Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum and selenium,and of molybdenum and tellurium

A method is reported for the extraction of molybdenum-phenylfluorone by chloroform. The extraction is complete whether perchlorate ions are present or not but the extractions in the presence of perchlorate ions gave a somewhat more sensitive procedure for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum in the solvent phase as the molybdenum-phenylfluorone complex.A procedure is reported for the simultaneous determination of molybdenum and selenium, and molybdenum and tellurium. The method involves first the formation and solvent extraction of the molybdenum-phenylfluorone complex by chloroform in the presence of perchlorate ions, followed by determination of selenium in the remaining aqueous phase as selenium-diethyldithiocarbamate complex after solvent extraction with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in the presence of perchlorate ions. A similar procedure is reported for the simultaneous determination of molybdenum and tellurium except that in the determination of molybdenum, the phenylfluorone complex is extracted by chloroform in the absence of perchlorate ions. Tellurium is determined in the remaining aqueous phase as tellurium-diethyldithiocarbamate complex after solvent extraction by 2-ethyl-1-hexanol solvent extraction in the presence of perchlorate ions.     

Epoxy and polyurethane adhesive materials of elad,aquapol, and acrolat brands and their components

Different groups of chemical products developed and produced at the Macromer Scientific and Manufacturing Company are described and recommended for use in adhesive compositions, including reactive diluents for epoxy compositions, urethane prepolymers, binders for photocurable materials, aqueous polyurethane dispersions. The main characteristics of binders for glues are presented, as well as the prospects for their application in formulas of adhesive compositions.     

Tune-out and magic wavelengths for hydrogenlike and screened-hydrogenlike atoms

The tune-out and magic wavelengths (TMWs) for the hydrogenlike and screened-hydrogenlike atoms (Z = 1-8) are calculated using a variational method. The first three tune-out wavelengths for each of the nS (n = 1, 2, 3) states and the first three magic wavelengths for each of the 1S-nS (n = 2, 3) transitions of the hydrogenlike atoms in terms of nuclear charge Z, and the first TMWs for the above mentioned states or transitions of the screened-hydrogenlike atoms in terms of the screening parameter μ and Z are presented. All the results for the TMWs are reported for the first time in the literature except the magic wavelengths for the hydrogen atom. The magic wavelengths for hydrogen atom are in agreement with the available data. The precise estimation of the TMWs would be helpful for the design of the ion-trapping experiment of the hydrogenic systems. Our study is expected to be useful for the measurements of the hydrogenic 1S-2S and 1S-3S transitions spectroscopy for the improved accuracy.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of hydrolysis and aminolysis of thioxocephalosporins

The effect of replacing the beta-lactam carbonyl oxygen in cephalosporins by sulfur on their reactivity has been investigated. The second-order rate constant for alkaline hydrolysis of the sulfur analogue is 2-fold less than that for the natural cephalosporin. The thioxo derivative of cephalexin, with an amino group in the C7 side chain, undergoes beta-lactam ring opening with intramolecular aminolysis by a reaction similar to that for cephalexin itself. However, the rate of intramolecular aminolysis for the S-analogue is 3 orders of magnitude greater than that for cephalexin. Furthermore, unlike cephalexin, intramolecular aminolysis in the S-analogue occurs up to pH 14 with no competitive hydrolysis. The rate of intermolecular aminolysis of natural cephalosporins is dominated by a second-order dependence on amine concentration, whereas that for thioxocephalosporins shows only a first-order term in amine. The Bronsted beta(nuc) for the aminolysis of thioxo-cephalosporin is +0.39, indicative of rate-limiting formation of the tetrahedral intermediate with an early transition state with relatively little C-N bond formation.     

Prospects and crucial problems in oligomerization and polymerization with iron and cobalt complex catalysts

<正>The discovery of highly active 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron and cobalt complexes provided a milestone of latetransition metal catalysts for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization with being currently investigated for the scale-up process.The crucial problems are remaining in the catalytic systems:the catalytic systems targeting ethylene polymerization produce more oligomers at elevated reaction temperatures,however,there is a recognizable amount of high-molecular-weight polyethylene remained in the modified catalytic system for the oligomerization process.Beyond the modification of bis(imino)pyridyl metal complexes,several alternative procatalysts' models have been developed in our group.This review highlighted the achievements in exploring new iron and cobalt complexes with tridentate NNN ligands as procatalysts for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization.     

