Multivariate analysis of non-homogeneous peaks in liquid chromatography

Summary The effects of concentration, separation and spectral similarity as factors influencing the accuracy of iterative target testing factor analysis (ITT-FA) are investigated for three component systems by the application of analysis of variance (ANOVAR). ANOVAR is applied over a range of peak separations to map the changing effects of the three factors with increasing overlap. Two error responses were measured and analysed, (a) Relative cluster error (RCE) a measure of the error over all peaks in a cluster and (b) Relative peak error (RPE) the error of an individual peak. Multicomponent analysis (MCA) a method requiringa priori spectral information, is used as a referee method for ITT-FA.     

Analysis of critical points on the potential energy surface

A simple classification scheme is proposed for critical points, based only on rankr and signatures of the (n,n)-matrixG of harmonic force constants. The determination ofr ands, e.g. by the well-known factorizationG=L ^T gL (L: triangular matrix,g: diagonal matrix), has several theoretical as well as practical (computational) advantages over the inspection of eigenvalues ofG, so far used in quantum chemistry. The eigenvalues are sufficient butnot necessary for a classification whereas rank and signature are the only necessary and sufficient prerequisites for solving the task. For the purpose of presenting a working example, by calculating only a 2×2 torque constant matrix, it is shown that the coplanar ethylbenzene is unstable in the CNDO/2 picture.     

GC–MS analysis of phenolic compounds in fuels after conversion to trifluoroacetate esters

The GC–MS characteristics of trifluoroacetate esters of phenolic compounds are discussed. Linear temperature programmed retention indices and total ion current MS response factors of over 120 phenolic esters are reported. The main GC advantages from analysis of trifluoroacetate esters as compared to plain phenols are enhanced volatility and improved resolution. For example, the elution temperature of a given phenol is typically 50 °C greater than that of the corresponding trifluoroacetate ester. Also, while retention of compounds with two trifluoroacetate groups is only moderately greater than mono esters, underivatized dihydroxy compounds are very difficult to elute from any GC column. Complete resolution of isomeric C₀-, C₁- and C₂-alkylphenol esters is readily achieved on conventional fused silica GC columns; resolution of the corresponding underivatized compounds requires specialized GC columns with low temperature limits. In general, mass spectra of trifluoroacetate esters are more characteristic of a given structure than those of the corresponding phenols and may be more rigorously interpreted towards structural elucidation. A table in the report summarizes some of the more important spectral features used in compound identification. Example applications in analysis of coal-, shale- and petroleum-derived materials are presented. Selected ion monitoring is used to determine individual phenolic components in whole distillates; reconstructed ion chromatograms are used to illustrate distributions of selected species as a function of fuel storage and thermal stress.     

Structure-activity relationship of Ca2+ channel blockers: A study using conformational analysis and chemometric methods

Summary A structure-activity relationship study has been done on 8 compounds with the activity known as Ca²⁺ channel blockers. Conformational analysis was carried out using a molecular mechanics method. The 3D-QSAR approach was used and the most polar functional groups present in all the molecules were considered. Eight interatomic distances are necessary to define the relative spatial disposition of these relevant molecular fragments. The structure-activity relationship between interatomic distances and biological activity was performed using statistic and chemometric methods. In particular, with Principal Component Analysis, it was possible to reduce the number of interatomic distances: only six of the eight distances are sufficient to describe the system in a useful way. A classification method was iteratively used to select the most probable conformations linked to the biological activity and to build a model able to classify conformations according to their biological behaviour. Cluster analysis on the active selected conformations subsequently allowed the identification of two different geometrical patterns for the active compounds. Finally the validity of the model was verified by correctly predicting the activity of other molecules not used in the construction of the model but possessing known activity.     

Bias in modal parameters due to aliasing in the time domain

This paper deals with some aliasing effects in the time domain that can lead to unacceptable misestimations of modal parameters. When a frequency response function of a vibrating system is sampled and inverse Fourier transformed, the resulting impulse response is given by an infinite geometric series, the single term of which is the impulse response itself shifted in time. For this reason, some modal parameters, if estimated in the time domain, are biased; in particular, while the damping factor and the natural frequency are not influenced by the aliasing phenomenon, the magnitude and phase of the residue can be highly biased. Corrective terms are theoretically evaluated and their efficiency is shown in numerical simulations.

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Sommario In questo articolo e' presentato un metodo per correggere gli errori che si compiono nella stima di alcuni parametri modali, quando essi vengono ricavati nel dominio del tempo. Infatti se la funzione di risposta in frequenza e' ottenuta con eccitazioni particolari—quali ad esempio lo pseudo-random, lo stepped-sine a passo costante o lo sweep in frequenza-la risposta impulsiva, ottenuta per mezzo dell'antitrasformata discreta di Fourier, risulta periodica, con periodo pari all'inverso della spaziatura tra le righe spettrali. Cio' comporta un errore nella stima dell'ampiezza e della fase del residuo, mentre nessuna conseguenza si ha sulla frequenza naturale e sul fattore di smorzamento. L'errore sulle stime risulta tanto piu' grande, quanto meno smorzata e' la risposta impulsiva all'interno dell'intervallo di osservazione.Partendo dall'inviluppo e dalla fase istantanea dei segnali complessi, ottenibili per mezzo della trasformata di Hilbert, si sono ricavati i termini correttivi sia per il modulo, che per la fase del residuo. La validita' delle correzioni e' mostrata con esempi numerici.

