Time-resolved spectroscopy of long-path fluorescence and scattering for measuring total absorption of fluids

Optical methods are appropriate tools to detect organic micro-pollutants in fluids. A new technique is introduced which uses the decay of interaction processes like fluorescence and elastically scattered radiation by a fluid. Principally two different parameters are determined:

1. (i) the decay-time of the conventional interaction τ_C, which occurs at relatively short path-lengths of the incidence beam in the fluid, and

2. (ii) the decay-time τ_MP of the multi-path-saturation interaction originating at long path-lengths, e.g. in multi-path-reflection cuvettes, where the incidence beam is fully absorbed by the fluid.

A relation between the decay-time and the absorption coefficient of a fluid is theoretically derived. A simple preliminary experiment is performed considering distilled water polluted with non-fluorescent azobenzene and fluorescent quinine-sulphate. A nitrogen laser has been used to generate the fluorescence and scattering signals. The reciprocal value of the difference between the decay-time of the multi-path and conventional signals, 1/(τ_MP − τ_C), yields the total absorption coefficient directly. In comparison to the conventional absorption technique the decay-time method is characterized by a higher sensitivity.     

The use of glass capillary columns for the analysis of polar natural products

Two published procedures for glass capillary column production are applied to produce capillaries for chromatography of polar natural compounds. Soda lime glass capillaries, after leaching with aqueous HCL, are either treated with colloidal silicic acid or with barium carbonate and coated with either Silar 7CP or SE 52. A test mixture as well as polar carbohydrate and peptide mixtures are chromatographed on the different columns and their chromatographic properties are evaluated. Combined capillary gas chromatography-electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry are used for identification of the peptide sequence.     

Cluster description of water-in-oil microemulsions near the critical and percolation points

The three-component ionic microemulsion system consisting of AOT/water/decane shows an unusual phase behavior in the vicinity of room temperature. The phase diagram in the temperature-volume fraction (of the dispersed phase) plane exhibits a lower consolute critical point at about 40 degrees centigrades and 10% volume fraction. A percolation line, starting from the vicinity of the critical point, cuts across the plane, extending to high volume fraction side at progressively lower temperatures. In this paper we review the evidence that allows to interpret the phase behavior of our system in terms of interacting spherical droplets. We also investigate the dynamics of droplets, below and approaching the critical point by dynamic light scattering. The first cumulant and time evolution of the droplet density correlation function can be quantitatively calculated by assuming the existence of polydispersed fractal clusters formed by the microemulsion droplets due to attraction. The relaxation phenomena observed in an extensive set of measurements of electrical conductivity and permittivity close to percolation is also reviewed and interpreted through the same cluster-forming mechanism, which reproduces the most relevant features of the frequency-dependent complex dielectric constant of this system. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Characterization of humic substances: Implications for trihalomethane formation

Humic substances are precursors of carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during disinfection by chlorination in water treatment processes. In an effort to understand the relationship between trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and physicochemical properties of humic substances, UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence in emission and synchronous scan modes, and NMR spectra were measured for several aquatic fulvic and humic acids. For comparison, a soil fulvic acid was also examined using these methods. The feasibility of the gradient modified spin-echo (GOSE) NMR experiment to selectively measure singlet resonances arising from isolated protons was examined. In addition, diffusion coefficients were measured for DMSO solutions of the fulvic acids using BPPLED and GOSE-edited pulse sequences. Although none of the methods tested produced results that correlated with THMFP, the GOSE intensities determined for different regions of the NMR spectra did reflect the relative abundance of different types of functional groups produced by lignin oxidation. In addition, the GOSE-edited diffusion results suggest that the isolated protons, those most reactive to chlorination, are more likely contained in the larger molecular weight fractions of fulvic acids.     

Use of α‐diketones as visible photoinitiators for the photocrosslinking of waterborne latex paints

The efficiency of several α‐diketones as visible light photoinitiators for the crosslinking of waterborne latex dispersions in the presence of acrylic monomers was evaluated. Among the eight α‐diketones studied, camphorquinone allows the fastest curing speed, and the curing of the acrylic waterborne coating is not affected by the presence of oxygen. The properties of the sunlight‐cured volatile organic compound (VOC)‐free pigmented paints prepared from the waterborne latex are as good or better than the equivalent conventional paint containing VOCs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3171–3181, 2002     

Comparison of quantitative methods for analysis of polyphasic pharmaceuticals

Adequate very sensitive quantification methods are needed for the development and are also now required for the monitoring of undesirable solid form(s) as routine tests. The pre-requisite for quantitation are selectivity, sensitivity and most important the purity of standards and their proper storage, what is a challenge for metastable forms. Several analytical techniques are available such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis and microcalorimetry. The different steps of the validation of the analytical methods and problems to be solved are discussed. Examples illustrate the different techniques and compare their possible advantages and limits. The relative standard deviation of measurements should allow for checking the homogenization procedure of mixtures for calibration. The validation should be carried out following ICH guidelines for validation of analytical methods. Comparison of different techniques in adequate concentration range add confidence in the analytical results.     

Selective desorption and analysis of humic substances on suspended particles in river water

The elemental analysis and morphology of individual particles indicate that the dominant suspended particles in river water are kaolin covered with hydrated iron(III) oxide which strongly sorbs humic substances. Suspended particles, about 1 mg, collected from 250 ml of water by centrifugation, are treated with 0.7 ml of 0.1M sodium hydroxide to desorb humic substances. Approximately 60% of copper and 30% of lead on or in suspended particles exist as humic complexes.     

顶空-气相色谱法进展

回顾了顶空采样气相色谱分析法在复杂基质中挥发性成分中的应用．总结并详述了顶空分析的三种重要模式-介绍了顶空分析的相关原理和整个顶空分析系统的参数优化过程．综述了顶空．气相色谱分析在生物样本中挥发性有机物的测定、药品中有机残留溶剂的检测、聚合材料中挥发性有机物的分析、环境中有害的有机挥发性物质分析、挥发油分析和烟草分析等方面的进展．     

氧弹燃烧灰化法测定有机物中磷

用氧弹燃烧法灰化有机物进行元素测定，操作简便，快速，无污染，该方法用于有机物中磷的分析，结果可靠。     

Chemical removal of humic substances interfering with the on-line solid-phase extraction—Liquid chromatographic determination of polar water pollutants

Summary Different methods for removing interference by humic substances in the analysis of polar pollutants have been compared in the analysis of environmental water by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a chemically modified polymeric resin coupled on-line to liquid chromatography with UV detection. The methods were based on the use of chemical reagents. The best method was found to be addition of sodium sulphite to humic-containing water before SPE. The appropriate amount of sulphite depends on the amount of humic substances dissolved in the sample—for analysis of 50 mL tap and Ebro river water, respectively, 250 μL and 500 μL 10 % Na₂SO₃ solution had to be added. In both cases, the recovery values after chemical treatment were similar to those when a Milli-Q-quality water standard was analysed.