Certified calibration solution reference material for the determination of perfluorooctane sulfonate from the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ)

A new calibration solution reference material for the determination of perfluorooctane sulfonate anion (PFOS) and its salts has been issued as a certified reference material (CRM) by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST). The purity amount-of-substance fraction of raw material potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate (K-PFOS) was evaluated based on the results obtained using the freezing point depression method, and the purity mass fraction of the raw material was calculated using the average molar mass of impurities, the molar mass of K-PFOS, and the purity amount-of-substance fraction. The certified concentration of this CRM was obtained by multiplying the dilution ratio of the raw material in a prepared solution (methanol) determined from the gravimetric blending method by the purity of the raw material. The preparation concentration of K-PFOS as a certified value of NMIJ CRM 4220-a was determined to be 9.93?mg?kg^?1. In addition, the standard uncertainty of the certified value was evaluated from the purity evaluation as well as from sample inhomogeneity, instability, and preparation variation obtained from LC/MS measurements of different gravimetrically prepared solutions of the NMIJ CRM. Consequently, the expanded uncertainty was estimated to be 0.15?mg?kg^?1 with a coverage factor k?=?2 corresponding to the half-width of estimated confidence interval of approximately 95%.     

Quantification of five neonicotinoids in human urine by modified QuEChERS with isotope dilution mass spectrometry: a preliminary study for the development of certified reference material

ABSTRACT

A study for the quantification method of neonicotinoid pesticides (Neos) in human urine that aims to develop the certified reference material (CRM) in the future was carried out. A modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method based on dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was evaluated for the quantification of five Neos (acetamiprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) in human urine control by optimisation of the extraction solvent, and the type and amount of d-SPE material. Two types of human urine controls (sample A and B) containing 5 μg/kg and/or 25 μg/kg of Neos were prepared and employed for this study. The results of spike test using sample A (2 mL) obtained by modified QuEChERS method with acetone extraction (10 mL) and d-SPE using a strong cation exchanger (silica gel modified with benzenesulphonic acid phase, SCX) 500 mg were as follows: 97.8%–103.1% for 5 μg/kg and 97.2%–102.7% for 25 μg/kg (described as percentage by the quantification results of IDMS relative to the spiked amount of pesticides). These results were comparable to those by SPE cartridge method using SCX functionalised hydrophilic styrene divinylbenzene (PCX). The repeatabilities of the analyses, represented as relative standard deviations, were also comparable for spike level 5 μg/kg and 25 μg/kg of Neos: 0.1%–7.2% for modified QuEChERS with IDMS and 0.2%–5.6% for PCX cartridge method. The results of spike test using sample B for a spike level 5 μg/kg were 96.0%–100.6%. These results indicate that modified QuEChERS method with IDMS can be used for the development of certified reference material and has the potential to use for the quantification of Neos in real human urine.     

Effect of Self-Pumped Phase Conjugation Feedback from a Ce:BaTiO3 Crystal on Lasing Spectrum of a Laser Diode

The effect of self-pumped phase conjugation (SPPC) feedback from a Ce:BaTiO₃ crystal on the lasing spectrum of a commercial laser diode was experimentally investigated, and dependence of the spectrum on the length and reflectivity of the external SPPC cavity was studied. Experimental results showed the optimum reflectivity of the external cavity to be 0.2% for our experimental setup.     

"Clickable" pillar[5]arenes

Introduction of bulky substituents such as benzyl and pyrenyl groups using click reactions inhibited or slowed the rotation of the units on the NMR chemical shift timescale. The perpyrenylated pillar[5]arene showed a thermally-responsive excimer emission, but a unit model of the perpyrenylated pillar[5]arene did not exhibit such a response.     

Determination of the absolute microwave frequency of laser-cooled ^{171}\hbox {Yb}^+

\(^{171}\hbox {Yb}^+\) ions confined within a linear quadrupole trap were laser cooled to below 1 K. The microwave frequency of the hyperfine splitting of the ground state was continuously measured over 6 h. Frequency was corrected by evaluating the systematic shifts in each clock measurement. The absolute microwave frequency was determined as 12 642 812 118.468 2(4) Hz, in strong agreement with previously reported measurements.     

Magnetic properties of the intermetallic compounds Gd(Mn1−xNix)2

The magnetic properties of pseudobinary compounds Gd(Mn_1−xNi_x)₂ were studied to understand the type of magnetic interaction among the constituent atoms of the parent binary compound. The Arrott plot for GdMn₂ indicates no spontaneous magnetization. The magnetization and the Curie temperature increase with increasing concentration of Ni on the Mn rich side. The collapse of the Mn moment makes the Gd moment dominant in magnetization with increasing Ni concentration.     

The crystal structure of α-SrMnO3

α-SrMnO₃ crystallizes in the hexagonal system with unit-cell dimensions a = 5.454(1) Å, c = 9.092(2)Å, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}\text{, Z = 4}$. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method; of 404 unique reflections measured by counter method, 203 that obeyed the condition |F₀| ≥ 3σ (|F₀|) were used in the refinement to a conventional R value of 0.043. The structure consists of four close-packed SrO₃ layers in an ABAC stacking sequence along the hexagonal c axis. Oxygen octahedra containing Mn⁴⁺ are grouped into face-sharing pairs linked by corner sharing within the cubically stacked “A” layer.