Laboratory guidelines and standards in clinical and forensic toxicology

An overview is given of the existing standards and guidelines for analytical toxicology. Details about guidelines concerning forensic toxicology, clinical toxicology, point-of-care testing, and an area of overlap are provided. Guidelines and standards exist for forensic toxicological analysis in general and for specific situations, e.g., workplace drug testing and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. For workplace drug testing, detailed guidelines exist in the U.S.A., Australia, and Europe describing for example the methods used, their cut-off and the process of sample handling. Some governments describe the methods and quality requirements for blood alcohol testing for driving under the influence of alcohol in detail in their laws. In the area of clinical toxicology, guidelines not only focus on the analytical aspects of analysis but also on the timeliness of results. According to the US- and UK-based practice guidelines for the emergency department, the turn-around time should be 1 or 2 h, respectively, for a specific set of analytes. Guidelines are either being developed now or already available (e.g., workplace drug testing, breath alcohol analysis) for point-of-care testing in analytical toxicology. In the context of brain death and sexual assault cases, specific demands need to be imposed because of the unique aspects of drug analysis in these situations (variety of drugs used, low concentrations). Many guidelines and standards are available and it is up to every laboratory to choose the best ones depending on the area of activity and the legal and regulatory environment.Presented at the 10th Conference Quality in the Spotlight, March 2005, Antwerp, Belgium     

Simultaneous determination of sulphadiazine and trimethoprim in plasma and tissues of cultured fish for residual and pharmacokinetic studies.

Clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the simultaneous determination of sulphadiazine and trimethoprim in fish plasma and tissues have been developed. The average recovery of sulphadiazine varied from 74% in liver to 92% in plasma, whereas that of trimethoprim varied from 60% in liver to 97% in plasma. The sample pretreatment procedures were simple, selective and robust, having a limit of quantification of 250 ng/ml for trimethoprim and 50 ng/ml for sulphadiazine in plasma, 15 ng/g for sulphadiazine and 80 ng/g for trimethoprim in muscle, and 30 ng/g for sulphadiazine and 160 ng/g for trimethoprim in liver. The assay was tested on plasma from Atlantic salmon treated with Tribrissen.     

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction mechanism between DDQ Pi- and iodine sigma-acceptors and chloroquine and pyrimethamine drugs and their determination in pure and in dosage forms

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods are presented for the determination of anti-malarial drugs, chloroquine phosphate (CQP) and pyrimethamine (PYM), in pure and in different pharmaceutical preparations. The charge transphere (CT) reactions between CQP and PYM as electron donors and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) pi-acceptor and iodine sigma-acceptor reagents to give highly coloured complex species have been spectrophotometrically studied. The optimum experimental conditions have been studied carefully. Beer' law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1.0-15 microg ml(-1) for CQP and 1.0-40 microg ml(-1) for PYM using I(2) and at 5.0-53 microg ml(-1) for CQP and 1.0-46 microg ml(-1) for PYM using DDQ reagents, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration range is calculated and found to be 10-53 and 8-46 microg ml(-1) for CQP and PYM using DDQ, respectively and 5-15 and 8-40 microg ml(-1) for CQP and PYM using iodine, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity is found to be 0.038 and 0.046 g cm(-2) for DDQ method and 0.0078 and 0.056 g cm(-2) for I(2) method for CQP and PYM, respectively which indicates the high sensitivity of both methods. Standard deviation (S.D.=0.012-0.014 and 0.013-0.015) and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.=0.09-1.4 and 1.3-1.5%) (n=5) for DDQ and I(2) methods respectively, refer to the high accuracy and precision of the proposed methods. These results are also confirmed by between day precision of percent recovery of 99-100.6%, and 98-101% for CQP and PYM by DDQ method and 99-102% and 99.2-101.4% for CQP and PYM by I(2) method respectively. These data are comparable to those obtained by British and American pharmacopoeias assay for the determination of CQP and PYM in raw materials and in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Separation of niobium and tantalum with benzo- and phenylacetylhydroxamic acids

