Optimized determination of calcium in grape juice,wines, and other alcoholic beverages by atomic absorption spectrometry

This paper describes a study of the different methods of sample preparation for the determination of calcium in grape juice, wines, and other alcoholic beverages by flame atomic absorption spectrometry; results are also reported for the practical application of these methods to the analysis of commercial samples produced in Spain. The methods tested included dealcoholization, dry mineralization, and wet mineralization with heating by using different acids and/or mixtures of acids. The sensitivity, detection limit, accuracy, precision, and selectiviy of each method were established. Such research is necessary because of the better analytical indexes obtained after acid digestion of the sample, as recommended by the European Union, which advocates the direct method. In addition, although high-temperature mineralization with an HNO3-HCIO4 mixture gave the best analytical results, mineralization with nitric acid at 80 degrees C for 15 min gave the most satisfactory results in all cases, including those for wines with high levels of sugar and beverages with high alcoholic content. The results for table wines subjected to the latter treatment had an accuracy of 98.70-99.90%, a relative standard deviation of 2.46%, a detection limit of 19.0 microg/L, and a determination limit of 31.7 microg/L. The method was found to be sufficiently sensitive and selective. It was applied to the determination of Ca in grape juice, different types of wines, and beverages with high alcoholic content, all of which are produced and widely consumed in Spain. The values obtained for Ca were 90.00 +/- 20.40 mg/L in the grape juices, 82.30 +/- 23.80 mg/L in the white wines, 85.00 +/- 30.25 mg/L in the sweet wines, 84.92 +/- 23.11 mg/L in the red wines, 85.75 +/- 27.65 mg/L in the rosé wines, 9.51 +/- 6.65 mg/L in the brandies, 11.53 +/- 6.55 mg/L in the gin, 7.3 +/- 6.32 mg/L in the pacharán, and 8.41 +/- 4.85 mg/L in the anisettes. The method is therefore useful for routine analysis in the quality control of these beverages.     

Reaction of bis(phosphine)(hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borato)rhodium(I) with phenylacetylene,p-nitrobenzaldehyde,and triphenyltin hydride: structures of [Rh(Tp)(PPh(3))(2)], [Rh(Tp)(H)(C(2)Ph)(P(4-C(6)H(4)F)(3))], [Rh(Tp)(H)(COC(6)H(4)-4-NO(2))(PPh(3))], and [Rh(Tp)(H)(SnPh(3))(PPh(3))

The complexes [Rh(Tp)(PPh(3))(2)] (1a) and [Rh(Tp)(P(4-C(6)H(4)F)(3))(2)] (1b) combine with PhC(2)H, 4-NO(2)-C(6)H(4)CHO and Ph(3)SnH to give [Rh(Tp)(H)(C(2)Ph)(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 2a; R = 4-C(6)H(4)F, 2b), [Rh(Tp)(H)(COC(6)H(4)-4-NO(2))(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 3a), and [Rh(Tp)(H)(SnPh(3))(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 4a; R = 4-C(6)H(4)F, 4b) in moderate to good yield. Complexes 1a, 2b, 3a, and 4a have been structurally characterized. In 1a the Tp ligand is bidentate, in 2b, 3a, and 4a it is tridentate. Crystal data for 1a: space group P2(1)/c; a = 11.9664(19), b = 21.355(3), c = 20.685(3) A; beta = 112.576(7) degrees; V = 4880.8(12) A(3); Z = 4; R = 0.0441. Data for 2b: space group P(-)1; a = 10.130(3), b = 12.869(4), c = 17.038(5) A; alpha = 78.641(6), beta = 76.040(5), gamma = 81.210(6) degrees; V = 2100.3(11) A(3); Z = 2; R = 0.0493. Data for 3a: space group P(-)1; a = 10.0073(11), b = 10.5116(12), c = 19.874(2) A; alpha = 83.728(2), beta = 88.759(2), gamma = 65.756(2) degrees; V =1894.2(4) A(3); Z = 2; R = 0.0253. Data for 4a: space group P2(1)/c; a = 15.545(2), b = 18.110(2), c = 17.810(2) A; beta = 95.094(3) degrees; V = 4994.1(10) A(3); Z = 4; R = 0.0256. NMR data ((1)H, (31)P, (103)Rh, (119)Sn) are also reported.     

