Determination of Heavy Metal Ions in Chinese Herbal Medicine by Microwave Digestion and RP-HPLC with UV-Vis Detection

A new method for the simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions in Chinese herbal medicine by microwave digestion and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been developed. The Chinese herbal medicine samples were digested by microwave digestion. Lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and tin ions in the digested samples were pre-column derivatized with tetra-(4-chlorophenyl)-porphyrin (T₄-CPP) to form the colored chelates which were then enriched by solid phase extraction with C₁₈ cartridge and eluted from the cartridge with tetrahydrofuran (THF). The chelates were separated on a Waters Xterra RP₁₈ column by gradient elution with methanol (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) and THF (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5mLmin^–1 and detected with a photodiode array detector in the range of 350–600nm. In the original samples the detection limits of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin are 4ngL^–1, 3ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, 5ngL^–1, 2ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, and 4ngL^–1, respectively. This method was applied to the determination of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin in Chinese herbal medicine samples with good results.     

The inclusion complex of piromidic acid with dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution and in the solid state

Inclusion complex formation of piromidic acid (PA) with dimethyl--cyclodextrin (DM--CD) in aqueous solution and in the solid state was confirmed by the solubility method, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. The apparent stability constant,K _c , of the complex was estimated to be 244 M^–1. The stoichiometry of the complex was given as the ratio 1:2 of PA to DM--CD. The dissolution rate of the PA/DM--CD complex was much greater than that of intact PA.Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Inclusion Phenomena and the Third International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Lancaster, U.K., 20–25 July 1986.     

Determination of Arsenic in Food Samples by Hydride Generation – Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A method for the determination of trace amounts of arsenic in food samples using flow injection analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation (FI-HG AAS) was developed. The parameters of the flow injection system and the hydride generation were optimized with respect to reagent concentrations, atomization temperature, injection volume, reaction coil length and carrier flow rate. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.34µgL^–1 and 1.2µgL^–:1, respectively, and the analytical curve is linear up to 30.0µgL^–1 arsenic. The relative standard deviation for 12 replicates varies between 5% for 4.0µgL^–1 As and 1.8% for 30.0µgL^–1 As, with an injection frequency of up to 135h^–1. Interferences from Ni(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Mo(II), Bi(III), Se(IV), Se(VI), Sb(III) and Sb(V) could be masked with a mixture of ascorbic acid-KI in a 5.0molL^–1 HCl solution. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by using certified reference materials of biological samples, and the method was used to determine the content of arsenic in fish and coffee beans.     

Fluorescence Quenching Studies of Curcumin by Hydrogen Peroxide in Acetonitrile Solution

Summary. Steady state quenching studies of curcumin, 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, fluorescence by hydrogen peroxide were conducted in acetonitrile solution. A quenching rate constant, k_q, of 1.05×10¹⁰M^–1·s^–1 was obtained with a short fluorescence lifetime of 347ps. The reaction rate constant, which is within the diffusion-limited regime, is activation-controlled. The rate constant of deactivation of the thermally excited curcumin was 1.2 orders of magnitude more nonradiative (2.67×10⁹s^–1) than radiative (2.16×10⁸s^–1). The reaction was exothermic with a G° of –1.97eV and solvent reorganization energy of 1.37eV. These values indicate that the electron transfer reaction is solvent-mediated with electron transfer rate constant, k_ET, of 2.16×10¹⁰s^–1.     

Energy Transfer Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for the Determination of Sulfite

A simple and novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) method for the determination of sulfite has been developed based on the energy transfer ECL process. It was found that a weak ECL signal of sulfite was electrochemically generated on a platinum electrode in neutral aqueous solution. The signal was strongly enhanced by rhodamine B as an energy receptor and further enhanced by the neutral surfactant Tween 80. In 0.10M phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.5) containing 2.0×10^–6gmL^–1 rhodamine B and 0.4% (v/v) Tween 80, the ECL response to the concentration of sulfite at a potential of 0.82V was linear over a range of 1.0×10^–7gmL^–1 to 8.0×10^–6gmL^–1, and the detection limit was 5×10^–8gmL^–1. The relative standard deviation (n=11, 1.0×10^–6gmL^–1) was 3.8%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of sulfite in pharmaceutical injections and white sugar samples.     

