Patterns in the precision of quantitative data from multicomponent gas chromatographic or gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

The dispersion of the quantitative results in the analysis of volatile compounds from multicomponent mixtures by different fractionation techniques (solid-phase microextraction and direct thermal desorption) followed by GC or GC-MS presents nonrandom patterns related to the existence of different factors in the fractionation process or in the chromatographic separation which affect, to a different extent, the recovery of the sample components. Statistical techniques have been used to show the relative importance of these factors. The improvement in data precision achieved by using volatile compound concentration ratios is discussed.     

Application of Short-wave Near-infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy in Controlling Extract of Fructus Cnidii Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Fructus cnidii （Chinese name shechuangzi） is the fruit produced by Cnidium monnieri （L.） Cusson （Umbelliferae）. It is a perennial herb that is used to treat skin-related diseases and gynecopathyell. Recent pharmacological studies have revealed crude extracts or components isolated from fructus cnidii possess antiallergic, antipruritic, antidermatophytic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiosteoporotic activities. Osthole and imperatorin are the major compounds present in shechuangzi. They are often used as standards for the evaluation of the quality of shechuangzi products.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New One-dimensional Zn(II) Nitronyl Nitroxide Complex Bridged by Pyridine-2,4-dicarboxylate Anion

1 INTRODUCTION The synthesis and study of transition metal com- pounds incorporating organic free radicals directly bound to their coordination sphere are a major re- search aim in the field of molecular magnetism[1]. Exceptional stability, ease of chemical modification and versatility in their coordination properties have made nitroxide free radicals one of the most attrac- tive spin carriers for the design of molecular magne- tic materials[2, 3]. The structures and magnetic prope- rties …     

On-line filtration system for determining total chromium and chromium in the soluble fraction of industrial effluents by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Two manifolds were assessed for the purpose of determining both the total chromium content and that present as a soluble form in industrial effluents by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-FAAS). To determine the chromium content in the soluble fraction the samples were used without additional treatment, a 0.45 microm filter being included in the FI system. To determine the total chromium content, the samples were acidified with nitric acid 20% (v/v) and heated for 30 s in a microwave oven (temperatures of about 70 degrees C were reached). The problem posed by the very different concentration range in which total and soluble chromium are present was overcome by using programmed flow rate methodology and by only partially emptying the sample loop. A personal computer controlled both the rotation speed of a peristaltic pump and the volume of sample injected into the system, thus obtaining the dispersion degree required. Using the manifold proposed, the chromium content in the soluble fraction can be determined in the 0.5-20 microg mL(-1) range using a 10 microg mL(-1) single standard for calibration. To determine the total chromium content, a calibration line in the 20-200 microg mL(-1) range was obtained using a single 50 microg mL(-1) chromium standard solution. The reliability of the semi-automatic devices was verified by comparing the results obtained with those found by treating the samples and using both FAAS in a conventional way and a spectrophotometric method using diphenylcarbazide at the 95% confidence level (ANOVA test). The proposed procedures showed a RSD lower than +/-3%.     

Tetrabutylammonium bromide/thenoyltri-fluoroacetone/mibk extraction for aas determination of cobalt, nickel, and manganese in copper ores and concentrates

An extraction-AAS method of determination of Co, Ni, and Mn in metallurgical copper materials containing considerable amounts ofCu, Fe, Pb, Zn, and Al has been developed. Good selectivity of group separation of Co, Ni, and Mn has been achieved by (a) the use of tetrabutylammonium bromide to improve extractability of HTTA complexes by ion-pair formation, and (b) the masking of major elements with sodium thiosulphate and sulphosalicylic acid. The extracts are stable for at least 3 weeks.     

