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Reliable determination of various components of beers is still a challenge due to their complex matrices. Inorganic ions are very important components of beer; their content depends mainly on the quality of water and additional substances used in the brewing process. The major inorganic anions (F-, Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42-) and cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were determined using isocratic ion chromatography with conductivity detection. Method optimization involved six ion-exchange columns; different eluent concentration and flow rates were tested. Optimized methodologies allowed for quick, selective and reliable analysis of these ions in 30 beers available on the Polish market. They were characterized by pH values from 3.19 to 4.64, and conductivity from 1632 to 2662 µS/cm. The content of inorganic anions ranged from 0.2 - 1.1 mg/L for F-; 8 - 235 mg/L for Cl-; NO2- < LOD; 7 - 22 mg/L for NO3-; 44 - 188 mg/L for PO43-, and 10 - 95 mg/L for SO42-. In case of cations, it was 10 - 93 mg/L for Na+; 87 - 329 mg/L for K+; 54 - 329 mg/L for Mg2+, and 10-89 mg/L Ca2+. PCA Principal Component Analysis helped in establishing similarities between the analyzed samples.

Migration of metals/metalloids and their inorganic forms from bottom sediments into waters and from waters into bottom sediments is a complex process. Understanding this mechanism is essential for recognising transformations that occur in water reservoir ecosystems. The following research was conducted in 2012–2014. The aim was to define the time and spatial correlations in the changes of total and ionic antimony, arsenic and chromium concentrations in waters and bottom sediments of three water reservoirs located in Upper Silesia (Poland), i.e. Plawniowice, Rybnik and Goczalkowice. The ionic form contents were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). The research was carried out to verify whether the bottom sediments deposited in the discussed reservoirs could have posed an environmental threat due to the possible release of toxic ionic forms (i.e. As(III), Sb(III) and Cr(VI)) into the pelagic zone. The comparison of the res...

Forty seven different brands of sparkling and still mineral bottled water were collected from supermarkets in Poland and analyzed by the use of ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma. The database consisted of mass concentration of ions (F − , Cl − , NO 3 − , PO 4 3 − , SO 4 2 − , Na + , K + , Mg 2 + and Ca 2 + ), metal content (V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Te, Ba, Tl, Pb, Bi, Ga, Mo, U, Cr and Sb), pH and electrolytic conductivity. Moreover, declared concentration of F − , Cl − , NO 3 − , PO 4 3 − , SO 4 2 − , Na + , K + and Mg 2 + were noted from the labels. Taking into account major ionic components only two brands were characterized by large concentration of Cl − and Na + , which were above the threshold values. Springs located in the Tatra Mountain and the Sudetes provided water of the highest mineralization. Three brands of water were statistically different from others in accordance with the content of trace metals. They were Slotwinka (Ba), Rasa Druskienniki (As) and Kryniczanka (Mg, Ni). The mean level of F − , Cl − , SO 4 2 − , Na + , K + , Mg 2 + , Ca 2 + were found as 0.3, 41.8, 26.7, 34.7, 5.0, 23.1 and 80.1 mg/L respectively, which were significantly different than the mean concentration of these elements declared by the manufacturer.

Bromate has been identified as an animal and possible human carcinogen. The main source of bromate for humans is ozonated drinking water, although other sources such as bread, fish, and mineral water are also essential. Due to its hazardous properties, the concentration of bromate in food has to be controlled. Determination of trace amounts of bromate requires application of sensitive, selective, and reliable analytical methods. This article is a review of bromate methods of determination in different sample matrices published in the past 25 years.

This paper describes the application of the method of post-column derivatization with triiodide and UV detection at 352 nm for the determination of bromate in drinking water, mineral water and swimming pool water samples. Optimized analytical conditions were further validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The method detection limit was at the level of 0.4 μg/L, and the spiked recovery for bromate was in the range of 92% - 104%. The method did not need a special sample treatment and was successfully applied to the analysis of bromate at the required value that is below 2.5 μg/L.

