A clear,amine-containing poly(vinyl chloride) membrane for in situ optical detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

A membrane has been developed for the direct determination of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in natural waters at levels as low as 10 ng ml^?1. A typical membrane is prepared by dissolving the following in tetrahydrofuran: 0.5 g of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), 0.2 ml of dioctyl phthalate to serve as a plasticizer and 0.12 ml of Jeffamine T403, a polyoxyethyleneamine which reacts with TNT to produce a colored product. The membrane is formed by casting the solution into a glass Petri dish with a diameter of 8 cm and allowing the solvent to evaporate slowly. Trace amounts of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), 2,4,5-trinitrotoluene (2,4,5-TNT) and N-picryl-N-methylnitramine (tetryl) also react with the membrane to produce a reddish brown color, but their visible absorption spectra differ from that of TNT. The membranes remain clear indefinitely in water. After storage for 80 days in air in a sealed container, over 80% of the amine remains in the membranes. After exposure to water for 10 days, over 40% of the amine remains in the membranes, which continue to respond to TNT. The membrane can be used to determine TNT in untreated water samples of pH 6–9. Recoveries of 0.1–4.0 mg l^?1 of TNT from spiked groundwater ranged from 95 to 105%. Results by direct analysis of turbid water samples agreed with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Isophthaldihydroxamic acid as a spectrophotometric reagent for the determination of molybdate ion

Isophthaldihydroxamic acid produces colored solutions with molybdate ions in basic medium. The resultant product is extracted into a toluenic solution of trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Adogen). The yellow color obtained in the organic solvent (molar absorptivity 6.050 liters · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ at a wavelength of 350 nm) has been used for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum in the range of 1.3 to 6 ppm with a relative error of the mean value of 1.3%.     

Application of charge-coupled device technology for measurement of laser light and fluorescence distribution in tumors for photodynamic therapy

Laser and fluorescence light distributions with applications for photodynamic therapy were measured in mouse tumors using a non-invasive electronic optical imaging system. The system consists of a liquid-nitrogen-cooled, charge-coupled-device (CCD) array camera under computer control with 576 x 384 detection elements having dimensions of 23 microns x 23 microns. The available dynamic range of the array is approx. 10(3), and the effective wavelength range is 400-1000 nm. An interstitially placed cylindrical diffusing optical fiber was used to provide tumor illumination. The light distribution pattern from the fiber was determined by immersing the cylindrical diffusing tip in a fluorescing solution and recording the emission image. Fluorescence imaging facilitates an accurate measurement of light intensity distribution while avoiding problems associated with the directional nature of other detection methods used with diffusing fibers. Radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumors on C3H mice were grown to about 1 cm diameter for in vivo recording of light distribution from the tumor volume and for determination of effective light penetration distance at 18 wavelengths in the range 458-995 nm. Endogenous tumor fluorescence and Photofrin II fluorescence intensity were measured over the wavelength range 585-725 nm to investigate the possible application of CCD imaging technology for drug distribution measurements. Model experiments were begun to evaluate the relative importance of potential distortions of light distribution measurements using this approach.     

Vibrational spectroscopy standoff detection of explosives

Standoff infrared and Raman spectroscopy (SIRS and SRS) detection systems were designed from commercial instrumentation and successfully tested in remote detection of high explosives (HE). The SIRS system was configured by coupling a Fourier-transform infrared interferometer to a gold mirror and detector. The SRS instrument was built by fiber coupling a spectrograph to a reflective telescope. HE samples were detected on stainless steel surfaces as thin films (2–30 μg/cm²) for SIRS experiments and as particles (3–85 mg) for SRS measurements. Nitroaromatic HEs: TNT, DNT, RDX, C4, and Semtex-H and TATP cyclic peroxide homemade explosive were used as targets. For the SIRS experiments, samples were placed at increasing distances and an infrared beam was reflected from the stainless steel surfaces coated with the target chemicals at an angle of ∼180° from surface normal. Stainless steel plates containing TNT and RDX were first characterized for coverage distribution and surface concentration by reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy. Targets were then placed at the standoff distance and SIRS spectra were collected in active reflectance mode. Limits of detection (LOD) were determined for all distances measured for the target HE. LOD values of 18 and 20 μg/cm² were obtained for TNT and RDX, respectively, for the SIR longest standoff distance measured. For SRS experiments, as low as 3 mg of TNT and RDX were detected at 7 m source–target distance employing 488 and 514.5 nm excitation wavelengths. The first detection and quantification study of the important formulation C4 is reported. Detection limits as function of laser powers and acquisition times and at a standoff distance of 7 m were obtained.     

