Determination of Arsenic by Hydride Generation—Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Characterization of Interelement Interferences

In this study, interelement interferences were evaluated for the determination of arsenic in aqueous samples through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) hyphenated with a hydride generation sample introduction system. Optimum instrumental and chemical parameters were selected and variation in LIBS signal intensity was recorded for As solution in the presence of comparable concentrations of interfering elements. No significant change in the signal intensity of As(I) 228.8?nm line was observed in the presence of alkali/alkali earth metals; however, the presence of hydride-forming elements has shown a noticeable decrease in the line emission strength of arsenic. The least variation in arsenic signal was observed in the presence of Ge, the most volatile of all. However, the signal has decreased to a greater extent in the presence of Sn, Sb, and Pb. The presence of interfering elements on electron temperature and electron number density of arsenic plasma has also been studied. Plasma temperatures calculated using both As and Ar emission lines in the Boltzmann equation were similar, being around 5000?K. The McWhirter criterion for stationary and homogenous plasmas was utilized for the establishment of the local thermodynamic equilibrium under the plasma conditions studied. Applicability of the technique for multielemental analysis of water samples was tested through spiking experiments. Arsenic signal showed 26% decrease in the multielemental mixture solution. LIBS is among a few atomic spectroscopic techniques that facilitate rapid and simultaneous multielemental analysis without extensive sample preparation steps. However, the analytical performance of the technique still requires more serious efforts to compete with other conventional techniques for routine analysis of environmental samples.     

Analysis of Soil by Magnetic Field Assisted Calibration-Free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and Laser Ablation – Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS)

The qualitative and quantitative analysis of soil samples collected from Sialkot, Pakistan (which contains leather industrial plants), has been performed using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation time of flight mass spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS). The focused beam of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (532?nm) was used to ablate the soil samples in air at atmospheric pressure. The optical emission spectra demonstrate the presence of the spectral lines of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Ti, K, Cr, Mg, Na, Ba, and Li in all of the samples. The emission lines intensities, electron number densities, and excitation temperatures were significantly enhanced in the presence of an external 0.3 T magnetic field applied perpendicular to the plasma plume. A maximum enhancement factor of approximately 8 was observed in the emission intensity. The emergence of several additional lines has also been detected using the magnetic field-assisted LIBS approach. The elemental composition determined using calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), with and without magnetic field, reveals that the external magnetic field only adjusts the laser-generated plasma dynamics without affecting the quantitative analysis of the samples. Importantly, the toxic and heavy elements such as chromium and barium were detected and quantified in all of the soil samples by both of these techniques. The variations in the compositional analysis using CF-LIBS with and without the applied magnetic field and LA-TOF-MS were less than 10%.     

Adsorption Chronopotentiometric Determination of Aluminum in Drinking Waters by Cupferron

1.IntroductionAluminumisknowntobetoxictothecentfalnervoussystem.AlotofAl-relatedhumandisordershavebeenreported'.InChina,aluminumsaltsarewidelyusedindrinkingwaterpurificationandAlpotsareusuallyutilizedforstoringdrinkingwaters.Therefore,thedeterminationofAlindrinkingwatersisessentialforevaluatingitsbiologicaleffect.NumerousanalyticalapproacheshavebeendevelopedincludingAAS,ICP-AES,spectrophotometry,fluorescenceandelectyochemicaltechniques.Amongthemthemostsensitivetechniqueisadsorptivestripp…     

Determination of Cationic Surfactant by Laser Thermal Lens Spectrometry

A novel method for the determination of cationic surfactant by laser thermal lens spectrometry was developcd,It was based on reaction between 1-hydroxy-2-(5-nitro-2-Pyri-dylazo)-8-aminonaphthaenc-3,6-disulfonic acid (5-NO2-PAH) and cationic surfactant to form 1:2 ionic association complex in a weakly basic medium (pH 9.44),The determination conditions and the mechanism were discussed,The method has been appliced to the analysis of wastewater and moat water samples.     

