Selection of orthogonal reversed-phase HPLC systems by univariate and auto-associative multivariate regression trees

In order to select chromatographic starting conditions to be optimized during further method development of the separation of a given mixture, so-called generic orthogonal chromatographic systems could be explored in parallel. In this paper the use of univariate and multivariate regression trees (MRT) was studied to define the most orthogonal subset from a given set of chromatographic systems. Two data sets were considered, which contain the retention data of 68 structurally diversive drugs on sets of 32 and 38 chromatographic systems, respectively. For both the univariate and multivariate approaches no other data but the measured retention factors are needed to build the decision trees. Since multivariate regression trees are used in an unsupervised way, they are called auto-associative multivariate regression trees (AAMRT). For all decision trees used, a variable importance list of the predictor variables can be derived. It was concluded that based on these ranked lists, both for univariate and multivariate regression trees, a selection of the most orthogonal systems from a given set of systems can be obtained in a user-friendly and fast way.     

Simulation of chromatography of phenolic compounds with a computational chemical method

An ab initio simulation of reversed-phase liquid chromatography for phenolic compounds was achieved based on molecular interaction energy values calculated using molecular mechanics calculations (MM2) of the CAChe program. The precision of the predicted retention factors from the molecular interaction energy values was equivalent to the predicted retention factors based on octanol-water partition coefficients (log P) calculated using the molecular orbital package (MOPAC). The prediction of retention factors of phenolic compounds in reversed-phase liquid chromatography in a given pH eluent was possible using the predicted dissociation constant (pKa) from the atomic partial charge without a chemical experiment if the organic modifier effect was known.     

Retention indices of 28 polychlorinated biphenyls in capillary gas chromatography referred to 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl alkyl ethers as RI-standards

An homologous series of eight 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl alkyl ethers (TCPE) was synthesized. The TCPE has been conceived to be used as retention index markers in the gas chromatography with the atomic emission detector (AED), the electron capture detector (ECD) and the mass spectrometric detector (MSD). On the basis of the TCPE, the retention indices of 28 polychlorinated biphenyls have been determined using the ECD, a 95% dimethyl 5% phenyl polysiloxane phase and six different temperature programs.     

单硫醚气相色谱保留指数拓扑化学研究

在分子拓扑化学理论的基础上,根据分子中原子的特性,用分子中原子的平衡电负性对分子图进行着色,在距离矩阵的基础上结合分子中各原子的支化度构建一组新的拓扑指数NPm(m=1,2,3),利用多元线性回归技术将单硫醚在4种极性固定相的气相色谱保留指数与NPm(m=1,2,3)建立相应的定量结构-保留相关关系模型(QSRR),并用这种模型对单硫醚的气相色谱保留指数进行预测,结果表明,预测结果和实验值吻合较好。     

Systematic study of lanthanoid endohedral metallofullerenes: Production yields, HPLC retention time and reactor irradiation effects

We made systematic studies of lanthanoid metallofullerenes on the following three properties using the radiochemical method: (1) the relative production yields of metallofullerene species, (2) variation of the HPLC retention time among M(III)@C₈₂ species, and (3) the effects of the reactor irradiation on the survival yields of each metallofullerene species. The production yields of M@C₈₂ relative to La@C₈₂ were found to decrease as the atomic number of M became larger and as the number of atom ratio, M/C, in the carbon rod became larger. On the other hand, the production yields of M₁M₂@C₈₂, relative to that of LuM@C₈₂ were found to increase for the larger atomic number. The retention time for the M(III)@C₈₂ species in the Buckyprep column was found to become slightly longer for the larger atomic number but it becomes abruptly larger for Gd, and Tb by about 5%. The overall effects of the reactor irradiation on the survival yields (or retention yields) of M@C₈₂ species were found to be (19.7±2.1)%.     

