On-line CE-MS using pressurized liquid junction nanoflow electrospray interface and surface-coated capillaries

A simple and cost-effective laboratory-made liquid junction interface was used for coupling of CE with MS. In this device the capillary column and the spray tip were positioned in the electrode vessel containing appropriate spray liquid. The electrospray potential was applied on the electrode inside the liquid junction. A stable electrospray was produced at nanoliter per minute flow rates generated in the emitter tip without using an external pump. This arrangement provided high durability of the spray tip and independent optimization of the CE separation (use of coated capillaries) and ESI conditions. CE-MS analysis of mixtures of drugs, peptides, tryptic digests of proteins and biological fluids was optimized with respect to the effects of the distance between the separation capillary and electrospray tip and pressure applied on the liquid junction. The sensitivity of the system, in terms of the LOD (base peak monitoring) was below 10 ng/mL for the beta-blocker drugs and below 200 ng/mL for peptide analysis.     

High-performance liquid chromatography determination of phenyllactic acid in MRS broth

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) is an organic acid produced by some strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and concentrations higher than 7.5 mg/ml inhibit growth of moulds and yeasts. Since PLA can be used to select LAB, a rapid, simple and cheap method for its determination is desirable. Typical methods for its analysis in broth are time-consuming, analytically complicated, and have poor recoveries. Herein we propose a simple and rapid method that does not require extraction, but only microfiltration of broth before injection in HPLC. The improved chromatographic conditions allow separation and quantification of PLA with a recovery of 98.7%. The method is highly reproducible with an intraday repeatability of the total peak area of 2.00%, while an interday repeatability of 2.69%.     

High-throughput analysis of bergamot essential oil by fast solid-phase microextraction-capillary gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

The advantages of using a narrow-bore column in headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic (HS-SPME-GC) analysis are investigated. An automated rapid HS-SPME-GC method for the determination of volatile compounds in a complex sample (bergamot essential oil) was developed. A low-capacity (7 microm) SPME fibre was employed, enabling a short equilibration time (15 min). The absorbed volatile compounds were then separated in 12.5 min on a 10 m x 0.1 mm I.D. capillary. The fast GC method was characterized by relatively moderate GC parameters (head pressure: 173 kPa; temperature program rate: 12 degrees C/min). The employment of the low-capacity fibre also suited the reduced sample capacity of the capillary employed, hence column overloading was avoided. Analytical repeatibility was determined in terms of retention times (maximum RSD: 0.32%) and peak areas (maximum RSD: 9.80%). The results obtained were compared to those derived from a conventional HS-SPME-GC (a 30 microm SPME fibre and 0.25 mm I.D. capillary were used) application on the same sample. In this respect, a great reduction of analytical time was obtained both with regard to the conventional SPME equilibration and GC run times, which both required 50 min. Peak resolution was altogether comparable in both applications. Although a slight loss in terms of sensitivity was observed in the rapid approach (generally within the 25-50% range), this did not impair the detection of all peaks of interest. Finally, the selectivities of the 30 and 7 microm fibres were evaluated and, as expected, these were in good agreement.     

Condensed 2-pyrrolidinone-1,2-oxazines from lithium enolate of 1-benzyl-5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid and β-aryl, β-nitroenamines

The reaction of the lithium enolate of 1-benzyl-5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid 3 with a series of β-aryl, β-nitroenamines unexpectedly afforded 6-aryl-2-benzyl-4-oxa-1-oxo-3a-methoxycarbonyl-2,5-diazaindenes 9a-d, whose structure was determined by analytical and NMR spectroscopical analysis. The structure of 9b was further confirmed by X-ray analysis. A reasonable mechanism for their formation is given.     

A Heterotetranuclear [NiIIReIV3] single-molecule magnet

The reaction of [ReIVCl4(ox)]2- and fully solvated Ni2+ ions in a MeCN/i-PrOH mixture affords the heterotetranuclear complex (NBu4)4[Ni{ReCl4(ox)}3] where the rhenium precursor acts as a bidentate ligand toward the nicke(II) ion through the oxalate group. The mixed 3d-5d species exhibits intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling and it behaves like a single-molecule magnet.     

Energy-resolved photoionization of alkylperoxy radicals and the stability of their cations

The photoionization of alkylperoxy radicals has been investigated using a newly developed experimental apparatus that combines the tunability of the vacuum ultraviolet radiation of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with time-resolved mass spectrometry. Methylperoxy (CH(3)OO) and ethylperoxy (C(2)H(5)OO) radicals are produced by the reaction of pulsed, photolytically produced alkyl radicals with molecular oxygen, and the mass spectrum of the reacting mixture is monitored in time by using synchrotron-photoionization with a double-focusing mass spectrometer. The kinetics of product formation is used to confirm the origins and assignments of ionized species. The photoionization efficiency curve for CH(3)OO has been measured, and an adiabatic ionization energy of (10.33 +/- 0.05) eV was determined with the aid of Franck-Condon spectral simulations, including ionization to the lowest triplet and singlet cation states. Using the appearance energy of CH(3)(+) from CH(3)OO, an enthalpy of formation for CH(3)OO of Delta(f) (CH(3)OO) = (22.4 +/- 5) kJ mol(-1) is derived. The enthalpy of formation of CH(3)OO(+) is derived as Delta(f) = (1019 +/- 7) kJ mol(-1) and the CH(3)(+)-OO bond energy as (CH(3)(+) - O(2)) = (80 +/- 7) kJ mol(-1). The C(2)H(5)OO(+) signal is not detectable; however, the time profile of the ethyl cation signal suggests its formation from dissociative ionization of C(2)H(5)OO. Electronic structure calculations suggest that hyperconjugation reduces the stability of the ethylperoxy cation, making the C(2)H(5)OO(+) ground state only slightly bound with respect to the ground-state products, C(2)H(5)(+) and O(2). The value of the measured appearance energy of C(2)H(5)(+) is consistent with dissociative ionization of C(2)H(5)OO via the Franck-Condon favored ionization to the ? (1)A' state of C(2)H(5)OO(+).     

Heavy metals in PM10 sampled in the urban area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, southern Italy)

The following paper shows results of PM10 level and Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations present in this fraction for filters collected in the urban area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, Southern Italy) in 2004 in order to inquire into air quality. PM10 and lead concentrations did not exceed the standard values sanctioned by Italian Legislature with average values equal to 36.54 +/- 14.57 microg x m(-3) and 9.19 +/- 5.24 ng x m(-3) respectively. Significant correlations have been found between the pairs Fe-Mn, Ni-V, Cr-Ni and Cd-Cr. This suggests that these metals have a similar pollution source probably due to metallurgical activity. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that it is possible to distinguish the PM10 samples collected in sampling periods with different meteorological conditions. Indeed, metals concentration increases for samples characterized by scarce rains or by winds prevailing from North or North-West and is reduced due to different meteorological conditions, although there are some exceptions.