An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of chlorpropamide in human plasma

Summary Samples were extracted with dichloromethane and the organic layer evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in methanol, and 10 μl aliquot injected onto the column. Tolbutamide was used as the internal standard for chlorpropamide. The UV detector response was linear over the range 0–200 μg ml⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.999; detection limit: 0.002 μg ml⁻¹. Within-day and between-day assay variation was generally ≤7%. No interference from endogenous constituents was observed. The utility of the method was demonstrated by determining chlorpropamide in samples from six healthy volunteers following a single oral dose of 250 mg. The procedure is simple and requires small volumes of plasma.     

Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Anaerobic Digestion: Comparing an Electromagnetic System (ES), a Microbial Electrolysis System (MEC), and a Control with No External Force

This study examined the application of an electromagnetic field to anaerobic digestion by using an electromagnetic system (ES), a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), and a control with no external force. The experimental work was performed by carrying out biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests using 1 L biodigesters. The bioelectrochemical digesters were supplied with 0.4 V for 30 days at 40 °C. The electromagnetic field of the ES was generated by coiling copper wire to form a solenoid in the BMP system, whereas the MEC consisted of zinc and copper electrodes inside the BMP system. The best performing system was the MEC, with a yield of 292.6 mL CH₄/g chemical oxygen demand removed (COD_removed), methane content of 86%, a maximum current density of 23.3 mA/m², a coulombic efficiency of 110.4%, and an electrical conductivity of 180 µS/cm. Above 75% removal of total suspended solids (TSS), total organic carbon (TOC), phosphate, and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) was also recorded. However, a longer exposure (>8 days) to higher magnetic intensity (6.24 mT) on the ES reduced its overall performance. In terms of energy, the MEC produced the greatest annual energy profit (327.0 ZAR/kWh or 23.36 USD/kWh). The application of an electromagnetic field in anaerobic digestion, especially a MEC, has the potential to maximize the methane production and the degradability of the wastewater organic content.