Size consistency corrections for configurational interaction calculations

A size consistency error formula, correcting for the erratic dependence on the number of particles in a doubly substituted (or otherwise restricted) configurational interaction (CI ) treatment, is derived. The formula is expressed in terms of the particle pair eneriges ?_k and the normalization integrals Δ_k of the corrections to the unperturbed normalized wave function. The theory as well as the results for the ¹A₁ ground state of H₂O and the ²B₁ state of H²O₊ show close agreement with the coupled electron pair approach (CEPA ).     

Structure and spectroscopic characterization of 1- and 2-hydrazonoyl-1,2,3-triazoles

The synthesis of some 1- and 2-hydroazonoyl-1,2,3-triazoles by reaction of the corresponding 1,2,3-triazoles and nitrilimines is described and their characterization by ¹³C nmr and mass spectroscopy is provided. The structure of a 2-hydrazonoyl derivative 6b was determined by X-ray analysis.     

Optimisation of focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of hydrocarbons in geological chert samples

The analysis of hydrocarbons in chert rocks provides a worthwhile source of information regarding the geochemical features of a depositional setting. Since the typical analytical procedure requires long Soxhlet extractions and the use of large quantities of sample (30-50 g), in this work we have optimised the focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) and the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to make available a less severe procedure. In both cases a full experimental design including solvent mixture composition (Dichloromethane/Hexane/Acetone) and process variables (sonication time and cycles, and extraction temperature and time) by means of D-optimal designs. In the extracted fractions hydrocarbons (C₁₆-C₄₀) were analysed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the case of FUSE the process variables were the most sensitive variables and the optimum conditions were defined at 60:40 DCM/Hex mixture and a sonication time of 30 min and 9 cycles. In the case of MAE all the variables shown a significant effect on the extraction yield and the most adequate conditions (60:30:10 DCM/Hex/Ace mixture and an irradiation time of 15 min at 110 °C) were established from the analysis of the response surface. Both methods were systematically applied with different chert samples collected in Cucho (Trebiño County, Burgos, Spain) and we were able to assure quantitative extractions (>85%) in the first extraction. Additionally, from the distribution patterns of n-alkanes obtained in the different chert samples (nodular chert, laminar chert and massive-brechoid chert) collected in Cucho, we were able to distinguish different origins and diagenetic history.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of 4,5-dihydro-[1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazines. A novel condensed heterocyclic ring system

The reaction of the 5-bromomethyl-1-dibenzoylamino-1,2,3-triazole ( 5 ) with aromatic amines gave the corresponding 5-arylaminomethyl-1-benzoylamino-1,2,3-triazoles 9 , which on treatment with phosphorus pentachloride gave the [1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives 10 . Hydrolysis of the amide bond in 9 gave the 1-aminotriazoles 11 , which with ethyl orthoformate gave the [1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazines 12 , whereas with phosgene the triazolotriazinones 13 were obtained. The spectroscopic characteristics of all the new compounds are also given.     

Potentiometric study of the distribution equilibria of phenols between 1.0 moldm−3 NaCl and organic solvents at 25 °C

The potentiometric determination of the distribution coefficient of phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2-methyl-phenol between 1.0 mol dm^–3 NaCl and five different organic solvents at 25 °C is presented. An automated potentiometric system was used and the determination of the constants was carried out using both graphical and numerical methods. The relevance of this study for the development of supported liquid membrane (SLM) recovery systems is discussed.     

Composition and antimicrobial activities of Lippia multiflora Moldenke, Mentha x piperita L. and Ocimum basilicum L. essential oils and their major monoterpene alcohols alone and in combination

Essential oils from leaves of Lippia multiflora, Mentha x piperita and Ocimum basilicum from Burkina Faso were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Major components were p-cymene, thymol, b-caryophyllene, carvacrol and carvone for L. multiflora, menthol and iso-menthone for M. x piperita and, linalool and eugenol for O. basilicum. The essential oils and their major monoterpene alcohols were tested against nine bacterial strains using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The essential oils with high phenolic contents were the most effective antimicrobials. The checkerboard method was used to quantify the efficacy of paired combinations of essential oils and their major components. The best synergetic effects among essential oils and major components were obtained with combinations involving O. basilicum essential oil and eugenol, respectively. As phenolic components are characterized by a strong spicy aroma, this study suggests that the selection of certain combinations of EOs could help to reduce the amount of essential oils and consequently reduce any adverse sensory impact in food.     

Effect of sequence length, sequence frequency, and data acquisition rate on the performance of a Hadamard transform time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Various factors influencing the performance of a Hadamard transform time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HT-TOFMS) have been investigated. Using a nitrogen corona discharge to produce an ion stream of N ₂ ⁺ , N ₃ ⁺ , and N ₄ ⁺ , it is found for spectra containing only N ₄ ⁺ that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) closely approaches the value calculated from the ion background by assuming that the ion background follows a Poisson distribution. In contrast, for a more intense beam containing N ₂ ⁺ , N ₃ ⁺ , and N ₄ ⁺ , the SNR is less than its theoretical value because of the appearance of discrete spikes in the mass spectrum caused by deviations in the actual modulation sequence from the ideal one. These spikes can be reduced, however, by decreasing the modulation voltage. Under these optimized conditions, the pseudo-random sequence length is varied to understand how it alters SNR, mass resolution, and scan speed. When the length of the pseudo-random sequence is doubled, the SNR increases by √2 while the time necessary to record a mass spectrum also doubles. Mass resolution can be varied between 500 and 1200 at m/z = 609 as the sequence length, modulation speed (10 MHz, 25 MHz), and acquisition rate (up to 50 MHz) are changed. Scan speeds of 6000 passes per s can be obtained using a sequence containing 4095 elements modulated at 25 MHz. The capability to tailor the HT-TOFMS to increase the scan speed and resolution with a constant 50% duty cycle makes the technique extremely appealing as a mass analyzer for measuring rapid changes in the composition of an ion stream.     

Chemical fingerprinting of petroleum biomarkers in biota samples using retention-time locking chromatography and multivariate analysis

This work was conducted to study a new separation and evaluation approach for the chemical fingerprinting of petroleum biomarkers in biota samples. The final aim of this work was to study the correlation between the observed effects in the shore habitats (mussels and limpets) and one pollution source: the oil spill of the Prestige tanker. The method combined a clean-up step of the biota extracts (mussels and limpets), the retention-time locking of the gas chromatographic set up, and the multivariate data analysis of the chromatograms. For clean-up, solid-phase extraction and gel permeation chromatography were compared, and 5g Florisil cartridges assured the lack of interfering compounds in the last extracts. In order to assure reproducible retention times and to avoid the realignment of the chromatograms, the retention-time locking feature of our gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) set up was used. Finally, in the case of multivariate analysis, the GC-MS chromatograms were treated, essentially by derivatization and by normalization, and all the chromatograms at m/z 191 (terpenes), m/z 217-218 (steranes and diasteranes) and m/z 231 (triaromatic steranes) were treated by means of principal component analysis. Furthermore, slightly different four oil samples from the Prestige oil spill were analyzed following the Nordtest method, and the GC-MS chromatograms were considered as the reference chemical fingerprints of the sources. In this sense, the correlation between the studied samples, including sediments and biota samples, and the source candidate was completed by means of a supervised pattern recognition method. As a result, the method proposed in this work was useful to identify the Prestige oil spill as the source of many of the analyzed samples.