BrainMap

Mrs. Csilla Müller Molnár

PhD.

Scientific Researcher - INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Other affiliations

Associate Professor - UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (Romania)

Researcher

Web of Science ResearcherID: R-6831-2019

Curriculum Vitae (10/10/2019)

Expertise & keywords

Metabolomic approaches – challenges and a step forward in honey recognition. Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie, 2020
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0644 2021 - 2023

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/honeyomics/

Abstract:

At EU level, the demanded honey quantities are not satisfied by internal production. As a result, significant quantities are imported from other countries outside EU (i.e. China, Argentina) which need a rigorous control, honey being the third most adulterated product in the world. Its price tendency will be directly reflected in the rarity of a certain honey type, either in terms of geographical or botanical origin. In this case, the temptation of passing some counterfeit, cheap honeys under the label of some exclusive ones, in order to gain an illegal profit exists among some sellers or unfair producers. In this context, this project aims the development of new chemometric models able to differentiate among honeys with distinct geographical and botanical origin and also to detect honey adulteration through the addition of cheaper honey types to much rare honey varieties. Metabolomic approches based on vibrational (IR, Raman) and fluorescence spectroscopies will be developed, their classification potential being compared and validated based on acknowledged methods like isotope and elemental profiling. The large generated experimental data sets will be processed using supervised chemometric techniques (LDA and SIMCA) as well as artificiall intelligence (Machine Learning). The development of predictive models able to differentiate among distinct honey varieties and to identify adulterated samples using Machine Learning will represent a novelty at international level.

Rapid detection of Thiabendazole pesticide in frozen fruits and vegetables commercialized on Romanian stores Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-3004 2020 - 2023

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/rapiddettbz/

Abstract:

The extensive use of Thiabendazole (TBZ) pesticide as a preservative to ensure freshness has resulted in its frequent detection in water resources and in soil from fruit and vegetable production areas. The EU REGULATION regarding the maximum residue levels for thiabendazole in or on certain products, define the pesticide residues and maximum residue levels in mg/kg in fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

So, pesticides, just like TBZ directly pollute the environment and contaminate foods ultimately being absorbed by the human body. Their residues contain highly toxic substances that have been found to cause serious problems to human health even at very low concentrations. In this project we propose to put into the practice and validate in laboratory a fast, sensitive, prompt and cheap analytical methodology for TBZ assessment in frozen fruits and vegetables, based on the Raman scattering technique, in conjunction with the plasmonic properties of noble metal nanoparticles exploited with the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Therefore, our approach here is to test and validate in laboratory the TBZ detection method for the various frozen fruits and vegetables, comercialized in Roamanian stores, and prospecting the TBZ identification and quantification in frozen products. Plasmonic -based micro-SERS approach will be extended to in situ analysis with highly sensitive portable instruments, opening an avenue for reliable in situ food monitoring programs in Romania.

Cylindrospermopsin cyanobacterial toxin adsorbtion on plasmonic nanoparticles, trace detection and probing its assessment in environmental waters from Transylvania, Romania and in aquatic products Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0562 2020 - 2023

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/cyanotoxro/

Abstract:

Within area subject to the incidence of cyanotoxins derived from certain cyanobacteria, it is crucially important to acquire solid knowledge on their occurrence, molecular characterization, chemical behavior in specific conditions, to be able to adopt adequate monitoring and surveillance program implementation. Adverse health outcomes from exposure to high levels of cyanotoxins in drinking or bathing waters or from oral intake from aquatic products or algal dietary supplements consumption, thus, the chronic exposure to low cyanotoxin levels remains a critical issue with serious health impact. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a cyanobacteria metabolite is easily released and dissolved in environmental water columns when certain responsible bacteria species (Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Aphanizomenon, Umezakia) are present during blooming. It is highly water soluble and thus, available in water columns and through the food chain can easily reach the aquatic animals and humans. In this project we propose to develop a fast, sensitive, prompt and cheap analytical methodology for cyanotoxins assessment in Transylvanian (Romania) environmental waters, based on the Raman scattering technique, in conjunction with the plasmonic properties of noble metal nanoparticles exploited with the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Therefore, our approach here is to focus on vibrational characterization of CYN using micro-sampling strategy for standard toxin, micro- SERS for recognition, molecular characterization, understanding its absorption mechanism and functional groups involved in adsorption, establishing the SERS detection limit and excitation profile, and prospecting its identification in fish ponds, natural recreation waters or aquatic products. Plasmonic -based micro-SERS approach will be extended to in situ analysis with highly sensitive portable instruments, opening an avenue for reliable in situ environmental monitoring programs in Romania.

