Flow injection analysis for calcium in serum,water and waste waters by spectrophotometry and by ion-selective electrode

The Flow Injection technique is shown to provide fast, reliable and sensitive methods for the determination of calcium in various aqueous as well as serum samples; spectrophotometric or potentiometric detection can be used. At sampling rates of 100–110 samples per hour, with 30-μl sample injections, high reproducibility of measurement and low reagent consumption are achieved in both methods. In the spectrophotometric method, the analytical readout is available within 12 s after sample injection at a total reagent consumption of 0.75 ml per analysis. The potentiometric measurement of the calcium activity in serum is placed on a reliable basis by alternating measurements of serum samples and aqueous standards without incurring any non-reproducible changes in potential between aqueous and serum solutions. This permits the simultaneous determination of pH and pCa, the analytical readout being available within XXX s of sample injection. The good agreement between the results obtained with the Flow Injection method and those attained by atomic absorption and EDTA titrations as well as pCa stat-measurements show that the new methods are potentially suitable for routine analysis.     

Application of a micro carbon rod atomizer as Br-spezific gas-chromatographic detector

Summary A micro carbon rod atomizer has been employed for specific and quantitative bromine determinations. This Br-specific gas-chromatographic detector works by help of InBr-bands and measurement at 372.7 nm. The performance of this flame band emission detector (FBD) is demonstrated by calibration curves and the detection limits of 2 examples (ethyl bromide, ethylene dibromide), the latter being 5 and 36 ng of bromine, respectively. The reproducibility has been found to be 4.3%. An example of this detector in comparison with a thermoconductivity detector (TCD) is presented.

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Verwendung einer Mikro-Graphitküvette als Br-spezifischer Detektor für die Gas-Chromatographie

Zusammenfassung Eine Mikro-Graphit-Küvette wird für spezifische quantitative Brombestimmungen nach der Indium-Methode bei 372,7 nm benützt und in Verbindung mit einem Gas-Chromatographen als Br-spezifischer Detektor eingesetzt. Die Leistungsfähigkeit dieses Detektors wird an 2 Beispielen (Äthylbromid, Dibromäthan) mit Hilfe von Eichkurven, Bestimmung von Nachweisgrenzen u. ä. demonstriert. Die Nachweisgrenzen liegen bei 5 bzw. 36 ng Brom für die 2 genannten Substanzen. Die Reproduzierbarkeit der Messungen liegt bei 4,3%. Ein Beispiel für die Registrierung eines Gemisches verschiedener Substanzen, gemessen mit dem GC + Flammen-Banden-emissions-Detektor (FBD) und zum Vergleich mit einem Wärmeleitfähigkeitsdetektor (TCD), wird dargestellt.

This research work was supported by financial help of the Bundesminister für Forschung und Technologie in Bonn (GFR).     

Vibrational spectra of compounds Ln2MoO6 and Ln2WO6

The vibrational spectra of compounds Ln₂WO₆ and Ln₂MoO₆ (Ln = lanthanide, including Y and Bi) are reported. Neglecting details it is possible to assign the internal vibrations of the molybdate and tungstate group. The results are in agreement with the structural data known up till now and suggest further that tungsten in the unknown Y₂WO₆ structure is in six-coordination, that Bi₂MoO₆ shows still another modification than koechlinite and that vibrational spectroscopy may yield additional structural information for compounds like those under consideration.     

Über Chalkogenolate. LVIII. Untersuchungen über Thiomeiensäuren 6. Cyandithioameisensäure und Azidodithioameisensäure

Polymeric cyanodithioformic acid has been prepared by interaction between a solution of Na[NCCS₂]. 3 DMF and HCl(aq). In the gaseous state there exists [NCCS(SH)]_x with x = 1 and 2. The instable crystalline acidodithioformic acid is formed on reaction of Na[N₃CS₂] with HCl(aq). In the gaseous state there exists the monomeric acid N₃CS(SH).     

PHOTOREVERSION VON VIER GRUPPEN UV-INDUZIERTER MUTATIONEN ZUR GIFTRESISTENZ IM NICHTPHOTOREAKTIVIERBAREN E. COLI

Abstract— In the non-photoreaclivable bacterial strain E. coli B/phr^-/MC2 the photoreversion of four groups of u.v.-induced mutations were investigated. They lead to resistance to Chloramphenicol (2 mg/l; "C"), Penicillin (13 or 16 mg/l; "P13" and "P16") or Streptomycin (3 mg/l; "S"). The u.v.-dose curve is concave for the C-mutations (two to three hits), about linear for P13 and S, and they reach peaks and decrease at high u.v.-doses. Though no photoreactivation of killing (PR) is present there is photoreversion of all four types of mutations (PRM). At u.v.-doses below the peaks in average about 43 per cent mutations are photoreversible. At high u.v.-doses the curves with light-post treatment (L) cross the darkcurves (D). In the photoreactivable strain B/r (by the spontaneous mutation MC2 to Mitomycin-resistance strain B/phr^- was made about as u.v.-resistant as B/r is) the photoreversion of the mutation groups C, P13 and P16 (S was not investigated here) was much higher, in average about 77 per cent at low doses. It is assumed that the difference in PRM of about 34 per cent between both strains is due to a PRM-mechanism present in B/r but not in B/phr^-/MC2; this mechanism may be the photoreactivating enzyme that opens thymine-dimers. The PRM in B/phr-/MC2 must then be due to a second mechanism which is probably not the dimer opening enzyme. It may be the same mechanism as in the case of mutations of phage kappa which are induced by u.v. and reversed partially by light, both extra cellularly. The premutations giving this second type of PRM may perhaps be cytosine-hydrate in the DNA. Tn average about 23 per cent mutations of B/r are photostable. Since this ratio decreases with low u.v.-doses in the C-mutations and increases in P13 and in P16 probably two types of photostable premutations seem to exist.     

Electrochemical flow-through detector for the determination of cystine and related compounds

An electrochemical double cell for the detection of cystine in aqueous liquid streams is described. A column electrode of amalgamated silver powder is used to reduce cystine quantitatively to cysteine, which is detected amperometrically at a mercury electrode. The double cell is applied to the detection of cystine, cysteine and penicillamine in high-pressure liquid chromatography and to the selective determination of cystine and cysteine by flow-injection analysis.     

Kinetics of solid-state synthesis and properties of lead-containing niobate pyrochlores

The main features of the synthesis of (Pb_1-x Sr_x)₂Nb₂O₇ and (Pb_1-x Ba_x)₂Nb₂O₇ pyrochlore solid solutions were determined using isothermal thermogravimetry in tandem with formal-kinetic analysis. The stability and electron-transport properties of the triple niobates were studied, which allowed us to test them as electrode-active materials for membranes in ion-selective electrodes (ISEs).     

Assessment of drinking water radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting: set up of high sensitivity and emergency procedures

In our institute, different procedures have been developed to measure the radioactivity content of drinking water both in normal and in emergency situations, such as those arising from accidental and terrorist events. A single radiometric technique, namely low level liquid scintillation counting (LSC), has been used. In emergency situations a gross activity screening is carried out without any sample treatment by a single and quick liquid scintillation counting. Alpha and beta activities can be measured in more than one hundred samples per day with sensitivities of a few Bq/L. Higher sensitivity gross alpha and beta, uranium and radium measurements can be performed on water samples after specific sample treatments. The sequential method proposed is designed in such a way that the same water sample can be used in all the stages, with slight modifications. This sequential procedure was applied in a survey of the Lombardia district. At first tap waters of the 13 largest towns were examined, then a more detailed monitoring was carried out in the surroundings of Milano and Lodi towns. The high sensitivity method for the determination of uranium isotopes was used to check the presence of depleted uranium in Lake Garda. Reduced equipment requirements and relative readiness of radiochemical procedures make LSC an attractive technique which can also be applied by laboratories lacking specific radiochemistry facilities and experience.     

Effects of structural transformations in magnetic emulsions

Structural transformations and relevant changes in the magnetic and optical properties of magnetosensitive emulsions based on magnetic fluids are experimentally studied. Peculiarities of the changes in the magnetic susceptibility of emulsions associated with the deformation of their microdroplets and the effect of phase inversion (the transformation of dispersions of magnetic droplets in nonmagnetic media into dispersions of nonmagnetic droplets in magnetic fluids) are established. Optical effects occurring in magnetic emulsions under the combined action of a shear flow and a magnetic field are studied. It is concluded that optically active composition media may be developed on the basis of magnetic fluids.     

ULTRAVIOLET AND N-FORMYL-KYNURENINE-SENSITIZED PHOTOINACTIVATION OF BOVINE CARBONIC ANHYDRASE: AN INTERNAL PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT

Abstract —Direct photoinactivation by UV light of bovine carbonic anhydrase, as well as its photosensitization by N -formyl-kynurenine, a tryptophan photooxidation product, have been investigated. In the presence of oxygen both methods lead to similar results: the enzyme loses its activity, the tryptophanyl, histidyl and, to a lesser extent, tyrosyl residues being destroyed. In nitrogen-saturated solutions, a dramatic drop is observed in the photoinacitivation yield under the direct action of ultraviolet light, whereas histidyl residues remain intact. Evidence indicates an internal photodynamic action of N -formyl-kynurenine in the protein core produced by the UV photooxidation of tryptophanyl residues. Photoinactivation of oxygenated enzyme solutions by external and internal photodynamic action correlates with histidyl residue destruction via singlet oxygen. The possible importance of the photodynamic ability of N -formyl-kynurenine in the photochemistry of proteins, DNA, and cells is discussed.