L Ceccon

Determination of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) in olive oils by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis

Abstract A method for the determination of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) in olive oils by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis after dry ashing of the sample is described. The metal ions were concentrated as their amalgams on the glassy carbon working electrode that was previously coated with a thin mercury film and then stripped by a suitable oxidant. Potential and time data were digitally converted into d t xa0d E −1 , and E was plotted vs. d t xa0d E −1 , thus increasing sensitivity of the method and improving resolution of the analysis. Quantitative analysis was carried out by the method of standard additions; a good linearity was obtained in the range of concentrations examined. Recoveries of 92–102% for cadmium(II) and of 89–99% for zinc(II) were obtained from an olive oil spiked at different levels. The detection limits were 5.1 ngxa0g −1 for cadmium(II) and 7.6 ngxa0g −1 for zinc(II) and the relative standard deviations (mean of nine determinations) were 4.1% and 5.2%, respectively. Results obtained on commercial olive oils were not significantly different from those obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

Determination of lead (II) and cadmium (II) in hard and soft wheat by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis.

Abstract A method for the determination of lead (II) and cadmium (II) in hard and soft wheat by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis is described. The metal ions were concentrated as their amalgams on the glassy carbon surface of a working electrode that was previously coated with a thin mercury film, and then stripped by a suitable oxidant. Potential and time data were digitally converted into d t xa0d E −1 , and E was plotted vs. d t xa0d E −1 , thus increasing both the sensitivity of the method and resolution of the analysis. Quantitative analysis was carried out by the method of standard additions; a good linearity was obtained in the range of concentrations examined. Recoveries of 94–100% for lead (II) and of 91–98% for cadmium (II) were obtained from hard wheat spiked at different levels. The detection limits were 9.4xa0ngxa0g −1 for lead (II) and 6.5xa0ngxa0g −1 for cadmium (II) and the reproducibilities (mean of nine determinations) were 3.4 and 3.6%, respectively. Results obtained on commercial hard and soft wheats were not significantly different from those obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

Determination of lead in oil products by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis

Abstract A method for the determination of lead in oil products by derivative potentiometric stripping analysis is described. The only necessary sample pretreatment is the extraction of lead(II) from the corresponding alkyl derivatives by hot concentrated hydrochloric acid in a proper extractor. The metal ions are concentrated as the metal on a glassy carbon working electrode and then stripped by a suitable oxidant. Potential and time data are digitally converted into d t xa0d E −1 and E is plotted vs. d t xa0d E −1 , thus increasing both sensitivity of the method and resolution of the analysis. Quantitative analysis is carried out by the method of standard additions. A good linearity was obtained in the range of concentrations examined. Recoveries of 96–98% were obtained from a virgin naphtha spiked at different levels. The detection limit is in the order of 10 −8 xa0molxa0l −1 and the reproducibility (mean of 10 determinations) is 3.74%. Results obtained on commercial gasolines and virgin naphthas are not significantly different from those obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and X-ray methods.

Determination of cadmium and lead in vegetables by stripping chronopotentiometry

A method for the determination of cadmium and lead in vegetables by stripping chronopotentiometric analysis, after digestion of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and dry-ashing, is described. Metal ions were concentrated as their amalgams on a glassy carbon-working electrode previously coated with a thin mercury film and then stripped by a suitable oxidant. Potential and time data were digitally derived and E was plotted versus dt/dE−1, thus increasing both the sensitivity of the method and the resolution of the analysis. Quantitative analysis was carried out by the method of standard addition; good linearity was obtained in the range of examined concentrations, as was shown by the determination coefficients, which were 0.998 (n = 4) for cadmium and 0.993 (n = 4) for lead. Recoveries of 85–100% for cadmium and of 84–97% for lead were obtained from a sample spiked at different levels. Accuracy was demonstrated by analysis of a matching reference sample of cabbage. The detection limits were 1.8u2009ngu2009g−1 of wet mass for cadmium and 5.1u2009ngu2009g−1 of wet mass for lead. The relative standard deviations (mean of nine determinations), evaluated on a real sample, were 6.7 and 6.2%, respectively. Results obtained on 10 different commercial samples of pepper (Capsicum annuum), and egg plant (Solanum melongena) were not significantly different from those obtained by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. The average content was in the range 3.1–18.6u2009ngu2009g−1 for cadmium and 38.2–64.3u2009ngu2009g−1 for lead.

Environmentally Sustainable Development in the Province of Belluno (Italy)

In recent years, the municipality of Ponte nelle Alpi, in the province of Belluno, has developed an excellent environmental policy, that has allowed it to come first place in the 2010 Italian award “Comuni Ricicloni” for separate collections of household waste, to achieve the ISO 14001 certificate in 2010 and the Emas recognition in 2011. In 2010 the municipality started the joint project PubblichEnergie, together with other local authorities, to promote the use of renewable energy sources, in particular photovoltaic energy. Informative meetings with people, enterprises, associations and local authorities were convened on the opportunities of safeguarding both environment and public health. Among the innovative aspects of the project there is the possibility of supporting a Joint Purchase Group to develop the potentials of photovoltaic technology. Furthermore, the possibility of access to promotion initiatives granted by the EU, in particular the Energy Count, is provided for.