Pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) as an alternative general method for the determination of pesticide residues in rape seed

A pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) multi-method has been developed for the determination of pesticide residues in rape seed. The method was validated for 25 different pesticides and metabolites. The reliability and efficiency of PFE for extracting pesticide residues from rape seed was investigated. The traditional extraction solvent, hexane saturated with acetonitrile, was used at elevated temperature and pressure. With increased temperature, the extraction kinetics were improved but at the same time more co-extractives were obtained in the form of lipids. When 1 g of rape seed was extracted at temperatures from 60 degrees C to 150 degrees C, the lipid content extracted was found to be as high as 17-26%. An additional clean-up step was therefore required and lipid co-extractives were effectively removed by gel permeation chromatography. The interpretation of the chromatograms and the quantification of the results were satisfactorily improved by the removal of interfering lipids. The developed method was used to extract vinclozolin and iprodione from incurred samples, resulting in a concentration in accordance with the results using conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) between hexane and acetonitrile and also supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using carbon dioxide. The results of the present study suggest that PEE is a good alternative extraction technique for the determination of pesticide residues in oil seed. Despite the necessity for a lipid-removal clean-up step, the PFE technique facilitated the extraction process by faster extractions and the possibility of automated analysis.     

Protein extraction for two-dimensional electrophoresis from olive leaf,a plant tissue containing high levels of interfering compounds

The purpose of this research is to establish a routine procedure for the application of proteomic analysis to olive tree. Olive leaf tissue is notoriously recalcitrant to common protein extraction methods due to high levels of interfering compounds. We developed a protocol for isolating proteins suitable for two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) from olive leaf. The remarkable characteristics of the protocol include: (i) additional grinding dry acetone powder of leaf tissue to a finer extent, (ii) after extensive organic solvent washes to remove pigments, lipids etc., using aqueous tricholoroacetic acid washes to remove water-soluble contaminants, and (iii) phenol extraction of proteins in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The final protein preparation is free of interfering compounds based on its well-resolved 2-DE patterns. The protocol can be completed within 3 h, and protein yield is approximately 2.49 mg.g(-1) of aged leaf. We also evaluated the protocol by immunoblotting with anti-tyrosinate alpha-tubulin antibody. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a protocol for protein extraction from olive leaf appears to give satisfactory and reproducible results. The protocol is expected to be applicable to other recalcitrant plant tissues and could be of interest to laboratories involved in plant proteomics.     

Structures of Sb(OC(6)H(3)Me(2)-2,6)(3) and Sb(OEt)(5) x NH(3): the first authenticated monomeric Sb(OR)(n) (n = 3, 5)

The first monomeric antimony alkoxides, Sb(OC(6)H(3)Me(2))(3) (1) and Sb(OEt)(5) x NH(3) (2), have been crystallographically characterized. The former adopts a trigonal pyramidal geometry, while the latter is octahedral about antimony; hydrogen bonding between NH(3) and SbOEt groups in Sb(OEt)(5) small middle dotNH(3) creates a one-dimensional lattice arrangement. Reaction of pyridine with SbCl(5) in EtOH/hexane yields the salt [Hpy(+)](9)[Sb(2)Cl(11)(5)(-)][Cl(-)](4) (3), which has also been crystallographically characterized. Crystallographic data: 1, C(24)H(27)O(3)Sb, a = 10.9080(2), b = 11.9660(2), c = 17.7260(4) A, alpha = 109.740(1) degrees, monoclinic P2(1)/c (unique axis a), Z = 4; 2, C(10)H(28)NO(5)Sb, a = 7.7220(1), b = 19.0700(2), c = 21.6800(3) A, beta = 93.4960(7) degrees, monoclinic P2(1)/c, Z = 8; 3, C(45)H(54)Cl(15)N(9)Sb(2), a = 13.4300(2), b = 14.4180(2), c = 17.4180(3) A, alpha = 82.7650(7), beta = 77.5570(7), gamma = 70.7670(7) degrees, triclinic P1, Z = 2.     

Inelastic neutron scattering study of electron reduction in Mn12 derivatives

We report inelastic neutron scattering (INS) studies on a series of Mn(12) derivatives, [Mn(12)O(12)(O2CC6F5)16(H2O)4]z, in which the number of unpaired electrons in the cluster is varied. We investigated three oxidation levels: z = 0 for the neutral complex, z = -1 for the one-electron reduced species and z = -2 for the two-electron reduced complex. For z = 0, the ground state is S = 10 as in the prototypical Mn12-acetate. For z = -1, we have S = 19/2, and for z = - 2, an S = 10 ground state is retrieved. INS studies show that the axial zero-field splitting parameter D is strongly suppressed upon successive electron reduction: D = -0.45 cm(-1) (z = 0), D = -0.35 cm(-1) (z = -1), and D approximately -0.26 cm(-1) (z = -2). Each electron reduction step is directly correlated to the conversion of one anisotropic (Jahn-Teller distorted) Mn3+ (S = 2) to one nearly isotropic Mn2+ (S = 5/2).     

Synthesis and reactions of isocyanate and carbamoyl complexes of rhenium

Re(CO)₂(NO)(PPh₃)₂ reacts with aroyl azides RCON₃ (R = C₆H₅, p-CH₃C₆H₄) in benzene to form isocyanate complexes of formula Re(CO)(NO)-(PPh₃)₂(RCONCO) (I). When the reaction is carried out in protic solvents such as ethanol, carbamoyl derivatives of formula Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂-(CONHCOR) (II) are obtained, which give Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(NHCOR) when dissolved in chloroform, a terminal carbonyl ligand being formed from the carbamoyl group.I can be transformed into II by reaction with gaseous HCl, via [Re(CO)-(NO)(PPh₃)₂ {C(OH)=NCOR}]⁺Cl^- followed by anion exchange with NaN₃. II reacts with mineral acids HX (X = Cl, BF₄) to give amide derivatives of formula [Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(NH₂COR)]⁺ X^- which when X = Cl can be easily transformed into Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl, the amide ligand being removed. Both the protonation reactions of I and II are reversible. IR and ¹H NMR data of the new compounds and the mechanisms of formation of I and II are reported and discussed.     

