Analytical performance characteristics of nanoelectrospray emitters as a function of conductive coating

As miniaturization of electrospray continues to become more prevalent in the mass spectrometry arsenal, numerous types of conductive coatings have been developed with miniaturized electrospray emitters. Different conductive coatings have different properties that may lead to differences in analytical performance. This paper investigates and compares the analytical properties of a series of applied conductive coatings for low-flow electrospray ionization developed in this laboratory vs. commercially-available types. Evaporated graphite is thoroughly compared with commercially available polyaniline (PANI) coated emitters and metal coated emitters. Each set of emitters was investigated to determine various performance characteristics, including susceptibility to electrical discharge in both positive and negative ionization modes, as well as emitter reproducibility and generation of a standard curve to determine each emitter coating's limit of detection and limit of quantitation. Furthermore, evaporated graphite and polyaniline coated fused silica capillaries were investigated to determine which coating is more stable over long-term analyses and during electrical discharge.     

Analytical performance of a mechanized substrate-labelled fluorescent immunoassay system evaluated by therapeutic drug monitoring

Conclusions The new Optimate/TDA-system offers some definite advantages in terms of easy handling and rapid analysis (one determination/min). The stability of calibration curves allows an economic measurement of small series. Optimate's analytical performance is at least as good as the used reference assays, the only problem might derive from low (subtherapeutic) quinidine levels, because of limitations in the sensitivity. However, observed deviations between the different assays or to theoretical values were in no case of clinical significance.

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Vergleichende Messungen von Arzneimittelkonzentrationen zur Therapiekontrolle mit Hilfe eines mechanisierten Substrat-markierten Fluorescenz-Immuno-Assays

     

Analytical prediction of carbon nanoscroll-based electrochemical glucose biosensor performance

Carbon nanoscroll (CNS) with extraordinary electrical, physical and optical properties is an ideal candidate on sensor applications. It has great potential in biosensing owing to its outstanding properties like large surface-to-volume ratio, high conductivity, high flexibility and biocompatibility. In this research, we demonstrate a CNS-based biosensor to electrochemically detect glucose with high specificity and sensitivity. To this end, glucose absorption effect on the sensing area in the form of carrier concentration and quantum capacitance variations is investigated. Also, the caused electrical response on CNS as a detection element is analytically proposed, in which significant current increase of the CNS-based biosensor is observed after exposure to glucose. The proposed CNS-based glucose biosensor exposes higher current compared to that of carbon nanotube counterpart for analogous ambient conditions. Moreover, the comparative results provide evidence of good consensus between the model and experimental data of platinum nanoparticles/graphene nanoscrolls (Pt/GSS) and Pt/nitrogen-doped GSS (Pt/N-GSS) nanocomposites-based biosensors. Main findings of this research can be served as a high throughput platform to analytically predict the behaviour of the sensing mechanism in glucose biosensors. The results further reveal that the CNS biosensor demonstrates not only high sensitivity and broad linear range but also long-term stability and low detection limit.     

Analytical performance of a radiofrequency-powered glow discharge excitation source associated with bias voltage modulation

A 13.56-MHz Grimm-type glow discharge plasma on which external d.c. voltages are superimposed is investigated for the application to optical emission spectrometry. With a voltage modulation technique associated with phase-sensitive detection, the emission intensities can be measured at very low noise levels, enabling the detection power to be improved. The experimental parameters: d.c. voltage, modulation frequency, and Ar pressure, are investigated for obtaining the optimum conditions. It is possible to obtain a detection limit (Cu I 327.40 nm) of 8 × 10^–4 wt.% for Cu in Fe-based alloys, while 6.6 × 10^–3 wt.% in the case of conventional detection. Received: 3 August 1998 / Revised: 21 September 1998 / Accepted: 24 September 1998     

Analytical performance of a radiofrequency-powered glow discharge excitation source associated with bias voltage modulation

