The determination of free ammonia in ambient air with diffusion/denuder tubes

Ammonia is important in atmospheric chemistry because it neutralises acidic species and increases the pH of cloud droplets. Data on the concentration of free ammonia in the atmosphere are sparse because it is difficult to separate free ammonia from particulate ammonium salt aerosol. A manual method for the determination of free ammonia in air is described based on diffusion/denuder tube separation of ammonia from ammonium salt aerosol. When air is drawn through a tube coated with a selective absorbent (here oxalic acid) separation is achieved because the gaseous species diffuses much more rapidly to the tube wall than the particles. After the sampling period (usually 1–4 h, depending on the free ammonia concentration expected), the sorbed ammonia is washed from the tube and measured potentiometrically with an ammonia probe. The method is tested theoretically and experimentally. The absorption efficiency of the coated tubes is ca. 90%. In samples of room air containing 12–28 μg m^?3, the standard deviation is estimated as 1.0 μg m^?3. In field use, ammonia contents were in the range 0.53–5.0 μg m^?3.     

Determination of ammonia and nitric acid using a diffusion denuder method

Summary A diffusion denuder technique, using annular denuders, has been introduced in our laboratory. The characteristics of different coatings for the enrichment of both ammonia and nitric acid have been determined in a laboratory study applying test atmospheres. The results, partly differing substantially from theoretical predictions, are presented here. The method has been applied for the determination of trace amounts of ammonia and nitric acid at various sites in the upper Rhine region.     

The determination of hydrogen chloride in ambient air with diffusion/denuder tubes

A manual method for the determination of hydrogen chloride in air, based on diffusion/denuder tube separation from particulate chloride aerosol is described. When air is drawn through a tube coated with a selective absorbent (sodium fluoride), separation is achieved because gaseous hydrogen chloride diffuses much more rapidly to the tube walls than particulate chloride aerosol, which passes through virtually unabsorbed. After the sampling period (the length of which depends on the concentration of gaseous hydrogen chloride expected), the sorbed hydrogen chloride is washed from the tube and measured with a highly sensitive chloride ion-selective electrode with a mercury (I) chloride membrane. The method is examined theoretically and experimentally. The experimentally derived absorption efficiencies of the diffusion/denuder tubes were > 90% and the standard deviation of the method was 0.023 μg m^?3 for hydrogen chloride concentrations of 0.16–0.55 μg m^?3. Interference from particulate chloride salts was negligible; this was confirmed by tests with artificially generated aerosol particles from an aerosol generator. The diffusion/denuder tubes have high capacity; level as high as 330 μg m^?3 hydrogen chloride can be sampled for 60 min without affecting performance. A detection limit of (50/t) μg m^?3 can be achieved, where t is the sampling rime (min); e.g., 1μg m^?3 hydrogen chloride can be detected with a sampling period of 50 min.     

Flow injection system with gas diffusion for the sequential determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus in vegetables

 A flow injection system was developed for the sequential determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus in digests of vegetables using potentiometric and spectrophotometric detection systems, respectively. A tubular ammonium selective electrode with a sensor system composed of nonactin/monactin in tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate was used. The selectivity limitations of this electrode were overcome by the inclusion of a gas-diffusion unit in the system that separated ammonium from the rest of the sample matrix and allowed the determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus by the partition of the sample plug between two streams. The results obtained with the developed FIA system were in good agreement with those of the reference methods. Sampling rates from 40 to 60 samples per hour and relative standard deviations below 3.5% were achieved. Received: 17 October 1996/Revised: 21 November 1996/Accepted: 27 November 1996     

Flow injection system with gas diffusion for the sequential determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus in vegetables

 A flow injection system was developed for the sequential determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus in digests of vegetables using potentiometric and spectrophotometric detection systems, respectively. A tubular ammonium selective electrode with a sensor system composed of nonactin/monactin in tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate was used. The selectivity limitations of this electrode were overcome by the inclusion of a gas-diffusion unit in the system that separated ammonium from the rest of the sample matrix and allowed the determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus by the partition of the sample plug between two streams. The results obtained with the developed FIA system were in good agreement with those of the reference methods. Sampling rates from 40 to 60 samples per hour and relative standard deviations below 3.5% were achieved. Received: 17 October 1996/Revised: 21 November 1996/Accepted: 27 November 1996     

Flow injection analysis methods for determination of diffusion coefficients

Two flow injection analyses (FIA) methods for the determination of diffusion coefficients in a straight single tube FIA system were developed. Based on the analytical solution of the convection-diffusion equation, linear relationships of the logarithmic values of the dispersion coefficient (D) and the half-peak width (W_1/2) with the diffusion coefficient (D_m) were obtained. Experiments were designed to verify these methods. For example, for potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) a D_m value of 0.72 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was found versus a literature value of 0.76 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 5%). For potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) a D_m value of 0.67 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was obtained versus a literature value of 0.63 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 6%). The diffusion coefficients of some important biomedical compounds, such as dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and ascorbic acid, were then determined. The values of 10⁵ D_m/cm² s⁻¹ are 0.60 ± 0.03, 0.44 ± 0.02, 0.60 ± 0.01 and 0.68 ± 0.06, respectively.     

