Comparison of different solid phase extraction materials and techniques by application of multiresidue methods for the determination of pesticides in water by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Solid phase extraction materials and techniques (C-18 EMPORE^® disks, polystyrenedivinylbenzene (SDB) EMPORE^® disks, C-18 BondElut cartridges and ENVI-Carb cartridges) are compared for the preconcentration of 33 basic/neutral and 10 acidic/phenolic pesticides and three metabolites in water. The efficiency of the different extraction procedures was investigated by application of appropriate multiresidue separation methods by reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography with UV-diode-array detection. Calibrations were performed with multicomponent standard mixtures and recoveries, relative standard deviations and determination limits were calculated for comparing the described enrichment methods. Experiences made in practical application of the different techniques and materials were also considered for the final evaluation.     

Selective mixed coupling of carboxylic acids (II). — photolysis of unsymmetrical diacylperoxides with alkenyl-, halo-, keto-, carboxyl-groups and a chiral α-carbon. Comparison with the mixed kolbe electrolysis

Alkenoyl and functionalized alkanoyl dodecanoyl peroxides are prepared in 70 to 97 % yield and photolyzed at ?78° C. Thereby 4- to 10-alkenoyl and 4-alkanoyl peroxides afford good yields (56 – 68 %) of unsymmetrical coupling products. Similarly α- to σ-haloalkanoyl, cholanoyl or 3- and 4-carboxyalkanoyl peroxides can be coupled (40 – 70 %). The α-chiral diacyl peroxide ls undergoes the photochemical coupling reaction with 80 % retention of its configuration. The photolysis of diacyl peroxides at ?78° C proves to be a favorable supplement of the Kolbe-electrolysis in cases, where the electrolysis fails or produces low yields.     

Normal coordinate ab initio force relaxation

A procedure for optimization of molecular geometries is presented, combining ab initio calculations with vibrational molecular data from spectroscopy or empirical force fields. Theoretical cartesian forces are transformed to vibrational normal coordinate forces from which geometry increments are calculated. Test results indicate that the method saves considerable effort compared to other optimization schemes.     

Characterization of humic substances: Implications for trihalomethane formation

Humic substances are precursors of carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during disinfection by chlorination in water treatment processes. In an effort to understand the relationship between trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and physicochemical properties of humic substances, UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence in emission and synchronous scan modes, and NMR spectra were measured for several aquatic fulvic and humic acids. For comparison, a soil fulvic acid was also examined using these methods. The feasibility of the gradient modified spin-echo (GOSE) NMR experiment to selectively measure singlet resonances arising from isolated protons was examined. In addition, diffusion coefficients were measured for DMSO solutions of the fulvic acids using BPPLED and GOSE-edited pulse sequences. Although none of the methods tested produced results that correlated with THMFP, the GOSE intensities determined for different regions of the NMR spectra did reflect the relative abundance of different types of functional groups produced by lignin oxidation. In addition, the GOSE-edited diffusion results suggest that the isolated protons, those most reactive to chlorination, are more likely contained in the larger molecular weight fractions of fulvic acids.     

Komplexometrische Folgetitrationen von Eisen und Nickel sowie Kupfer und Nickel imμg-Bereich

Zusammenfassung Eine quantitative Bestimmungsmethode für Mikromengen Eisen und Nickel sowie Kupfer und Nickel, wie sie in Legierungen, Oxidgemischen und galvanischen Bädern vorkommen, wurde beschrieben. Die Metalle werden komplexometrisch mit ÄDTA und Kupferstandardlösung unter Verwendung einer kupferionensensitiven Elektrode und potentiometrischer Äquivalenzpunktindikation bestimmt. Eisen bzw. Kupfer werden direkt mit ÄDTA titriert, das Nickel dann in der gleichen Lösung durch Rücktitration des überschüssigen ÄDTA mit Kupferstandardlösung bestimmt.Die relativen Standardabweichungen der Bestimmungen liegen für Eisen bei ±(0,6 bis 1,2)%, für Kupfer bei ±(0,4 bis 0,8)% und für Nickel bei ±(0,6 bis 1,2)% jeweils für den Bereich von 800g bis 25g Metall. Unter den gewählten Bedingungen lassen sich mit dem Verfahren noch 25g Eisen, Kupfer bzw. Nickel bestimmen.

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Complexometric sequential titrations of iron and nickel as well as copper and nickel in theg range

Summary A quantitative assay method was described for microamounts of iron and nickel such as occur in alloys, oxide mixtures and galvanic baths. The metals were determined complexometrically with EDTA and standard copper solution using an electrode sensitive to copper ions and potentiometric indication of the equivalence point. Iron and copper were titrated directly with EDTA, and nickel then determined in the same solution by back-titration of the excess EDTA with standard copper solution.The relative standard deviations of the assays are ±(0.6–1.2)% for iron, at ±(0.4–0.8)% for copper, and at ±(0.6–12.2)% for nickel for the range from 800–25g metal respectively. Under the conditions chosen, 25g of iron, copper or nickel can be determined using the procedure.

     

Rotational fluctuations of water inside the nanopores of SBA-type molecular sieves

The rotational molecular dynamics of water confined to nanoporous molecular sieves of a regular hexagonal (SBA-15) and of a foamlike pore structure was studied by dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range from 10(-2) to 10(9) Hz and in a broad temperature interval. Two relaxation processes were observed: the process at lower frequencies is related to water molecules forming a layer, which is strongly adsorbed at the pore surface, whereas the relaxation process at higher frequencies is assigned to fluctuations of water molecules situated close to the center of the pore. The relaxation times of the low-frequency process for both materials and of the high-frequency process for the SBA-15 material have an unusual saddlelike temperature dependence, reported here for the first time. To describe this temperature dependence, a model developed for water confined to nanoporous glasses by Ryabov et al. [J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 105, 1845] was applied, which considers two competing effects. The characteristic features of these two competing processes were compared with those reported for other porous systems.     

Case Study: Doping Substances in Equestrian Food Supplements

In the course of investigations on equestrian supplemental products for the presence of doping substances, two products were found to contain forbidden substances. As reported earlier a plant extract (Mexican cactus extract) named “Energy 5” contained the anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) stanozolol, 17β-hydroxy-17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3β-ol (3β,5α-THMT) as well as mestanolone not declared on the label. In the present study, a product called “Super Kalm Paste” was tested. Analysis by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the preparation contained the class I anti-arrhythmics quinine (trade names Kinidin^TM, Durules) and cinchonine. The samples were prepared according to a sample preparation procedure established for anabolic steroids in nutritional supplements for humans. The sample treatment comprised the extraction and purification of the analytes as well as the chemical conversion with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoracetamide (MSTFA) to yield the trimethylsilyl (TMS)-derivatives. To verify whether the administration of such products could lead to positive doping tests, a pilot excretion study on “Energy 5” was conducted with two geldings, and urine samples were collected. Gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) after solid phase extraction and mixed derivatisation has demonstrated the presence of the stanozolol metabolite 16β-hydroxy-stanozolol in urine samples after “Energy 5” application.