Evidence for the existence of supercooled ethane droplets under conditions prevalent in Titan's atmosphere

Recent evidence for ethane clouds and condensation in Titan's atmosphere raise the question whether liquid ethane condensation nuclei and supercooled liquid ethane droplets exist under the prevalent conditions. We present laboratory studies on the phase behaviour of pure ethane aerosols and ethane aerosols formed in the presence of other ice nuclei under conditions relevant to Titan's atmosphere. Combining bath gas cooling with infrared spectroscopy, we find evidence for the existence of supercooled liquid ethane aerosol droplets. The observed homogeneous freezing rates imply that supercooled ethane could be a long-lived species in ethane-rich regions of Titan's atmosphere similar to supercooled water in the Earth's atmosphere.     

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange in fused-silica capillary columns.

Ketones deuteriated alpha to the carbonyl have been observed to undergo significant isotope exchange on fused-silica capillary columns during gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The residence time of the compounds on the column was found to influence the extent of isotope exchange. The degree of exchange was examined using a variety of columns and the isotope exchange was found to occur even with brand new columns. Conversion of the keto compounds into the methyloxime derivatives resulted in retention of the "correct" isotope content during gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Gas chromatography for in situ analysis of a cometary nucleus. II. Analysis of permanent gases and light hydrocarbons with a carbon molecular sieve porous layer open tubular column

Considering the severe constraints of space instrumentation, a great improvement for the in situ gas chromatographic (GC) determination of permanent and noble gases in a cometary nucleus is the use of a new carbon molecular sieve porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column called Carbobond. No exhaustive data dealing with this column being available, studies were carried out to entirely characterize its analytical performances, especially when used under the operating conditions of the cometary sampling and composition (COSAC) experiment of the European Space Agency (ESA) Rosetta space mission to be launched in 2003 for a rendezvous with comet 46 P/Wirtanen in 2011. The high efficiency and speed of analysis of this column at both atmospheric and vacuum outlet column pressure is demonstrated, and the kinetic mass transfer contribution of this carbon molecular sieve adsorbent is calculated. Besides, differential adsorption enthalpies of several gases and light hydrocarbons were determined from the variation of retention volume with temperature. The data indicate close adsorption behaviors on the Carbobond porous layer adsorbent and on the carbon molecular sieve Carboxen support used to prepare the packed columns. Moreover, taking into account the in situ operating conditions of the experiment, a study of two columns with different porous layer thicknesses allowed one to optimize the separation of the target components and to select the column parameters compatible with the instrument constraints. Comparison with columns of similar selectivity shows that these capillary columns are the first ones able to perform the same work as the packed and micro-packed columns dedicated to the separation of this range of compounds in GC space exploration.     

Plasma diagnostics of an analytical Grimm-type glow discharge in argon and in neon: Langmuir probe and optical emission spectrometry measurements

Comparative investigations were performed on a Grimm-type glow discharge source by Langmuir probe measurements and by optical emission spectrometry. The Langmuir probe measurements yielded electron temperatures and number densities of electrons, whereas the optical emission spectrometry measurements resulted in data for excitation and ionization temperatures of different species. The results confirm that there is no local thermal equilibrium in the discharge plasma. The operating conditions of the glow discharge source and also the working gas and the cathode material were varied to investigate their influence on the plasma parameters. The outcome of the plasma diagnostics will be used to improve the modelling of relevant excitation and ionization processes by computer simulation. The major physical processes in the low pressure glow discharge plasma should be better understood if the analytical capability of this spectrochemical excitation and ionization source has to be further enhanced.     

Application of polydivinylbenzene liquid chromatography columns to remove lipid material from fish tissue extracts for the analysis of semivolatile organics

Liquid chromatography columns of 100% polydivinylbenzene (DVB) (packing) were used to remove lipid material from fish extracts before analysis of several semivolatile organic pollutants by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This packing material was found to be durable as the columns could be operated to about 900 p.s.i. resulting in high efficiency separation. Recoveries and relative standard deviations for 18 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons fortified into a fish extract and cleaned up by multiple DVB columns in series were in the range of 86 to 123% and 4 to 11%, respectively.     

气相色谱-质谱法分析硫芥子气及相关化合物

用气相色谱－质谱法对含硫芥子气类化合物进行了分析。探讨了长链芥子气的电子轰击电离的质谱规律，并对待测化合物的色谱保留数据进行了研究，在给定条件下，各种待测含硫芥子气在气相色谱柱中能有效的分离和鉴定。     

猪肉中63种有机磷农药的气相色谱筛选与气质联用确证方法

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱筛选和气相色谱-质谱联用确证猪肉中63种有机磷农药的分析方法。样品用正己烷配合乙腈-水溶液均质提取,加入氯化钠继续均质,离心分层后取部分乙腈层经C18柱和PSA柱净化后供GC和GC-MS分析。气相色谱筛选采用火焰光度检测器（FPD）,气相色谱-质谱联用确证采用选择离子扫描方式（SIM）,外标法定量。该方法简便、快速,优化条件下测定方法的定量下限（S/N=10）为0.001～0.043 mg/kg,在加标水平为0.16 mg/kg时,回收率为70%～121%,相对标准偏差为4.1%～13.9%。     

