High Resolution Separation of Non-Polar Lipid Classes by HPLC-ELSD Using Alumina as Stationary Phase

This study describes the performance and capacity of alumina as stationary phase in an HPLC-ELSD (evaporative light-scattering detection) method optimized for the separation of the non-polar lipid classes hydrocarbons, wax esters, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, and sterols, including quantitative determination of these lipid classes in natural samples. By using gradient elution and constant equilibration times between injections, highly reproducible separations of triacontane, stearyl oleate, and cholesterol oleate were accomplished with a binary mobile phase system. Phase A contained 0.5% tetrahydrofuran in hexane and phase B 20% isopropanol and 20% tetrahydrofuran in hexane. The same system was also used to determine the non-polar lipid classes in a zooplankton sample, the major lipid class being wax esters, followed by triacylglycerols, sterol esters, sterols, and hydrocarbons. Substantial amounts of an unknown compound, possibly acylated glyceryl ethers, were also found. The equilibration time of alumina was relatively slow compared to a polyvinyl alcohol stationary phase used earlier by the authors and calibration curves for different lipid classes were more uniform and linear with alumina.     

High Temperature Gas Chromatography with a Glass Capillary Column for the Analysis of High Molecular Weight Tracers in Smoke Samples from Biomass Burning

A custom-made glass capillary column coated with OV-1701-OH (88% methyl, 7% cyanopropyl, 5% phenylpolysiloxane) was used to analyze smoke samples from biomass combustion of different species of plants collected in the Amazon forest. CS₂ was used as solvent in order to enhance the dissolution and analysis of the heavier molecular weight components. The performance of the column was monitored during the experiments and a moderate increase in activity was observed after taking the column to high analytical temperatures (390°C). Trennzahl values typically dropped 20–30% from 1.7/m to the average of 1.35/m. In general, the performance of the custom-made column was satisfactory and comparable to the commercial high temperature columns. The high temperature high resolution GC and GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of a number of high molecular weight components reported to occur in smoke aerosols for the first time. These components consisted of series of wax esters (long chain alcohols esterified with long chain fatty acids) with up to 58 carbon numbers, aliphatic hydrocarbons, triglycerides, triterpenyl esters (e.g. α- and β-amyryl stearate). Although other types of compounds were also detected, their complete structure elucidation solely by electron impact MS was not adequate and other techniques will be required.     

石蜡/碱改性硅藻土/膨胀石墨复合相变储热材料的制备及性能

通过碱处理,优化了硅藻土(DIA)的孔隙结构,提高了孔隙率,增加了石蜡(paraffin)负载量。通过直接浸渍法制备了新型性状稳定的石蜡/碱改性DIA/膨胀石墨(EG-alDIAP)复合材料,并研究了其结构与性能的关系。结果表明,复合相变材料的石蜡负载量从47.4%提高到了61.1%,进而提高了复合材料的储热性能;向改性DIA中添加膨胀石墨(EG)提高了复合材料的传热能力,添加质量分数10%EG时导热系数提高了113%(从0.276 W·m^-1·K^-1提高到了0.589 W·m^-1·K^-1)。随着EG含量的升高,复合相变材料的相变潜热有所增加,但化学相容性、稳定性等无明显变化。含10%EG的石蜡/碱改性DIA复合材料具有可靠的储能性能、良好的温度调节性能和蓄放热能力。