Spectroscopic investigation of the adsorption and oxidation of thiourea on polycrystalline Au and Au(111) in acidic media

In the present paper, a systematic electrochemical investigation on thiourea (TU) electrooxidation was developed on polycrystalline and (111) single-crystal gold electrodes in 0.1 M perchloric acid. The combination of cyclic voltammetry with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry techniques have allowed the nature of the species formed during the electroadsorption and electrooxidation of TU to be established. FTIRS experiments were performed in D2O to clean up the region of the H2O bending around 1600 cm(-1). It was concluded that TU adsorbs tilted on the surface in the 0.05-0.40 VRHE potential range. A dual-path reaction mechanism was evidenced in the oxidation process. The first pathway takes place from adsorbed TU at E > 0.40 VRHE and implies the formation of [Au(I)-(TU)2]+, which is oxidized to NH2CN and S0 at E > 0.80 VRHE. In a following oxidation step at E > 1.20 V, N2, CO2, and HSO4-/SO4(2-) were produced. The second parallel reaction occurs from TU in solution at E > 0.50 VRHE to form (TU)2(2+). All these species were characterized from the spectroscopic experiments. Similar results were obtained for both surfaces.     

Determination of iron at ng/ml level by solid phase spectrophotometry after preconcentration on cation exchange filters

A cationic exchanger paper is used to retain analytes in solution and, after drying, to analyze directly by measuring the UV-Vis absorbance of the paper. The method was applied to determination of iron using its known 1,10-phenanthroline complex. Using 100 ml of sample the applicable concentration range was between 1.0 and 10.0 ng/ml with a detection limit of 0.2 ng/ml and a RSD around 2%. The method was applied to determination of iron total in snow, human serum and wine.     

Investigation of Aconitine-type Alkaloids from Processed Tuber of Aconitum carmiechaeli by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS~n

Introduction Aconitine-type alkaloids isolated from the roots of Aconitum carmiechaeli show a potential toxicity and a broad spectrum of bioactivity[1-4].On the basis of the C8-substituent of C19-diterpenoid skeleton,aconitine-type alkaloids can be divided into diester-diterpenoid alkaloids(DDAs),monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids(MDAs),and lipo-alkaloids(Fig.1).     

Amperometric multidetection with composite enzyme electrodes

The use of composite biosensors for multianalyte detection strategies is discussed. Graphite–Teflon rigid composite biosensors offer the possibility of coimmobilization of several enzymes by simple physical inclusion in the bulk of the electrode matrix with no covalent linkages. A novel trienzyme graphite–Teflon–glucose oxidase (GOD)–alcohol oxidase (AOD)–peroxidase (HRP)–ferrocene bisosensor yielded amperometric steady-state currents similar to those obtained with graphite–Teflon–GOD–HRP–ferrocene and graphite–Teflon–AOD–HRP–ferrocene electrodes for the same concentration of glucose and ethanol, respectively. The performance of the trienzyme biosensor for multianalyte detection was evaluated with the simultaneous determination of glucose and ethanol after separation by HPLC, in samples of sweet wine. The simultaneous analysis of several analytes in the same sample should imply that, with an adequate dilution, the concentration levels of the analytes can be included within the ranges of linearity of the corresponding calibration plots. The use of two composite biosensors in a parallel configuration, so that different analytes can be simultaneously detected with no need of chromatographic separation, is also discussed. The usefulness of this approach was evaluated by the simultaneous analysis of glucose and ethanol in sweet wine, and of glucose and lactic acid in red wine.     

On-line preconcentration of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in sea-water by sorbent-extraction and total mercury determination by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A comparative study of three mercury chelate forming reagents [diethyldithiocarbamate, pyrrolidin-1-yldithioformate and diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone)] has been carried out for the preconcentration of ultratrace amounts of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in silica C(18) minicolumns as the solid sorbent. Sample flow injection in-line sorbent extraction was coupled with continuous cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) for detection. Results showed the superiority of the carbamate type reagents over the dithizone for the on-line formation and preconcentration of the corresponding mercury chelates. Using diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) as reagent, aqueous sample volumes of 100 ml can be preconcentrated with 100% efficiency for both inorganic mercury and methylmercury. Quantitative release of the retained DDC chelates was obtained for volumes of eluent (ethanol) of 50 microl. Following the proposed procedure, detection limits of 16 ng/l. of mercury were achieved for sample volumes of 25 ml. The relative standard deviation was +/- 3.4% at 0.5 microg/l. Hg(II) levels. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of low levels of mercury in sea-water.