Simultaneous Determination of Major Constituents of Honeybee Venom by LC-DAD

The aim of the study was to develop an LC method for honeybee venom analysis, using cytochrome c as an internal standard. The SynChropack C8 6.5 μm, 4.6 × 100 mm column was applied. The bee venom was separated by linear gradient 5–80% B at 30 min (eluent A—0.1% TFA in water, eluent B—0.1% TFA in acetonitrile:water (80:20)). The flow rate of mobile phase was maintained at 1 mL min⁻¹, injection volume: 40 μL, separation temperature: 25 °C. The analysis was monitored at 220 nm. Several honeybee venom constituents were separated and the content of four of them (apamine, mast cell degranulating peptide, phospholipase A₂ and melittin) were determined. By applying this methodology differences in chemical composition of honeybee venom were evaluated. In order to confirm the data obtained, the following steps and parameters were taken into account for the validation of the method: selectivity, precision (injection repeatability, analysis repeatability), accuracy (recovery), linearity and operating range, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. All steps of validation proved that the developed analytical procedure was suitable for its intended purpose (standardization). Due to its simplicity, the developed method can be easily automated and incorporated into routine operations both in the bee venom identification, quality control and assay tests.     

Direct or indirect influence of triphenyl‐lead on activity of Na+/K+‐ATPase

We have studied the effect of triphenyl‐lead chloride on the lipid phase of erythrocyte membranes, on lipid monomolecular layers and Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase of the microsomal fraction of rat brain. It was found that the haemolytic effect induced by this compound occurs when its concentration exceeds 30 µM . The minimal lead concentration inducing measurable effects in monomolecular lecithin layers is about 1 µM . Inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity begins at a concentration exceeding 0.5 µM . Maximum inhibition is observed at around 40 µM —a concentration at which haemolysis also occurs. It can thus be thought that at very low lead concentrations the main (or exclusive) role in modifying membrane function is played by direct interaction between lead and the sulphydryl groups of ATPase, whereas at higher concentrations two effects seem to overlap: direct interaction between lead and enzymic proteins via their sulphydryl groups and as indirect influence on the proteins via changes in the organization of the lipid phase of the membrane. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of boron addition on texture and structure of NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts

The effect of support (Al₂O₃) modification with borate ions and the effect of their concentration on the texture and structure of nickel-molybdena catalysts were studied. The surface area and pore volume of the samples were determined using the BET method, whereas pores distribution – besides the BET method also by mercury porosimetry. FT-IR, derivatographic, and diffractometric studies were also performed. Modification with borate ions does not bring about any change in the type of the support pores, nor does it change its crystallic structure. However, a considerable decrease in the surface area of the support was observed. It was shown that modification with borate ions leads to a decrease in thermal stability of catalysts, yet increase in concentration of borate ions raises the thermal stability of the samples. It was found that on the catalyst surface borate ions form a well-dispersed monolayer structure.     

Inverse-voltammetric determination of cadmium, lead and copper in animal samples after solubilization

Summary The conditions for the inverse-voltammetric determination of cadmium, lead, and copper in various biological samples after solubilization with Texapon are described. The results of this procedure are compared with those obtained with conventional high- and low-pressure wet digestions. The advantages of the Hg-film electrode as compared to the stationary Hg-electrode are discussed.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. Schulze on the occasion of his 60th birthday Permanent address: Technical University of Poznan, Institute of Chemistry, Poznan, Poland     

Sur la stabilité de l'équation d'homomorphisme

Sans résumé

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Dédié à M.le Professeur J. Aczél à l'occasion de son 60^eme anniversaire     

Sources of error in the determination of non-ionic surfactants in environmental samples

The analytical procedures for the determination of non-ionic surfactants (NS) consist of sampling, multistage separation and final determination. Each of these stages is a potential source of error. 33% of an initial amount of 100 g NS may be lost due to adsorption on the walls of glass vessels during storage or 55% in the case of polyethylene vessels. Ineffective preservation of samples leads to very quick biodegradation of NS and incorrect results. Chloroform, frequently used for this purpose, is ineffective, whereas formaldehyde gives satisfactory results. Also during the separation procedure substantial fractions of NS are lost. The currently used methods enable the determination of NS having 5–30 oxyethylene subunits only. In the extraction with ethyl acetate NS having long oxyethylene chain remain in the water phase or are caught at the interface. If looked at carefully these analytical procedures show serious drawbacks. The washing of the precipitate in the BiAS procedure causes a dramatic loss of precipitate. The recommended use of G4 glass filters also leads to loss of precipitate. Instead, the use of G5 gives satisfactory results. The choice of one surfactant as the standard, necessary for the determination of the total concentration of a mixture of unknown composition, possibly consisting of several hundred of individual compounds, can be also a serious source of error. The higher is the difference between the slopes of the calibration curves of the mixture components, the higher is the error. Two newly developed techniques, namely the indirect tensammetric method (ITM) and the BiAS procedures combined with the ITM give better results than the procedures currently recommended.     

Tensammetry with accumulation on the hanging mercury drop electrode : Part 3. The behaviour of triton X-100 in mixtures with PEG-9000

The behaviour of Triton X-100, which can be present in monomeric or associated form, and its mixtures with PEG-9000, which does not undergo association, is described. The tensammetric curve of Triton X-100 alone shows one or two peaks at negative potentials, depending on the concentration of Triton X-100, i.e., on the presence of associated forms. For <2 mg l^?1, there is one broad peak, related to monomers of Triton X-100. The calibration plot for this peak is sigmoidal but its rising section (0.05–0.20 mg l^?1) is approximately linear. The calibration curve of the second, much narrower, peak related to associated forms of Triton X-100, grows parabolically with increasing concentration of Triton X-100. The behaviour of a mixture of PEG-9000 with a larger amount of Triton X-100 is similar to the behaviour of a model mixture of components with sufficiently different properties (e.g., PEG 1500/PEG 9000). The peak for PEG-9000, the stronger surfactant, is relatively less affected by a large amount of Triton X-100. Even this effect can be decreased by using a suitable preconcentration potential (?1.45 V vs. SCE) so that PEG-9000 can be determined in the presence of a 1000-fold amount of Triton X-100. Both peaks of Triton X-100 are greatly decreased by the presence of PEG-9000 and the broad peak can be completely suppressed. Triton X-100 cannot be determined accurately in the presence of unknown amounts of PEG-9000.     

New Cyclic Dimers of Cholic Acid

Summary. Two new cyclic dimers of cholic acid were obtained in the reaction of 3-O-acetyl methyl cholate with oxalyl chloride. The oxalates bound the cholate subunits side-to-side as a result of acylation of 7 and 12 OH groups in the substrate. The selective deprotection of hydroxy groups at C-3 and C-24 proved to be rather difficult and led to various products depending on the reaction conditions.