Chemical composition of T-21 silica tubing and implications for neutron activation analysis

T-21 silica, a commonly used encapsulation material in neutron activation analysis of small samples, was analyzed by INAA to determine trace levels of the following impurities: Na, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Br, Sb, La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Hf and Au. In the unprocessed form supplied by the manufacturer, pieces of T-21 weighing 50 mg contain 6·10^–2 g Na; 9·10^–3 g Fe; 3·10^–7–7·10^–6 g light REE, Sc and Hf and 4·10^–8 g Tb and Au. In a series of glass-blowing steps, in which unfiltered gases were used for fuel, and cleaning steps, in which reagent grade aqua regia was used, irradiation vials were produced which contain higher average levels of Sc, La, Sm, Tb and Hf, by factors ranging from 1.3 for Sm to 11.5 for La, and lower average levels of Co, Na and Fe, by factors of 1.4, 2.0 and 4.0, respectively, than the unprocessed material. These contamination levels lead to blank corrections of 21% for La, 2.6% for Ce and 3.0% for Hf in 40 g samples of refractory inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites, if counted in their irradiation vials.     

Determination of some trace elements in high-purity aluminium, zinc and commercial steel by AAS after preconcentration on amberlite XAD-1180 resin

The determination of trace metals, e.g. Bi, Cd, Pb, in high-purity aluminium, zinc and commercial steel by flame or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following their preconcentrations as iodo complexes on XAD-1180 resin by means of a short column system is described. The recoveries are quantitative (95%). The relative standard deviations varies between 6% and 10%. The relative errors are less than 8% in a concentration range of 1 × 10^–3 –4 × 10^–5%. Detection limits for flame AAS and GFAAS were in the ranges of 0.002–0.110 g/ml and 0.0003–0.004 g/ml or in the ranges of 0.08–4.40 g/g and 0.012–0.16 g/g with respect to the solid samples, respectively.     

The composition of volatile and particulate hydrocarbons in urban air

Summary The hydrocarbon composition of the particle and gas phases in the urban atmosphere has been studied by filtration and parallel adsorption on active charcoal and polyurethane foam (PUF). Gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) have been used for the analysis of the organic matter extracts obtained with each system. In the case of the particle and PUF samples these extracts were fractionated into aliphatic and aromatic compounds. This approach has allowed to identify up to 247 hydrocarbon molecules showing that C0–C5 alkylbenzenes are the major compounds in the charcoal extracts whereas C14–C23 n-alkanes, C0–C4 alkylnaphthalenes, C0–C4 alkylbiphenyls and C3–C5 alkylbenzenes are those predominantly found in the PUF materials. The particles essentially contain C17–C38 n-alkanes and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These qualitative differences are paralleled by a progressive concentration decrease from the more to the less volatile hydrocarbons. Thus, the total charcoal extracts average 80 g/m³, the PUF compounds represent 4 /m³ and the particle hydrocarbons 0.7 g/m³. These latter airborne materials are essentially composed of petrogenic residues 0.6 g/m³ (aliphatic fraction) whereas the pyrolytic PAH only involve 0.08 g/m³.     

Untersuchungen zur Bestimmung von Spurenelementen in Blutserum mit Hilfe der Totalreflexions-R?ntgenfluoreszenzanalyse

Summary The quantitative determination of trace elements in human blood serum by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis (TXRF) is influenced by absorption- and reflection-effects caused by the organic (proteins) and inorganic (P, S, Na, K, Ca, Cl) matrices. To minimize these effects we have developed a sample preparation technique based on the decomposition of the organic matrix and followed by the separation of the trace elements from the organic matrix by ion-exchange. The described method enables the simultaneous determination of K (1584 g), Ca (666 g), Fe (22 g), Cu (9.6 g), Zn (8.8 g), Se (0.97 g), Sn (1.3 g), Pb (0.12 g) and Rb (1.6 g) (obtained values in parentheses).

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Herrn Prof. Dr. G. Tölg zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Synergetic extraction and spectrophotometric determination of gold(III)

Summary A method is described for the synergetic extraction and subsequent spectrophotometric determination of gold(III). The gold--furil dioxime-pyridine complex extracted into chloroform has a characteristic yellow colour with an absorption maximum at 330 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range [Au(III)]45g/ 10 ml organic phase. A scheme to separate gold from interfering elements by extraction with 4-methyl-2-pentanol in benzene has been proposed.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur synergetischen Extraktion und nachfolgenden spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von Gold(III) wurde beschrieben. Die Komplexverbindung des Goldes mit-Furildioxim und Pyridin ist in chloroformischer Lösung gelb gefärbt. Ihr Absorptionsmaximum liegt bei 330 nm. Bis 45g Au(III)/10 ml organischer Phase wird das Beersche Gesetz befolgt. Die Trennung des Goldes von störenden Elementen durch Extraktion mit 4-Methyl-2-pentanol in Benzol wurde vorgeschlagen.

