Raman spectroscopy as a tool for characterisation of quality parameters in Norwegian grown apples during ripening.

This study shows for the first time the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive method to follow the ripening process of apple fruits. Two different varieties of apples were studied: 'Aroma' and 'Elstar'. By visual inspection, Raman spectra showed that the starch content was higher in 'Elstar' apples compared to 'Aroma'. The degradation of starch over time could be detected in the Raman spectra, indicating that the method can be used to monitor the ripening process. The ripeness markers starch index, soluble solids content (SSC), and the sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose were determined with traditional destructive methods. Cross validated calibration models based on Raman spectroscopy were obtained for all quality parameters, and test set validation offered good results, with R2 in the range 0.4-0.86 for 'Aroma' and 0.4-0.95 for 'Elstar', respectively. The regression coefficients showed that the calibrations relied on Raman bands associated with starch and different sugars. The results suggest that Raman spectroscopy in the future could be used to determine the optimal time of harvesting and to sort apples into different degrees of ripeness.

Cost-effective fully 3D-printed on-drop electrochemical sensor based on carbon black/polylactic acid: a comparative study with screen-printed sensors in food analysis.

3D-printing technology allows scientist to fabricate easily electrochemical sensors. Until now, these sensors were designed employing a large amount of material, which increases the cost and decreases manufacturing throughput. In this work, a low-cost 3D-printed on-drop electrochemical sensor (3D-PES) was fully manufactured by fused filament fabrication, minimizing the number of printing layers. Carbon black/polylactic acid filament was employed, and the design and several printing parameters were optimized to yield the maximum electroanalytical performance using the minimal amount of material. Print speed and extrusion width showed a critical influence on the electroanalytical performance of 3D-PES. Under optimized conditions, the fabrication procedure offered excellent reproducibility (RSD 1.3% in working electrode diameter), speed (< 3 min/unit), and costs (< 0.01 $ in material cost). The 3D-PES was successfully applied to the determination of phloridzin in apple juice. The analytical performance of 3D-PES was compared with an equivalent commercial on-drop screen-printed electrode, yielding similar precision and accuracy but lower sensitivity. However, 3D-PES provides interesting features such as recyclability, biodegradability, low-cost, and the possibility of being manufactured near the point of need, some of which meets several demands of Green Chemistry. This cost-effective printing approach is a green and promising alternative for manufacturing disposable and portable electroanalytical devices, opening new possibilities not only in on-site food analysis but also in point-of-care testing.

Characterization of the Metabolic Profile of Olive Tissues (Roots, Stems and Leaves): Relationship with Cultivars' Resistance/Susceptibility to the Soil Fungus Verticillium dahliae.

Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO) is one of the most widespread and devastating olive diseases in the world. Harnessing host resistance to the causative agent is considered one of the most important measures within an integrated control strategy of the disease. Aiming to understand the mechanisms underlying olive resistance to VWO, the metabolic profiles of olive leaves, stems and roots from 10 different cultivars with varying levels of susceptibility to this disease were investigated by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The distribution of 56 metabolites among the three olive tissues was quantitatively assessed and the possible relationship between the tissues' metabolic profiles and resistance to VWO was evaluated by applying unsupervised and supervised multivariate analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to explore the data, and separate clustering of highly resistant and extremely susceptible cultivars was observed. Moreover, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were built to differentiate samples of highly resistant, intermediate susceptible/resistant, and extremely susceptible cultivars. Root models showed the lowest classification capability, but metabolites from leaf and stem were able to satisfactorily discriminate samples according to the level of susceptibility. Some typical compositional patterns of highly resistant and extremely susceptible cultivars were described, and some potential resistance/susceptibility metabolic markers were pointed out.

Four- and five-way excitation-emission luminescence-based data acquisition and modeling for analytical applications. A review.

The latest advances in both theory and experimental procedures on third-order/four-way and fourth-order/five-way calibration methods are discussed. This report is focused on excitation-emission (fluorescence and phosphorescence) matrices generation, employing different variables as the third data mode (time retention in chromatography, pH gradient, fluorescence/phosphorescence lifetime, kinetics, or other chemical treatments). Fully capitalizing on the second-order advantage, it has been possible to develop appealing analytical applications in spite of the complexity of the data. Extraction of the significant chemical information about the system under study as well as the individual abundance of the contributing constituents after proper higher-order data decomposition has allowed to analytical researchers performing quantitative analysis of complex samples. The experimental works reported up to the present are introduced and discussed in order to illustrate concepts. Throughout this work, the analytical benefits achieved by modeling third- and fourth-order data are exposed, attempting to contribute to the ongoing debate in the chemometric community regarding the existence and the true nature of the third-order advantage.

