Are archaeological bones similar to modern bones? An INAA assessment

For more than a decade, archaeometrists have been analyzing archaeologically recovered human bones in an attempt to relate their trace element contents to diet. Although the problems of diagenesis have been recognized, the variable effects have been difficult to establish. In this paper, an assessment is made of the analytical reliability of the INAA determination of major and trace elements, using their short-lived radioisotopes in both regular and defatted modern cancellous bone, and in modern cortical bone. This modern bone information is then compared with analytical data for bones from Egyptian mummies ranging in age from 2000 to 3700 BP, and with normallyburied 11 th century French bones. Diagenetic effects may readily be detected by the measurement of elevated quantities of V, Mn, and Al in soil-contaminated bones. The Ca to P concentration ratios and the organic content may also be used to separate bone from diagenetically altered archaeological specimens.     

Structural effects of the lone pair on lead(II), and parallels with the coordination geometry of mercury(II). Does the lone pair on lead(II) form H-bonds? Structures of the lead(II) and mercury(II) complexes of the pendant-donor macrocycle DOTAM (1,4,7,10-tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane)

The synthesis and structures of [Pb(DOTAM)](ClO4)2.4.5H2O (1) and [Hg(DOTAM)](ClO4)2.0.5CH3OH.1.5H2O (2) are reported, where DOTAM is 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane. Compound 1 is triclinic, space group P, a = 12.767(3) A, b = 13.528(2) A, c = 18.385(3) A, alpha = 101.45(2) degrees, beta = 93.32(2) degrees, gamma = 90.53(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.0500. Compound 2 is monoclinic, space group Cc, a = 12.767(3) A, b = 13.528(2) A, c = 18.385(3) A, beta = 101.91(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.0381. The Pb(II) ion in 1 has an average Pb-N = 2.63 A to four N-donors from the macrocyclic ring, and four O-donors (average Pb-O = 2.77 A) from the amide pendant donors of the macrocycle, with a water molecule placed with Pb-O = 3.52 A above the proposed site of the lone pair (Lp) on Pb. The Hg(II) in 2 appears to be only six-coordinate, with four Hg-N bond lengths averaging 2.44 A, and two Hg-O from pendant amide donors at 2.41 A. The other two amide donors appear to be noncoordinating, with Hg-O distances of 2.74 and 2.82 A. A water situated 3.52 A above the proposed site of the lone pair on Pb(II) in 1 is oriented in such a way that it might be thought to be forming a Pb-Lp.H-O-H hydrogen bond. It is concluded that that this is not an H-bond, but that the presence of the lone pair allows a closer approach of the hydrogens to Pb than would be true otherwise. The structural analogy in the VSEPR sense between Pb(II), which has the 5d(10)6s(2) outer electron structure, and the Hg(II) ion, which has the 5d10 structure, is examined. The tendency of Hg(II) toward linear coordination, with two short Hg-L bonds (L = ligand) at 180 degrees to each other, and other donor groups at roughly 90 degrees to this and at much longer bond distances, is paralleled by Pb(II). One of the short Hg-L bonds is replaced in the Pb(II) structures by the lone pair (Lp), which is opposite the short Pb-L bond, or in some cases 2-4 shorter Pb-L bonds.     

Biosorption of Metals from Dilute Aqueous Solutions

Dilute aqueous solutions, generated or used by industry, can contain a variety of different metal ions. Various processes are suitable for reclamation of toxic metals and among them, attention is paid here to biosorption. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from solution is a well known phenomenon. Industrial applications of biosorption often make use of dead biomass, which does not require nutrients and can be exposed to environments of high toxicity. Experimental laboratory batch experiments are described for actinomycetes, fungi and for activated sludge, as the metal biosorbents, providing insight into cadmium biosorption. Non-living biomass showed greater binding capacities for cadmium (a priority pollutant) than living biomass. Engineering considerations are central in decisions concerning the commercial future of biosorption and a practical solution is needed for certain problems, such as the efficient separation of metal-loaded biomass.     

N,N'-Ethylenedi-L-cysteine (EC) and Its Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structures, and Equilibrium Constants

