Analytical process control of the Celeste R&D installation of IPEN-CNEN/SP

Celeste-1 is a lab-scale hot cell intended for R&D work in reprocessing of low burn-up spent fuel elements. The studies are concerned with head-end, first separation cycle by Purex Process using mini mixer-settlers and development of analytical techniques. The analytical monitoring for process control purposes is based on several off-line techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, potentiometric titration, -and -spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, density measurement and gas chromatography. The analytical treatment takes place in a shielded working place analytical hot cell, glove boxes and hoods and some final measurements are made in the associated analytical laboratory. A pneumatic system is used for transporting analytical samples. All analytical procedures are ready and in operation.     

Non-linear curve fitting using Microsoft Excel solver

Solver, an analysis tool incorporated into Microsoft Excel V 5.0 for Windows, has been evaluated for solving non-linear equations. Test and experimental data sets have been processed, and the results suggest that solver can be successfully used for modelling data obtained in many analytical situations (e.g. chromatography and FIA peaks, fluorescence decays and ISE response characteristics). The relatively simple user interface, and the fact that Excel is commonly bundled free with new PCs makes it an ideal tool for those wishing to experiment with solving non-linear equations without having to purchase and learn a completely new package. The dynamic display of the iterative search process enables the user to monitor location of the optimum solution by the search algorithm. This, together with the almost universal availability of Excel, makes solver an ideal vehicle for teaching the principles of iterative non-linear curve fitting techniques. In addition, complete control of the modelling process lies with the user, who must present the raw data and enter the equation of the model, in contrast to many commercial packages bundled with instruments which perform these operations with a 'black-box' approach.     

Mathematical functions for the representation of chromatographic peaks.

About ninety empirical functions for the representation of chromatographic peaks have been collected and tabulated. The table, based on almost 200 references, reports for every function: (1) the most used name; (2) the most convenient equation, with the existence intervals for the adjustable parameters and for the independent variable; (3) the applications; (4) the mathematical properties, in relation to the possible applications. The list includes also equations originally proposed to represent peaks obtained in other analytical techniques (e.g. in spectroscopy), which in many instances have proved useful in representing chromatographic peaks as well; the built-in functions employed in some commercial peak-fitting software packages were included, too. Some of the most important chromatographic functions, i.e. the Exponentially Modified Gaussian, the Poisson, the Log-normal, the Edgeworth/Cramér series and the Gram/Charlier series, have been reviewed and commented in more detail.     

Ti/TiO2 indicator electrodes formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation for potentiometric analysis

Ti/TiO₂ indicator electrodes were prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method in the tetraborate electrolyte and were used for potentiometric indication of chemical reactions of different types and for analysis of surface and industrial wastewaters on the example of potentiometric determination of alkalinity and chloride. The electrodes formed at current densities of 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 A/cm² are different in composition, surface morphology and electroanalytical properties. The electrodes formed at a current density of 0.05 A/cm² exhibit the highest pH-sensitivity and generate the highest analytical signal at the equivalence point in the acid–base and precipitation titrations. The maximum analytical signal at the equivalence point, exceeding in magnitude the analytical signal, obtained by classical Pt electrode in oxidation–reduction and complexometric titrations generates PEO layers formed at a current density of 0.05 A/cm² and a platinum-modified nanoparticles. The results of the potentiometric titration of the surface and technogenic waters using as indicator Ti/TiO₂ electrodes are comparable with the conventionally used glass electrode (to determine alkalinity) and Ag electrode (to the determine chloride) and the results of visual titration. The advantage of the obtained metal oxide systems is the ability to determine two hydrochemical parameters due to their multifunctionality and opportunity to work with a single electrode. In addition, these sensors offer some analytical characteristics such as sensitivity, good reproducibility, high mechanical stability and a simple preparation procedure.     

A versatile computerized system for the development and comparison of electroanalytical procedures

The computerized system reported is suitable for potentiometric and voltammetric techniques. All instrumental settings are fully automated and new analytical schemes can be implemented simply by software modifications. A dedicated 4K, 16-bit microcomputer allows rapid real-time data acquisition and processing. By application of a data acquisition scheme simulating a multichannel analyser, stripping potentiograms and chronopotentiograms can be conveniently represented in digital form as time vs. potential relationships. Procedures developed on the system can be transferred to microprocessorcontrolled equipment as the software for complete analytical procedures, including device handlers, data storage buffers and graphic output, occupies 3–4K words. Flexibility in program editing and assembling is obtained with an optional data link to a medium-sized, time-shared computer with extensive software packages. The link described is of simple construction and can be readily established between computers with standard teletype terminals. The performance of the system is illustrated by comparing the selectivities of two established voltammetric stripping techniques with the selectivity of a new potentiometric technique developed on the system.     

