Photochromic behaviour of ozonated and photoirradiated cellulose studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

Samples of ozonated pure cotton cellulose have been subjected to three extended periods of irradiation with monochromatic light at 350 nm, with intervening dark periods. The changes during the treatments were monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy. Photochromic behaviour, comprising a fairly rapid emission intensity decrease during irradiation and a slower recovery of the emission intensity in the dark at ambient temperature, was observed. Starting from the completion of the first irradiation/dark treatment the intervening dark reaction almost completely restored the situation prevailing before irradiation. The photochromism observed for a reference sample of cellulose not pretreated with ozone and for microcrystalline cellulose was similar but differed both in amplitude and in fluorescence recovery during the dark periods. The ozonated sample was also irradiated with the entire spectrum of a medium pressure Hg lamp. This treatment caused a strong increase in the emission intensity and a red-shift of the emission maximum. The changes caused by ozonation and irradiation were also studied by diffuse reflectance FT-IR and UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy.     

一种简易光导纤维反射分光光度计的研制及其在文物颜料鉴定中的应用

研制出一种简易光导纤维分光光度计。它以钨灯作光源,光导纤维进行光传输,光电倍增管检测,数字电压表读数。采用该仪器对阳陵出土的彩绘进行了测定,分析鉴定颜料成分为朱砂,与X-荧光分析和X-射线衍射分析结果完全吻合。仪器价格低廉,性能良好。     

Sampling modulation technique in radio-frequency helium glow discharge emission source by use of pulsed laser ablation

An emission excitation source comprising a high-frequency diode-pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and a radio-frequency powered glow discharge lamp is proposed. In this system sample atoms ablated by the laser irradiation are introduced into the lamp chamber and subsequently excited by the helium glow discharge plasma. The pulsed operation of the laser can produce a cyclic variation in the emission intensities of the sample atoms whereas the plasma gas species emit the radiation continuously. The salient feature of the proposed technique is the selective detection of the laser modulation signal from the rest of the continuous background emissions, which can be achieved with the phase sensitive detection of the lock-in amplifier. The arrangement may be used to estimate the emission intensity of the laser ablated atom, free from the interference of other species present in the plasma. The experiments were conducted with a 13.56 MHz radio-frequency (rf) generator operated at 80 W power to produce plasma and the laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm (pulse duration:34 ns, repetition rate:7 kHz and average pulse energy of about 0.36 mJ) was employed for sample ablation. The measurements resulted in almost complete removal of nitrogen molecular bands (N₂⁺ 391.44 nm). Considerable reduction (about 75%) in the emission intensity of a carbon atomic line (C I 193.03 nm) was also observed.     

Application of a xenon arc lamp as a light source for evaporative light scattering detection

The standard tungsten-halogen light source used in a commercial evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) was replaced with a 180 W xenon arc lamp. The xenon arc lamp possesses a broader spectrum in the UV region than the halogen source. The influence of the UV transmittance of five selected solvents was studied with a size-exclusion chromatography column. This solvent parameter was not observed to influence the ELSD response between the two light source settings. With the solvents studied, better sensitivity was obtained with the xenon arc lamp than the halogen lamp. This high-energy source was applied to ceramide III analysis with an octadecyl-grafted silica column and methanol:tetrahydrofuran 97:3 as the mobile phase, and the sensitivity of the quantification of ceramide III increased 16-fold for injected amounts of 14∼140 ng. The molecular species in a sample of naturally occurring ceramides was analyzed using two C18 columns at 40 °C and gradient elution from 100% acetonitrile to 100% isopropanol in 30 min. The increased ELSD sensitivity achieved when using the xenon arc lamp allowed both the minor and major ceramide species to be observed, in contrast to the results achieved when the halogen lamp was used, where the increased photomultiplier voltage needed to observed the signals from the minor species caused the signals from the major ceramide species to occur above the detector response window.     

