Separation and Detection of Arsenic and Selenium Species in Environmental Samples by HPLC-ICP-MS

A method is presented for arsenic speciation analysis of an oyster sample using ion chromatography coupled with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument. A strong anion exchange resin was employed with a step gradient elution of 0.1 mM/0.1 M K 2 SO 4 at pH 10.2. Arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinic acid were determined following extraction based on trypsin enzymolysis with 95-100% extraction efficiency. Limits of detection in the range 0.1-0.3 mg kg m 1 of arsenic were obtained for organic arsenic species. No inorganic arsenic was detected. Validation was performed using TORT-2 as a certified reference material. Although high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS is an effective method for speciation analysis it is not always necessary to obtain such a detailed picture. A simple liquid chromatographic separation technique based upon mini-column technology is presented. It was developed to obtain a fast, efficient and reliable separation of inorganic from organic, i.e. assumed toxic from non-toxic, arsenic and selenium species suitable for use as an initial screening method for environmental analysis. Two types of strong anion exchange resin were tested. Excellent separation was obtained for both min-column resins and analysis times were within 7 min. Limits of detection obtained for inorganic arsenic, organic arsenic, selenomethionine, Se IV and Se VI were 1.6, 1.8, 66, 32 and 22 µg kg m 1 , respectively.     

Contact angle hysteresis in multiphase systems

Contact angle (CA) hysteresis is the difference between the maximum (advancing) and minimum (receding) water CA. Hysteresis is caused by adhesion hysteresis in the solid–water contact area (2D effect) and by pinning of the solid–water–air triple line due to the surface roughness (1D effect). In this work, we show that CA hysteresis is present also in more complex systems, such as an organic liquid (oil) in contact with a solid immersed in water. In order to decouple the 1D and 2D effects, we study CA hysteresis in solid–water–air (droplet), solid–air–water (bubble), solid–water–oil, and solid–water–air–oil systems involving rough and microstructured surfaces. The comparative analysis of these systems allows decoupling the 1D and 2D effects as well as hydrogen bonding and entropic forces (water–air tension) and dispersion forces (oil–air tension).     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phenols and Cyanides After Distillation from Natural Waters

Abstract

Total phenols were determined by molecular spectrophotometry, after distillation, complexation with 4-aminoantipyrine and extraction into chloroform. Cyanides were also determined spectrophotometrically after distillation from the acidified samples, and complexation in moderate acidic solution with barbituric acid. The dynamic ranges were 0 – 100 μg L^?1 for total phenols and 0 – 30 μg L^?1 for cyanides. The above methods were applied in the analysis of river, lake and stream waters collected from Northern Greece. The seasonal and spatial variation of concentrations was evaluated by two-way ANOVA. Background levels (4 – 12 μg L^?1 for total phenols and 0.3 – 3 μg L^?1 for cyanides), were found in almost all surface waters, with some exceptions.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry of antimony at unmodified carbon electrodes

Antimony is an element of significant environmental concern, yet has been neglected relative to other heavy metals in electroanalysis. As such very little research has been reported on the electroanalytical determination of antimony at unmodified carbon electrodes. In this paper we report the electrochemical determination of Sb(III) in HCl solutions using unmodified carbon substrates, with focus on non-classical carbon materials namely edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG), boron doped diamond (BDD) and screen-printed electrodes (SPE). Using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, EPPG was found to give a considerably greater response towards antimony than other unmodified carbon electrodes, allowing highly linear ranges in nanomolar concentrations and a detection limit of 3.9?nM in 0.25?M HCl. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the response from EPPG was 100 times greater than for glassy carbon (GC). Unmodified GC gave a comparable response to previous results using the bare substrate, and BDD gave an improved, yet still very high limit of detection of 320?nM compared to previous analysis using an iridium oxide modified BDD electrode. SPEs gave a very poor response to antimony, even at high concentrations, observing no linearity from standard additions, as well as a major interference from the ink intrinsic to the working electrode carbon material. Owing to its superior performance relative to other carbon electrodes, the EPPG electrode was subjected to further analytical testing with antimony. The response of the electrode for a 40?nM concentration of Sb(III) was reproducible with a mean peak current of 1.07?µA and variation of 8.4% (n?=?8). The effect of metals copper, bismuth and arsenic were investigated at the electrode, as they are common interferences for stripping analysis of antimony.     

Simulation of chemical metabolism for fate and hazard assessment. I. Approach for simulating metabolism

Information regarding the metabolism of xenobiotic chemicals plays a central role in regulatory risk assessments. In regulatory programmes where metabolism studies are required, the studies of metabolic pathways are often incomplete and the identification of activated metabolites and important degradation products are limited by analytical methods. Because so many more new chemicals are being produced than can be assessed for potential hazards, setting assessment priorities among the thousands of untested chemicals requires methods for predictive hazard identification which can be derived directly from chemical structure and their likely metabolites. In a series of papers we are sharing our experience in the computerized management of metabolic data and the development of simulators of metabolism for predicting the environmental fate and (eco)toxicity of chemicals. The first paper of the series presents a knowledge-based formalism for the computer simulation of non-intermediary metabolism for untested chemicals, with an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative aspects of modelling metabolism.     

Genetic Manipulation of the Fusarium fujikuroi Fusarin Gene Cluster Yields Insight into the Complex Regulation and Fusarin Biosynthetic Pathway

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Bioelectroanalysis with nanoelectrode ensembles and arrays

This review deals with recent advances in bioelectroanalytical applications of nanostructured electrodes, in particular nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs) and arrays (NEAs). First, nanofabrication techniques, principles of function, and specific advantages and limits of NEEs and NEAs are critically discussed. In the second part, some recent examples of bioelectroanalytical applications are presented. These include use of nanoelectrode arrays and/or ensembles for direct electrochemical analysis of pharmacologically active organic compounds or redox proteins, and the development of functionalized nanoelectrode systems and their use as catalytic or affinity electrochemical biosensors.     

Isothiocyanatochloromethylphosphonates and Phosphinates – Versatile Synthones for Obtaining of S (Se), N,P–Containing Heterocycles

Abstract

Isothiocyanatochloromethyl(thio)phosphonates and (thio)-phosphinates 1 (X=O, S; R¹ = OPh, CH₂Cl, NCS; R² = H, Cl have been found to be convenient starting material for synthesis of a variety of S (Se), N, P-containing cyclic compounds. They react with different proton containing nucleophiles in the presence of a base with formation of saturated 2 and unsaturated 3 five membered phosphacyclanes. Diisothiocyanatodichloromethylphosphonates 1 (R¹ = NCS, R² =Cl) produce with amines and thiols appropriate bicyclic compounds 4.     

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION PRODUCTS OF N3P3CL4(NH2)2 WITH NUCLEOPHILIC REAGENTS. EXAMPLES OF GEMINAL → NON-GEMINAL REARRANGEMENTS

Abstract

Based on its reactions with various nucleophiles both geminal and non-geminal structures have been earlier proposed for N₃P₃Cl₄(NH₂)₂, although its geminal structure is now considered established. The reactions of this compound with alcohols have been investigated and the products examined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Evidence for both unrearranged as well as geminal → non-geminal rearranged alcoholysis products is presented.