Comparison of surface modification techniques used for the preparation of wall coated open tubular glass capillary columns

Summary Comparison of different techniques for modifying internal glass surfaces to accept a substrate loading on wall coated open tubular columns (WCOT) were examined. Inner surfaces pretreated with a non-extractable Carbowax 20M layer, barium carbonate and silica whiskers were prepared and coated with a Carbowax 20M liquid phase. The columns were evaluated for efficiency, acidic-basic and adsorption properties, thermal stability and coating efficiency. Column performances were also assessed for deactivated surfaces. Each column was applied to a standard mixture of Aroclor 1016.     

Stainless steel capillary columns for high temperature gas chromatography

A layer of elemental silicon has been deposited on the surface of stainless steel tubing by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Two kinds of capillary column were prepared from the deactivated tubing: cross-linked, silanol-terminated polydime-thylsiloxane wall coated open tubular (WCOT) columns and molecular sieve 13X porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns. Unlike fused silica capillary columns, stainless steel WCOT and PLOT columns can be operated at temperatures in excess of 400°C. High temperature simulated distillation has been performed successfully with a macro bore WCOT column and rapid PNA (paraffin, naphthene, and aromatic) analysis with a multidimensional gas solid chromatographic (GSC) system using PLOT columns.     

Use of the sol-gel technique to prepare capillary columns coated with a macrocyclic dioxopolyamine for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

Summary Columns for open-tubular (OT) capillary electrochromatography (CEC), coated with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclotridecane-11,13-dione (dioxo[13]aneN₄) by use of the sol-gel technique, have been investigated for the first time. Dioxol[13]aneN₄ was reacted with 3-(2-cyclooxypropoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane and the product was then mixed with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and water to form a glass matrix as a network in which the stationary phase (dioxo[13]aneN₄) was incorporated. In comparison with OTCEC columns prepared by the sol-gel process with TEOS only, the sol-gel-derived macrocyclic dioxopolyamine columns enabled better separations of a mixture of isomeric nitrophenols and benzenediols, a mixture of isomeric aminophenols and diaminobenzenes, and a mixture of four biogenic monoamine neurotransmitters. High efficiencies (60 000—340 000 plates m⁻¹) were achieved for isomeric benzenediols, aminophenols, nitrophenols, and diaminobenzenes. Migration time and theoretical plate number reproducibility was satisfactory;RSD was <2% for one column and <8.5% from column to column.     

Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Films on Silica Glass Substrates by Assembly Technique

Nanostructured TiO₂ coating films on silica glass substrates were prepared by the assembly technique. TiO₂ colloids were synthesized employing the sol‐gel method using TiCl₄ as a precursor. The effect on the surface structures which was caused by the polyethylene glycol (PEG) added to the precursor solution and the photocatalytic activity were studied. The experimental results showed that the cobble‐like TiO₂ coating films were synthesized at 500 °C. On the surface of the samples, TiO₂ films exhibited uniform shape and a narrow size distribution. The result of proper PEG added to the precursor solution led to the decreasing of the size of TiO₂ particles and the increasing of the surface area of the samples. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ films with PEG was higher than that of samples without PEG.     

High resolution gas chromatographic determination of permanent gases with a helium ionization detector

The capability of the helium ionization detector (HID) to operate in connection with capillary columns for trace gas analyses has been evaluated. Two different capillary columns were considered: a PLOT fused silica column with molecular sleve and a thick film WCOT glass column with PS-255. The determination of trace impurities in gases can be achieved with evident advantages over classical adsorption columns, even using a split injection system. Direct on-column injections also have been investigated with promising results.     

Preparation of gold nanoislands on various functionalized polymer-modified glass and ITO for electrochemical characterization of monolayer assembly of alkanethiols

Nanometer dimension of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles can be firmly bound with various functionalized polymer-modified glass plate and indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. Herein we report 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, polyvinyl pyridine, polyethylene imines, etc. as binding agents to modify these substrates to stabilize the charged colloidal gold nanoparticles through electrostatic stabilization of gold nanoparticles. When gold nanoparticles pretreated substrate are exposed into the seeding growth solution, the preadsorbed gold nanoparticles grow further and then form nanoislands of gold on glass and ITO substrates. The formation of nanoislands on microscope glass slide and ITO was monitored with UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and atomic force microscopy methods. The gold nanoislands and gold nanoparticles pretreated substrates can be used as platform to study the self-assembling behavior of long chain alkanethiols such as C₁₂SH, C₁₆SH, and C₁₈SH. The binding, coverage, and electron transfer characteristics of monolayer assembly on modified gold nanoisland and nanoparticles modified substrates are studied using electrochemical studies. The gold substrates can be prepared by this method, which is simple and reproducible and can be applied to various sensor and electrocatalytic applications.     

Xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase activities of Candida guilliermondii as a function of different treatments of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate employing experimental design

The sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate, which is rich in xylose, can be used as culture medium for Candida guilliermondii in xylitol production. However, the hydrolysate obtained from bagasse by acid hydrolysis at 120°C for 20 min has by-products (acetic acid and furfural, among others), which are toxic to the yeast over certain concentrations. So, the hydrolysate must be pretreated before using in fermentation. The pretreatment variables considered were: adsorption time (15,37.5, and 60 min), type of acid used (H2So4 and H3Po4), hydrolysate concentration (original, twofold, and fourfold. concentrated), and active charcoal (0.5, 1.75 and 3.0%). The suitability of the pretreatment was followed by measuring the xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XD) activity of yeast grown in each treated hydrolysate. The response surface methodology (2⁴ full factorial design with a centered face) indicated that the hydrolysate might be concentrated fourfold and the pH adjusted to 7.0 with CaO, followed by reduction to 5.5 with H₃PO₄. After that it was treated with active charcoal (3.0%) by 60 min. This pretreated hydrolysate attained the high XR/XD ratio of 4.5.     

Glass capillary gas chromatography of highly polar solutes like diols,acids and amines deactivation of fused silica and pretreated alkali glass support surfaces

Summary The method of support surface deactivation by PSD (alkylpolysiloxane degradation) at temperature between 300 and 450°C previously described was used to deactivate both fused silica and alkali glass surfaces of capillary columns. The latter surfaces had to be pretreated before deactivation with aqueous HCl leaching or by the dealkalisation method using flowing HCl gas at 450°C and subsequent rinsing with water for alkali removal. Excellent alkylpolysiloxane columns with regard to tailing and irreversible adsorption of highly polar solutes have been obtained on both fused silica and the pretreated alkali glass. Fused silica does not require pretreatment before deactivation by the PSD-method, however. Good polyethyleneglycol (Carbowax 20 M) columns can also be obtained by coating the two types of surfaces when no deactivation is necessary. Deactivation by the PSD method cannot be applied in this case because polar stationary liquids do not adhere to alkylpolysiloxane deactivated surfaces. Sample capacity problems arising when separating highly polar solutes with non-polar stationary phases have also been investigated.     

Superoxes,high temperature universal phases in (GC)2

Most of the common classes of organic compounds chromatograph normally on Superoxes. There is no tailing or adverse effect from excessively different activity different activity coefficients. Superoxes are therefore universal phases for gas chromatography. This is also expressed by a wide useful temperature range from ～50° to ～300°. High MW Superox-4 has a MAOT about 20° higher than the lower MW Superox-0.1. Several applications illustrating the versatility of Superox phases in (GC)² are presented.     

Gas chromatographic study of the thermal and analytical properties of a nematic luquid crystal and its cupric complex

The nematic compound N-4-(2′-(4″-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy)-4′-do-decyloxy)azobenzenyl-4-dodecyloxysalicylideneimine, known as LH, and its cupric complex, bis[N-4-(2′-(4″-dodecyloxybenzoyloxy)-4′-dodecyloxy)azobenzenyl-4-dodecyloxysalicylidene]iminato of copper (II), known as CuL₂ have been used as stationary phases for gas chromatography. The thermal properties of LH and CuL₂ have been determined with conventional metal columns, using n-alkanes as solute probes. Plots of In V⁰_g against 1/T clearly show the temperature transitions of LH and CuL₂. The analytical capabilities of the two stationary phases were established by use of 25 m glass capillary columns. Satisfactory separations were obtained for positional hydrocarbon and halocarbon isomers, aromatic and polyaromatic compounds, and volatile essential oil constitutents.     

Steroid analysis by gas chromatography with SCOT and wide-bore WCOT columns

Glass capillary columns are ideal for analysis of urinary steroid profiles (i.e. the total steroid neutral fraction without prior separation into sub-groups). In this paper performance of both SCOT and wide-bore WCOT columns has been compared, resulting in no significant quantitative difference on urine extracts run as trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. However, because of increased efficiency the WB-WCOT column exhibited more sensitivity in measurement of small amounts of 11-ox-aetiocholanolone. Sensitivity of other steroids was greatly enhanced by use of either SCOT or WB-WCOT, leading to an almost tenfold increase over conventional packed columns (e.g. androsterone and aetiocholanolone < 40 μg per 24 h urine sample). A simple splitless injection system (based on a design of Dr. W. Greenaway, Oxford University) is presented. Experiments were also carried out using a SCOT column in conjunction with an FM-electron capture detector. Whilst efficiency was impaired due to the design of the detector, use of He (carrier) and N₂ (make up gas) showed that several steroid derivatives could be easily measured at well below the 10^?10 g level with much more rapid retention times than with a 1½m packed column. Highly successful separation of 19 amino acids (as fluoro-acyl derivatives) was achieved in 35 minutes using a SCOT (30 m) SP2100 column.     

