无处不在的化学——探究生命的时钟

This paper mainly introduces the role of isotopes in exploring the origin of life and related principles. In addition, by reviewing the discovery history of isotopes and summarizing the contributions of major scientists, we hope to show the general process of science developments to the public.     

利用锶特效树脂分离富集岩石样品中的锶及测定~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr

本研究以Sr-Spec树脂作为分离锶的特效树脂,以HNO3为淋洗液,通过改变HNO3的浓度,将地质岩石样品中的锶分离富集.实验结果表明,Sr与基质元素和Rb能很好地分离.利用Sr-Spec树脂分离国际标准物质SRM607、日本岩石标样JA-2、JB-2、JF-2和国家标准物质GBW04111后, 测得同位素比值87Sr/86Sr结果及误差(2σ)分别为1.200660±22, 0.706350±17, 0.703640±16, 0.709692±22和0.700008±23.相对于常规的阳离子树脂分离方法,此方法所用淋洗试剂量少,分离流程短,可以降低实验空白并提高工作效率.因此,Sr-Spec树脂分离法是快速分离富集不同岩性地质样品的Sr并测定87Sr/86Sr的有效方法.     

Rapid simultaneous determination of dexamethasone and betamethasone in milk by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution

A simple, sensitive and reliable analytical method for the rapid simultaneous determination of dexamethasone and betamethasone in milk by high performance liquid chromatography–negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–NESI-MS/MS) with isotope dilution was developed. Samples were directly purified through C₁₈ cartridge. Then the eluate was dried under nitrogen and residues were dissolved in mobile phase. Samples were analyzed by HPLC–MS/MS on a Hypercarb graphite column with a mixture of acetonitrile–water–formic acid as mobile phase. The samples were quantified using dexamethasone-D₄ as an internal standard. The procedure was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC determining specificity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), trueness, precision, linearity and stability. The method is demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of dexamethasone and betamethasone in milk. The total time required for the analysis of one sample was about 35 min.     

Determination of compound-specific Hg isotope ratios from transient signals using gas chromatography coupled to multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP/MS)

MeHg and inorganic Hg compounds were measured in aqueous media for isotope ratio analysis using aqueous phase derivatization, followed by purge-and-trap preconcentration. Compound-specific isotope ratio measurements were performed by gas chromatography interfaced to MC-ICP/MS. Several methods of calculating isotope ratios were evaluated for their precision and accuracy and compared with conventional continuous flow cold vapor measurements. An apparent fractionation of Hg isotopes was observed during the GC elution process for all isotope pairs, which necessitated integration of signals prior to the isotope ratio calculation. A newly developed average peak ratio method yielded the most accurate isotope ratio in relation to values obtained by a continuous flow technique and the best reproducibility. Compound-specific isotope ratios obtained after GC separation were statistically not different from ratios measured by continuous flow cold vapor measurements. Typical external uncertainties were 0.16‰ RSD (n = 8) for the ²⁰²Hg^/198Hg ratio of MeHg and 0.18‰ RSD for the same ratio in inorganic Hg using the optimized operating conditions. Using a newly developed reference standard addition method, the isotopic composition of inorganic Hg and MeHg synthesized from this inorganic Hg was measured in the same run, obtaining a value of δ ²⁰²Hg = −1.49 ± 0.47 (2SD; n = 10). For optimum performance a minimum mass of 2 ng per Hg species should be introduced onto the column.     

Sulfur trace determination in petroleum products by isotope dilution ICP-MS using direct injection by thermal vaporization (TV-ICP-IDMS)

An accurate, sensitive, and fast method for direct determination of total sulfur in petroleum products after thermal vaporization of an isotope-diluted sample was developed by using ICP-MS. ³⁴S-labelled dibenzothiophene spike was used for the isotope dilution step. The isotope-diluted sample was injected into a thermal vaporizer which was directly connected by a heated transfer line to the plasma torch. Sample transport was achieved by using a helium gas flow, and the isotope ratio ³⁴S/³²S was determined within seconds after injection. No other sample preparation other than the simple and fast isotope dilution step, which enables accurate and sensitive determination of sulfur at high sample throughputs, is necessary. Thus, this technique fits all needs for routine analyses. Validation of the TV-ICP-IDMS method was carried out by analyzing the certified gas oil reference materials BCR672 and BCR107. Comparison of results for noncertified low- and high-boiling samples, obtained from an ICP-IDMS microwave-assisted digestion method, also resulted in very good agreement. The low detection limit of 40 ng/g and the large dynamic range of TV-ICP-IDMS fulfill all necessities to allow analysis of sulfur in different petroleum products, e.g., even at the low concentration level of ‘sulfur-free’ gasoline.     

