Coated-wire organic ion-selective electrodes in titrations based on ion-pair formation : Determination of arenediazonium salts with sodium tetraphenylborate

Titrimetric determinations of arenediazonium salts can be based on ion-pair formation between the diazonium cation and tetraphenylborate. Titrations are done under cooling with ice and are followed potentiometrically with organic ion-selective electrodes comprising PVC membranes plasticized with polar solvents and coated on aluminium wires. The method was tested in determinations of arenediazonium salts derived from 20 aromatic amines, including aniline, toluidines, naphthylamines and their derivatives. Except for compounds containing hydrophylic groups such as —COOH and —OH, the potentiometric titration curves have well defined end-points. The results are reproducible, with relative standard deviations in the range 0.4–1.4% at the millimolar level. The method can be used for reliable determinations of arenediazonium salts in analytical control of azo dyestuff production.     

The multiphase kinetics of phosphate uptake by plant roots

The multiphase character of phosphate uptake kinetics was stated in the experiments with intact maize roots depending on different phosphorus concentration in the external solution /from 0.0001 to 50 mM P/. The single phases are characterized by different K_m and V_max values as well as by transition points /T/. The separate phases of the multiphase isotherm of phosphates uptake are distinguished by transition points. T determines the critical concentration of phosphorus as a function of active membrane transport system /i.e. T_1–2=0.39 mM; T_2–3=1.96 mM; T_3–4=10 mM; T_4–5=33 mM/.     

Validated, non-destructive and environmentally friendly determination of cocaine in euro bank notes

A non-destructive, fast and environmentally friendly procedure has been developed for cocaine determination in euro bank notes. Cocaine was extracted with 15 ml methanol by vortex agitation during 5 min. The extract was evaporated and reconstituted in 0.5 ml methanol. GC-MS-MS analysis was performed using as precursor ion m/z 182.2, with an excitation energy voltage of 1.60 eV, being the product ions measured m/z 150.2 and 82.0. A limit of detection of 0.15 ng per note and a repeatability of 6%, established from the relative standard deviation, of a 1 ng ml(-1) level, were achieved. Recoveries of 101+/-2 and 98+/-3% were obtained for samples spiked with 100 and 10 microg respectively. Results show that all the euro bank notes measured (16 samples) were contaminated with cocaine in the range between 1.25 and 889 microg. Two different contamination levels, high level (150-889 microg) and low one (1.25-77 microg) were found and it could be related with the direct or indirect contact with the drug.     

Self-organization of a sulfonamido-porphyrin in Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films

Langmuir monolayers (LM) and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of pure lipophilic meso-tetra(4-dodecylaminosulfophenyl)porphyrin (PC12) and mixed with the anionic surfactant sodium hexadecylsulfate (SHS) were studied. The molecular packing and structure of PC12 and PC12-4SHS with variable surface pressure were investigated by surface pressure-area measurements, steady-state absorption, fluorescence emission and anisotropy, as well as by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). At low surface pressure, the porphyrin molecules are organized with the rings tilted on the water surface whereas at high surface pressure the porphyrin rings achieve a more perpendicular arrangement. Using the FLIM images a gradual change of aggregates into large "islands" is observed. Different patterns are observed in the pure PC12 multilayer films (n = 3 and 5) with ordered patches superimposed which are not observed in the PC12-4SHS multilayer LB films.     

A new insight on the structural changes of linear quadrupole liquids

Molecular-dynamics simulations for linear quadrupole liquids are presented. The study is carried out for two different molecular lengths at constant density and a number of temperatures and quadrupole moments. All the simulated thermodynamic states correspond to the condensed phases and some of them show typical features of a solid structure. Furthermore, a change on the preferred intermolecular orientation in the liquid phase is observed from a shifted parallel molecular arrangement to a perpendicular orientation as the quadrupole raises. This change depends on the quadrupole moment as well as on the molecular length and is put in relation with the solid structure of different "diatomic" molecules such as nitrogen, ethane, and acetylene. The appearance of a plastic solid phase at low quadrupole moment and density is also justified. A thoroughly discussion about the availability of classical perturbation theories for this kind of systems is presented.     