以亚临界水为流动相的高效液相色谱方法的进展

由于纯水在高温高压下形成亚临界液体水时氢键网络发生改变,导致其极性、粘度等物理性质产生较大的变化。以亚临界水为流动相的高效液相色谱方法(SubWC)是近年来发展起来的一种新型分离技术。SubWC的仪器系统可以采用通过改装的一般的气相色谱(GC)或液相色谱(LC)装置;分离色谱柱既可以采用液相色谱填充柱,也可以采用类似于GC的毛细管柱;选择性既可以通过调节柱系统的温度和压力,也可以通过在流动相中添加有机调节剂或盐类进行调节;检测既可用氢火焰离子化检测器检测,也可用紫外检测器检测,极大地拓宽了色谱分离和最佳条件选择的范围。SubWC无论在仪器系统、流动相的洗脱还是固定相的选择等方面均有一定的特征。这种新的分离模式目前尚处于研究与开发阶段,且多用于极性、中等极性样品的快速分离。     

固相微萃取/气相色谱-质谱法对乌梅浸膏挥发性成分的分析研究

对乌梅浸膏挥发性物质的固相微萃取条件进行了研究。运用正交实验设计,比较了不同萃取头、平衡温度及采样时间对分析结果的影响,通过气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)的分析监控,结合信息量最大原则,确定了固相微萃取的最佳条件:萃取纤维头为聚二甲基硅氧烷,平衡温度为70℃,采样时间45 min。通过GC-MS进行定性定量分析,共鉴定出38种成分,主要挥发性成分依次为糠醛(24.88%)、2-甲基-3-羟基苯甲醛(13.57%)和5-甲基糠醛(10.16%)。     

Capillary GC on 50 micrometer I.D. Columns coated with thick films. Theory and selected practical results

The chromatographic performance of 50 μm internal diameter (i.d.) fused silica columns coated with up to 2 μm films of immobilized SE-54 (methyl phenyl (5%) silicone) is evaluated under gas chromatographic conditions. The influence of pressure drop on the plate height is discussed. In comparison to thick film 250–530 μm i.d. columns, much higher efficiencies and faster analyses are obtained. Practical examples, performed on a standard GC instrument, illustrate the features of thick film 50 μm i.d. columns.     

固相微萃取―气相色谱―质谱联用方法分析人参中的挥发性物质

采用固相微萃取―气相色谱―质谱联用(SPME-GC-MS)的方法测定了人参中的挥发性物质,并对萃取头类型、萃取温度、萃取时间进行了优化。结果表明,当采用100μm聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)的萃取头(非极性),80℃萃取30 min时,萃取效果最好。结果显示,人参中主要的挥发性物质为γ-榄香烯和β-古芸烯等。     

Direct coupling of capillary electrophoresis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the identification of a dinucleotide

Summary In this paper, a general peak capacity expression was evaluated using columns containing various packing materials under solvating gas chromatography (SGC) conditions. Differing from column efficiency, peak capacity can describe both separation capability and speed when introducing the dead time into the peak capacity expression. Various factors that influence peak capacity in SGC are described, including particle pore size, chemical surface modification, particle size, column length, temperature, and pressure.     

土卫六大气中H2和N+反应的动力学研究

依据Titan大气的压强和温度条件计算了N++H2→NH++H反应的热化学函数. 结果发现, 该反应是一个吸热反应, 在Titan的低温环境中不具有反应自发性. 运用量子化学理论计算研究了反应的动力学性质, 发现该反应在300 K温度下的反应速率k=4.16×10−10 cm3•mol−1•s−1, 在实验室温度下(298.15 K)的反应势垒是109.847 kJ•mol−1. 依据Titan电离层气压温度条件计算了90 Pa压强条件下1 K到5000 K温度范围内(极低温度和极高温度)的 反应活化能和反应速率, 研究发现低温下该反应的反应速率非常低, 而且, 随着温度的降低, 反应速率急剧降低. 理论计算值和文献中的实验值也符合得较好, 理论计算数据可以为星际分子的模拟实验提供一定的参考.     

On-line monitoring trihalomethanes in chlorinated water by membrane introduction-fast gas chromatography mass-spectrometry

An analytical method based on membrane introduction and fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed for the on-line monitoring of trihatomethanes (THMs) in chlorinated drinking water. The coupling of membrane introduction with fast GC-MS offers the advantage of membrane introduction as an on-line sampling device and fast GC-MS as a separation and identification method. While maintaining the on-line monitoring characteristic of traditional membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS), the difficulty of distinguishing CHCl3 and CHBrCl2 in MIMS was overcome by rapid GC separation and MS analysis. Water permeated across the membrane affected the analysis of CHBr2Cl and CHBr3. A method based on controlling the injection temperature and injection time has been developed to overcome the moisture problem. This method is simple and less time consuming than the conventional moisture removing method. Under typical operating conditions, the sampling rate was about 20 samples h(-1) capable of on-line monitoring THMs in chlorinated drinking water. The detection limits of this system were found to be about 2 ppt, 4 ppt, 4 ppt, and 8 ppt for CHCl3 CHBrCl2, CHBr2Cl, and CHBr3, respectively.     

