Infrared methods for high throughput screening of metabolites: food and medical applications

Chemical and physiological properties are related to individual or bioactive compounds such as essential oils, terpenoids, flavonoids, volatile compounds and other chemicals which are present in natural products in low concentrations (e.g. ppm or ppb). For many years, classical separation, chromatographic and spectrometric techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) have been used for the elucidation of isolated compounds from different matrices. Hence, the use of standard separation, chromatographic and spectrometric methods was found useful in chemical and both plant and animal physiology studies, for fingerprinting and comparing natural and synthetic samples, as well as to identify single active compounds. It has been generally accepted that a single analytical technique will not provide sufficient visualization of the metabolome, hence holistic techniques are needed for comprehensive analysis. In the last 40 years near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy became one of the most attractive and used methods of analyzing agricultural related products and plant materials which provide simultaneous, rapid and non-destructive quantitation of major. This technique has been reported to determine other minor compounds in plant materials such as volatile compounds and elements. The aim of this short review is to describe some recent applications of NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis for high throughput screening of metabolites with an emphasis on food and medical applications.     

Application of the isotope dilution technique for Zr determination in an irradiated cladding material by multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The determination of ⁹³Zr concentration, a long-lived radionuclide present in spent nuclear fuel and in the structural components of nuclear reactors, is a major issue for nuclear waste disposal purpose and to validate neutronic calculation codes. To measure ⁹³Zr concentration in irradiated cladding material with a high precision, an analytical method based on the use of multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS) combined to isotope dilution technique was developed. First a radiochemical separation of zirconium from a zircaloy sample (a zirconium alloy used as a cladding material for nuclear fuel elements), has allowed to obtain a very pure zirconium fraction with no potential isobaric interferences for mass spectrometric measurements. Then as the determination of all zirconium isotope ratios in the sample is necessary for the isotope dilution method, a MC-ICPMS procedure was developed to perform these precise measurements. Finally, the determination of ⁹³Zr concentration in the same sample was performed, after preparation and calibration of a ⁹⁶Zr spike solution. The uncertainties obtained on isotope ratios of zirconium by MC-ICPMS were in the order of 0.1%. The final uncertainty obtained on the ⁹³Zr concentration in the nuclear material used and after chemical purification was lower than 0.6%.     

Determination of hafnium at the 10% level (relative to zirconium content) using neutron activation analysis,inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Hafnium at the very low level of 1–8 ppm (in relation to zirconium) was determined in zirconium sulfate solutions (originating from investigations of the separation of ca. 44 ppm Hf from zirconium by means of the ion exchange method) by using three independent methods: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS), neutron activation analysis (NAA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results of NAA and ICP MS determinations were consistent with each other across the entire investigated range (the RSD of both methods did not exceed 38%). The results of ICP-AES determination were more diverse, particularly at less than 5 ppm Hf (RSD was significantly higher: 29–253%). The ion exchange method exploiting Diphonix^® resin proved sufficient efficiency in Zr–Hf separation when the initial concentration ratio of the elements ([Zr]₀/[Hf]₀) ranged from 1200 to ca. 143,000.     

A simple method for the preparation of pure hafnium

The separation of zirconium and hafnium by fractional precipitation as pyrophosphate¹ has been extended for the preparation of pure hafnium. The favourable uptake of hafnium, in spite of the decreasing tendency of partition factor when hafnium concentration is high, is maintained for all concentration of hafnium (relative to zirconium). Particularly significant is the fact that at very high concentrations of hafnium (at≈84%) the uptake of zirconium sharply falls. So pure hafnium can be prepared from natural zirconium by a simple process of eight or nine stages of fractional precipitations as pyrophosphate. This process yields reactor grade zirconium on the one side and pure hafnium on the other side.     

