James D. Stuart

Comparison of Gas-Sampled and SPME-Sampled Static Headspace for the Determination of Volatile Flavor Components

Traditional static headspace and headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques were compared for their effectiveness in the extraction of volatile flavor compounds from the headspace of various juice samples. Each method was used to evaluate the responses of certain analytes from real samples and calibration standards in order to provide sensitivity comparisons between the two techniques. Experimental results showed traditional static headspace lacked the sensitivity needed to evaluate certain flavor volatiles, such as α-terpinene and linalool, and that further concentration of the headspace was necessary. Dramatic improvements in the extraction abilities of the SPME fibers over the traditional static headspace method were noted. Different SPME fibers were investigated to determine the selectivities of the various fibers to the different flavor compounds present in the juice samples. Of the various fibers investigated, the PDMS/DVB fiber proved to be the most useful for these analyses. Aging studies of juice samples were also performed which verified that degradation could be observed and quantified.

Separation of mixtures of o-phthalaldehyde-derivatized amino acids by reversed-phase gradient elution : Accuracy of computer simulation for predicting retention and band width

Abstract The separation of seven o-phthalaldehyde-derivatized amino acids by reversed-phase gradient elution was studied as a function of gradient time and mobile phase flow-rate. The resulting separations were compared with those from computer simulation (Drylab G). Predictions of retention time via computer simulation were found to be quite accurate, being about ±0.7% for retention time and about ±7% for retention-time differences (resolution). Predictions of band width were accurate within about ±15% for all but the steepest gradients (b > 1.0). Consequently, the ability of computer simulation to predict chromatograms reliably as a function of gradient conditions and flow-rate was confirmed for a sample that is representative of “real life”. For very steep gradients (b > 1.0), significant errors in band width were observed. The source of these errors could arise from various effects which are discussed.

The feasibility of converting Cannabis sativa L. oil into biodiesel

Cannabis sativa Linn, known as industrial hemp, was utilized for biodiesel production in this study. Oil from hemp seed was converted to biodiesel through base-catalyzed transesterification. The conversion is greater than 99.5% while the product yield is 97%. Several ASTM tests for biodiesel quality were implemented on the biodiesel product, including acid number, sulfur content, flash point, kinematic viscosity, and free and total glycerin content. In addition, the biodiesel has a low cloud point (-5 degrees C) and kinematic viscosity (3.48mm(2)/s). This may be attributed to the high content of poly-unsaturated fatty acid of hemp seed oil and its unique 3:1 ratio of linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid.

Variables affecting homogeneous acid catalyst recoverability and reuse after esterification of concentrated omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oil triglycerides.

Global concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions combined with soaring oil prices have driven the search for renewable diesel fuels derived from either virgin or waste vegetable oils, dubbed “bio-diesels”. A key challenge in the emerging bio-diesel industry is cost-effective pre-treatment of waste vegetable oils to reduce free-fatty acid content prior to transesterification. This article reports, for the first time, recoverability and reusability of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid catalysts for efficient pre-treatment of waste cooking oils for subsequent conversion to bio-diesels. Esterification of omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly 18:2,18:3 linoleic acid with methanol and a homogenous acid catalyst was investigated over a range of fatty acid concentrations. It was determined that greater than 95% by weight of each catalyst was recovered after esterification under all conditions investigated. When recovered methanol was used, containing recovered catalyst and water, it was determined that hydrochloric acid catalyzed esterification exhibits a higher tolerance to water accumulation. After sulfuric acid was recovered and re-used, the observed rate constant decreased more than 50% to a value comparable to that observed for hydrochloric acid at more than three times the water concentration.

Borohydride, micellar, and exciplex-enhanced dechlorination of chlorobiphenyls.

The photodechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been studied in the presence of sodium borohydride, detergents, and exciplex-forming additives. In a family of 13 representative PCBs these variations generally led to a dramatically increased rate of photodegradation. Further, the products of photoreaction in the presence of sodium borohydride are more cleanly the simple dechlorinated aromatics, with fewer side reactions than observed with ordinary photolysis.

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Separation and Fluorescent Measurement of Taurine, a Key Amino Acid

Abstract A rapid, sensitive method for the analysis of taurine in oyster hemolymph (blood) has been developed. Highly fluorescent, substituted isoindoles formed by the reaction of taurine and other amino acids with o-phthaldialdehyde/ethanethiol reagent were separated on a reverse phase, high performance liquid chromatographic column. It was necessary to carefully control the concentration of the sodium ion in the phosphate buffer in order to maintain an adequate resolution of both taurine and tyrosine from β-alanine and arginine. Calibration plots of the fluorescent taurine derivative were linear over 2.5 orders of magnitude with a limit of detection of 0.10 nanomoles per ml of oyster hemolymph.