Determination of 4-aminobutyric acid, aspartate, glutamate and glutamine and their 13C stable-isotopic enrichment in brain tissue by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A selected-ion monitoring method was developed for measuring 4-aminobutyric acid, aspartate, glutamate, and glutamine in brain tissue. Natural isotopes of these amino acids and their stable-isotopic enrichment following intravenous infusion of a precursor, [13C]glucose, were quantitated. Frozen mouse brain tissue was homogenized in cold 80% ethanol, and the supernatant, equivalent to 1 mg of wet weight brain tissue, was extracted using solid-phase bonded silica ion-exchange columns. Aspartate and glutamate (dicarboxylic acids) were isolated from strong anion-exchange columns, whereas 4-aminobutyric acid and glutamine (neutral amino acids) were isolated from strong-cation exchange columns. n-Butyl ester pentafluoropropionyl amide derivatives of these amino acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a methane positive chemical ionization mode after gas chromatographic separation on a wide-bore, fused-silica capillary column. The method is applicable to determination of brain concentrations of these amino acids as well as their fluxes following administration of a stable-isotopic tracer.     

The effect and potential of using a temperature controlled separation column with ultra-high pressure microcapillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry on proteomic analysis

The microcapillary liquid chromatography (μLC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) system has become a prevailing analytical platform in proteomics. Typical proteomic studies aimed at proteome-wide identification of peptides and proteins rely heavily on producing an accurate and reproducible solvent-composition gradient throughout microcapillary separation columns to improve LC separation. With the recent advent of targeted proteomic approaches utilizing the LC retention time as a physicochemical parameter for peptides, high reproducibility of LC separation additionally becomes an important factor. In this study, column temperature elevation is utilized to improve reproducibility and separation efficiency of the μLC-MS/MS system. The simple incorporation of a semi-rigid gas line heater allowed precise control of the temperature of microcapillary columns longer than 70 cm, up to 60 °C. Tryptic enolase peptides were used as a standard sample to evaluate the effect of the controlled temperature elevation on the peptide separation efficiency and reproducibility. In addition to the increased reproducibility in peptide elution time due to the controlled column temperature, the temperature elevation resulted in a decrease in the column operation pressure, which, in turn, allowed a higher solvent flow-rate to be employed using the same LC pumps, leading to further improvements in the performance of μLC systems.     

甲基氯硅烷低沸物的分离分析

选用DB-624毛细管色谱柱,用气相色谱法对直接法合成的26种甲基氯硅烷低沸物(LBR)组分(其中包括难分离的物质对甲基二氯硅烷和2-甲基-2-丁烯)进行分离.考察了柱温和载气流速对分离效果的影响,发现柱温和载气流速均较低时,分离效果较好.采用气相色谱质谱联用和气相色谱保留时间对照2种方法对组分进行了定性分析,根据色谱保留时间和质谱图的信息,确定了LBR组分结构,并对其进行了定量分析.结果表明,四甲基硅烷、二甲基氯硅烷和甲基二氯硅烷是LBR的主要活性成分,而2-甲基-1-丙烯、2-甲基丁烷和2-甲基-2-丁烯是LBR的主要杂质.方法操作简便、快速、效率高,适用于甲基氯硅烷生产控制中的快速分析和其工业分离的方法研究.     

Analysis of aromatic compounds in gasoline with flow-switching comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

A comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) instrument has been created by coupling a flow-switching modulator and a standard gas chromatograph. The instrument was used to characterize the aromatic composition of gasoline. The high-resolution separation produced by flow-switching GC x GC allowed gasoline aromatics to be fully resolved from saturated components. The aromatic compounds were further separated into groups having the same carbon number. A standard gasoline sample was analyzed to evaluate the quantitative accuracy and precision of this technique. The data show that flow-switching GC x GC produces results that are comparable to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thermal modulation GC x GC. The simple, low-cost, and robust nature of flow-switching GC x GC makes it an ideal technique for the routine analysis of aromatic compounds in gasoline.     

Technology for the identification of unusual cis, cis octadecadienoic fatty acids.

In this article methods are presented for the separation and identification of unusual cis, cis dienoic and polygnoic long chain fatty acids. Special emphasis has been laid on the identification of cis, cis octadecadienoic acids. The steps followed are: after transesterification the fatty acid methyl esters are separated by preparative gas chromatography according to chain length followed by argentation chromatography on thin-layer plates. After hydroxylation of the double bonds with osmium tetroxide the polyhydroxy compounds are derivatized to the per-O-trimethylsilyl-ethers. Separation and identification of individual compounds are achieved by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using SCOT columns and low ionization energy.     

Evaluation of different ionic liquid stationary phases for the analysis of carbohydrates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Five commercial ionic liquid (IL) columns have been evaluated for the first time for the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of low...