A novel solid-phase extraction method for separation and preconcentration of zirconium

This work assesses the use of modified natural clinoptilolite as an adsorptive material for separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of zirconium ions. A simple, rapid and economical method was developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of zirconium in aqueous medium using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol as a complexing agent. Effect of sample pH, flow rate of sample and elution solutions, breakthrough volume and interference of several ions were studied. Determination of zirconium was made by ICP-AES technique. The sorption was quantitative in the pH range from 3.0 to 4.0, whereas quantitative desorption occurred instantaneously with 2 mol L^?1 hydrochloric acid. Linearity was maintained between 0.05 and 9.0 μg mL^?1. Relative standard deviations range from ±0.9% to ±2.3% (n?=?5). The detection limit was 0.1 ng mL^?1. Because of good recovery (>97%), this method is suitable for preconcentration and determination of zirconium in effluents containing trace amount of zirconium.     

Studies of Hydrous Zirconium Oxide. I. Thin-Layer Chromatography of Some Metal Ions on Hydrous Zirconium Oxide: Quantitative Separation of Bi(III) from Several other Metal Ions

Abstract

The analytical potentiality of hydrous zirconium oxide as an ionexchanger has been investigated by thin-layer chromatographic (TLC technique. Binder-free thin-layers of hydrous zirconium oxide are useful for 25 ternary and 12 quaternary separations. Quantitative separation of Bi (III) from some ternary and quaternary mixtures of metal ions has been achieved.     

An Application of Capillary Electrophoresis for the Analysis of Algal Toxins from the Aquatic Environment

In this work capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection has been applied to the analysis of different natural toxins produced in the aquatic environment. This technique is presented as an alternative to other chemical techniques such as HPLC, and the optimisation of analytical methodologies was carried out for diverse marine toxins including Paralytic and Amnesic and some polyether toxins, such as Yessotoxins, as well as for certain microcystin toxins produced by cyanobacteria present in freshwaters. Sample preparation steps were optimised and adequate electrophoretic conditions developed for achieving a complete separation of compounds with similar structures involved in such contamination. The influence of the biological matrices where they are involved has also been studied and the potential use of CE-UV as a tool for monitoring these aquatic toxins is also discussed.     

Direct determination of zirconium and chromium by first-derivative spectrophotometry

The solution properties of zirconium complex with the Schiff's base 2-(2-pyridylmethyl-eneamino)phenol have been studied by zero-order absorption spectrophotometry. The influence of pH, stability of the complexes with time and stability constants were investigated. The use of first-derivative spectrometry eliminates the interference of chromium and enables the simultaneous determination of zirconium and chromium without previous separation. The relative overall standard errors, of five independent simultaneous determinations of zirconium and chromium at the 1.0 μg/ml concentration level, were 2 and 4%, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of some real samples of zirconium/chromium bronzes.     

Flow analysis of silicate rocks for zirconium

A flow analysis system involving the on-line configuration of an anion-exchange column has been examined to enrich and determine trace concentrations of zirconium of several ppm to hundred ppm levels in silicate rocks and minerals. About 100 mg of sample is decomposed by fusion with a mixture of boric acid and lithium carbonate and taken up with 1M hydrochloric acid to a total of 100 ml. Depending upon the concentration of zirconium, either a 1- or 4-ml aliquot is introduced into an aqueous carrier stream, merged with sulphuric acid and passed through a small volume anion-exchange column. The enriched zirconium is then back eluted with hydrochloric acid, colour-developed with Arsenazo III, and detected spectrophotometrically at 665 nm.     

New process to control hydrolysis step during sol-gel preparation of sulfated zirconia catalysts

Sulfated zirconia catalysts were prepared by sol-gel process using a new method allowing the control of the hydrolysis step of zirconium alkoxides. Prepared samples were characterized by N₂ adsorption (desorption) at 77 K, XRD, chemical analysis of total sulfur and XPS. Catalytic properties have been evaluated in n-butane and n-hexane isomerization reactions. Obtained results show that time necessary for gelation is significant and depends considerably on the nature of the zirconium precursor. Concerning the properties of the solids obtained by this method, it has been noted that the use of the zirconium propoxide led to a better retention of the sulfate species, which improves activity during isomerization reactions. It has been found also that an initial S/Zr molar ratio equal to 0.5 allowed to obtain an optimal sulfur content and a high specific surface area.     

