Determination of the sulfur components of gasoline streams by capillary column gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection

A method using a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD) has been developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of sulfur components in stabilized gasoline-range process streams, including blended gasolines containing between 1 and > 4000 ppm total sulfur. The detection limit per sulfur component was approximately 50 ppb. On-column injection was employed for optimum precision and accuracy. A new probe material was found which did not soften under FID operating conditions. A new method, using a hydrogen sulfide permeation tube, was developed for rapid alignment of the probe in the FID.     

New approach to linear gradient elution used for optimisation in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A new mathematical treatment concerning the gradient elution in reversed-phase liquid chromatography when the volume fraction psi of an organic modifier in the water-organic mobile phase varies linearly with time is presented. The experimental ln k versus psi curve, where k is the retention factor under isocratic conditions in a binary mobile phase, is subdivided into a finite number of linear portions and the solute gradient retention time tR is calculated by means of an analytical expression arising from the fundamental equation of gradient elution. The validity of the proposed analytical expression and the methodology followed for the calculation of tR was tested using eight catechol-related solutes with mobile phases modified by methanol or acetonitrile. It was found that in all cases the accuracy of the predicted gradient retention times is very satisfactory because it is the same with the accuracy of the retention times predicted under isocratic conditions. Finally, the above method for estimating gradient retention times was used in an optimisation algorithm, which determines the best variation pattern of psi that leads to the optimum separation of a mixture of solutes at different values of the total elution time.     

High-sensitivity analyses of metabolites in biological samples by capillary electrophoresis using dynamic pH junction-sweeping

Emerging fields of biochemical research, such as metabolomics, present challenges to current separation technologies because of the large number of metabolites present in a cell and their often low (submicromolar) concentration. Although capillary electrophoresis (CE) holds great promise as the method of choice for high-resolution separations of biological samples, it suffers from poor concentration sensitivity, especially with the use of UV detection. In CE, sweeping and dynamic pH junction represent two complementary on-line focusing techniques that have been used for sensitivity enhancement of hydrophobic and weakly acidic analytes, respectively. However, the application of either the sweeping or dynamic pH junction technique alone might, in some cases, be less effective for the analysis of certain sample mixtures. Recent work in the development of a hyphenated dynamic pH junction-sweeping technique is presented as an effective on-line method of preconcentration suitable for both hydrophilic (anionic) and hydrophobic (neutral) analytes. Sensitive analyses of flavin metabolites by CE with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection is demonstrated in various biological matrixes, including cell extracts of Bacillus subtilis, pooled human plasma, as well as heat-deproteinized flavoenzymes. Enhanced analyte band narrowing and improved sensitivity is achieved for flavins using dynamic pH junction-sweeping compared to either sweeping or dynamic pH junction alone. This results in over a 1200-fold improvement in sensitivity relative to conventional injection methods, giving a limit of detection (LOD, defined as S/N = 3) of about 4.0 x 10(-12) M. Strategies for sensitive and more comprehensive analyses of other cell metabolites, including nucleotides, coenzymes, and steroids, are also discussed when using on-line focusing techniques in conjunction with multiplexed CE and UV detection.     

Splitless on-line coupling of capillary high-performance liquid chromatography,capillary electrochromatography and pressurized capillary electrochromatography with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A mixture of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters was separated with a new splitless capillary set-up. With the employed apparatus configuration different capillary separation techniques such as capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (cHPLC), capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) could be applied. The detection and identification of the sample compounds were accomplished by hyphenating these capillary separation techniques with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using a novel configuration of the detection capillary set-up. Using modified electrokinetically driven separation techniques, the electric field was applied solely across the separation column. With this improved interface for capillary liquid chromatography-NMR on-line coupling, the stereochemical assignment of the cis and trans configuration of unsaturated fatty acids could be easily accomplished. Finally, the results of cHPLC-NMR, CEC-NMR and pCEC-NMR coupling experiments were compared.Dedicated to Professor Günter Häfelinger on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Alysis of the volatile constituents of food by headspace GC-MS with reversal of the carrier gas flow during sampling

A technique has been developed for performing headspace GC-MS analysis of volatile components of food, in which the carrier gas flow is reversed during sampling in order to overcome problems caused by the diffusion of substances not retained by the cold trap. Chromatographic profiles of volatile compounds from cheeses, obtained at room temperature, provide confirmation of the validity of the reversed flow technique, and the versatility of the system is evidenced by its successful application to both solid and liquid matrixes: the absence of any discrimination against the various components reveals its efficacy for compounds with a wide range of volatility. Addition of internal standards to the sample enables the use of the technique for quantitative analysis.     