Benzohydroxamic acid (I) or phenylacetylhydroxamic acid (II) is suggested for the quantitative separation of tantalum from niobium in an oxalate solution. The tantalum precipitate must be ignited for weighing; niobium is determined in the filtrate with another reagent. The pH range for complete separation is 4.0–6.4 for I and 4.5–6.2 for II. Single precipitation is satistactory for Nb: Ta ratios of 18 : 1 to 1 : 20 for I, and 8 : 1 to 1 : 23 for II. Titanium, zirconium, tartrate, citrate and a large excess of oxalate interfere.     

On-line and bulk analysis of coal and metalliferous ores

Coal and mineral processing operations can be controlled more economically if information on process variables is obtained continuously. Much of this information can be provided by nuclear techniques. Recent Australian developments in on-line nuclear gauges are reviewed. Techniques have been developed, field tested and commercialised for the on-line analysis of ash and moisture in coal and for the in-stream determination of solids weight fraction and ash in coal slurries. Techniques are being developed for the on-line analysis of moisture in coke and sulphur in lead sinter feed. As well, techniques are being developed for the bulk analysis of silver, lead and zinc in drill cores.     

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction mechanism between DDQ as pi-acceptor and potassium iodate and flucloxacillin and dicloxacillin drugs and their determination in pure and in dosage forms

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods are presented for the determination of beta-lactam drugs, flucloxacillin (Fluclox) and dicloxacillin (Diclox), in pure and in different pharmaceutical preparations. The charge transfer (CT) reactions between Fluclox and Diclox as electron donors and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) pi-acceptor and potassium iodate via oxidation reduction reaction where the highly coloured complex species or the liberated iodine have been spectrophotometrically studied. The optimum experimental conditions have been studied carefully. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 2-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 10-450 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using DDQ reagent and at 50-550 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 50-560 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using iodate method, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration range is calculated and found to be 6-450 and 15-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using DDQ, respectively, and 65-550 and 63-560 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using iodine, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity is found to be 0.018 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for DDQ method and 0.013 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for iodate method for Fluclox and Diclox, respectively, which indicates the high sensitivity of both methods. Standard deviation (S.D.=0.01-0.80 and 0.07-0.98) and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.=0.13-0.44 and 0.11-0.82%) (n=5) for DDQ and iodate methods, respectively, refer to the high accuracy and precision of the proposed methods. These results are also confirmed by between-day precision of percent recovery of 99.87-100.2 and 99.90-100% for Fluclox and Diclox by DDQ method and 99.88-100.1 and 99.30-100.2% for Fluclox and Diclox by iodate method, respectively. These data are comparable to those obtained by British and American pharmacopoeias assay for the determination of Fluclox and Diclox in raw materials and in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in chemical and biochemical sensors: Capabilities and applications

The publications reporting on the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in chemical and biochemical sensor designing were reviewed for the recent decade. The capabilities and applications were discussed for nanoparticles based on gold, silver, magnetic and semiconductor materials (quantum dots), lanthanides, and silica compounds, as well as for nanotubes and nanolayers (Langmuir-Blodgett films, selfassembled monolayers) used in optical (absorbance, luminescence, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance), electrochemical, and mass-sensitive sensors. It was shown that the unique capabilities of nanosensors might hold the key to improve the analysis of liquids, gases, and especially biochemical and biological objects in the near future.     

Excess enthalpy and entropy of aqueous tetramethylguanidinium perchlorate and chloride and tetramethylammonium nitrate

Heats of dilution have been measured for aqueous solutions of tetramethylguanidinium perchlorate and chloride and for tetramethylammonium nitrate at 25°C. Excess enthalpies have been calculated and combined with excess free energy data which were previously published to yield excess entropy. These results furnish further evidence for the association of the tetramethylguanidinium salts in aqueous solutions.     