Determination of doxorubicin hydrochloride by visible spectrophotometry

Four simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric methods (A-D) have been described for the assay of doxorubicin hydrochloride either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. Method A was developed based on oxidation of the drug with Fe(III) to produce Fe(II), which subsequently reacts with 1.10-ortho-phenanthroline to form a red colored complex (lambda(max): 510 nm) at pH 4.6. Method B involves the reduction of Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) reagent by the drug and the reduced species formed possesses a characteristic intense blue color (lambda(max): 770 nm). In methods C and D. oxidation of the drug with periodate at specified experimental conditions yields formaldehyde and dialdehyde, which in turn react either with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride to form an intensely brilliant blue cationic dye (lambda(max): 620-670 nm. method C) or by condensation with phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (PHH) to form orange-red colored product (lambda(max): 510 nm, method D) in the presence of potassium ferricyanide. All of the variables have been optimized and the reaction mechanisms presented. The concentration measurements are reproducible within a relative standard deviation of 1.0%.     

Ultrasensitive optical detection of trinitrotoluene by ethylenediamine-capped gold nanoparticles

This study found that 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA) as a primary amine could be modified onto the surface of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), and the EDA-capped Au NPs were successfully used as an ultrasensitive optical probe for TNT detection. The strong donor–acceptor (D–A) interactions between EDA and trinitrotoluene (TNT) at the Au NP/solution interface induced significant aggregation of the EDA-capped Au NPs, and enabled to easily realize the direct colorimetric detection of ultratrace TNT. The results showed that such a color change was readily seen by the naked eye, and the colorimetric detection could be down to 400 pM level of TNT with excellent discrimination against other nitro compounds. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy was used to examine the TNT-induced changes in local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of EDA-capped Au NPs, and a new LSPR band at ca. 630 nm arose along with the addition of TNT, which produced a detection limit of TNT down to ca. 40 pM. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering measurements evidenced the ultratrace TNT-induced small changes in the size of the EDA-capped Au NPs, and realized the quick and accurate detection of TNT in 0.4 pM level. These results demonstrated the ultrahigh sensitivity of this optical probe for TNT detection. Moreover, this optical probe is sample, stable, low-cost, and these excellent properties make it quite promising for infield and rapid detection of TNT.     

Changes in the fluorescence spectrum of individual single-wall carbon nanotubes induced by light-assisted oxidation with hydroperoxide

Through fluorescence-spectrum measurements, we investigated the effects of light-assisted oxidation with H2O2 (LAOx) on single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that were individually dispersed in an aqueous solution of surfactant. The intensities of the fluorescence spectra were decreased remarkably by the LAOx when the light's wavelength was 400-500 nm and a little when 600-700 nm. The spectrum intensity did not recover even when the pH was restored to an original value of 6.5. The spectra changed little when the LAOx wavelength was 500-600 nm or the light was not irradiated. In addition, the effect of LAOx on SWNTs was related to the diameters of SWNTs. We inferred that these phenomena reflected that H2O2 was dissociated by absorbing the fluorescence light emitted from optically excited SWNTs, which, in turn, accelerated the burning out of SWNTs.     

A new device for in-line colorimetric quantification of polypropylene degradation under multiple extrusions

An in-line colorimeter that is able to quantify color changes in real time during extrusion was developed and validated. It is composed of LEDs emitting at three different wavelengths and a photocell that measures the intensity of the light transmitted through the polymer melt flow. The colorimeter was validated at the bench by employing colored aqueous solutions and in-line during the extrusion of a colored polypropylene. Furthermore, it was used to in-line quantify the color changes in a polypropylene as generated over multiple extrusions due to thermo-mechanical degradation. The technique was proved to be fast and suitable to measure color changes in real time during extrusion.     

