Smartphone-Facilitated Mobile Colorimetric Probes for Rapid Monitoring of Chemical Contaminations in Food: Advances and Outlook.

Smartphone-derived colorimetric tools have the potential to revolutionize food safety control by enabling citizens to carry out monitoring assays. To realize this, it is of paramount significance to recognize recent study efforts and figure out important technology gaps in terms of food security. Driven by international connectivity and the extensive distribution of smartphones, along with their built-in probes and powerful computing abilities, smartphone-based sensors have shown enormous potential as cost-effective and portable diagnostic scaffolds for point-of-need tests. Meantime, the colorimetric technique is of particular notice because of its benefits of rapidity, simplicity, and high universality. In this study, we tried to outline various colorimetric platforms using smartphone technology, elucidate their principles, and explore their applications in detecting target analytes (pesticide residues, antibiotic residues, metal ions, pathogenic bacteria, toxins, and mycotoxins) considering their sensitivity and multiplexing capability. Challenges and desired future perspectives for cost-effective, accurate, reliable, and multi-functions smartphone-based colorimetric tools have also been debated.

Comparative effectiveness of EDTA and citric acid assisted phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil by using canola (Brassica napus).

Phytoremediation is an ecofriendly technique to clean heavy metals from contaminated soil by the use of high biomass producing plant species. Chelators can help to improve this biological technique by increasing metal solubility. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the chelators EDTA and citric acid (CA) in phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil by using Brassica napus (canola). Two cultivars of B. napus, Con-II (tolerant) and Oscar (sensitive), were selected after screening and exposed to NiSO4 at 30 ppm at the time of sowing. CA (10 mM) and EDTA (1.5 mM) were applied either alone or in combination with each other after two weeks of Ni treatments. Different parameters like morpho-physiological and biochemical data were recorded after 15 days of chelate application. The results highlighted the successful use of chelating agents (CA and EDTA) not only to ameliorate Ni stress but also to enhance Ni accumulation which is prerequisite for phytoremediation. The basal application of 10 mMCA and 1.5 mM EDTA concentration proved to be effective for the growth of plants. The combination of chelating agents failed to show any synergistic effects.

Comparative effectiveness of EDTA and citric acid assisted phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil by using canola (Brassica napus) / Eficácia comparativa da fitorremediação assistida por EDTA e ácido cítrico de solo contaminado com Ni, usando canola (Brassica napus)

Phytoremediation is an ecofriendly technique to clean heavy metals from contaminated soil by the use of high biomass producing plant species. Chelators can help to improve this biological technique by increasing metal solubility. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the chelators EDTA and citric acid (CA) in phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil by using Brassica napus (canola). Two cultivars of B. napus, Con-II (tolerant) and Oscar (sensitive), were selected after screening and exposed to NiSO4 at 30 ppm at the time of sowing. CA (10 mM) and EDTA (1.5 mM) were applied either alone or in combination with each other after two weeks of Ni treatments. Different parameters like morpho-physiological and biochemical data were recorded after 15 days of chelate application. The results highlighted the successful use of chelating agents (CA and EDTA) not only to ameliorate Ni stress but also to enhance Ni accumulation which is prerequisite for phytoremediation. The basal application of 10 mMCA and 1.5 mM EDTA concentration proved to be effective for the growth of plants. The combination of chelating agents failed to show any synergistic effects.(AU)

A fitorremediação é uma técnica ecologicamente correta para limpar metais pesados ​​de solo contaminado pelo uso de espécies vegetais produtoras de alta biomassa. Os quelantes podem ajudar a melhorar esta técnica biológica aumentando a solubilidade do metal. Para tanto, foi realizado um experimento em vaso para determinar o efeito dos quelantes EDTA e ácido cítrico (AC) na fitorremediação de solo contaminado com Ni, utilizando Brassica napus (canola). Duas cultivares de B. napus, Con-II (tolerante) e Oscar (sensível) foram selecionadas após triagem e expostas a NiSO4 a 30 ppm no momento da semeadura. CA (10 mM) e EDTA (1,5 mM) foram aplicados sozinhos ou em combinação um com o outro após duas semanas de tratamentos com Ni. Diferentes parâmetros como dados morfofisiológicos e bioquímicos foram registrados após 15 dias de aplicação de quelato. Os resultados destacaram o uso bem-sucedido de agentes quelantes (CA e EDTA) não apenas para melhorar o estresse de Ni, mas também para aumentar o acúmulo de Ni, um pré-requisito para a fitorremediação. A aplicação basal da concentração de 10 mMCA e 1,5 mM de EDTA mostrou-se eficaz para o crescimento das plantas. A combinação de agentes quelantes não mostrou quaisquer efeitos sinérgicos.(AU)