Determination of Attogram Quantities of Silver via Quenching of the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Rhodamine B Based on the Catalysis of its Oxidation by Potassium Persulfate

A new method of SS-RTP for the determination of trace silver has been established. This method is based on the fact that Ag⁺, when activated by ,-bipyridyl (bipy) in a media of HAc–NaAc (pH=4.9), can catalyze the reaction of Rhodamine B (RhoB) oxidized by K₂S₂O₈, thus causing the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence (SS-RTP) of RhoB to be quenched. The activating efficiency of bipy is 6.7 times higher than that of o-phenanthroline (phen). The reduction of the phosphorescence intensity (I_p) of RhoB is directly proportional to the concentration of Ag⁺ ions in the range of 1.6016.0agspot^–1 (0.40µLspot^–1). The regression equation of the working curve can be expressed as I_p=18.78+5.100m_Ag+ (agspot^–1) (r=0.9994, n=6), the detection limit is 0.28agspot^–1. This rapid, accurate and sensitive method has been successfully applied to the determination of trace silver in tea and human hair samples, and the results agree well with the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The mechanism of the catalyzing reaction is also discussed.     

Differential thermal analysis of poly(vinylidene chloride) crystals

The melting behavior of poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) was studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). Crystals were grown isothermally from 0.1% and 0.02% dilute solutions of the polymer in 1.2-dibromoethane and monobromobenzene. Both solid and oil samples were used for the DTA experiments. Solid samples are defined as dried down crystals and oil samples are crystals which have been suspension exchanged in silicone oil without letting them dry out. Thermal curves of solid samples are similar to those obtained previously with as-polymerized crystals, that is they show two endotherms. The lower temperature peak corresponds to the melting of lamellae as formed. The upper peak at around 200°C, may be due to the melting of crystals which have reorganized during heating. Thermal curves of oil samples show two extra small peaks in addition to those of the solid samples. From the results of annealing and degradation experiments, these two peaks may correspond to a small portion of the crystals which have been partially degraded to form double bonds and thus possess lower melting points. An alternative explanation is that there is an as yet unreported second crystal form of PVDC.

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Zusammenfassung Das Schmelzverhalten von Poly/vinylidenchlorid (PVDC) wurde unter Einsatz der Differentialthermoanalyse (DTA) untersucht. Die Kristalle wurden unter isothermen Bedingungen aus 0.1 % und 0.02% verdünnten Lösungen des Polymeren in 1.2-Dibromäthan und Monobrombenzol gezüchtet. Sowohl »feste« als auch »ölige« Proben wurden für die DTA-Versuche eingesetzt. Als »feste« Proben wurden getrocknete Kristalle definiert und »ölige« als solche, bei welchen die Suspension im Siliconöl verblieb, ohne sie austrocknen zu lassen. Die thermische Kurven der »festen« Proben sind den bereits früher mit polymerisierten Kristallen erhaltenen ähnlich, d. h. sie zeigen zwei Endotherme. Der Peak bei der niedrigeren Temperatur entspricht den Schmelzen der gebildeten Lamellen. Der obere Peak bei etwa 200° kann dem Schmelzen von während der Aufheizung reorganisierten Kristallen zugeschrieben werden. Die thermische Kurven der »öligen« Proben zeigen zwei zusätzliche kleine Peaks außer denen an »festen« Proben. Aus den Ergebnissen der Temper- und Zersetzungsversuche dürften diese beiden Peaks einen kleinen Anteil der teilweise unter Bildung von Doppelbindungen zersetzten Kristalle entsprechen, welche auf diese Weise niedrigere Schemlzpunkte haben. Eine alternative Erklärung ist, daß es eine bisher nicht beschriebene zweite Kristallform von PVDC gibt.

