Column preconcentration of trace manganese with the ion pair of 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid tetradecyldimethylbenzyl-ammonium chloride supported on naphthalene and determination by derivative spectrophotometry

A column preconcentration method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of manganese by preconcentration on 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (nitroso-S)-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium (TDBA) naphthalene as an adsorbent using a simple funnel tipped glass tube. Manganese reacts with nitroso-S to form a water soluble brown colored chelate anion. The chelate anion forms a water insoluble Mn-Nitroso-S-TDBA ion pair on naphthalene packed in a column in the pH range 9.6-10.5 at a flow rate of 1-2 ml/min. The solid mass consisting of manganese complex and naphthalene is dissolved in 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and the metal determined by second derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range 0.25-35.0 micrograms of Mn in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. Eight replicate determinations of 25 micrograms of standard manganese solution give a mean peak height of 4.0 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995 and relative standard deviation of +/- 1.1%. The sensitivity was calculated to be 0.502(d2 A/d lambda 2)/microgram ml-1 from the slope of the calibration curve. The detection limit was 0.020 microgram ml-1 for manganese at the minimum instrumental settings (signal to noise ratio = 2). Various parameters effecting the method such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of manganese have been evaluated to optimize the conditions for its determination in standard alloys and biological samples.     

Tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium thiocyanate adsorbent supported on naphthalene for the preconcentration and determination of cobalt in aluminium alloys and steels using atomic absorption spectrometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (TDBA) and ammonium thiocyanate on naphthalene provides a simple, rapid and selective technique of preconcentrating cobalt from up to 200 ml of aqueous solution. Cobalt reacts with sodium 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate (nitroso-R salt) to form a brown, water-soluble chelate anion. The chelate anion forms a water-insoluble Co-nitroso-R salt-TDBA complex on naphthalene packed in a column and trace cobalt is quantitatively retained on the naphthalene in the pH range 2.7–11.0 at a flow-rate of 2 ml min^?1. The solid mass is stripped from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and cobalt is measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) at 241 nm. The calibration graph is linear over the concentration range 0.5–15μg Co in 5 ml of dimethylformamide solution. Seven replicate determinations of 9 μg of cobalt gave a mean absorbance of 0.095 with a relative standard deviation of 1.7%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.0834μg ml^?1 (0.240 μg ml^?1 for direct AAS on the aqueous solution). The proposed method was utilized for the determination of cobalt in standard aluminium alloys and steel samples.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace zinc in alloys and biological samples after preconcentration with [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol] on microcrystalline naphthalene

An atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of trace amounts of zinc after adsorption of its [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol] complex on microcrystalline naphthalene has been developed. This complex is adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 3.5-7.5 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various alloys and biological samples with a preconcentration factor of 40. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the zinc complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide and the metal was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 0.5 ng of zinc can be concentrated in a column from 200 ml of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 2.5 pg ml-1. The calibration curve is linear in the range 0.1-6.5 ng ml-1 in dimethylformamide solution. Eight replicate determinations of 2 ng ml-1 of zinc gave a mean absorbance of 0.145 with a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.061 ng ml-1. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH and the interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of zinc, have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for the determination of zinc in various standard complex materials.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace amounts of manganese in alloys and biological samples after preconcentration with the ion pair of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol and ammonium tetraphenylborate on microcrystalline naphthalene or by column method.

Manganese is quantitatively retained on 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP)-ammonium tetraphenylborate with microcrystalline naphthalene or by a column method in the pH range 7.5-10.5 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, each solid mass consisting of the manganese complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide and the metal was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Manganese complex can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on ammonium tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 0.1 microgram of manganese can be concentrated in a column from 500 ml of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 0.2 ppb. Eight replicate determinations of 1.0 ppm of manganese gave a mean absorbance of 0.224 with a relative standard deviation of 1.8%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 19 ppb. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed were utilized for the trace determination of manganese in various standard samples.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of ultra trace amounts of zinc after preconcentration with the ion pair of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol and ammonium tetraphenylborate on microcrystalline naphthalene or by column method

