Use of neutron activation analysis in determination of total organic chlorine and bromine

Neutron activation analysis is practically the only high-sensitivy element-selective detection method for chlorine, bromine and iodine. This method is just ideal for organic halogen determination after separation of organically bound species from inorganic. In recent years we have analysed organic chlorine and bromine from thousands of different kind of samples with different separation methods. For water samples we have used activated-carbon adsorption and for solid samples mostly propanone or combined alkaline/propanone extraction before activated-carbon adsorption. Inorganic chlorides were removed from the carbon by nitrate wash. The detection limits for total organic chlorine and bromine are 5 and 0.5 g/l for water (sample size 100 ml) and 0.3 and 0.1 g/g dry weight (sample size 1 g) for sediment.     

Determination of the total amount of organically bound chlorine,bromine and iodine in environmental samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The determination of chlorine, bromine and iodine present as non-polar, hydrophobic hydrocarbons in environmental samples is reported. The organohalogen compounds are separated from water into an organic phase by on-site liquid—liquid extraction, and from biological material by procedures based on lipid phase extraction and codistillation. After removal of inorganic halides by washing with water and concentration of the sample by evaporation of the solvent, the resulting extracts are analyzed for their chlorine, bromine and iodine contents by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Strict attention is paid to the possibility of contamination in every step of the procedure. Background values in routine analysis are approximately 100–200 ng of chlorine, <5 ng of bromine and <3 ng of iodine.     

Determination of halogen species of humic substances using HPLC/ICP-MS coupling

A mass spectrometric method for the determination of chlorine, bromine and iodine species of humic substances (HS) has been developed by coupling a HPLC system with ICP-MS. Using size exclusion chromatography, the method was applied to the characterization of natural water samples (ground water, seepage water from soil, brown water) and a sewage water sample. Quantification of iodine/HS species was carried out by the on-line isotope dilution technique, which was not possible for bromine and chlorine species because of mass spectroscopic interferences by using a quadrupole ICP-MS. Characteristic fingerprints of the halogen/HS species, correlated with the corresponding UV chromatogram, were obtained dependent on the different origin of HS. Biological influences were indicated when following changes of the iodine/HS species composition by aging. The formation of iodine/HS species from inorganic iodide was investigated by labelling experiments with an ¹²⁹I^– spike solution, resulting in the finding that specific HS fractions are preferably iodinated.     

Ultramicro determination of organic halogens using sealed tube dry combustion method

A sealed tube dry combustion method that is simple, accurate, and precise for ultramicro determination of halogens in organic compounds has been developed. Samples below 1 mg are heated at 580 °C for 1 h in an electric furnace. After the combustion and absorption of the gaseous halogen, the interior of the tube is rinsed. Subsequent titration is carried out potentiometrically with silver nitrate and yielded standard deviations of 0.21% for chlorine, 0.17% for bromine, and 0.25% for iodine.     

Simultaneous microdetermination of iodine and chlorine or iodine and bromine in organic compounds

Summary A micromethod for simultaneous determination of iodine and chlorine or iodine and bromine in organic compounds is described. After combustion in an oxygen-filled separatory funnel containing acidic sodium nitrite, iodine is produced, separated by carbon tetrachloride and oxidised with bromine water to iodate. After removal of carbon tetrachloride and excess bromine, the iodate is determined iodometrically. The aqueous combustion product is determined mercurimetrically for either chlorine or bromine. The average recoveries are 98.7%, 100.7% and 100.6% with iodine, chlorine and bromine in mixtures of their organically bounded compounds respectively. Microdetermination of iodine in presence of other halogens using sodium nitrite as absorbing agent andLeipert's method is described.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Mikromethode zur gleichzeitigen Bestimmung von J und Cl oder J und Br in organischen Verbindungen wurde beschrieben. Nach der Verbrennung in einem sauerstoffgefüllten Scheidetrichter in Anwesenheit angesäuerter Natriumnitritlösung wird Jod freigesetzt, mit Tetrachlormethan extrahiert und mit Bromwasser zu Jodat oxydiert. Nach Entfernung des Tetrachlorkohlenstoffs und des Bromüberschusses wird das Jodat jodometrisch titriert. In der wäßrigen Lösung wird mercurimetrisch Chlor bzw. Brom bestimmt. Die durchschnittliche Ausbeute beträgt 98,7, 100,7% und 100,6% für Jod, Chlor bzw. Brom in Gemischen ihrer organischen Verbindungen. Die Mikrobestimmung des Jods in Gegenwart anderer Halogene nach Absorption in Nitritlösung nach der Methode vonLeipert wurde beschrieben.

