Determination of D- and L-amino acids in biological samples by two-dimensional column liquid chromatography

Summary A two-dimensional, column liquid chromatographic system is used for the determination of the D- and L-enantiomers of amino acids in biological samples. Separation of the amino acids is first on ion-exchange column by gradient elution with a sodium citratesodium chloride buffer. Enantioseparation is by subsequent injection of 3 l heart-cuts of the individual amino acids onto a second column with a chiral crown ether stationary phase. Finally, fluorescence detection is after post-column labelling of the amino acids using ano-phthalaldehyde-2-mercaptoethanol reagent solution. The high separation power and selectivity of the system allow processing of complex samples with hardly any additional treatment and the determination of small quantities of D-amino acids in the presence of excess L-form. Applicability of the system is illustrated by the determination of D- and L-aspartate, serine, glutamate and alanine in various complex biological samples, such as protein hydrolysates, urine and biotechnological and food samples. Data are given on detectability, repeatability and linearity.     

On-line coupling of liquid chromatography,capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the determination and identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils

Summary An on-line combination of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry has been realized by coupling a quadrupole mass spectrometer to an LC-GC apparatus. Liquid chromatography was used for sample pretreatment of oil samples of different origin. The appropriate LC fraction, containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was transferred to the gas chromatograph using a loop-type interface. After solvent evaporation through the solvent vapour exit and subsequent GC separation, the compounds were introduced into the mass spectrometer for detection and identification. The GC column was connected to a short piece of deactivated fused silica that protruded into the ion source. The total analytical set-up allowed the direct analysis of oil samples after dilution in n-pentane without any sample clean-up. Detection limits are about 40 pg in the full scan mode and about 1 pg with selective ion monitoring, i.e. 20 ppb and 0.5 ppb respectively.     

An air-carrier continuous analysis system

An air-carrier continuous analysis system (ACCAS) is introduced that permits the reaction of a fixed volume of a sample with fixed volumes of one or more reagents, either simultaneously or sequentially. ACCAS is envisioned as a complement to segmented continuous-flow analysis (SCFA) and flow-injection analysis (FIA). ACCAS is capable of high throughput rates ( approximately 3600 samples/hr) and low waste generation.     

Recherches dans la série des cyclitols XLII. Synthèses de cyclitols tout-cis dérivés du cyclopentane; préparation des cyclopentane-tétrol et - pentol tout-cis

All-cis cyclitols derived from cyclopentane have been prepared in two ways: (i) by LiAlH₄ reduction of all-cis epoxypolyos; (ii) by dimethyl sulfoxide treatment, in the presence of sodium hydrogencarbonate, of brominated derivatives containing a neighbouring benzoyloxy group; under these conditions, the halogen is replaced by a cis-oriented hydroxyl group. Thus all-cis cyclopentane-tetrol and -pentol have been prepared; their configuration has been confirmed by NMR. spectroscopy.     

Defect structures of ion-implanted α-tin

Single crystalline and polycrystalline -tin has been implanted at room temperature with 80-keV ions of radioactive^119m Sn,¹¹⁹Sb, and^119m Te. The radioactive nuclei decay to the Mössbauer level of¹¹⁹Sn. Mössbauer spectra of the emitted 24-keV radiation have been measured for different source temperatures by resonance counting techniques. Five individual lines in the spectra are characterized mainly by their isomer shifts and Debye temperatures. From these parameters the radiogenic¹¹⁹Sn atoms are concluded to be located in regular substitutional and interstitial lattice sites and in defect complexes. Simple models for the defects are proposed: A Sn-vacancy pair consists of Sn atoms on (nearly) substitutional sites with a dangling bond into an adjacent vacancy. In a complex oxygen-containing defect the Sn atoms have approximately a 5s ² configuration withp-bonds to two nearest neighbour atoms. Sn atoms, having an atomic 5s ² 5p ² configuration and large vibrational amplitudes, are concluded to be in non-bonding regular interstitial sites. For special implantation conditions minor fractions of SnO₂ molecules are formed in the bulk. The interstitial¹¹⁹Sn and the¹¹⁹Sn-vacancy pairs are proposed to represent elementary point defects in -tin. Conclusions are also drawn concerning the lattice location and the defects created in the implantation process of the implanted parent isotopes.     

Momentum conservation decides Heisenberg's interpretation of the uncertainty formulas

The present thesis considers, in the light of Heisenberg's interpretation of the uncertainty formulas, the conditions necessary for the derivation of the quantitative statement or law of momentum conservation. The result of such considerations is a contradiction between the formalism of quantum physics and the asserted consequences of Heisenberg's interpretation. This contradiction decides against Heisenberg's interpretation of the uncertainty formulas on upholding that the formalism of quantum physics is both consistent and complete, at least insofar as the statement of momentum conservation can be proved within this formalism. A few comments are also included on Bohr's complementarity interpretation of the formalism of quantum physics. A suggestion, based on a statistical mode of empirical testing of the uncertainty formulas, does not give rise to any such contradiction.     