Determination of non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactants in wastewater and river water by mixed hemimicelle extraction and liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

The capability of hemimicelles-based solid phase extraction (SPE)/liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation in positive mode, ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/(APCl+-IT)-MS) for the concentration, separation and quantitation of non-ionic surfactants has been investigated. Concentration was based on the formation of mixed aggregates of analytes [alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE, octyl and nonyl) and alkyl ethoxylates (AE, C12-C16)] with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) that is adsorbed on alumina. Parameters affecting SPE were investigated on the basis that hemimicelles are dynamic entities in equilibrium with the aqueous phase. The performance of ion trap mass spectrometry for MS and MS/MS quantitation of non-ionic homologues was assessed. Recoveries of analytes from wastewater influent and effluent and river water samples ranged between 91 and 98% and were found independent on the length of the alkyl chain under the optimised conditions. Anionic surfactants did not interfere to the levels found in environmental samples. The detection limits ranged between 14 and 111 ng/l for wastewater influent, 10 and 40 for wastewater effluent and 4 and 35 for river water, after concentration of 250, 500 and 750 ml of sample, respectively. The approach was applied to the determination of AE and APE in influent and effluent samples from four wastewater treatment plants and four river samples. The concentrations of individual non-ionic surfactants found ranged between 0.3 and 373 microg/l.     

Conformational dependence of pyranoid rings 1,2-cis-fused to dioxolane rings on the configuration of the dioxolane rings in acetylated derivati

X-Ray and ¹H N.M.R. studies on pyranoid rings 1,2-$\text{cis}$-fused to dioxolane rings in acetylated $\text{D}$-gluco- and $\text{D}$--galactopyranose derivatives demonstrate that the configuration of the dioxolane ring influences the conformation of the pyranoid ring in the $\text{D}$-gluco but not in the $\text{D}$-galactopyranose series. The crystal structure of 3,4,6-tri-$\text{O}$-acetyl-1,2-$\text{O}$-(R)--(l-cyano-ethylidene)-α-$\text{D}$-glucopyranose ($\text{1}$) and 3,4,6-tri-$\text{O}$-acetyl-1,2-$\text{O}$-($\text{R}$)-(1-cyano-ethylidene)-α-$\text{D}$-galactopyranose ($\text{2}$)have been determined by X-ray analysis. Lattice parameters for $\text{1}$ are a=20.6021 (11), b=8.0438 (2), c=5.5541 (1) Å and β= 95.588 (3)° for a cell with P21 symmetry. These parameters for $\text{2}$ are a=20.3361 (7), b=10.0907 (2), c=18.9115 (5) Å, β =112.399 (2)°, C2, with two crystallographycally independent molecules. The conformation of the pyranoid ring in both compounds can be described as flattened ⁴C₁ and that of the dioxolane ring as distorted E₁. The importance of the torsion angles for describing problems of configuration is remarked and the use of relative configurational angles is stressed. The ¹H N.M.R. spectra of $\text{1}$ and $\text{2}$ and 3,4,6-tri-$\text{O}$-acetyl-1,2-O-(S)- and (R)-ethylidene-α-$\text{D}$-glucopyranose ($\text{5}$ and $\text{7}$), 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl--1,2-O-(S)- and ($\text{R}$)-ethylidene-α-$\text{D}$-galactopyranose ($\text{6}$ and $\text{8}$), and 3,4,6-tri-$\text{O}$-acetyl-1,2-$\text{O}$-($\text{S}$)-and ($\text{R}$)-benzylidene-α-$\text{D}$-glucopyranose ($\text{9}$ and $\text{10}$) have been analyzed by using iterative computer methods and N.O.E. measurements. The results indicate that the major solution conformation of the pyranoid ring of the derivatives in the $\text{D}$-gluco series $\text{1}$, $\text{5}$ and $\text{9}$ may be described as flattened ⁴C₁ and that of $\text{7}$ and $\text{10}$ as ²$\text{S}$₅. The major solution conformation of the pyranoid ring in all compounds in the $\text{D}$-galacto series ($\text{2}$,$\text{4}$,$\text{6}$,$\text{8}$) may be described as flattened ⁴$\text{C}$₁.     

