Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of chromium(VI) by on-line preconcentration system using a PTFE packed column

A new, sensitive and robust time-based flow injection (FI) method for on-line preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of chromium(VI) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been elaborated. The sample is initially mixed on-line with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and the Cr(VI)-PDC chelate is absorbed quantitatively on a mini-column packed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) turnings at a pH range 0.8-1.4. The complex is subsequently eluted with isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) and introduced directly into the nebulizer-burner system. The optimized system offered improved performance characteristics, with unlimited lifetime of the proposed column. The enhancement factor was 80, for a 3-min preconcentration time and the sample frequency was 18 h(-1). The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 1-40 mug l(-1) with a detection limit of c(L)=0.8 mug l(-1) and a relative standard deviation of s(r)=3.2%, at the 20 mug l(-1) level. The proposed method was evaluated by analyzing samples of certified and spiked water, and it was applied to the analysis of natural water samples and sediments.     

Determination of biogenic amines in wines and beers by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column dansylation and ultraviolet detection

Summary A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of eleven biogenic amines, using 1,7-diaminoheptane as internal standard, has been developed. The method involves pre-column derivatization of the amines with dansyl chloride and subsequent solid phase extraction of the derivatives through C18 cartridges. The derivatization and solid phase extraction procedures were optimized. The separation of dansylamides was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3 column (250×4 mm I.D. 5 μm) using a 35-min gradient elution method with a binary system of acetonitrile-water, a flow rate of 1 mL.min¹ with UV detection at 254 nm. Linearity of derivatization was obtained for concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 3.0 mg.L¹. The within- and between-day relative standard deviations ranged from 0.4 to 5.7% and 0.6 to 7.3% respectively. The overall process was successfully applied to identify and quantify biogenic amines in white, red and Retsina Greek wines and Greek beers, after their treatment with polyvinylpyrrolidone.     

Gallium trace on-line preconcentration/separation and determination using a polyurethane foam mini-column and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Application in aluminum alloys, natural waters and urine

A sensitive and selective flow injection time-based method for on-line preconcentration/separation and determination of gallium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at trace levels was developed. The on-line formed gallium chloride complex is sorbed onto a polyether-type polyurethane foam mini-column, followed by on-line quantitative elution with isobutyl methyl ketone and direct introduction into the flame pneumatic nebulizer of the atomic absorption spectrometer. All chemical and flow variables of the system as well as the possible interferences were studied. The manner of strong HCl solutions propulsion was investigated and established using a combination of two displacement bottles. For 90 s preconcentration time, a sample frequency of 28 h⁻¹, an enhancement factor of 40, a detection limit of 6 μg l⁻¹ and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) of 3.3% (at 1.00 mg l⁻¹) were achieved. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.02-3.00 mg l⁻¹. The accuracy of the developed method was sufficient and evaluated by the analysis of a silicon-aluminum alloy standard reference material. Finally, it was successfully applied to gallium determination in commercial aluminum alloys, natural waters and urine.     

Pseudoparabolic equations with additive noise and applications

In this work we present some results on the Cauchy problem for a general class of linear pseudoparabolic equations with additive noise. We consider questions of existence and uniqueness of mild and strong solutions and well posedness for this problem. We also prove the existence and uniqueness of mild and strong solutions for a related perturbed Cauchy problem and we investigate the continuity of the solution with respect to a small parameter. The abstract results are illustrated using examples from electromagnetics and heat conduction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and optimisation of a portable micro-XRF method for in situ multi-element analysis of ancient ceramics

Non-destructive analysis of cultural objects by micro-XRF spectrometry is an advantageous multi-element technique that has rapidly developed during the past few years. Portable instruments contribute significantly to the in situ analysis of valuable cultural objects, which cannot be transported to the laboratory. Ancient ceramics are the most common archaeological findings and they carry a significant historical content. Their analysis often presents certain particularities due to surface irregularities and heterogeneity problems. In the present work, the analytical characteristics (beam spot size, geometry effect and detection limits) of a compact and portable micro-XRF instrument with a monocapillary lens are presented in details. The standard reference materials SARM 69, SRM 620, NCS DC 73332 and the reference materials AWI-1 and PRI-1 were analysed for the determination of the detection limits (DL's) and the evaluation of the accuracy of the micro-XRF. Emphasis is given on the critical parameters, which should be monitored during measurements and influence the final results in the analysis of ancient ceramics. A quantitative analysis of ancient ceramic samples from Abdera (North Greece) is also presented.     

