Effect of γ-radiation on radionuclide retention in compacted bentonite

Compacted bentonite is proposed as an engineered barrier in many concepts for disposal of high level nuclear waste. After the initial deposition however, the bentonite barrier will inevitably be exposed to ionizing radiation (mainly γ) under anoxic conditions. Because of this, the effects of γ-radiation on the apparent diffusivity values and sorption coefficients in bentonite for Cs⁺ and Co²⁺ were tested under different experimental conditions. Radiation induced effects on sorption were in general more noticeable for Co²⁺ than for Cs⁺, which generally showed no significant differences between irradiated and unirradiated clay samples. For Co²⁺ however, the sorption to irradiated MX80 was significantly lower than to the unirradiated clay samples regardless of the experimental conditions. This implies that γ-radiation may alter the surface characteristics contributing to surface complexation of Co²⁺. With the experimental conditions used, however, the effect of decreasing sorption was not large enough to be reflected on the obtained D_a values.     

Implicit characteristic parameter of a programmed temperature retention index database

In a programmed temperature retention index (PTRI) database, there exists a characteristic parameter rt0/β that can be calculated if the experimental parameters are clearly given. This characteristic parameter can be used to flexibly reproduce the original PTRI data under chromatographic conditions different from those originally given. As this characteristic parameter is not explicitly given, it is suggested to name this parameter as the implicit characteristic parameter (TCP) of a PTRI database. The ICP in White's PTRI database was easily found and used satisfactorily to reproduce PTRI of some test compounds using either a Hewlett-Packard ultra-performance OV-1 column or a self-coated OV-1 column. The reproduction of PTRI could not be realized on columns of different materials. The fact that several PTRI databases measured on glass capillary columns could not satisfactorily be reproduced on fused silica column is explained.     

Estimation of Kováts retention indices using group contributions

We have constructed a group contribution method for estimating Kováts retention indices by using observed data from a set of diverse organic compounds. Our database contains observed retention indices for over 35,000 different molecules. These were measured on capillary or packed columns with polar and nonpolar (or slightly polar) stationary phases under isothermal or nonisothermal conditions. We neglected any dependence of index values on these factors by averaging observations. Using 84 groups, we determined two sets of increment values, one for nonpolar and the other for polar column data. For nonpolar column data, the median absolute prediction error was 46 (3.2%). For data on polar columns, the median absolute error was 65 (3.9%). While accuracy is insufficient for identification based solely on retention, it is suitable for the rejection of certain classes of false identifications made by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.     

Structural stability–chromatographic retention relationship on exenatide diastereomer separation

In this study, the relationship of the structural stability of peptide diastereomers in elution solvents and their retention behaviors in reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) was examined to provide guidance on the solvent selection for a better separation of peptide diastereomers. We investigated the chromatographic retention behaviors of exenatide, a peptide drug for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and its three diastereomers using RPC and implicit molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. Three diastereomers involved in the single serine residue mutation of d-form at the 11th, 32nd, and 39th residues were investigated in this study. Results show that the order of the solution structural stability of exenatide and its diastereomers is consistent with their retention order by 36?% acetonitrile/water elution. The sample loading solvent also affects the retention behaviors of exenatide peptide diastereomers in RPC column. Furthermore, a larger solution conformation energy difference of the critical pair of exenatide and its diastereomer (d-Ser39) at the elution solvent of 32?% tetrahydrofuran/water were obtained by MD simulation, and baseline separation was proved experimentally. In summary, we demonstrated that the solution structural stability–chromatographic retention relationship could be a powerful tool for elution solvent selection in peptide chromatographic purification, especially valuable for the separation of critical pair of diastereomers.

Assessment of β-lactams retention in hydrophilic interaction chromatography applying Box-Behnken design

In this paper, the retention prediction models for mixture of β-lactam antibiotics analyzed by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) are presented. The aim of the study was to investigate the retention behavior of some organic acids and amphoteric compounds including cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cefalexin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, and cefuroxime axetil) and penicillins (ampicillin and amoxicillin). Retention of substances with acidic functional group in HILIC is considered to be interesting since the majority of publications in literature are related to basic compounds. In the beginning of the study, classical silica columns were chosen for the retention analysis. Then, preliminary study was done and factors with the most significant influence on the retention factors were selected. These factors with the impact on the retention factors were investigated employing Box-Behnken design as a tool. On the basis of the obtained results the mathematical models were created and tested using ANOVA test and finally verified. This approach enables the presentation of chromatographic retention in many ways (three-dimensional (3-D) graphs and simple two-dimensional graphical presentations). All of these gave the possibility to predict the chromatographic retention under different conditions. Furthermore, regarding the structure of the analyzed compounds, the potential retention mechanisms in HILIC were suggested.     