Zinc is quantitatively retained on 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylamminophenol (5-BrPADAP)-ammonium tetraphenylborate with microcrystalline naphthalene or by a column method in the pH range 7.5-9.0 from a large volume of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the zinc complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylflarmamide and the metal was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc complex can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on ammonium tetrphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The calibration curve is linear 0.05-4.0 ppb in dimethylformamide solution. Eight replicate detenninations of 1.0 ppb of zinc gave a mean absorbance of 0.124 with a relative standard deviation of 1.3%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.035 ppb. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed were utilized for the trace determination of zinc in various standard samples.     

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of zinc in canned juices after ion exchange separation

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of microgram quantities of zinc in canned juices. After sample digestion in concentrated nitric acid, the solution is evaporated till near dryness, and then a solution of 2 M HCl is added to form tetrachlorozincate (II) ion. This acid solution, containing the zinc complex is passed through an ion-exchange column (anion exchange resin, chloride form, which is preconditioned by passing 1 M HCl solution). Zinc is eluted from the column with 0.01 M HCl solution. After evaporation to dryness, the residue is dissolved in 1% (v/v) HNO3, and then atomized into an air-acetylene flame. The limit of detection of the method is 0.15 micrograms ml-1 Zn. The analytical aspects of the proposed method, including the standard addition technique are discussed.     

Column preconcentration of titanium in aluminium and zinc alloys with oxalic acid-ascorbic acid and the ion-pair of sodium 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulphonic acid and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride supported on naphthalene using spectrometry

A solid ion-pair compound produced from sodium 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulphonic acid (Tiron) and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride(TDBA) supported on naphthalene in a simple glass-tipped funnel tube provides a simple adsorbent system for preconcentrating titanium from some alloys. Titanium reacts with Tiron to form a water-soluble coloured chelate anion which in turn forms a water-insoluble stable titanium/Tiron/TDBA complex with the ion-pair on the surface of naphthalene packed in a column. Titanium is quantitatively retained on the naphthalene in the presence of L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid in the pH range 3.0-4.5 and at a flow-rate of 1 mil/min. The metal complex and naphthalene were dissolved from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide(DMF), and the absorbance of the solution was measured at 398 nm. A calibration graph was linear over the range 1-18 mug of titanium in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. The complex has a molar absorptivity of 1.39 x 10(4) l.mole(-1).cm(-1) and a sensitivity of 3.44 x 10(-3) mug/cm(2) for 0.001 absorbance. Eight replicate determinations for a sample containing 12 mug of titanium gave a mean absorbance of 0.697 with a relative standard deviation of 0.82%. The interference of various ions was studied and optimum conditions were developed for the determination of titanium in various aluminium and zinc alloys.     

Ammonium tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent for the preconcentration and trace determination of iron in alloys and biological samples using 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol by third derivative spectrophotometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from ammonium tetraphenylborate on naphthalene (ATPB-naphthalene) provides a simple, rapid, economical and selective technique for preconcentrating iron from approximately 500 ml of aqueous solution of standard alloys and biological samples. Iron reacts with 2-(5-bromo-2-pryidlazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) to form a water-soluble cationic complex. When the aqueous solution of this cationic species in the pH range 3.2-8.5 is passed over the adsorbent ATPB-naphthalene at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1), it is quantitatively retained on naphthalene as an uncharged ion-associated complex. The solid mass from the column was dissolved out with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and iron is determined by third derivative spectrophotometry by measuring the signal d(3)A/ dlambda(3) between lambda(2)(773 nm) and lambda(3)(737 nm). The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.10-25.0 mug of iron in 5 ml of DMF solution. Eight replicate determinations of 5 mug of iron gave a mean intensity (peak-to-peak signal between lambda(2) and lambda(3)) of 1.534 with a relative standard deviation of 0.90%. The sensitivity of the method is 0.307 (d(3)A/dnm(3) )/mug found from the slope of the calibration curve. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed were utilized for the trace determination of iron in various standard alloys and biological samples.     

