The effects of sample preparation methods on the variability of the electrospray ionization response for model drug compounds

A post-column infusion system was developed in order to analyze suppression of electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry response in the presence of endogenous plasma interferences. By enabling direct detection of these interfering components, this experimental system was used to analyze the ability of several common extraction procedures to remove endogenous plasma components that cause changes in the ESI response of model drug substances. Methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) liquid-liquid, Oasis and Empore solid-phase, and acetonitrile (ACN) protein precipitation sample preparation methods were tested using the post-column infusion system. In all cases, ACN protein precipitation samples showed the greatest amount of ESI response suppression while liquid-liquid extracts demonstrated the least. In addition, the three test compounds, phenacetin, caffeine, and a representative Merck compound, demonstrated that ESI response suppression is compound dependent. Suppression was greatest with caffeine, the most polar analyte, and the smallest for the Merck compound, the least polar analyte. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy with relativistic exotic heavy-ions

Feasibility of gamma-ray spectroscopy at relativistic energies with exotic heavy-ions and new generation of germanium detectors (segmented Clover) is discussed. An experiment with such detector array and radioactive is discussed.     

Percolative transport in the vicinity of charge-order ferromagnetic transition in a hole-doped manganite

We report measurements of non-linear charge transport in epitaxial (La_1−x Pr _x )_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ thin films fabricated on (100) oriented SrTiO₃ single crystals by pulsed laser deposition. The end members of this series, namely Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ are canonical charge-ordered (CO) and ferromagnetic manganites, respectively. The onset of the CO state in Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ is manifested by a pronounced insulating behavior below ∼ 200 K. The CO state remains stable even when a large (∼ 2×10⁵ V/cm) electric field is applied across the thin film samples. However, on substitution of Pr with La, a crossover from the highly resistive CO state to a state of metallic character is observed at relatively low electric fields. The current-voltage characteristics of the samples at low temperatures show hysteretic and history dependent effects. The electric field driven charge transport in the system is modelled on the basis of an inhomogeneous medium consisting of ferromagnetic metallic clusters dispersed in a CO background.     

Self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc

The self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc is examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Electron impact of diethylzinc neutral produces the radical cation, C(4)H(15)Zn(+) (m/z x 122), which reacts further with the neutral (C(2)H(5))(2)Zn to give the following product ions: Zn(+) (m/z x 64), C(2)H(5)Zn(+) (m/z x 93), C(4)H(9)Zn(+) (m/z x 121), C(4)H(11)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 187), and C(6)H(15)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 215). To determine the structure and pathways for production of these ions, monoisotopic (12)C(4)H(15)(64)Zn(+), (64)Zn(+) and (12)C(2)H(5)(64)Zn(+) were individually isolated and reacted with the neutral background. We also performed semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (ZINDO/1). The molecular orbital calculations and experimental data are consistent in predicting that the ethyl group on the diethylzinc cation carries the positive charge. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal decomposition of high-energy density materials at high pressure and temperature

High-energy density materials (HEDMs) are being investigated for use as propellants in rocket, air-breathing, and combined-cycle applications. These types of materials may be attractive alternatives to conventional propellants because of their high heat of combustion, density, and high strain energy. Because advanced propulsion systems may operate at very high pressure and temperature (>25 atm and temperatures exceeding 500 °C), the thermal decomposition of individual HEDMs is of interest to future fuel system designers. A laboratory-scale flow reactor was used to subject small amounts (approximately 1 ml) of deoxygenated HEDM to controlled conditions of temperature and residence-time-at-temperature at constant pressure (34 atm) in the liquid or supercritical phase. The reactor was 316 stainless steel HPLC tubing. Using an in-line analytical system, as well as off-line chromatographic analysis of products, the thermal stability of the parent material, as well as the thermal fragmentation products of each HEDM was measured. Some of the candidate materials tested (dimethyl-2-azidoethylamine (DAMEZ), quadricyclane, and bicyclopropylidene (BCP)) showed only marginal thermal stability with major decomposition occurring before 400 °C (3 s residence time). Other candidate materials (JP-10, RP-1, RG-1, RJ-6, and RJ-7) showed excellent thermal stability: little decomposition even at 600 °C. Results show the pyrolytic stability of candidate materials relative to each other, and provided insights to the mechanisms of thermal decomposition for specific fuel candidates.     

Evidence for the quantum birth of our universe

We present evidence for a nonsingular origin of the Universe with intial conditions determined by quantum physics and relativistic gravity. In particular, we establish that the present temperature of the microwave background and the present density of the Universe agree well with our predictions from these intial conditions, after evolution to the present age using the Einstein-Friedmann equation. Remarkably, the quantum origin for the Universe naturally allows its evolution at exactly the critical density. We also discuss the consequences of these results to some fundamental aspects of quantum physics in the early Universe.     

Rapid determination of total sulfur in fuels using gas chromatography with atomic emission detection

The purpose of this study is to determine whether gas chromatography (GC)-atomic emission detection (AED) can be used in a low-resolution mode for rapid, accurate determinations of total sulfur in fuels at trace levels to complement other popular methods of total sulfur analysis. A method for the rapid determination of total sulfur in fuels (called "fast GC-AED") is developed. The method is tested on gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, and diesel fuel with sulfur concentrations ranging from 125 mg/L down to 2.5 mg/L. Fast GC-AED shows better performance than traditional GC-AED for total sulfur determinations, especially for complex mixtures containing many different sulfur-containing compounds at trace levels. This method also shows that GC-AED can be used for both rapid determinations of total sulfur and traditional determinations of speciated sulfur without requiring equipment changes. Fast GC-AED is competitive with other popular methods for sulfur analysis. The 5-min program that is developed for fast GC-AED is comparable with the time scale of other methods, such as wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence and UV-fluorescence (2 to 5 min). Fast GC-AED also compares favorably with UV-fluorescence for trace sulfur determinations, demonstrating accuracy down to 2.5-mg/L sulfur.     

Quantitation of a metal deactivator additive by derivatization and gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

The quantitative analysis of phenolic and amine-containing petroleum additives can be challenging. One such compound-N,N'-disalicylidene-1,2-propanediamine, a common metal deactivator additive (MDA)--is thought to inhibit fuel oxidation catalyzed by metals both in the fuel and on surfaces. The ability to measure the concentration of MDA in storage stability tests, thermal-stressing studies, and field samples is important. Quantitating low concentrations of MDA can be difficult because of surface adsorptivity due to the phenol and amine functional groups. This paper describes the shortcomings of direct-injection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantitate MDA as well as a solution to the analytical problem using the common silylation agent BSA to derivatize the MDA. Results demonstrate that the silylation technique is suitable for the determination of MDA concentrations in aviation fuel samples and suggests that the MDA may be readily determined in other petroleum products with a lower detection limit for MDA of 0.5 mg/L. Measurements conducted in heated batch reactors indicate that MDA concentration is reduced as hydrocarbon fuels are stressed. In addition, only free or available MDA is measured by this technique, not MDA that is complexed with metals.