     

ET-AAS in the Analysis of high-purity mercury

ET-AAS is investigated for the analysis of high purity mercury. Two possibilities are proposed: ET-AAS determination of trace analytes in the presence of high mercury concentrations or after matrix separation by reduction. The ET-AAS analysis of high-purity mercury under optimal instrumental parameters permits fast and reproducible determination of 0.03 gg^–1 Al, Cd and Mn; 0.05 gg^–1 Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb and 0.2 gg^–1 V. Preliminary mercury matrix reductive separation with ascorbic acid allows determination of 0.005 gg^–1 Cd, 0.02 gg^–1 Cu, Cr and Mn, 0.03 g g^–1 Co, Ni and Pb, 0.05 g g^–1 Al and Fe and 0.1 gg^–1 V, but the reproducibility is lower. The main advantage of the second procedure is that it avoids laboratory and instrument pollution with toxic mercury.     

Determination of pentachlorophenol residues in wine and corks by solvent extraction methodology and specific gas chromatography detection

Summary A gas chromatographic methodology with selective detection is presented for the analysis in wines and corks of pentachlorophenol residues, which are suspected to be the most likely precursors of some off-flavours described in several wine samples. After derivatisation, pentachlorophenol acetate residues were monitored by electrolytic conductivity detection and/or mass spectrometric detection in the selective ion mode at m/z 264 and 266. Recoveries varied from 80 to 96% for wine samples fortified with 5 to 100 g l^–1 and from 83 to 91% for corks (fortified at 25 to 100 g kg^–1). The proposed methodology allowed for a determination limit of g l^–1 for wine and 10 g kg^–1 for corks.     

Nuclear interferences of uranium and thorium in a reactor neutron activation analysis determination of cerium using the radionuclides141Ce and143Ce

The interference contributions of uranium and thorium to the determination of cerium based on radionuclides¹⁴¹Ce and¹⁴³Ce produced by irradiation in a reactor core was determined. The values of the interference contributions for¹⁴¹Ce were 0.28±0.01 g Ce/g U and /2.01±0.05/x10^–3 g Ce/g Th, and for¹⁴³Ce 1.33±0.03 g Ce/g U and /9.0±0.2/x10^–3 g Ce/g Th.     

Application of l-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS as a fluorescence probe for the determination of proteins

Nanometer-sized l-cysteine-capped ZnS particles have been synthesized and used as a fluorescence probe to investigate the effect of proteins on fluorescent intensity. With =190 nm, maximum and constant synchronous fluorescence enhancement was produced at 267 nm and pH 5.12 in the presence of proteins. A highly sensitive synchronous fluorescence method for the rapid determination of proteins has been developed. Under optimum conditions, calibration graphs are linear over the range 0.03–8.0 g mL^–1 for bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0.01–6.0 g mL^–1 for human serum albumin (HSA), 0.05–8.0 g mL^–1 for -globulin (-G), and 0.04–4.0 g mL^–1 for ovalbumin, respectively. The relative standard deviations of seven replicate measurements were 1.75% for 1.0 g mL^–1 BSA, 1.90% for 1.0 g mL^–1 HSA, 1.65% for 1.0 g mL^–1 -G, and 2.32% for 1.0 g mL^–1 ovalbumin.     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of niobium(V) using 3-hydroxyflavone

A simple, rapid method for the spectrophotometric determination of niobium in trace amounts is presented, employing 3-hydroxyflavone as a ligand for the complexation of the metal ion and extracting the coloured complex into chloroform from 4M HClO₄ solution. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.0 to 3.2 g ml^–1 Nb(V), with a lower working limit of 0.1 g ml^–1 Nb(V). Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the complex at 395 nm are 4.088 × 10⁴l mol^–1 cm^–1 and 0.002g Nb(V) cm^–2, respectively. The stoichiometry of the complex is established as 12 by Job's and mole ratio methods. The method is free from the interference of a large number of analytically important elements. The proposed system handles satisfactorily the analysis of several samples of varying complexity. The results are highly reproducible with a relative standard deviation of 0.34% for 20 g of Nb.     