Simultaneous Determination of Magnolol and Honokiol by Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy

MOL and HOL are the useful ingredients of Houpo that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of thrombotic stroke, typhoid fever, and headache. Therefore, it is necessary to determine theirs contents in pharmaceutical dosage. Up to…     

New Validated Methods for the Simultaneous Determination of Two Multicomponent Mixtures Containing Guaiphenesin in Syrup by HPLC and Chemometrics‐Assisted UV‐Spectroscopy

Abstract

High pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and spectrophotometric methods are developed for the determination of two multicomponent mixtures containing guaiphenesin, dextromethorphane hydrobromide, and sodium benzoate together with either phenylephrine hydrochloride, chlorpheniramine maleate, and butylparaben (mixture 1) or ephedrine hydrochloride and diphenhydramine hydrochloride (mixture 2). The HPLC method depended on using an ODS column with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile ?10 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 2.7 (40∶60 v/v) containing 5 mM heptane sulfonic acid sodium salt (for mix 1) and a cyanopropyl column with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile ?12 mM ammonium acetate, pH 5 (40∶60 v/v) (for mix 2) and UV detection at 214 nm. The cyanopropyl column is much less hydrophobic, less sterically restricted to the penetration of bulky solute molecules into the stationary phase, and has weaker hydrogen‐bond acidity than the ODS column. So the cyanopropyl column is more suitable for separation of components of mix 2. The chemometric‐assisted spectrophotometric method with, principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS‐1) was used. For the chemometric method a calibration set of the mixture consisting of each compound in each mixture was prepared in distilled water. The absorbance data in the UV spectra were measured in the spectral region (210–240 or 210–224 nm for mix 1 and mix 2, respectively, as this range provided the greatest amount of information about the two mixture components). The spectrophotometric method does not require a separation step. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the analysis of the two multicomponents combinations in laboratory‐prepared mixtures and in commercial syrups, and the results were compared with each other.     

Determination of Estradiol by Biotin‐Avidin‐Amplified Electrochemical Enzyme Immunoassay

Abstract

A simple, sensitive biotin‐avidin‐amplified electrochemical enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of estradiol (E₂) was proposed in this paper. The complex of biotinylated anti‐E₂ antibody and horseradish peroxidase‐labeled avidin (HRP‐avidin) were regarded as a probe in this system. The activity of labeled enzyme was measured with electrochemical methods using o‐phenylenediamine as substrate. Coupled with the plate‐coated antigen, indirect ELISA format using E₂‐ovalbumin, the electrochemical detection was performed for E₂ with the detection limit of 21.0 pg/ml, and the linear range of determination of 50.0–500.0 pg/ml. The proposed method has been used for the determination of E₂ in river water with satisfactory results. Compared with the traditionally spectrophotometric ELISA detection, this method shows greatly heightened sensitivity. The limit of detection improved by about two orders of magnitude, which is very suitable for the conditions with extremely low concentration of analyte or very small volumes of sample present.     

Elemental Analysis of Cement by Calibration-Free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and Comparison with Laser Ablation – Time-of-Flight – Mass Spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDX), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), and Proton Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE)

The purpose of the present study is to determine the elemental composition of Pakistani cement brands using calibration-free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and to compare the obtained results with the other analytical techniques such as, laser ablation – time-of-flight – mass spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and proton induced X-ray emission spectrometry (PIXE). Compositional results reveal that all the cement brands are mainly composed of calcium, silicon, iron, aluminum, magnesium, potassium, sodium, titanium, lithium and strontium with varying concentrations. The compositions obtained by LIBS and LA-TOF-MS are in good agreement with results obtained by the other standard techniques and demonstrate the potential use of LIBS for the online monitoring of industrial cement production.     

Indirect Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Aluminum by a Pyrocatechol Violet-Modified Electrode

Aluminumhasbeenconsideredtobeacausativeagentforvariousneurologicaldisorders'.Duringthelastdecade,considerableattentionhasbeenpaidtotheelectrochemicaldeterminationofAlforitsdistinguishedmeritsofhighsensitivity,easymanipulationandsimpleinstrumentation...     

