Effects of processing on the structure of zein/oleic Acid films investigated by x-ray diffraction

Zein films plasticized with oleic acid were formed by solution casting, by the stretching of moldable resins, and by blown film extrusion. The effects of the forming process on film structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns showed d-spacings at 4.5 and 10 A, which were attributed to the zein alpha-helix backbone and inter-helix packing, respectively. The 4.5 A d-spacing remained stable under processing while the 10 A d-spacing varied with processing treatment. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) detected a long-range periodicity for the formed films but not for unprocessed zein, which suggests that the forming process-promoted film structure development is possibly aided by oleic acid. The SAXS d-spacing varied among the samples (130-238 A) according to zein origin and film-forming method. X-ray scattering data suggest that the zein molecular structure resists processing but the zein supramolecular arrangements in the formed films are dependent on processing methods. Structural model for a zein molecular aggregate (based on Matsushima et al.10). Rectangular prisms of individual zein molecules are hexagonally aligned parallel to each other.     

Local dynamic mechanical properties in model free-standing polymer thin films

High-frequency sinusoidal oscillations of a coarse-grained polymer model are used to calculate the local dynamic mechanical properties (DMPs) of free-standing polymer thin films. The storage modulus G(') and loss modulus G(") are examined as a function of position normal to the free surfaces. It is found that mechanically soft layers arise near the free surfaces of glassy thin films, and that their thickness becomes comparable to the entire film thickness as the temperature approaches the glass transition T(g). As a result, the overall stiffness of glassy thin films decreases with film thickness. It is also shown that two regions coexist in thin films just at the bulk T(g); a melt-like region (G(')G(")) in the middle of the film. Our findings on the existence of a heterogeneous distribution of DMPs in free-standing polymer thin films provide insights into recent experimental measurements of the mechanical properties of glassy polymer thin films.     

Hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of ultratraces of selenium and tellurium in cow milk

A sensitive procedure has been developed for selenium and tellurium determination in milk by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) after microwave-assisted sample digestion. The method provides sensitivity values of 1591 and 997 fluorescence units ng⁻¹ ml⁻¹ with detection limits of 0.005 and 0.015 ng ml⁻¹ for Se and Te, respectively. The application of the developed methodology to the analysis of cow milk samples of the Spanish market evidenced the presence of concentration ranges from 11.1 to 26.0 ng ml⁻¹ for Se, and from 1.04 to 9.7 ng ml⁻¹ for Te having found a good comparability with data obtained after dry-ashing of samples.     

Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier transform infrared analysis of the fermentation process of pineapple

A direct and reagent free procedure has been developed to monitor the fermentation process of pine apple nectar using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and multivariate analysis. A classical 4² design for standards was employed for calibration using the information in the spectral range from 907 to 1531 cm⁻¹ of the first order derivative spectra after mean centering of infrared data. The root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.040, 0.021, 0.063 and 0.074% w/w were obtained for glucose, fructose, saccharose and ethanol, respectively, and a mean relative validation error of 2.9, 2.1, 2.6 and 3.6% was achieved for glucose, fructose, saccharose and ethanol. Results obtained by the proposed procedure for the alcohol content at different fermentation levels were statistically comparable with those obtained by a reference spectrometric method. So, FT-IR spectrometry provides a fast alternative to long and tedious classical procedures to ethanol determination and sugar enzymatic analysis.     

Evaluation of a purge-and-trap injection system for capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of volatile selenium compounds in water

A method is presented for the selective determination of the volatile selenium species dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, using a commercially available purge-and-trap injection system coupled to capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The efficiency of the purging step was evaluated and the parameters affecting the purge and trap processes were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of volatile selenium compounds in lake water. Relative detection limits of 2ng/l for dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, corresponding to an absolute detection limit of 10 pg, were achieved.     

Fe（Ⅲ）－TEA－5－Br－PADAP－H_2O_2体系中催化波的研究及其应

在０．２ｍｏｌ·Ｌ￣（－１）ＮＨ＿４Ｃｌ－ＮＨ＿３·Ｈ＿２Ｏ底液中，（ｐＨ为９．２６），得到一个极为灵敏的Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）－ＴＥＡ－５－Ｂｒ－ＰＡＤＡＰ－Ｈ＿２Ｏ＿２配合吸附催化波，其峰电位为－０．７１Ｖ（ｖｓ．ＳＣＥ）。铁浓度在１．８×１０￣（－１０）～５．４×１０￣（－６）ｍｏｌ·Ｌ￣（－１）范围内与二阶导数波高呈线性关系。对该极谱波的性质进行了研究，证明是一种配合吸附催化波，并成功地应用于各类水样，钒催化剂中微量或痕量铁的测定。     

The application of chromatography to the analysis of pharmaceutical creams

Summary The application of GLC, HPLC and TLC to the analysis of pharmaceutical creams is discussed with special attention to sample clean-up. The results of the determination of hydrocortisone acetate, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, diethyl stilbestrol, chloramphenicol, diphenhydramine HCl, tretinoin and some cream base components by reversed phase HPLC are given.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982