Preparation and characterization of core-shell structured TiO2–BaCO3 particles

Preparation of core-shell structured TiO₂–BaCO₃ particles as precursor of BaTiO₃ genesis, proceeds using a two step procedure, by first coating the TiO₂ core by Ba(OH)₂ shell followed by conversion of the shell region with CO₂ gas by the formation of BaCO₃. Straightforward experimental results reveal environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) as suitable methods for analytical characterization of the core and shell regions from individual TiO₂–BaCO₃ grains. Evidence of coating the whole ensemble of TiO₂ particles is possible using Photo Electro Motive Force (Photo EMF, PEMF) measurements. This method is able to indicate very sensitively changes of surface properties of TiO₂ after coating with Ba(OH)₂ and BaCO₃, respectively. PEMF measurements were used for the first time with concern to this topic.     

Glass capillary columns with liquid crystalline stationary phases for gas chromatography. The influence of the pretreatment of the inside tube wall

Summary The importance of capillary columns prepared with a liquid crystalline stationary phase are increasing. It is known that the interaction of the liquid crystals molecules with the glass capillary wall may strongly influence selectivity and efficiency of the column. The paper reports on systematic investigations on the correlations between the pretreatment of the inside glass capillary surface, the chemical nature of the liquid crystal and the chromatographic properties of the columns obtained. Two types of matrix were investigated: barium carbonate and barium carbonate with subsequent deactivation with Carbowaxes. Three liquid crystals with different relative polarity (terminal group polarity) and nematic mezophase transitions were used. Deposition of barium carbonate, if necessary, with a secondary Carbowax treatment was found as an excellent capillary wall pretreatment method. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Oriented polymers from solution. III. NMR of polyethylene/polypropylene blends

T₁, T₂, and T_1ρ measurements are reported for a blended fiber of polyethylene and polypropylene prepared by the “surface growth” technique. The data support the view that the fiber contains mixed crystalline regions of each pure component that may weakly interact via spin diffusion. A tentative model is proposed for the blended fiber.     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization‐derived,lectin‐functionalized monolithic supports for affinity separation of glycoproteins

Lectin‐functionalized monolithic columns were prepared within polyether ether ketone (PEEK) columns (150 × 4.6 mm id) via transition metal‐catalyzed ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norborn‐2‐ene (NBE) and trimethylolpropane‐tris(5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylate) (CL) using the first‐generation Grubbs initiator RuCl₂(PCy₃)₂(CHPh) (1, Cy = cyclohexyl) in the presence of a macro‐ and microporogen, i.e. of 2‐propanol and toluene. Postsynthesis functionalization was accomplished via in situ grafting of 2,5‐dioxopyrrolidin‐1‐yl‐bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2‐carboxylate to the surface of the monoliths followed by reaction with α,ω‐diamino‐poly(ethyleneglycol). The pore structure of the poly(ethyleneglycol)‐ derivatized monoliths was investigated by electron microscopy and inverse‐size exclusion chromatography, respectively. The amino‐poly(ethyleneglycol) functionalized monolithic columns were then successfully used for the immobilization of lectin from Lens culinaris hemagglutinin. The thus prepared lectin‐functionalized monoliths were applied to the affinity chromatography‐based purification of glucose oxidase. The binding capacity of Lens culinaris hemagglutinin‐immobilized monolithic column for glucose oxidase was found to be 2.2 mg / column.     