Determination of bisphenol-type contaminants from food packaging materials in aqueous foods by solid-phase microextraction-high-performance liquid chromatography

A fast screening method consisting of off-line solid-phase microextraction coupled to HPLC and fluorescence detection, suitable for the analysis of several bisphenol derivatives and their degradation products in aqueous solution, has been developed. Detection limits of 0.7 ng ml(-1) for 2,2-bis[4-(glycidyloxy)phenyl]propane, 0.9 ng ml(-1) for bisphenol A bis(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)ether, 1.1 ng ml(-1) for 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane and 2.4 ng ml(-1) for bisphenol F diglycidyl ether have been achieved working in the linear range 10-500 ng ml(-1). The good analytical features achieved make the proposed method an interesting option for the direct determination of these compounds in aqueous canned food such as peas, tuna, olives, maize, artichokes or palm hearts. Both the optimization process and the results, including the analysis of real samples, are given and discussed.     

Neutron activation analysis of microgram amounts of thorium in uranium ores and process liquors by means of thorium-233

A method is described for neutron activation analysis of thorium by employing thorium-233. Decontamination steps include anion exchange in 12.5 N HCL, precipitation of fluoride, extraction with mesityl oxide and thorium oxalate precipitation. The time spent is less than 1 h; spurious activities in counting samples amount only to 2% and can easily be corrected for. The sensitivity of the method is ca. 0.02 μg of thorium in a neutron flux of 10¹²n/cm²/sec with an irradiation time of 5 min.     

Katalytische Reaktionen in der Spurenanalyse und Untersuchung ihrer Mechanismen. III. Über das Landoltsche Prinzip

Zusammenfassung Durch die Einführung von Landoltschen Reaktionen auf Brom- bzw. Chlorgrundlage kann festgestellt werden, daß die heute bekannten Landoltschen Reaktionen, ganz allgemein gesprochen, katalytische Systeme sind. Die heute bekannten Landoltschen Redoxreaktionen sind im wesentlichen halogenkatalytische Reaktionen. Die Landoltschen Reaktionen auf Säure-Basen-Grundlage sind Fälle der Säure-Basen-Katalyse. Die ursprüngliche Landoltsche (Jodat-Sulfit-)Reaktion und analoge Reaktionen sind autokatalytische Systeme.

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Summary By applying Landolt reactions to bromo- or chloro-based materials it was found that the now familiar Landolt reactions are catalytic systems in the general sense. The Landolt redox reactions known at present are essentially halogeno-catalytic reactions. The Landolt reactions on acid-base basis are instances of acid-base catalysis. The original Landolt (iodatesulfite) reaction and analogous reactions are autocatalytic systems.

     

Solvent extraction and radiometric determination of3H-stobadine in biological material

A simple and rapid radiochemical method for the efficient and selective isolation of³H-stobadine from plasma, urine and organ homogenates has been developed. The method comprises the extraction of³H-stobadine from the biological matrix containing 2M Na₂CO₃ into n-hexane followed by scrubbing of partly coextracted metabolites into an equal volume of 2M Na₂CO₃. The specificity of the procedure presented is demonstrated by TLC and the comparison of distribution coefficients of authentic and apparent (isolated) substances.     

Extraction separation of strontium and yttrium radionuclides by hydrogen heptachlorodicarbollylcobaltate in the presence of benzo-15-crown-5

Extraction of strontium and yttrium by the nitrobenzene solution of H⁺-form of heptachloro-bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate (H⁺B^–) in the presence of benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5, L) has been investigated. The presence of B15C5 leads to a great synergistic effect for the extraction of strontium and an antagonistic effect for the extraction of yttrium. The extraction constants of Sr²⁺ complexes of B15C5 were determined. The separation factor a(Sr/Y) in the system with B15C5 presents the same order of magnitude as that for 15C5.