Comparative spectral analysis of veterinary powder product by continuous wavelet and derivative transforms

Comparative simultaneous determination of chlortetracycline and benzocaine in the commercial veterinary powder product was carried out by continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and classical derivative transform (or classical derivative spectrophotometry). In this quantitative spectral analysis, two proposed analytical methods do not require any chemical separation process. In the first step, several wavelet families were tested to find an optimal CWT for the overlapping signal processing of the analyzed compounds. Subsequently, we observed that the coiflets (COIF-CWT) method with dilation parameter, a=400, gives suitable results for this analytical application. For a comparison, the classical derivative spectrophotometry (CDS) approach was also applied to the simultaneous quantitative resolution of the same analytical problem. Calibration functions were obtained by measuring the transform amplitudes corresponding to zero-crossing points for both CWT and CDS methods. The utility of these two analytical approaches were verified by analyzing various synthetic mixtures consisting of chlortetracycline and benzocaine and they were applied to the real samples consisting of veterinary powder formulation. The experimental results obtained from the COIF-CWT approach were statistically compared with those obtained by classical derivative spectrophotometry and successful results were reported.     

Theory of titration curves-VII The properties of derivative titration curves for strong acid-strong base and other isovalent ion-combination titrations

This paper deals with isovalent ion-combination titrations based on reactions that can be represented by the equation M(n+) + X(n-) --> MX, where the activity of the product MX is invariant throughout a titration, and with the derivative titration curves obtained by plotting d[M(+)]/dfversus f for such titrations. It describes some of the ways in which such curves can be obtained; it compares and contrasts them both with potentiometric titration curves, which resemble them in shape, and with segmented titration curves, from which they are derived; and it discusses their properties in detail.     

氰化物分析研究进展

介绍氰化物常用的场外分析和现场检测方法,对实验室(场外)常用分析方法如化学滴定法、分光光度法、色谱法、波谱法等以及现场快速检测方法如目视比色法、分光光度计法等进行了综述,并结合实际需求,总结了不同方法的特点,展望了氰化物检测方法的未来发展趋势。     

Simulation of Asymmetric Peak-Shaped Analytical Signals by the Frame Representation of Their Shape Using Stripping Voltammetry as an Example

To simulate peak-shaped analytical signals, the shape characteristics and geometrical properties of four asymmetric basic functions (the derivative of the logistic function, the Gaussian function, the Cauchy function modified by Fraser and Suzuki, and the Poisson function with the Stromberg correction) are systematically studied. The frame representation, which was proposed earlier by the two authors of this paper, is used to characterize the peak shape. Some regularities are found in peak properties expressed in terms of the frame parameters and considered as functions of the coefficient of skewness b. Peak shapes are compared using two approaches to obtaining dimensionless frame parameters: one using relative parameters and another using parameters of the unit frame. It is shown that the frame representation of the peak shape can be used in the phenomenological simulation of metal peaks in stripping voltammetry. The practical use of information on the shape of the analytical signal in the solution of various problems of analytical chemistry is discussed.     

Automatic Stepwise Potentiometric Titration in a Monosegmented Flow System

 An automatic stepwise potentiometric titration carried out in a monosegmented flow system is proposed. A tubular hydrogen ion-selective electrode without inner reference solution was employed as sensor. The titration procedure was implemented by exploiting continuous variations in volumetric fractions achieved by inserting different sample and titrant aliquots into the analytical path and maintaining the sample zone volume. Every sample plug was separated from the carrier solution by air bubbles to minimize dispersion and to distinguish each sample plug signal. The flow set-up comprised a set of computer-controlled three-way solenoid valves, and the software was written in Quick BASIC 4.5 allowing end-point determination while the titration was in progress. The feasibility of the system was ascertained by analyzing soft drinks, isotonic beverages, alcohol free beers and industrial fruit juices. Results were in agreement with those obtained by a conventional titration, and no significant difference at 95% confidence level was observed. Other profitable features such as a 1% standard deviation (n = 10), and an analytical throughput of 22 samples per hour were also achieved. Received January 24, 2000. Revision June 16, 2000.     

