Nitrate and nitrite as sodium or potassium salts are usually added to meat products to develop the characteristic flavor, to inhibit the growth of microorganisms (particularly Clostridium botulinum), and effectively control rancidity by inhibiting lipid oxidation. However, both nitrate and nitrite ions need to be monitored for ensuring the quality and safety of cured meats. In this work, for the first time the content of nitrite and nitrate ions in homogenized meat samples of baby foods was determined by a validated method based on ion chromatography (IC) coupled with conductivity detection. Recoveries of nitrate and nitrite ions in meat samples were not lower than 84 ± 6%. The detection limits of nitrate and nitrite were 0.08 mg L⁻¹ and 0.13 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Five commercial samples of homogenized meat, namely lamb, rabbit, chicken, veal, and beef, for infant feeding were investigated; while nitrite content was below the detection limit, nitrate ranged from 10.7 to 21.0 mg kg⁻¹. The results indicated that nitrate contents were below the European (EU) fixed value of 200 mg kg⁻¹, and an acceptable daily intake of 3.7 mg kg⁻¹ was estimated.

Limestone basements holding bronzes or other copper alloys artefacts such as sculptures, decorations and dedicatory inscriptions are frequently met both in modern and ancient monuments. In outdoor conditions, such a combination implies the corrosion products of the copper based alloy, directly exposed to rainwater, will be drained off and migrate through the porous surfaces, forming stains of different colours and intensities, finally causing the limestone structures to deteriorate.

Following a previous investigation on micro‐ and mesoporous titanosilicates, we have here deepened the XPS and X‐ray‐excited Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES) studies on the surface properties of microporous titanosilicalites‐1 (TS‐1) and reference silicalites‐1 (S‐1), both characterized by the MFI framework type. The aim was that of complementing the information already obtained on these compounds with other techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), electron spin resonance (ESR), and quantomechanical calculations. Notwithstanding the expected low photoelectron intensity due to the very low solubility of Ti (IV) ions in the MFI framework, an accurate XPS curve‐fitting procedure and the simultaneous use of the XPS and Auger signals (Wagner plot) have made possible, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the distinction of two Ti (IV) sites: the framework tetrahedral species—Ti (IV) substituting Si (IV)—and the Ti(IV) tetrahedral species grafted to surface hydroxyl groups. Both species are prone to convert into octahedrally coordinated Ti (IV) species as a consequence of interaction with water and other ligands. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.