Determination of Quercetin in Extracts of Ginkgo biloba L. Leaves by Near‐Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Based on Interval Partial Least‐Squares (iPLS) Model

Abstract

This paper developed a multivariate method of analysis of quercetin in Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts, based on reflectance NIR measurements and partial least squares regression. In order to give a better correlation with the results obtained by HPLC, multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) was utilized to correct scattering effect and interval partial least squares (iPLS) to select optimum wavelength region. In general, good calibration statistics were obtained for the prediction of quercetin content, as demonstrated by some figures of merit, namely linearity, repeatability, and accuracy. And the iPLS model was more reliable than the full model.     

Quantitative Determination of Nadolol in Tablets by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography and UV‐Derivative Spectrophotometry

Abstract

High‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and UV derivative spectrophotometric (UVDS) methods were developed and validated for the quantitative determination of nadolol in tablets. The HPLC method was performed on a C18 column with fluorescence detection. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 230 and 300 nm, respectively. A mobile phase composed by acetonitrile‐water containing 0.1% triethylamine (15∶85 v/v) and pH adjusted to 4.6 with formic acid was used. The UVDS method was performed taken a signal at 279.5 nm. The correlation coefficient (r) obtained for both methods was 0.9999. The proposed methods are simple, precise, accurate, and can be used in routine analysis.     

Determination of the Herbicide Fluometuron by Photo‐induced Chemiluminescence in a Continuous‐flow Multicommutation Assembly

Abstract

This study was dealing with the chemiluminometric determination of the selective herbicide Fluometuron or 1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐(α,α,α‐trifluoro‐m‐tolyl)urea, (C₁₀H₁₁F₃N₂O) with a molecular weight 232.29 belongs to the phenyl urea herbicides family. The analytical strategy is based on the continuous‐flow manifold, multicommutation and the analyte pre‐treatment, the photo‐degradation.

The optimization of chemical (pH, medium, temperature, and organized media) and hydrodynamic parameters (volume of reagents and flow rate) was performed by univariant and multiparametric simplex procedure respectively. Analytical figures of merit and the effect of foreign substances were studied. The method resulted in quick, automated cost‐effective and clean procedure to determine the herbicide in spiked different samples of water and a formulation.     

Simultaneous Determination of 13 Phenoxy Acid Herbicide Residues in Soybean by GC‐ECD

Abstract

In this study, a gas chromatography method for the multiresidue determination of 13 phenoxy acid herbicide residues (4‐CPA, 4‐CPP, phenoxy butyric acid, dicamba, MCPA, MCPP, MCPB, 2,4‐D, 3,4‐D, 2,4,5‐T, 2,4,5‐TP, 2,4‐DP, and 2,4‐DB) in soybean was developed. After the removal of fat using n‐hexane, the sample was extracted with acetonitrile‐50 mM HCl (v/v 7:3), and then followed by liquid‐liquid partition with n‐hexane (saturated by acetonitrile). The soybean extract was further cleaned up by anion exchange column. Then the residues were derived with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and the resulting pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) esters were analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD), quantified by the external standard method. Recoveries of spiked samples at two fortified levels (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) are all above 70%. And the relative standard deviation was less than 20%. It shows that the limits of determination (LOD) of this method (S/N≥3) can meet the requirement of maximum residue analysis in import/export inspection for soybean.     

Determination of Cd and Pb in Honey by SF‐ICP‐MS: Validation Figures and Uncertainty of Results

Abstract

A method based on microwave‐assisted acid digestion of honey and quantification of Cd and Pb by Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry was in‐house validated and the combined uncertainty was estimated according to the Eurachem/Citac Guide. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.07 and 0.20 ng g^?1 for Cd, and 0.70 and 2.10 ng g^?1 for Pb; recovery was 103.9% for Cd and 98.5% for Pb; repeatability was 10.7% for Cd and 18.5% for Pb; within‐laboratory reproducibility was 15.2% for Cd and 21.4% for Pb. Relative combined uncertainty in honey was 15% for Cd and 22% for Pb, with the main contribution coming from the within‐laboratory reproducibility. The method showed robustness when subjected to different working conditions and when applied to various Italian honeys. Cadmium content ranged 0.2–1.37 ng g^?1 and Pb 4.6–30.5 ng g^?1 in flower honeys, while the highest concentrations were presented by honeydew honeys.     