Recent development in derivative ultraviolet/visible absorption spectrophotometry: 2004-2008: A review

Several techniques have been proposed for treatment of spectrophotometric data, with the objective of extracting a largest amount of analytical information from spectra composed of unresolved bands. Undoubtedly, a major success was achieved by derivative treatment of the absorbance curves-plotting of the first or a higher order mathematical derivative of absorbance against wavelength (dA/dλ). Derivative spectrophotometry has been applied to many chemical systems, such as pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, and environmental samples.The instrumental development and analytical applications of derivative UV-vis regions absorption spectrophotometry produced in the last 5 years (since 2004) are reviewed.     

Solution Equilibria. A Unified Mathematical Treatment of Experimental Polarographic and Potentiometric Data from Acid?Base and Ligand Titrations. A Polarographic and Ion Selective Electrode Study of CdII?(N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid)?OH System

It has been demonstrated that potentiometric and polarographic data coming from either acid? base or ligand titrations can be evaluated by the same set of equations and mathematical procedures involving mass‐balance equations written for any metal? ligand model, including polynuclear species. It is shown that the concept of the complex formation curves, used previously in modeling and refinement of stability constants in acid‐base titration, is of general nature and can be successfully used in polarographic and potentiometric experiments conducted as a function of pH or an excess of a ligand. It appears that the linear relationship ΔE vs. log [M], typical for potentiometric studies with ISE, holds also in the case of the study of kinetically mixed metal‐ligand system studied by polarography when the corrected shift in the polarographic signal is used. The relationship ΔE vs. log [M] applies equally to the acid‐base and ligand titration for both experimental techniques employed (potentiometry and polarography). The significance of the corrected shift is discussed and its meaning in the study of kinetically fast or slow metal? ligand systems is elaborated. Advantages of the acid‐base titration over the ligand titration are discussed. The generalized mathematical data treatment was successfully employed in the study of the Cd^II? (N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid) system. Results obtained from both analytical techniques (potentiometry with the use of an ion selective electrode, and two polarographic techniques) and analytical procedures (acid? base and ligand titrations) compare well with each other and with the literature data (the formation and stability constants of ML and ML₂). In addition, a new complex M(HL) was identified and its stability constant is reported.     

基于小波理论的化学谱图数据自适应滤波方法研究

运用小波理论,利用噪声与真实信号小波变换极大模性态之间的显著差异,提出了一类新的化学谱图数据自适应滤波算法,从根本上突破了现有算法均依据信噪频率特性进行滤波的传统模式.经大量色谱谱图数据处理试验证明,这种算法具有无需设置初始参数,消除人为误差因素对分析计算结果的影响,信噪分离性能好及峰位和峰高保持不变等一系列优点,其鲁棒性、自适应性和谱峰保真度完全符合仪器分析信号处理的要求.     

Application of internal standard for derivative-spectrophotometric determination of azinphos-methyl in commercial formulations

The use of an internal standard is proposed in this work for first derivative spectrophotometric determination of azinphos in formulations. Generally, the spectrophotometric procedure is simpler and less expensive than chromatographic techniques recommended for the analysis of pesticides. However, while determining the pesticide in commercial formulations the, many-fold dilution required for such sensitive detection is a serious source of analytical error. It is known that an internal standard (IS), if properly chosen, can help eliminate this type of problem. A mixture of acetophenone (used as an IS in the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure) and the blue dye Erioglaucine (A) was applied for the determination of azinphos-methyl in commercial formulations. To ensure the best conditions for the zero-crossing technique, the composition of the mixture was optimized to obtain the zero value of the first derivative absorbance of the IS at a minimum of the azinphos-methyl first derivative absorbance. Also, at the maximum of the first derivative spectrum of the IS, the differential absorption signal of the analyte was negligible. Analytical characteristics for the first derivative spectrophotometric procedure proposed were evaluated (r(2) = 0.9998, detection limit = 0.043 mg, quantification limit = 0.143 mg) and the analytical results obtained (35.02 +/- 0.20% of azinphos-methyl in the formulation) were in good agreement with the results obtained using the official HPLC method (35.44 +/- 0.32%).     

