Analysis of organobromine compounds and HBr in motor car exhaust gases with a GC/microwave plasma system

Summary In this investigation an analytical procedure for the determination of different organobromine compounds in motor car exhaust gases is developed in order to obtain a total balance of these compounds in this type of exhaust gas. For this purpose, adsorption sampling on Tenax GC combined with thermal desorption and a fast cold trap injection into the GC column system is used. A special capillary cold trap/thermodesorption system for a fast injection within 1 s is developed. The chromatographically separated fractions are identified by their retention times and elementspecific detection with a microwave plasma detector. Methyl bromide, 1,2-dibromoethane, and vinyl bromide are analysed in exhaust gases in cases where the gasoline contains 1,2-dibromoethane as an additive (leaded gasoline). The analysed bromine contents, which correspond to these organobromine compounds, are in the range of 90–190 g/m³, 15–85 g/m³, and 5–20 g/m³, respectively. The portion of the organobromine compounds is 22–44% of the total bromine which is emitted by the exhaust gases. The other portion contains mainly inorganic particulate bromide, which can be separated by filters. The concentration of the organobromine compounds decreases with increasing motor temperature. After conversion into 2-bromocyclohexanol and after gas chromatographic separation HBr is detected to be 5.8 g bromine per m³ exhaust gas, which corresponds to approximately 1% of the total bromine emission. 1,2-Dichloroethane is analysed in the range of 5–35 g Cl/m³, whereas the concentration of tetraalkyl lead in the exhaust gases is less than the detection limit of 6.7 g Pb/m³. The average bromine/lead ratio found in the filterable portion of the exhaust gases is 0.30 (by weight); the same ratio calculated for total bromine emission including the organobromine compounds is 0.47. Compared with the bromine/ lead ratio in gasoline of 0.39 this means that at least 17% of the total lead in the gasoline is not directly emitted with the motor car exhaust gases.

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Analyse von bromorganischen Verbindungen und HBr in Autoabgasen mit einem GC/Mikrowellenplasma-System

     

Time resolved excited state absorption of Mn

Excited state absorption (ESA) of Mn²⁺ in spinel MgAl₂O₄ is investigated in detail. For excitation ps-pulses of 351 nm wavelength from a tripled Nd phosphate glass laser are used. During relaxation down to the lowest excited state ESA is measured for various delay times between exciting pulse and probe pulse. The resulting absorption spectra are interpreted in terms of the Mn²⁺ configurational model.     

High accuracy in the element analysis by mass spectrometry

Summary Accurate analysis results are a common problem in trace and micro determinations of elements, as found in particular in a number of interlaboratory studies. The difference between precision and accuracy of an analysis is shown in this review and a possible hierarchy of analytical methods is given. Isotope dilution mass spectrometry is the most accurate method of all mass spectrometric techniques. Possible element analyses by isotope dilution mass spectrometry are discussed using different ionization methods in the mass spectrometer (thermal ionization, spark source mass spectrometry, electron impact ionization, ICP and MIP, field desorption mass spectrometry). If MIP-MS and spark source mass spectrometry are applied, the difference between analysis results where the isotope dilution technique is and is not used is shown. The precision and accuracy of spark source mass spectrometry increases significantly when the isotope dilution method is applied. Accurate results by mass spectrometry are shown in comparison with certified values of standard reference materials using food samples, biological samples, geological samples, nuclear reactor materials, metals, and samples from the environment as examples. Possible sources of error by isotope dilution mass spectrometry are discussed. In contrast to the analysis of metal traces, only a few alternative methods can be applied to the trace analysis of non-metals and their anion forming compounds. In this case the production of negative thermal ions in a mass spectrometer in connection with the isotope dilution technique is a useful tool for accurate anion and non-metal analyses.