N,N'-ethylenedi-L-cysteine (EC) and its indium(III) and gallium(III) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of the ligand and the complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. EC.2HBr.2H(2)O (C(8)H(22)Br(2)N(2)O(6)S(2)) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with a = 12.776(3) ?, b = 13.735(2) ?, c = 5.1340 (10) ?, Z = 2, and V = 900.9(3) ?(3). The complexes Na[M(III)EC].2H(2)O (C(8)H(16)MN(2)O(6)S(2)Na) are isostructural for M = In and Ga, crystallizing in the tetragonal space group P4(2)2(1)2 with the following lattice constants for In, (Ga): a = 10.068(2) ?, (9.802(2) ?), b = 10.068(2) ?, (9.802(2) ?), c = 14.932(2) ?, (15.170(11) ?), Z = 4 (4), and V = 1513.6(5) ?(3), (1457.5(11) ?(3)). In both metal complexes, the metal atoms (In and Ga) are coordinated by six donor atoms (N(2)S(2)O(2)) in distorted octahedral coordination geometries in which two sulfur atoms and two nitrogen atoms occupy the equatorial positions, and the axial positions are occupied by two oxygen atoms of two carboxylate groups. The structures of the complexes previously predicted by molecular mechanics are compared with the crystal structures of the Ga(III) and In(III) complexes obtained experimentally. In contrast to the oxygen donors in phenolate-containing ligands, such as 1,2-ethylenebis((o-hydroxyphenyl)glycine) (EHPG) and N,N'-bis(o-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED), the thiolate donors of EC enhances affinity for In(III) relative to Ga(III). The following stability sequence has been obtained: In(III) > Ga(III) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II) > Co(II). Evidence was also obtained for several protonated and hydroxo species of the complexes of both divalent and trivalent metals, where the corresponding protonation constants (K(MHL)) decrease with increasing stability of the chelate, ML(n)(-)(4), where M(n)()(+) represent the metal ion.     

Analysis of O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothiolate (VX) and its degradation products by packed capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

Packed capillary column liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used for the first time to detect and identify O-ethyl, S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothiolate (VX) and its degradation products, including compounds containing a P-CH3 bond, bis(diisopropylamino)thioalkanes and ureas commonly employed as VX stabilizers. The reported ESI-MS data were generally acquired with a higher sampling cone voltage, a setting that promoted collisionally activated dissociation, and resulted in the acquisition in informative mass spectra containing both molecular and product ion information. The developed method appears to be an attractive alternative to GC-MS for the analysis of aqueous sample containing the degradation products of VX, since they may be analysed directly with little risk of thermal decomposition and without the need for additional sample handling or derivatization. Application of this method to a degraded VX sample resulted in the detection of a number of novel polar and higher-molecular-mass degradation products, not previously associated with VX during GC-MS analysis.     

Use of high-performance capillary electrophoresis to monitor charge heterogeneity in recombinant-DNA derived proteins

The separation of charge variants of recombinant DNA-derived (rDNA) proteins by high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) has been explored with the following examples: human growth hormone (rhGH), a soluble form of a T4 receptor protein (rCD4) and tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). The separation of rhGH and deamidated variants were examined over the range of low pH (less than 2.5) to high pH (8.0) on a coated silica capillary. No resolution was observed at pH 2.5 while at pH values of 6.5 or greater the deamidated species were separated. At pH 3.5 the variant was partially resolved but no detector signal was observed at pH 4.5 and 5.0. HPCE was also used to monitor a glycoprotein (rt-PA) with charge heterogeneity presumably due to variable sialic acid content. At a pH value of 4.5, the charge heterogeneity was only observed as peak broadening. For rCD4 multiple peaks were observed at pH 5.5 but no signal was observed at pH 6.5 or above (the pI of rCD4 is 8). These results suggest that HPCE will prove to be a valuable technique for the analysis of charged variants present in rDNA products either as a consequence of natural microheterogeneity or due to degradative processes such as deamidation.     

266 nm photolysis of CF3I and C2F5I studied by diode laser gain FM spectroscopy

Frequency modulated diode laser based absorption at 1.315 microm has been used to measure the Doppler lineshapes of the I((2)P(1/2)-(2)P(3/2)) transition in atomic iodine produced from the 266 nm photolysis of both CF(3)I and C(2)F(5)I. Wavelength resolved laser gain is seen following photolysis as excited iodine atoms ((2)P(1/2)) are produced with a quantum yield close to unity from photolysis of both parent molecules. Time resolved measurements were made and the nascent speed distribution and translational anisotropy parameter, beta were determined. Mean atomic speeds of 800 and 850 ms(-1), which correspond to 83 and 68% of the maximum possible kinetic energy release into the iodine photofragment, were determined for photolysis of CF(3)I and C(2)F(5)I, respectively. The nascent translational anisotropy parameter was found to be beta = 1.77 +/- 0.05 for CF(3)I and beta = 1.69 +/- 0.05 for C(2)F(5)I. These values are explicable in terms of parent rotational motion and non-adiabatic processes in the exit channel.     

Fractal Differentiation Between Wear and Contaminant Particles found in mining machinery lubrication systems

This paper describes preliminary work carried out on the applicability of fractal geometry for differentiating between wear and contaminant particles found in mining machinery lubrication systems. Coal dust, stone dust and roadstone dust from a granite quarry were used as the contaminant particles and the particles from two crushers, which had failed whilst in service, were used to provide the wear particles. Two differing populations appeared with the wear particles having higher boundary fractals than the contaminant, but tending to spread across a wide range of fractal numbers, whereas the contaminants were lower and fairly tightly grouped. The underfractal distributions of the two populations of particles, generate straight lines when plotted on Gaussian probability paper. This leads to the probability of being able to predict the distribution of particles, in fractal terms between wear and contaminant particles.