Electrical Conductance and Volumetric Studies in Aqueous Solutions of DL-Pyroglutamic Acid

Conductivity measurements of DL-pyroglutamic acid and sodium pyroglutamate in dilute aqueous solutions were performed in the 288.15–323.15 K temperature range. The limiting molar conductances of pyroglutamate anion, λ^o(pGlu⁻, T) and the dissociation constants of pyroglutamic acid, K(T) were derived from the Onsager, and the Quint and Viallard conductivity equations. Densities of aqueous solutions with molalities lower than 0.5 mol-kg⁻¹ were determined at 5 K intervals from T = 288.15 K to 333.15 K. Densities served to evaluate the apparent molar volumes, V_2,φ(m, T), the cubic expansion coefficients, α (m,T) and the changes of the isobaric heat capacities with respect to pressure, (∂ C_P/∂ P)_T,m. They were correlated qualitatively with the changes in the structure of water when pyroglumatic acid is dissolved in it.     

Mutual storage mode ion/ion reactions in a hybrid linear ion trap

Ion/ion proton transfer reactions involving mutual storage of both ion polarities in a linear ion trap (LIT) that comprises part of a hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometer have been effected. Mutual ion storage in the x- and y-dimensions arises from the normal operation of the oscillating quadrupole field of the quadrupole array, while storage in the z-dimension is enabled by applying unbalanced radio-frequency amplitudes to opposing sets of rods of the array. Efficient trapping (>90%) is achieved for thermalized ions over periods of several seconds. Reactions were demonstrated for multiply charged protein/peptide cations formed by electrospray with anions derived from glow discharge ionization of perfluoro(methyldecalin) (PMD) introduced from the side of the LIT rod array. Doubly and singly charged protein ions are readily formed via ion/ion reactions. The parameters that affect ion/ion reactions are discussed, including the degree of RF unbalance on the LIT rods, vacuum pressure, nature of the buffer gas, reaction time, anion abundance, and the low mass cutoff for ion/ion reaction. The present system has a demonstrated upper mass-to-charge ratio limit of at least 33,000. The system also has high flexibility with respect to defining MS(n) experiments involving both collision-induced dissociation (CID) and ion/ion reactions. Experiments are demonstrated involving beam-type CID in the pressurized collision quadrupole (Q2) followed by ion/ion reactions involving the product ions in the LIT. Ion parking experiments are also demonstrated using the mutual storage ion/ion reaction mode in the LIT, with a parking efficiency over 60%.     

Effect of concentration on surfactant micelle shapes —A molecular dynamics study

Many aspects of the behavior of surfactants have not been well understood due to the coupling of many different mechanisms. Computer simulation is, therefore, attractive in the sense that it can explore the effect of different mechanisms separately. In this paper, the shapes, structures and sizes of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) micelles under different concentrations in an oil/water mixture were studied via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using a simplified atomistic model which basically maintains the hydrophile and lipophile properties of the surfactant molecules. Above the critical micellar concentration (cmc), surfactant molecules aggregate spontaneously to form a wide variety of assemblies, from spherical to rodlike, wormlike and bilayer micelles. Changes in their ratios of the principle moments of inertia (g₁/g₃, g₂/g₃) indicated the transition of micelle shapes at different concentrations. The aggregation number of micelle is found to have a power-law dependence on surfactant concentration.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of indium/gallium mixtures

A kinetic method is presented for the determination of 0.5–5 μg ml^?1 gallium based on its activating effect on the copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation of 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone thiosemicarbazone by hydrogen peroxide. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically at 415 nm. Two sets of reaction conditions are established; one for the direct determination of gallium, and another, in which indium affects the gallium response, for determination of indium. Mixtures of these cations can be determined at μg ml^?1 levels and in gallium/indium ratios from 7.5:1 to 1:1.6, with an accuracy and precision of ca. 4.5%.     

Direct quantitation of volatile organic compounds in packaging materials by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The quantification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in flexible multilayer packaging materials using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was studied. The analytes imclude 22 compounds such as aldehydes. ketones, carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons formed by thermooxidative degradation of polyethylene during the extrusion coating process in the manufacture of the packaging, and many of them are involved in the unpleasant and undesirable odour of these materials. External standard calibration using a solution of the analytes in an appropriate solvent was the first approach studied. Aqueous solutions of the analytes provided low reproducibility and the reduction of aldehydes to alcohols under the HS-SPME conditions. Hexadecane was chosen as the solvent since its polarity is similar to that of polyethylene and its volatility is lower than that of the analytes. However, hexadecane should be added to the sample before the analysis as it modifies the absorption capacity of the fibre. A 75-microm Carboxen-poly(dimethylsiloxane) fibre was used to extract the VOCs from the headspace above the packaging in a 15-ml sealed vial at 100 degrees C after 5 min of preincubation. The influence of the extraction time on the amount extracted was studied for a standard solution of the analytes in hexadecane, together with the influence of the volume of the standard solution and the amount of the sample placed in the vial. Standard addition and multiple HS-SPME were also studied as calibration methods and the results obtained in the quantitative analysis of a packaging material were compared.     