In the study, arsenic, antimony, and chromium concentrations and selected physicochemical parameters in water and sediment samples from the thermal anthroporessure subjected Rybnik Reservoir (Poland) were determined. As(III), As(V), Sb(III), and Sb(V) ions were successfully separated on Dionex IonPac AS7 column, and Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on Dionex IonPac AG7 column. The obtained limits of detection were 0.18, 0.22, 0.009, 0.012, 0.11, and 0.17 μg/L, respectively. Water and bottom sediment samples were collected monthly at three-point transect between January and November 2013. The As(III) and Sb(III) speciation forms dominated in the bottom water, and Cr(VI) concentration in the bottom water was twice as high as the value measured for the surface water. The oxidized arsenic, antimony, and chromium forms dominated in the bottom sediments in the heated water discharge zone of the Rybnik Power Plant. The location of sampling point had a significant influence on the observed transformations and contents of the analyzed speciation forms. The chemometric analysis coupled with the dissimilarity analysis and principal component analysis helped to visualize the variability in the concentrations of the element speciation forms within the researched period and analyzing correlations.

The optimization of methodology for determination and extraction of inorganic ionic As(III)/As(V), Cr(III)/Cr(VI) and Sb(III)/Sb(V) forms in water and easily-leached fractions of bottom sediments by HPLC-ICP-MS were studied. In paper total concentration of As, Cr, Sb, pH and redox potential were determined. Ions were successfully separated on Dionex IonPac AS7: As(III), As(V), Sb(III), Sb(V) and Dionex IonPac AG7: Cr(III), Cr(VI) with LOD 0.18 μg/L, 0.22 μg/L, 0.009 μg/L, 0.012 μg/L 0.11 μg/L, 0.17 μg/L, respectively. Water and bottom sediments samples were collected monthly from Plawniowice Reservoir, in three-point transects between March and December 2012. In the bottom water predominated As(III) and Cr(III) forms and the highest content of Cr(III) was in the water flowing into the Plawniowice Reservoir. Concentration of Cr(VI) increased in the bottom water in the spring and summer (April-July), while decreasing of the Cr(III) content was associated with the release of Cr(VI) from sediment into the water. Studies have shown that antimony accumulates in reservoir sediments and its reduced form was predominated except May and October-November period when high concentrations of Sb(V) was present. In contrast As(V) was the predominant arsenic form in bottom sediments.

Lately there has been observed the increased presence of chlorates(VII) in the natural environment which can affect human health negatively. Therefore the removal of chlorate(VII) ions using the gel type resin functionalized with the tri-n-butyl ammonium (Dowex™PSR-2) from waters was studied. The main aim was to evaluate the effects of experimental conditions including contact time, initial solution concentration, pH and temperature on chlorate(VII) ions removal as well as the anion exchanger properties on chlorate(VII) ions sorption. It was found that only the pseudo second order model described the experimental data well and the intraparticle diffusion was not the rate-limiting step. According to the Freundlich model, the qe value was to be 69.26 mg/g at optimum conditions (pH 7.0 at 25 oC).

Speciation analysis, understood as research into various element forms, is gaining importance in environmental protection, biochemistry, geology, medicine, pharmacy, and food quality control. It is popular because what frequently determines the toxicological properties of a compound or element is not its total content. In many cases, it is the presence of its various forms. Studying low analyte concentrations, particularly in complex matrix samples, requires meticulous and sophisticated analytical techniques. The latest trends embrace the so-called hyphenated methods, which combine different separation and detection methods. The following article describes the role and importance of hyphenated methods in speciation analyses of selected elements.

The development of mining and metallurgic industries of Pb and Zn ores in the Biala Przemsza catchment area has had a strong influence on the condition of the surface water and bottom sediments. In the following study, total contents of metals and metalloids were researched in the water and bottom sediment samples from the Biala Przemsza River. The samples were collected monthly in 2014 at five sampling points along the river. The research helped to determine correlations between the parameters and components of the water environment (metals/metalloids, cations/anions, pH, Eh, conductivity, carbon (TOC, IC, TC), and suspension). The contents of metals and metalloids were determined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas anions and cations were investigated with ion chromatography (IC). The simplified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) three-step sequential chemical extraction was performed on Biala Przemsza River bottom sediments collected in April, July, and October. At its lower course, the Biala Przemsza River water did not meet the Polish surface water quality standards. The Biala Przemsza River water is mainly loaded with metals. Toxic concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn were observed at sampling points in Okradzionow and Slawkow. The toxic Tl concentration was exceeded (2–6 μg/L) at three sampling points. The Biala Przemsza River bottom sediments were composed mostly of medium and fine sand. The BCR extraction of the bottom sediments demonstrated that Cd and Zn were bound to cations/anions and carbonates loosely adsorbed on the bottom sediments in spring and summer. Such a situation was observed at all the sampling points, except for BP3 in Okradzionow. The organic carbon concentration increased along the river course.