A 13.56-MHz Grimm-type glow discharge plasma on which external d.c. voltages are superimposed is investigated for the application to optical emission spectrometry. With a voltage modulation technique associated with phase-sensitive detection, the emission intensities can be measured at very low noise levels, enabling the detection power to be improved. The experimental parameters: d.c. voltage, modulation frequency, and Ar pressure, are investigated for obtaining the optimum conditions. It is possible to obtain a detection limit (Cu I 327.40 nm) of 8 × 10^–4 wt.% for Cu in Fe-based alloys, while 6.6 × 10^–3 wt.% in the case of conventional detection. Received: 3 August 1998 / Revised: 21 September 1998 / Accepted: 24 September 1998     

Analytical performance of high-voltage neon plasma in glow discharge optical emission spectrometry

In a high-voltage Ne glow discharge plasma (Ne-GDP), calibration factors as well as the limit of determination were compared between atomic resonance lines and singly-ionized lines of copper and aluminium in optical emission spectrometry. These elements have intense ionic lines which are excited by resonance charge-transfer collisions of Ne ions. The ionic lines gave better detection sensitivity in the Ne-GDP, whereas the atomic resonance lines were commonly employed as analytical lines in the other plasma sources such as Ar-GDP and ICP. The limit of determination was 1.3 × 10^–3 mass % for the Cu II 248.58 nm line and 1.0 × 10^–3 mass % Al for the Al II 358.66 nm line at a discharge parameter of 1.60 kV/36 mA.     

Analytical performance of high-voltage neon plasma in glow discharge optical emission spectrometry

In a high-voltage Ne glow discharge plasma (Ne-GDP), calibration factors as well as the limit of determination were compared between atomic resonance lines and singly-ionized lines of copper and aluminium in optical emission spectrometry. These elements have intense ionic lines which are excited by resonance charge-transfer collisions of Ne ions. The ionic lines gave better detection sensitivity in the Ne-GDP, whereas the atomic resonance lines were commonly employed as analytical lines in the other plasma sources such as Ar-GDP and ICP. The limit of determination was 1.3 × 10^–3 mass % for the Cu II 248.58 nm line and 1.0 × 10^–3 mass % Al for the Al II 358.66 nm line at a discharge parameter of 1.60 kV/36 mA. Received: 22 January 1999 / Revised: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 1999     

Analytical performance characteristics of thin and thick film amperometric microcells

The analytical performance of amperometric microcells with different electrode geometries is compared for enzyme activity measurements. The microcells were fabricated with thin film photolithography or thick film screen-printing in four different designs. The cells made with the thin film process used flexible substrate with microelectrode array or a circular, disk-shaped working electrode. The screen-printed working electrodes had semicircle or disk shape on ceramic chips. Putrescine oxidase (PUO) activity measurement was used as a model. The determination of PUO activity is important in the clinical diagnosis of premature rupture of the amniotic membrane. An electropolymerized m-phenylenediamine size-exclusion layer was used to eliminate common interferences. The size exclusion layer revealed also to be advantageous in protecting the electrodes from fouling by putrescine (enzyme substrate). The electrode fouling of bare electrodes was insignificant for screen-printed electrodes, but very severe for electroplated platinum working electrodes. The microelectrode array electrodes demonstrated smaller RSD and higher normalized sensitivities for hydrogen peroxide and PUO activity. All the other electrodes were demonstrating comparable analytical performances.     

Analytical performance of an optical pH sensor for acid-base titration

The analytical performance of a reflectance optical fibre sensor is described for the determination of pH, particularly that of acid-base titration end-points. The sensor makes use of cresol red immobilized on the anion-exchange resin Dowex 1-X10, has a pH transition interval in the range 5.5–7.5 and uses a PTFE membrane as interface. The sensor r.s.d. is ca. 1% and the accuracy is excellent. It is useful for titrating strong and weak acids (such as HF) with bases and vice versa, and requires very small sample volumes. The sensor can titrate turbid and coloured solutions at different temperatures. The minimum response time necessary after each titrant addition is in the range 0.5–1 min.     

