Mutual Separation of Rare Earths in Monazite with Cation Exchange Elution Chromatography

Mutual separation of the individual rare earth elements (exception of cerium) in monazite from different districts was investigated by cation exchange elution method. Strong acid type cation exchange resin, Bio-Rad AG 50 Wx8 and eluting solution of a α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (α-HIBA) were used. Radioactivity tagged Eu-152, 154 or Tb-160 were used as radio active indicator for determination of the distribution coefficients by batch method or for the study of column elution conditions. By gradiently increase of the pH values from 3 to 5 in 0.3 M α-HIBA eluting solution, complete mutual separation of individual rare earth elements, exception of Dy and Y, were obtained. Dy and Y could not be separated by this scheme of separation and their elution zones were overlapped. Rare earth mixture samples of monazite from different districts were separated with this scheme and these results were compared. From this comparison followings were noticed; 1. Compositions of rare earth elements in monazite from different districts are evidently not alike. 2. Samples from Brazil and Southwestern Coast of Taiwan are much more alike in their compositions but not for those from Australia and Outskirt Island. 3. Sample from Outskirt Island has higher in contents of heavier rare earths and also Nd was higher than La.     

Determination of rare earth elements in USGS rock standards by isotope dilution mass spectrometry and comparison with neutron activation and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Rare earth element (REE) concentrations in United States Geological Survey (USGS) rock standards AGV-1, GSP-1, G-2 and PCC-1 were determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), neutron activation and inductively coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometric techniques. The procedure involved acid digestion of samples in PTFE pressure bombs and group separation of REEs by an ion-exchange method. For IDMS an additional separation step using α-hydroxyisobutyric acid as an eluent was used in a cation-exchange column to split the REEs into subgroups. Comparison of the results with literature values showed that the IDMS values are the most precise and accurate. However, the precisions and the accuracies of the other techniques are acceptable.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with post-column reaction detection for the determination of rare-earth elements in phosphoric acids produced for the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers

The isolation of rare elements (REE) from technical phosphoric acids and their determination by h.p.l.c. with post-column reaction detection are examined with different liqiud chromatographic techniques. A combination of procedures provides optimum analytical conditions. Twelve REE can be separated within 20 min by applying the following procedures: (i) separation of REE from calcium by addition of ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate to the sample solution, passage through a disposable column (SepPak C18), and use of dilute perchloric acid for desorption; (ii) separation of REE by using a chemically bonded strong cation-exchanger (Servachrom Si-100) and gradient elution with α-hydroxyisobutyric acid. The performance of this combination is discussed in relation to the restrictions imposed by the post-column reaction detector based on complexation with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol. Results obtaiend for two types of technical phosphoric acid are presented.     

Individual and simultaneous determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid by flow injection analysis

Flow injection methods for the individual and simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid and uric acid are proposed. A spectrophotometer and a miniamperometric detector are connected in sequence. The calibration graphs for uric acid obtained by measuring its absorbance at 293 nm and its current at +0.6 V are linear up to at least 80 and 70 mug/ml, respectively, with an rsd (n = 10) of 1 % for both methods at mid-range concentrations. The calibration graph for ascorbic acid with amperometric detection is linear up to 80 mg/l. with an rsd (n = 10) of 0.8% at 30 mg/l. The simultaneous determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid is based on measurement of the absorbance of uric acid at 393 nm and amperometric determination of both analytes at +0.6 V. The average relative errors of the analysis of binary mixtures of uric acid and ascorbic acid are 2.2 and 4.2%, respectively.     

Effect of Temperature and the Mechanism of Zone Spreading During Cation-Exchange Separation of Rare Earth Elements by Ion Chromatography

Separation of rare earth elements (REE) by ion chromatography on a Dionex Ion Pac CS3 column (sulfonic acid type) has been studied at different temperatures (10–70 °C) and with both isocratic and gradient elution with α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (α-HIBA). Changes of column efficiency as a function of distribution coefficient and temperature could not be explained on the basis of classical Van Deemter or Glueckauf-Hamilton equations and possible explanation indicating the contribution of longitudinal diffusion in the resin phase to total zone spreading was provided. It was shown that the plate height for yttrium was distinctly smaller that those for lanthanides of similar ionic radii. An improved combined isocratic-gradient elution procedure was devised for separation of Sc, Y, La, and the lanthanides in one run.     

