直接低温等离子体技术降低柴油机醛酮类污染物排放

为了研究直接低温等离子体（DNTP）技术去除柴油机排气中醛、酮类污染物的效率,采用2,4-二硝基苯肼（DNPH）衍生法和高效液相色谱（HPLC）分析技术,分析了柴油机4种工况原机和DNTP技术处理后醛、酮类污染物比排放量的变化规律。结果表明,DNTP处理前,醛、酮类污染物比排放量随负荷的增加呈先减少后增加的趋势;DNTP处理后,柴油机醛、酮类污染物比排放量显著降低,醛、酮类污染物在75%负荷时的总去除率可达93.8%,25%负荷、50%负荷、75%负荷时,丙烯醛和丙酮、丁醛和丁酮去除率达到100%。     

Seasonal and Diurnal Concentrations of Ambient Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde in Bangkok

The concentration level of carbonyl compounds in Bangkok ambient air were measured in five roadside sites and five residential sites during July 2007 to April 2008. About 250 samples were collected and ten carbonyls were identified. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds found in Bangkok ambient air. The ambient concentration of formaldehyde at the roadside areas in Bangkok during July 2007 to April 2008 ranged from 5.14 to 17.2 ??g/m³ (average 11.53 ??g/m³) while, the ambient concentrations of formaldehyde in residential areas in Bangkok during the same period ranged from 3.06 to 19.9 ??g/m³ (average 9.65 ??g/m³). The concentrations of acetaldehyde in roadside areas ranged from 1.59 to 7.95 ??g/m³ (average 3.51 ??g/m³) while at the residential areas the concentrations of acetaldehyde during the same period ranged from 1.07 to 8.05 ??g/m³ (average 3.11 ??g/m³). Other compounds showed low concentration. The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were low during the rainy season due to rain washout since these compounds are water soluble. The concentrations were high during the cold season due to stable conditions during these months. The concentrations slightly decreased during the summer due to photochemical reactions and photolysis under extreme temperature. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde showed good correlation during 17:00 P.M. to 05:00 A.M. due to absence of solar radiation that may enhance photochemical reactions and mobile sources may be the sources of emission in the environment. It was also found that the concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were low during the night time.     

Influence of heating time and metal ions on the amount of free fatty acids and formation rates of selected carbonyl compounds during the thermal oxidation of canola oil

Canola oil was heated continuously for 8 h at a typical frying temperature (180 °C) in the presence of various concentrations of the metal ions Fe(III), Cu(II), and Al(III) (9.2, 27.5, and 46.0 μg L(-1) of oil) to evaluate changes occurring in the amount of free fatty acids, expressed as acidity index, and in the formation rates of aldehydes. The aldehydes were collected and derivatized in silica cartridges functionalized with C18 and impregnated with an acid solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, after which they were eluted with acetonitrile and analyzed by LC-DAD-MS. Among the substances emitted, the following were identified and quantified: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, propanal, butanal, hexanal, (E)-2-heptenal, and octanal. During heating of the oil, the compounds presenting the highest mean formation rates were acrolein, hexanal, and acetaldehyde. In the study of the metal ions, the addition of ions to the samples generally led to a corresponding increase in the formation rates of the eight substances. The compounds showing the highest relative increases in formation rates were formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, and heptenal. In terms of catalytic effect, copper proved to be the most efficient in promoting increased formation rates, followed by iron and aluminum.     

Development of time-resolved chemiluminescence for the determination of antu in river water, wheat, barley, and oat grain samples

