On-line sorbent extraction, preconcentration and determination of lead by atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the quantitative preconcentration of lead based on an existing batch process was developed for implementation in a flow system including a flame AAS detector. Lead can be quantitatively preconcentrated as pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate or dithizonate on an activated carbon minicolumn. The chelates are eluted in methyl isobutyl ketone and introduced directly into the nebuliser-burner. An enrichment factor of 50 is typically obtained for a preconcentration time of 2 min (lead can be determined at concentrations between 15 and 400 ng/ml), which results in a throughput of ca. 25 samples per hr. The sensitivity achieved with the two reagents is similar, but the selectivity provided by APDC exceeds that of dithizone. Based on the results obtained in the determination of lead in reference materials (minerals and skim milk), the proposed APDC method is applicable to real samples.     

Solvent‐free microwave synthesis of bis‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b:4′,3′‐e]‐pyridines and study of their antifungal properties

The synthesis of a series of bis‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b:4′,3′‐e]pyridines ( 3 ) in the reaction of 5‐amino‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole ( 1 ) with aldehydes ( 2 ) under microwave irradiation and solvent‐free conditions is described. The structure elucidation of the products is based on detailed nmr analysis of experiments such as ¹H‐COSY, NOESY, DEPT, HSQC and HMBC. These compounds showed moderate antifungal in vitro activity against dermatophytes.     

Creatinine biosensor based on ammonium ion selective electrode and its application in flow-injection analysis

A new, highly sensitive, fast responding and stable potentiometric biosensor for creatinine determination is developed. The biosensor is based on an ammonium ion-selective electrode. Creatinine deiminase (EC 3.5.4.21) is chemically immobilized on the surface of the polymeric ion-sensitive membrane in the form of monomolecular layer using a simple, one-step carbodiimide covalent attachment method. The resulting enzyme electrodes are useful for measurement under flow injection analysis (FIA) conditions. The biosensors exhibit excellent operational and storage stability. The enzyme electrodes retain over 70% of initial sensitivity after ten weeks of work under FIA conditions. The storage stability at 4 °C is longer than half a year without loss of sensitivity. Under optimized conditions near 30 samples per hour can be analyzed and the determination range (0.02-20.0 mmol l⁻¹) fully covers creatinine concentrations important from clinical and biomedical point of view. The simple biosensor/FIA system has been successfully used for determination of creatinine in urine, serum and posthemodialysate samples.     

Enzyme catalysis in organic solvents: a promising field for optical biosensing

The ability of enzymes to work in non-aqueous media offers new and almost unexploited possibilities for the development of new optical biosensors. The advantages of performing biocatalytic reactions in non-aqueous media are discussed in relation to their possible application in optical biosensor design. Attention is focused on the factors that influence enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents, including the role of enzyme-associated water, criteria for solvent selection and the alteration of enzyme specificity. Recent examples of relevant applications and future prospects of organic-phase optical biosensing are discussed.     

Sections and projections of nested convex bodies

Aequationes mathematicae - One of the most important problems in Geometric Tomography is to establish properties of a given convex body if we know some properties over its sections or its...     

Influence of a background gas on expanding plasma clots

An expansion of finite plasma clots into the background neutral gas is studied numerically. The presented model includes the quasineutrality violation as well as the interpenetration of plasma and neutral gas at the boundary of the plasma. We estimate the region of plasma parameters where the model is correct. Space distributions of main plasma parameters, cooling of electrons and the process of inter-penetration of the plasma and the neutral gas are analysed as well as an empiric formula for electron temperature is found. Finally, it is shown that the most intensive plasma-gas inter-penetration occurs in the case where the initial plasma and gas densities are the same.     

Labelings of two classes of plane graphs

The paper describes magic labelings of type (1,1,1) for two classes of graphs, which are obtained by a combination of vertex, edge and face labelings.     

Electronic structure of octacyanides of molybdenum IV and V according to the SCCC MO method

The SCCC MO method has been used to calculate the electronic structure and spectrum of Mo(CN) ₈ ^4– and Mo(CN) ₈ ^3– ions of a D _4d symmetry. All metal-ligand and ligand-ligand interactions and all overlap integrals (over products of HF atomic orbitals) have been included within the SCCC MO scheme. Basing on these calculations a new assignment of some absorption bands is proposed. The overall agreement between the calculated and observed electronic spectrum is satisfactory.

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Zusammenfassung Elektronenstruktur und Spektrum der [Mo(CN)₈]^–4- und [Mo(CN)₈]^–3-Ionen in D _4d -Symmetrie wurden mit der SCCC-MO-Methode berechnet. Alle Metall-Ligand- und Ligand-Ligand-Wechsel-wirkungen und Überlappungsintegrale wurden berücksichtigt. Die Bandenzuordnung wurde neu vorgenommen. Die Übereinstimmung der berechneten und gemessenen Spektren ist befriedigend.

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Résumé Application à Mo(CN) ₈ ^4– et Mo(CN) ₈ ^3– de la méthode SCCC MO basée sur des orbitales atomiques HF approchées, en tenant compte du recouvrement et de toutes les interactions ligand-ligand. Dans la partie I on discute le cas de la symétrie D _4d . L'accord global avec l'expérience est satisfaisant en ce qui concerne les spectres. On montre aussi que toutes les attributions antérieures basées sur la théorie du champ cristallin semblent inadéquates.

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The authors are grateful to Prof. W. Jakób, Dr. Z. Stasicka and Dr. A. Samotus for many interesting discussions, to Prof. J. Chojnacki for providing us with new X-ray results before publication and to Dr. A. J. Sadlej for a help in dealing with the computer.