ULTRAVIOLET RESONANCE RAMAN STUDY ON PURPLE AND BLUE MEMBRANES OF Halobacterium halobium

Abstract— Two hundred and forty and 213 nm excited resonance Raman spectra of purple membrane (PM) and blue membrane (BM) of Halobacterium halobiurn were studied. Generally intense Trp scattering and a strong relative intensity of the W3 band at 1553 cm^-1 in the 240 nm spectrum of PM indicate red-shifted B_b absorptions of some Trp sidechains. A high intensity ratio of Trp doublet at 1360 and 1340 cm^-1 suggests interactions with highly hydrophobic Trp environments. These Trp are not strongly H-bonded and their N₁ sites are located in positions easily reached by solvent water molecules. Tyrosines are also in very hydrophobic environments and H-bonded. The mainchain consists of normal and distorted α-helices whose amide NH are hardly deuterated in D₂O suspension, and some NH exchangeable irregular segments on the membrane surface. Upon acidification, the ratio of Trp doublet with 240 nm excitation decreases concomitant with increase in retinal absorbance at 600 nm, and the W3 relative intensity and overall Trp scattering also decrease. These observations strongly indicate that the counterpart of Trp interactions in PM is the retinal and that the interactions partly diminish upon acidification. The Tyr environment also changes with the color. Although the 240 nm amide I intensity is greater in acid BM than in PM, the change is not related to the color change because the amide I intensity of deionized BM is practically the same as that of PM. The amide I intensity increase in acid BM is ascribable to a structural change of the surface peptides due to acid induced aggregation.     

用表面等离子体子共振传感器测定人心肌肌钙蛋白I的研究

采用自组装表面等离子体子共振(SPR)传感装置,固定入射角,以波长为变量,以CCD为检测系统,用对金和抗体均有较强吸附作用的葡萄球菌A蛋白作为基底膜,观测了人心肌肌钙蛋白I的抗体和抗原之间免疫反应的动力学过程,并进行了人心肌肌钙蛋白I的定量测定.结果表明,人心肌肌钙蛋白I的浓度在5.0～50μg/L范围内与传感器的响应值呈线性关系.     

Photoelectric Measurements on Chloroaluminium Phthalocyanine/Titanium Oxide Heterojunctions

Heterojunctions were constructed, consisting of a 50 nm thick sol-gel derived titanium dioxide (TiO₂) layer and a 500 nm thick thermally evaporated chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) film sandwiched between an indium tin oxide (ITO) base and a gold counter electrode. It is found from short circuit current measurements that TiO₂ films can be sensitised to wavelengths outside their intrinsic sensitivity by using phthalocyanine dyes. Photoelectrical measurements were performed on the devices using a solar simulator at six different intensities varying from 0.18 to 2.0 mW/cm². The overall conversion efficiency of the cells was found to reach maximum at the intensity of light of 1.12 mW/cm² from the solar simulator.     

Structural colored fiber fabricated by a facile colloid self-assembly method in micro-space

Structural colored fiber was fabricated by an isothermal heating evaporation-induced self-assembly method. Under ambient white light illumination, the fibers appear colored due to optical reflectance, which is determined by the lattice constants of the photonic crystals. By controlling the size and layers of the silica nanospheres, the fiber color can be changed.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of TNT in soil and water with dicyclohexylamine extraction