A novel chemiluminescence method for the determination of antu has been developed based on the reaction between potassium permanganate in acid medium with this rat-poison in the presence of formaldehyde as an emission enhancer. The main feature of the system used is that the recording of the whole chemiluminescence intensity-vs-time profiles can be obtained, using the stopped-flow technique in a continuous-flow system. This enables the use of three quantitative parameters adjustable via software settings, one of them a typically kinetic parameter, such as rate of the light-decay reaction, and the others conventional parameters, such as maximum emission intensity and total emission area, which are proportional to the analyte concentration. The optimum chemical conditions for the chemiluminescence emission were investigated. The effect of common emission enhancers, such as formic acid, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acetaldehyde, quinine, fluorescein, rhodamine B, and rhodamine 6G, was studied. The parameters selected were sulfuric acid 4.0 mol L(-)(1), permanganate 0.1 mmol L(-)(1), and formaldehyde 1.0 mol L(-)(1). The calibration graphs obtained with each one of the measurement parameters were linear for the concentration range from 0.05 to 3.00 microg mL(-)(1). The detection limits ranged from 0.005 to 0.010 microg mL(-)(1), and RSD values (n = 10) of 0.99-1.79% at a 0.30 microg mL(-)(1) concentration level and 1.71-2.22% at a 1.0 microg mL(-)(1) concentration level were obtained. The present chemiluminescence procedures were applied to the determination of antu in different kinds of samples, such as river water, wheat, barley, and oat grain samples. Recovery values not significantly different from the spiked amount were found for these determinations.     

Identification and occurrence of tryptamine- and tryptophan-derived tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in commercial sausages

The identification and occurrence of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines were studied in different kinds of commercial sausages including cooked, fresh, dry-fermented, and ripened sausages, such as salamis and Spanish chorizo, salchichon, fuet, and morcilla, both smoked and unsmoked. Four compounds were identified in several sausages by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS): 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (1), 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid diastereoisomers (2a,b), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (3), and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (4). The latter two (3 and 4) are now reported for the first time in meat products. The presence and occurrence of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines were highly variable depending on each particular sample of sausage, and it did not follow a single specific pattern. The concentration range taken as a sum of the four carbolines varied from undetectable levels to 33 microg/g, with the highest content found in ripened, dry-fermented, and smoked sausages (salami, chorizo, and morcilla) and the lowest in cooked sausages (Frankfurt). Formation of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines might occur during elaboration and the ripening process from a chemical condensation between tryptophan or tryptamine and aldehydes (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde). Smoked samples had higher concentrations of formaldehyde-derived 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (1) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (tryptoline) (3) than those unsmoked. Also, 1 and 3 were more concentrated in the outer part of the sausage, likely to be in contact with smoke. It is concluded that some dry-fermented and/or smoked sausages may be significant dietary sources of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of desfuroylceftiofur metabolite of ceftiofur as residue in cattle plasma

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been developed for the determination of the desfuroylceftiofur metabolite of ceftiofur as a residue in the plasma of animals. Plasma sample in 0.1M pH 8.7 phosphate buffer containing dithioerythritol is incubated under nitrogen for 15 min at 50 degrees C. The sample is centrifuged, charged to a C18 cartridge, and washed with 0.1M ammonium acetate. The desfuroylceftiofur residue on the cartridge is derivatized by adding 0.1M ammonium acetate containing iodoacetamide and letting the cartridge stand in the dark for 30 min. The cartridge is then drained and rinsed, and the desfuroylceftiofur acetamide is eluted with methanol. The mixture is evaporated to dryness, dissolved in pH 10.6 sodium hydroxide, and charged to a SAX cartridge. The derivative is eluted with 2% acetic acid, reduced in volume, and dissolved in mobile phase for liquid chromatography. The LC system includes a C8 column and guard cartridge with UV detection at 254 nm. The gradient mobile phase (flow rate 1 mL/min) is 0.01M pH 5 ammonium acetate programmed to 29% methanol-water (60 + 40) in 25 min. Recoveries were 90-100% with a sensitivity of 0.1 ppm or less. The procedure has been applied to the plasma of cattle, rats, horses, pigs, and dogs.     