Analytical performance characteristics of thin and thick film amperometric microcells

The analytical performance of amperometric microcells with different electrode geometries is compared for enzyme activity measurements. The microcells were fabricated with thin film photolithography or thick film screen-printing in four different designs. The cells made with the thin film process used flexible substrate with microelectrode array or a circular, disk-shaped working electrode. The screen-printed working electrodes had semicircle or disk shape on ceramic chips. Putrescine oxidase (PUO) activity measurement was used as a model. The determination of PUO activity is important in the clinical diagnosis of premature rupture of the amniotic membrane. An electropolymerized m-phenylenediamine size-exclusion layer was used to eliminate common interferences. The size exclusion layer revealed also to be advantageous in protecting the electrodes from fouling by putrescine (enzyme substrate). The electrode fouling of bare electrodes was insignificant for screen-printed electrodes, but very severe for electroplated platinum working electrodes. The microelectrode array electrodes demonstrated smaller RSD and higher normalized sensitivities for hydrogen peroxide and PUO activity. All the other electrodes were demonstrating comparable analytical performances.     

Analytical predictions of exergoeconomic performance of a solar air heater with surface roughness of metal waste

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The current study is the authors’ next work from the perspectives of the second law and economics of an air collector having artificial roughness...     

Vibrations of a chelated proton in a protonated tertiary diamine

Vibrational spectra of the conjugate acid of Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2) (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylputrescine) have been examined in the gaseous and crystalline phases using Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS), and high pressure Raman spectroscopy. A band observed near 530 cm(-1) is assigned to the asymmetric stretch of the bridging proton between the two nitrogens, based on deuterium substitution and pressure dependence. The NN distance measured by X-ray crystallography gives a good match to DFT calculations, and the experimental band position agrees with the value predicted from theory using a 2-dimensional potential energy surface. The reduced dimensionality potential energy surface, which treats the ion as though it possesses a linear NHN geometry, shows low barriers to proton transit from one nitrogen to the other, with zero point levels close to the barrier tops. In contrast, two other related systems containing strong hydrogen bonds do not exhibit the same spectroscopic signature of a low barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB). On the one hand, the IRMPD spectra of the conjugate acid ions of the amino acid N,N,N',N'-tetramethylornithine (in which the two nitrogens have different basicities) show fewer bands and no comparable isotopic shifts in the low frequency domain. On the other hand, the IRMPD spectrum of the shorter homologue Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2) (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine), for which the NHN bond angle deviates substantially from linearity, displays more than one band in the 1100-1400 cm(-1) domain, which vanish as a consequence of deuteration.     

Analytical separation of americium and curium using high performance liquid chromatography

Americium and curium are separated on a column of cation exchange resin (Aminex) using hydroxyisobutyric acid (α HIBA) as eluent, at a temperature of 80°C. Americium and curium were detected on-line, using their α-emission; the separation was performed in a shielded glove box whose setting-up is given. The time necessary for a separation was between 30 min and 1 hr. The purity of separated fractions was assayed by mass spectrometry. An application to the determination of the isotopic composition of americium and curium in fuels is described.     

三次采油耐温抗盐聚合物的合成与评价

以丙烯酰胺(AM)、2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)和氢氧化钠(Na OH)为原料,采用过硫酸铵[(NH4)2S2O8]、亚硫酸钠(Na2SO3)和四甲基脲[N(CH3)2CON(CH3)2]作为新型复合引发体系,通过共聚后水解工艺,合成了高分子量三元共聚物(AM-AANa-AMPSNa).考察了引发剂用量、单体浓度、p H和引发温度对共聚物黏均分子量的影响.确定最优条件为:引发剂用量0.035%,单体质量浓度为25%,介质p H 7,引发温度0℃.通过红外光谱和核磁碳谱表征了其结构,并系统评价了其理化性能指标、黏弹性、注入性和驱油性能.结果表明,该共聚物较高分子量部分水解聚丙烯酰胺(HPAM)具有更优异的耐温抗盐性能.其黏均相对分子量达到3000万以上,在胜利油田III型盐水中,浓度1500 mg/L,温度85℃条件下,溶液表观黏度达到17.7 m Pa s,岩心驱油实验在水驱采收率51.8%基础上,可再提高15.8%.上述性能表明,该高分子量三元共聚物有望应用在高温高盐油藏三次采油技术中.     

