Applications of micro-analysis to individual environmental particles

An overview is given of the recent applications of micro-analytical techniques to single particle environmental research performed at the University of Antwerp since 1990. Automated electron probe X-ray micro-analysis, laser microprobe mass spectrometry and micro-particle induced X-ray emission are the techniques most used for aerosol, aqueous suspension and sediment characterisation. Other techniques like scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra red microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry have only recently been implemented into environmental research.     

Application of the dilution method to micro-analysis

Summary 1.Pregl’s, Dubsky’s, or any other modified microDumas nitrogen apparatus and method can be made use of without a micro-chemical balance; 2. the use of a gasometer between the Kipp generator and the combustion tube standardizes the method and has several advantages; 3. removal and renewal of the acid in the initial Kipp generators may be brought about with the exclusion of air.     

Applications of electron spin resonance to environmental problems

A selective review is given of some e.s.r investigations related to problems of environmental concern including ozone depletion, photochemical smog formation, and acid deposition.     

Detection of heteroplasmy in individual mitochondrial particles

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been associated with disease and aging. Since each cell has thousands of mtDNA copies, clustered into nucleoids of five to ten mtDNA molecules each, determining the effects of a given mtDNA mutation and their connection with disease phenotype is not straightforward. It has been postulated that heteroplasmy (coexistence of mutated and wild-type DNA) follows simple probability rules dictated by the random distribution of mtDNA molecules at the nucleoid level. This model has been used to explain how mutation levels correlate with the onset of disease phenotype and loss of cellular function. Nonetheless, experimental evidence of heteroplasmy at the nucleoid level is scarce. Here, we report a new method to determine heteroplasmy of individual mitochondrial particles containing one or more nucleoids. The method uses capillary cytometry with laser-induced fluorescence detection to detect individual mitochondrial particles stained with PicoGreen, which makes it possible to quantify the mtDNA copy number of each particle. After detection, one or more particles are collected into polymerase chain reaction (PCR) wells and then subjected to real-time multiplexed PCR amplification. This PCR strategy is suitable to obtain the relative abundance of mutated and wild-type mtDNA. The results obtained here indicate that individual mitochondrial particles and nucleoids contained within these particles are not heteroplasmic. The results presented here suggest that current models of mtDNA segregation and distribution (i.e., heteroplasmic nucleoids) need further consideration.     

Micro-FTIR measurements on individual interplanetary dust particles

The unique characteristics of micro-FTIR spectroscopy for the study of individual interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are discussed: (1) quick and nondestructive identification of dominant silicate phases (pyroxenes, olivines, layer lattice silicates) and selection of unique IDPs for subsequent intensive study by complementary analytical techniques; (2) identification of potential carbonaceous carrier phases of isotopic anomalies; (3) measurement of IR absorption features in IDPs that can be compared with IR emission features obtained by telescopic observations from comets and protostars.     

Contribution to the quantitative x-ray analysis of individual submicrometre particles: Asbestos fibres

Summary A procedure for the analysis of individual asbestos fibres in the submicrometre diameter range, based on the ratio method of thin film analysis, is presented. The reliability of this method has been tested in a study of identification of asbestos fibres. The systematic and statistical errors were investigated.

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Beitrag zur quantitativen Röntgenmikroanalyse einzelner Submikrometerteilchen: Asbestfasern

Zusammenfassung Es wurde versucht, eine Quantifizierungsmethode analog der Verhältnismethode zur Analyse dünner Schichten für die Analyse von Asbestfasern mit Durchmessern im Submikrometerbereich zu entwickeln. Die Zuverlässigkeit der Methode wurde mit einem Anwendungsbeispiel überprüft, und alle systematischen und statistischen Fehler wurden dargelegt.

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Presented at the 8th International Microchemical Symposium, Graz, August 25–30, 1980.     