Contaminated land and groundwater remediation in military waste dumping sites often necessitates the use of simple, cost-effective, and rapid tests for detecting trinitrotoluene (TNT) residues in the field along with their dinitro-analogues. A simple, rapid, low-cost, and field-adaptable (on-site) colorimetric method was developed for quantifying TNT in the presence of RDX, PETN, picric acid, 2,4-DNT (dinitrotoluene), dinitrophenol, and dinitroaniline. Most commercialized methods for TNT assay-with the exception of Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory of the U.S. Army (CRREL) method-use proprietary chemicals, and the color stability and intensity are highly dependent on the composition of the organic solution comprised of acetone or methanol. The developed colorimetric method is based on the extraction of TNT from water-acetone solution into an organic solvent mixture of dicyclohexylamine (DCHA)-isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) (10:1, v/v), filtration through a filter paper into a stoppered optical cell containing anhydrous sodium sulfate, and measurement of the absorbance of the organic extract at 531 nm after 5 min. The red-violet color of the extract was due to intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) between the electron attracting TNT and electron-donating DCHA, and the molar absorptivity for TNT in final organic solution was (1.16 ± 0.02) × 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹.The R.S.D. of the slope of calibration line was 0.7%. The LOD of the method in the final organic phase was 0.38 μM TNT, and LOD values expressed on the basis of original soil TNT content were 0.5, 1.3, and 1.5 ppm (μg g⁻¹) for clay, loamy clay, and sandy soils, respectively. Unlike other spectrophotometric methods, the developed assay was basically tolerant to common cations and anions found in soil and water at 100-fold weight ratios, and to soil humic acids. Among a number of compounds that may be encountered in polynitro-explosive storage and waste reclaimation sites such as picric acid, dinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, dinitroaniline, RDX, PETN, and tetryl, only tetryl interfered with the developed TNT assay. Water tolerance and exploitability over a wide pH range were other superiorities over the CRREL method. The CT-complex was relatively stable, as the absorbance of the organic extract was not significantly influenced from the dilution of the water-acetone phase. Aside from the extractive-photometric procedure established for aqueous solutions, a simulated field colorimetric assay for TNT directly applicable to soil was also devised, based on direct color development in a 4:1 (v/v) acetone-dicyclohexylamine organic extract of soil at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 5 mL g⁻¹.     

A Novel Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Zolmitriptan in Pharmaceutical Formulations

A simple, rapid, cost effective and extraction‐free spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of zolmitriptan in pharmaceutical raw and dosage forms. The method is based on the charge‐transfer reaction of zolmitriptan in acetonitrile medium with 0.2% 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone to form a colored product peaking at 555 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 10‐250 μg mL^?1 with molar absorptivity of 1.7 × 10³ L mole^?1 cm^?1. The effects of variables such as reagent concentration, time of reaction, color stability and interferences have been investigated to optimize the procedure. The results have been validated analytically and statistically. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of zolmitriptan in pharmaceutical formulations. Results indicate that the method is accurate, precise and reproducible (relative standard deviation < 2%).     

Flow injection colorimetric method using acidic ceric nitrate as reagent for determination of ethanol

Ceric ammonium nitrate has been used for qualitative analysis of ethanol. It forms an intensely colored unstable complex with alcohol. In this work, a simple flow injection (FI) colorimetric method was developed for the determination of ethanol, based on the reaction of ethanol with ceric ion in acidic medium to produce a red colored product having maximum absorption at 415 nm. Absorbance of this complex could be precisely measured in the FI system. A standard or sample solution was injected into a deionized water donor stream and flowed to a gas diffusion unit, where the ethanol diffused through a gas permeable membrane made of plumbing PTFE tape into an acceptor stream to react with ceric ammonium nitrate in nitric acid. Color intensity of the reddish product was monitored by a laboratory made LED based colorimeter and the signal was recorded on a computer as a peak. Peak height obtained was linearly proportional to the concentration of ethanol originally presented in the injected solution in the range of 0.1-10.0% (v/v) (r² = 0.9993), with detection limit of 0.03% (v/v). With the use of gas diffusion membrane, most of the interferences could be eliminated. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of ethanol in some alcoholic beverages, validating by gas chromatographic method.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Lisinopril in Pure and Pharmaceutical Formulations

An accurate, simple, fast, and cheap spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of lisinopril in pharmaceutical pure and dosage forms. The method is based on the reaction of ninhydrin with primary amine present in the lisinopril in the presence of DMF. This reaction produces a greenish blue colored product which absorbs maximally at 600 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 10–150 μg/mL with molar absorptivity of 4.083 × 10³ L mole^?1 cm^?1. The effects of variables such as temperature, heating time, concentration of color producing reagent, and stability of color were investigated to optimize the procedure. The results are validated statistically. The proposed method was applied to commercially available tablets, and the results were statistically compared with the official potentiometric method.     

Femtosecond laser photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of nitro-aromatic explosives and explosives related compounds

The ultrafast laser-induced photoionization and photodissociation processes of the nitroaromatic containing explosive and explosive related compounds (ERCs) nitrobenzene (NB), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB), m-nitrotoluene (MNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) have been investigated at three laser wavelengths and power densities using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Examination of the mass spectra of these compounds reveals the enhanced formation of the molecular ion [M⁺] when ultraviolet (332 nm) and visible (495 nm) light is used relative to infrared (795 nm) radiation. In addition, at 795 nm and a power density of 3. 5 × 10¹⁴ W/cm², the presence of a competition between multiphoton ionization (MPI) and Coulomb explosion (CE) channels is revealed by peak shape analysis, and is thought to be operative under these conditions for all of the molecules investigated.     