     

Comparative study of activation analyses for the determination of trace halogens in geological and cosmochemical samples.

Halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) were determined by activation analyses (neutron activation analysis (NAA), photon activation analysis (PAA) and prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA)) for geological and cosmochemical solid samples. We studied how each analytical method was for the determination of trace amounts of halogens in rock samples. Radiochemical NAA (RNAA) showed the highest analytical reliability for three halogens (chlorine, bromine and iodine), whereas a set of four halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) could be determined in principle by radiochemical PAA (RPAA) from a single specimen. Although it is a non-destructive method, PGA showed an analytical sensitivity for chlorine comparable to those of RNAA and RPAA.     

卤代对苝醌类光敏剂光敏活性影响的量子化学研究

Taking hypomycin B（HMB）as the model compound,HF / 6-31G and TD-B3LYP / 6-31G methods have been employed to explore the effect of chlorine,bromine and iodine substitutions on molecular properties and photosensitization of perylenequinonoid photosensitizer（PQP）. It was found firstly that,the halogen substitutions lowered the EHOMO and ELUMO,and the ΔE. From chlorine,bromine to iodine substitutes,the EHOMO and ELUMO increased,while the corresponding ΔE decreased. Secondly,the halogen substitutions increased the molecular triplet-generating quantum yields and lowered the molecular lowest lying triplet energies,which resulted in the substitutes’similar 1O2 yields with their parent compounds. After halogen substitutions,the molecular adiabatic electron affinities increased,which made the substitutes possess lower O2· - -generating abilities than their parent compounds. Finally,the halogen substitutions lowered the intramolecular hydrogen bond energies,while enhancing the intramolecular proton transfer（IPT）barriers of cis isomers and lowering those of trans isomers on the ground state.     

Comparative Study of Halogen‐ and Hydrogen‐Bond Interactions between Benzene Derivatives and Dimethyl Sulfoxide

The halogen bond, similar to the hydrogen bond, is an important noncovalent interaction and plays important roles in diverse chemistry‐related fields. Herein, bromine‐ and iodine‐based halogen‐bonding interactions between two benzene derivatives (C₆F₅Br and C₆F₅I) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are investigated by using IR and NMR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The results are compared with those of interactions between C₆F₅Cl/C₆F₅H and DMSO. First, the interaction energy of the hydrogen bond is stronger than those of bromine‐ and chlorine‐based halogen bonds, but weaker than iodine‐based halogen bond. Second, attractive energies depend on 1/rⁿ, in which n is between three and four for both hydrogen and halogen bonds, whereas all repulsive energies are found to depend on 1/r^8.5. Third, the directionality of halogen bonds is greater than that of the hydrogen bond. The bromine‐ and iodine‐based halogen bonds are strict in this regard and the chlorine‐based halogen bond only slightly deviates from 180°. The directional order is iodine‐based halogen bond>bromine‐based halogen bond>chlorine‐based halogen bond>hydrogen bond. Fourth, upon the formation of hydrogen and halogen bonds, charge transfers from DMSO to the hydrogen‐ and halogen‐bond donors. The CH₃ group contributes positively to stabilization of the complexes.     

The heI photoelectron spectra of the halogen azides,XN3(X = Cl and Br) and the halogen isocyanates,XNCO(X = Cl,Br and I)

High yield routes to the unstable halogen azides and isocyanates have permitted vacuum ultraviolet photoelectron spectra to be obtained for the chlorine and bromine azides, and the chlorine, bromine and iodine isocyanates. The results are compared with ab initio and semi-empirical calculations, leading to a reassignment of the photoelectron spectra of the parent acids, HN₃ and HNCO in the high energy region. The halogen azide and isocyanate photoelectron spectra provide an interesting investigation into how the orbitals of a linear pseudohalide grouping are perturbed by an off-azis halogen atom. A photoelectron spectrum for the unknown molecule FNCO is predicted.     