Gas diffusion sequential injection system for the spectrophotometric determination of free chlorine with o-dianisidine

A gas diffusion sequential injection system for spectrophotometric determination of free chlorine is described. The detection is based in the colorimetric reaction between free chlorine and a low toxicity reagent o-dianisidine. A gas diffusion unit is used to isolate free chlorine from the sample in order to avoid possible interferences. This feature results from the conversion of free chlorine to molecular chlorine (gaseous) with sample acidification. With minor changes in the operating conditions, two different dynamic ranges were obtained enhancing the application both to water samples and bleaches. The results obtained with the developed system were compared to the reference method, iodometric titration and proved not to be statistically different. A detection limit of 0.6 mg ClO⁻/L was achieved. Repeatability was evaluated from 10 consecutive determinations being the results better than 2%. The two dynamic ranges presented different determination rates: 15 h⁻¹ for 0.6-4.8 mg ClO⁻/L (water samples) and 30 h⁻¹ for 0.047-0.188 g ClO⁻/L (bleaches).     

Application of wet effluent diffusion denuder for measurement of uptake coefficient of gaseous pollutants

The comparison of theoretical approaches describing the collection of analyte in the cylindrical wet effluent diffusion denuder (CWEDD) with experimental data is presented. Various absorption liquids were tested for the collection of formaldehyde (distilled-deionized water, H₂SO₄ solution), acetaldehyde (distilled-deionized water) and nitrous acid (distilled-deionized water, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate solutions of various concentrations and sodium phosphate pH 6-8) in CWEDD. pH of absorption liquids significantly influences the collection of formaldehyde as well as nitrous acid. The collection efficiency of formaldehyde for 0.05 M H₂SO₄ as absorption liquid was generally higher than for distilled-deionized water. Absorption liquid pH markedly affected the collection efficiency of HONO too (with increasing pH the collection efficiency increase). Data derived by Gormley-Kennedy equation for all investigated compounds were overestimated especially for higher flow rates of air, data calculated with respect to Henry constant are not in good agreement with experimental data and are considerably depended on a determination of the Henry constant value. The CWEDD can be alternative tool for the determination of uptake coefficient. Obtained uptake coefficients were in good agreement with data found in other literature.     

Flow injection determination of gaseous sulfur dioxide with gas permeation denuder-based online sampling and preconcentration

A simple and novel flow injection method for the determination of gaseous SO(2) is described based on gas permeation denuder (GPD) online sampling and preconcentration. The GPD is easily prepared with poly(vinylidene) difluoride microporous membrane as gas permeable material and two Perspex blocks with smooth and flat interface and rectangular engraved channels of mirror image. The sample gas is on one side of the membrane and phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as the absorbing solution is on the other side. Gaseous SO(2) permeates partially through the gas permeable membrane and dissolves in the absorbing solution. After preconcentration for 5.0 or 8.0 min, the solution is injected into the flow of 5.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) 5,5'-dithiobis(2,2'-dinitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in 0.025 mol L(-1) phosphate buffer. The resulting product formed between DTNB and absorbed SO(2) is spectrophotometrically monitored at 410 nm with a charge coupled device (CCD) fiber optic spectrometer. The calibration graphs for preconcentration of 5.0 and 8.0 min are linear up to 4.0 and 3.2 mg m(-3) with detection limits of 50 and 35 micro g m(-3), respectively. The corresponding analysis speeds are 8.5 and 6 samples h(-1). The method is selective and just suffer from interference of hydrogen sulfide at higher than 1% of SO(2) level (in m/V) with an error >+10%. The assay just uses cheap and common membrane and reagents and shows potential application in the monitoring of atmospheric SO(2).     

