The potential of composite pyrolysis gas chromatographic mass spectra in the study of lignocellulosics

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of composite mass spectral (CMS) data from pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY–GC/MS) for lignocellulosic materials. Various forages, by-products and fiber fractions derived from them were examined as CMS by PY–GC/MS. The PY–GC/MS system consisted of a heated platinum filament, a capillary gas chromatograph and an ion trap detector (ITD) mass spectrometer operated under electron impact conditions. Mass spectra were then composited in several ways by summing all the mass spectra acquired within retention times corresponding to major product classes. CMS data were entered in a dedicated library and compared using the ITD library editor software. The usefulness of such a simple procedure for studies related to lignocellulose analysis, such as forage recognition, development of analytical methods and digestibility/maturity correlation, is discussed.     

Cyanidverbrückte Koordinationspolymere aus cis‐ oder trans‐[Ru(tBuNC)4(CN)2] und MnCl2: Zum Einfluß unterschiedlicher Topologien auf die magnetischen Eigenschaften von Materialien

Cyanide Bridged Coordination Polymers from cis‐ or trans‐[Ru(^tBuNC)₄(CN)₂] and MnCl₂: About the Influence of Different Topologies on the Magnetic Properties of Materials The reaction of cis‐ or trans‐[Ru(^tBuNC)₄(CN)₂] with MnCl₂ as an additional transition metal fragment yields the one dimensional coordination polymers {cis‐[Ru(CN)₂(^tBuNC)₄] MnCl₂}_n, ( 1 ), and {trans‐[Ru(CN)₂(^tBuNC)₄]MnCl₂}_n, ( 2 ), with a different arrangement of the metal centers caused by the different stereochemistry of the starting compounds. The variation of the Ru‐C‐N‐Mn geometry nevertheless leads to significant differences in the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 . The coordination polymer derived from trans‐[Ru(^tBuNC)₄(CN)₂] shows a more efficient antiferromagnetic intrachain interaction between the manganese centers compared to the cis‐derivative.     

Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer

The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increases to 2.1 nm. Order as a function of film thickness depends on the interaction of the polymer with the substrate and free surface. These interactions give rise to a typical correlation length of perturbations in smectic ordering.     

Wafer and epilayer improvement for integrated optics devices on InP: the ESPRIT project 2518

Ga _x In_1–x As _y P_1–y alloys lattice matched to InP substrates are currently used to fabricate optoelectronic and integrated optics devices. To achieve devices with high performances and high fabrication yield, the uniformity and reproducibility of the Ga _x In_1–x As _y P_1–y epitaxial layers (composition, thickness, doping, etc.) have become key parameters. These problems have been addressed in the frame of ESPRIT project 2518 and are presented in this paper. Several aspects have been considered starting from the optimization of InP substrates, the MOVPE growth of uniform GalnAsP layers, the material characterization to the validation of material uniformity on passive optical waveguides. Both scanning photoluminescence analysis and waveguide losses measurements performed on 2 inch wafers with a high lateral resolution have shown that high quality uniform GalnAsP layers can be obtained reproducibly on 2 InP substrates using a commercially available LP-MOCVD growth process. In particular, more than 60% of 36 mm long, 3m wide and 100m spaced rib waveguides exhibit losses below 0.8dBcm^–1.     

Inclusivef 2 (1270) meson production in νp and\bar vp charged current interactions

Using data obtained with the bubble chamber BEBC at CERN, the inclusivef ₂ (1270) meson production invp and \(\bar vp\) charged current reactions is studied. It is found thatf ₂ production occurs mainly in events with a hadronic invariant massW?7 GeV. In these events, the averagef ₂ multiplicity is about half the average ρ^O multiplicity, and thex _F andp _T ² distributions of thef ₂ agree in shape with those of the ρ^O. The predictions of a semi-empirical model (Wells model) are in accord with the measured multiplicities atW>7 GeV, whereas at lowerW the model predicts too largef ₂ multiplicities.     