Determination of the effective charge of individual colloidal particles

An optical method is presented that allows simultaneous determination of the diffusion constant and electrophoretic mobility of individual charged particles with radius down to 0.2 mum. By this method the size dependency of the effective charges and zeta potentials of individual particles can be investigated, as well as interparticle interactions and Brownian motion in confined geometries. The diffusion constant and mobility are determined from the power spectrum of the particle speed in a sinusoidal electrical field. The accuracy of the method was tested on PMMA spheres of known size in water. Experiments have been carried out on charged pigment particles with low concentration in a nonaqueous medium containing a charging agent. The mobility is found to be independent of the particle size.     

Altering surface charge nonuniformity on individual colloidal particles

Charge nonuniformity (sigmazeta) was altered on individual polystyrene latex particles and measured using the novel experimental technique of rotational electrophoresis. It has recently been shown that unaltered sulfated latices often have significant charge nonuniformity (sigmazeta = 100 mV) on individual particles. Here it is shown that anionic polyelectrolytes and surfactants reduce the native charge nonuniformity on negatively charged particles by 80% (sigmazeta = 20 mV), even while leaving the average surface charge density almost unchanged. Reduction of charge uniformity occurs as large domains of nonuniformity are minimized, giving a more random distribution of charge on individual particle surfaces. Targeted reduction of charge nonuniformity opens new opportunities for the dispersion of nanoparticles and the oriented assembly of particles.     

微萃取技术在环境分析中的应用

微萃取技术是近年来出现的绿色样品前处理技术。它具有操作简便、环境友好等优点,并且在环境、医药及食品等领域得到广泛的应用。本文仅就固相微萃取和液相微萃取在环境分析中的应用作一简要综述。     

Applications of microfluidic systems in environmental analysis

During the past few decades, rapid growth in the applications of microfluidic systems to environmental analysis or environmentally related species has been observed. This review presents and critically discusses the published literature on the applications of microfluidic systems to real environmental samples or samples simulating environmental conditions. The subjects covered include integrated pretreatments, separation modes, detection methods and monitoring sensors used in these platforms. The main challenges in this field and the author’s perspectives on future directions for environmental analysis based on microfluidic systems are also proposed.     

大体积进样技术在环境分析中的应用

在毛细管气相色谱法(CGC)中,采用大体积进样技术(LVI),即使用能够容纳大体积样品的进样装置以及增加可控时间的溶剂蒸汽放空装置,可以满足环境样品中超痕量组分的分析要求,简化样品浓缩步骤以及实现液相色谱(LC)与CGC的在线联用。针对分析物的性质、毛细管柱的规格和分析的目的已发展了多种LVI。本文总结了几种常见的LVI,包括柱头进样(OCI)和程序升温进样(PTV),以及近年来发展的一些新技术,如在柱同时溶剂浓缩进样、样品直接引入进样/复杂基质进样和同时溶剂冷凝无分流进样,阐述了各种进样技术的基本原理及其与样品提取、LC纯化在线联用的方法在环境分析应用中的一些最新研究进展。     

Nitrogen-skinned carbon nanocone enables non-dynamic electrochemistry of individual metal particles

Science China Chemistry - Nano-impact electrochemistry is an efficient way to probe the physical and chemical properties of individual particles. Unfortunately, limited by the weak adsorption...     

Sampling and analysis of individual particles by aerosol mass spectrometry

Over the past decade, aerosol mass spectrometry has developed into a powerful method for characterizing individual particles in air. Recent advances in the design of inlets and mass spectrometers have extended the size range of particles that can be analyzed. In this tutorial, fundamental aspects of particle motion in sampling inlets are introduced. Basic experimental configurations for achieving a high analysis rate and the ability of laser ablation to provide chemical composition information are reviewed. An example of the use of this technology to study atmospheric phenomena is also presented. Significant opportunity exists for designing new experiments at the interface of aerosol mass spectrometry and conventional molecular mass spectrometry.     

