Determination of metals in Brazilian soils by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The concentration of metals in Brazilian soil under no-tillage (NT) and an area under native vegetation (NV) was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The applied method was based on microwave-assisted acid digestion using HNO3, HCl, H2O2, and HF. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing two certified reference materials (BCR-142 and RS-3). The relative standard deviation for all target elements was below 8% indicating an adequate precision and the limit of detection ranged from 0.03 µg g(-1) (Cd) to 24.0 µg g(-1) (Fe). The concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn in the different layers (0-10, 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) were determined in two types of soils, located in Paraná State in Brazil. The soil layers analysis revealed a different behavior of metals concentrations in soil samples under NT and NV. The obtained results showed a clear impact of anthropogenic action with respect to specific metals due to many years of uncontrolled application rates of limestone and phosphate fertilizers.

Minerals consumption by Acetobacter xylinum on cultivation medium on coconut water.

The objective of this work is to verifying the consume of the minerals K, Na, Fe, Mg, P, S-SO4 (-2), B, N Total Kjedahl (NTK), NO3 (-)-N, and NH4 (+)-N in the production of bacterial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum, according to the medium and the manner of cultivation. The fermentative process was in ripe and green coconut water. K and Na were determined by flame emission photometry, Mg and Fe by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, P by molecular absorption spectrophotometry, S-SO4 (-2) by barium sulphate turbidimetry, B by Azomethin-H method, NTK by Kjeldahl method, N-NO3 (-) and N-NH4 (+) by vapor distillation with magnesium oxide and Devarda's alloy, respectively. In Fermentation of ripe coconut water there were higher consumption of K (69%), Fe (84,3%), P (97,4%), S-SO2 (-2) (64,9%), B (56,1%), N-NO3 (-) (94,7%) and N-NH4 (+) (95,2%), whereas coconut water of green fruit the most consumed ions were Na (94,5%), Mg (67,7%) and NTK (56,6%). The cultivation under agitation showed higher mineral consumption. The higher bacterial cellulose production, 6 g.L(-1), was verified in the coconut water fermentative in ripe fruit, added KH2PO4, FeSO4 and NaH2PO4 kept under agitation.