Unlock Exclusive Discounts & Flash Sales! Click Here to Join the Deals on Every Wednesday!

Study on Speciation of copper in food by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) (CAT#: STEM-ST-0274-WXH)

Introduction

Copper (Cu) is an essential element required as a structural component of numerous metalloenzymes, however, it poses distinct challenges when establishing regulatory guidelines because both dietary deficit, as well as excess, can produce adverse health consequences. Cu is able to change oxidation states between Cu(I) and Cu(II), thereby acting as an electron donor or recipient in biological systems. Excess dysregulated Cu may promote oxidative stress in vivo, contributing to pathology in a range of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration.




Principle

X-ray spectroscopy works on the principle of the excitation of core electrons that are orbiting in the lower shell(s). As the electron absorbs x-rays, it becomes excited and jumps to a higher level. The X-ray region used ranges from 1 to 100 nm. When x-rays interact with electrons it excites electrons to the higher levels. Energy absorbed by the electrons has a characteristic value for each element one can distinguish with the X-ray absorption spectrum.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is the measurement of transitions from core electronic states of the metal to the excited electronic states (LUMO) and the continuum; the former is known as X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and the latter as extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) which studies the fine structure in the absorption at energies greater than the threshold for electron release. These two methods give complementary structural information, the XANES spectra reporting electronic structure and symmetry of the metal site, and the EXAFS reporting numbers, types, and distances to ligands and neighboring atoms from the absorbing element

Applications

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a widely used technique for determining the local geometric and/or electronic structure of matter.

Materials

• X-ray generating equipment (X-ray tube)
• Collimators
• Monochromators
• X-ray detectors
Advertisement