Formation of sugar-specific reactive intermediates from (13)C-labeled L-serines

Analysis of the pyrolysis products of [1-(13)C], [2-(13)C], and [3-(13)C]-labeled L-serines has indicated the presence of three initial degradation pathways. Decarboxylation followed by deamination produces aminoethanol and acetaldehyde, respectively; a retro-aldol pathway generates formaldehyde and glycine. Dehydration of L-serine can lead to the formation of pyruvic acid, which eventually can be converted into the amino acid alanine. Formation of alanine and glycine was confirmed due to the detection of 2, 5-diketo-3,6-dimethylpiperazine and cycloglycylalanine. Most of the advanced decomposition products of L-serine can be rationalized on the basis of these initial degradation products. Label incorporation studies have elucidated the origin of carbonyl precursors of methyl- and 2,3-dimethylpyrazines formed in the thermal decomposition mixture of L-serine. Three mechanistic pathways were identified for the formation of carbonyl precursors of methyl- and 2, 3-dimethylpyrazines. The major pathway (70%) for the formation of the precursor of methylpyrazine involved aldol addition of formaldehyde to glycolaldehyde to form glyceraldehyde. On the other hand, the major pathway (60%) for the formation of the precursor of 2,3-dimethylpyrazine involved an aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with glycolaldehyde to form 2,3-butanedione.     

Ambient Levels and Sources of Lower Carbonyls at Montelibretti, Rome (Italy)

Concentration levels of 11 lower carbonyls were studied at Montelibretti, a semi-rural area near Rome, Italy, over July–September 2005 and February 2006. In both periods the most abundant carbonyls were acetone and formaldehyde, followed by methylglyoxal, acetaldehyde and hexanal. Monthly variation was apparent with maximum values observed in July, when levels at least a factor two higher compared to the successive months were observed. In summer all carbonyls except acetone were reasonably well correlated among themselves and with ozone. In addition very high formaldehyde/benzene concentration ratios were measured in the summer months compared to February. These findings indicated that photochemical reactions should be the major source of carbonyls in summer. Ranking of carbonyls respect to ozone production potential emphasized the predominance of formaldehyde and methylglyoxal, followed at a distance by glyoxal and acetaldehyde.     

Determination of aflatoxicol and aflatoxins B1 and M1 in eggs

Procedures from 2 methods, one for aflatoxins B1 and M1 in eggs and one for aflatoxicol in milk, blood, and liver, have been combined to determine the 3 toxins in eggs. The sample is blended with sodium chloride-saturated water and this mixture is then blended with acetone. After separation from the solid residue, the aqueous acetone extract is defatted with petroleum ether. The toxins are next partitioned into chloroform and separated from interferences on a silica gel column. Aflatoxicol is determined by fluorescence measurement after separation on a C18 reverse phase liquid chromatographic column, and aflatoxins B1 and M1 are determined by fluorescence densitometry after separation on a silica gel thin layer chromatographic plate. In a recovery study with eggs, mean recoveries of aflatoxicol added at levels of 0.1, 0.05, and 0.025 ng/g were 87, 77, and 78%, respectively. Mean recoveries of aflatoxins B1 and M1 added at a level of 0.1 ng/g were 75 and 87%, respectively, and at an added level of 0.05 ng/g were 86 and 75%. The within-laboratory precision (repeatability) ranged from 2 to 13%.     

Liquid chromatographic-atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for determination of methyl mercury in seafood: collaborative study

A previously developed method that uses a simplified sample preparation procedure and atomic absorption detection of liquid chromatographic eluates for the determination of methyl mercury in seafood has been collaboratively studied. The unique feature of the method involves the use of a specially designed interface for the generation of mercury vapor. Methyl mercury is isolated from the blended sample by chloroform elution from a diatomaceous earth-hydrochloric acid column. The organomercury compound is then extracted into a small volume of 0.01M sodium thiosulfate solution. An aliquot of this solution is injected onto a Zorbax ODS column and eluted with methanol-ammonium acetate solution (3 + 2), pH 5.7, containing 0.01% mercaptoethanol. Mercury is detected by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry using the interface. The samples analyzed in the study were unspiked swordfish, unspiked and spiked lobster, and unspiked and spiked tuna. The spiked samples contained methyl mercury both above and below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guideline level of 1 microgram Hg/g. Reproducibility relative standard deviations ranged from 10.5% at 1 microgram Hg/g to 18.2% at about 0.1 microgram Hg/g. Accuracy, measured by comparison to reference values obtained by the Associate Referee, ranged from 94.4 to 99.6%. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Sulfamethazine and sulfathiazole determination at residue levels in swine feeds by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization

Twenty g sample, to which sulfamerazine has been added as internal standard, is extracted with 0.3N HCl + 1.5% diethylamine in 25% methanol. The sample extract is chilled (to aid clarification), centrifuged, and filtered. The sulfonamides are separated from each other and from co-extracted materials on a C-18 reverse-phase column and detected at 450 nm following post-column derivatization with dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. Two isocratic mobile phases have been tested: (1) acetonitrile-2% acetic acid (17 + 83), with an analysis time of 13 min; and (2) acetonitrile-methanol-2% acetic acid (4 + 16 + 80), with an analysis time of 20 min but an improved analysis for some samples. As many as 40 samples have been analyzed at one time unattended with the aid of an autosampler. A total of about 1500 field samples have been assayed using the method. Method sensitivity is 0.1 ppm for either analyte in a hog finishing fed. Linearity for each of the analytes is satisfactory over a range of 0.4-25 ppm in spiked feeds. Coefficients of variation range from 13% at 0.5 ppm to 2% at 13 ppm as tested over a period of time in naturally contaminated samples. The absolute recovery of sulfamerazine varies with sample matrix, but, in the presence of sulfamerazine as internal standard, recovery has been 96.7-99.7% over the range of 0.1-10 ppm. Sulfamerazine and sulfamoxole were tested for their suitability as internal standards. Sulfamerazine is a good internal standard for sulfamethazine; neither is ideal for sulfathiazole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Thermal generation of 3-amino-4,5-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-one, the postulated precursor of sotolone, from amino acid model systems containing glyoxylic and pyruvic acids

4,5-Dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (sotolone), a naturally occurring flavor impact compound, can be isolated from various sources, especially fenugreek seeds. It can also be thermally produced from intermediates generated from the Maillard reaction such as pyruvic and ketoglutaric acids, glyoxal, and 2,3-butanedione. A naturally occurring precursor of sotolone, 3-amino-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone, was thermally generated for the first time from pyruvic acid and glycine or from glyoxylic acid and alanine model systems. Isotope labeling studies have implicated 4,5-dimethylfuran-2,3-dione as an intermediate that can be converted into 3-amino-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone through Strecker-like interaction with any amino acid. Furthermore, these studies have also indicated the presence of two pathways for the formation of 4,5-dimethylfuran-2,3-dione, one requiring pyruvic acid and a formaldehyde source and the other requiring glyoxylic acid and acetaldehyde. Self-aldol condensation of pyruvic acid followed by lactonization and further aldol reaction with formaldehyde can generate the same intermediate as the self-aldol addition product of acetaldehyde with glyoxylic acid followed by lactonization. The pyruvic acid pathway was found to be a more efficient route than the glyoxylic acid pathway. Furthermore, the pyruvic acid/glycine model system was able to generate sotolone in the presence of moisture, and in the presence of ammonia, commercial sotolone was converted back into 3-amino-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxicol in porcine liver

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for determination of aflatoxicol in porcine liver was developed. Liver sample is homogenized with water, diluted with saturated Na2SO4 solution, and extracted with acetone. After filtration, less polar interferences are removed by partition with isooctane. Aflatoxicol in the aqueous fraction is partitioned into CHCl3. The extract is dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and evaporated nearly to dryness at 35 degrees C under a gentle flow of dry filtered air or nitrogen. Residue is dissolved in CHCl3-hexane and applied to a hexane-activated silica cartridge. The cartridge is washed with hexane-CHCl3, then aflatoxicol is eluted with CHCl3-acetone. Purified extract is evaporated to dryness, dissolved in methanol, and analyzed by C18 reverse phase liquid chromatography using a water-CH3CN-acetic acid mobile phase and fluorescence detection. Recovery of aflatoxicol from spiked liver samples at levels ranging from 0.25 to 4.0 ng aflatoxicol/g wet tissue averaged 92% with a limit of detection of about 0.1 ng aflatoxicol/g liver.     

