A simple flow injection system with bead injection for trace iron determination

A simple and low cost flow injection (FI) system with bead injection (BI) was developed for determination of low concentration (mumol l(-1)) of iron in water samples. Chelex-100 chelating resin beads, trapped in a jet ring cell, were employed. The intensity of red complex of 1,10-phenanthroline with Fe(2+) was monitored using colorimetric detector with a LED green light source. Amount of total Fe (Fe(2+) and Fe(3+)) and Fe(2+) can be evaluated by with and without reduction of Fe(3+) using ascorbic acid. Lowest detectable levels of Fe(2+) were 0.90 and 0.45 mumol l(-1) for sample loading time of 3 and 5 min, respectively. Working range was up to 3.90 mumol l(-1) using 0.3% w/v 1, 10-phenanthroline. Percent recoveries of spiked water samples (0.90-2.33 mumol l(-1) of Fe(2+)) were 100-110%.     

A simple and smart telemedicine device for developing regions: a pocket-sized colorimetric reader

We have proposed a novel mobile healthcare platform, combining a pocket-sized colorimetric reader (13.5 × 6.5 × 2.5 cm(3)) and commercially available 10-parameter urinalysis paper strips (glucose, protein, glucose, bilirubin, urobilinogen, ketones, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, erythrocytes, and leukocytes), capable of sending data with a smart phone. The reader includes a novel colorimetric multi-detection module, which consists of three-chromatic light-emitting diodes, silicon photodiodes and a novel poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) optical splitter. We employed data reading methods using conversions of the signal data (red, blue, and green) to the hue (H) color map or the Y model data, and used a curve-fitting method for the quantification. The reader is battery-powered, inexpensive, light-weight, and very speedy in analysis. And, it was applied to detection of a thousand of human urine samples and demonstrated reliable quantification of urinary glucose and protein. The features can be used by unskilled people on-site to transfer the analyzed data to experts off-site.     

A simple automatic titrator based on a digital balance

A computer-controlled automatic titrator incorporating a weight burette is described. The titration vessel is mounted on the pan of a zero-displacement digital balance which records the weight of added sample as well as the weight of titrant added during the titration.     

A simple gas chromatographic technique to determine trace impurities in gases

A new method is described which allows the determination of trace impurities in flowing gases without removing a sample. The technique is based upon gas fractionation by a sudden change of flow through a small orifice or capillary.     

A simple flow-through cell for purification of electrolyte solutions from trace metals

Mercury cathode electrolysis is used for the purification of sodium acetate solutions. Trace metal concentrations in analytical-grade electrolyte solutions (0.1 M) are decreased to nanomolar levels when the solution flow rate is 1 ml min^-1.     

A simple salt-enhanced surface-tension technique for detection of trace surfactants in water

A simple, relatively inexpensive DuNoy tensiometer can be used to detect small amounts of surfactants in water (at the μg l^-1 level in many cases). The surfactant must be salted-out to produce the desired effect. Addition of salt to pure water produces a reproducible increase in surface tension, whereas addition of salt to a water sample containing traces of surfactant produces a distinct, reproducible decrease. For pure surfactant solutions, calibration curves can be constructed for quantitative work.     

A simple filter-based approach to surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy for trace chemical detection

We demonstrate an extremely simple and practical surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique for trace chemical detection. Filter membranes first trap silver nanoparticles to form a SERS-active substrate and then concentrate analytes from a mL-scale sample into a μL-scale detection volume. We demonstrate a significant improvement in detection limit as compared to colloidal SERS for the pesticide malathion and the food contaminant melamine. The measured SERS intensity exhibits low variation relative to traditional SERS techniques, and the data can be closely fit with a Langmuir isotherm. Thus, due to the simple procedure, the low-cost of the substrates, the quantitative results, and the performance improvement due to analyte concentration, our technique enables SERS to be practical for a broad range of analytical applications, including field-based detection of toxins in large-volume samples.     

A computer controlled thermoluminescence reader with a ceramic heating plate

A versatile system has been developed for the TL-reader of geological samples by using a personal computer system combined with a ceramic heater and a photon counting technique. A handy heater stack consisting of four ceramic heater plates was operated to ensure constant heating rate by applying phase-control circuit up to 400°C to a normal laboratory AC-power supply in order to obtain the TL-results as quantitatively as possible. From the results of the artificially irradiated quartz, a small amount of sample like 5 mg was verified to be applicable to obtain useful geochronological and geothermal information.     

A simple spectrophotometric determination of trace level mercury using 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone solubilized in micelle.

A very simple, ultra-sensitive and fairly selective non-extractive spectrophotmetric method is presented for the rapid determination of mercury(II) at ultra-trace level using 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) as a new micellar spectrophotometric reagent (lambdamax = 490 nm) in a slightly acidic (0.07 - 0.17 M H2SO4) aqueous solution. The presence of a micellar system avoids the previous steps of solvent extraction and reduces the cost, toxicity while enhancing the sensitivity, selectivity and the molar absorptivity. The reaction is instantaneous and the absorbance remains stable for over 24 h. The average molar absorption coefficient and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 5.02 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and 10 ng cm(-2) of Hg, respectively. Linear calibration graphs were obtained for 0.05 - 10 mg L(-1) of Hg; the stoichiometric composition of the chelate is 1:2 (Hg:dithizone). The method is characterized by a detection limit of 1 microg L(-1) of Hg. Large excesses of over 60 cations, anions and complexing agents (e.g. EDTA, tartrate, oxalate, citrate, phosphate, thiourea, azide, SCN-) do not interfere in the determination. The method was successfully applied to a number of environmental water samples (potable and polluted), biological samples (human blood and urine; milk and fish) and soils; solutions contained both mercury(I) and mercury(II) as well as complex synthetic mixtures. The method has high precision and accuracy (s = +/-0.01 for 0.1 mg L(-1)).     