High-performance liquid chromatography and capillary supercritical-fluid chromatography separation of vegetable carotenoids and carotenoid isomers

Carotenoids from carrots and tomatoes were separated with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). All trans alpha- and beta-carotene were separated from their respective cis-isomers with capillary SFC. Carotenoids extracted from tomatoes included xanthophyll, lycopene and beta-carotene, while alpha- and beta-carotene were extracted from carrots. The HPLC separations were accomplished isocratically with a 25-cm column containing 5-microns ODS and methanol-acetonitrile-chloroform (47:47:6) or acetonitrile-dichloromethane (80:20). beta-Carotene cis-isomers were separated with SFC with a SB-cyanopropyl-25-polymethylsiloxane column, while alpha-carotene isomers were separated with two SB-cyanopropyl-50-polymethylsiloxane columns. Carotenoids from carrots and tomatoes were separated with a SB-phenyl-50-polymethylsiloxane column. Carbon dioxide with 1% ethanol was the SFC mobile phase. The eluent was monitored at 461 nm for HPLC and either 453 or 461 nm for SFC.     

Synthesis of fluorescently labeled alkylated DNA adduct standards and separation by capillary electrophoresis

DNA adducts are regarded as individual internal dosimeters for the exposure to chemical carcinogens. To date, the most sensitive method for DNA adduct analysis is the radioactive 32P-postlabeling method, which allows the detection of one adduct in 10(10) unmodified nucleotides in microg amounts of DNA. However, this technique suffers from disadvantages such as working with radioactive phosphorus and time-consuming chromatographic separation procedures. In addition, the simultaneous detection of adducts from different classes of carcinogens in a DNA sample is difficult. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we are developing a new detection method, comprising fluorescence labeling of DNA adducts, capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation, and on-line detection by monitoring laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). So far, we have evaluated the separation power and the detection limit of CE with fluorescently labeled standard compounds such as unmodified nucleotides or alkylated thymidines. For this purpose, we developed a universal method for labeling 5'-OH-mononucleosid-3'-dicyanoethyl-phosphates with fluorescent dyes based on the phosphoramidite technology for DNA synthesis. The separation of N3-methylated, N3-, O2- and O4-butylated thymidines from the unmodified nucleotide within a few minutes recommends CE-LIF as a powerful method for DNA adduct analysis.     

InIII-Phthalocyanine: Darstellung,Eigenschaften und Kristallstruktur von Tetra(n-butyl)ammonium-cis-di(nitrito-O,O′)phthalocyaninato(2–)indat(III)

In^III-Phthalocyanines: Synthesis, Properties, and Crystal Structure of Tetra(n-butyl)ammonium-cis-di(nitrito-O,O')phthalocyaninato(2–)indate(III) [In(Cl)Pc^2?] reacts with (ⁿBu₄N)NO₂ in acetone yielding green-blue (ⁿBu₄N)^cis[In(NO₂)₂Pc^2?], which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (No. 14). Both nitrite anions are coordinated as chelating nitrito-O,O'(NO₂) ligands to In^III in cis-geometry. Consequently In^III is octa-coordinated within a distorted “quadratic” antiprism and directed towards the Pc^2?-ligand. One of the NO₂ ligands has equivalent N? O bonds similar to free nitrite, while the other has asymmetric N? O bonds. Both (In,O,N,O) rings are approximately planar with a dihedral angle of 80°. The Pc^2? ligand is distorted in an asymmetrically convex manner. Partially overlapping pairs of Pc^2? ligands related by an inversion center form double layers, which are separated by layers containing the (ⁿBu₄N)⁺ cations. The cyclic voltammogram shows three electrode processes, which are assigned to the redox pairs: Pc^3?/Pc^2? (?0.94 V) < In^I/In^III (-0.78 V) < Pc^2?/Pc^? (0.64 V). The UV-VIS-NIR spectra and vibrational spectra are discussed.