Isotopic fractionation of mercury induced by reduction and ethylation

Isotope ratio measurements characterizing ²⁰²Hg/²⁰⁰Hg in NIST SRM 3133 Mercury Standard Solution were undertaken by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry employing NIST SRM 997 Tl for mass bias correction by use of the slope and the intercept obtained from a natural logarithmic plot of each session of measurements of ²⁰²Hg/²⁰⁰Hg against ²⁰⁵Tl/²⁰³Tl. The calculated value of 1.285333 ± 0.000192 (mean and one standard deviation, n = 40) for the mass bias corrected ²⁰²Hg/²⁰⁰Hg was then used for mass bias correction of other Hg isotope pairs. Ratios of 0.015337 ± 0.000011, 1.68770 ± 0.00054, 2.3056 ± 0.0015, 1.3129 ± 0.0013, 2.9634 ± 0.0038, and 0.67937 ± 0.0013 (expanded uncertainty, k = 2) were obtained for ¹⁹⁶Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, ¹⁹⁹Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, ²⁰⁰Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, ²⁰¹Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, ²⁰²Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, and ²⁰⁴Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg, respectively. Reduction of Hg(II) to Hg⁰ in solutions of SRM 3133 was then undertaken using SnCl₂, NaBH₄, UV photolysis in the presence of formic acid, and ethylation of Hg(II) using NaBEt_4. These reactions induced significant isotope fractionation with maximum values of 1.17 ± 0.07, 1.08 ± 0.09, 1.34 ± 0.07, and 3.59 ± 0.09‰ (one standard deviation, 1SD, n = 5) for δ ^202/198Hg relative to the initial isotopic composition in the solution following 85–90% reduction of the Hg by SnCl₂, NaBH₄, UV photolysis, and ethylation with NaBEt₄, respectively. Mass-dependent fractionation was found to be dominant for all reduction processes. Figure Mass dependence of fractionation for all samples from Hg fractionation experiments using NaBEt₄. Solid lines are the theoretically predicted MDF based on δ′ ^202/198 Hg using equation 7. Error bars displayed are one standard deviation of the mean of 5 measurements of each sample     

Uranium colloid analysis by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Uranium single particle analysis has been performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the performances are compared with that provided by scanning electron microsopy and single particle counting. The transient signal induced by the flash of ions due to the ionisation of an uranium colloidal particle in the plasma torch can be detected and measured for selected uranium ion masses (²³⁸U⁺, ²³⁵U⁺ or ²⁵⁴[²³⁸U¹⁶O]⁺) by the mass spectrometer. The signals recorded via time scanning are analysed as a function of particle size or fraction of the studied element or isotope in the colloid phase. The frequency of the flashes is directly proportional to the concentration of particles in the colloidal suspension. The feasibility tests were performed on uranium dioxide particles. The study also describes the experimental conditions and the choice of mass to detect uranium colloids in a single particle analysis mode.     

Application of the total evaporation technique to chromium isotope ratio measurement by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

The total evaporation technique of thermal ionization mass spectrometry was applied to the isotopic analysis of chromium. High measurement reproducibility of the chromium isotope ratios was verified (2 S.E. < 0.05% (⁵³Cr/⁵²Cr)), while a clear mass fractionation effect was observed by using conventional measurement technique. The chromium isotope ratios analyzed by the total evaporation method were not affected by the sample amount on the rhenium filament (50-500 ng Cr). The isotopic analysis under the coexistence of zinc was also performed, and its effect to the chromium isotope ratios was confirmed.