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() . ( 0.1% 0.02%) 1.2- . «» « » . « » , — , , . - «» . . 200° , . « » , , . , , , . . , .

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The authors wish to thank the NSF Materials Division for support of this work under grants DMR 72-03292 A01 and A02.     

Electrochemical Determination of Ascorbic Acid at γ-MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Modified Carbon Black Microelectrodes

A carbon black microelectrode modified by -MnO₂ has been prepared. The electrocatalytical oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at this microelectrode was investigated. The 2nd-order linear scan voltammograms of AA are recorded from –0.5 to 0.5V (vs. SCE). The relationship between the oxidation peak current of AA and its concentration in the range of 1.0×10^–64.0×10^–3molL^–1 is linear. The detection limit (3) was found to be 6.0×10^–7molL^–1. Also, the determination of AA in samples is evaluated, and the results are satisfactory.     

Determination of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in soils by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) then gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC–MS, SIM) has been developed for determination of trace amounts of the fungicides pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in soil and humic materials. Both fungicides were extracted on to a fused-silica fibre coated with 85 m polyacrylate (PA). Response-surface methodology was used to optimise the experimental conditions. For soil samples the linear dynamic range of application was 0.004–1.000 g g^–1 for pyrimethanil and 0.013–1.000 g g^–1 for kresoxim-methyl. The detection limits were 0.001 g g^–1 and 0.004 g g^–1 for pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl, respectively. HP-SPME–GC–MS analysis was highly reproducible—relative standard deviations (RSD) were between 6.7 and 12.2%. The method was validated by analysis of spiked matrix samples and used to investigate the presence of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl above the detection limits in soil and humic materials.     

The problem of the utilizability of the starting temperature of thermal decomposition for the evaluation of the thermal stabilities of co-ordination compounds

The reasons why the starting temperature of thermal decomposition cannot be utilized for the estimation of the thermal stabilities of co-ordination compounds are discussed. To establish the sequences of kinetic or thermodynamic stabilities of co-ordination compounds in thermal dissociation processes, it is indispensable to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the processes.

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Zusammenfassung Der Grund, weshalb die Ausgangstemperatur der Thermolyse nicht zur Schätzung der Thermostabilität von Koordinationsverbindungen eingesetzt werden kann, wird erörtert. Um die Reihenfolge der kinetischen oder thermodynamischen Stabilität von Koordinationsverbindungen in thermischen Dissoziationsvorgängen zu ermitteln ist es unumgänglich die kinetischen und thermodynamischen Parameter der Vorgänge zu errechnen.

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Résumé On discute les raisons pour lesquelles on ne peut pas se servir de la température du début de la décomposition thermique pour estimer la stabilité thermique des composés de coordination. Pour établir l'ordre de succession des stabilités des composés de coordination dans les processus de dissociation thermique, il est indispensable de calculer les paramètres cinétiques et thermodynamiques des phénomènes.

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Preparation and Application of a Novel Core-Shell Organic Nanoparticle as a Fluorescence Probe in the Determination of Nucleic Acids

A novel type of core-shell organic nanoparticles (pyrene/poly-acrylic acid; PAA) has been prepared by precipitation polymerization under ultrasonic irradiation. It was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence lifetime. The lifetime is about 5µs, which is much longer than conventional organic dyes fluorescence lifetime. As the surface of the core-shell organic nanoparticles is covered with abundant carboxylic groups, the nanoparticles are water-soluble, stable and biocompatible. At pH 6.4, maximum fluorescence is produced, with the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 338nm and 397nm, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the calibration graphs are linear over the range of 4.0×10^–51.0×10^–2mgmL^–1 for calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and 2.0×10^–41.0×10^–2mgmL^–1 for fish sperm DNA (fs-DNA). The detection limits were 3.6×10^–5mgmL^–1 and 1.4×10^–4mgmL^–1 for ct-DNA and fs-DNA, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of ct-DNA and fs-DNA in synthetic samples and the results were satisfactory. The method is sensitive, stable, rapid and tolerant towards most interfering substances.     

