Iminodiacetic acid/ethylcellulose as a chelating ion exchanger : Part 1. Determination of trace metals by atomic absorption spectrometry and collection of uranium

A chelate-forming ion exchanger, iminodiacetic acid/ethylcellulose, is used for the separation of trace metals from waters and different organic solvents. Added uranium was collected from sea waters with recoveries of about 97%. Graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and solution spectrophotometry were used to quantify the metals. For the direct determination of trace metals in waters by the graphite-furnace method, a simple matrix-matching method is described. The detection limit for cadmium was 0.1 μg l^?1 and for lead 1 μg^?1 in drinking water.     

Analytische Aspekte der Oxydation organischer Stickstoffverbindungen mit Chromsäure. II

Zusammenfassung Eine Halbmikromethode zur Bestimmung der an Kohlenstoff oder Sauerstoff gebundenen Nitro- und Nitrosogruppen in organischen Verbindungen wurde ausgearbeitet. Die Methode beruht auf dem oxydativen Aufschluß der Substanz mit einem Chromsäure—Schwefelsäure-Gemisch, wobei die Nitro- und Nitrosogruppen quantitativ in Salpetersäure übergehen. Diese wird mit Devarda-Legierung in alkalischem Medium zu Ammoniak reduziert, das dann im Stickstoffstrom abdestilliert und acidimetrisch titriert wird.

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Summary A semimicro method for determining nitro- and nitroso groups attached to carbon or oxygen in organic compounds has been worked out. The method is based on the oxidative decomposition of the sample with a chromic acid-sulfuric acid mixture, the nitro and the nitroso groups being quantitatively transformed into nitric acid. The latter is reduced to ammonia by means of Devarda alloy in alkaline medium, and is then distilled off in a stream of nitrogen and titrated with a standard acid solution.

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Résumé On a mis au point une méthode à l'échelle semimicro pour le dosage dans les substances organiques de groupes nitro et nitroso liés au carbone ou à l'oxygène. La méthode repose sur l'attaque oxydante de la substance par un mélange acide chromique-acide sulfurique, ce qui transforme quantitativement les groupes nitro et nitroso en acide nitrique. Au moyen de l'alliage de Devarda en milieu alcalin, on réduit celui-ci en ammoniac que l'on chasse par distillation dans un courant d'azote et que l'on titre par acidimétrie.

     

Field alpha-spectroscopy of radon (<Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn) and actinon (<Superscript>219</Superscript>Rn) progeny in soil gas: Locating a radon source

Summary The activities of²¹⁸Po,²¹⁴Po and²¹¹Bi were determined in samples obtained of soil/gas. Sampling work was taken in Jáchymov (Czech Republic) at the outcrop of the Geister-vein,by electrostatic precipitation from filtered soil gas on stainless steel disks.The samples were measured in a field laboratory using a semi-conductor alpha-spectrometer.The activities of²¹⁸Po,²¹⁴Po and²¹¹Bi were calculated.Samples taken from active dump material (near-by radon source) exhibited a high²¹¹Bi/²¹⁴Po ratio, while those of the vein outcrop (a relatively deeper source) had a low ratio.A mathematical model was employed to determine the radon age calculated from the actinon/radon input ratio.This varied in a range of 5.6 to -7.7 seconds.Negative age values are probably caused by the preference for actinon, which rapidly comes into equilibrium with the source of this gas.     

Investigation of dehydration process,II

The dehydration of hydrated calcium and strontium bromides and iodides was studied by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. The melting in the crystallization water was distinguished from the dehydration in a self-generated atmosphere. The results of the TG and DTA curves made simultaneously were verified by measurements with a Du Pont DSC apparatus. This latter investigation was extended to the previously studied chlorides too. Correlations were found between the temperature of melting or of dehydration and the ionic radii of the respective cations and anions.

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Zusammenfassung Die Dehydratisierung von Calcium- und Strontium-Bromid- und Jodidhydraten wurde mit den Methoden der Thermogravimetrie und Differentialthermoanalyse verfolgt. Das Schmelzen im Kristallwasser wurde von der Dehydratisierung in der selbsterzeugten Atmosphäre getrennt. Die Ergebnisse der simultan erhaltenen TG- und DTA-Kurven wurden durch Messungen mit einem Du Pont DSC-Gerät bestätigt, wobei die bereits schon untersuchten Chloride mit einbezogen wurden. Korrelationen zwischen den Schmelzoder Dehydratisierungstemperaturen und den Ionenradien der entsprechenden Kationen und Anionen werden beschrieben.

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Résumé Etude de la déshydratation des bromures et iodures de calcium et de Strontium hydratés par thermogravimétrie et par analyse thermique différentielle. La fusion dans l'eau de cristallisation a été distinguée de la déshydratation en atmosphère auto-générée. Les résultats des courbes TG et ATD obtenues simultanément ont été vérifiés par des mesures effectuées à l'aide d'un analyseur calorimétrique différentiel (DSC) Du Pont. L'étude a également été étendue aux chlorures précédemment étudiés. On propose des corrélations entre les températures de fusion ou de déshydratation et les rayons ioniques des cations et anions respectifs.