Statistical evaluation of the performance of a new programmed-scan monochromator for multielement determinations by atomic emission

The reproducibility of a programmed-scan monochromator with stationary dispersion optics was evaluated by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA). The spectrometer used an optical multiplexer coupled with glass-fiber optic light-guides to a multiple entrance-slit spectrometer employing a photomultiplier as the detector. With this spectrometer, 15 emission intensity measurements at the lithium resonance line wavelength (670.7 nm) were collected for five rotations of the optiplexer mirror under four different emission situations: flame background emission at 670.7 nm, lithium emission from an acetylene-air flame in the absence of an ionization buffer, lithium emission from an acetylene-air flame in the presence of an ionization buffer, and tungsten lamp emission at 670.7 nm. For all four situations, the ANOVA results showed that instrumental changes which occurred during mirror rotation in the optiplexer were a significant source of signal variation compared with factors not associated with mirror rotation, i.e., photon shot noise, source fluctuation noise, and electronic drift. The actual magnitude of the signal variability introduced during mirror rotation, however, was found to be quite small, producing an average relative standard deviation of only 0.76% for the signal.     

Behavior of Mercury Vapor Upon Irradiation by a Mercury Lamp in an Inert Gas

Abstract

The behavior of mercury vapor during irradiation by a mercury lamp is investigated. Using the flameless atomic absorption technique for mercury determination, it was found that when mercury vapor in an inert gas is irradiated by a mercury lamp, the atomic absorption signal of mercury is decreased rapidly and the signal may be restored by heating to 70°C. These phenomena indicate that the irradiation products of mercury vapor in the quartz tube are deposited on the tube, and are dissociated into the mono-atomic state of mercury upon heating.     

Determinated of Trace Amounts of Mercury by Non-Disperse Atomic Fluorescence Method

Abstract

A rapid and sensitive cold vapor method for the determination of trace mercury by non-disperse atomic fluorescence measurement is proposed. Mercury vapor generated from solution was swept into the nozzle (the funnel type of glass tube) by nitrogen, and the atomic fluorescence (AF) of mercury in the gas mixture was detected by a non-dispersive AF method using a solar-blind photomultiplier. The detection limit obtained was 0.5 ng per 5 ml sample solution.     

Advantages of time-resolved difference X-ray solution scattering curves in analyzing solute molecular structure

Time-resolved X-ray solution scattering provides a powerful method for investigating reaction dynamics in the solution phase. Since X-rays scatter from all atoms in the solution sample, the scattering intensity is contributed from not only the solute but also the solvent and the solute–solvent cross terms. For a typical concentration the solvent molecules outnumber the solute molecules and thus the relative sensitivity of the scattering intensity to the solute structure is extremely low. To increase the structural sensitivity to the solute and to extract only the signal from structural changes, time-resolved difference scattering signal is obtained by subtracting the original raw scattering curve at a negative reference time delay from that at a positive time delay. Here we show and emphasize that time-resolved difference X-ray scattering curves generally exhibit higher structural sensitivity to the solute molecular structure and lower influence from experimental background and imperfection of theory than original raw scattering curves. These characteristics justify the validity of fitting models to difference curves to obtain transient structural information even when the magnitude of the time-resolved difference curves is smaller than the discrepancy between the theory and experiment for the original scattering curve. We considered small molecules and proteins in solution probed by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering.     

Some characteristics of an intensified photodiode array spectrometer system for use in plasma emission spectrometry

A 1024-element silicon photodiode array with a microchannel plate image intensifier was coupled to a Czerny-Turner spectrometer and basic characteristics of the spectrometer system were studied using an Hg lamp, a hollow cathode lamp and a d.c. argon plasma as emission sources. The intensifier proved to be useful to enhance signals without increasing the electronic background. The signal to dark current ratio of the cooled photodiode array was larger than that of a photomultiplier (HTV R457) in the wavelength region above 380 nm. Effects of entrance slit width, integration time per scan and intensifier gain on signal to background ratios and signal to noise ratio are presented and optimum conditions for emission measurements using the system are described.     

ESR,XPS, UV-VIS and FT-IR investigations on the interaction of no and O2 with highly dispersed C60 supported on silica,titania and alkali cation-exchanged Y-zeolites

The characteristics of the radical sources in highly dispersed C₆₀ samples supported on silica, titania ad alkali cation-exchanged Y-zeolite were investigated in the presence and absence of NO and O₂by means of ESR, FT-IR and UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, the results of which were compared with those of the bulk C₆₀ sample. In the presence of O₂, C₆₀ dispersed onto supports was found to easily generate ESR signals in ambient conditions or under UV-irradiation. The intensity of the ESR signal of the C₆₀ samples were found to strongly depend on the dispersibility of C₆₀, the kind of support and the degassing temperature. Based on these results, the nature of these ESR active species in C₆₀ was discussed in detail for the first time. The addition of NO led to a dramatic decrease in the intensity of the ESR signal, its extent also strongly depending on the kind of support, i.e., silica or Y-zeolite and the exchanged-alkali cations on zeolite, i.e., H⁺, Na⁺, Cs⁺, while such a decrease was not observed for the bulk C₆₀.     