Hydride generation ICP-MS (HG-ICP-MS) for the ultra lowlevel determination of mercury in biota

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) utilizing both hydride generation and conventional nebulization as methods for sample introduction, has been applied to the analysis of Hg in urine and biota at sub μg/g (solid) and sub ng/g (liquid) levels. Concentrations in certified reference materials were determined by standard addition, and isotope ratio measurements were performed to evaluate the potential foi applying the methods of isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) in this area.     

Analyzing capillary‐rise method settings for contact‐angle determination of granular media§

Water repellency is a relevant topic in soil‐science research due to its effects on vegetation growth, occurrence of surface runoff, infiltration, and erosion. Different methods have been adapted for the assessment of soil wettability by measuring the contact angle (CA), like the capillary‐rise method (CRM), where the liquid penetration dynamics into a dry sample is analyzed. However, questions related to sample preparation and the use of a suitable reference liquid in order to improve the reproducibility in such heterogeneous materials are still open. Different methods use ethanol as a reference liquid to quantify the degree of water repellency, like the molarity of ethanol droplets (MED), whereas other methods (CRM) suggest in addition n‐hexane as reference. To date, no generally accepted protocol has been invented to apply the CRM to soil particles. By using model porous materials with defined and stable levels of water repellency (silt, sand, and glass beads), CA results were compared for different initial settings of the sample. The main objective was to prove the CRM as a reliable and reproducible method to characterize soil wettability and to specify general guidelines for its application for granular materials in terms of sample size, sample‐packing procedure, and reference liquid. Results showed that a sample weight of ≈ 2 g has a relatively lower CA variation between replications. The packing procedure showed erratic results in CA, proving to be a critical factor in reproducibility. A uniform criterion of samples packing is recommended regarding application of CRM in soils. Regarding the reference liquid, n‐hexane should be preferred instead of ethanol for dynamic CA determination, because ethanol increased the tendency of CRM to overestimate angles due to dynamic effects, especially in finer‐textured materials (i.e., silt).     

Determination of alachlor and its metabolite 2,6-diethylaniline in microbial culture medium using online microdialysis enriched-sampling coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

In this study, a simple and novel microdialysis sampling technique incorporating hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) coupled online to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the one-step sample pretreatment and direct determination of alachlor (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N -(methoxymethyl)acetanilide) and its metabolite 2,6-diethylaniline (2,6-DEA) in microbial culture medium has been developed. A reversed-phase C-18 column was utilized to separate alachlor and 2,6-DEA from other species using an acetonitrile/water mixture (1:1) containing 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0 as the mobile phase. Detection was carried out with a UV detector operated at 210 nm. Parameters that influenced the enrichment efficiency of online HF-LPME sampling, including the length of the hollow fiber, the perfusion solvent and its flow rate, the pH, and the salt added in sample solution, as well as chromatographic conditions were thoroughly optimized. Under optimal conditions, excellent enrichment efficiency was achieved by the microdialysis of a sample solution (pH 7.0) using hexane as perfusate at the flow rate of 4 μL/min. Detection limits were 72 and 14 ng/mL for alachlor and 2,6-DEA, respectively. The enrichment factors were 403 and 386 (RSD < 5%) for alachlor and 2,6-DEA, respectively, when extraction was performed by using a 40 cm regenerated cellulose hollow fiber and hexane as perfusion solvent at the flow rate of 0.1 μL/min. The proposed method provides a sensitive, flexible, fast, and eco-friendly procedure to enrich and determine alachlor and its metabolite (2,6-DEA) in microbial culture medium.     

Square-wave voltammetric determination of acetaldehyde in povidone

A rapid, precise, and accurate method is described for the determination of acetaldehyde in povidone (polyvinyl pyrrolidone). The sample is dissolved in a basic aqueous electrolyte and analyzed using square-wave voltammetry. The proposed method allows for direct measurement of acetaldehyde under gentle conditions, thus avoiding loss of analyte due to volatility of acetaldehyde. The method is specific for acetaldehyde in the presence of other aldehydes and povidone process impurities.     