Non-destructive Raman spectroscopy as a tool for measuring ASTA color values and Sudan I content in paprika powder.

The aim of this study was developing a non-destructive method for the determination of color in paprika powder as well as for detecting possible adulteration with Sudan I. Non-destructive Raman spectroscopy was applied directly to paprika powder employing a laser excitation of 785 nm for the first time. The fluorescence background was estimated, by fitting a polynomial to each spectrum, and then subtracted. After preprocessing the spectra, some peaks were clearly identified as characteristic from pigments present in paprika. The preprocessed Raman spectra were correlated with the ASTA color values of paprika by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Twenty-five paprika samples were adulterated with Sudan I at different levels and the PLSR model was also obtained. The coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.945 and 0.982 for ASTA and Sudan I concentration, respectively, and the root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) were 8.8 ASTA values and 0.91 mg/g, respectively. Finally, different approaches were applied to discriminate between adulterated and non-adulterated samples. Best results were obtained for partial least squares - discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), allowing a good discrimination when the adulteration with Sudan I was higher than 0.5%.

Combination of Liquid Chromatography with Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least-Squares (MCR-ALS) in the Quantitation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Present in Paprika Samples.

This work presents a strategy for quantitating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked paprika samples. For this, a liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) was optimized. To resolve some interference co-eluting with the target analytes, the second-order multivariate curve resolution-alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm has been employed combined with this liquid chromatographic method. Among the eight PAHs quantified (fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) by HPLC-FLD, only in the case of fluorene, pyrene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene was it necessary to apply the second-order algorithm for their resolution. Limits of detection and quantitation were between 0.015 and 0.45 mg/kg and between 0.15 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. Good recovery results (>80%) for paprika were obtained via the complete extraction procedure, consisting of an extraction from the matrix and the cleanup of the extract by means of silica cartridges. Higher concentrations of chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene were found in the paprika samples, with respect to the maximal amounts allowed for other spices that are under European Regulation (EU) N° 2015/1933.

Isocratic LC-DAD-FLD method for the determination of flavonoids in paprika samples by using a rapid resolution column and post-column pH change.

The determination of flavonoid compounds in paprika samples has been performed by liquid chromatography in series diode array and fluorescence detection (LC-DAD-FLD), by means of a pH change to basic medium just before FLD detection. The validation of the method was performed through the establishment of the external standard calibration curves and the analytical figures of merit. Limits of detection ranging from 0.006 to 0.02 mg L(-1) and 0.007 to 0.09 mg L(-1) were achieved using DAD and FLD detection, respectively. The experimental conditions to carry out the hydrolysis procedure to obtain flavonoid aglycones from flavonoid glycosides have been optimized applying an experimental design and the response surface methodology. The final conditions selected were 2.5M HCl during 45 min at 85°C. The repeatability of this procedure was assayed and relative standard deviation (RSD) values for concentration of quercetin and luteolin compounds were lower than 2%. The quantification of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol compounds was carried out in less than 6 min in paprika samples by means of the external standard calibration. The analytes were extracted with methanol and the extracts were previously subjected to a cleanup procedure to extend the use of the chromatographic column.

Fluorescence properties of flavonoid compounds. Quantification in paprika samples using spectrofluorimetry coupled to second order chemometric tools.

The influence of pH on the fluorescence of flavonoid compounds was investigated and the highest fluorescence emission was obtained in basic medium. Selected conditions to improve this signal were: pH 9.5, 0.14 M Britton Robinson buffer and methanol between 5% and 10%. The excitation-emission fluorescence matrices of a set of 36 samples of Spanish paprika were analyzed by means of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Thus, the profiles of possible fluorescence components (PARAFAC loadings) were obtained. One of these profiles was identified by matching PARAFAC scores with LC analysis on the same samples. Two clusters of samples were obtained when score values were plotted against each other. Spectrofluorimetry coupled to second order multivariate calibration methods, as unfolded-partial least squares with residual bilinearization (U-PLS/RBL) and multidimensional-partial least-squares with residual bilinearization (N-PLS/RBL), was investigated to quantify quercetin and kaempferol in those samples. Good results were obtained for quercetin by this approach.