High-performance liquid chromatography of substituted p-benzoquinones and p-hydroquinones : I. Interplay of on-column redox reaction and the chromatographic retention process

Chromatograms exhibiting unusual elution profiles were obtained in the reversed-phase chromatography of methoxy-substituted hydroquinones with hydro-organic mobile phases. The dependence of the elution profiles on the flow-rate and the mass of injected sample indicated that peaks were caused by the interplay of the chromatographic retention process and the concomitant oxidation of hydroquinones in the chromatographic column. The reaction was first investigated in free solution and the first-order rate constants and equilibrium constants were estimated for the oxidation of 2-methoxy-, 2,5-dimethoxy-, 2,6-dimethoxy-, 2,3,5-trimethoxy- and 2,3,5,6-tetramethoxyhydroquinones. The effect of Fe3+ and Cu2+ on the oxidation of 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinone was also examined and it was found that Fe3+ caused a ten-fold increase in the reaction rate. The oxidation of 2-methoxy- and 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinones in the chromatographic column showed first-order and zerothorder kinetic behavior at low and high sample loads, respectively. Such change in reaction order is typical for heterogeneous reactions that follow Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics and suggests the existence of catalytically active sites on the silica. Upon purging the columns with EDTA, on-column oxidation of the hydroquinones was attenuated so that no reaction zones appeared on the chromatogram. Subsequent loading of the column with Fe3+, however, gave rise to broad reaction zones and possibly to total conversion of the hydroquinones to benzoquinones in the column. In all cases investigated the rate of oxidation was much higher in the column than in free solution. On the basis of the results obtained here, heavy mental-catalyzed reaction at the stationary phase surface is proposed to be the dominant mechanism for the oxidation reaction examined here.

Computer simulation of gradient elution separation : Accuracy of predictions for non-linear gradients

Abstract An experimental study was carried out for the separation of a series of homologous 2-ketoalkanes by reversed-phase gradient elution. Both linear and non-linear gradients were used. Computer simulation was applied to these same separations, and comparisons were made between experimental and predicted results (values of retention time, retention time difference and bandwidth). Errors in the predicted separation were generally small and similar for both linear and non-linear gradients. Somewhat larger errors (retention time differences) were found in non-linear gradient separations for bands eluting after a change in gradient steepness. This can be attributed to the dispersion (rounding) of the gradient as it passes through the high-performance liquid chromatographic equipment. Computer simulation was demonstrated to provide predictions that are adequate for the purposes of developing an optimized gradient separation.

Effects of neural transplantation on seizures in the immature genetically epilepsy-prone rat

To study the hypothesis that neural transplantations can alter seizure susceptibility in a genetic animal model of epilepsy, 93 pubescent genetically epilepsy-prone rats with stage 9 seizures received either bilateral inferior colliculi (N = 21) or lateral ventricle (N = 42) transplants or sham transplants (N = 30). The grafts consisted of embryonic locus ceruleus, neocortical, or cerebellar tissue. Starting 2 days after the transplantation the rats were subjected to audiogenic stimulations every other day for 61 days. Latency to the running and tonic phase, seizure severity score, and duration of the tonic and clonic phase were compared in the neural transplant and sham-operated controls. Rats that received transplants had a longer latency to the tonic phase and a shorter duration of the clonic phase than the controls. At age 110 days the rats had electrodes implanted bilaterally into the angular bundle and were kindled. No difference in kindling rate was found between the rats that received neural grafts and the sham-operated controls. Cerebrospinal fluid concentration of norepinephrine was not altered by the transplants. This study demonstrates that the anticonvulsant effects of neural transplants, using the genetically epilepsy-prone model of epilepsy, are mild.

Endocrine-Disrupting Alkylphenols are Widespread in the Blood of Lobsters from Southern New England and Adjacent Offshore Areas

ABSTRACT Endocrine-disrupting pollutants in rivers and oceans represent a poorly understood but potentially serious threat to the integrity of aquatic and coastal ecosystems. We surveyed the hemolymph of lobsters from across southern New England and adjacent offshore areas for 3 endocrine-disrupting alkylphenols. We found all 3 compounds in hemolymph from every year and almost every region sampled. Prevalence of contamination varied significantly between regions, ranging from 45% of lobsters from southern Massachusetts to 17% of lobsters from central Long Island Sound. Mean contamination levels varied significantly as a function of region, year sampled, and collection trip, and were highest overall in lobsters from western Long Island Sound and lowest in lobsters from central Long Island Sound. Surprisingly, lobsters from offshore areas were not less contaminated than lobsters from inshore areas. Contamination levels also did not vary as a function of lobster size or shell disease signs. Contaminated lobsters held in the laboratory did not retain alkylphenols, suggesting that hemolymph contamination levels represent recent, rather than long-term, exposure. Our data set is the first, to our knowledge, to survey endocrine-disrupting contaminants in a population across such a broad temporal and spatial scale. We show that alkylphenol contamination is a persistent, widespread, but environmentally heterogeneous problem in lobster populations in southern New England and adjacent offshore areas. Our work raises serious questions about the prevalence and accumulation of these endocrine-disrupting pollutants in an important fishery species.