Applications of the optical trapping technique to analyze chemical reactions in single emulsion particles

The applicability of the single beam gradient force optical trap and the optical levitation technique to investigate dynamic processes in microparticles is examined. The device allows to follow chemical reactions, like the emulsion polymerization and the ester hydrolysis reaction, in single emulsion droplets. Furthermore the usability of optical traps to investigate living cells is demonstrated.     

Applications of the optical trapping technique to analyze chemical reactions in single emulsion particles

The applicability of the single beam gradient force optical trap and the optical levitation technique to investigate dynamic processes in microparticles is examined. The device allows to follow chemical reactions, like the emulsion polymerization and the ester hydrolysis reaction, in single emulsion droplets. Furthermore the usability of optical traps to investigate living cells is demonstrated.     

Applications of synchrotron-based X-ray techniques in environmental science

Synchrotron-based X-ray techniques have been widely applied to the fields of environmental science due to their element-specific and nondestructive properties and unique spectral and spatial resolution advantages. The techniques are capable of in situ investigating chemical speciation, microstructure and mapping of elements in question at the molecular or nanometer scale, and thus provide direct evidence for reaction mechanisms for various environmental processes. In this contribution, the applications of three types of the techniques commonly used in the fields of environmental research are reviewed, namely X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). In particular, the recent advances of the techniques in China are elaborated, and a selection of the applied examples are provided in the field of environmental science. Finally, the perspectives of synchrotron-based X-ray techniques are discussed. With their great progress and wide application, the techniques have revolutionized our understanding of significant geo- and bio-chemical processes. It is anticipatable that synchrotron-based X-ray techniques will continue to play a significant role in the fields and significant advances will be obtained in decades ahead.     

Characterization of individual airborne particles - methods used and their limitations

The characterization of individual airborne particles plays an important role in assessing environmental contamination. The morphology, elemental composition and surface properties of these particles must be determined for complete characterization.     

Automated analysis of individual particles using a commercial capillary electrophoresis system

Capillary electrophoretic analysis of individual submicrometer size particles has been previously done using custom-built instruments. Despite that these instruments provide an excellent signal-to-noise ratio for individual particle detection, they are not capable of performing automated analyses of particles. Here we report the use of a commercial Beckman P/ACE MDQ capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument with on-column laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection for the automated analysis of individual particles. The CE instrument was modified with an external I/O board that allowed for faster data acquisition rates (e.g. 100 Hz) than those available with the standard instrument settings (e.g. 4 Hz). A series of eight hydrodynamic injections expected to contain 32 +/- 6 particles, each followed by an electrophoretic separation at -300 V cm(-1) with data acquired at 100 Hz, showed 28 +/- 5 peaks corresponding to 31.9 particles as predicted by the statistical overlap theory. In contrast, a similar series of hydrodynamic injections followed by data acquisition at 4 Hz revealed only 8 +/- 3 peaks suggesting that the modified system is needed for individual particle analysis. Comparison of electropherograms obtained at both data acquisition rates also indicate: (i) similar migration time ranges; (ii) lower variation in the fluorescence intensity of individual peaks for 100 Hz; and (iii) a better signal-to-noise ratio for 4 Hz raw data. S/N improved for 100 Hz when data were smoothed with a binomial filter but did not reach the S/N values previously reported for post-column LIF detection. The proof-of-principle of automated analysis of individual particles using a commercially available CE system described here opens exciting possibilities for those interested in the study and analyses of organelles, liposomes, and nanoparticles.     

Application of electron probe micro-analysis to the estimation of chlorine in alumina-based heterogeneous catalysts

Chlorine in alumina-based catalysts has been determined with a scanning electron microscope attached to an energy dispersive x-ray analyser (SEM-EDX). The method is less time consuming compared to conventional methods involving sample dissolution followed by titrimetry, absorption spectrophotometry or ion chromatography. The spectrometer is calibrated with laboratory prepared standards. This technique is found suitable for the estimation of chlorine in the range 0.1-1.0% (w/w) with a relative standard deviation < 10% for chlorine levels above 0.2%