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Transfer reaction of the polystyrene radical with electron-acceptor molecules of tetrachlorophthalanhydride

The transfer constants (C_s) of the polystyrene radical with some derivatives of phthalic acid have been determined. Among the agents used, tetrachlorophthalanhydride (TCPA) differs distinctly from other compounds by its value of C_s 3·1 × 10^?3 for thermal and 3·4 × 10^?3 for initiated polymerization of styrene. The values of C_s for phthalanhydride, dimethyl phthalate, and tetrachlorodimethyl phthalate are lower by two decimal orders. The considerable decrease in the degree of polymerization of styrene prepared in the presence of TCPA is mainly attributed to the increased reactivity of chlorine atoms in TCPA induced by the acceptor effect of anhydride ring. Participation of a TCPA-styrene complex in transfer reaction has been assumed but not proved.     

A study of changes in the yields of radiolytic products in two-phase systems with tributyl phosphate

With the aim of studying the effects of volume ratios and composition of the organic phase on the total yields of the main degradation products of tributyl phosphate (TBP) radiolysis, the following two-phase systems were used: water-TBP-carbon tetrachloride and water-TBP-n-alkane with various ratio of TBP in the organic phase and various volume ratios of organic-aqueous phases. We examined the influence of the distribution of two-phase systems components-precursors of radiolytic products on the total yields of the main radiolytic products and mechanism involved.     

The β-carotene dilemma: ESR study with coordinated peroxyl radicals

The apparently unpredictable behaviour of β-carotene in the supplementation of the diet of smokers is discussed in the light of the reactions of peroxyl radicals with β-carotene in the absence of oxygen. The decay of tert-butylperoxyl radicals in the presence of β-carotene was studied at ambient temperature in non-polar solvents by ESR spectroscopy. The primary reaction in the absence of oxygen is interpreted as a spin-trapping effect of a peroxyl radical by β-carotene producing an intermediate labile free radical, which disappears after recombination with a second tert-butylperoxyl radical. The result is the transformation of β-carotene to a diamagnetic compound with two peroxy bonds. In the presence of chelating transition metals with unpaired d-electrons as electron donors the peroxy group of the oxidized β-carotene can be split to alkoxyl free radicals. The primary attack of tert-butylperoxyl radicals is completely inhibited in the presence of vitamin E followed by production of free aryloxy radicals and the presence of oxygen has no significant effect on this reaction. Spin-trapping of peroxyl radicals by the double bond of vitamin A leads to its oxidation in the absence of vitamin E. Transition metal ions such as Co, Cr, Fe, and Mn, known to be present in the aerosol of cigarette smoke, homolyse the peroxyl bonds of peroxidised β-carotene, which results in cell damage.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of chiral carboxylic acids using chiral derivatization and HPLC

Summary The enantiomers of chiral carboxylic acids were separated as their diastereomeric amides with (1R,2R)-(−)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-amino-1,3-propanediol (“levobase”) and with “dextrobase” (the enantiomer of levobase) by high-performance liquid chromatography using a conventional C-18 column and various solvent systems containing acetonitrile, methanol, water, and phosphoric acid.     

1H magic angle rotation NMR in polymer studies

The principles of the method of NMR line narrowing by measurement with spinning of the sample about the magic axis (MAR-NMR) are introduced, with particular emphasis on the effects of internal motion upon the possibilities and limitations of the method. The applications of the method in ¹H-NMR studies of polymer structure and dynamics are then reviewed. Due to both theoretical and experimental limitations, narrowing of dipolar broadened NMR lines by MAR can be observed in ¹H NMR spectra only in those cases where internal motion is anisotropic, or in heterogeneous systems where line width is limited by differences of magnetic susceptibility. In polymers, both solid and liquid, the method makes possible differentiation between isotropic and anisotropic internal motion. In systems with anisotropic internal motion, MAR-NMR makes possible a characterization of motional codes which normally are obscured by residual dipolar interactions, as well as of geometrical restrictions upon these motions.     

Comparative study on separation of diastereomers by HPLC

Summary Reversed (RP-HPLC) and normal phase chromatographic (NP-HPLC) separations have been developed for diastereomers ofN-acyl-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydo-β-carbolines which are acylated derivatives of simple natural β-carboline alkaloids. Separations of derivatives having different acyl moieties in theO,O-diacyl-tartaric acid ester subtituent differed remarkably. Little or no resolution in either NP-HPLC or RP-HPLC could be achieved with the diacetyl-tartrate derivative. Base-line separation by RP-HPLC but no separation by NP-HPLC was possible with the bulkier and more apolar dipivaloyl derivative. Retention order of the bis-benzoylated diastereomers was reversed and separation time increased dramatically by RP-HPLC. Good separation of the medium polarity, but rigid,N-camphanyl derivative by NP-HPLC has been achieved, whereas RP-HPLC could not be used for separation of these diastereomers. Separability of different diastereomers was highly dependent on polarity and rigidity of the derivatizingN-acyl moieties. Conformational analysis by molecular mechanics and comparison of the lowest energy conformational states of the diastereomers was applied to rationalise separation-retention behaviour of stereoisomers by RP-HPLC. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001