Energetics of hydroxybenzoic acids and of the corresponding carboxyphenoxyl radicals. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 2-hydroxybenzoic acid

The energetics of the phenolic O-H bond in the three hydroxybenzoic acid isomers and of the intramolecular hydrogen O-H- - -O-C bond in 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-OHBA, were investigated by using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. The standard molar enthalpies of formation of monoclinic 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids, at 298.15 K, were determined as Delta(f)(3-OHBA, cr) = -593.9 +/- 2.0 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)(4-OHBA, cr) = -597.2 +/- 1.4 kJ x mol(-1), by combustion calorimetry. Calvet drop-sublimation calorimetric measurements on monoclinic samples of 2-, 3-, and 4-OHBA, led to the following enthalpy of sublimation values at 298.15 K: Delta(sub)(2-OHBA) = 94.4 +/- 0.4 kJ x mol(-1), Delta(sub)(3-OHBA) = 118.3 +/- 1.1 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(sub)(4-OHBA) = 117.0 +/- 0.5 kJ x mol(-1). From the obtained Delta(f)(cr) and Delta(sub) values and the previously reported enthalpy of formation of monoclinic 2-OHBA (-591.7 +/- 1.3 kJ x mol(-1)), it was possible to derive Delta(f)(2-OHBA, g) = -497.3 +/- 1.4 kJ x mol(-1), Delta(f)(3-OHBA, g) = -475.6 +/- 2.3 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)(4-OHBA, cr) = -480.2 +/- 1.5 kJ x mol(-1). These values, together with the enthalpies of isodesmic and isogyric gas-phase reactions predicted by density functional theory (B3PW91/aug-cc-pVDZ, MPW1PW91/aug-cc-pVDZ, and MPW1PW91/aug-cc-pVTZ) and the CBS-QMPW1 methods, were used to derive the enthalpies of formation of the gaseous 2-, 3-, and 4-carboxyphenoxyl radicals as (2-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -322.5 +/- 3.0 kJ.mol(-1) Delta(f)(3-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -310.0 +/- 3.0 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)(4-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -318.2 +/- 3.0 kJ x mol(-1). The O-H bond dissociation enthalpies in 2-OHBA, 3-OHBA, and 4-OHBA were 392.8 +/- 3.3, 383.6 +/- 3.8, and 380.0 +/- 3.4 kJ x mol(-1), respectively. Finally, by using the ortho-para method, it was found that the H- - -O intramolecular hydrogen bond in the 2-carboxyphenoxyl radical is 25.7 kJ x mol(-1), which is ca. 6-9 kJ x mol(-1) above the one estimated in its parent (2-OHBA), viz. 20.2 kJ x mol(-1) (theoretical) or 17.1 +/- 2.1 kJ x mol(-1) (experimental).     

Characterization of the pores in hydrous ferric oxide aggregates formed by freezing and thawing