Preconcentration and atomic absorption determination of iron by sequential injection analysis

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) assembly for the atomic absorption determination of Fe(III) in natural waters is proposed. Iron is preconcentrated on a microcolumn packed with a chelating resin (Chelex 100) that is inserted in the manifold. The sample is passed through the column and the iron retained by the resin is subsequently eluted with 2 M HNO(3). The proposed SIA system affords automatic preconcentration, elution, detection of Fe(III), data acquisition and treatment. When 9 ml of iron solution containing 0.4 or 1 mg l(-1) was passed through the resin, the retention efficiency was 93.1 +/- 0.6 and 7.4 +/- 3.0% respectively, and when 27 ml of iron solution of 0.2 mg l(-1) was preconcentrated, the retention was 8.4 +/- 2.9%. The detection limits thus achieved is 12 mug l(-1) when 9 ml of sample are preconcentrated and 6 mug l(-1) for 27 ml.     

Quantitative structure-retention relationships of phenolic compounds without Hammett's equations

Retention times of phenolic compounds in a given pH eluent in reversed-phase liquid chromatography were predicted from dissociation constants derived from atomic partial charges and log P-values calculated by a computational chemical method. The precision of the calculation of atomic partial charges by AMI and PM3 methods of MOPAC was evaluated. The atomic partial charges obtained by AMI were the more acceptable. The atomic partial charges obtained from the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group included an ortho-effect, therefore an ortho-effect was added to the predicted values. The precision of predicted retention factors obtained using predicted pKa values was similar to that using reference pKa values.     

On-line pre-concentration of Cr(III) and Mn(II) in FI-FAAS: A critical study involving interference effects and analytical use of an immobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline minicolumn

A flow injection system with a pre-concentration minicolumn based on a chelating resin was coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The focus of this work was the investigation of interference effects and the analytical applicability of the azo-immobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline on controlled-pore glass for the determination of Cr and Mn in mussel and non-fat milk powder. All studied concomitants affected the retention of Cr(III). These effects are probably related to the formation of hydroxo-complexes at the optimum pH range 9.0-10. The positive effect caused by Ca(II) was exploited to increase the retention of Cr(III) species and to improve the slope by 70%. The interferences on Mn(II) retention were less severe. The quantification of Cr and Mn was performed by standard additions. The proposed methodology was validated by analysis of three certified reference materials of mussels (Cr and Mn) and non-fat milk powder (Mn) with a mean relative percent error of <6.5% and mean relative standard deviation of <13%. Chromium and Mn were determined in typical Chilean mussels samples, and Mn was determined in non-fat milk powder samples. Results agreed at the 95% confidence level with those obtained by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) using graphite furnace atomization. The method detection limits for a 30 s pre-concentration time were 0.9 and 1.1 micro g L(-1) for Mn, and 2.2 and 2.5 micro g L(-1) for Cr in acid digested solutions of mussel and non-fat milk, respectively. The methodology is simple, fast (sampling frequency 60-72 h(-1)), reliable, of low cost, and can be applied to the determination of traces of Cr (> or =0.18 micro g g(-1)) and Mn (> or =0.6 micro g g(-1)) in mussel samples, and Mn (> or =0.37 micro g g(-1)) in non-fat milk powder.     

炉前煤低温干馏工艺中脱硫行为的模拟研究

为了提供燃煤炉前低温干馏系统中硫的脱除和转化的工业设计依据，采用自制的程序升温固定床反应器，在模拟燃煤炉前低温干馏的工况下考察了热解温度及Ca/S原子比对热解产物中硫分布的影响。结果表明，由于CaO的存在，循环流化床（CFB）锅炉的循环灰具有明显的固硫作用，在480℃~640℃、煤热解气、液产物中60％～70％的硫以CaS的形式固定在灰中。相同热解温度下，固硫作用随着Ca/S原子比的提高而增加，焦油收率和焦油中硫含量均有所下降。     

Multiresidue screening of pesticides in foods using retention time locking, GC-AED, database search, and GC/MS identification

