Inductively coupled plasma compared with direct current arc spectrometry for analysis of minor elements in aluminium baths

A validation study was carried out in order to evaluate the efficiency of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for the analysis of minor elements (manganese, chromium, copper, iron, and titanium) in aluminium alloys. Aluminium casting samples were obtained by adding compressed powder compacts of each alloying element and aluminium (minitablets) to aluminum baths in a laboratory crucible furnace. Digestion of solid samples was performed using concentrated HCI and H202 35% (v/v) previous to analysis by ICP-OES without any matrix separation. This solution-based method was validated considering direct current arc spectrometry as the reference method based on direct analysis without any pretreatment of the solid samples considered. Univariate statistical procedures were carried out, for which precision <3% and trueness of the analytical results were taken into account.     

Introduction to session 2

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology -     

The determination of intrinsic reaction coordinates by density functional theory

The first implementation of the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC ) method within the density functional theory (DFT ) framework is presented. The implementation has been applied to four different types of chemical reactions represented by the isomerization process, HCN ? HNC (A); the S_N2 process, H^? + CH₄ ? CH₄ + H^? (B); the exchange process, H˙ + HX ? HX + H˙ (X ? F,Cl) (C); and the elimination process, C₂H₅Cl ? C₂H₄ + HCl (D). The present study presents for each process optimized structures and calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies for the reactant(s), the transition state, and the product(s) along with the IRC path connecting the stationary points. The calculations were carried out within the local density approximation (LDA ) as well as the LDA/NL scheme where the LDA energy expression is augmented by Perdew's and Becke's nonlocal (NL ) corrections. The LDA and LDA/NL results are compared with each other as well as the best available ab initio calculations and experimental data. For reaction (D), ab initio calculations based on MP 2 geometries and MP 4SDTQ energies have been added due to the lack of accurate published post-HF calculations on this process. A detailed discussion is provided on the efficiency of the IRC algorithms, the relative accuracy of the DFT and ab initio schemes, as well as the reaction mechanisms of the four reactions. It is concluded that the LDA/NL scheme affords the same accuracy as does the MP 4 method. The post-HF methods seem to overestimate activation energies, whereas the corresponding LDA/NL estimates are too low. The LDA activation energies are even lower than the LDA/NL counterparts. The incorporation of the IRC method into the DFT framework provides a promising and reliable tool for probing the chemical reaction path on the potential energy surfaces, even for large-size systems. IRC calculations by ab initio methods of an accuracy similar to the LDA/NL scheme, such as the MP 4 scheme, are not feasible. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of [1,3]dithiole and spiro[1,3]dithiole thiopyran derivatives of the [1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazine ring system

We report the synthesis of some new polysulfur-nitrogen heterocycles by cycloaddition reactions to readily available tricyclic condensed 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones. Thus, treatment of bis[1,2]dithiolopyrrole ketothione 1 with diacyl acetylenes gave the bis-aducts 2a-d. On the other hand, cycloaddition of bis[1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazine ketothione 3 with 1 equiv of acyl or diacyl acetylenes gave [1,3]dithiolylidenyl[1,2]dithiolo[1,4]thiazines 4a-f in fair to high yields. Catalysis by scandium triflate was used in the reactions that implied the less reactive dipolarophiles. Treatment of 3 with 2 equiv of DBA gave the bis-aduct 5a, and reaction of 4c with DMAD gave the mixed bis-adduct 5b. Cyclic voltammetry of selected examples showed irreversible processes that were influenced by the electrochemical activity of peripheral groups bonded to the heterocyclic system.     

Gas-phase reactivity of heterobinuclear oxometalate anions [CrMoO6(OR)]-, [CrWO6(OR)]-, and [MoWO6(OR)]- (R = H, nBu)

Heterobinuclear oxometalate anions based upon [CrMoO7]2-, [CrWO7]2-, and [MoWO7]2- were generated and transferred to the gas phase by the electrospray process from acetonitrile solutions containing two of the salts (Bu4N)2[MO4] (M = Cr, Mo, W). Their reactivities were examined and compared with those of the related homobinuclear anions based upon [M2O7]2- (M = Cr, Mo, W). Particular emphasis was placed upon reactions relevant to gas-phase catalytic cycles described previously for oxidation of alcohols by [Mo2O6(OH)]- (Waters, T.; O'Hair, R. A. J.; Wedd, A. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3384-3396). The protonated anions [MM'O6(OH)]- each reacted with methanol with loss of water to form [MM'O6(OCH3)]- at a rate that was intermediate between those of [M2O6(OH)]- and [M'2O6(OH)]-. The butylated anions [MM'O6(OBu)]- were generated by collisional activation of the ion-pairs {Bu4N+ [MM'O7]2-}-. Collisional activation of [MM'O6(OBu)]- resulted in either the loss of butanal (redox reaction) or the loss of butene (elimination reaction), with the detailed nature of the observations depending on the nature of both M and M'. Selective 18O labeling indicated that the butoxo ligands of [CrMoO6(OBu)]- and [CrWO6(OBu)]- were located on molybdenum and tungsten, respectively. This structural insight allowed a more detailed comparison of reactivity with the homobinuclear species, and highlighted the importance of the neighboring metal center in these reactions.     

Capillary electrophoresis as an alternative to HPLC for determination of honey flavonoids

Summary The general objective is to provide an alternative methodology based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) to characterize flavonoids from honey and hence determine its botanical origin. The specific objective is to compare the separation of flavonoids by CE with those achieved by HPLC to assess CE as an alternative technique for the determination of honey flavonoids. Fourteen different flavonoids isolated from honey were analysed by MECC and compared to the HPLC separations. It was difficult to find specific experimental conditions to separate all the flavonoids from honey in a single MEKC run. Three chromatographic conditions are optimized and, depending on the flavonoid markers sought in honey, the appropriate detection method should be chosen. Compared to the HPLC results, it is clear that CE could be an alternative technique in honey flavonoids analysis and particularly in the study of its geographical and floral origin.