Direct determination of selenium in urine samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using a Zr plus Rh-treated graphite tube and co-injection of Rh as chemical modifier

Different chemical modifiers for use with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) were investigated in relation to determining the selenium in human urine samples. The samples were diluted in a solution containing 1% v/v HNO₃ and 0.02% m/v cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Studying the modifiers showed that the use of either Ru or Ir as the permanent modifier gave low sensitivity to Se and the peak shape was very noisy, while Zr or Rh gave no peak at all. The same occurred when Zr was used in solution. For mixtures of permanent modifiers, Ir plus Rh or Zr plus Rh gave very low sensitivity, Zr plus Rh with co-injection of Ir in solution was also not efficient, Zr plus Rh in solution gave good sensitivity, but the best results were obtained with a mixture of Zr and Rh as the permanent modifier and co-injection of Rh in solution. Using this last modifier, the following dilutions with the HNO₃ and CTAC were studied: 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. The best dilution was 1:1, which promoted good sensitivity and a more defined peak shape and made it possible to correct for the background using a deuterium arc lamp. Under these conditions, a characteristic mass of 26±0.2 pg was obtained for Se in aqueous solution. Six certified urine samples were analyzed using matrix matching calibration and the measured concentrations were in agreement with the certified values, according to a t-test at the 95% confidence level. Recovery tests were carried out and the recoveries were in the range 100–103%, with relative standard deviation better than 9%. The limit of detection (LOD, 3 sd, n=10) was 3.0 μg L⁻¹ in the sample. The treated graphite tube could be used for at least 600 atomization cycles without significant alteration of the analytical signal.     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

Kaolin as support for porous layer open tubular columns

Summary PLOT columns have been prepared with kaolin as the liquid phase support. These columns show good efficiency with different stationary phases and good thermal stability with polar phases. The performance of columns is shown by the separation of various mixtures such as fatty acids, phenols and anilines which are of analytical importance.     

Diodes as sensors in solution thermochemistry

The advantages of using diodes as thermal sensors in solution thermochemistry are discussed and a simple, low-cost circuit for the use of diodes as temperature sensors is reported. In preliminary studies, the titration of TRIS and hydrochloric acid is used to compare the precision of thermistors and diodes in thermometric titrimetry. Several systems are assayed at various temperatures by enthalpimetric methods to illustrate the advantages of diodes as sensors for monitoring thermal methods capable of being used in quality control system.     

Fluctuating hydrodynamics and principal oscillation pattern analysis

Principal oscillation pattern (POP) analysis was recently introduced into climatology to analyze multivariate time series x_i(t) produced by systems whose dynamics are described by a linear Markov process x=Bx + . The matrixB gives the deterministic feedback and is a white noise vector with covariances (t) _j (t*Q _ij (t–t. The POP method is applied to data from a direct simulation Monte Carlo program. The system is a dilute gas with 50,000 particles in a Rayleigh-Bénard configuration. The POP analysis correctly reproduces the linearized Navier-Stokes equations (in the matrixB) and the stochastic fluxes (in the matrixQ) as given by Landau-Lifschitz fluctuating hydrodynamics. Using this method, we find the Landau-Lifschitz theory to be valid both in equilibrium and near the critical point of Rayleigh-Bénard convection.     

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)methan-verbrückte Zweikernkomplexe,V. Heteronukleare Co/Rh-, Co/Ir-, Rh/Ir- und Ti/Ir-Komplexe mit dem Bis(cyclopentadienyl)methan-Dianion als Brückenliganden

