Minimization of carbon addition during derivatization of monosaccharides for compound-specific delta13C analysis in environmental research

Little is known about the delta13C composition of monosaccharides representing the largest carbon reservoir in the biosphere. The main reason for this might be that monosaccharides have to be derivatized prior to gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) analyses and that a large isotopic correction is necessary for the carbon that has to be added to the original molecule during derivatization, resulting in large uncertainty of the calculated delta13C values of individual monosaccharides. The amount of added derivatization carbon is twice (alditol acetates) or even three times (trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives) as high as the amount of the original monosaccharide carbon. In addition, isotope fractionation occurs during acetylation. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (i) to minimize carbon addition during derivatization for GC/C/IRMS measurements of monosaccharides in soil and sediment samples and (ii) to quantify improvements in accuracy and precision of the final results. Minimization of carbon addition was accomplished by derivatization with methylboronic acid (MBA) and TMS thereafter (MBA method). Monosaccharides derivatized with the MBA method instead of TMS reduced the number of added carbon atoms from 2.2-2.7 to 0.3-0.8 per sugar carbon atom. Although the precision of GC/C/IRMS measurements with both methods is comparable (about 0.3 per thousand), delta13C values of an internal standard indicated that the newly developed MBA method is about 2 per thousand more accurate than the TMS method. delta13C comparison between soil samples that differed only slightly in their bulk carbon isotope signature showed that the MBA method is better in proving these small differences on a significant level. Total precision of the whole MBA method including all analytical and calculation steps is better by a factor of almost three than the TMS method.     

Determination of stable carbon isotopes of organic acids and carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere

A wet oxidation method for the compound-specific determination of stable carbon isotopes (delta(13)C) of organic acids in the gas and aerosol phase, as well as of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), is presented. Sampling of the organic acids was done using a wet effluent diffusion denuder/aerosol collector (WEDD/AC) coupled to an ion chromatography (IC) system. The method allows for compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis by collecting different fractions of organic acids at the end of the IC system using a fraction collector. delta(13)C analyses of organic acids were conducted by oxidizing the organic acids with sodium persulfate at a temperature of 100 degrees C and determining the delta(13)C value of the resulting carbon dioxide (CO(2)) with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. In addition, analysis of delta(13)C of the WSOC was performed for particulate carbon collected on aerosol filters. The WSOC was extracted from the filters using ultrapure water (MQ water), and the dissolved organic carbon was oxidized to CO(2) using the oxidation method. The wet oxidation method has an accuracy of 0.5 per thousand with a precision of +/-0.4 per thousand and provides a quantitative result for organic carbon with a detection limit of 150 ng of carbon.     

On-line measurement of intramolecular carbon isotope distribution of acetic acid by continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Molecular and intramolecular carbon isotope measurements of acetic acid present in natural environments have been performed by off-line procedures. The off-line method is complicated and time-consuming and requires micromolar to millimolar amounts of sample. This limits geochemical isotopic studies, especially at the intramolecular level, on acetic acid present in natural samples. Here, we examine an on-line measurement of intramolecular carbon isotope distribution of acetic acid using continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) coupled with an on-line pyrolysis system. This is achieved by measurement of the respective carbon isotope ratios of CH4 and CO2 produced by on-line pyrolysis of acetic acid. Results for authentic standards of pure acetic acid demonstrated the practicality of this on-line method, although the carbon isotope ratio of the methyl group could not be determined directly. The precision of the carbon isotope measurements was 0.4 per thousand (1sigma). The carbon isotope distribution determined by the on-line method was identical to that determined by the conventional off-line method within analytical error. The advantages of the on-line method compared with the conventional off-line method are that it is less laborious, requires less analytical time (less than one hour per sample) and, most importantly, uses smaller sample sizes (ca. 10 nanomole). An application of this on-line method to natural geochemical samples will provide an insight into the geochemical cycle of acetic acid.     

A rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbon monoxide in ambient air

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbon monoxide is described, based on the reduction of palladium(II) by carbon monoxide. The resulting elemental palladium is reacted with iodate in acidic medium in the presence of chloride, to produce an ICl(-)(n) species that is readily extracted as an ion-pair with Pyronine-G into benzene. Measurement of the absorbance of the extract at 535 nm permits the determination of carbon monoxide down to 1 mul/l. in air. The effect of interfering gases is discussed. The method is suitable for determination of carbon monoxide in motor vehicle exhaust gases and ambient air.     

Direct titration of carbon dioxide

A brief survey is given of the most important methods for the determination of carbon dioxide, and the suitability of these methods is briefly discussed.Details are given of a direct carbon dioxide titration method developed for the detection and determination of substances separated on a gas-liquid partition column.The titration is performed in pyridine or acetone as a solvent and with a sodium methylate solution as a titrant.Results are given of determinations of carbon dioxide in air and, on semi-micro and micro scales, of carbon dioxide obtained by combustion of organic compounds.It is suggested that the proposed method will be generally applicable, e.g.: (1) to the micro and semi-micro determination of carbon and oxygen, (2) to the determination of carbon dioxide formed in wet-combustion analysis, (3) to the determination of carbon in steel.     

High-resolution NMR spectra of n-alkanes penetrating into carbon fibers and of protons in carbon fibers

We present a simple NMR method for microscopically exploring the local environment in carbon fibers. The method utilizes n-alkanes as probe molecules, where the n-alkanes penetrate carbon fibers of interest. The high-resolution (1)H NMR spectra for a mixture of a carbon fiber and n-alkanes acquired by this method show a shift of the resonance line, which is due to the local structure of the fiber. The utility of this method is discussed on the basis of the (1)H NMR spectra obtained. In addition, the (1)H distribution and the local motion in the structure of the carbon fiber are revealed in view of the (1)H NMR spectra.     

重铬酸钾容量法测定地质样品中的有机碳

目前,地质样品中有机碳的测定方法有干烧法（高温电炉灼烧）和湿烧法（重铬酸钾氧化）两大类。另外还有ICP-AES法、微波消解法、过硫酸钾法、电导法、石墨电热消解法、比色法等,然而这些有机碳测定方法仍然存在许多不尽如人意的地方。干烧法要求实验条件苛刻,操作繁琐,不易掌握,受碳酸盐的干扰。湿烧法虽然操作比较简单,但方法受样品中还原性物质的干扰,如氯根、亚铁等,上述方法都有待完善和优化改进。如：探索因不同样品基体差异而产生的干扰元素消除方法;寻找更合适的指示剂;本文采 用重铬酸钾-容量法测定地质样品中的有机碳,在220±10℃恒温电热板上,用0.4 mol/mL重铬酸钾溶解样品。通过优化熔矿温度、熔矿时间、熔剂浓度的优化选择,进行了氯离子的干扰试验。样品中含氯化物低的样品通过加入0.1 g硫酸银消除,样品中含氯化物高的样品通过高温灼烧减量消除。氧化指示剂选用邻菲啰啉或苯二氨基苯甲酸。本方法适用于土壤、水系沉积物、岩石等地质调查样品中有机碳的测定,方法相对标准偏差（RSD）在0.80%～4.41%之间,准确度（RE）在-3.15%～+1.15%之间。通过标准物质验证,方法技术指标满足地质行业规范DZ/T0130.4-2006中有机碳的分析要求,建立了一种简单、快捷、经济、准确的测定地质样品中有机碳的测定方法,满足地球化学调查批量样品生产的需要。     

The titrimetric determination of carbon dioxide with special reference to the determination of carbon in organic compounds

The titrimetric barium carbonate method for the determination of. carbon in organic compounds has been examined and the various sources of error are discussed. The carbon dioxide from the combustion of the sample is absorbed in excess baryta containing 20% (w/v) barium chloride and the excess is back-titrated with hydrochloric acid in the presence of o-cresolphthalein indicator.The value of this method in conjunction with the previously described determination of water with succinyl chloride, for the simultaneous determination of carbon and hydrogen is assessed     