Preconcentration of copper with the ion-pair of 1,10- phenanthroline and tetraphenylborate on naphthalene

A solid ion-pair material produced from 1,10-phenanthroline and tetraphenylborate on naphthalene provides a simple, rapid and fairly selective means of preconcentrating copper from up to 1000 ml of aqueous samples (about 200-fold concentration is possible). Copper is quantitatively adsorbed in the pH range 1.6–10.4 at a flow rate of 3 ml min^?1. The solid mass (0.2 g) is dissolved from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and copper is measured by atomic absorption spectrometry at 324.7 nm. Linear calibration is obtained for 2–28 μg of copper in 5 ml of DMF solution. Replicate determination of 14 μg of copper gave a mean absorbance of 0.220 (n = 7) with a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.093 μg ml^?1. After optimization, the method was applied to determine trace copper in standard reference materials, natural waters, beverages and hair.     

Determination of trace levels of manganese in various biological and environmental samples by atomic absorption spectrometry after solid-liquid extraction and preconcentration with the ion pair formed by the nitroso-S anion and the tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium cation.

Manganese is quantitatively retained by 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (nitroso-S) and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium (TDBA) chloride on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 9.5-10.6 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the manganese complex and naphthalene is dissolved in 5 mL dimethylformamide and the metal is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Alternatively, the manganese complex can be quantitatively adsorbed on TDBA-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 0.2 microg manganese can be concentrated in a column from 400 mL aqueous sample with a concentration as low as 0.5 ng/mL. Eight replicate determinations of manganese at 0.8 microg/mL gave a mean absorbance of 0.156 for the final solution with a relative standard deviation of 1.4%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 23 ng/mL. The interference of a large number of anions and cations was studied, and the optimized conditions developed were used for trace determinations of manganese in various alloys, and in biological and environmental samples.     

Column Preconcentration of Palladium Using Phenanthrenequinonedioxime Supported on Naphthalene by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

A solid chelating compound, phenanthrenequinonedioxime(PQDO) supported on naphthalene provides a rapid and economical means of preconcentration of palladium from the aqueous samples. Palladium forms a complex with PQDO supported on naphthalene in the column at pH 1.2～2.7. The metal complex and naphthalene are dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide-nitric acid (100+4) and the absorbance is measured atomic absorption spectrometer at 244.7 nm. A calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 1～24 μg of palladium in 5 ml of the final solution. The sensitivity for 1% absorption is 0.126 μg/ml (0.153 μg/ml for the direct AAS method from the aqueous medium). The method has been used for the determination of palladium in various synthetic samples and can be safely applied to the environmental samples too.     

Determination of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic intermediates in fermentation media by pre-column derivatisation followed by fluorescence detection

This paper describes a novel and sensitive pre-column derivatisation method for the detection and quantitation of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic precursors at trace levels in fermentation media. Filtered broths from fermentations of strains of Penicillium chrysogenum and Cephalosporium acremonium, after deproteination and centrifugation, were incubated with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate for 5 min at 20 degrees C in 0.2 M borate buffer at pH 7.7. Following two-fold pentane extraction of the reagent hydrolysis product, the aqueous layer was injected directly onto a C18 reversed-phase column, and products were detected spectrofluorimetrically with excitation and emission wavelengths of 260 and 313 nm, respectively. Detection limits of 0.01 and 0.05 micrograms ml-1 were achieved for both 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and isopenicillin N in borate buffer and filtered fermentation broths, respectively, using a 10-microliter injection volume. A linear calibration for 6-APA in fermentation broth was obtained for a very wide concentration range (0.05-100 micrograms ml-1). Detection limits for solutions of cephalosporin C, deacetylcephalosporin C and deacetoxycephalosporin C in broth were all 0.25 micrograms ml-1. The detection limit for the beta-lactam precursor delta-(L-aminoadipyl)-L-alpha-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) dimer in borate buffer was 0.5 microgram ml-1. The cephalosporins and ACV dimer gave linear plots in the ranges 3-25 and 1-100 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Repeated analysis of 6-APA at a concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 in filtered broth gave a mean peak area of 2.5.10(6) with a standard deviation of 2.6.10(5) using a 10-microliter injection volume. Ampicillin spiked into deproteinated blood serum gave a linear calibration in the concentration range 2-100 micrograms ml-1.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace amounts of nickel after preconcentration with [1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-Naphthol]-Naphthalene adsorbent or after adsorption of its complex on microcrystalline naphthalene

An atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of trace amounts of nickel after adsorption of its 1 -(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol complex on microcrystalline naphthalene has been developed. This complex is adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.5-7.8 from large volumes of aque ous solutions of various alloys and biological and environmental samples containing nickel. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of nickel complex and naphthalene was dissolved in 5 mL of dimethylformamide, and the metal was determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer at a wavelength of 232 nm. Alternatively, nickel can be quantitatively adsorbed on [l-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 2.0-100 Μg of nickel in 5 mL of the final dimethylformamide solution. Eight replicate determinations of 20 Μg of nickel give a mean absorbance of 0.072 with a relative standard deviation of 1.3%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption is 0.24 Μg/mL. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, the volume of the aqueous phase, and the interference of a large number of metal ions with the determination of nickel have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its determination in various standard alloys and biological and environmental samples. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Column chromatographic preconcentration of palladium with dimethyl glyoxime and acenaphthenequinone dioxime on naphthalene

A solid material consisting of dimethyl glyoxime (DMG), acenaphthenequinone dioxime (ANDO) or DMG-ANDO on naphthalene provides a very convenient, rapid and economical method for the preconcentration of palladium in synthetic samples. Pd-DMG, Pd-ANDO and Pd-DMG-ANDO are quantitatively retained on naphthalene in the column in the pH ranges 2.2–4.4, 1.8–5.6 and 1.7–6.8, respectively. The solid mixture consisting of the metal complex together with naphthalene is stripped from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF)-n-butylamine and the absorbance is measured at 247.6 nm with an atomic absorption spectrometer. Calibration graphs are linear over the palladium concentration range 5–25 μg per 5 ml of the final solution for all the three complexes. Ten replicate determinations of a sample solution containing 10 μg of palladium gave mean absorbances of 0.180, 0.225 and 0.230 with relative standard deviations of 1.8, 1.7 and 1.6% using the reagents DMg, ANDO and DMG-ANDO, respectively. The sensitivity of the method is better than the direct atomic absorption spectrometric determination of palladium. It is highest in case of the mixed ligands, i.e., DMG-ANDO (0.038 μg ml^?1 for 1% absorption). The method can be applied to the trace determination of palladium in complex materials.     

Determination of manganese by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after its adsorption onto naphthalene modified with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN)

A system for determination of manganese, after preconcentration with 3% (w/w) 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN), adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene is proposed. An amount of 200 mg of this complexing mixture is placed in a glass column and conditioned with a NH₄Cl/NH₄OH buffer solution (pH 9.5). The aqueous sample, containing manganese, is treated with an ammonium tartrate solution, then with a hydroxylammonium chloride solution and, finally, with a buffer solution. The resulting solution is passed through the column containing microcrystalline naphthalene modified with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) where Mn(II) is retained. The column is first washed with deionized water and then with 10.0 ml of dimethylformamide to dissolve the Mn(II)-PAN/naphthalene complex. Manganese is determined by air-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrometry. About 1 μg of manganese can be concentrated from 200 ml of aqueous sample, allowing a preconcentration factor of 20, a limit of quantification of 5 ng ml⁻¹ and R.S.D. of 3.8%. The accuracy was ascertained using certified reference materials, including samples of urine and glass. Water samples were also analysed and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Determination of iron species in wine by ion-exchange chromatography--flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The direct coupling of ion-exchange chromatography to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) has been achieved by employing a Babington type nebuliser. The system enables all the processes on the column to be followed directly at flow-rates of between 1 and 5 ml min-1. The potential of the system was investigated for the determination of various iron species in synthetic samples containing iron(II) and iron(III) in ionic or chelated form by employing various ion-exchange (Dowex 50-X8, Dowex 1-X8) and sorptive (Amberlite XAD-2) resins, respectively. In some instances where direct coupling was impossible, owing to the physical properties of the effluent or eluent, conventional analyses of chromatographically separated iron species were performed by flame AAS. The optimum concentration range, limit of detection and reproducibility of measurement were also determined for a particular column capacity. When direct coupling was employed, the detection limit for the separated iron species was 15 micrograms with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of +/- 3% and, using the conventional method of analysis, 2-5 micrograms with an RSD of +/- 1%. On the basis of these results the system was applied to the determination of the ratio of iron(II) to iron(III) in wines.     