Hydrous ferric oxides (HFO) are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic pollutants and therefore have great potentials in environmental science and engineering applications. Freezing and thawing of HFO suspensions leads to the formation of dense HFO aggregates. It facilitates the handling and increases the drying rate of HFO. In this study, we used a combination of pycnometry, gas adsorption (N(2) gas, water vapor), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to characterize the porosity and pore size distribution of dense HFO aggregates formed by freezing dialyzed HFO suspensions at -25 degrees C and thawing them at room temperature. The crystallinity of the HFO, which was a 2-line ferrihydrite, was not affected by this treatment. Wet sieving and laser diffraction analysis showed that the dense HFO aggregates had a unimodal size distribution with an average diameter of 235+/-35 microm. Increasing the freezing rate by cooling with liquid N(2) (-196 degrees C) resulted in much smaller aggregates with an average diameter of 20 microm. Adding NaNO(3) electrolyte to the HFO suspensions prior to freezing also resulted in the formation of smaller aggregates. The dense HFO aggregates formed at -25 degrees C had a porosity of 0.73+/-0.02 ll(-1). SANS revealed a unimodal size distribution of pores, with an average pore diameter of 2.0 nm. The diameter of the HFO crystallites was estimated by transmission electron microscopy to be 1.9+/-0.5 nm. Geometrical considerations taking into account the unit particle and average pore size suggest that the crystallites retain 1-2 layers of hydration water during the coagulation induced by freezing. Analysis by N(2) gas adsorption showed that drying the dense HFO aggregates induced a reduction in porosity by about 25% and shifted the pore size distribution to smaller diameters. Rewetting during water vapor adsorption did not induce significant changes of the aggregate structure. The specific surface area of the dry HFO aggregates was between 320 and 380 m(2)g(-1).     

Two New Spermidine Alkaloids from Chisocheton weinlandii

The investigation of the MeOH extract of the leaves of Chisocheton weinlandii Harms (Meliaceae) revealed two new open‐chain spermidine alkaloids, chisitine 1 ( 1 ) and chisitine 2 ( 2 ). Their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, tandem‐mass spectrometry, and independant syntheses (Scheme 3). Detailed MS/MS fragmentation pathways are discussed for both compounds based on H/D exchange and ¹⁸O‐labeling experiments (Schemes 1 and 2).     

A sensitive, rapid and specific determination of midazolam in human plasma and saliva by liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ES-MS) method was developed for the quantitative determination of the anaesthetic benzodiazepine midazolam (MID) in human saliva and plasma from patients undergoing anesthesia procedures. Biological samples spiked with diazepam-d5, the internal standard, were extracted into diethyl ether. Compounds were separated on a Xterra RP18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile/formic acid 0.1% at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min under a linear gradient. Column effluents were analyzed using MS with an ES source in the positive ionization mode. Calibration curves were linear in the concentration ranges of 1-250 and 0.2-25 ng/mL in plasma and saliva, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.5 ng/mL in plasma and 0.1 ng/mL in saliva, using a 0.5-mL sample volume. The recoveries of the spiked samples were above 65%. The method was applied to ten real samples from patients undergoing midazolam treatment.     

Limited flexibility of lactose detected from residual dipolar couplings using molecular dynamics simulations and steric alignment methods

The conformational flexibility of lactose in solution has been investigated by residual dipolar couplings (RDCs). One-bond carbon-proton and proton-proton coupling constants have been measured in two oriented media and interpreted in combination with molecular dynamics simulations (MD). Two different approaches, known as PALES (Zweckstetter et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 3791-3792) and TRAMITE (Azurmendi et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2426-2427), have been used to determine the alignment tensor from a shape-induced alignment model with the oriented medium. The steric alignment of the structures from several MD trajectories has provided ensemble averaged RDCs that have been compared with the experimental ones. The obtained results reveal the almost exclusive presence of a major low energy region defined as syn-phi/syn-psi (> 97%), for which sampling occurs in a dynamic manner. This result satisfactorily agrees with that determined by standard NOE-based methods.     

Lanthanum chromites partially substituted by calcium,strontium and barium synthesized by urea combustion

Because of their electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties rare earth and transition metal mixed oxides are important compounds. Lanthanum chromites have been extensively used as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect materials. In this work, lanthanum chromites partially substituted by alkaline earth metals were synthesized by the urea combustion process. TG and DSC techniques were used to evaluate the presence of the organic material in the powder after reaction on the hot plate. The powders were calcinated at 900°C and characterized by XRD and SEM. The results show that the particles have nanometric dimensions and the perovskite structure was formed.