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Hohe Richtigkeit in der Elementanalyse durch Massenspektrometrie

Zusammenfassung Richtige Analysenergebnisse sind ein allgemeines Problem bei der Spuren- und Mikrobestimmung der Elemente, wie sich vor allem immer wieder im Rahmen von Ringanalysen herausstellt. Der Unterschied zwischen Reproduzierbarkeit und Richtigkeit eines Analysenergebnisses wird in diesem Übersichtsartikel aufgezeigt und eine mögliche Hierarchie von Methoden aufgestellt. Im Bereich der Massenspektrometrie gilt die Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse als diejenige Methode, mit der die richtigsten Ergebnisse erhalten werden können. Für die Anwendung verschiedener Ionisationsmethoden im Massenspektrometer (Thermionisation, Funkenquellen-Massenspektrometrie, Elektronenstoßionisation, ICP und MIP, Felddesorptions-Massenspektrometrie) werden die Möglichkeiten der Elementanalyse durch die Isotopenverdünnungstechnik diskutiert. Bei Verwendung der MIP-MS und der Funkenquellen-Massenspektrometrie wird auch der Unterschied zwischen Ergebnissen, die mit und ohne Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse erhalten werden, aufgezeigt. Dabei ergibt sich für die Funkenquellen-Massenspektrometrie eine wesentliche Verbesserung der Analysenergebnisse, wenn die Isotopenverdünnungsmethode angewendet wird. Anhand von Beispielen (Lebensmittelproben, biologische Proben, geologische und kerntechnische Proben, Metalle, Umweltproben) wird die Richtigkeit der massenspektrometrischen Ergebnisse verdeutlicht, wobei häufig ein Vergleich zu zertifizierten Werten von Standard-Referenzmaterialien gegeben wird. Mögliche Fehlerquellen der Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse werden diskutiert. Da bisher zur Bestimmung von Anionen- und Nichtmetallspuren nur vergleichsweise wenige Verfahren zur Verfügung stehen, hat sich hier die Erzeugung negativer Thermionen in einem Massenspektrometer bei gleichzeitiger Anwendung der Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse bewährt.

     

Epoxidation with O2 using PdClNO2(CH3CN)2 catalysts: reactivity of the C-Pd bond in the intermediate complex formed during oxidation of norbornene

The reactivity of di-p-chlorobis[3-(nitrosooxy)bicyclo[2.2.]] hept-2-yl-C,N]dipalladium II can be modified by added reagents. In presence of CuCl₂, the thermal decomposition leading to epoxynorbornane is completely suppressed and an unequivocal rearrangement of the norbornane framework is observed.     

Cobalt‐Bridged Ionic Liquid Polymer on a Carbon Nanotube for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity

By taking inspiration from the catalytic properties of single‐site catalysts and the enhancement of performance through ionic liquids on metal catalysts, we exploited a scalable way to place single cobalt ions on a carbon‐nanotube surface bridged by polymerized ionic liquid. Single dispersed cobalt ions coordinated by ionic liquid are used as heterogeneous catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Performance data reveals high activity and stable operation without chemical instability.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Organic Transformations

Many palladium-catalyzed organic reactions with tailored ligands, besides the princess of asymmetric catalysis, allylic alkylation, are suitable for enantioselective organic synthesis. This is clearly illustrated by the large number of promising examples such as the Heck reaction, and Wacker-type oxidations, cycloadditions, cycloisomerizations, carbonylations, and copolymerization of alkenes with carbon monoxide.     

Efficient laser operation and continuous-wave diode pumping of Cr2+:ZnSe single crystals

Efficient continuous-wave laser operation of Cr²⁺:ZnSe was demonstrated with an output power of 1400 mW at an absorbed pump power of 1900 mW from a Tm:YAG laser. Under continuous-wave diode pumping at 1.54 μm an output power of 15 mW was obtained from a Cr⁺²:ZnSe laser. Excited state absorption is shown to be negligible in the pump and laser spectral region. Received: 12 October 2000 / Published online: 30 November 2000