Phosphorus modification of supported Pt catalysts for carbon monoxide hydrogenation

Modifying effect of phosphorus on the catalytic activity of supported Pt and Pt–Fe catalysts for CO hydrogenation has been studied. Phosphorus-containing compounds decrease significantly the methane yield with increasing yield of C₂–C₇ hydrocarbons.

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CO Pt- Pt–Fe-. , C₂–C₇.

     

Conversion of cyclohexene on a gold-plated palladium-nickel membrane catalyst

Under flow conditions, on the gold-covered external surface of a tube made of Pd containing 5.9% Ni cyclohexene is dehydrogenated into benzene and the hydrogen formed does not desorb but is consumed in cyclohexene hydrogenation to cyclohexane and diffuses through the membrane catalyst. In the presence of added hydrogen, cyclohexene hydrogenation takes place below 200°C. Upon the introduction of hydrogen through the membrane catalyst the hydrogenation rate strongly increases relative to the case when hydrogen is fed in mixture with cyclohexene vapors.

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- , Pd–Ni (5,9%), , . 200 °C, , .

     

Kinetics of isotopic exchange due to one elementary reaction

Kinetic equations of the isotopic exchange in a system with one elementary reaction have been derived. A principle of quasistationarity in the isotopic kinetics has been formulated.

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Micro-Determination of Protein Containing SH– and –S–S– Groups Based on the Polarographic wave of an Electroactive Derivative

This paper presents a new simple and sensitive method for the micro-determination of protein containing SH– and –S–S– groups based on the single sweep polarographic wave of an electroactive derivative. In 0.04molL^–1 Na₃PO₄ and 0.2% ascorbic acid solution, protein is heated in a boiling water bath for 15min, the reaction product giving a sensitive reduction wave at –0.70V (vs. SCE). The wave height is linearly proportional to the concentration of protein. The calibration curves of bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), ovalbumin (OVA) and lysozyme (Lyso) are constructed under the optimal conditions. For BSA and HSA, the linear ranges and detection limits are 0.05–24mgL^–1 and 0.02mgL^–1, respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of protein in human serum samples with satisfactory results. The mechanism of the polarographic wave was also studied, and the results show that S^2– ion is released from the protein molecule during the derivatization reaction, the wave being attributed to the reduction of HgS.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Epinephrine at a Penicillamine Self-Assembled Gold Electrode,and its Analytical Application

The fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of a penicillamine (PCA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were investigated. The self-assembled electrode shows obvious electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). In phosphate buffer (pH 7.73), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.190V with the PCA modified Au electrode. The peak current is proportional to the concentration of EP in the range of 2.0×10^–56.0×10^–4molL^–1 and 5.0×10^–6 2.0×10^–4molL^–1 for cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the detection limits of 1.8×10^–7 and 1.3×10^–7molL^–1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed. The PCA self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode is highly stable and can be applied to the determination of EP in practical injection samples. Application is simple, rapid and produces accurate results.     

Voltammetric Behavior of Dopamine at ct-DNA Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrode

A sub-micrometer thin-layer DNA modified carbon fiber microcylinder electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of ct-DNA at 1.5V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The voltammetric behavior of dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine) was investigated at the modified electrode. It was found that the modified electrode exhibits a highly electrocatalytic activity toward dopamine oxidation. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for determination of dopamine in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution. A linear response of the peak current versus the concentration was found in the range of 4×10^–6 to 10^–4molL^–1 at 10^–4molL^–1 AA (ascorbic acid) coexistence (R=0.9959) and the range of 6×10^–5 to 10^–3molL^–1 at 10^–3molL^–1 AA (R=0.9960). The presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid did not interfere with the determination. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility. This method can be applied to the detection of DA in real samples.     