Assessment of content and distribution of trans fatty acids in food products from Romanian market Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-3502 2020 - 2022

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/tfas-food/index.htm

Abstract:

Trans fats, also named trans fatty acids (TFAs) are a particular type of unsaturated fatty acid. The partial hydrogenation used in food industry lowers the number of double bonds and increases the hydrogen amount thus creating trans fats. The mandatory requirement in many countries to declare the amount of trans fat present in food products which led to the need for sensitive and accurate methodologies for a rapid quantification of trans fats. The originality and novelty of the proposed project: „Assessment of content and distribution of trans fatty acids in food products from Romanian market” (ACRONIM: TFAs-FOOD)” is based on a complex investigation for the detection of TFAs in vegetable oils and food products by the combination of complementary analytical methods such as GC-FID, GC-MS, FT-IR, Raman and also with chemometric methods for the processing of analytical data. The limits of the current approaches in the field are related mainly to the following aspects: i). until now there are no studies regarding the measurement of content and distribution of trans fatty acids in food products present on the Romanian market although there is COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2019/649 that is to apply from 1 April 2021 for all the countries of the European Union and which limits TFAs in foods (maximum 2 grams per 100 grams of fat); ii). until now in Romania there are no validated analytical methods regarding the assessment and distribution of fatty acids in food; iii); in Romania the food products are not labelling correctly, the content of trans fatty acids not being specified.

Underwater geological structures prone to the generation and accumulation of biogases - associated geo-biogeochemical processes Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0178 2018 - 2021

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU GEOLOGIE SI GEOECOLOGIE MARINA - GEOECOMAR

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU GEOLOGIE SI GEOECOLOGIE MARINA - GEOECOMAR (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE MARINĂ "GRIGORE ANTIPA"-I.N.C.D.M. CONSTANŢA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://sites.google.com/view/ubiogas

Abstract:

In comparison with the accumulations of thermogenic methane, the accumulations of biogenic ones are formed in more predictable geological settings. At global level it has been assessed that more than 20% of the total methane reserves are biogenic. In the last decade in Romania the interest for the biogenic methane has increased constantly and the most important discovery, with reserves that can cover the entire needs for methane of Romania for 6-8 years, is methane of biogenic origin. This finding of biogenic methane is in the Domino geological structure, offshore Black Sea, in the Romanian economic exclusive zone.

The present research program, uBioGas, by its 3 projects: (10 Plio-Quaternary geological structures favorable to the generation and accumulation of biogenic methane in the Romanian zone at the Black Sea; (2) Determination of bio-geochemical parameters associated to the geological structures evidenced in the project (1), requested for 1D modelling of the methane generation processes and development of analogies regarding the generation and accumulation processes that take place in the Plio-Quaternary pile of sediments.

(3) Paleogeographic evolution of the studied region, in the framework of nowadays and Quaternary environment - climate changes, their influence against the processes of generation and accumulation of methane.

According with the project’s topic and with the structure of the consortium that performs the research program, the project is an interdisciplinary one, with researchers from geosciences (geologists, geophysicists, geochemists), natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), from almost all Romanian regions.

The projects valorize the available Romanian research infrastructure, but will also contributes to the further development of it, by adding new equipments and updates to the ones needed to perform the researches, in accordance with the global developments, including the training of researchers in using the new technologies.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects