The fungus Aspergillus sp. was isolated from copper mining rejects and cultured in a liquid culture medium (potato dextrose, PD) enriched with CuSO4.5H2O and Pb(NO3)2 in different concentrations. By flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) it was observed that fungus absorbed 86% of both copper and lead, with initial concentrations of 100, 500 and 1000 mg L-1. The additional results provided by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction showed ability of the microorganism to act as a biosorbent as well as its capacity to transform the tested salts into other inorganic compounds. Chromatographic profile comparison of extracts obtained from the biotic, abiotic control and the cultivation enriched with the metals showed changes in the profile of the secondary metabolism. When the copper and lead salts were tested separately, there was an increase in the production of the compounds as function of the increase of the concentration and when associated promoted the decrease and disappearance of some substances produced by Aspergillus sp.

Neste estudo, a cromatografia por exclusão de tamanho (SEC) com detecção online ultravioleta (UV), espectrometria de absorção atômica em forno de grafite (GF AAS) e a espectrometria de massa por tempo de voo com dessorção/ionização de matriz assistida por laser (MALDI-TOF-MS) foram usadas para estudar a associação de selênio com macromoléculas e compostos presentes no soro de leite de búfala e bovino. Os perfis de SEC-UV obtidos para as amostras de soro de leite de búfala e soro de leite bovino indicaram a presença de espécies de alta e baixa massa molecular. A combinação das informações obtidas com SEC-UV, GF AAS e MALDI-TOF-MS para as frações < 10 kDa confirmou a associação de selênio com espécies de baixa massa molecular

In this study, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with an online ultraviolet detection (UV) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to study the association of selenium with macromolecules and compounds present in buffalo and cow's milk whey. SEC-UV profiles obtained from buffalo and cow's milk whey samples indicate the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) species in both samples studied. The combined information obtained with SEC-UV, GF AAS and MALDI-TOF-MS for fractions < 10 kDa confirmed the association of selenium with LMW species

This work proposes an analytical procedure for direct determination of calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc in buffalo milk by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Samples were diluted with a solution containing 10% (v/v) of water-soluble tertiary amines (CFA-C) at pH 8. For comparison, buffalo milk samples were digested with HNO3 and H2O2. According to a paired t-test, the results obtained in the determination of Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn in digested samples and in 10% (v/v) CFA-C medium were in agreement at a 95% confidence level. The developed procedure is simple, rapid, decrease the possibility of contamination and can be applied for the routine determination of Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn in buffalo milk samples without any difficulty caused by matrix constituents, such as fat content, and particle size distribution in the milk emulsion.