Ag-polymer composite microspheres with patterned surface structures

Novel silver-poly(acrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) [Ag-P(AM-co-MAA)] composite microspheres, in tens of micrometer size range, with patterned surface and core/shell structures were prepared by chemical reduction of Ag₂CrO₄-P(AM-co-MAA) composite microspheres in ethanol. Characterization with various techniques revealed that the chemical composition of the “shell” is dominated by Ag, but the “core” is dominated by the template, P(AM-co-MAA). It was also demonstrated that the surface morphology of the Ag-polymer composite microspheres is similar to that of their precursors and can be controlled to a certain extent by varying the composition of template copolymer, approaches, and amount of Ag₂CrO₄ deposited. This morphology transfer technique is also applicable for other silver salts-polymer composite microspheres. The same silver-polymer composite microspheres with very different morphology have also been prepared by utilizing this technique, but the different precursor microspheres, Ag₃PO₄-P(AM-co-MAA), were used. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Synthesis of polyethylene with bimodal molecular weight distribution by supported iron‐based catalyst

Through immobilization of two iron‐based complexes, [((2,6‐MePh)N = C(Me))₂C₅H₃N]FeCl₂ ( 1 ) and [((2,6‐iPrPh)N = C(Me))₂C₅H₃N]FeCl₂ ( 2 ), on SiO₂ pretreated with tetraethylaluminoxane (TEAO), two supported iron‐based catalysts, 1 /TEAO/SiO₂ ( 3 ) and 2 /TEAO/SiO₂ ( 4 ), were prepared. These two supported catalysts 3 and 4 could be used to catalyze ethylene polymerization with moderate polymerization activity and prepare linear high‐density polyethylene with bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD). It was demonstrated that immobilization of catalyst could significantly improve molecular weight (MW) of high‐MW fraction of the resultant polyethylene, as well as maintain bimodal MWD of polyethylene produced by the corresponding homogeneous catalysts. Such bimodal MWD of polyethylene produced by supported iron‐based catalysts could be well tailored by varying polymerization conditions, such as ethylene pressure and molar ratio of Al to Fe. It has been proven that TEAO is an efficient activator for both homogeneous and heterogeneous iron‐based catalysts for producing polyethylene with bimodal MWD. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5662–5669, 2004     

Ligand-exchange chromatography of amino sugars and amino acids on copper-loaded silylated controlled-pore glass

The application of silylated controlled-pore glass (CPG) particles as a stationary phase for the liquid chromatographic separation of selected amino acids and amino hexoses is reported. Copper-loaded columns prepared from CPG particles whose surface was silylated to immobilize an ethylenediamine functional group were employed. Copper bleeding from the column occurred but was compensated by 10^-4M copper in the ammoniacal eluent. Hydrolysis of the siloxane bonded to the surface limited the practical lifetime of a column to 50 h of continuous operation.     

Study of glass transition kinetics of selenium matrix alloyed with up to 10% indium

Glassy selenium matrix alloyed with up to 10% indium, namely Se_0.95In_0.05 and Se_0.9In_0.1, was prepared by the melt quenching technique. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) has been used to study the glass transition kinetics of the two binary Se–In alloys in comparison with that of pure Se. DTA scans were recorded at different constant heating rates (β = 1:20 °/min). The glass transition temperature (T _g) is found to be shifting to a higher value with increasing of both β and In-content. Such a configurationally response is related to the observed increase of the stability parameters accompanied with the introduction of In into the Se matrix. The activation energy of glass transition (E _g) has been determined using two different non-isothermal models (Moynihan and Kissinger) where a good coincidence is obtained. The compositional dependence (0:10% In) of all considered parameters is discussed in terms of the introduced structural matrix.     

Use of the differential charging effect in XPS to determine the nature of surface compounds resulting from the interaction of a Pt/(BaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> + CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) model catalyst with SO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

Changes in the chemical composition of the surface of a Pt/(BaCO₃ + CeO₂) model NO _x storage-reduction catalyst upon its interaction with SO _x (SO₂ (260 Pa) + O₂ (2600 Pa) + H₂O (525 Pa)) followed by regeneration in a mixture of CO (2100 Pa) with H₂O (525 Pa) were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Model catalyst samples were prepared as a thin film (about several hundreds of angstrom units in thickness) on the surface of tantalum foil coated with a layer of aluminum oxide (～100 Å). It was found that the Pt/BaCO₃ and Pt/CeO₂ catalyst constituents acquired different surface charges (differential charging) in the course of photoelectron emission; because of this, it was possible to determine the nature of surface compounds formed as a result of the interaction of the catalyst with a reaction atmosphere. It was found that barium carbonate was converted into barium sulfate as a result of reaction with SO _x on the surface of BaCO₃ at 150°C. As the treatment temperature in SO _x was increased to 300°C, the formation of sulfate on the surface of CeO₂ was observed. The sulfatization of CeO₂ was accompanied by the reduction of Ce(IV) to Ce(III). The regeneration reaction of the catalyst treated in SO _x at 300°C resulted in the consecutive decomposition of cerium(III) sulfate at ≤500°C and then barium sulfate at 600–700°C. Upon the decomposition of BaSO₄, a portion of sulfur was converted into a sulfide state, probably, because of the formation of BaS.