Temperature dependence of the Kováts retention index. The entropy index

According to a novel equation, the temperature dependence of the Kováts retention index, dI/dT is proportional to the difference of the Kováts retention index, I, and the new entropy index, I(S), defined similarly as the retention index, but based on solvation entropy instead of the free energy of solvations. The new relationship was tested with the experimental retention and thermodynamic data published by Kováts and coworkers for 32 compounds on 6 different stationary phases. Very good correlations (r>0.99) were observed for dI/dT versus (I-I(S)) and dI/dT versus deltaDeltaC(p), the molar heat capacity difference of the solute and the hypothetical n-alkane, which has the same retention index as the solute. Deviations in the dI/dT versus deltaDeltaC(p) relationship were observed only for alcohols, suggesting a different solvation mechanism for alcohols as compared with other compounds.     

Applying flexible molecular docking to simulate protein retention behavior in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Interaction between proteins and stationary phase in hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) is differentiated into two thermodynamic processes involving direct nonbonding/conformation interac- tion and surface hydrophobic effect of proteins, hence quantitatively giving rise to a binary linear rela- tion between HIC retention time (RT) at concentrated salting liquid and ligand-protein binding free en- ergy. Then, possible binding manners for 27 proteins of known crystal structures with hydrophobic ligands are simulated and analyzed via ICM flexible molecular docking and genetic algorithm, with re- sults greatly consistent with experimental values. By investigation, it is confirmed local hydrophobic effects of proteins and nonbinding/conformation interaction between ligand and protein both notably influence HIC chromatogram retention behaviors, mainly focusing on exposed portions on the protein surface.     

Improving the accuracy of Kováts' retention indices in isothermal gas chromatography

Isothermal Kováts' retention indices are currently reported as whole numbers, and are frequently deduced from a linear least mean squares fitting of the logarithms of adjusted retention times of a number of n-alkanes versus carbon number, following an iterative method that minimises errors. The currently accepted accuracy is about one retention index unit for apolar stationary phases, and lower for polar stationary phases. This paper presents results that show how the accuracy of the retention index may be safely reported to one-tenth of a retention index unit by the use of a non-linear equation, with present day gas chromatographs without electronic flow controllers. Results are presented that prove the correctness of the retention indices found for several substances on one particular capillary column. Hints on the minimum retention times needed to achieve the 0.1 retention index accuracy are mentioned, for retention times recorded in minutes and in seconds. According to results of this paper, two chromatograms, run under the appropriate conditions, are sufficient to obtain the desired accuracy. The method proposed in this paper does not require knowledge of the hold-up time of the chromatogram.     

Temperature dependence of the Kováts retention index. Convex or concave curves

The non-linearity in the temperature dependence of the Kováts index, I (the formation of convex or concave curves) was characterized by the second derivative, d(2)I/dT(2). The expression deduced on a purely mathematical-physicochemical basis is d(2)I/dT(2)=[2TDeltaS(CH(2))dI/dT-100deltaDeltaC(p)]/TDeltaG(CH(2)). The solute-dependent factor for dI/dT, d(2)I/dT(2), and the extreme temperature in the I vs. T relationship is deltaDeltaC(p), which is the molar solvation heat capacity difference between the solute and a hypothetical n-alkane which elutes at the same time as the given solute, while the solvent-dependent factors are the solvation entropy and free energy of the methylene unit, DeltaS(CH(2)) and DeltaG(CH(2)). Experimentally, convex Ivs.T curves with a minimum are formed when deltaDeltaC(p)>0, while concave ones with a maximum are observed when deltaDeltaC(p)<0. In the event of a linear temperature dependence, the former equation can be simplified: dI/dT=100deltaDeltaC(p)/2TDeltaS(CH(2)). The deviation from linearity (higher d(2)I/dT(2)) increases with increasing deltaDeltaC(p) values. The model equations were tested from the dataset published by the Kováts group on C78 (19,24-dioctadecyldotetracontane), POH (18,23-dioctadecyl-1-untetracontenol), PCN (1-cyano-18,23-dioctadecyluntetracontane) and TMO (1,38-dimethoxy-17,22-bis-(16-methoxyhexadecyl)-octatriacontane) and by present measurements on the Innowax phase.     

Photostability and retention of UV absorber molecules in sol–gel hybrid UV-protective coatings

Highly efficient UV-protecting coatings were prepared, consisting on UV absorber molecules embedded in transparent sol–gel phenyl-functionalized silica thin-films. The photostability and retention of the molecules in the films depend strongly on parameters such as the composition of the hybrid host matrix, the UV-absorber loading in the matrix and the sol–gel preparation conditions. The amount of the modifying phenyl group was found to affect strongly the retention of the UV absorber molecules in the matrix. The retention of the molecules incorporated in the thin-films showed an increase of 21 times as the amount of the phenyl groups is reduced by a factor of 4. On the other hand, the incorporation of increasing amounts of Ph groups lead to a slight decrease of the photostability of the UV absorber molecules. The ability to control the parameters affecting the durability of the UV absorber molecules in the sol–gel matrices allows us increase the effectiveness of the UV-protective films and hence their potential usage in both, indoors and outdoors applications.     

