Analysis of primary aliphatic short-chain monoamines by LC in water samples

Several derivatization procedures with o-phthaldialdehyde-N-acetylcysteine (OPA-NAC) were compared for a rapid analysis of primary aliphatic short-chain monoamines in water samples by HPLC using a LiChorospher analytical separation column (100RP₁₈ mm i.d., 5 μm). Both the solution and the solid-support assisted off-line derivatization on C₁₈ SPE cartridges were inadequate options because of beginning degradation processes of the instable isoindol derivatives during their transfer to the analytical column. This problem was precluded with the on-column or solid-support assisted on-line derivatization. In the last mentioned procedure, the derivatization took place in a Hypersil C₁₈ precolumn ( mm i.d., 30 μm) connected with an additional preconcentration step resulting in better detection limits (0.002-0.040 μg ml⁻¹ requiring only 150 μl of water sample) than in the on-column procedure (0.08-0.16 μg ml⁻¹). The improved sample handling, the better control of parameters affecting reaction rates, the fully automation of this method with only 10 min analysis time for each sample are further advantageous. The potential of the solid-support assisted on-line derivatization was outlined and applied to water samples from several sources. Recovery values near 100% were obtained.     

On the equivalence between the energy and virial routes to the equation of state of hard-sphere fluids

The energy route to the equation of state of hard-sphere fluids is ill defined since the internal energy is just that of an ideal gas, and thus it is independent of density. It is shown that this ambiguity can be avoided by considering a square-shoulder interaction and taking the limit of vanishing shoulder width. The resulting hard-sphere equation of state coincides exactly with the one obtained through the virial route. Therefore, the energy and virial routes to the equation of state of hard-sphere fluids can be considered as equivalent.     

A non local density functional calculation of the diamagnetic susceptibilities and other electronic properties of noble gases and closed-shell ions

The non local weighted-density approximation (WDA) to the exchange-correlation potentialV _xc (r) is used to compute electron densities, ionization potentials and electron affinities of several atoms and ions. Especial care is taken in calculating and discussing 〈r ²〉 in noble gas atoms. Good results are obtained for all those quantities, but it is critical that the WDA is applied in such a way that it preserves the correct larger behaviour ofV _xc (r). A comparison of the calculated electron density with that of the Hartree-Fock method shows the effects of coulomb correlation. The density rearrangements upon the introduction of correlation agree qualitatively with the results of Configuration-Interaction calculations     

Rapid determination of aliphatic amines in water samples by pressure-assisted monolithic octadecylsilica capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry

A pressure-assisted capillary chromatography-mass spectrometry method based on the use of a monolithic octadecylsilica (ODS) capillary is proposed for the determination of aliphatic amines. A 25 mM citric acid buffer containing 10% methanol is used as running electrolyte. Separation is achieved by simultaneously applying a capillary electrophoresis (CE) voltage of 13 kV and an overimposed pressure of 8 bar. The use of pressure is required to ensure stable electrospray conditions. Analysis times are reduced by using a capillary column consisting of a 30 cm long monolithic silica capillary column bound with ODS and a fused-silica capillary column also 30 cm long. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of low-molecular-weight aliphatic amines in tap and river water. The analysis of real samples requires cleanup and preconcentration, which can be performed automatically by inserting a minicolumn in the replenishment system of the commercial instrument.     

Infrared laser ablation study of pressed soil pellets with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Potential of infrared laser ablation (LA) coupled with ICP-AES as a technique suitable for the determination of trace elements (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, and V) in agricultural soils was studied. Operating parameters such as laser beam energy, laser beam focusing with respect to the sample surface, and velocity of the sample translation in the plane perpendicular to the laser beam were optimized. Soil samples were mixed with powdered Ag as a binder, and an internal standard (GeO(2)), and pressed into pellets. Calibration samples were prepared by adding known amounts of oxides of elements of interest into soils of known elemental composition and then processed in the same way as the analyzed samples. Calibration curves were found to be linear at least up to several hundreds of mg kg(-1) for the elements of interest. The elemental contents obtained by using LA-ICP-AES were compared with those obtained by analysis using wet chemistry followed by ICP-AES with pneumatic nebulization (PN). The results were in good agreement. Accuracy was also tested using certified reference soils with a bias not exceeding 10% relative.     

