Identification of reaction compounds in micrometric layers from gothic paintings using combined SR-XRD and SR-FTIR

Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (μ-SR-XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-SR-FTIR) are used in the non-destructive identification of reaction and aging compounds from micrometric ancient painting layers. The combination of the micrometer size and non-destructive nature of the techniques together with the high resolution and brilliance of the synchrotron radiation has proved to be a procedure most advantageous for the study of reaction, aging and degradation processes. Copper, lead and calcium carboxylates and oxalates are determined in the chromatic, preparation and alteration layers from 15th century egg tempera and oil paintings. Their nature and crystallinity have been assessed. Some hypothesis about the mechanisms of development of both carboxylates and oxalates are presented.     

Deciphering the Non‐Equivalence of Serine and Threonine O‐Glycosylation Points: Implications for Molecular Recognition of the Tn Antigen by an anti‐MUC1 Antibody

The structural features of MUC1‐like glycopeptides bearing the Tn antigen (α‐O‐GalNAc‐Ser/Thr) in complex with an anti MUC‐1 antibody are reported at atomic resolution. For the α‐O‐GalNAc‐Ser derivative, the glycosidic linkage adopts a high‐energy conformation, barely populated in the free state. This unusual structure (also observed in an α‐S‐GalNAc‐Cys mimic) is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the peptidic fragment and the sugar. The selection of a particular peptide structure by the antibody is thus propagated to the carbohydrate through carbohydrate/peptide contacts, which force a change in the orientation of the sugar moiety. This seems to be unfeasible in the α‐O‐GalNAc‐Thr glycopeptide owing to the more limited flexibility of the side chain imposed by the methyl group. Our data demonstrate the non‐equivalence of Ser and Thr O‐glycosylation points in molecular recognition processes. These features provide insight into the occurrence in nature of the APDTRP epitope for anti‐MUC1 antibodies.     

Assessment of the matrix effect on the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) analysis of chlorophenols in wines

In this paper, we propose a comparative study to check the matrix effect on the extraction of three chlorophenols, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, direct precursors of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, in synthetic and commercial wines (white and red wines). A rapid, simple and sensitive methodology based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and GC with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) was developed and the variables affecting the extraction process (temperature, time and salt content) were examined employing a factorial design at two levels. Since GC-ECD does not allow the clear identification of target analytes in white wine, owing to overlapped interferences, GC-MS/MS was used for subsequent examinations. Calibration curves were constructed in synthetic, white and red wine. Significant differences between the slopes of synthetic and red wine, with the exception of TCP, were observed. Analytical parameters were evaluated and satisfactory results were obtained, showing the usefulness of the headspace SPME (HS-SPME) method for determining chlorophenolic compounds in wines.     

Sorption of palladium(II), rhodium(III), and platinum(IV) on Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles

The adsorption of palladium(II), rhodium(III), and platinum(IV) from diluted hydrochloric acid solutions onto Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles has been investigated. The parameters studied include the contact time and the concentrations of metals and other solutes such as H(+) and chloride. The equilibrium time was reached in less than 20 min for all metals. The maximum loading capacity of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles for Pd(II), Rh(III), and Pt(IV) was determined to be 0.103, 0.149, and 0.068 mmol g(-1), respectively. A sorption mechanism for Pd(II), Rh(III), and Pt(IV) has been proposed and their conditional adsorption equilibrium constants have been determined to be logK=1.72, 1.69, and 1.84, respectively. Different compositions of eluting solution were tested for the recovery of Pt(IV), Pd(II), and Rh(III) from Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles. It was found that 0.5 mol L(-1) HNO(3) can elute all of the metal ions simultaneously, while 1 mol L(-1) NaHSO(3) was an effective eluting solution for Rh(III), and 0.5 mol L(-1) NaClO(4) for Pt(IV). In competitive adsorption, the nanoparticles showed stronger affinity for Rh(III) than for Pd(II) and Pt(IV).     

Frequency-comb-referenced two-wavelength source for absolute distance measurement

We propose a new tunable laser source concept for multiple-wavelength interferometry, offering an unprecedented large choice of synthetic wavelengths with a relative uncertainty better than 10(-11) in vacuum. Two lasers are frequency stabilized over a wide range of frequency intervals defined by the frequency comb generated by a mode-locked fiber laser. In addition, we present experimental results demonstrating the generation of a 90 mum synthetic wavelength calibrated with an accuracy better than 0.2 parts in 10(6). With this synthetic wavelength we can resolve one optical wavelength, which opens the way to absolute distance measurement with nanometer accuracy.     

Evaluation of an extraction method in the determination of the 2,4,6-trichloroanisole content of tainted cork

A method based on solvent extraction and GC-electron-capture detection analysis for the determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) from cork has been evaluated and optimised. Our sample treatment consists of an extraction stage with pentane while the sample and solvent are kept in contact in a mechanical shaker (shake-flask extraction). Different extraction conditions have been tested in order to find the best compromise between efficiency and time of analysis. Different columns were evaluated for use in the concentration and purification step. A silica column was found to give the best performance in terms of recovery of TCA and repeatability. Pentane and mixtures of pentane-diethyl ether at different ratios were tested as eluting agents. It was found that 10 ml pentane allowed the recovery of retained TCA. Finally, the eluate was concentrated and injected into the chromatograph for TCA determination. The optimised chromatographic conditions enabled the quantification of TCA and 2,6-dichloroanisole, which was assayed as the internal standard. The shake-flask extraction method was compared with Soxhlet and ultrasound assisted extraction procedures using pentane as a solvent. Similar results were obtained for the shake-flask and Soxhlet extraction methods, while sonication gave significantly lower recoveries. The optimised shake-flask method was applied to determine the distribution of TCA in naturally contaminated cork bark.     

TLC Retention Behavior of Brodifacoum,Bromadiolone, and Coumatetralyl and their Impurities on Different Adsorbents

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The chromatographic behavior of three biocidal technical materials, rodenticide active ingredients brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and...