Fruit and vegetable extracts were screened for over 400 pesticides by gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (GC-AED) and an experimental database. A technique called retention time locking was used to match GC-AED and GC with mass spectrometry (MS) retention times to those of the database. Samples were analyzed for sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorine by GC-AED. Possible pesticides were suggested by database search and identified by GC/MS. Forty-four pesticide standards were analyzed to determine the precision of retention time matching and the accuracy of the database search. Analytical retention times matched database retention times within 0.32 min. Using elemental criteria, the database search identified the correct compound for 41 of 44 pesticide standards. For blind spikes of fruit and vegetable extracts, the database suggested 22 of 26 spiked pesticides as matches. Nineteen were identified by GC/MS. The combination of retention time locking, GC-AED, database search, and GC/MS can be a powerful tool for identifying pesticides in a complex matrix.     

QSPR modeling: graph connectivity indices versus line graph connectivity indices

Five QSPR models of alkanes were reinvestigated. Properties considered were molecular surface-dependent properties (boiling points and gas chromatographic retention indices) and molecular volume-dependent properties (molar volumes and molar refractions). The vertex- and edge-connectivity indices were used as structural parameters. In each studied case we computed connectivity indices of alkane trees and alkane line graphs and searched for the optimum exponent. Models based on indices with an optimum exponent and on the standard value of the exponent were compared. Thus, for each property we generated six QSPR models (four for alkane trees and two for the corresponding line graphs). In all studied cases QSPR models based on connectivity indices with optimum exponents have better statistical characteristics than the models based on connectivity indices with the standard value of the exponent. The comparison between models based on vertex- and edge-connectivity indices gave in two cases (molar volumes and molar refractions) better models based on edge-connectivity indices and in three cases (boiling points for octanes and nonanes and gas chromatographic retention indices) better models based on vertex-connectivity indices. Thus, it appears that the edge-connectivity index is more appropriate to be used in the structure-molecular volume properties modeling and the vertex-connectivity index in the structure-molecular surface properties modeling. The use of line graphs did not improve the predictive power of the connectivity indices. Only in one case (boiling points of nonanes) a better model was obtained with the use of line graphs.     

Membrane Filtration of Iron(III), Copper(II) and Lead(II) Ions as 1‐(2‐Pyridylazo) 2‐Naphtol (PAN) for Their Preconcentration and Atomic Absorption Determinations

A membrane filtration procedure for the preconcentration and atomic absorption spectrometric determination of Pb(II), Co(II) and Fe(III) ions in natural water samples has been established. Cellulose nitrate membrane filters (0.45 μm and 47 mm diameter) were used in all experiments. The procedure is based on chelate formation of the analyte metals with 1‐(2‐pyridylazo) 2‐naphtol (PAN) and on retention of the chelates on cellulose nitrate membrane filter. The cellulose nitrate membrane and analyte ions were completely dissolved by 500 μL of nitric acid at 85 °C on a hood and then metal determinations were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method was applied to natural water samples for the determination of analyte ions with satisfactory results, e.g., recoveries > 95%, RSD's < 10%.     

Mangrove trees growing in a very saline condition but not using seawater

Mangrove trees, which develop along tropical coasts, are known to use saline water uptake. In French Guiana, the high salinity condition is the result of seawater evaporation on mud banks formed from the Amazon sediment flumes. In the back mangrove a few kilometres inland, groundwater, soil water and the xylem sap uptake in the trees remain highly salty, and only very tolerant plants like Avicennia germinans can flourish, whereas the less salt-tolerant Rhizophora mangle is more difficult to find. Curiously, the same Avicennia trees propagate on the seafront. However, stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) measurements and ion analysis (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP-AES) spectroscopy reveal that the origin of the water in the back mangrove is not seawater. It is freshwater percolating into the sand bars from the inland marshes and rainwater during the wet season that redissolves a marine evaporite and gives a saline groundwater. The absence of barren saltine areas ('tanne') in French Guiana could be explained by this freshwater inflow, the aquifer being no longer linked with the ocean. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.