manganese(III) [Mn(III)] can potentially serve as both oxidant and reductant in one-electron-transfer reactions with other redox species. In near-surface sediment porewater, it is often overlooked as a major component of Mn cycling. Applying a spectrophotometric kinetic method to hemipelagic sediments from the Laurentian Trough (Quebec, Canada), we found that soluble Mn(III), likely stabilized by organic or inorganic ligands, accounts for up to 90% of the total dissolved Mn pool. Vertical profiles of dissolved oxygen and dissolved and solid Mn suggest that soluble Mn(III) is primarily produced via oxidation of Mn(II) diffusing upwards from anoxic sediments with lesser contributions from biotic and abiotic reductive dissolution of MnO2. The conceptual model of the sedimentary redox cycle should therefore explicitly include dissolved Mn(III).

Determination of Total Concentrations and Chemical and Physical Fractionation Forms of Manganese in Infusions of Ground Coffees

A simple and fast method of the determination of total Mn in infusions of ground coffees was proposed and included the acidification of infusions with HNO3 followed by the analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method provided the precision and the accuracy better than 3 %. In addition, chemical and physical fractionation patterns of Mn in coffee infusions were assessed using solid phase extraction and ultrafiltration-based procedures, respectively. It was found that Mn in infusions of ground coffees is predominantly present in the form of cationic (64–81 % of the total content) low molecular weight (61–68 % of the total content) species. This points out that this metal is highly bioaccessible from the coffee brew.

Effect of composting on the Cd, Zn and Mn content and fractionation in feedstock mixtures with wood chips from a short-rotation coppice and bark

Micronutrient content and availability in composts may be affected by the addition of wood chips or tree bark as a bulking agent in the compost feedstock. In the first part of this study, micronutrient levels were assessed in bark and wood of poplar and willow clones in a short-rotation coppice. Large differences between species were observed in bark concentrations for Cd, Zn and Mn. In the second part of the study, we aimed to determine the effect of feedstock composition and composting on Cd, Zn and Mn concentrations and availability. By means of three composting experiments we examined the effect of (a) bark of different tree species, (b) the amount of bark, and (c) the use of bark versus wood chips. In general, compost characteristics such as pH, organic matter and nutrient content varied due to differences in feedstock mixture and composting process. During the composting process, the availability of Cd, Zn and Mn decreased, although the use of willow and poplar bark or wood chips resulted in elevated total Cd, Zn or Mn concentrations in the compost. Cd concentrations in some composts even exceeded legal criteria. Cd and Zn were mainly bound in the reducible fraction extracted with 0.5M NH2OH⋅HCl. A higher acid-extractable fraction for Mn than for Cd and Zn was found. Higher Cd concentrations in the compost due to the use of bark or wood chips did not result in higher risk of Cd leaching. The results of the pH-stat experiment with gradual acidification of composts illustrated that only a strong pH decline in the compost results in higher availability of Cd, Zn and Mn.

Cadmium, lead and some other trace elements in Larch Bolete mushrooms (Suillus grevillei) (Klotzsch) Sing., collected from the same site over two years

The aim of this study was to examine the status of some trace metals accumulated in the flesh of Suillus grevillei mushrooms collected from the same site over two successive years. Total Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn contents of fruiting bodies were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) with ultrasonic cross-flow nebuliser. A difference (p < 0.05) was found in the contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb and Sr in caps and Fe, Na, P and Rb (p < 0.05) in stipes (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb were not determined in stipes). Natural fluctuations in trace elements’ content of Suillus grevillei collected from the same site over time is a variable that needs to be considered when assessing minerals’ nutritional status of mushrooms.

Evaluation of a simple and fast method for the multi-elemental analysis in commercial fruit juice samples using atomic emission spectrometry

Four sample preparation procedures: wet digestion with HNO3/H2O2 (P1), 1:1 dilution with 2% HNO3 and latter centrifugation (P2) or filtration (P3) and direct analysis after centrifugation (P4) for the determination of total Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sr and Zn in fruit juices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP OES) were compared. Precision (RSD), accuracy (by standard addition or recovery) and limit of detection (LOD) were used to evaluate characteristics of the procedures. Dilution with 2% HNO3 and centrifugation (P2) provided the best results, i.e. LODs between 0.11 and 108ngmL−1, RSDs of 1% and 5% and accuracy better than 5%. This procedure was also simple, fast and could be applied for routine analysis. Element concentrations agreed with those after wet digestion, therefore the procedure can be alternatively used instead of conventional sample treatment. Several commercial juices were analysed with this procedure.

Mineral Elements in Root of Wild Saposhnikovia divaricata and Its Rhizosphere Soil

Mineral elements are important components of medicinal herbs, and their concentrations are affected by many factors. In this study, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations in wild Saposhnikovia divaricata and its rhizosphere soil collected from seven locations at two different times in China were measured, and influences of rhizosphere soil on those minerals in plant were evaluated. The results showed that mean concentrations of eight minerals in plant samples decreased in the order: Ca > Mg > Na > K > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu, and those in the soil samples followed the following order: Na > Fe > Ca > K > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cu. Mean concentrations of Ca, Na, Mg, and K in plants were higher than those in soils, while higher mean concentrations of the other four minerals were found in soils. It was found that there was a positive correlation of Mg, Na, and Cu concentrations in the plant with those in the soil respectively, but a negative correlation of Mn concentration in plant with that in the soil. Except Ca, K, and Mn, the other five minerals in plant were all directly affected by one or more chemical compositions of soil. The results also indicate that pH value and concentrations of total nitrogen, Mg, Mn, and Cu in soil had significant correlations with multimineral elements in plant. In a word, mineral elements uptake of S. divaricata can be changed by adjusting the soil fertility levels to meet the need of appropriate quality control of S. divaricata.