Comparison of fundamental and second-harmonic a.c., and normal,derivative and differential pulse linear-sweep and stripping voltammetric methods

Linear-sweep and stripping a.c. and pulse voltammetric methods have been compared for a variety of electrodes and electrode processes. Each of the linear-sweep techniques is readily used systematically because, in contrast to d.c. linear-sweep voltammetry, the theory for reversible electrode processes is basically analogous to that for polarography at a dropping mercury electrode. In stripping analysis, some departures are found at a hanging mercury drop electrode because of spherical diffusion effects. For reversible electrode processes, the limits of detection for a.c. and pulse methods are comparable. However, a.c. methods offer advantages over pulse methods in discriminating against irreversible electrode processes and permit the ready use of faster scan rates. Pulse methods are more sensitive for irreversible electrode process. Normal pulse polarography is particularly favourable in minimizing undesirable phenomena arising from adsorption or deposition of material on electrodes.     

Formation and stability of prolinol and prolinol ether enamines by NMR: delicate selectivity and reactivity balances and parasitic equilibria

Enamine key intermediates in organocatalysis, derived from aldehydes and prolinol or J?rgensen-Hayashi-type prolinol ether catalysts, were generated in different solvents and investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Depending on the catalyst structure, trends for their formation and amounts are elucidated. For prolinol catalysts, the first enamine detection in situ is presented and the rapid cyclization of the enamine to the oxazolidine ("parasitic equilibrium") is monitored. In the case of diphenylprolinol, this equilibrium is fully shifted to the endo-oxazolidine ("dead end") by the two geminal phenyl rings, most probably because of the Thorpe-Ingold effect. With bulkier and electron-withdrawing aryl rings, however, the enamine is stabilized relative to the oxazolidine, allowing for the parallel detection of the enamine and the oxazolidine. In the case of prolinol ethers, the enamine amounts decrease with increasing sizes of the aryl meta-substituents and the O-protecting group. In addition, for small aldehyde alkyl chains, Z-configured enamines are observed for the first time in solution. Prolinol silyl ether enamines are evidenced to undergo slow desilylation and subsequent rapid oxazolidine formation in DMSO. For unfortunate combinations of aldehydes, catalysts, solvents, and additives, the enamine formation is drastically decelerated but can be screened for by a rapid and facile NMR approach. Altogether, especially by clarifying the delicate balances of catalyst selectivity and reactivity, our NMR spectroscopic findings can be expected to substantially aid synthetically working organic chemists in the optimization of organocatalytic reaction conditions and of prolinol (ether) substitution patterns for enamine catalysis.     

Need for accurate and standardized determination of amino acids and bioactive peptides for evaluating protein quality and potential health effects of foods and dietary supplements

Accurate standardized methods for the determination of amino acid in foods are required to assess the nutritional safety and compositional adequacy of sole source foods such as infant formulas and enteral nutritionals, and protein and amino acid supplements and their hydrolysates, and to assess protein claims of foods. Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), which requires information on amino acid composition, is the official method for assessing protein claims of foods and supplements sold in the United States. PDCAAS has also been adopted internationally as the most suitable method for routine evaluation of protein quality of foods by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. Standardized methods for analysis of amino acids by ion-exchange chromatography have been developed. However, there is a need to develop validated methods of amino acid analysis in foods using liquid chromatographic techniques, which have replaced ion-exchange methods for quantifying amino acids in most laboratories. Bioactive peptides from animal and plant proteins have been found to potentially impact human health. A wide range of physiological effects, including blood pressure-lowering effects, cholesterol-lowering ability, antithrombotic effects, enhancement of mineral absorption, and immunomodulatory effects have been described for bioactive peptides. There is considerable commercial interest in developing functional foods containing bioactive peptides. There is also a need to develop accurate standardized methods for the characterization (amino acid sequencing) and quantification of bioactive peptides and to carry out dose-response studies in animal models and clinical trials to assess safety, potential allergenicity, potential intolerance, and efficacy of bioactive peptides. Information from these studies is needed for determining the upper safe levels of bioactive peptides and as the basis for developing potential health claims for bioactive peptides. This information is, in turn, needed by regulatory agencies for developing appropriate policy and regulations on adding these substances to foods and for determining if health claims are scientifically substantiated.     