Gel permeation chromatography with mixed eluents: Polymer solution as mobile phase

The GPC elution behaviour of a polymer was studied when a solution of another polymer in a liquid was used as an eluent. In ternary systems containing two polymers, GPC results are influenced by the thermodynamics of polymer incompatibility. The incompatibility manifests itself both in the slope of the dependence of elution volume upon the concentration of injected polymer and in the shift of elution volumes extrapolated to zero concentration. Experimental data for systems containing poly(styrene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) have been accounted for qualitatively by theoretical views on coil shrinkage resulting from polymer incompatibility. The concentration effects of the injected polymer and the polymer in the mobile phase on elution volume are compared; further parameters affecting the separation in the systems with polymer solution as eluent are discussed.     

On-line sorbent extraction, preconcentration and determination of lead by atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the quantitative preconcentration of lead based on an existing batch process was developed for implementation in a flow system including a flame AAS detector. Lead can be quantitatively preconcentrated as pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate or dithizonate on an activated carbon minicolumn. The chelates are eluted in methyl isobutyl ketone and introduced directly into the nebuliser-burner. An enrichment factor of 50 is typically obtained for a preconcentration time of 2 min (lead can be determined at concentrations between 15 and 400 ng/ml), which results in a throughput of ca. 25 samples per hr. The sensitivity achieved with the two reagents is similar, but the selectivity provided by APDC exceeds that of dithizone. Based on the results obtained in the determination of lead in reference materials (minerals and skim milk), the proposed APDC method is applicable to real samples.     

Role of rhenium in bimetallic reforming catalysts

The influence of rhenium on the behavior of a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst was studied in n-hexane reaction by means of dilution of the catalyst bed with Re/Al₂O₃. Parallel to activity, selectivity and ageing data obtained in slug pulse and continuous flow reactors, the amount of the surface carbon formed during the reaction was determined and its reactivity in hydrogen atmosphere was also studied. It is suggested that in the presence of rhenium due to the increase in the amount of hydrogen available for hydrogen consuming reactions including hydrodepolymerization of the carbonaceous surface overlayer, the routes of ageing processes are changed, resulting in lower carbon content on the catalyst and less pronounced catalyst deactivation.

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Pt/Al₂O₃ -, Re/Al₂O₃. , , , , . , , , , , , , .

     

Influence de la temperature de polymerisation sur le taux de branchement de divers polybenzofurannes obtenus par amorçage cationique

Several polybenzofuranes, obtained by cationic initiation at various temperatures, have been fractionated by preparative G.P.C. The fractions have been studied by various physical methods, mainly osmometry, light scattering, viscometry and G.P.C. These determinations have been made in benzene and the Mark-Houwink relations have been obtained. From the differences observed between these various relations, the gyration radii and the determination of branching indexes, we have found very numerous branches in the samples obtained at the highest temperatures. These branches very probably result from a Friedel-Crafts attack on benzene rings by the carbocations of growing chains. Quantum chemistry determinations are in agreement with this view.     

Chemical structure of cow kappa-casein: study of the soluble tryptic peptides

The sequences of 13 tryptic peptides of cow ?_A-casein (accounting for about one half of the amino acid residues present in the protein) were established. The rennin sensitive linkage could be located in a large fragment (36 residues). ?-casein consists of a hydrophilic part (?-caseino-glycopeptide) and of a hydrophobic moiety (para-?-casein); in this latter, however, several quite hydrophilic sequences were characterized. Another feature of the ?-casein structure is the frequent duplication or triplication of certain amino acids (Pro-Pro; Phe-Phe; Gln-Gln-Gln-Asn-Glu-Glu-Glu; Pro-Pro-Lys-Lys-Asn-Gln-; etc. …).