Determination of Trace Metals in Fish Tissue by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using a Discreet Nebulization Technique

Abstract

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry is applied to the analysis of trace metals in fish tissue after digestion of the sample with nitric acid in a decomposition vessel. The digested sample is analyzed directly using a discreet nebulization technique. Enhancement effects were observed for all elements studied. The method was applied to the analysis of copper, iron and zinc in several species of fish.     

Effective UV photolytic decomposition of organic compounds with a low-pressure mercury lamp as pretreatment for voltammetric analysis of trace metals

The effectivity of UV irradiation with low and high pressure mercury (L-Hg and H-Hg) lamps on the decomposition of organic compounds in aqueous solutions, as pretreatment for the voltammetric determination of trace metals, is compared. The photolytic decomposition with the L-Hg lamp was much faster than with the H-Hg lamp. The higher efficiency of the L-Hg lamp is caused by its greater light intensity at short wavelengths. Interferences of organic compounds on the voltammetric determination of nickel and indium were eliminated successfully by 90 min irradiation with the L-Hg lamp. Humic acid and organic interference with the voltammetric determination of nickel in natural river water were successfully eliminated. The decomposition using the L-Hg lamp can be carried out without added oxidizing reagents and at room temperature, thus eliminating loss of water samples by evaporation at higher temperature.     

A comparative study of the effects of decomposition rate control and mechanical grinding on the thermal decomposition of aluminum hydroxide

Summary Two different processes of the thermal decomposition of synthetic bayerite, i.e., the non-isothermal decomposition of mechanically ground sample in flowing N₂ and the controlled rate thermal decomposition of crystalline bayerite under vacuum, were investigated comparatively. In comparison with the conventional non-isothermal decomposition of crystalline bayerite in flowing N₂, the reaction temperature of the thermal decomposition was lowered by the individual effects of mechanical grinding of the sample and the reaction rate control. These decomposition processes indicated similar behavior characterized by the restricted changes of the specific surface area during the course of decomposition reaction and the formation of an amorphous alumina as the decomposition product. Different thermal behaviors were observed for those amorphous Al₂O₃ produced by the respective decomposition processes.     

Preliminary Evaluation of Mixed Dyes for Fingerprinting Non-Fluorescent Bacteria

Abstract

A rapid scanning fluorometer is used to obtain fluorescence spectral data characteristic of bacteria which do not readily produce fluorescent pigments. The data is generated in the form of an array of fluorescence intensity as a function of multiple excitation and emission wavelengths. Fluorescence spectral properties are introduced into the bacterial specimen using multiple dye mixtures for staining. The characteristic fluorescent fingerprints are believed to occur by preferential adsorption and reaction of bacterial cellular components with the individual dyes of the mixture. The procedure is found to be rapid and reproducible for the bacteria examined.     

Raman spectroscopy of powders: Effects of light absorption and scattering

New expressions are derived from Kubelka—Munk theory to describe the Raman intensities observed by back-scattering from powder samples. The equations relate the Raman intensity to the diffuse reflectance R_∞ of the sample for two cases: (i) for a series of samples having constant values of the scattering coefficient, s, but which vary in their values of the absorption coefficient, k; and (ii) for a series of samples having constant values of k, but differing in their values of s. The predicted intensity dependences are compared with the results of experiment.     