Mass spectrometric analysis of high-purity carbon dioxide

A high-vacuum, low-temperature, continuous separation technique has been used in conjunction with a mass spectrometer for the analysis of carbon dioxide containing vpm amounts of H(2), He, CH(4), Ne, N(2), CO, O(2) and Ar. The method relies on the condensation of carbon dioxide on the walls of a glass U-tube, cooled in liquid nitrogen, connected between an inlet and the ion source. A high-pressure carbon dioxide sample thus enters the inlet leak but only the impurities pass through the U-tube and reach the ion source, resulting in considerable gain in sensitivity and elimination of interference from carbon dioxide. The sensitivity of the method is several orders of magnitude better than the normal mass spectrometric method.     

重量法测定灰岩中的二氧化碳

采用重量法对灰岩中的二氧化碳进行测定。首先用酸分解试样,在载气作用下,产生的二氧化碳被吸收液完全吸收,最后用重量法间接求出二氧化碳的含量。实验结果准确度高,矿石中的硫不干扰测定,可测定0.1%以上的二氧化碳。不经过复杂的气体净化步骤,操作准确、简单、易行,可用于灰岩中二氧化碳的测定。     

Simple and accurate method for determining dissolved inorganic carbon in environmental water by reaction headspace gas chromatography

We investigate a simple and accurate method for quantitatively analyzing dissolved inorganic carbon in environmental water by reaction headspace gas chromatography. The neutralization reaction between the inorganic carbon species (i.e. bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions) in environmental water and hydrochloric acid is carried out in a sealed headspace vial, and the carbon dioxide formed from the neutralization reaction, the self‐decomposition of carbonic acid, and dissolved carbon dioxide in environmental water is then analyzed by headspace gas chromatography. The data show that the headspace gas chromatography method has good precision (relative standard deviation ≤ 1.63%) and accuracy (relative differences ≤ 5.81% compared with the coulometric titration technique). The headspace gas chromatography method is simple, reliable, and can be well applied in the dissolved inorganic carbon detection in environmental water.     

以碳微球为核的金纳米壳球体的制备

通过水热合成法制备了单分散碳微球, 并以此单分散碳微球为核, 利用其表面修饰的银纳米粒子作为种子, 进一步还原制备了以碳微球为核、以金为壳的金纳米壳(Nanoshell)球体. 通过透射电子显微镜和紫外可见吸收光谱对其形态以及光谱性质进行了表征. 研究结果表明, 采用该种方法制备出来的碳微球具有良好的单分散性, 表面修饰简便快捷, 利用碳微球为核制备的金纳米壳球体尺寸可控, 在近红外范围内有强吸收. 实验结果证明该方法是制备金纳米壳球体的一种有效新方法.     

Determination of total dissolved inorganic carbon in freshwaters by reagent-free ion chromatography

Studies of inorganic carbon cycle in natural waters provide important information on the biological productivity and buffer capacity. Determination of total inorganic carbon, alkalinity and dissolved carbon dioxide gives an indication of the balance between photosynthesis and respiration by biota, both within the water column and sediments, and carbon dioxide transfers from the water column to the atmosphere. There are few methods to measure and distinguish the different forms of inorganic carbon, but all require a measure or an indirect quantification of total inorganic carbon. A direct measurement of TIC in water is made possible by the introduction of electrolytic generated hydroxide eluent in ion chromatography which allows to detect a chromatographic peak for carbonate. The advantage of this method is that all the inorganic forms of carbon are converted in carbonate at eluent pH and can be detected as a single peak by conductivity detection. Repeatability of carbonate peak was evaluated at different levels from 0.02 to 6 mequiv.l(-1) both in high purity water and in real samples and ranged from 1 to 9%. The calibration curve was not linear and has to be fitted by a quadratic curve. Limit of detection was estimated to be 0.02 mequiv.l(-1). Accuracy has been estimated by comparing ion chromatography method with total inorganic carbon calculated from alkalinity and pH. The correlation between the two methods was good (R(2)=0.978, n=141). The IC method has been applied to different typologies of surface waters (alpine and subalpine lakes and rivers) characterised by different chemical characteristics (alkalinity from 0.05 to 2 mequiv.l(-1) and pH from 6.7 to 8.5) and low total organic carbon concentrations. This analytical method allowed to describe the distribution of TIC along the water column of two Italian deep lakes.     