流动注射-化学发光法测定头孢拉定

1　引　　言头孢拉定 (ｃｅｐｈｒａｄｉｎｅ ,ＣＥＰ)是广泛用于临床治疗的一种头孢类抗生素药物。目前对其测定的主要方法有高效液相色谱法、分光光度计、荧光法和吸附极谱法等。利用Ｃｅ 与某些含巯基的化合物作用产生化学发光从而测定这些化合物的研究已有文献报道 ,但未见用于头孢拉定的测定。头孢拉定的降解产物含有巯基 ,本文采用流动注射技术考察了该降解产物与Ｃｅ 作用产生化学发光的条件 ,发现罗丹明 6Ｇ对该化学发光体系有很强的增敏作用 ,据此建立了测定头孢拉定的新方法。该方法用于胶囊中头孢拉定含量的测定 ,结果令人满意…     

Comparison of denuder and impinger sampling for determination of gaseous toluene diisocyanate (TDI)

An air-sampling method employing denuders coated inside with a chemisorptive stationary phase has been evaluated for analysis of the hazardous gaseous 2,4 and 2,6 isomers of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The denuder stationary phase consisted of polydimethylsiloxane (SE-30) to which dibutylamine (DBA) was added as a reagent for derivatization of TDI. The accuracy and precision of sampling by means of denuders were shown to differ only slightly from those of the established impinger method. The denuder method was, however, also shown to be suitable for long-term measurements (up to 8 h). The limit of determination (LOD) of the method, including LC-APCI-MS-MS analysis, was found to be 1.9 microg m(-3) and 1.2 microg m(-3) for 2,4- and 2,6-TDI, respectively, for short-term measurements (15 min). Significant lower LOD was obtained for long-term measurements. This is well below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-h TWA (time-weighted average) exposure limit, which is 40 microg m(-3) for the sum of the TDI isomers. The denuder method was also found to be robust and easy to handle. The samplers can be prepared several days before sampling with no loss in performance. The contents of denuders should, on the other hand, be extracted immediately after sampling to prevent degradation of the isocyanate derivatives formed.     

Evaluation of denuder sampling for a mixture of three common gaseous diisocyanates

A denuder sampler has been evaluated for a mixture of three gaseous diisocyanates, i.e. toluene diisocyanate (TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Sampling was performed at a total concentration of diisocyanates close to the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL), which is 10 ppbv (69-92 microg m(-3)), for a 5-min period. The denuder tube was coated with a chemosorptive stationary phase consisting of SE-30 (polydimethylsiloxane) and the derivatising reagent dibutylamine (DBA). It was shown that the denuder has a collection efficiency for HDI and IPDI comparable to that of an impinger method, while sampling of TDI resulted in an 8% lower concentration. Both short-term (15 min) and long-term (8 h) sampling periods were shown to yield reproducible results. For 8-h measurements, a sampling flow rate of 5 mL min(-1) was shown to be suitable for the investigated concentration range, i.e. 10-100 ppbv (69-921 microg m(-3)). A flow rate of 25 mL min(-1) or higher resulted in breakthrough after 8 h due to chromatography of the compounds in the adsorbent. The limit of detection (LOD) for the air sampling method is nearly 500 times lower than the OEL. The denuder tubes can be prepared at least 10 days prior to sampling without degradation of performance. Furthermore, they can be stored up to 6 days in a freezer after sampling without significant loss of analytes.     

Flow injection determination of histamine with a histamine dehydrogenase-based electrode

A flow injection analysis (FIA) system for the determination of histamine was developed using histamine dehydrogenase (HmDH)-based electrode. Histamine dehydrogenase was immobilized in an osmium-derivatized redox polymer, poly(1-vinylimidazole) complexed with Os(4,4′-dimethylbipyridine)₂Cl₂ (PVI-dmeOs), film on a glassy carbon electrode. As expected from the characteristics of this enzyme in a solution, this electrode exhibits high selectivity to histamine and is not sensitive to other primary amines including common biogenic amines, putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine. The detection limit for histamine was 100 pmol ( μl injection) at a S/N ratio of 3, and response linearity was retained up to 0.6 mM. The FIA system was successfully applied to the determination of histamine in fish samples. The performance of the FIA system is discussed and compared with a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method which is routinely used for histamine analysis.     

Annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of gaseous organic compounds and air oxidants during sampling of carbonaceous aerosols

A specially designed annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of organic gaseous compounds and atmospheric oxidants in carbonaceous aerosol sampling is presented. Various kinds of denuder coatings were compared with respect to the collection efficiency of both organic gaseous compounds and NO₂ and ozone. The optimum sorbent is a mixture of activated charcoal and sulfite on molecular sieve. To ensure high collection efficiency over long-term field operation, two annular diffusion denuders are combined in series. The first half of the first denuder is filled with Na₂SO₃ on molecular sieve (23 cm long layer) while the second half of the first denuder and the whole second denuder are filled with activated charcoal (the total length of the charcoal section is 67 cm).     