Coulometric determination of sulfur-containing amino acids using halogens as oxidizing titrants

It is found that cysteine and methionine quantitatively react with electrogenerated halogens under the conditions of galvanostatic coulometry. Cysteine reacts with all titrants, and methionine reacts only with chlorine and bromine. The stoichiometric coefficients of reactions between cysteine and halogens are 1:3, 1:3, and 1:1 for chlorine, bromine, and iodine, respectively. These coefficients for methionine reactions with chlorine and bromine are 1:2 and 1:1, respectively. It is shown that cysteine can be selectively determined in its mixtures with methionine by coulometric titration with electrogenerated iodine. It is found that twofold amounts of methionine do not interfere with the determination of cysteine. A procedure is developed for the direct coulometric determination of methionine in tablets with a relative standard deviation of 3–5%.     

Highly chemoselective hydrogenolysis of iodoarenes

The catalytic hydrodehalogenation reaction using molecular hydrogen and Pd/C has been revisited. It is shown that the speed of removal of halogen increases with increasing electronegativity I < Br < Cl. Nevertheless, selective dehydrohalogenation in compounds containing other reducible functions can be achieved only with iodine and not with bromine or chlorine. Selective deiodination of iodobenzophenone could be accomplished without reducing the carbonyl group. Hydrogenolysis of azidoiodoaromatic compounds to the corresponding azido compounds is high yielding. This selectivity was exploited for the labeling of benzophenone- and azido-containing compounds by deuterium and tritium.     

Effect of halogen bonding on supramolecular assembly and photophysical properties of diaryl oxalates

In order to determine the effect of halogen bonding on supramolecular assemblies and photophysical properties of diaryl oxalates, diaryl oxalate itself and its derivatives with fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine substituents in the p-position of phenyl rings were studied and compared. Their single-crystal structures were studied by geometrical analysis and theoretical calculation. The study reveals that different halogen bonds are formed with respect to different halogen atoms, such as C…F and X…X (bromine and iodine atoms) interactions, and molecular stacking modes would be affected by halogen bonds directly. Comparative studies of photophysical properties in dilute solution and solid state indicate that halogen substitutions would not affect the emission processes of diaryl oxalates in dilute solution; this is not the case for their solid state. This work has demonstrated that halogen bonds play an important role in regulating structures and photophysical properties of diaryl oxalates.     

Ion Chromatographic determination of sulfur and chlorine using milligram and submilligram sample weights

Initial results for Ion Chromatographic analyses of chlorine and sulfur in organic compounds combusted by the Schöniger technique show excellent agreement with analyses using standard methods. Samples weighing less than 1 mg can be analyzed if homogeneity is not a problem. Determination of chlorine in the presence of large amounts of bromine and the analysis of other heteroatoms is also possible by IC. The present limiting factor in the microdetermination of chlorine and sulfur by IC is the presence of these species in the filter paper flag.     

He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy of halogen atoms

High concentrations of fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms can be obtained in the ionization chamber of a photoelectron spectrometer if appropriate wall coatings are used in the sample inlet system. The potential of halogen atom-molecule reactions is demonstrated by the observation of the photoelectron spectrum of iodine atoms.     

Sensitive determination of bromine and iodine in aqueous and biological samples by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using tetramethylammonium hydroxide as a chemical modifier

A procedure for the simultaneous determination of bromine and iodine by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry was investigated. In order to prevent the decrease in the ionization efficiencies of bromine and iodine atoms caused by the introduction of water mist, electrothermal vaporization was used for sample introduction into the ICP mass spectrometer. To prevent loss of analytes during the drying process, a small amount of tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution was placed as a chemical modifier into the tungsten boat furnace. After evaporation of the solvent, the analytes instantly vaporized and were then introduced into the ICP ion source to detect the (79)Br(+), (81)Br(+), and (127)I(+) ions. By using this system, detection limits of 0.77 pg and 0.086 pg were achieved for bromine and iodine, respectively. These values correspond to 8.1 pg mL(-1) and 0.91 pg mL(-1) of the aqueous bromide and iodide ion concentrations, respectively, for a sampling volume of 95 microL. The relative standard deviations for eight replicate measurements were 2.2% and 2.8% for 20 pg of bromine and 2 pg of iodine, respectively. Approximately 25 batches were vaporizable per hour. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of various certified reference materials and practical situations as biological and aqueous samples. There is further potential for the simultaneous determination of fluorine and chlorine.     