Optical properties of single-walled 4 A carbon nanotubes

Optical properties of a series of finite sized hydrogenated carbon nanotubes with the smallest diameter of 4 A are studied systematically. Their absorption spectra are calculated with the localized-density-matrix method. The semiempirical MNDO parametric method 3 (PM3) Hamiltonian is employed. The finite optical gaps are predicted for the infinite long single-walled carbon nanotubes. Strong anisotropy characteristics of the dynamic polarizabilities are found for these tubes. The calculated results are in good agreement with the recent experimental findings. Further the compositions of the dipole-induced excitations are examined by projecting the corresponding density matrices onto the Hartree-Fock molecular orbital representation. Unlike the larger diameter carbon nanotubes whose absorption spectra are insensitive to the tube chiralities, the absorption spectra of 4 A single-walled carbon nanotubes depend very much on their chiralities. The chirality of the single-walled 4 A carbon nanotubes synthesized in the channels of the porous zeolites is thus determined to be (5,0) by comparing the calculated and measured absorption spectra.     

无定形碳的逆向蒙特卡洛法建模

作为一种很有前景的建模方法，逆向蒙特卡洛法（Reverse Monte Carlo 简称RMC 法）在无定形碳结构研究中得到了广泛应用。本文阐述了RMC 法对于无定形碳材料结构识别的意义，简介了该法的基本原理，同时针对使用RMC 法建立无定形碳结构模型时遇到的两大难点：即模拟结构的真实性问题和大尺寸孔网络的建模问题，综述了该方法的改进和发展趋势。几何约束和能量约束的使用，提高了模拟结构的真实性；具有介孔的多孔碳模型的建立，将成为今后研究的热点。     

Distribution of carbon nanotube sizes from adsorption measurements and computer simulation

The method for the evaluation of the distribution of carbon nanotube sizes from the static adsorption measurements and computer simulation of nitrogen at 77 K is developed. We obtain the condensation/evaporation pressure as a function of pore size of a cylindrical carbon tube using Gauge Cell Monte Carlo Simulation (Gauge Cell MC). To obtain the analytical form of the relationships mentioned above we use Derjaguin-Broekhoff-deBoer theory. Finally, the pore size distribution (PSD) of the single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) is determined from a single nitrogen adsorption isotherm measured at 77 K. We neglect the conical part of an isolated SWNH tube and assume a structureless wall of a carbon nanotube. We find that the distribution of SWNH sizes is broad (internal pore radii varied in the range 1.0-3.6 nm with the maximum at 1.3 nm). Our method can be used for the determination of the pore size distribution of the other tubular carbon materials, like, for example, multiwalled or double-walled carbon nanotubes. Besides the applicable aspect of the current work the deep insight into the problem of capillary condensation/evaporation in confined carbon cylindrical geometry is presented. As a result, the critical pore radius in structureless single-walled carbon tubes is determined as being equal to three nitrogen collision diameters. Below that size the adsorption-desorption isotherm is reversible (i.e., supercritical in nature). We show that the classical static adsorption measurements combined with the proper modeling of the capillary condensation/evaporation phenomena is a powerful method that can be applied for the determination of the distribution of nanotube sizes.     