Ion-exchange chromatography with an oxalic acid-α-hydroxyisobutyric acid eluent for the separation and quantitation of rare-earth elements in monazite and xenotime

Summary An oxalic acid-α-hydroxyisobutyric acid eluent has been used for the separation and determination of rare-earth elements by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. Fifteen rare-earth elements were separated within less than 25 min on a 150×4.6 mm i.d. column packed with 5-μm sulfonic acid-bonded silica particles by elution with a combined gradient of 0.60–9.0 mM oxalic acid and 19.0–5.0 mM α-hydroxyisobutyric acid at pH 4.6. Detection and quantitation of the separated rare-earth elements was accomplished by visible-absorbance measurements at 600 nm after postcolumn reaction with arsenazo I. The gradient of the two complexing agents was optimized to enable the separation of yttrium(III) without interference from other elements, especially dysprosium(III) and terbium(III). Mass detection limits of the elements were in the range of 2–4 ng. Finally, the chromatographic system was applied to the quantitative analysis of rare-earth elements in monazite and xenotime.     

Separation of rare earth elements by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Besides being widely used in electronic and glass industries, rare earth elements have recently been found to have important biological effects including the ability to stabilize and enhance interferon activity [J.J. Sedmak and S.E. Grossberg, J. Gen. Virol, 52 (1981) 195]. In this paper, the rare earth elements have been separated using a high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) centrifuge equipped with three multilayer coils connected in series. Two-phase solvent systems were composed of n-heptane containing di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (stationary phase) and dilute hydrochloric acid (mobile phase) where the partition coefficient of each can be optimized by selecting the proper hydrochloric acid concentration. The mobile phase was eluted through the column at a flow-rate of 5 ml/min, while the apparatus was rotated at 900 rpm. Continuous detection of the rare earth elements was effected by means of a post-column reaction with arsenazo III and the elution curve was obtained by on-line monitoring at 650 nm. Excellent isocratic separations of closely related rare earth elements were achieved at high partition efficiencies up to several thousand theoretical plates. Versatility of the present method was demonstrated in an exponential gradient elution of hydrochloric acid concentration where fourteen rare earth elements were all resolved in about 4.5 h.     

Cation exchange separation of 16 rare earth metals by microscale high-performance liquid chromatography

The separation of rare earth metals has been studied with a micro-column of 0.5 mm i.d.×75 mm length, packed with TSK LS-212 high-performance cation exchange resin 16 rare earth metals were separated within 38 min, using only 304 μl of 0.4M α-hydroxyisobutyric acid solution adjusted to pH 3.1–6.0 with ammonia solution as gradient carrier solution. The gradient elution was successfully performed by applying a new technique developed for microscale liquid chromatography. Studies on micro-high-performance liquid chromatography, VII.     

A Novel Fully Enzymatic Method for Determining Glucose and 1,5-Anhydro-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Glucitol in Serum of One Cuvette

The aim of the study was to set up a novel fully enzymatic method for screening glucose and 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG) in one cuvette. We have determined glucose and 1,5-AG, based on glucokinase (GK) converting glucose to G6P, a compound that can be catalyzed ultimately into 6-PGA by G-6PD and its coenzyme NADP(+), and then calculated glucose concentration according to absorbance variety. Furthermore, pyranose oxidase was used to oxidize 1,5-AG with the formation of 1, 5-anhydro-fructose and H(2)O(2). Measurement was done according to Trinder's reaction principle. The mean within-run and day-to-day precision (CV) of this method for glucose was 0.88% and 1.4%, and also that for 1,5-AG was 1.05% and 1.94%, respectively. The mean recovery rate of two targets was 100.2% and 101.6%, respectively. The correlation (R(2)) between the results of 1,5-AG obtained with our proposed method (y) and those obtained with LanaAG method (x) was 0.999 (y=1.002x-0.675 micromol/l; n=86), and the correlation (R(2)) of glucose between the results obtained with our GK method (y) and those obtained with recommendatory hexokinase method (x) was 0.9999 (y=1.0043x+0.1229 mmol/l; n=86). The reference range (95%) of serological glucose and 1,5-AG was 3.7 to 5.7 mmol/l (4.70+/-0.51 mmol/l) and 83.1 to 240.7 micromol/l (161.9+/-40.2 micromol/l), respectively; and there was no difference with age and sex (P>0.05). This newly developed method was dependable and steady-going, with analysis automatization, and allows quicker and easier measurement of serum glucose and 1,5-AG in one identical reaction cuvette in-phase than previously described methods.     