Analysis of fat-soluble vitamins. XXVIII. High performance liquid chromatographic determination of vitamin D in pet foods and feeds: collaborative study

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for vitamin D in pet foods and feeds at low concentrations (2-8 IU/g = 50-200 ppb) was studied collaboratively. The procedure consists of the following purification steps: saponification, extraction of the unsaponifiable fraction, chromatography on alumina, cleanup on reverse phase HPLC, and quantitation with straight phase HPLC. The original method, developed by Knapstein, was simplified by deleting the quantitative TLC step. Six coded samples were distributed to 31 laboratories, along with a known sample containing 15 IU/g to allow practice of the rather complicated procedure. Eighteen collaborators returned their results. Results for the spiked samples show good recovery. The estimates of repeatability and reproducibility are 0.96 and 2.2 IU/g for spiked samples and 1.5 and 3.1 IU/g for commercial samples, respectively, which are considered acceptable for these low concentrations. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Gas chromatographic determination of pentachlorophenol in gelatin: collaborative study

Eleven collaborators participated in this study of a gas chromatographic method for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in gelatin. Following acid hydrolysis of a 2 g sample, PCP is extracted with hexane and partitioned into KOH solution. After reacidification, PCP is again extracted with hexane for determination by electron capture gas chromatography on a 1% SP-1240DA column. Three duplicate practice samples (0.0, 0.5, and 1.5 ppm) and 5 blind duplicate collaborative samples (0.0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.0 ppm) were analyzed by each collaborator. Mean recoveries of PCP in the collaborative samples ranged from 88% at the 0.02 ppm fortification level to 102% at the 0.1 ppm level; the overall mean recovery was 96%. Interlaboratory coefficients of variation ranged from 16.4% for the 0.1 ppm fortification level to 22.9% for the 0.5 ppm level; the overall interlaboratory coefficient of variation was 19.5%. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Efficiency of rice bran for the removal of selected organics from water: kinetic and thermodynamic investigations

The sorption efficiency of indigenous rice (Oryza sativa) bran for the removal of organics, that is, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene (BTEC), from aqueous solutions has been studied. The sorption of BTEC by rice bran is observed over a wide pH range of 1-10, indicating its high applicability to remove these organics from various industrial effluents. Rice bran effectively adsorbs BTEC of 10 microg mL(-1) sorbate concentration from water at temperatures of 283-323 +/- 2 K. The effect of pH, agitation time between solid and liquid phases, sorbent dose, its particle size, and temperature on the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran has been studied. The pore area and average pore diameter of rice bran by BET method are found to be 19 +/- 0.7 m(2) g(-1) and 52.8 +/- 1.3 nm. The rice bran exhibits appreciable sorption of the order of 85 +/- 3.5, 91 +/- 1.8, 94 +/- 1.4, and 96 +/- 1.2% for 10 microg mL(-1) concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene, respectively, in 60 min of agitation time using 0.1 g of rice bran at pH 6 and 303 K. The sorption data follow Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. Sorption capacities have been computed for BTEC by Freundlich (32 +/- 3, 61 +/- 14, 123 +/- 28, and 142 +/- 37 m mol g(-1)), Langmuir (6.6 +/- 0.1, 7.5 +/- 0.13, 9.5 +/- 0.22, and 9.4 +/- 0.18 m mol g(-1)), and D-R isotherms (11 +/- 0.5, 16 +/- 1.3, 30 +/- 2.2, and 33 +/- 2.5 m mol g(-1)), respectively. The Lagergren equation is employed for the kinetics of the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran and first-order rate constants (0.03 +/- 0.002, 0.04 +/- 0.003, 0.04 +/- 0.003, and 0.05 +/- 0.004 min(-1)) have been computed for BTEC at their concentration of 100 mug mL(-1) at 303 K. Studies on the variation of sorption with temperatures (283-323 K) at 100 mug mL(-1) sorbate concentration gave thermodynamic constants DeltaH (kJ mol(-1)), DeltaG (kJ mol(-1)), and DeltaS (J mol(-1) K(-1)). The results indicate that the sorption of organics onto rice bran is exothermic and spontaneous in nature under the optimized experimental conditions selected. This sorbent has been used successfully to accumulate and then to determine benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene in wastewater sample.