A semi-empirical dim calculation of the resonant energy and autoionization width of the He(23S)—H2 system

The DIM method is used to compute the resonant energy and the autoionization width for a wide range of configurations of the He(2³S)—H₂ syste     

Study on the stability of noradrenaline and on the determination of its acidity constants

Noradrenaline is a catecholamine which has been largely recognised to play a very important role in biological systems. In view of the neurotransmitter's alleged importance, this work aimed at showing the influence of time on its spectral behaviour using different analytical methods and determining its acidity constants through spectrophotometric titration and by the so-called point-by-point analysis, where the samples are freshly prepared for each pH value investigated at the instant required. Because the catecholamines are light-sensitive and likely to react with the oxygen in the surrounding air, both methods used preclude its incidence onto the samples being analysed under the presence of a nitrogen atmosphere maintained over the solutions. The constants obtained through point-by-point analysis were log beta1 = 30.71+/-0.16, log beta2 = 22.00+/-0.15 and log beta3 = 11.69+/-0.16.     

Determination of six metals in galician red wines (in northwestern Spain) by capillary electrophoresis

A simple technique is described for the routine simultaneous capillary electrophoretic determination of 6 cations in wine. Separation was achieved on a fused silica capillary column with a UV-Cat-1, alpha-hydroxysobutyric acid and 18-crown-6-ether buffer at pH 4.5 and indirect UV detection at 214 nm. The content of magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, manganese, and lithium was determined. The method is quantitative, with recoveries in the 92-102% range, and linear over more than one order of magnitude. The precision is better than 2.5-3.4%. The method is sensible, with detection limits between 0.01 and 0.06 mg/L. Twenty-five red wines with a Certified Brand of Origin from Galicia (north-western Spain) were analyzed by the proposed method. Various wines showed very similar electrophoretic profiles, but significant quantitative differences were observed.     

Lifetime prediction of ABS polymers based on thermoanalytical data

The service life of ABS polymer, stabilized by 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanilino)-4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazine and containing 50% of a modifying rubber component, was estimated from oxidative induction times measured by DSC in isothermal mode in the temperature interval 140–170°C. The lifetime of ABS powder at the actual temperature of drying was predicted by linear extrapolation according to Arrhenius. However, the extrapolated value was much longer than the real lifetime determined from the long-term oven aging tests at 70 and 90°C, simulating the industrial drying process. The effect of changes in the apparent activation energy of oxidation due to antioxidant consumption during polymer aging is discussed.     

Neutron activation analysis of final molasses from Cuban sugar industry

Thermal and epithermal non-destructive activation analyses have been performed on samples of final molasses from 14 different sugar factories, covering the most important regions in Cuba. From the first measurement after irradiation at the Triga Mark reactor (VTT), the concentration of more than 15 elements is reported. The almost constant elemental composition shows that they can be used equally for different purposes as animal foodstuff and for the manufacture of biotechnological products. This work is part of a research project developed in order to establish a complete characterization of Cuban sugar molasses.     

Complexation of the Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Nabumetone with Modified and Unmodified Cyclodextrins

The inclusion of the anti-inflammatory drug, Nabumetone, in -, - and hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (CDs) is studied using UV-VIS absorption and steady-state fluorescence emission. Binding constants and thermodynamic parameters of complex formation are determined by spectrofluorimetry. The inclusion phenomena of Nabumetone with the three cyclodextrins is compared with that of the well known similar anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen. In the case of Nabumetone pronounced differences are observed in the complexation process with each cyclodextrin whereas the respective Naproxen complexes are nearly identical. ¹H-NMR experiments show that the inclusion process in Nabumetone can occur either through the substituents in the -2 (butanone) or -6 (methoxy) positions in the naphthalene ring.     

Optimization of a microwave-assisted extraction method for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls in ash samples

An alternative method for the extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ash samples, which is less time and solvent consuming than Soxhlet extraction, is presented. A study was carried out to evaluate the possibilities of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to determine exactly which parameters affect the efficiency of the process, since direct extrapolation of extraction conditions for PCBs in other solid matrices, failed when applied to coplanar congeners in ash samples. Influence of the organic solvent on the yield of the extraction was first evaluated using two ash samples with different percentages of carbon. Once the extraction solvent was fixed, the effects of solvent volume, extraction temperature and extraction time were investigated using an experimental design. It was found that the volume of organic solvent played a more important role in the extraction efficiency than the other factors. In the optimal conditions microwave extractions were performed at 110 degrees C. for 10 min and using 30 ml of toluene. Recoveries higher than 80% were obtained for all the highly chlorinated congeners. including coplanar species, in a spiked ash sample containing a relatively high concentration of carbon. The proposed method was also applied to the determination of PCBs in a reference material of urban dust. Recoveries were similar to those obtained for spiked ash samples.     

Structure and aggregation number of a lyotropic liquid crystal: a fluorescence quenching and molecular dynamics study

The structure and aggregation number of a discotic lyotropic liquid crystal, prepared from tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TDTMACl)/decanol (DeOH)/NaCl/H2O, have been examined using fluorescence quenching of pyrene by hexadecylpyridinium chloride and molecular dynamics (MD). The fluorescence method gives an aggregation number of 258 +/- 25 units (DeOH + TDTMACl). From the MD simulation, a lower limit for the aggregate dimension of 130 units of DeOH + TDTMACl is predicted. A stable oblate aggregate of 240 units was studied in detail. A strong polarization between the ammonium headgroups and chloride ions is observed from the calculated trajectory. DeOH headgroups are located, on average, 0.3 nm more to the interior of the aggregate than the TDTMACl headgroup and contribute to widening the interface by forming H-bonds with water. The radial distribution function of the ammonium headgroup shows that there are 16 water molecules in the first solvation sphere. The diagonal elements of the order parameter tensor of the tail atoms of both surfactants indicate that the interior of the micelle preserves about the same degree of order as at the interface, up to the last three atoms of the aliphatic chain, where the order starts to decrease.     

Improvements on radiochemical method for the determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants

The determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants using anion exchange chromatography has some drawbacks like the contamination by Pu and Po. This improved procedure solves these problems, and it has been applied with success to the analysis of Am and Cm in nuclear waste samples: ion exchange resins, ion exchange resins solidified with cement and evaporator concentrates.