Flow injection analysis with the chromatomembrane--a new device for gaseous/liquid and liquid/liquid extraction

A new device makes extraction procedures work continuously by realizing chromatographic principles in flow-injection analysis. The method allows independent mass transfer between two phases within a chromatomembrane cell. In spite of the small size of the cell-volume (about 3 cm(3)) the relevant contacting area is extended to 2 m(2). A mixing of phases is simply prevented, and an additional step of phase separation is no longer necessary. A chromatomembrane is generated from porous hydrophobic material (PTFE) with two types of pores, namely, macropores and micropores. Whenever two phases flow within the cell the aqueous one exclusively fills the large pores because of the capillary pressure produced by polar liquids in micropores. On the other hand these micropores remain available only for the extraction agent, e.g. non-polar liquids or gases. The mass exchange is significantly increased compared with conventional techniques. The wide field of practical applications can be seen from several results obtained from trace determinations in liquid and gaseous phases.     

A comparative study of diffusion samplers for the determination of hexavalent chromium by sequential injection spectrophotometry

A method is described for determining hexavalent chromium in high particulate-containing surface waters by sequential injection (SI). The relative performance of two membrane-based methods for sampling is compared. The first membrane approach is based on a commercial design known as the ‘supported capillary membrane sampler (SCMS)’ (Wolcott, D.K., US Pat. 5 317 932 (1995)) that uses tubular membranes; the second approach is based on a conventional parallel-plate dialyzer (PPD) design that uses planar membranes. The membranes are evaluated using the well-known colorimetric method for the determination of hexavalent chromium by complexation with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC). Thin-walled (∼200 μm) microporous (pore size ∼0.2 μm) polypropylene membranes are equilibrated with DPC during each sampling period. Formation of the DPC-Cr(VI) complex allows for efficient membrane transport; without the membrane, Cr(VI) transport decreases ∼90%. Factors optimized included reagent concentrations, sampling time, flow rate, and spectrophotometric conditions. Optimal conditions were 2.00 mM DPC and 0.100 M nitric acid for the reagent, and 600 and 900 s sampling times for the planar and tubular designs, respectively. The planar (PPD) design increased the sensitivity relative to the tubular (SCMS) design by ∼225%. The PPD-SI method was applied to the determination of dissolved Cr(VI) in high particulate-containing surface water samples. Figures of merit included a detection limit of <20 μg/l, precision of 1.1% R.S.D. at 100 μg/l (n=4), and selectivity for dissolved Cr(VI) in several surface water samples with high levels of particulate matter.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric or conductometric determination of ascorbic acid in a vitamin C tablet using permanganate or ammonia

Two simple flow injection (FI) procedures for the determination of ascorbic acid content in a vitamin C tablet are proposed: spectrophotometric involving injection into a stream of acidic potassium permanganate solution and monitoring its color change due to the redox reaction; FI conductometry based on the neutralization of ascorbic acid injected into a flowing ammonia solution yielding a change in conductivity. The procedures have been applied to the analysis of locally commercial vitamin C tablet samples. A through-put of at least 90 injections h⁻¹ can be achieved. The relative standard deviation was found to be 2.5% (for a 50 mg vitamin C tablet; n=7) for both. Results obtained by either procedure agree with a standard titrimetric method.     

Flow injection determination of hydrazine with fluorimetric detection

A spectrophotometric flow injection system is described for the determination of hydrazine, involving oxidation of hydrazine by thallium(III) with concomitant formation of thallium(I). The optimum analytical conditions have been established. The linear range for hydrazine is 25-500 ng ml(-1) with a detection limit of 20 ng ml(-1). The sampling frequency is 40+/-5 samples h(-1). The relative standard deviation for 100, 250 and 500 ng ml(-1) is 3.5, 2.6 and 1.8%, respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of hydrazine in water.     

Flow injection analysis simulations and diffusion coefficient determination by stochastic and deterministic optimization methods

Stochastic and deterministic simulations of dispersion in cylindrical channels on the Poiseuille flow have been presented. The random walk (stochastic) and the uniform dispersion (deterministic) models have been used for computations of flow injection analysis responses. These methods coupled with the genetic algorithm and the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization methods, respectively, have been applied for determination of diffusion coefficients. The diffusion coefficients of fluorescein sodium, potassium hexacyanoferrate and potassium dichromate have been determined by means of the presented methods and FIA responses that are available in literature. The best-fit results agree with each other and with experimental data thus validating both presented approaches.