Analytical performance of a fast multi-element method for titanium and trace elements determination in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals by ICP-AES

A multi-element analytical method based on inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was developed for trace elements in pharmaceutical tablets and cosmetics. Titanium was also included in the analytes since it is widely used in pharmaceuticals. Critical ICP conditions, like RF incident power, argon gas flow rate and nebulizer sample uptake flow rate were optimized. The most sensitive spectral line of each analyte was selected as optimum for further study. Detection limits in the low μg g⁻¹ range were obtained. Prior to chemical analysis, the samples were decomposed by acid digestion, using various mixtures of HCl, HNO₃ and HF. Yttrium was used as a suitable internal standard in order to correct for possible matrix effects. The method was applied to the analysis of six different pharmaceutical products (anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive) in the form of tablets with film coating and also three cosmetic products like hair and face masks.     

Analytical performance of luminescent immunoassays of different format for serum daidzein analysis

Two sensitive competitive-type solid-phase immunoassays for serum daidzein analysis have been developed and optimized. The first is a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay that uses black polystyrene microtiter wells in which daidzein-specific antibodies raised in rabbits are immobilized and a daidzein derivative is coupled to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a label. The HRP activity of the antibody-bound tracer is measured with an enhanced chemiluminescent system (luminol/H2O2/enhancer). The second immunoassay is based on the use of bovine serum albumin-daidzein derivative immobilized on microtiter plates and a secondary anti-rabbit IgG-Fc fragment conjugated with 4,7-bis(chlorosulfophenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (BCPDA). Formation of the complex Eu3+-BCPDA enables time-resolved fluorescence-mode detection of the amount of antibody bound to the immobilized antigen. Both methods fulfilled all the requirements of accuracy and precision. The detection limit was the same for each method, 10 pg/well; this is better than that of other immunoassays. The specificity of the two methods was different, because of their competitive-type mechanisms. The performance of the chemiluminescence method is better, because the cross-reactivity of the main interfering compound (genistein) was 5%, compared with 25% for the time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.     

Analytical performance of luminescent immunoassays of different format for serum daidzein analysis

Two sensitive competitive-type solid-phase immunoassays for serum daidzein analysis have been developed and optimized. The first is a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay that uses black polystyrene microtiter wells in which daidzein-specific antibodies raised in rabbits are immobilized and a daidzein derivative is coupled to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a label. The HRP activity of the antibody-bound tracer is measured with an enhanced chemiluminescent system (luminol/ H₂O₂/enhancer). The second immunoassay is based on the use of bovine serum albumin–daidzein derivative immobilized on microtiter plates and a secondary anti-rabbit IgG-Fc fragment conjugated with 4,7-bis(chlorosulfophenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (BCPDA). Formation of the complex Eu³⁺-BCPDA enables time-resolved fluorescence-mode detection of the amount of antibody bound to the immobilized antigen. Both methods fulfilled all the requirements of accuracy and precision. The detection limit was the same for each method, 10 pg/ well; this is better than that of other immunoassays. The specificity of the two methods was different, because of their competitive-type mechanisms. The performance of the chemiluminescence method is better, because the cross-reactivity of the main interfering compound (genistein) was 5%, compared with 25% for the time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.     

Analytical performance of the various acquisition modes in Orbitrap MS and MS/MS

Quadrupole Orbitrap instruments (Q Orbitrap) permit high‐resolution mass spectrometry‐based full scan acquisitions and have a number of acquisition modes where the quadrupole isolates a particular mass range prior to a possible fragmentation and high‐resolution mass spectrometry‐based acquisition. Selecting the proper acquisition mode(s) is essential if trace analytes are to be quantified in complex matrix extracts. Depending on the particular requirements, such as sensitivity, selectivity of detection, linear dynamic range, and speed of analysis, different acquisition modes may have to be chosen. This is particularly important in the field of multi‐residue analysis (eg, pesticides or veterinary drugs in food samples) where a large number of analytes within a complex matrix have to be detected and reliably quantified. Meeting the specific detection and quantification performance criteria for every targeted compound may be challenging. It is the aim of this paper to describe the strengths and the limitations of the currently available Q Orbitrap acquisition modes. In addition, the incorporation of targeted acquisitions between full scan experiments is discussed. This approach is intended to integrate compounds that require an additional degree of sensitivity or selectivity into multi‐residue methods.