Thorium in man and environment uptake and clearance

The intake and tissue distribution of thorium (^{2 3 2}Th) was studied in an urban (Bombay) population in India. From the analysis of 16 whole diet samples, the average daily intake through food was found to be 2 g (range 0.8–4.3 g·d^–1). The estimated intake through drinking water and inhalation comes out to be 0.03 and 0.02 g per day. From the analysis of human autopsy tissue samples it is observed that the concentration ranges in lungs and bone are 1.5–16 g/kg and 0.2–9.0 g/kg fresh weight respectively. The average urinary concentration is 12 ng/1 (range 7–22 ng/l for 10 samples). Among the different body tissues, pulmonary lymph nodes were found to contain the highest concentration (geometric mean 53.4 g/kg, range 31.4–85.5 g/kg for 6 samples). Analysis of the samples was done by the neutron activation technique. 311.8 keV gamma photons of^{2 3 3}Pa which is the activation product of^{2 3 2}Th, were counted after chemical separation. A 54 cm³ intrinsic Ge detector coupled to 1024-channel analyser was used. Using the average lung content and the daily average intake values of thorium through inhalation, the clearance half-time from lung was estimated.     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of dioxouranium(VI) with the sodium salt of hexamethyleneiminecarbodithioate

The optimum conditions for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of dioxouranium(VI) with hexamethyleneiminecarbodithioate(HMICdt) have been established. Dioxouranium(VI) reacts with this ligand at pH 4.5 to form a yellowish-orange uncharged 12 metal-ligand complex which can be extracted by chloroform. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 1–20 g ml^–1 of dioxouranium(VI) at 335 nm. The molar absorptivity of the extracted species is 5.952×10³ l mol^–1 cm^–1 with Sandell's sensitivity of 0.04 g cm^–2. The average of 10 determinations of dioxouranium was 49.75 g for the samples containing 50 g of U(VI) and the variation from the mean at 95% confidence limit was 49.75±0.5955.     

Determination of Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan in Human Urine by High Performance Liquid Chromatography for Pharmacogenetic Investigations

The aim of the present study was to develop a sensitive method to measure dextromethorphan and dextrorphan in urine by HPLC to support pharmacogenetic studies in ethnic groups. Linearity was assessed in the range: 0.015–10 g mL^–1 for dextromethorphan and 1-10 g mL^–1 for dextrorphan. Inter and intra-day coefficients of variation were < 10%. Limits of detection and quantitation were 0.003 g mL^–1 and 0.015 g mL^–1 for dextromethorphan and 0.24 g mL^–1 and 1.0 g mL^–1 for dextrorphan, respectively. The method is reliable in helping determine the phenotype of Mexican ethnic groups using model drugs such as dextromethorphan.     

Spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Nickel und Kobalt nebeneinander mit N,N'-Bis-(o-aminobenzyliden)-?thylendiamin

Zusammenfassung N,N'-Bis-(o-ammobenzyliden)-äthylendiamin (ABAD) bildet mit Ni²⁺ und Co³⁺ stabile Chelate, wobei schon durch Luftsauerstoff eine Oxydation von Co^IIzu Co^III-ABAD erfolgt. Ni-ABAD kann quantitativ mit Benzol extrahiert und spektrophotometrisch bei 486 nm bestimmt werden. Co^III-ABAD wird in der wäßrigen Schicht bei 430 nm bestimmt. Die Grenzkonzentrationen betragen 0,5 g Ni/ml und 0,6 g Co/ml in Konzentrationsverhältnissen von 1001 bis 1100. Die Methode ist ebenfalls zur quantitativen Bestimmung von Co neben Cu geeignet.

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Summary N,N'-Bis-(o-aminobenzylidene)-ethylenediamine (ABAD) quantitatively reacts with Ni²⁺ and Co³⁺ to form stable chelates. Co^II-ABAD is easily oxidised by air to Co^III-ABAD. Ni-ABAD can be extracted with benzene and determined spectrophotometrically at 486 nm, Co^III-ABAD is determined in the water-layer at 430 nm. The limit of detection is 0.5 g Ni/ml and 0.6 g Co/ml by the ratio from 1001 to 1100. The method is also suitable for separation and determination of Co in the presence of Cu.

     

Fällungsanalyse im Mikrogrammbereich: Eine neue Methode

Zusammenfassung Eine neue Methode zur Durchführung gravimetrischer Bestimmungen im Mikrogrammbereich wurde beschrieben; diese beruht im wesentlichen darauf, daß der Niederschlag nicht mehr zusammen mit dem Filter, sondern nach Überführen mit einem geeigneten Lösungsmittel in einem separaten Wägegefäß gewogen wird.Die dazu nötigen Geräte und deren Herstellung wurden beschrieben. Nach dieser Methode wurden folgende Bestimmungen mit zufriedenstellender Richtigkeit durchgeführt: 2,5–25g Al, 5–50g Cu und 5–50g Zn mit Oxin, 2,5–25g Fe(III) und 2,5–25g Ti(IV) mit N-Benzoyl-phenylhydroxylamin, 5–50g Ni und 5–50g Cu mit Salicylaldoxim, 2,5–50g Co(II) und 2,5–50g Fe(III) mit -Nitroso--naphthol sowie 5–50g Chlorid als Silberchlorid.

