Chemistry and Gastronomy: A comparative analysis of soils

Summary

This video presents a comparative analysis of the soils from the gastronomy and chemistry faculties' gardens at a university. The study aims to provide insights for better cultivation and harvesting of food. Methodologies include collecting soil samples, drying, sieving, and analyzing them using vibrational spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence. Results indicate the presence of elements like iron, magnesium, and calcium, with potential fertility differences noted. The study concludes with suggestions for further quantitative analysis and methodological improvements.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The project focuses on a comparative analysis of soil samples from the faculties of Gastronomy and Chemistry at a university.
• 🔬 The study aims to provide insights for better harvesting and cultivation of food crops suitable for human consumption.
• 📍 Three random points were selected from each of the Gastronomy and Chemistry gardens for soil sampling.
• 🧪 Soil samples were collected and prepared for analysis using techniques like vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence.
• 🧐 Vibrational spectroscopy, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, was used to identify minerals and chemical bonds in the soil.
• 📊 Infrared spectroscopy revealed significant peaks at 1,000 cm⁻¹ and several peaks between 600 and 400 cm⁻¹, corresponding to silicate and aluminum-oxygen bonds.
• 💧 Near-infrared spectroscopy identified peaks related to water or clay networks, but some peaks were obscured by noise or fluorescence.
• 🔍 Raman spectroscopy identified a peak at approximately 450 cm⁻¹, but other signals were affected by noise, limiting further analysis.
• 🌟 X-ray fluorescence was used for elemental analysis, revealing the presence of elements like iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper, nickel, and zinc in all samples.
• 📈 The intensity of certain elements varied between samples, with those from the Gastronomy faculty showing higher fertility indicators like phosphorus.
• 🔬 It is suggested that further quantitative analysis and modifications to the experimental procedures could improve the identification of elements and minerals in the soil samples.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the project described in the transcript?

The main objective of the project is to conduct a comparative analysis of the soils from the faculties of gastronomy and chemistry at the university, with the aim of providing information for harvesting and cultivation of foods that are suitable for human consumption.

What are the specific elements and compounds analyzed in the soil samples?

The soil samples were analyzed for organic carbon content, nutrients, and trace metals. The presence of these elements can indicate the type of environment the soil is in.

How were the soil samples collected for the study?

The samples were collected from three points in the Gastronomy garden and three random points in the Chemistry garden. At each point, soil samples were collected and stored in plastic Falcon tubes.

What is the significance of the 1000 cm^-1 peak found in the infrared spectroscopy analysis?

The peak at 1000 cm^-1 in the infrared spectroscopy analysis corresponds to the Si-O bond from quartz, which is significant as it helps in identifying the types of minerals present in the soil.

What challenges were encountered during the near-infrared (NIR) analysis?

The near-infrared analysis faced challenges due to noise in the spectra, which made it difficult to identify the peaks of interest.

What was the outcome of the Raman spectroscopy analysis?

The Raman spectroscopy analysis identified a peak at approximately 450 cm^-1, but other signals were too affected by noise or fluorescence to provide clear information.

What elements were consistently found in all samples using X-ray fluorescence?

All samples contained iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper, nickel, and zinc, as identified by X-ray fluorescence.

Why was it suggested to apply background measures in the X-ray fluorescence analysis?

It was suggested to apply background measures to detect elements like silicon and aluminum, which were not clearly identified in the analysis but are likely present in the soil.

What recommendations were made for future improvements in the analysis?

The recommendations for future improvements include doing a quantitative analysis to confirm the presence and concentration of elements, and making modifications to the analysis techniques to identify more elements.

What conclusions were drawn from the comparative analysis of the soils?

The conclusions drawn were that infrared spectroscopy provided good results for identifying minerals, but improvements could be made in NIR and Raman analyses to overcome noise issues. X-ray fluorescence identified common elements across all samples, with some samples showing higher fertility indicated by the intensity of certain elements.