Collision cell chemistry for the analysis of radioisotopes by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A new method is presented for rapid and selective enrichment of radium in natural samples using ²²⁵Ra as a chemical yield tracer. The new technique allows a complete separation of the target nuclide from the sample matrix with high separation factors for thorium and uranium. The use of EmporeÔ Radium Rad Disks combines the easy handling of column chromatography with the high selectivity and rapid extraction kinetics of solvent extraction chromatography. Following this new chemical approach, eluates are obtained which are well suited for a-spectrometric analysis of Ra, Th and U.     

Solvent Extraction Separation of Zirconium (iv) With Anberlite LA - 1 From Citrate Solutions

Abstract

Zirconium was quantitatively extracted with 8 × 10^?2 M of Amberlite LA-1 or LA-2 xylene from 0.001 M citric acid at pH 3.5 and it was stripped from the organic phase with 2 M hydrochloric acid and was determined spectrophotometrically at 665 nm as its complex with arsenazo III. Zirconium was separated from binary as well as tertiary mixtures by exploiting the difference in the distribution coefficient or by selective extraction or selective stripping. The method was applied for the analysis of zircon.

Zirconium was extracted as its anionic complex with various mineral acids by liquid anion exchanger. The chlorocomplex of zirconium was extracted from 6–10 M hydrochloric acid with trioctylamine^1–5, triisooctylamine⁶ or Aliquat 3365⁷. The sulphotocomplex of zirconium was extracted with Aliquat 3365⁸, Primine JMT⁹, Alamine 336¹⁰. The nitratocomplex was less extensively utilised for the extractive separation of zirconium^{11, 12}.

Zirconium was extracted quantitatively from oxalate^{13, 14} and malonate media¹⁵. These extractions were carried out at low pH and separated zirconium from large number of associated elements. The ion exchange chromatographic behaviour of zirconium on column with cation exchange^16–17 or with anion exchange¹⁸ resin with citric acid as eluent were utilised but extraction studies from citrate solutions were never attempted.

From the critical study of existing methods it was observed that zirconium was extracted at narrow pH range; with high concentration of complexing ligand for extraction with liquid anion exchangers and long period of equilibration for extraction as well as stripping. So also such extractions were possible mostly at milligram concentrations involving use of hazardous diluents like benzene. In order to circumvent these difficulties an attempt was made to develop a better method for the solvent extraction separation of zirconium by ion pair formation.

Therefore this paper presents systematic investigations on the solvent extraction separation of zirconium from citrate media with liquid anion exchangers. From the study of various factors. The optimum conditions for the extraction and the separation of zirconium from associated elements are evaluated. The method has been extended for the analysis of zirconium from zircon.     

Synthesis and characterization of zirconium(IV) iodovanadate and its use as electron exchanger

Samples of zirconium(IV) iodovanadate have been synthesized under varying mixing ratios by adding a mixture of aqueous solution of 0.1 M potassium iodate and 0.1 M sodium metavanadate to aqueous solution of 0.1 M zirconium oxychloride at pH 1. The ion exchange capacity of the material for Na⁺ ion was found to be 2.20 meq g⁻¹ of dry exchanger. The material has been characterized on the basis of chemical composition, FTIR and TGA. The chemical stability of the product has been checked in neutral, acidic and basic media. The product has been used as electron exchanger. The oxidation of Fe(II), Sn(II), ascorbic acid and thioglycolic acid was achieved by batch-equilibrium technique successfully. The maximum redox capacity of the exchanger has been found to be 4.20 meq g⁻¹ of exchanger by column process.     

Determination du bore dans le zirconium,par activation au moyen de deutons

The determination of boron in zirconium by activation analysis using the¹⁰B(d, n)¹²C reaction with the chemical separation of¹¹C is described. The method was applied to industrial zirconium samples as zircalloy.

