Analysis of99Tc atmospheric samples

The analysis of⁹⁹Tc was carried out in filter, peat and rainwater samples. A solvent extraction technique was used to separate Tc from them, where tributylphosphate was the extracting agent. Radiochemical yield was obtained by using^99mTc as an internal tracer. A typical value of 60% was found for it. However, problems encountered in its determination are discussed in the text. Additionally, rainwater samples were analyzed for¹³⁷Cs. This was adsorbed in ammonium phosphomolibdate. Radiochemical yield was obtained by using¹³⁴Cs as an internal tracer.Work partially supported under Contract CAICYT No. 2849/83.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of iron with 2-(2′-benzothiazolylazo)-4,6-dimethylphenol

An extraction-spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of iron based on its extraction into chloroform with 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-4,6-dimethylphenol (BTADMP) from a pH 6.5 medium has been developed. The extracted 12 FeBTADMP complex species allow the determination of 4–30gmg of iron (=3.92×10⁴1·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 790 nm). The method is highly selective and has been applied to the determination of iron in polymineral-polyvitamin pharmaceutical products.     

Sensitive determination of probenecid in urine samples by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and UV-visible detection using solid-phase extraction techniques for sample clean-up

Summary This study describes a rapid method for the determination of probenecid in human urine by liquid chromatography with UV detection at 254 nm, after clean-up through a C8 solid-phase extraction column. Liquid chromatography was carried out on a C18-bonded phase using an acetonitrile-acetate buffer (pH=4) gradient elution. Ethacrynic acid was used as internal standard. The system has been applied to the determination of probenecid in the 0.10–100.0 g/ml concentration range; the limit of detection was 5 ng/mL.     

Salt Stress Proteins Identified by a Functional Approach in Yeast

We have performed functional genomics of salt stress by overexpression of gene libraries in yeast and selection for salt tolerance. Thirty halotolerance genes were isolated from yeast, Arabidopsis, and sugar beet. The results indicate that Na⁺ transport (uptake, efflux, and compartmentation), sulfate activation, RNA processing, and protein synthesis are crucial for salt tolerance.     

A study of the electrospray ionisation and ion-trap fragmentation of [M - H](-) ions of new 3,5-disubstituted tetrahydro-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazin-2-thiones

The electrospray ionisation (ESI) in negative mode of the pharmacologically significant 3,5-disubstituted tetrahydro-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazin-2-thiones, and their subsequent fragmentations using an ion-trap mass spectrometer, have been investigated. Experiments on sequential product ion fragmentations (MS(n)) were performed in order to elucidate the degradation pathways for these compounds. The data presented show that the fragmentation of the even-electron [M - H](-) ions could proceed through an internal nucleophilic substitution displacement. Decarboxylation and extrusion of carbon disulfide are other fragmentations observed.     

Ring-closing metathesis of chiral allylamines. Enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of two types of unsaturated chiral allylamines III, easily available from enantiomerically enriched epoxy alcohols, has been studied. Fully protected allylamines IIIa [(1)R = CH(2)-(CH(2))(n)()-CH=CH(2); (2)R = Boc; (3)R = PMB] have been prepared from unsaturated epoxy alcohols, whereas bis-allylamines IIIb ((1)R = Ph, (2)R = allyl,(3)R = Boc or PMB) have been prepared from 2,3-epoxy-3-phenylpropanol. Both types have been subjected to RCM to provide either cyclic allylamine I or II. The synthetic potential of these intermediates has been demonstrated by the enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline.     