Cohesion of crystals and the temperature coefficient of their equilibrium surface pressure

Summary Surface tension _e of mercury in equilibrium with crystals (floating on its surface) of octacosane, 1-hexadecanol, 1-octadecanol, ethyl palmitate, benzophenone and azoxybenzene at 7° is almost equal to that at 23° (measured earlier); also the difference between the surface tension ( ₀) of uncontaminated mercury and _e (i. e., equilibrium surface pressure) is independent of temperature within the limits of the experimental error. This shows that the hypothesis making ₀- _e an analog of the vapor pressure of the solid is incorrect. The relation _e= (=cohesion of the crystal,=thickness of the surface layer of mercury) is in agreement with the negligible temperature coefficient of _e . The calculated is approximately 9 angstroems.

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Zusammenfassung Die Oberflächenspannung _e von Quecksilber im Gleichgewicht mit Kristallen (schwimmend auf der Oberfläche) von Octosane, 1-hexadecanol, 1-octodecanol, Äthylpalmitat, Benzophenon und Azoxylbenzol bei 7 °C ist nahezu gleich der bei23 °C gemessenen. Auch die Differenz der Oberflächenspannung von reinstem Quecksilber ( ₀) und ( _e), d. h. dem Gleichgewichtsobderflächendruck ist unabhängig von der Temperatur innerhalb der experimentellen Fehlergrenze. Dies zeigt, daß die Hypothese, nach der man ₀- _e in Analogie zum Dampfdruck des Festen betrachtet, unkorrekt ist. Die Beziehung _e= (=Kohäsion des Kristalls,=Dicke des Oberflächenfilms auf Quecksilber) ist in Übereinstimmung mit dem vernachlässigbaren Temperaturkoefifzienten von _e. Das berechnete beträgt ungefähr 9 Å.

     

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Assay for Cysteine Using the Chemiluminescence Reaction of Luminol and Hydrogen Peroxide

A very simple, highly sensitive and selective chemiluminescence (CL) method was established for the determination of cysteine. This method is based on the fact that the CL reaction of luminol and hydrogen peroxide can be greatly enhanced by cysteine. The CL intensities at maximum light emission were linearly correlated with the concentration of cysteine over the range of 2.0×10^–8–6.0×10^–6molL^–1 with a detection limit of 7.5×10^–9molL^–1. The relative standard deviation was 1.7% for the determination of 1.0×10^–7molL^–1 cysteine (n=9). The feasibility of utilizing the proposed method for the determination of total concentration of cysteine in human serum was examined.     

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Gold and Palladium Using Microcolumn On-line Preconcentration and Separation

A microcolumn on-line preconcentration and separation system was developed for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) determination of trace levels of gold and palladium. The analytes were selectively adsorbed onto the microcolumn packed with 2-mercaptothiazole immobilized silica gel (MBTSG) in an acidity range of 0.1 to 6.0M HCl at a sampling flow rate of 4.0mLmin^–1. The analytes adsorbed could be desorbed by a thiourea solution with a flow rate of 2.0mLmin^–1. Most of the common coexisting metal ions at a concentration of 25.0mgmL^–1 and anions at a concentration of 50.0mgmL^–1 did not interfere with the preconcentration and determination of Au and Pd. The limits of detection (LOD), defined as three times the standard deviation of the blank (3), of Au and Pd are 10ngmL^–1 and 26ngmL^–1, respectively, with a preconcentration time of 60s. The relative standard deviation (RSD) is about 2.0% for 0.20µgmL^–1 Au and 0.30µgmL^–1 Pd. With a sample loading time of 30min, 6.7ngmL^–1 Au and 10ngmL^–1 Pd can be preconcentrated quantitatively. A geological sample, an anode slime and a secondary nickel alloy were successfully determined with the proposed method, and the results obtained showed good agreement with the certified values.Received December 23, 2002; accepted May 14, 2003 Published online August 8, 2003