On-line solid phase extraction system using PTFE packed column for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper in water samples

A new flow injection on-line adsorption preconcentration system adapted to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for copper determination at the mug l(-1) level was developed. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) turnings packed in a mini-column were used as sorbent material. The copper ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) complex was sorbed on the PTFE turnings, from which it could be eluted on-line instantly by isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) into the flame at a flow rate of 2.3 ml min(-1). The system was optimized and offered good performance characteristics with practically unlimited life time, greater flow rates and improved flexibility, as compared with other sorbent materials and the knotted reactor preconcentration systems. With 1 min preconcentration time, and a sample frequency of 40 h(-1), the enhancement factor was 340, which could be further improved by increasing the preconcentration time. The detection limit was c(L)=0.05 mug l(-1), and the precision was 1.5%, at the 2.0 mug l(-1) Cu level. The method has been applied successfully to the analysis of potable, river and seawater, and its accuracy was tested by the analysis of certified reference materials and by recovery measurements on spiked samples. No significant interferences exist from other substances usually occurring in natural water.     

Microwave-assisted versus conventional decomposition procedures applied to a ceramic potsherd standard reference material by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is a powerful, sensitive analytical technique with numerous applications in chemical characterization including that of ancient pottery, mainly due to its multi-element character, and the relatively short time required for the analysis. A critical step in characterization studies of ancient pottery is the selection of a suitable decomposition procedure for the ceramic matrix. The current work presents the results of a comparative study of six decomposition procedures applied on a standard ceramic potsherd reference material, SARM 69. The investigated decomposition procedures included three microwave-assisted decomposition procedures, one wet decomposition (WD) procedure by conventional heating, one combined microwave-assisted and conventional heating WD procedure, and one fusion procedure. Chemical analysis was carried out by ICP-AES. Five major (Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg), three minor (Mn, Ba, Ti) and two trace (Cu, Co) elements were determined and compared with their certified values. Quantitation was performed at two different spectral lines for each element and multi-element matrix-matched calibration standards were used. The recovery values for the six decomposition procedures ranged between 75 and 110% with a few notable exceptions. Data were processed statistically in order to evaluate the investigated decomposition procedures in terms of recovery, accuracy and precision, and eventually select the most appropriate one for ancient pottery analysis.     

Electromagnetic scattering by a homogeneous chiral obstacle: scattering relations and the far‐field operator

Time‐harmonic electromagnetic waves are scattered by a homogeneous chiral obstacle. The reciprocity principle, the basic scattering theorem and an optical theorem are proved. These results are used to prove that if the chirality measure of the obstacle is real, then the far‐field operator is normal. Moreover, it is shown that the eigenvalues of the far‐field operator are the same as the eigenvalues of Waterman's T‐matrix. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spectral-theoretic approach for the solution of Maxwell's equations in stratified media

In the present work, the problem of electromagnetic wave propagation in three-dimensional stratified media is studied. The method of decoupling the electric and magnetic fields is implemented, and the spectral approach is adopted, componentwise, to the vector equation involving the electric field. Operational calculus of self-adjoint, positive operators in suitable Hilbert spaces is used to solve the corresponding initial value problems. The spectral families of these operators for the cases of the whole space and of a finite layer are constructed. A discussion on the applicability of the obtained results to physical problems is also included. © 1998 B.G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Organic residue analysis of Neolithic pottery from North Greece

Organic residues associated with Neolithic pottery from two Late Neolithic sites, Paliambela and Makriyalos (Northern Greece), were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study aimed at identifying the origin of the tar used for waterproofing and gluing broken pots. Reference tars were prepared in laboratory conditions by pyrolysis of the bark from three tree species, namely from Betula pendula (silver birch), Ostrya carpinifolia (hop hornbeam) and Carpinus orientalis (Eastern hornbeam). The results suggest that mostly birch bark tar was used as glue for fixing broken pieces of the pots as well as for waterproofing close-shaped vessels. None of the archaeological tars derived from the two hornbeams. The analysis shows certain variability in the composition of birch bark tar, which is related to the production technique and to the re-use of tar. Of particular interest is the presence of characteristic diterpenoid biomarkers in several samples, which indicates that pine pitch was used for gluing and pine resin for waterproofing vessels for liquids. Correspondence: Sophia Mitkidou, Department of Science, School of Technological Applications, Technological Institute of Kavala, Greece