Capillary isoelectric focusing of erythropoietin glycoforms and its comparison with flat-bed isoelectric focusing and capillary zone electrophoresis

The influence of several operation conditions on separation of recombinant human erythropoietin glycoforms by capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) is explored. From this study it is deduced that in order to separate several glycoforms of erythropoietin, urea has to be added to sample, which should not be completely depleted of the excipients used in its formulation. On-line desalting does not provide separation enhancement for samples with high content of salt. Better resolution is obtained using a mixture of a broad and a narrow pH-range carrier ampholytes than with either one used separately. Under the experimental conditions, focusing voltages of 25 kV improve separation compared to lower and higher electric fields. Focusing times shorter than the time necessary for electric current to reach a minimum provide similar separations than longer focusing times at which a minimum value of the current has already been achieved. The optimized method allows the separation and quantitation in 12 min of at least seven bands containing glycoforms of recombinant erythropoietin with apparent isoelectric points in the range 3.78–4.69. Compared to flat-bed isoelectric focusing, cIEF provides better separation of bands of glycoforms in a shorter time, and allows quantitative determination. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) gives rise to resolution of erythropoietin glycoforms similar to that obtained by cIEF. Although CZE requires a longer analysis time, its reproducibility in terms of peak area of glycoforms is better than in cIEF.     

Characterisation of pitch by HPLC

Summary A new high performance liquid chromatography method for the characterisation of toluene-soluble fractions of pitches has been developed. Although a chromatographic system typical of size exclusion chromatography was used, results indicate that, for these structurally complex samples, separation does not follow the usual discrimination by molecular size. A differentiation between several classes of polyaromatic hydrocarbons is achieved instead. Data are reported on the analysis of individual standard polyaromatic hydrocarbons, showing that four different elution ranges can be observed: three ofcata-condensed compounds (Cata1, Cata2 and Cata3) and one ofperi-condensed compounds (Peri). Results are reported proving the capacity of this high performance liquid chromatography method to distinguish between pitches of different origin and nature. It is also effective for the study of the chemical reactions occurring during heat treatment.     

Reactor power dependency of the neutron flux parameters fork 0-standardization

Using the facilities of the Triga Mark III reactor at the NNRI, Mexico and the HAV-1 multipurpose monitor, the reactor power dependency for thek ₀-standardization essential neutron flux parameters as: epithermal shape factor (), thermal to epithermal ratio (f) and neutron temperature (T _n ) were experimentally obtained. Evaluation of the obtained dependencies shows that it is unnecessary to analyze the possible introduction of correction factors in thek ₀-INAA experimental results. A single experimental procedure to determine throughf is suggested.     

A very sensitive flow system for the direct determination of copper in natural waters based on spectrophotometric detection

A very sensitive flow injection method with spectrophotometric detection has been developed for the on-line determination of copper in natural waters. The method exhibits a limit of detection three times lower than the most sensitive direct spectrophotometric method previously described and then allows the direct and simple in situ determination of copper in most natural waters.The method was based on the measurement of the absorbance of the coloured complex formed by copper with the chromogenic reagent di-2-pyridyl ketone benzoylhydrazone (dPKBH) in an alkaline medium. This complex presents stoichiometry 1:2 (Cu:dPKBH), and exhibits maximum absorbance at 370 nm. The manifold used was very simple, and consisted of two channels. The first one contained the sample while the second one contained the colorimetric reagent (3.3×10⁻⁴ M dPKBH in 10% ethanol), in a 1.6×10⁻² M phosphate buffer solution at pH 8. The performance of the system was optimised by using both univariate and modified simplex methodologies. When modified simplex was used, the best signal was obtained for a sample injection volume of 529 μl, a reaction coil length of 1.29 m, and a reagent flow rate of 4.8 ml min⁻¹. Under optimum conditions, the response was linear up to 3 mg l⁻¹ copper, the equation of the straight line being y=0.314x+5.2×10⁻⁴ (r²=0.998). The method allowed a sampling frequency of 40 samples per hour and exhibited a precision of 2.11% (as R.S.D., n=11). The limit of detection was 4.6 μg l⁻¹ (calculated as 3s_b/m, where s_b is the standard deviation of the y-intercept and m represents the slope of the straight line), and was therefore more sensitive than all the direct continuous methods reported previously.The method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, with an average relative error of 5.32%.