Syntheses and spectroscopic studies on zinc(II) and mercury(II) complexes of isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone

Zinc(II) and mercury(II) complexes were prepared by reacting isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone (ISTSCH) with zinc(II) acetate or mercury(II) bromide. The complexes were characterized by IR, Raman, diffuse reflectance, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Tetrahedral structures for Zn(ISTSC)₂ and Hg(ISTSCH)Br₂ are suggested.     

Influence of the distal his in imparting imidazolate character to the proximal his in heme peroxidase: (1)h NMR spectroscopic study of cyanide-inhibited his42-->ala horseradish peroxidase

The functional higher oxidation states of heme peroxidases have been proposed to be stabilized by the significant imidazolate character of the proximal His. This is induced by a "push-pull" combination effect produced by the proximal Asp that abstracts ("pulls") the axial His ring N(delta)H, along with the distal protonated His that contributes ("pushes") a strong hydrogen bond to the distal ligand. The molecular and electronic structure of the distal His mutant of cyanide-inhibited horseradish peroxidase, H42A-HRPCN, has been investigated by NMR. This complex is a valid model for the active site hydrogen-bonding network of HRP compound II. The (1)H and (15)N NMR spectral parameters characterize the relative roles of the distal His42 and proximal Asp247 in imparting imidazolate character to the axial His. 1D/2D spectra reveal a heme pocket molecular structure that is highly conserved in the mutant, except for residues in the immediate proximity of the mutation. This conserved structure, together with the observed dipolar shifts of numerous active site residue protons, allowed a quantitative determination of the orientation and anisotropies of the paramagnetic susceptibility tensor, both of which are only minimally perturbed relative to wild-type HRPCN. The quantitated dipolar shifts allowed the factoring of the hyperfine shifts to reveal that the significant changes in hyperfine shifts for the axial His and ligated (15)N-cyanide result primarily from changes in contact shifts that reflect an approximately one-third reduction in the axial His imidazolate character upon abolishing the distal hydrogen-bond to the ligated cyanide. Significant changes in side chain orientation were found for the distal Arg38, whose terminus reorients to partially fill the void left by the substituted His42 side chain. It is concluded that 1D/2D NMR can quantitate both molecular and electronic structural changes in cyanide-inhibited heme peroxidase and that, while both residues contribute, the proximal Asp247 is more important than the distal His42 in imparting imidazole character to the axial His 170.     

On the Structure and Formation of Self-Assembled Lattices of Gold Nanoparticles

The structure and ordering of nanoparticles of gold functionalized with n-alkyl thiol molecules are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Samples where produced using n=6 to n=16 alkyl thiol molecules. High Resolution Electron Microscopy coupled with image processing was used to study the gold particle structure. The details of the particle structure are discussed. We found that when the gold surface is saturated with thiol molecules there is some tendency to produce molecules with a disulphide structure. We also show that ordered arrays of particles can be produced using Langmuir-Blodgett techniques. The crystal structure of the films produced is studied and found to be 3D hcp. We also report that thiol covered gold particles with a size of 5 nm present a rounded shape suggesting that thiol molecules might induce an isotropic surface energy. It is found in the theoretical calculations that a strong bond between gold and sulphur is required to stabilize the complex metal-n-alkyl thiol. It is predicted that otherwise a heavily distorted nanocore will be formed. This is contrary to the observed structure of the particles.     

Depression in the cloud point of Tween in the presence of glycol additives and triblock polymers

Cloud point (C_P) measurements of Tween 20 and Tween 80 were carried out in the presence of various glycol oligomers and triblock polymers (TBP). The cloud points of both Tween 20 and 80 decrease in the presence of both types of additives. Among the glycol oligomeric additives, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether was found to reduce the C_P maximum. An increase in the repeating units of polymeric glycol additives leads to a decrease in C_P. Reduction in the C_P in the presence of TBP depends upon the increase in hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio among the polypropylene to polyethylene units.     

Trace elemental analysis of automotive paints by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS)

Paints and coatings are frequently encountered as types of materials that are submitted to forensic science laboratories as a result of trace evidence transfers. The aim of this study was to develop a method to complement the commonly used techniques in a forensic laboratory in order to better characterize these samples for forensic purposes. A laser ablation method has been used to simultaneously sample several layers directly prior to introduction into an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer for the detection and quantification of the trace metals present in the layer(s). Time-resolved analysis plots displaying the elemental response and quantification of selected metals are compared to associate/discriminate paint samples. Matrix-matched standards were successfully incorporated into the analysis scheme for quantification of lead in the solid paint samples. Preparation of new matrix-matched standards for quantification of additional elements developed for this study are also presented. A sample set of eighteen (18) survey automotive paint samples have been analyzed with the developed method in order to determine the utility of LA-ICP-MS for trace element analysis of paints.