Direct Oxidation of N‐Benzylamides to Aldehydes or Ketones by N‐Bromosuccinimide

A simple and efficient approach for the one‐pot transformation of N‐benzylamides to aldehydes or ketones under mild conditions was reported. All the 20 substrates gave moderate to excellent oxidative yields under the optimized conditions. Our study may provide a new approach for the one‐pot synthesis of aldehydes or ketones from the corresponding amides.     

Determination of α-Amanitin in Serum by HPLC

Abstract

A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of α-amanitin in serum of poisoned patients is described and discussed. The methodology developed is simple and rapid with a minimum of sample preparation steps required. Detection is very sensitive, allowing quantitation of 25 ng of α-amanitin/ml of serum. The technique described is a useful tool to determine the severity of Amanita phalloides intoxication during the first 24 h after ingestion of poisonous mushrooms.     

Shear‐Induced Diffusion in Dilute Suspensions of Charged Colloids

We propose a model for the nonequilibrium enhancement of colloidal self‐diffusion in an externally imposed shear flow in charged systems. The diffusion enhancement is calculated in terms of electrostatic, two‐body interactions between the particles in shear flow. In the high‐shear rate, low‐volume fraction limit in which the model is valid, we compare these calculations to the experiments of Qiu et al. [PRL 61, 2554 (1988)] and simulations of Chakrabarti et al. [PRE 50, R3326 (1994)] and find good agreement on scaling and magnitude to within experimental uncertainty of the electrostatic parameters.     

Salt‐Induced Micellization of Pluronic F88 in Water

The effect of potassium chloride on the micellization of a poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO‐PPO‐PEO) triblock copolymer (Pluronic F88: EO₁₀₃PO₃₉EO₁₀₃.) in water was studied by fluorescence, FTIR, ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and dye solubilization. The critical micellization temperature (CMT) values of the copolymer decreased with an increase of KCl concentration while micellar core gets progressively dehydrated. The results reveal the leading role of salt‐water interaction in promoting the micellization of PEO‐PPO‐PEO copolymer by the addition of salt. No significant micellar growth was seen even at temperatures close to cloud point.     

Coordination Structure of Aluminum in Magnesium Aluminum Hydroxide Studied by ^27Al NMR

The coordination structure of aluminum in magnesium aluminum hydroxide was studied by ^27Al NMR.The result showed that tetrahedral aluminum (Al^IV) existed in magnesium aluminum hydroxide,and the contents of Al^TV increased with the increase of the ratio of Al/Mg and with the peptizing temperature.Al^IV originated from the so-called Al13 polymer with the structure of one Al tetrahedron surrounded by twelve Al octahedrons.     

Determination of the Chemical Structure of Poly-β (-)-pinene by NMR Spectroscopy

This paper is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Annalaura Segre.

The chemical structure of a series of β (-)-pinene polymers (PBP) obtained by radiation-induced polymerization, free radical initiation, cationic polymerization over a Friedel-Craft catalyst and by coordinative polymerization over a Ziegler-Natta catalyst has been fully elucidated by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. 2D NMR techniques have been applied in order to assign all the NMR resonances to the structures of the PBP investigated. The NMR spectra show that the most regular PBP structure is obtained by radiation-induced polymerization followed by the free radical initiated polymerization. The most defective structure has been observed in the case of PBP prepared by cationic mechanism over a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The discussion accounts for different types of defects and cross-links present in the PBPs investigated whose fundamental structure is based on the p-menthene repeating unit.

NMR self-diffusion measurements have been performed to evaluate the molecular weight of all the PBP investigated. The highest molecular weight (2600 Dalton) was found in the case of PBP prepared by Ziegler-Natta catalyst, while the lowest molecular weight was found in the case of PBP prepared by radiation-induced polymerization (about 1000 Dalton).