Al2O3-coated 3-N-propylpyridinium chloride silsesquioxane polymer film: preparation and electrochemical property study of adsorbed cobalt tetrasulfophthalocyanine

Porous Al2O3 presenting a specific surface area of SBET = 105 m2 g(-1) was coated with 3-N-propylpyridinium chloride silsesquioxane polymer. The ion exchange capacity of this polymer grafted onto an Al2O3 surface, resulting in a material designated as AlSiPy(+)Cl-, was 1.09 mmol g(-1). Furthermore, a cobalt(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine anionic complex was immobilized on the chemically modified surface by an ion exchange reaction with a yield of 40 micromol g(-1) (the surface density of the electroactive species is 3.80 x 10(-11) mol cm(-2)). The electrochemical properties of the material obtained, AlSiPy/CoTsPc, were tested for the catalytic oxidation of oxalic acid at 0.77 V vs SCE in 1.0 mol l(-1) KCl solution. Furthermore, a chronoamperometric technique was used with the electrode to test its potential use as a sensor for oxalic acid. The electrode response to oxalic acid concentrations between 1.0 and 3.5 mmol l(-1) was linear with an estimated detection limit of 0.5 mmol l(-1). The charge transfer resistance of the material, measured using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique, was 43 Omega cm2.     

Development of a fast capillary electrophoresis method for determination of creatinine in urine samples

The aim of this work was to develop a fast method using capillary electrophoresis for the determination of creatinine in human urine samples. The pH and constituents of the background electrolyte were selected by inspection of effective mobility of creatinine and candidate urine interferents versus pH curves. The tendency of the analyte to undergo electromigration dispersion and the buffer capacity were evaluated by the Peakmaster software and considered in the optimization of the background electrolyte, composed by 10 mmol L(-1) tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and 20 mmol L(-1) 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) at pH 3.93. Separation was conducted in a fused-silica capillary (32 cm total length and 8.5 cm effective length, 50 microm I.D.), with short-end injection configuration and direct UV detection at 215 nm. The migration time of creatinine was only 22s. A few figures of merit of the method are as follows: good linearity in the concentration interval of 5-70 mg L(-1) (R(2)>0.99), limit of detection of 0.5 mg L(-1), inter-day precision better than 2.7% (n=9) and recovery in the range 99.0-103.7% at three concentration levels (50, 100 and 150 mg L(-1)). Urine samples were prepared by deproteination with acetonitrile (1:3 sample:acetonitrile, v/v), centrifugation and dilution of a deproteinated aliquot with 12.5 mmol L(-1) HIBA (1:4, v/v). Creatinine concentrations between 489 and 1063 mg L(-1) were obtained in the urine of four healthy volunteers.     

Continuous-flow protease assay based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer

A homogeneous continuous-flow assay using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for detection was developed to measure the hydrolysis of HIV Protease Substrate 1 (to which two choromophores, EDANS and DABCYL are covalently attached) by a protease (e.g. Subtilisin Carlsberg) and the influence of inhibitors. In the continuous-flow assay, an inhibitor solution and an enzyme solution were first eluted into the system and allowed to react with each other in a reaction coil. Subsequently, the substrate solution was added to an enzyme-inhibitor mixture in a second reaction coil and incubated for 1 min. Finally, the fluorescence intensity was monitored.The system was also utilized to measure the inhibition of the protease by two weak acidity inhibitors which are 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Using the obtained optimum conditions for AEBSF, a detection limit of 0.3 mmol/l was achieved and the relative standard deviation was below 3.7% in the 2.5-7.5 mmol/l range. For EDTA, which required a 20 times higher substrate concentration than AEBSF, a detection limit of 0.2 mmol/l was obtained and the relative standard deviation was below 9.6% in the 0.5-7.5 mmol/l range.The optimization of pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, reaction time and temperature are described. Organic modifier effects were also investigated. Methanol, acetonitrile and DMSO could be tolerated up to 30%.     