Phase I and phase II ocular metabolic activities and the role of metabolism in ophthalmic prodrug and codrug design and delivery

While the mammalian eye is seldom considered an organ of drug metabolism, the capacity for biotransformation is present. Compared to the liver, the metabolic capabilities of the eye are minuscule; however, phase I and phase II metabolic activities have been detected in various ocular structures. The careful consideration of ocular tissue metabolic processes within the eye has important implications for controlling the detoxification of therapeutic agents and for providing the potential for site-specific bio-activation of certain drug molecules, thus enabling significant improvements in drug efficacy and the minimization of side-effect from either local or systemic drug delivery to the eye. Knowledge of these processes is important to prodrug and codrug development and to researchers involved in the design, delivery and metabolism of ophthalmic drugs. This present article reviews the progress in ocular prodrug and codrug design and delivery in light of ocular metabolic activities.     

Extraction and clean-up strategies for the analysis of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in environmental and human matrices

The rapidly expanding field of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) research has resulted in a wide range of analytical methodologies to determine the human and environmental exposure to PFASs. This paper reviews the currently applied techniques for sample pre-treatment, extraction and clean-up for the analysis of ionic and non-ionic PFASs in human and environmental matrices. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is the method of choice for liquid samples (e.g. water, blood, serum, plasma), and may be automated in an on-line set-up for (large volume) sample enrichment and sample clean-up. Prior to SPE, sample pre-treatment (filtration or centrifugation for water or protein precipitation for blood) may be required. Liquid-liquid extraction can also be used for liquid samples (and does not require above mentioned sample pretreatment). Solid-liquid extraction is the commonly applied method for solid matrices (biota, sludge, soil, sediment), but automation options are limited due to contamination from polytetrafluorethylene tubings and parts applied in extraction equipment. Air is generally preconcentrated on XAD-resins sandwiched between polyurethane foam plugs. Clean-up of crude extracts is essential for destruction and removal of lipids and other co-extractives that may interfere in the instrumental determination. SPE, (fluorous) silica column chromatography, dispersive graphitized carbon and destructive methods such as sulphuric acid or KOH treatment can be applied for clean-up of extracts. Care should be taken to avoid contamination (e.g. from sample bottles, filters, equipment) and losses of PFASs (e.g. adsorption, volatilization) during sampling, extraction and clean-up. Storage at -20 degrees C is generally appropriate for conservation of samples.     

Design and synthesis of alpha-helical peptides and mimetics

The alpha-helix is the most abundant secondary structural element in proteins and is an important structural domain for mediating protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. Strategies for the rational design and synthesis of alpha-helix mimetics have not matured as well as other secondary structure mimetics such as strands and turns. This perspective will focus on developments in the design, synthesis and applications of alpha-helices and mimetics, particularly in the last 5 years. Examples where synthetic compounds have delivered promising biological results will be highlighted as well as opportunities for the design of mimetics of the type I alpha-helical antifreeze proteins.     

Plasma homo- and copolymerizations of tetrafluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene

The plasma homo- and copolymerizations of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) in a capacitively coupled tubular reactor (TR) with external electrodes were studied by means of microgravimetry and FT-IR and XPS analyses. The deposition rates for CTFE/TFE plasma copolymers, as well as the ratios of IR absorbances at 1180 and 1225 cm⁻¹, and the XPS-derived Cl/C and F/C ratios, varied regularly with mol % CTFE in the feed, all of which results were dependent upon the rf power at which the plasma copolymerizations were conducted. The deposition rates for the plasma homopolymers of TFE (PPTFE) and CTFE (PPTCFE) depended markedly on rf power (W) and monomer molar flow rate (F). The F/C ratio for PPTFE was nearly independent of the composite parameter,W/FM (whereM is the monomer molecular weight), while for PPCTFE, the F/C ratio decreased significantly and the Cl/C ratio increased slightly with increase inW/FM. The percentage of carbon as CF₃ was 20–24% in PPTFE and 7–14% in PPCTFE. Plots of deposition rate versusW/FM for PPTFE and PPCTFE obtained in a TR differed considerably from corresponding plots in the literature for the same homopolymers prepared in a glass-cross or bell-jar reactor.