"Fast excitation" CID in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer is usually performed by applying a small amplitude excitation voltage at the same secular frequency as the ion of interest. Here we disclose studies examining the use of large amplitude voltage excitations (applied for short periods of time) to cause fragmentation of the ions of interest. This process has been examined using leucine enkephalin as the model compound and the motion of the ions within the ion trap simulated using ITSIM. The resulting fragmentation information obtained is identical with that observed by conventional resonance excitation CID. "Fast excitation" CID deposits (as determined by the intensity ratio of the a(4)/b(4) ion of leucine enkephalin) approximately the same amount of internal energy into an ion as conventional resonance excitation CID where the excitation signal is applied for much longer periods of time. The major difference between the two excitation techniques is the higher rate of excitation (gain in kinetic energy) between successive collisions with helium atoms with "fast excitation" CID as opposed to the conventional resonance excitation CID. With conventional resonance excitation CID ions fragment while the excitation voltage is still being applied whereas for "fast excitation" CID a higher proportion of the ions fragment in the ion cooling time following the excitation pulse. The fragmentation of the (M + 17H)(17+) of horse heart myoglobin is also shown to illustrate the application of "fast excitation" CID to proteins.     

High-rate and high-density gas separation adsorbents and manufacturing method

High-rate and high-density gas separation adsorbents used in vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processes are described. Agglomerated zeolite Li–LSX compositions made using colloidal silica binding agents and having improved nitrogen pore diffusivity compared to like compositions prepared with traditional clay binders, are also described. Preparation methods for the colloidal silica-bound adsorbents are described together with their characterization by mercury (Hg) porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low dead-volume breakthrough testing, from which the pore diffusivity is obtained. In this article, we show how the location and dispersion of the colloidal silica binding agent within the agglomerated zeolite particle yields pore-architectures that resemble “state-of-the-art” binderless adsorbents. In addition, we use VPSA process simulations to show that the best process performance is achieved by the combination of high-rate and high-density adsorbent properties.     

Application of Modern Analytical Techniques to the Investigation of Cellulose Nitrates

Abstract

Despite contemporary inroads made into the textile market by synthetic fibers, cellulose remains one of the world's most important textile materials. This can be rationalized in terms of several factors, the most important of which is the ready availability and continuing supply of this naturally occurring fiber. It has been estimated that vegetation produces about 100 billion tons of cellulose a year [1], and it is partly due to this fact that cellulose has maintained its position and competitive price in world markets.     

A Scalable Biomimetic Synthesis of Resveratrol Dimers and Systematic Evaluation of their Antioxidant Activities

An efficient synthetic route to the resveratrol oligomers quadrangularin A and pallidol is reported. It features a scalable biomimetic oxidative dimerization that proceeds in excellent yield and with complete regioselectivity. A systematic evaluation of the natural products and their synthetic precursors as radical‐trapping antioxidants has revealed that, contrary to popular belief, this mode of action is unlikely to account for their observed biological activity.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of allylic amines: considerable rate acceleration in the hydrozirconation-transmetalation-aldimine addition sequence

The hydrozirconation of alkynes with zirconocene hydrochloride and the dimethylzinc-mediated addition of alkenylzirconocenes to diphenylphosphinoyl imines can be greatly accelerated with microwave irradiation, resulting in a convenient and rapid one-pot process for the preparation of synthetically useful allylic amines.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of silica in theory and experiment

Fourier deconvolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectra obtained from crystalline and amorphous silica, used in conjuction with the results of quantum chemical calculations of the SiO₄ tetrahedral unit and other spectrometric measurements (soft X-ray emission, UV absorption and reflectivity, photoconductivity, photoinjection and energy loss spectroscopy), suggest a reinterpretation of the electronic band structure of silica that is consistent with all the data. A unique method for pinning the Fermi level of insulators to that of a metal calibrant is described, resulting in the ability to obtain absolute binding energies of the electronic levels in wide bandgap insulators. Observe peaks in UV reflectivity and energy loss spectra of silica are all assigned to direct interband transitions, and no excitonic states need be involved to explain the data. Upper and lower limits for the bandgap of dry crystalline (α-quartz) and amorphous (Corning Code 7940 glass) silica are adjusted downward from the 8.9 eV bandgap proposed by DiStefano and Eastman [1] to 7.8–5.55 eV for α-quartz and 7.3–5.05 eV for fused silica, respectively. This in no way compromises the obvious insulating properties of silica in MOS devices, since the conductivity is governed by the high barrier height (～3.8 eV in the case of gold) for metal-insulator electron transfer. The lowered bandgap results from increased low-energy electron density in the valence band, which we ascribe to the 1t₁ molecular orbital predicted by various quantum formalisms, but heretofore not detected experimentally in bulk (thick) silica. Disappearances of this orbital and rearrangement of the non-binding 5t₂ and 1e orbitals in silicas rich in silanols (OH), as may be the case for thin-film silica on Si metals, would increase the bandgap to 8.3 eV, in better agreement with previous determinations.     

Workshop Nanoscience C: Controlling interactions in complex materials

The second international workshop of the Soochow University—Western University Centre for Synchrotron Radiation Research took place at Soochow University, Suzhou, China, on May 6–8, 2014. The host organizations for this workshop were Soochow University in China and the University of Western Ontario (also known as Western University) in Canada.