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)methane-bridged Dinuclear Complexes, V^[1]. – Heteronuclear Co/Rh-, Co/Ir-, Rh/Ir-, and Ti/Ir Complexes with the Bis(cyclopentadienyl)methane Dianion as Bridging Ligand^* The lithium and sodium salts of the [C₅H₅CH₂C₅H₄]^- anion, 1 and 2 , react with [Co(CO)₄I], [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂, and [Ir(CO)₃Cl]n to give predominantly the mononuclear complexes [(C₅H₅-CH₂C₅H₄)M(CO)₂] ( 3, 5, 7 ) together with small amounts of the dinuclear compounds [CH₂(C₅H₄)₂][M(CO)₂]₂ ( 4, 6, 8 ). The ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra of 3, 5 , and 7 prove that the CH₂C₅H₅ substituent is linked to the π-bonded ring in two isomeric forms. Metalation of 5 and 7 with nBuLi affords the lithiated derivatives 9 and 10 from which on reaction with [Co(CO)₄I], [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂, and [C₅H₅TiCl₃] the heteronuclear complexes [CH₂(C₅H₄)₂][M(CO)₂][M′(CO)₂] ( 11–13 ) and [CH₂(C₅H₄)₂]-[Ir(CO)₂][C₅H₅TiCl₂] ( 17 ) are obtained. Photolysis of 11 and 12 leads almost quantitatively to the formation of the CO-bridged compounds [CH₂(C₅H₄)₂][M(CO)(μ-CO)M′(CO)] ( 14, 15 ). According to an X-ray crystal structure analysis the Co/Rh complex 14 is isostructural to [CH₂(C₅H₄)₂][Rh₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)] ( 16 ).     

An investigation of glasses for capillary chromatography

An investigation was conducted of various glasses, other than soda lime or borosilicate, for use in glass capillary gas chromatography. The work has uncovered some unique chromatographic qualities in the use of potash soda lead and fused silica glasses as materials for making glass capillary columns. The fused silica proved to be an ideal material for capillary column construction, being inherently more inert than glass containing metal oxides. It has been shown that through the use of thin wall capillary tubing of high flexibility many of the mechanical problems associated with glass capillary columns, such as fragility and column straightening, can be avoided.     

Photo-reception properties of common LEDs

The article proves that common LEDs may act as photodetectors with limited sensitivity, if they are polarized with an appropriate reverse voltage. The measured responsivities are ranged between 0.002 and 0.156 A/W and they depend on the LED type. The only one exception are white (phosphorescent) LEDs which do not exhibit any photosensitivity. There have also shown that a bandwidth of LEDs, which were examined in a role of photodetectors, is of a few tens of MHz, which is an order of magnitude greater than their modulation bandwidth as transmitters. The reasons of the observed LEDs behaviour are explained theoretically. The obtained results are indicated that some of them may be used as both transmitters and receivers in the VLC links working in a bi-directional half-duplex mode.     

Arsenic Speciation in Marine Sediments: Effects of Redox Potential and Reducing conditions

Abstract

The speciation of arsenic in the environment is among others controlled by reduction, methylation and oxidation processes and therefore influenced by the prevailing redox conditions. In this study we have analyzed sediments taken from La Coruña estuary in the north west of Spain. Inorganic (trivalent and pentavalent) and the organic (MMA and DMA) arsenic speciation is related to Eh, Fe and Mn load. The various of the arsenic species concentration and other parameters was analyzed at different depths in some of the sampling points. Low arsenic concentrations (1–10 μg·g^–1) were found. In spite of oxidising conditions (Eh values between 31–96 mV), most of the samples showed a higher As(V) percentage than As (III). Principal component analysis was made to see a sample groups and the results showed that speciation depends on reducing conditions (Eh and Mn).     

Ethanol determination in frozen fruit pulps: an application of quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance

This study reports the chemical composition of five types of industrial frozen fruit pulps (acerola, cashew, grape, passion fruit and pineapple fruit pulps) and compares them with homemade pulps at two different stages of ripening. The fruit pulps were characterized by analyzing their metabolic profiles and determining their ethanol content using quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR). In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to extract more information from the NMR data. We detected ethanol in all industrial and homemade pulps; and acetic acid in cashew, grape and passion fruit industrial and homemade pulps. The ethanol content in some industrial pulps is above the level recommended by regulatory agencies and is near the levels of some post‐ripened homemade pulps. This study demonstrates that qNMR can be used to rapidly detect ethanol content in frozen fruit pulps and food derivatives. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.