Extraction and determination by liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry of naloxone in microparticles for drug-addiction treatment

This paper discusses the development and validation of two analytical methods for the assay of naloxone in microparticles, as used in the therapy of opioid drug addiction (weaning). A UV-Vis spectrophotometric method is proposed to study drug loading and drug release, due to its ease and simplicity of performance, while a high performance liquid chromatographic method is developed as a means of stability-indication. Both analytical procedures were validated according to the International Committee for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Although the ranges and wavelengths were different for the two analytical methods, they were both found to be specific, linear, precise, and accurate under the determined conditions.     

Activation energy for the ignition of the catalytic oxidation of methanol in oscillatory regime

The overall activation energy for the ignition of thermokinetic oscillations observed (in a dynamic calorimeter) during the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of methanol on Pd/LiAl₅O₈ were obtained and discussed by a PdO_x redox cycle.     

Effect of calcium and carbonate concentrations on cationic membrane fouling during electrodialysis

Fouling, which is the accumulation of undesired solid materials at the phase interfaces of permselective membranes, is one of the major problems in electrodialysis. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect on the fouling of cation-exchange membranes of the composition in calcium and carbonate of a model solution to be treated by electrodialysis. No fouling was observed at 400 and 800 mg/L of CaCl(2) in the absence of carbonate, while at only 400 mg/L CaCl(2) with carbonate, a deposit was observed. This difference could be explained by the buffering capacity of the carbonate, which affects the treatment duration with and without sodium carbonate. Since the duration was longer with carbonate, more calcium ions were able to migrate across the CMX-S membrane, which explained the higher deposit on its surface. Furthermore, whether there was carbonate in the solution treated by electrodialysis or not, the deposit on the surface of the cationic membrane was calcium hydroxide. However, this fouling formed during conventional ED was easily cleaned by an acid procedure.     

Simple chip-based interfaces for on-line monitoring of supramolecular interactions by nano-ESI MS

Two simple interfaces were designed and realized, enabling on-line coupling of microfluidics reactor chips to a nanoflow electrospray ionization (NESI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer (MS). The interfaces are based on two different approaches: a monolithically integrated design, in which ionization is assisted by on-chip gas nebulization, and a modular approach implying the use of commercially available Picospray tips. Using reserpine as a reference compound in a 1ratio1 mixture of acetonitrile and water revealed that both interfaces provide a remarkably stable mass spectrometric signal (standard deviations lower than 8% and 1% for the monolithic and modular approaches, respectively). Glass microreactors, containing mixing zones, were fabricated and coupled to the modular interface with perfluoroelastomer Nanoport fluidics connectors, providing a tool to study chemical reactions on-line. Investigation of the mixing dynamics showed that complete on-chip reagents mixing is achieved within a few tens of milliseconds. Metal-ligand interactions of Zn-porphyrin with pyridine (2), 4-ethylpyridine (3), 4-phenylpyridine (4), N-methylimidazole (5), and N-butylimidazole (6) in acetonitrile as well as host-guest complexations of beta-cyclodextrin (7) with N-(1-adamantyl)acetamide (8) or 4-tert-butylacetanilide (9) in water were studied by mass spectrometry using the modular NESI-chip interface. From on-chip dilution-based mass spectrometric titrations of Zn-porphyrin 1 with pyridine (2) or 4-phenylpyridine (4) in acetonitrile Ka-values of 4.6 +/- 0.4 x 10(3) M(-1) and 6.5 +/- 1.2 x 10(3) M(-1), respectively, were calculated. The Ka-values are about four times larger than those obtained with UV/vis spectroscopy in solution, probably due to a higher ionization efficiency of complexed compared to uncomplexed Zn-porphyrin. For the complexation of N-(1-adamantyl)acetamide (8) with beta-cyclodextrin (7), a Ka-value of 3.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(4) M(-1) was obtained, which is in good agreement with that determined by microcalorimetry.     

Comparison of antibody and albumin catalyzed hydrolysis of steroidalp-nitrophenylcarbonates

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) was produced against thep-nitrophenylphosphate derivative of 3α,5β-lithocholic acid, a transition-state analog for hydrolysis of a steroidalp-nitrophenylcarbonate. The indicated reaction was catalyzed by this Ab with kinetic constants k_cat = 4.0 × 10^-2min and K_m = 3.3 μM at pH 9.0 and 35°C. The Ab also hydrolyzed the isomericp-nitrophenylcarbonate of 3β,5β-lithocholic acid with k_cat = 8.4 × 10^-2/min and K_m = 1.0 μM. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was found to catalyze the same reactions with similar turnover rates and Michaelis constants of 15 and 14 μM, respectively. Although the BSA-catalyzed reaction was only weakly inhibited by the phosphate ester TSA (IC₅₀ ca. 40 μM), the Ab-catalyzed reaction was completely inhibited at less than 1 μM of the TSA. The relative rates and efficiencies of the MAbcatalyzed and BSA-catalyzed reactions are discussed in the context of the hydrophobic sites and intrinsic reactivity of the protein surfaces, and the induction of groups on the Ab to enhance the enzymatic function.