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Precipitation analysis in the microgram-scale: A new method

Summary A new method for gravimetric determinations in the microgram-scale is described. This method is based on the fact that the precipitate is not weighed together with the filter but is transferred to a separate weighingvessel using a suitable solvent. The necessary simple devices and their use are described. The following determinations were carried out with satisfying accuracy: 2,5–25g Al, 5–50g Cu and 5–50g Zn with Oxine, 2,5–25g Fe and 2,5–25g Ti withN-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine, 5–50g Ni and 5–50g Cu with salicylaldoxime, 2,52–50g Co and 2,5–50g Fe with -nitroso--naphthol and 5–50g chloride as silver chloride.

     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of nucleic acids as 8-hydroxyquinoline/ yttrium ternary complexes

The formation of nucleic acids/8-hydroxyquinoline/yttrium(III) ternary complexes and their fluorescent properties have been studied. The nucleic acids studied include native and thermally denatured calf thymus DNA, fish sperm DNA and yeast RNA. In the range of pH 7.6–8.5, controlled by NH₃-NH₄C1 buffer, ternary complexes are formed that fluoresce at different wavelengths with different nucleic acids. Based on the fluorescence reactions, sensitive spectrofluorimetric methods for nucleic acids are proposed. In optimal conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range 0.5–4.0 gml^–1 for calf thymus DNA, 0.5–2.5 g ml^–1 for fish sperm DNA and 0.5–4.0 g ml^–1 for yeast RNA. The limits of determination (3 ) were 0.030 g ml^–1 for calf thymus DNA, 0.020 g ml^–1 for fish sperm DNA and 0.090 g ml^–1 for yeast RNA. Corresponding to the interferences of coexisting substances, six synthetic samples were constructed and the results of determination were satisfactory.     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary In natural waters, heavy metals such as Cd may be present in bound form. It is, therefore, important to consider chemical speciation, especially at low concentrations of the metal where a significant part can be bound by other trace constituents so tightly that it escapes several forms of its determination. It has been demonstrated that even the very strong complexant APDC is unable to leach out all of the heavy metal present in several coastal water samples from the German Bight.This paper describes a new micro method for the determination of total Cd in natural waters. First a small sample is dried in a polypropylene vial. Then the salt residue is heated to 90° C with a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acid for digestion of organic trace constituents (and oxidation of sulphides if present). After dilution subsamples are neutralized using an excess of NaHCO₃ buffer solution. Extraction results are then independent from the possible slight variations of pH. The extractant, a solution of APDC in CCl₄ is stable for weeks, and even the extract is stable for at least 16h. Precision is in the range of 7% at a concentration of 0.066 g Cd l^–1; the detection limit is below 0.002 g l^–1 and can be lowered, if necessary, by enlargement of the original sample. According to the sensitivity of the method the typical blank of 0.022 g Cd l^–1 is high, but it is rather constant (mean variation from the mean: 0.0024 g l^–1).Teil XI: Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem. 299, 206–207 (1979)     

The oxidative addition of diphenylphosphine and monophenylphosphine to the electron-rich rhenium-rhenium triple bond. The isolation and characterization of compounds that contain the four-center Re(μ-X)(μ-PR2)Re cluster (X=halide)

Diphenylphosphine oxidatively adds to the ReRe bonds of Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ (X=Cl or Br; dppm=Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) and Re₂Cl₄(-dpam)₂ (dpam=Ph₂AsCH₂AsPh₂) to afford the dirhenium(III) complexes Re₂(-X)(-PPh₂)HX ₃(-LL)₂. The dppm complexes have also been prepared from the reactions of Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)X ₄(-dppm)₂ with Ph₂PH, and a similar strategy has been used to prepare Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dmpm)₂ (dmpm=Me₂PCH₂PMe₂) from Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)Cl₄(dmpm)₂. Phenylphosphine likewise reacts with Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ to give Re₂(-X)(-PHPh)HX ₃(-dppm)₂. An X-ray crystal structure determination on Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dppm)₂ confirms its edge-shared bioctahedral structure. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 148) witha=21.699(3) Å, =84.50(4)°,V=10084(5) ų, andZ=6. The structure was refined toR=0.049 (R _w 0.069) for 5770 data withI>3.0(I). The Re-Re distance is 2.5918(7) Å. Oxidation of the bromide complex Re₂(-Br)(-PPh₂)HBr₃(-dppm)₂ with NOPF₆ produces the unusual dirhenium(III, II) cation [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]⁺ which has been structurally characterized as its perrhenate salt, [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]ReO₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 2) witha=14.187(7) Å,b=16.419(5) Å,c=16.729(5) Å, =98.76(2)°, =110.11(3)°, =104.66(3)°,V=3414(6) ų,Z=2. The structure was refined toR=0.040 (R _w =0.051) for 5736 data withI>3.0(I). The presence of a phosphorus-bound [P(O)Ph₂]^– ligand, a linear nitrosyl and a bridging hydrido ligand has been confirmed. The Re-Re distance is 2.6273(8) Å.