The use of TG-FTIR technique for the assessment of hydrogen bromide emissions in the combustion of BFRs

The TG-FTIR technique was used in the present study to investigate the thermal degradation behaviour of materials containing brominated flame retardants under fire conditions. Time-temperature profiles and oxygen concentrations typical of selected fire scenarios were reproduced in the thermogravimetric analyzer, while the characterization of the gaseous products generated was performed by the simultaneous FTIR analysis. FTIR analysis combined with the use of specific calibration procedures allowed the quantitative estimation of the gaseous products evolved as a function of experimental conditions. The results obtained allowed the straightforward assessment and the comparison of the quantities of hydrogen bromide formed in the oxidation and thermal degradation of pure brominated flame retardants and of flame retarded materials of industrial interest. Hydrogen bromide yields resulted dependent on the experimental conditions used, such as oxygen concentration and heating rate. Although TG-FTIR experiments only provide a representation of the actual heterogeneous combustion products in real fire conditions, the coupled TG-FTIR technique proved to be a straightforward experimental methodology allowing one to obtain reference data on the nature and quantities of the macropollutants generated in a fire. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New aspects of thermal analysis,Part I. Resolution of DSC and means for its optimization

The definitions of the temperature resolution, the so-called resolution of DSC instruments given in literature are discussed. A new definition of the resolution for DSC instruments is presented and outlined. The main characteristic introduced in this new definition is a minimum between two caloric events as a prerequisite of an existing resolution. Possible candidates of test substances have been evaluated. The oligomer n-hexatriacontane is revealing an interesting phenomenon, namely a lambda transition which is in the peak temperature only 2 K lower than the melting temperature of 76°C. The substance was selected as an ideal test substance for the quantification of the resolution of DSC instruments. The lambda transition is a second order process which may reach under certain conditions the saturation of the occurring molecular dislocation within 0.2 K, and after saturation the heat flow rate drops sharply down. Investigations concerning the main characteristics of n-hexatriacontane in respect to the temperatures of transition (lambda transition and melting), to the involved enthalpies, and to the resolution factors were performed as functions of the sample mass and the heating rate. The importance of relevant evaluation procedures increasing the resolution factors of DSC curves are discussed and these procedures are integrated into the testing of the resolution. The necessity for widening the experimental scope from instruments to evaluation procedures is forced by the existence of instruments with built-in signal treatments based on electronic devices and software procedures. A comparison with literature data is outlined for all of the mentioned characteristic values of n-hexatriacontane. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Monitoring nitrite with optical sensing films

A new, low-cost nitrite sensor was developed by immobilizing a direct indicator dye in an optical sensing film for food and environmental monitoring. This sensor was fabricated by binding Safranine O to a cellulose acetate film that had previously been subjected to an exhaustive base hydrolysis. The membrane has good durability (>12 months) and a short response time (<8 s). Nitrite can be determined for the range of 0.005-2.00 μg ml⁻¹ with 3δ detection limits of 0.001 μg ml⁻¹. The method is easy to perform and uses acetylcellulose as a carrier. The reagents used for the activity of the cellulose support are inexpensive, non-toxic and widely available.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition in the synthesis of pyrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides

A new approach to the synthesis of polyfunctional pyrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides was developed based on the presynthesized pyrazole derivatives prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The structures of the resulting mono-and biradicals were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Dedicated to Academician A. L. Buchachenko on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2105–2116, September, 2005.     

Conformational analysis 29: Preparation and1H and13C NMR,FTIR, MS,and crystallographic conformational and configurational study of 3-Oxo-1,3-oxathiane and its monomethyl derivatives

3-Oxo-1,3-oxathiane (1) and its monomethyl derivatives were prepared by oxidation of the corresponding 1,3-oxathianes. The structural analysis was carried out by¹H and¹³C NMR, FTIR, and mass spectrometry. At 298 K compound1 was a 1 1 (at 173 K a 3 1) mixture of the SO(ax) and SO(eq) chair forms. The major oxidation products of methyl 1,3-oxathianes attained exclusively the SO(ax), Me(eq) chair forms except that of the 5-methyl derivative, which consisted of 7% of the SO(eq), Me(ax) chair conformation in CDCl₃ solution. The minor products of oxidation existed in anancomeric SO(eq), Me(eq) chair conformations. The oxidation of 2-methyl- 1,3-oxathiane, however, led to 3,3-dioxo derivative (6) in addition to thetrans [SO(eq)] monoxide. The crystal structures of6 andtrans-3-oxo-5-methyl-1,3-oxathiane were solved by X-ray diffractometry.     

化学形态分析

本文综述了金属元素的化学形态分析,包括:形态分析的方法与技术,形态分析在水、土壤、空气和生物样品中的应用,样品的处理方法等。     

发光分析

本文是《分析试验室》定期评述专号中“发光分析”专题的第二篇评述文章,它评述了1988年12月至1990年12月间国内发光分析的进展。内容包括:概述,荧光分析,磷光分析,化学发光和生物发光分析等方面。     

Teaching of process analytical chemistry

In the teaching of analytical chemistry for chemical engineering students it is essential today to teach the chemical analysis of dynamic systems, not only in the process control of the modern technological systems, where the control of composition or structure of different material streams is necessary, but also in all other instances where analysis, decision and intervention follow each other, forming a closed cycle. Teaching can be made effective if students already have a knowledge of the basic disciplines (including analytical chemistry). The schedule of the teaching programme should include the mathematical statistical treatment of process signals, quality of the signals, signal-improvement methods, characteristics of instruments, calibration and an introduction to sensors, analysers suitable for continuous or periodical measurements and local area networks. As practical exercizes an apparatus for investigation of the dynamic properties of a thermoanalytical detector system, a computer program for simulating process variables and the control loop including the measuring system are presented.