A simple flow-injection chemiluminescence method for the determination of trace pentavalent vanadium in water samples

A simple method for rapid determination of trace pentavalent vanadium in natural water was presented by flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL). Through water injection, luminol and potassium permanganate were eluted from the anion exchange column to generate the CL, which was enhanced in the presence of V(V). Under the optimum conditions, the increased CL intensity was linear with V(V) concentration in the range from 0.1 to 100?ng?mL^?1. The limit of detection was 50?pg?mL^?1 (3σ) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.24% (n?=?5) for a 1.0?ng?mL^?1?V(V). At a flow rate of 2.0?mL?min^?1, one cycle of analysis could be performed in 0.5?min with a RSD of less than 3.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of vanadium in natural water.     

A new dosimetry system using a portable reader

A new dosimeter material has been developed which consists of a radiation sensitive layer on a reflective base, and utilises a portable microdensitometer for response measurement. The instrument, modified from a readily available hand-held unit, is a standard in the printing industry. The system was designed with the demands of ‘in plant’ use in mind, and is equally suitable for either gamma or electron beam irradiation. The dosimeter material develops an easily visible colour change, which is quantitative, highly reproducible and stable over the dose range of approximately 5–45 kGy. The results presented demonstrate the calibration and characteristics of the dosimetry system, and explore some of its potential.     

A new and simple method to determine trace levels of sulfonamides in honey by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A novel method for the simultaneous analysis at trace level of sulfonamides (sulfaguanidine, sulfanilamide, sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfapyridine, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamerazine, sulfameter, sulfamethazine, sulfadoxine, sulfadiazine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadimethoxine) in honey is described. Methanol has been used in the sample treatment step to avoid the emulsion formation and to break the N-glycosidic bond between sugars and sulfonamides. The determination is carried out by liquid chromatography in gradient elution mode, with fluorescence detection after the on-line pre-column derivatization with fluorescamine. The influence of parameters such as the mobile phase composition, column temperature, pH or injection volume, on the separation has been taken into account and the derivatization step has also been optimized. Recoveries of the compounds on spiked honey samples ranged from 56% for sulfadoxine to 96% for sulfacetamide, with relative standard deviations below 10%. The quantitation limits are between 4 and 15 ng g⁻¹.     

A simple acylation of thiols with anhydrides

Different thiols were efficiently acylated at room temperature with different anhydrides in the presence of potassium carbonate. Chemoselective protection of thiol in the presence of hydroxy group was achieved using di-tert-butyl dicarbonate and isatoic anhydride.     

A rapid and simple method for the determination of trace metals in hair samples by atomic absorption spectrometry

Acid digestion procedures are described for the dissolution of human head hair in routine determinations of cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and zinc in the same sample solution by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The techniques employed are atomization in a Massman graphite furnace or in an air—acetylene flame; the cold-vapor cell is used for mercury. The entire analytical procedure is tested with powdered homogenized head hair samples, previously analyzed by other analytical techniques. Comparison of the results demonstrates that the proposed technique is at least as precise and accurate as the other procedures used.     

一种简单灵敏的光度法测定环境水样中痕量对苯二酚

在SCN -存在下,控制溶液pH5.0,对苯二酚使Cu(Ⅱ)还原生成的Cu(Ⅰ)与SCN -反应生成CuSCN沉淀,通过测定溶液中剩余Cu(Ⅱ)的量,可以测定对苯二酚的含量.吸光度与对苯二酚含量之间存在良好线性关系.线性方程:A =4.567 +0.9726ρ(μg/mL),线性范围为0.16～4.0μg/mL,相关系...     

A new linear ion trap with simple electrodes

Linear ion traps exhibit greater space charge capacity compared to conventional 3D Paul traps. Commercial ion traps are made of electrodes of hyperbolic shape. The present work investigates the possibilities of designing linear ion traps from simple electrodes, which are relatively cheap and handy for manufacturing and, at the same time, are comparable to commercial ion traps in resolving power of mass analysis. Using computer simulations and optimization of resonance ejection scan, it is shown linear ion traps can be made of electrodes of triangular cross-section with an ejection slit width of 16% of the trap inradius; the resolving power of the mass spectrum is more than 18000.     

A simple model for calorimeters with temperature programming

We present a theoretical study of an RC-model constituted only by one heat capacity and one coupling with the thermostat. It is assumed that the thermostat temperature varies as a function of time, and the heat capacity variation is due to its dependence either on temperature or on the mass exchange with the exterior.The results are parallel to the corresponding RC-models where the thermostat temperature is constant. The variations of sensibility are shown, as well as a criterion for the applicability of inverse filtering as a deconvolution technique in calorimeters with temperature programming.     

A simple method for tosylation with inversion.

In this paper we describe a simple one-step procedure for tosylation with inversion, using zinc tosylate, diethylazodicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine.