Development of a robust technique for sampling volatile metal(loid)s in wetlands

The formation of volatile organic and inorganic metals and metalloids in aquatic environments is a known, but not very intensively investigated, process. Several techniques have been developed over the past 10 years to determine these trace components. These techniques are of limited use in wetland environments, where samples have to be taken from the soil-water interface, and require an immediate sample analysis due to thermodynamic instabilities of the volatile metal(loid)s. This paper presents an innovative sampling technique for total concentrations of volatile metal(loid)s in wetlands, based on an in situ gas-water separation via a porous PTFE membrane and stabilising the volatile metal(loid)s in a liquid sorbent (NaOCl solution). Samples may thus be collected even at remote sites, where longer storage times have to be accounted for. The sampling system was tested by means of a laboratory facility simulating the generation of arsine and dimethyl arsine under abiotic conditions as well as under field conditions. Results for sampling efficiency, reproducibility, and long-term storage are presented. Application of the sampling system in the field is shown.     

Migration order of dipeptide and tripeptide enantiomers in the presence of single isomer and randomly sulfated cyclodextrins as a function of pH

The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the cyclodextrin (CD)-mediated chiral separation of peptide enantiomers as uncharged analytes at pH 5.3 using randomly sulfated beta-cyclodextrin, heptakis-6-sulfato-beta-CD and heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-beta-CD as chiral selectors. Although less effective compared to stronger acidic conditions, the CDs proved to be suitable chiral selectors for the present set of peptides at pH 5.3. The carrier ability of the negatively charged CDs upon reversal of the applied voltage may also be exploited leading to a reversal of the migration order. In addition, reversal of the enantiomer migration order upon increasing the buffer pH from 2.5 to 5.3 was also observed for Ala-Tyr in the presence of randomly sulfated beta-CD, for Ala-Phe, Ala-Tyr, Phe-Phe, Asp-PheNH(2) and Gly-Ala-Phe in the presence of heptakis-6-sulfato-beta-CD, and for Phe-Phe and Ala-Leu in the presence of heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-beta-CD. The migration behavior could be explained on the basis of the complexation constants and the mobilities of the peptide-CD complexes. While a change in the affinity pattern of the CDs upon increasing the pH was observed for some peptides, complex mobility was the primary factor for other peptide-CD combinations affecting the enantiomer migration order at the two pH values studied.     

ICP-AES detection of silicon carbide impurities volatilized in a graphite furnace with the use of carbon tetrachloride vapour

The analytical capability of high-temperature halogenation with carbon tetrachloride vapour in a graphite furnace was investigated for silicon carbide powder with known chemical composition and particle size. Intensity vs heating time curves were determined for analytical lines of Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ti, V and Si constituents, volatilized with and without the presence of CCl₄ vapour in the furnace atmosphere. Igniting 10 mg SiC at 2100 °C for 60 s in chlorinating atmosphere, the evaporated fraction of most of the constituents was higher than 90% (for Al about 50%). The line intensity vs sample mass (4–26 mg) relationships were linear for all impurities studied, while the intensity of silicon line showed a relatively small change with the sample mass. BEC (background equivalent concentration) values for this solid sampling technique (10 mg loaded sample) were 2–20 fold lower than those calculated for the conventional solution sample introduction method.     

Ruthenium-catalysed carbenoid cyclopropanation reactions with diazo compounds

The transition-metal catalysed cyclopropanation of olefinic bonds using diazo compounds as a carbene source is among the best developed and most useful transformations available to the synthetic organic chemist. Nevertheless, the quest for new catalyst/ligand systems continues in order to further extend the scope of this method and to identify more economical catalytic systems. In this tutorial review, several different ruthenium complexes are presented which have recently emerged as suitable catalysts for carbenoid cyclopropanation. For the model reaction--cyclopropanation of styrene(s) with diazoacetates--and also for some intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions highly remarkable results in terms of catalyst efficiency, product yields, dia- and enantioselectivity have been reported.     

Diiod(methylthio)gallan. Darstellung und reaktivität

Different synthetic routes for the preparation of diiodo(methylthio)gallane are given. Some reactions of this compound with Lewis bases, such as O(CH₃)₂, S(CH₃)₂, S₂(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)₃, P(CH₃)₃, and other compounds, such as CH₃I, CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH, C₂H₅SH, i-C₃H₇SH, and C₂H₅SeH are investigated. Spectra and some physical and chemical properties of the new compounds are reported. The structure of diiodo(methylthio)gallane is discussed in view of some interesting differences of this molecule in solution and in crystal form.     

Development of an optical membrane for humidity

4-(N,N-dioctylamino)-4-trifluoroacetyl-azobenzene (ETH^T 4001), together with the catalyst tridodecylmethylammonium chloride, is dissolved in the hydrophilic polymer polyurethane Tecoflex. The resulting membrane layers show high sensitivity toward water vapour and allow the application of the membranes for humidity measurements. Upon exposure to humid air, the membrane exhibits a decrease in absorbance at a wavelength around 490 nm and an increase at around 430 nm. This signal change is caused by the conversion of the trifluoroacetyl group of the reactand into a diol, thus changing the electron delocalisation of the reactand. The sensor layer exhibits a dynamic range from 1% to 100% RH with highest sensitivity in the 5%–40% RH range. The limit of detection is 0.5% RH. The amount of added catalyst enables the sensitive range to be tailored. The selectivity over ethanol and carbonate is sufficient for the membrane to be used for long-term measurements of air. The change in colour of the humidity-sensitive membrane from red to yellow also means it can be used as an optical test strip.     

Anordnung und Orientierung kationischer Tenside auf ebenen Silicatoberflächen

Zusammenfassung Die n-Alkylammoniumderivate der glimmerartigen Schichtsilicate können als Modellsubstanzen für die Anordnung kationischer Tenside an Festkörpergrenzflächen herangezogen werden. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird die Darstellung durch Kationenaustausch aus den natürlichen Schichtsilicaten beschrieben. Es wird ausführlich auf die Fehlerquellen hingewiesen, die reproduzierbare Messungen erschweren.

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Summary The n-alkylammonium derivatives of mica-type layer silicates are suitable models for studies about the arrangement of cationic tensides at solid interfaces. Part I of the paper deals with the preparation of these compounds by a simple cation exchange reaction. Sources for errors in obtaining reproducible data are discussed in detail.

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Mit 1 Abbildung in 3 Einzeldarstellungen und 3 Tabellen