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Collaborateur temporaire de thèse au CEA.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(methyltetradecylsiloxane) stationary phases immobilized by gamma radiation onto zirconized silica

The preparation of stationary phases with enhanced chemical stability in alkaline eluents has been the principal objective of many chromatographers. New and improved silica substrates and advanced chemical modification methods are among the possibilities being investigated to reach this objective. The present work has evaluated these two possibilities for new stationary phases. First, the silica surface was modified by reaction with zirconium tetrabutoxide to produce zirconized silica particles having about 21% (w/w) of zirconium. Then poly(methyltetradecylsiloxane) (PMTDS) was immobilized onto this surface using different doses (50-120 kGy) of gamma radiation. These new phases were characterized using elemental analysis and infrared and solid-state (29)Si-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. These new stationary phases presented column efficiencies of about 68,000 plates m(-1), symmetric peaks for apolar compounds and retention factors that depend on the irradiation dose and show improved stability in high pH mobile phases. The separation of several pharmaceuticals at pH 11 is presented.     

Treatment of wastes containing cesium ions by electrochemical ion-exchange (EIX)

In this study, an electrochemical ion-exchange (EIX) technique, based on cationic resin and zirconium phosphate (ZrP), have been chosen for the separation of cesium from radioactive wastes. These materials show high chemical stability in oxidizing media and under ionizing radiation. Charcoal, graphite and binder used in the formulation of electrodes have been studied as well. 99.8% of the cesium sorption from solution was observed. The great advantage of this process is the total release of cesium at room temperature, by reversing polarities, which makes possible the reuse of the electrode without losing its exchanging capacity.     

Extractive separation of group IVB elements: analysis of alloy samples

A method is proposed for the extraction and mutual separation of quadrivalent titanium, zirconium and hafnium from hydrochloric acid using triphenylphosphine oxide dissolved in toluene as an extractant. The optimum conditions for the extraction and separation have been evaluated from critical study of acid concentration, extractant concentration, period of equilibration and effect of diluent. The effect of foreign ions on the extraction and determination is also discussed. The probable composition of the extracted species has been deduced from logD-logC plots. The method affords mutual separation of titanium, zirconium and hafnium and is applicable to the analysis of alloy samples.     

Spectrophotometric titration of zirconium in siliceous materials

An accurate and selective complexometric titration procedure based upon a spectrophotometrically detected end-point has been developed for the determination of zirconium in glasses, glass-ceramics and refractories. A p-bromomandelic acid separation step for zirconium imparts excellent selectivity to the procedure. The method is particularly important for the 1–5% concentration range where a simple, accurate and selective method for the determination of zirconium has been lacking.     

Diphenic acid as an analytical reagent

Summary Diphenic acid can separate thorium completely from moderate amounts of ferrous iron and titanium in almost neutral solutions. As the reagent forms quantitative precipitates with ferric iron and zirconium, workable methods for their separation from thorium and their co-determinations in a mixture with the help of this reagent have also been developed. The reagent can separate thorium from zirconium by precipitating the latter below p_h2, and the same from iron(ic) can be accomplished by the use of ascorbic acid as a masking agent. Ferric iron can be precipitated from solution containing ascorbic acid, by the ammonium salt of the reagent. A convenient process for the estimation and separation of zirconium, thorium, iron(ic) and titanium, when present in a mixture, has also been described, which involves the proper control ofph and the use of ascorbic acid as a complexing agent for ferric iron.My sincere thanks are due to Dr. A.K. Mukherjee of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Calcutta for his valuable suggestions and to Dr. A. K. Ghosal, Principal, Darjeeling Government College for providing laboratory facilities.     

The determination of selenium by atom-trapping atomic absorption spectrometry

The application of atom-trapping atomic absorption spectrometry to the determination of selenium has been studied in detail. The optimum experimental parameters were established and the interference of major elements on the determination of selenium was studied using collection on a cold silica tube. The atom-trapping atomic absorption technique gives a detection limit of 0.03 ppm after 2-min collection on silica in an air—acetylene flame. This compares with ca. 1 ppm by the conventional absorption technique at the same 196.1-nm line. Methods to minimize interferences were examined, including the use of a double tube arrangement, an aluminium oxide-coated silica tube and ion-exchange separation. A combination of combustion in an oxygen flask and collection from an air—acetylene flame on the aluminium oxide-coated silica tube yielded satisfactory results in the analysis of four plant tissue samples.