Sensitive determination of diquat by a kinetic method using the stopped-flow mixing technique

A simple, sensitive, selective, fast and inexpensive assay for the determination of diquat is proposed. The method is based on the reduction of the herbicide to a strongly fluorescent monocation radical with sodium dithionite. The initial rate of this reaction is directly proportional to the diquat concentration. The stopped-flow mixing technique was used because the kinetic data can be obtained in only 7 s, meaning that the method can be automated. The calibration graph is linear over the range 5-500 ng ml-1 and the precision (RSD) is close to 1.2%. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by determining the herbicide in different kinds of samples.     

A doubly deprotonated form of calix[6]arene: Crystal and molecular structure of (calix[6]arene-2H)2−·(HNEt 3 + )2

The doubly deprotonated form of calix[6]arene, with two protonated triethylamines as counter-ions, crystallizes in the monoclinic system: space groupP2₁/n,a=8.465(4),b=17.822(8),c=15.182(6) Å,=90.18(4)°,V=2291(2) ų,Z=2. Refinement led to a final conventionalR value of 0.063 for 1046 reflections. The macrocycle conformation is not apinched cone, usual for freeR-calix[6]arene, but a distorted 1,2,3-alternate cone, since the molecule lies on a symmetry center. Furthermore, one of the torsion angles defined by the methylene bridges is near to zero, which is unusual in calixarene structures. Supplementary Data relating to this article (atomic coordinates for hydrogen atoms, anisotropic displacement parameters for oxygen and nitrogen atoms, and observed and calculated structure factors) are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82182 (7 pages).     

Magic numbers in the mass distribution of the benzene+-argonn ions: evaporation dynamics and cluster structure

The intensity distribution of benzene⁺-Ar_n cluster ions formed by laser ionization of neutral clusters has been investigated: two main intensity anomalies (magic numbers atn=20 and 45) have been observed in the 15–60 size range. The evaporation dynamics of these species in the 2–50 microsecond time window following ionization has been studied using the electrostatic mirror of a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer as a kinetic energy analyser capable to distinguish parent and daughter ions. The magic numbers are interpreted in terms of size dependent evaporation behaviors: beyondn=20, a sudden decrease of the evaporation energy is observed; in then=45–47 size range, the magic number is accounted for by the specific dynamics of then=46 and 47 clusters, in particular the possible loss of two argon atoms forn=47 within the experimental time window. These results and their implications on the cluster structure are discussed in the light of the evaporative ensemble model and compared to the evaporation characteristics of similar species, in particular the neat rare gas clusters.     

Chemical removal of humic substances interfering with the on-line solid-phase extraction—Liquid chromatographic determination of polar water pollutants

Summary Different methods for removing interference by humic substances in the analysis of polar pollutants have been compared in the analysis of environmental water by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a chemically modified polymeric resin coupled on-line to liquid chromatography with UV detection. The methods were based on the use of chemical reagents. The best method was found to be addition of sodium sulphite to humic-containing water before SPE. The appropriate amount of sulphite depends on the amount of humic substances dissolved in the sample—for analysis of 50 mL tap and Ebro river water, respectively, 250 μL and 500 μL 10 % Na₂SO₃ solution had to be added. In both cases, the recovery values after chemical treatment were similar to those when a Milli-Q-quality water standard was analysed.     

Highly accurate gas chromatographic analysis of reference gases for use in vehicle emission measurements

 A highly accurate gas chromatographic analytical method has been developed for the determination of the composition of gas mixtures. It was tested using a reference gas as an example consisting of 3.5% of CO, 14% of CO₂, 0.2% of propane and residual N₂ intended for the use in vehicle emission measurements. The method is based on comparison measurements with samples of a calibration gas, whose composition is iteratively adapted to that of the sample investigated using a gravimetric gas mixing method. For the gas chromatographic measurement, a molecular sieve column and a polymer column are used in parallel and in isothermal operation. All gas components can be determined by a single gas chromatographic measurement, and the relative uncertainty of measurement achievable is ?0.4%. Received: 6 March 1996/Revised: 30 May 1996/Accepted: 6 June 1996     

Immobilized pH gradient isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting for investigations of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi IgG antibodies.

Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses in cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and joint fluid from Lyme disease patients were investigated by immobilized pH gradient (IPG) isoelectric focusing (IEF) in pH 4-10 and pH 4-7 gels. After focusing, the anti-B.-burgdorferi antibodies were blotted by affinity-driven transfer to antigen-coated polyvinylidene difluoride membranes (immunoblot) and the IgG antibodies were immunoenzymatically stained. IPG-IEF gels gave an excellent resolution of IgG and the immunoblot proved advantageous for the detection of anti-B. burgdorferi IgG antibodies. These antibodies, as judged from the electromigration characteristics, were found to contain oligoclonal as well as polyclonal subpopulations. This latter group included IgG antibodies that were inadequately resolved when separated by conventional carrier ampholyte IEF.     

Temperature evolution of the umbrella structure in holmium iron garnet

Using neutron diffraction data, the thermal evolution of the magnetic structure of Ho₃Fe₅O₁₂ has been studied. Below the compensation temperature (T _comp=137 K), the umbrella structure parameters which fit the spontaneous ferrite magnetizations have been determined. AboveT _comp, the compound behaves as a Néel type ferrimagnet. Particular attentions have been given to the magnetic form factors of both iron sublattice on one hand and on the other hand to a rhombohedral distorsion fromI a3d toR below 30 K and in first approximation toR c forT>30 K.     

Flow injection analysis: Rayleigh light scattering technique for total protein determination

A novel flow injection analysis (FIA) method with Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) detection was developed for the determination of total protein concentrations. This method is based on the weak intensity of RLS of bromothymol blue (BB) (3',3"-dibromothymolsulfonephthalein) which can be enhanced by the addition of protein in weakly acidic solution. A common spectrofluorimeter was used as a detector. It was proved that the application of this method to quantify the total proteins in real samples by using bovine serum albumin was possible. The RLS signal was detected at lambda(ex)= lambda(em)=572 nm. The linear range was 7.0-70.0 microg mL(-1), the detection limit was 3.75 microg mL(-1), the reproducibility was 5.5% (n=7), and the sample throughput was 26 h(-1).     

Capillary electrophoresis coupled to time of flight-mass spectrometry of therapeutic peptide hormones

We have established a method for separation and characterization of a series of peptide hormones of pharmaceutical interest and wide therapeutical use by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray-mass spectrometry (CE-ES-MS) using a sheath flow interface. Several parameters were systematically investigated, such as concentration of the electrolyte, organic solvent and sheath liquid composition, gas flow rates and capillary position. Moreover, limits of detection, linearity, repeatability and day-to-day reproducibility of the proposed method were studied in order to obtain the main quality parameters.