     

Interpretation of CALUX results in view of the EU maximal TEQ level in milk

Analyses of dioxins in food have become increasingly important since the European Commission has enforced maximal toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ) levels in various food and feed products. Screening methodologies are usually used to exempt those samples that are below the maximum permitted limit and that can, therefore, be released to the market. In addition, one needs to select those samples that require confirmation of their dioxin TEQ level. When bioassays are used as screening tools, the interpretation of the obtained results should consider the higher variability and uncertainty associated with them. This paper explores the use of CALUX data as quantitative screening results. The validation of the method for the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD)/F TEQ determination in milk samples is described with emphasis on the decision limit (CC) and the precision of the method. The decision limit amounts to 4.53 pg TEQ/g fat. Repeatability and within-lab reproducibility coefficients of variation are below 30%. The newly introduced parameter CC^* of 1.47 pg TEQ/g fat delimits with CC a range of suspicious results. These data are not significantly different from the maximum limit of 3 pg TEQ/g fat and should be confirmed by a confirmatory analytical method such as HRGC–HRMS.     

Evaluation of the surface tension measurement of axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA) using a shape parameter

A quantitative criterion called “shape parameter” to evaluate the quality of surface tension measurement of Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA) is presented. ADSA is a powerful technique for the measurement of interfacial tensions and contact angles of pendant drops, sessile drops, and bubbles. Despite the general success of ADSA, deficient results may be obtained for drops close to spherical shape. Therefore, the “shape parameter” was used to determine the range of drop shapes in which ADSA succeeds or fails. The “shape parameter” is a dimensionless parameter that expresses quantitatively the difference in shape between a given experimental profile and an inscribed circle. The surface tension measurements of ADSA were evaluated for both pendant drop and constrained sessile drop configurations using the shape parameter. Different shapes of the pendant drop were studied using different sizes and materials of holders. For each drop configuration, a “critical shape parameter” was defined based on the minimum value of the shape parameter that guarantees an error of less than ±0.1 mJ/m². Furthermore, the effects of the type of liquid and constellation on the “critical shape parameter” were studied.     

Discriminant Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds data related to a new location method of entrapped people in collapsed buildings of an earthquake

Discriminant Analysis is used as a part of a research, which aims at using expired air analysis for the early location of entrapped people under the ruins of collapsed buildings in an earthquake. This work focuses on the possibility of distinguishing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the entrapment area which originate from different sources. Five categories of samples were analyzed by Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Expired air samples from healthy humans (Category 1) and fasting people (Category 2) were analyzed for studying the VOCs attributed to entrapped people. Headspace air of urban waste disposal bins (Category 3), headspace air of bags with decaying human bodies (Category 4) and urban air samples (Category 5) were analyzed for studying the VOCs attributed to background sources. Discriminant Rotation, a specific type of Discriminant Analysis was applied on the VOCs concentration matrix of the five categories. Combinations of VOCs that best discriminated each category were determined. Cluster Analysis was used to validate the results of Discriminant Analysis. The advantages and limitations of the method are presented and discussed.     

Efficient synthesis of magnetic nanoparticle-Musa acuminata peel composite for the adsorption of anionic dye

The impregnation of magnetite (Mt) nanoparticle (NPs) onto Musa acuminata peel (MApe), to form a novel magnetic combo (MApe-Mt) for the adsorption of anionic bromophenol blue (BPB) was studied. The SEM, EDX, BET, XRD, FTIR and TGA were used to characterize the adsorbents. The FTIR showed that the OH and CO groups were the major sites for BPB uptake onto the adsorbent materials. The average Mt crystalline size on MApe-Mt was 21.13 nm. SEM analysis revealed that Mt NPs were agglomerated on the surface of the MApe biosorbent, with an average Mt diameter of 25.97 nm. After Mt impregnation, a decrease in BET surface area (14.89 to 3.80 m²/g) and an increase in pore diameter (2.25–3.11 nm), pore volume (0.0052–0.01418 cm³/g) and pH point of zero charge (6.4–7.2) was obtained. The presence of Pb(II) ions in solution significantly decreased the uptake of BPB onto both MApe (66.1–43.8%) and MApe-Mt (80.3–59.1%), compared to other competing ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II)) in the solution. Isotherm modeling showed that the Freundlich model best fitted the adsorption data (R² > 0.994 and SSE < 0.0013). In addition, maximum monolayer uptake was enhanced from 6.04 to 8.12 mg/g after Mt impregnation. Kinetics were well described by the pseudo-first order and liquid film diffusion models. Thermodynamics revealed a physical, endothermic adsorption of BPB onto the adsorbents, with ΔH^o values of 15.87–16.49 kJ/mol, corroborated by high desorption (over 90%) of BPB from the loaded materials. The viability of the prepared adsorbents was also revealed in its reusability for BPB uptake.     

Preparation,purification, and analysis of alkylated cyclodextrins

Methods of alkylation of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins have been optimized with regard to the parameters of reaction, degree of alkylation and yields. The analysis of the reaction mixtures and of the isolated single species has been performed by high temperature GC and HPLC. The phase systems of the preferably applied HPLC have been carefully adjusted by variation of both the stationary and mobile phases to the very different hydrophobicities of the various alkylated CD species which have been synthesized. Several partially or fully alkylated CD species were isolated from preparative scale HPLC separations in high purity.