Characteristics and retention properties of a mesoporous γ-Al2O3 membrane for nanofiltration

A mesoporous γ-Al₂O₃ membrane was produced by the sol gel dipping technique, followed by a thermal treatment (calcination and sintering). Different sintering temperatures were applied, which led to membranes with an average pore diameter ranging from 8.7 to 3.4 nm, the latter one corresponding to a MWCO of 900 Da.Salt retention was very much dependent on the pH of the solution as such membranes have an amphoteric character. Minimal salt retention was found at the isoelectric point (pH 7.5). Experiments were carried out with NaCl, MgCl₂ and LaCl₃ at different concentrations and in both single salt solutions and mixtures. The results are interpreted in terms of Donnan exclusion and in terms of the formation of an electrical double layer in the pores.Dynamic corrosion tests showed that some corrosion occurs at a pH of 2 or lower.     

Live retention database for identification of compounds in capillary gas chromatographic analysis --Principle and structure

A live retention database for compound identification in isothermal and any step temperature programmed capillary gas chromatography has been developed. The database utilizes the Kovats retention indices of compounds on a given stationary phase and the retention time of n-alkanes measured at isothermal conditions on the column to be used, together with the programming parameters. Identification is performed by search operation that compares the calculated results with the retention values of unknown peaks. Cross-reference of the search results of different operating conditions is performed automatically by the database in order to increase the reliability of the identification. The error of the database conversion is ≤± 0.5 index unit, or ≤± 1% on retention time. This paper describes the principle and the structure of the database in detail. The experimental results for different calsses of compounds tested at divers operating conditions will be presented in Part Ⅱ.     

Being uncertain in thin layer chromatography—Some thoughts about latent details in the retention estimation

This paper deals with some important (but often neglected) details about the uncertainty of retention measurement in thin layer chromatography, the propagation of uncertainty during computing simple and more complex values from the retention data, ending in influence of the retention uncertainty onto the regression estimates during extrapolation and lipophilicity estimation. Theoretical considerations are tested on data from previous study. It can be concluded that when TLC spots are broad and the retention uncertainty exceeds about 0.02 of R_F value, the uncertainty should be taken into the account in further computations.     

An accurate and easy procedure to obtain isothermal Kováts retention indices in gas chromatography

Isothermal Kováts retention indices may be used in GC for identification purposes, but they are also useful in characterisation of stationary phases and for studying structural and physico-chemical properties of both the analyte and the stationary phase. They are currently reported as whole numbers with an accuracy of one index unit for non-polar stationary phases. The method recommended for their calculation uses a linear regression model, although non-linear models have also been applied with good results. In both cases, a computer programme and the retention times of a series of n-alkanes that elute correctly and resolved from the other compounds are needed, conditions which cannot always be fulfilled. However, it is possible to calculate retention indices with an accuracy of 0.1 retention index units (0.2 units for packed columns) with the help of only three n-alkanes using just a pocket calculator or a computer spreadsheet. The main requirement is that at least one of the n-alkanes has a retention index differing by no more than one hundred retention index units from that of the analyte being investigated. Examples are given for different stationary phases.     

Projection of multidimensional GC data into alternative dimensions—exploiting sample dimensionality and structured retention patterns

Comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) is a powerful separation technique. One of the features of this technique is that it offers separations with more apparent structure than that offered by conventional one-dimensional GC (1-D GC). While some previous studies have alluded to this structure, and used structured retention patterns for some simple classifications, the topic of structured retention in GC×GC has not been studied in any great detail. Using the separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) on both nonpolar/polar and polar/nonpolar column sets, the interaction between the separation dimensions and the sample dimensions is explored here. The GC×GC separation of a series of compounds is presented as a projection of the sample from sample space, a p-dimensional space with dimensions defined by the dimensionality of the sample, into separation space: for GC×GC, a two-dimensional plane passing through the sample space in an orientation defined by the separation conditions. Using this conceptual model and some a priori knowledge of the sample, it is shown how the image of the sample in the separation space can be used to construct an image of the sample in alternate dimensions, such as second dimension retention factor (²k) vs. chain length in the case of FAME. These projections into alternate dimensions should facilitate the interpretation of the complex patterns found within the GC×GC chromatogram for the identification and classification of compounds.