Indirect atomic absorption spectrometric determination of sulfate in human blood serum.

An indirect method for the determination of sulfate by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is described. Sulfate forms a stable ion-association complex, [Cu(neocuproine)2]2+(SO4(2-)), in neutral medium, which can be extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone in the presence of a polar medium (methanol) with an efficiency higher than 98.0% and the extract can be analysed directly for copper (and hence indirectly for sulfate) by AAS. Measurement of the copper atomic absorption signal from the organic phase allows the indirect determination of 0.14-1.12 micrograms ml-1 of sulfate, giving a 450-fold increase in sensitivity over the conventional method of precipitation with barium. The limit of detection (3 sigma) is 3.2 ng ml-1 which is better than that of ion chromatography (0.15 micrograms ml-1). Indirect AAS allows the accurate assay of inorganic sulfate anion in biological fluids and tissues. The sulfate concentration determined by the proposed method in human blood serum (n = 6 in each instance) was 35.4-43.3 micrograms ml-1 in normal persons, 50.3-62.5 micrograms ml-1 in jaundice patients and 83.3-155.6 micrograms ml-1 in diabetic patients. A good correlation between measured sulfate and the sulfate added to blood serum was obtained.     

Solid-liquid extraction and preconcentration of trace nickel using 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (Nitroso-S) and TDBA onto benzophenone and determination by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Nickel was quantitatively retained by 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (Nitroso-S) and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (TDBA Cl) onto benzophenone in the pH range 5.0-6.0 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, each solid mass consisting of a nickel complex and benzophenone was dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and the metal was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). About 0.6 microg of nickel could be concentrated from 200 ml of an aqueous sample, where its concentration was as low as 3.0 ng/ml. Eight replicate determinations of 2.5 microg/ml of nickel in the final DMF solution gave a mean absorbance of 0.112 with a relative standard deviation of 1.9%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 98 ng/ml. The interference of a number of anions and cations was studied and the developed optimized conditions were utilized for the trace determination of nickel in various alloys and biological samples.     

Determination of Silver by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Preconcentration on Naphthalene Modified with Dithizone

A solid‐phase extraction method for preconcentration of silver and consequent determination by atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The method is based on the adsorption of silver on naphthalene modified with dithizone in a column. The adsorbed silver is eluted from the column with a thiourea solution and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The adsorption conditions including pH, reagent concentration, eluent volume, flow rate and interfering ions were investigated. The calibration graph was linear in the range 10–1000 ng mL^?1 of Ag in the initial solution with r = 0.9998. The limit of detection based on 3S_b was 3.9 ng mL^?1. The relative standard deviation for ten replicate measurements of 40 and 600 ng mL^?1 of Ag was 4.4% and 0.9%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of silver in mineral, radiology film and wound dressing samples.     

Use of photochemical reactions in flow injection: determination of oxalate in urine

The use of photochemical reactions in flow injection (FI) is reported. The irradiation of an FI reactor with a suitable source facilitates the development of the iron(III)-oxalate reaction, allowing the amperometric determination of the anion in the range 1.0-13.0 micrograms ml-1, with a relative standard deviation of 1.1% and a sampling frequency of 40 h-1. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of oxalate in urine samples.