液相色谱-质谱法分析黑碳的分子标志物——苯多羧酸和硝基苯多羧酸

苯多羧酸法是定量检测黑碳和溶解态黑碳的重要分子标志物法,其中苯多羧酸和硝基苯多羧酸的分离和定量是关键环节。本文建立了苯多羧酸和硝基苯多羧酸的液相色谱-质谱分析方法,利用质谱的定性能力解决了部分苯多羧酸和硝基苯多羧酸化合物在缺乏标准品情况下的定性问题。用Phenomenex Synergi Polar RP分离柱,柱温为35 ℃,流动相为0.5%(体积分数)甲酸水溶液和甲醇,流速为0.5 mL/min,梯度洗脱,以电喷雾离子源负离子全扫描和选择扫描模式进行离子阱质谱检测,同时利用串联的二极管阵列检测器采集三维紫外光谱数据。在实际样品检测中,14个含3个及以上羧基的苯多羧酸和硝基苯多羧酸化合物获得良好分离。此方法简化并加快了苯多羧酸法定量黑碳和溶解态黑碳的分析过程,可满足环境样品中黑碳和溶解态黑碳的分析,促进了苯多羧酸法应用的普及。     

Carbon nanotubes as adsorbent of solid-phase extraction and matrix for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

A method with carbon nanotubes functioning both as the adsorbent of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and the matrix for matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to analyze small molecules in solution has been developed. In this method, 10 microL suspensions of carbon nanotubes in 50% (vol/vol) methanol were added to the sample solution to extract analytes onto surface of carbon nanotubes because of their dramatic hydrophobicity. Carbon nanotubes in solution are deposited onto the bottom of tube with centrifugation. After removing the supernatant fluid, carbon nanotubes are suspended again with dispersant and pipetted directly onto the sample target of the MALDI-MS to perform a mass spectrometric analysis. It was demonstrated by analysis of a variety of small molecules that the resolution of peaks and the efficiency of desorption/ionization on the carbon nanotubes are better than those on the activated carbon. It is found that with the addition of glycerol and sucrose to the dispersant, the intensity, the ratio of signal to noise (S/N), and the resolution of peaks for analytes by mass spectrometry increased greatly. Compared with the previously reported method by depositing sample solution onto thin layer of carbon nanotubes, it is observed that the detection limit for analytes can be enhanced about 10 to 100 times due to solid-phase extraction of analytes in solution by carbon nanotubes. An acceptable result of simultaneously quantitative analysis of three analytes in solution has been achieved. The application in determining drugs spiked into urine has also been realized.     

A direct method for the determination of carbonate and non-carbonate carbon in geological materials by infrared spectrometry

A simple and direct infrared method for determining carbonate and non-carbonate carbon in geological samples is described. To determine carbonate carbon, hydrochloric acid is added directly to the heated samples; non-carbonate carbon is determined by combustion after digesting the samples with hydrochloric acid. The limit of detection is 2 ppm for carbonate carbon and 10 ppm for non-carbonate carbon; the relative standard deviations are 4% or less for 100–1000 μg of carbonate and non-carbonate carbon. The method has been applied to standard rocks, NBS minerals and geological exploration reference samples.     

Species analysis of automotive carbon particles: Application of XPS for integral analysis of filter samples

 In the discussion of possible toxic effects of carbon particle emissions from automotive sources the question about the origin of the material is of relevance. Besides the emissions of Diesel soot (DS) a second source of debris from tire abrasion (TD) has the potential to contribute significantly to the carbon particle emissions. The discrimination between these chemically different species is complicated by the unavoidable presence of molecular carbon species from general sources, from fuel components and from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on the filter surface deposits from imission tests. Based on the different surface reactivity of DS and TD, a quantitative data analysis procedure using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) carbon 1s profile is suggested, which gives an estimate of the fraction of DS in the total carbon present. The difference to 100% is the sum of TD and molecular carbon which constitutes its dominant contribution. The method agrees semi-quantitatively with traditional chemical analysis of the elemental carbon fraction on the filters. Several independent chemical tests are provided for the internal consistency of the analysis method which is based upon the use of reference spectra from pure TD. The application of a simplified analytical equipment for large numbers of samples is discussed. Received : 26 January 1996/Revised: 23 April 1996/Accepted : 29 April 1996