Mechanism and kinetics of protein transport in chromatographic media studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Part I. The interplay of sorbent structure and fluid phase conditions

An experimental study on the interplay of sorbent structure and fluid phase conditions (pH) has been carried out examining adsorption and transport of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a monoclonal antibody (IgG 2a) on SP Sepharose Fast Flow and SP Sepharose XL. SP Sepharose Fast Flow is characterised by a relatively open pore network, while SP Sepharose XL is a composite structure with ligand-carrying dextran chains filling the pore space. Both adsorbents have similar ionic capacity. Protein transport and adsorption profiles were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Under all investigated conditions, BSA uptake could be adequately explained by a pore diffusion mechanism. The adsorption profiles obtained for IgG 2a, however, indicated that changes in fluid phase conditions as well as a change in the solid phase structure could result in a more complex uptake mechanism as compared to pore diffusion alone. This mechanism results in a fast transport of proteins into the adsorbent, followed by an overshoot of protein in the center of the sorbent and a setback towards a homogeneous adsorption profile.     

Investigation of the separation of scandium and rare earth elements from red mud by use of reversed-phase HPLC

A chromatographic method has been developed for separation and determination of scandium (Sc) and rare earth elements (REEs) in samples from a red mud (RM)-utilization process. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with post-column derivatization using 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR) and UV–visible detection at 520 nm was tested using different gradient elution profiles and pH values to optimize separation and recovery, primarily for Sc but also for yttrium and the individual lanthanides, from iron present in the samples. The separation was performed in less than 20 min by use of a mobile phase gradient. The concentration of -hydroxyisobutyric acid (-HIBA), as eluent, was altered from 0.06 to 0.4 mol L^–1 (pH 3.7) and 0.01 mol L^–1 sodium salt n-octane sulfonic acid (OS) was used as modifier. Very low detection limits in the nanogram range and a good resolution for Sc and REEs except for Y/Dy were achieved. Before application of the method to the red mud samples and to the corresponding bauxites, Sc and REEs were leached from red mud with 0.6 mol L^–1 HNO₃ and mostly separated, as a group, from the main elements by ion exchange/selective elution (6 mol L^–1 HNO₃) in accordance with a pilot-plant process developed in this laboratory. After evaporation of the eluent to dryness the extracted elements were re-dissolved in the mobile phase. By use of this chromatographic method Sc, which is the most expensive of the elements investigated and occurs in economically interesting concentrations in red mud, could be separated not only from co-existing Fe but also from Y/Dy, Yb, Er, Ho, Gd, Eu, Sm, Nd, Pr, Ce and La. All the elements investigated were individually recovered. Their recoveries were found to be nearly quantitative.     

Separation of organoselenium compounds and their electrochemical detection

A simplified procedure based on ion-exchange separation of selenourea (Se-U) and selenocystamine (Se-CM), which have very close half-wave potential when they are simultaneously analyzed by voltammetric techniques, has been developed and optimized. Thus, selenocystamine remains in the cation exchanger Purolite C 100 H, whereas selenourea is found in the effluent and is determined by square wave cathodic stripping voltammetry using Na₂CO₃ as electrolyte. Selenocystamine is then eluted from the cation exchanger using 4 M HCl and analyzed by square wave cathodic stripping voltammetry in the HCl solution. For each voltammetric determination the corresponding parameters were investigated and optimized; the obtained detection limits were 0.3 ng Se mL^–1 for Se-CM and 2 ng Se mL^–1 for Se-U. A flow sheet for the separation of inorganic (Se(IV) and Se(VI)) and organoselenium compounds (Se-U, Se-CM, (CH₃)₂Se₂, and (CH₃)₂Se) developed for their electrochemical detection is presented and it was successfully applied to a certified reference material, an environmental soil sample, and a urine sample.     

Ternäre Halogenide der Seltenen Erden vom Typ A2MX5 (A = K,In, NH4, Rb,Cs; X = Cl,Br, I)

Ternary Rare-Earth Halides of the A₂MX₅ Type (A = K, In, NH₄, Rb, Cs; X = Cl, Br, I) Ternary rare-earth (=M) chlorides, bromides, and iodides In₂MCl₅, (NH₄)₂MCl₅, Rb₂MCl₅, Cs₂MCl₅, CsRbMCl₅, K₂MBr₅, Rb₂MBr₅, K₂MI₅, and Rb₂MI₅ have been synthesized. Single crystals of In₂PrCl₅, Rb₂PrCl₅, K₂PrBr₅, and K₂PrI₅ were grown and the structures refined. The other halides were characterized by x-ray powder patterns. They are isotypic either with K₂PrCl₅(orthorhombic, Pnma, Z = 4, hexagonal arrangement of chains of edge-connected polyhedra [PrX₇]) or with Cs₂DyCl₅ (orthorhombic, Pbnm, Z = 4, hexagonal arrangement of cis-corner-connected octahedra [DyCl₆]) which may be discriminated in structure field diagrams. The thermal expansion was investigated für Cs₂LuCl₅ and Rb₂PrX₅ (X = Cl, Br, I).