Ion-pair chromatography of alkali and alkaline earth ions with the new reagent n-hexylsuccinic acid

Summary Alkali, alkaline earth, zinc and manganese(II) ions are separated by ion-pair chromatography on a LiChrospher RP-18 column with 2 mmol/l n-hexylsuccinic acid as a new ion-pair reagent and 1 mmol/l oxalic acid in the eluent and are detected by conductivity. The separation mechanism is discussed, the applicability for wine and mineral water samples including comparison to AAS results are presented.     

Kinetic substrate quantification by fitting the enzyme reaction curve to the integrated Michaelis–Menten equation

The reliability of kinetic substrate quantification by nonlinear fitting of the enzyme reaction curve to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation was investigated by both simulation and preliminary experimentation. For simulation, product absorptivity epsilon was 3.00 mmol(-1) L cm(-1) and K(m) was 0.10 mmol L(-1), and uniform absorbance error sigma was randomly inserted into the error-free reaction curve of product absorbance A(i) versus reaction time t(i) calculated according to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation. The experimental reaction curve of arylesterase acting on phenyl acetate was monitored by phenol absorbance at 270 nm. Maximal product absorbance A(m) was predicted by nonlinear fitting of the reaction curve to Eq. (1) with K(m) as constant. There were unique A(m) for best fitting of both the simulated and experimental reaction curves. Neither the error in reaction origin nor the variation of enzyme activity changed the background-corrected value of A(m). But the range of data under analysis, the background absorbance, and absorbance error sigma had an effect. By simulation, A(m) from 0.150 to 3.600 was predicted with reliability and linear response to substrate concentration when there was 80% consumption of substrate at sigma of 0.001. Restriction of absorbance to 0.700 enabled A(m) up to 1.800 to be predicted at sigma of 0.001. Detection limit reached A(m) of 0.090 at sigma of 0.001. By experimentation, the reproducibility was 4.6% at substrate concentration twice the K(m), and A(m) linearly responded to phenyl acetate with consistent absorptivity for phenol, and upper limit about twice the maximum of experimental absorbance. These results supported the reliability of this new kinetic method for enzymatic analysis with enhanced upper limit and precision.     

2-乙基己基膦酸单(2-乙基己基)酯(HEH[EHP])萃取稀土元素机理的研究Ⅰ.稀土元素(Ⅲ)在HNO3-H2O-HEH[EHP]体系中的分配及温度和溶剂效应

本文研究了HEH[EHP]的正己烷溶液在不同浓度(0—11M)的硝酸介质中萃取稀土元素(Ⅲ)的平衡规律。借助IR、NMR测定和斜率法研究了不同硝酸浓度下的萃取平衡反应,计算了不同萃取机理的浓度平衡常数。研究了温度和溶剂对萃取平衡的影响,测定了不同硝酸浓度和温度下各相邻元素对的分离因数,计算了萃取平衡反应的焓变值△H、相对自由能变化值△Z_z以及相对熵变值△S_z,并考察了这些热力学函数随原子序数的递变规律。     

四-β-(氨甲基)酞菁锌盐酸盐的合成及光物理光化学性质研究

四-β-(邻苯二甲酰亚胺甲基)酞菁锌(ZnPcP4)与85%水合肼反应得到四-β-(氨甲基)酞菁锌(ZnPcN4,分子式C36H28N12Zn),其盐酸盐为ZnPcN4.HCl。测试合成得到的标题化合物紫外-可见电子吸收光谱,荧光光谱和单线态氧生成速率。标题化合物在水中聚集,在90%1,2-丙二醇/水中主要以单体形式存在。目标酞菁锌配合物在90%DMF/水的中性溶液存在聚集体,在弱酸性条件下,随酸度增大,675 nm处Q带单体吸收峰升高,在DMF/water(10%,V/V)/HCl(1.2 mmol·L-1)溶液中10-5 mol·L-1的酞菁配合物基本上没有聚集;在强酸性条件下,随酸度增大,675 nm处Q带单体吸收峰下降的同时,在713 nm处酞菁单质子化吸收峰强度有所增加。ZnPcN4.HCl在DMF体系中聚集,荧光量子产率和单线态氧量子产率变小,但其在DMF/water(10%,V/V)/HCl(1.2mmol·L-1)体系中主要以单体形式存在,荧光量子产率为0.19,单线态氧量子产率0.58,光敏活性与标准无取代酞菁锌相近。     

Flow injection on-line acid digestion and pre-reduction of arsenic for hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry-a feasibility study

A flow injection (FI) manifold is described which makes possible on-line microwave-assisted acid digestion, followed by pre-reduction of As(V) to As(III) and its determination by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. The merging zone technique is used in order to reduce acid consumption for digestion. The efficiency of acid digestion is increased by pressure which is built up in-line by a flow restrictor. Flows for sample pretreatment and hydride generation can be optimized independently. L-cysteine was found superior to potassium iodide as the pre-reductant because much lower reagent and acid concentrations are required, much harsher conditions can be tolerated for acid digestion, and the integrated absorbance signals for arsenic in blood and standards are essentially identical, making possible the use of the standard calibration procedure.

The sampling frequency is 7–10/hr, depending on the conditions chosen, and the limit of detection, i.e. the concentration giving a signal equal to three times the standard deviation of the signal of the blank solution, is 0.25 μg/l for a 500 μl sample volume. The recovery of 10 μg/l As(V) added to a blood sample was 94 ± 2 and 98 ± 2% (n = 3) in absorbance and integrated absorbance, respectively.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some neutralized α-Hydroxy acids by hexachloroiridate(IV)

Summary The kinetics of oxidation of some neutralized -hydroxy acids such as lactic (LA), mandelic (MA), -hydroxyisobutyric (IB) and benzilic (BA) acid by hexachloroiridate(IV) have been studied. The oxidation products are acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acetone and benzophenone for the respective reactions, which are first order with respect to each substrate and to iridium(IV). The reaction rate increases with increase in pH and salt concentrations. The temperature influence is quite marked in all these reactions. A mechanism involving the formation of an unstable complex, which decomposesvia a free radical pathway to give the respective reaction products, is proposed.     

Application of Iodine-Azide Reaction as Postcolumn Reaction in HPLC for Determination of 2-Thiobarbituric Acid

The reaction between iodine and azide ion induced by 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) has been utilized as a postcolumn reaction for chromatographic determination of this sulphur compound. The method is based on the separation of thiobarbituric acid on an Nova-Pak® CN HP column with an acetonitrile–aqueous solution of sodium azide mobile phase. The separation stage is followed by spectrophotometric measurement of the residual iodine (λ=350 nm) from the postcolumn iodine-azide reaction induced by thiobarbituric acid after mixing iodine solution containing iodide with the column effluent containing azide ions and the inductor. Chromatograms obtained for thiobarbituric acid showed negative peaks as a result of the decrease in absorbance of background. The detection limit (defined as S/N=3) was 0.16 pmol (22.9 pg) for thiobarbituric acid. Calibration graphs, plotted as peak heights or peak area vs. concentrations, were linear up to 1 nM.     

Enantiomeric separations of cationic and neutral compounds by capillary electrochromatography with monolithic chiral stationary phases of beta-cyclodextrin-bonded negatively charged polyacrylamide gels

Enantiomeric separation by capillary electrochromatography with beta-cyclodextrin-bonded negatively charged polyacrylamide gels was examined. The columns used are capillaries filled with a negatively charged polyacrylamide gel, a so-called monolithic stationary phase, to which allyl carbamoylated beta-CD (AC-beta-CD) derivatives covalently bind. The capillary wall is activated first with a bifunctional reagent to make the resulting gel bind covalently to the inner surface of the fused-silica tubing. Enantiomeric separations of 15 cationic compounds were achieved using the above-mentioned columns and mobile phases of 200 mmol l(-1) Tris-300 mmol I(-1) boric acid buffer (pH 7.0 or 9.0) or 200 mmol l(-1) Tris-300 mmol l(-1) boric acid buffer (pH 7.0) containing an achiral crown ether (18-crown-6). Enantiomeric separations of two neutral compounds were also achieved using 200 mmol l(-1) Tris-300 mmol l(-1) boric acid buffer (pH 9.0) as a mobile phase. High efficiencies of up to 150,000 plates m(-1) were obtained. Both the within- and between-run reproducibilities of retention time and separation factor were good. The reproducibilities of retention time and separation factor for three different columns prepared from a different batch of monomers were acceptable. The gel-filled capillaries were stable for at least 3 months with intermittent use, utilizing the mobile phase of 200 mmol I(-1) Tris-300 mmol I(-1) boric acid buffer (pH 9.0).