Radiation-induced darkening of ionic liquid [C4mim][NTf2] and its decoloration

The radiation effect on a hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([C₄mim][NTf₂]), was studied by γ-irradiation under nitrogen atmosphere. Accompanied by color darkening and increase of light absorbance in a wide wavelength range, a distinct absorption peak at around 290 nm for irradiated [C₄mim][NTf₂] appeared when acetonitrile was used as solvent, and the intensity of the peak enhanced with increasing dose. The spectrophotometric study on the irradiated RTILs containing 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cations associated with different inorganic anions revealed that the peak is ascribed to the radiolysis products of the [C₄mim]⁺. And the wavelength of the peak was affected by alkyl chain length on imidazolium cation, while the intensity of the peak was influenced by anions. With incorporating a little amounts of oxidants, such as KMnO₄ and HNO₃ into irradiated [C₄mim][NTf₂], the intensity of the peak at 290 nm decreased obviously and the decoloration of [C₄mim][NTf₂] occurred, suggesting that the peak at 290 nm is assigned to the colored species and the species can be oxidized.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of trinitrotoluene, trinitrophenol, dinitrophenol and mononitrophenol

Contaminated land and groundwater remediation in military waste dumping sites often necessitates the use of simple, cost-effective and rapid tests for detecting trinitrotoluene (TNT) and trinitrophenol (picric acid; PA) residues in the field along with their dinitro-analogues. Using PA as the model compound, a simple and field-adaptable (on-site) colorimetric method was developed for quantifying PA in the presence of dinitrophenol (DNP) and mononitrophenol (NP). Most commercialized methods for TNT assay—with the exception of CRREL method—use proprietary chemicals, and the color stability and intensity are highly dependent on the composition of the organic solution comprised of acetone or methanol. The developed colorimetric method here is based on the extraction of the Meisenheimer anion formed from the reaction of PA and aqueous NaOH into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) with a cationic surfactant such as cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB). The orange-red color that developed in the organic phase was persistent for at least 30 min. TNT formed a similar extractable red complex under these conditions. If present, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and 4-nitrophenol (NP) could be detected by the same method at 17- and 167-fold concentrations of the LOD of PA, i.e. 1.5 ppm. DNP alone could be quantified by another charge-transfer (CT) agent, imidazole, as a yellow product at 400 nm in 98% EtOH solution. Under the same conditions, the intramolecular CT-band due to PA was essentially not intensified upon addition of the imidazole ligand, enabling the estimation of the DNP concentration from absorbance difference of solutions with and without imidazole, due to the intermolecular CT absorption of the latter. NP alone could be detected with a diphenylamine solution in H₂SO₄ to produce a blue color.     

A reagent-free SIA module for monitoring of sugar, color and dissolved CO2 content in soft drinks

This work presents a new sequential injection analysis (SIA) method and a module for simultaneous and real-time monitoring of three key parameters for the beverage industry, i.e., the sugar content (measured in Brix), color and dissolved CO₂. Detection of the light reflection at the liquid interface (the schlieren effect) of sucrose and water was utilized for sucrose content measurement. A near infrared LED (890 ± 40 nm) was chosen as the light source to ensure that all the ingredients and dyes in soft drinks will not interfere by contributing light absorption. A linear calibration was obtained for sucrose over a wide concentration range (3.1-46.5 Brix). The same module can be used to monitor the color of the soft drink as well as the dissolved CO₂ during production. For measuring the color, the sample is segmented between air plugs to avoid dispersion. An RGB-LED was chosen as the light source in order to make this module applicable to a wide range of colored samples. The module also has a section where dissolved CO₂ is measured via vaporization of the gas from the liquid phase. Dissolved CO₂, in a flowing acceptor stream of water resulting in the change of the acceptor conductivity, is detected using an in-house capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (C⁴D). The module includes a vaporization unit that is also used to degas the carbonated drink, prior the measurements of sucrose and color within the same system. The method requires no chemicals and is therefore completely friendly to the environment.