盐酸美西律的两点滴定法和沉淀电位滴定法测定

利用过滤和不过滤两种方式配制盐酸美西律试液,分别采用两点滴定法和沉淀电位滴定法测定了盐酸美西律片的含量.结果表明,基于两种测定方法的测定结果均处于《药典》规定的范围之内;与《药典》规定的紫外分光光度法测定结果相比,相对偏差均小于2%.而采用过滤方法配制试液的测定结果与采用不过滤方法配制试液的测定结果之间的偏差约为1%.     

Analytical determination of nimesulide and ofloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations using square-wave voltammetry

The electrochemical behaviour and analytical detection procedure for nimesulide (NIM) and ofloxacin (OFX) and their assay in commercial formulations were evaluated using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) combined with a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). All experimental and voltammetric conditions were previously optimized to obtain the best analytical signal in terms of intensities and profile of the reduction peaks. For NIM, the peak currents were related to the one-electron reduction of a nitro group to a stable radical anion, which is followed by a one-electron transfer and a protonation step with a consequent formation of a nitrosoanion. The voltammetric results indicated that the mechanism of OFX involved the transfer of two electrons and two protons in a totally irreversible reduction related to the conversion of a ketone group to an alcohol group. Analytical parameters such as linearity range, equations of the analytical curves, correlation coefficients, detection and quantification limits, recovery efficiency, and relative standard deviation for repeatability and reproducibility experiments were compared to similar results obtained by the use of UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and the results showed that the voltammetric procedure using HMDE is suitable to determine pharmaceutical compounds in complex samples. The applicability of the proposed procedure was tested on pharmaceutical formulations of NIM and OFX by observing the stability, specificity, recovery and precision of the procedure in tablets, oral solution and ophthalmic solution.     

Four points function fitted and first derivative procedure for determining the end points in potentiometric titration curves: statistical analysis and method comparison.

A new method that belongs to the differential category for determining the end points from potentiometric titration curves is presented. It uses a preprocess to find first derivative values by fitting four data points in and around the region of inflection to a non-linear function, and then locate the end point, usually as a maximum or minimum, using an inverse parabolic interpolation procedure that has an analytical solution. The behavior and accuracy of the sigmoid and cumulative non-linear functions used are investigated against three factors. A statistical evaluation of the new method using linear least-squares method validation and multifactor data analysis are covered. The new method is generally applied to symmetrical and unsymmetrical potentiometric titration curves, and the end point is calculated using numerical procedures only. It outperforms the "parent" regular differential method in almost all factors levels and gives accurate results comparable to the true or estimated true end points. Calculated end points from selected experimental titration curves compatible with the equivalence point category of methods, such as Gran or Fortuin, are also compared with the new method.     

微量元素锰的分析方法研究进展

就国内近年来对食品,环境样品和生物样品中微量元素锰的分析方法研究进展作一综述。包括分光光度法,荧光分析法,原子吸收分光光度法,电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法,催化光度法,极谱法,高效液相色谱法,化学发光法和滴定法。     

trans-Methylpyridine cyclen versus cross-bridged trans-methylpyridine cyclen. Synthesis, acid-base and metal complexation studies (metal = Co2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+)

The synthesis of the cross-bridged cyclen CRpy(2) {4,10-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazabicyclo[5.5.2]tetradecane}, a constrained analogue of the previously described trans-methylpyridine cyclen Cpy(2) is reported. The additional ethylene bridge confers to CRpy(2) proton-sponge type behaviour which was explored by NMR and potentiometric studies. Transition metal complexes have been synthesized (by complexation of both ligands with Co(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+)) and characterized in solution and in the solid state. The single crystal X-ray structures of [CoCpy(2)](2+), [CuCpy(2)](2+) and [ZnCpy(2)](2+) complexes were determined. Stability constants of the complexes, including those of the cross-bridged derivative, were determined using potentiometric titration data and the kinetic inertness of the [CuCRpy(2)](2+) complex in an acidic medium (half-life values) was evaluated by spectrophotometry. The pre-organized structure of the cross-bridged ligand imposes an additional strain for the complexation leading to complexes with smaller thermodynamic stability in comparison with the related non-bridged ligand. The electrochemical study involving cyclic voltammetry underlines the importance of the ethylene cross-bridge on the redox properties of the transition metal complexes.