Special features of the nucleophilic substitution of halogen in alkyl and benzyl halides with anions generated from 4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methylpyrimidine

The nucleophilic substitution of halogen (chlorine, bromine, and iodine) in alkyl and benzyl halides has been effected in aqueous dioxane media with S-and O-anions generated from 4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methylpyrimidine. Under these conditions replacement of halogen proceeds by an S_N2 mechanism and the reactivity of S-anions is 10 times greater than that of O-anions, which is in agreement with the results of ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of the electronic structure and total energy of transition states, carried out within the framework of the restricted Hartree-Fock method, basis 6-31G**. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 874–883, June, 2008.     

Halogen Bonds of Halotetrafluoropyridines in Crystals and Co-crystals with Benzene and Pyridine

The structures of the three para-substituted halotetrafluoropyridines with chlorine, bromine, and iodine have been determined in the solid state (X-ray diffraction). The structures of these compounds and that of pentafluoropyridine were also determined in the gas phase (electron diffraction). Structures in the solid state of the bromine and iodine derivatives exhibit halogen bonding as a structure-determining motif. On the way to an investigation of halogen bond formation of halotetrafluoropyridines in the solid state with the stronger Lewis base pyridine, co-crystals of benzene adducts were investigated to gain an understanding of the influence of aryl–aryl interactions. These co-crystals showed halogen bonding only for the two heavier halotetrafluoropyridines. In the pyridine co-crystals halogen bonding was observed for all three para-halotetrafluoropyridines. The formation of homodimers and heterodimers with pyridine is also supported by quantum-chemical calculations of electron density topologies and natural bond orbitals.     

Relationship among iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk in Japan

In order to know the relationship among some elements in biological materials, iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk samples in Japan were determined by the thermal neutron activation analysis using a low power research reactor and a Van de Graaff accelerator. The iodine contents in cow's milk samples ranged from 0.041 to 0.316 ppm with an average of 0.096 ppm. The bromine and chlorine in these samples ranged from 2.3 to 11.1 ppm and from 475 to 1650 ppm, respectively. The average concentration of the bromine was calculated to be 5.6 ppm and that of the chlorine was 853 ppm. The relationship among iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk samples in Japan was studied with a regression analysis. It was suggested that the correlation has a power function as follows; Y = K(Z)-A where, Y is elemental concentration in ppm, Z is atomic weight [corrected] of element, A (= 7.4) is exponent and K (= 14.7) is a constant.     

ZrCl4-promoted halogen migration during an electrophilic amination of halogenated phenols

An electrophilic amination of halogenated phenols with diisopropyl diazenedicarboxylate in the presence of ZrCl4 as a Lewis acid, accompanied by a halogen migration, was demonstrated for the first time; the fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom migrated during the amination process under mild reaction conditions.     

Determination of iodine and bromine in plasma and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The simultaneous determination of iodine and bromine in plasma and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, using a Nermag prototype instrument, is described. The sample preparation involves only a 10-fold dilution with a diluent containing europium as an internal standard followed by direct nebulisation in the plasma. The iodine, bromine and europium ions are measured at m/z = 127, 79, and 153, respectively. The sensitivity of the method, with detection limits of 1.6 and 52 micrograms l-1 for iodine and bromine, respectively, is satisfactory for clinical applications. The calibration graphs were linear over the ranges 0-400 micrograms l-1 and 0-40 mg l-1 for iodine and bromine, respectively, which are wide enough for most assays. The recoveries were close to 100% with coefficients of variation of less than 3%. The within-day and between-day reproducibility was about 5%. The concentrations of iodine and bromine in the plasma of 26 healthy individuals were 58 +/- 12 micrograms l-1 and 4.1 +/- 0.9 mg l-1, respectively. The amounts of iodine and bromine eliminated in urine were 94 +/- 97 micrograms per 24 h (range 27-403 micrograms per 24 h) and 3.6 +/- 1.7 mg per 24 h, respectively. These results are in agreement with reported values.