Flow Injection Analysis of Mercury/Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometry

Abstract

A new flow injection system for the determination of mercury by the cold vapor atomic fluorescence method is described. A sample solution (64 μ1) is injected into a stream of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, which is mixed with a stream of 3% tin (II) chloride solution in a mixing joint. The combined stream is carried through a reaction coil for reduction of Hg (II) to Hg (0) and subsequently introduced into a specially designed gas-liquid separation vessel. Then the vaporized mercury is swept into a flow type fluorescence cell with a continuous flow of argon after removal of water in the gas phase through a condenser. Mercury is excited with an electrodeless discharge lamp as a source and the mercury fluorescence at both 184.9 and 253.7 nm is measured with a solar-blind photomultiplier. This method allows about 35 determinations of mercury in aqueous samples per hour. The calibration curve is linear over the 0–20 ppb range of mercury. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) is 0.008 ng (0.12 ppb × 64 μ1) and the coefficient of variation is below 1% for the 1–20 ppb solutions (n=10).     

The influence of annealing in a vacuum on the concentration of radicals in fullerite C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

For fullerite C₆₀ with intercalated oxygen, a sharp (by three orders of magnitude) increase in the intensity of the EPR signal with a g-factor of 2.0024 was observed at ～200°C. Studies of gases formed in heating of the sample in a vacuum showed that molecular oxygen was largely released at temperatures below 100°C, whereas the gas phase formed as the temperature increased to 200°C contained carbon oxides CO and CO₂ in addition to oxygen. The conclusion was drawn that the intensity of the EPR signal was determined by the products of oxygen interaction with fullerene rather than the concentration of oxygen in the sample.     

Determination of Chlorpyrifos by a Multicommutated Photochemically Induced Fluorescence Optosensor

Abstract

We propose a multicommutated flow-through optosensor for the quantitation of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos in dried chili peppers. We used photochemically induced fluorescence detection to overcome the negligible native fluorescence of the target pesticide. Firstly, the photodegradation of chlorpyrifos was performed online with an ultraviolet lamp. Then, the fluorescent photoproduct was retained on a solid support (Sephadex QAE A-25) inside the flow-cell in order to record the analytical signal. The online photodegradation and preconcentration of the photoproduct on the solid support were critical for the automation, speed, and high sensitivity obtained. A QuEChERS procedure was selected for sample treatment, obtaining recovery yields close to 100%. The method proposed presents a quantitation limit of 18?mg?kg^?1 in real samples, hence fulfilling the maximum residue limit of Codex Alimentarius, 20?mg?kg^?1. Therefore, this approach offers a novel method for screening purposes in the agricultural and food industries.     

Voltammetric determination of imidacloprid insecticide in selected samples using a carbon paste electrode

The voltammetry of imidacloprid was investigated by using three kinds of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) based on tricresyl phosphate, silicone oil, and n-tetradecane. The tricresyl phosphate-based carbon paste electrode exhibited the best analytical performance with respect to peak shape and signal intensity. The method, operated in the differential pulse voltammetric mode, was applied to the determination of imidacloprid in a river water sample and two commercial formulations and works in the concentration range from 1.7 to 30 μg mL⁻¹, with a relative standard deviation not exceeding 2.2%. This appears to be the first application of a CPE to the voltammetric determination of neonicotinoid insecticides.

     

Study of the state of nickel in ion-exchanged NiNaY zeolite by IR spectroscopy using molecular hydrogen adsorbed at low temperatures

The state of nickel cations in NiNaY zeolite subjected to thermal vacuum and oxidative-reductive treatment was analyzed using diffuse reflectance IR spectra of molecular hydrogen, CO, and hydroxy groups. In a sample dehydrated at 570 K, nickel forms oxide particles, which are presumably located in big cavities of a zeolite. Heating of the sample at 670 K results in decomposition of the oxide with the participation of hydroxy groups followed by the formation of stabilized Ni²⁺ cations in large cavities of the zeolite. Calcination of NiNaY zeolite in a hydrogen atmosphere at 730 K leads to Ni²⁺ cation reduction to the metal state and to the formation of acidic hydroxy groups. Nevertheless, Ni²⁺ cations can be regenerated by reoxidation of the reduced sample with oxygen at 670 K and further evacuation at 870 K. Thermal destruction of NiO in the reoxidized sample also proceeds on acidic hydroxy groups, but the temperature of this process is higher than the temperature of oxide decomposition in the initial NiNaY zeolite. The IR spectra of molecular hydrogen complexes with Ni²⁺ cations were observed for the first time. A considerable decrease in the H-H stretching vibration frequency for the coordinated molecules (up to 210 cm’1) can be explained by electron density redistribution between a hydrogen molecule and the cation in the complex