一种转基因猪血中重组人血清白蛋白分离纯化新方法

基因工程技术已经成为研究和生产重组人血清白蛋白(rHSA)替代人血清白蛋白(HSA)的重点技术,而白蛋白的纯化则是该技术的关键。本文主要介绍了从转基因猪血中纯化rHSA的一种新方法,即热乙醇沉淀与多级色谱分离相结合的rHSA纯化方法。热乙醇沉淀法可从猪血浆中获得rHSA粗提取液,此时rHSA的纯度可达69.5%,回收率达51.3%。进一步采用多级色谱分离法,即阴离子交换色谱和反相色谱法进一步纯化,得到rHSA的最终纯度约为100.0%,总回收率为41.1%。该方法为从转基因猪血浆中大规模纯化用于临床和生化研究的高纯度rHSA提供可能,同时也为rHSA替代HSA奠定了基础。     

A photophysical study of the urea effect on micellar properties of sodium dodecylsulfate aqueous solutions

With the aim of studying the effect of urea on micellar properties of aqueous solutions of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), steadystate fluorescence experiments were carried out with different luminescence probes incorporated into the micellar phase. The increase of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant with urea addition was followed by changes in the relative intensities of the vibrational fine structure of the pyrene fluorescence spectra. Micellar aggregation numbers were obtained from the analysis of fluorescence quenching data using ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) chloride and 9-mehylanthracene as a donorquencher pair. It was found that the decrease in the aggregation number is mainly controlled by rise in the surface area per headgroup of the surfactant. From fluorescence measurements, using several ionic probes (8-anilino-1-naphthalen-sulfonic acid, rhodamine B, and auramine O), it was found that urea decreases the polarity and increases the microviscosity of the micellar interface. These effects, which are dependent on the concentration of urea, can be explained according to a direct interaction of urea at the micellar surface.     

Evaluation of soybean seed protein extraction focusing on metalloprotein analysis

Two methods of protein extraction for soybean seeds were evaluated in terms of preservation of the metal ions bound to proteins after the extraction and separation procedures. The proteins were firstly separated according to their molar masses by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Then, the protein bands were mapped by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence in order to establish which metal ions were present in each one. Finally, some mapped protein bands were decomposed by microwave-assisted combustion and Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The extraction methods studied were Method A (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with hexane and their extraction with Tris–HCl and β-mercaptoethanol) and Method B (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with petroleum ether and their extraction with Tris–HCl, dithiothreitol, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, sodium dodecyl sulfate and potassium chloride). The best method was Method B, in which a 78% higher extraction efficiency was obtained when compared to Method A. Additionally, the metal-protein interactions were more appropriately preserved when Method B was applied, where the most affected ions were those that are bound weakly to proteins, such as Ca, K, and Mg.     

MEASUREMENTS OF CHAIN INTERPENETRATION OF POLYMER GLASSES

The concept of entanglement provides the basis of our current understanding of the flow behavior of polymer melts, Current techniques developed to investigate the degree of interpenetration of polymer chains only provide indirectly the information of the degree of entanglement in a relatively large scale （several to tens of nanometer）. In this article, we report ^1H-NMR spectroscopy with dipolar filters under fast magic angle spinning for probing chain interpenetration of polymer glasses at the molecular level.     

Analysis of trace elements and their physico-chemical forms in natural waters

Trace elements in natural waters can be present in different physico-chemical forms, varying in size, charge and density properties. Knowledge of speciation is essential for understanding the transport, distribution, and biological uptake of trace elements in the environment. The development of techniques to provide reliable information on physico-chemical forms has, therefore, become a challenge within Analytical Chemistry.When selecting analytical methods for the determination of total concentrations or fractions of trace elements in natural waters, no exclusion of species should occur, or at least it must be accounted for. Furthermore, the determination limits must be sufficiently low to allow the actual concentrations to be determined with reasonable precision and accuracy. For very low concentrations, preconcentration techniques are applicable, provided the chemical yield of the spike represents that of the original species present. For methods meeting these criteria, the suitability for routine analysis should be considered.When the physico-chemical forms of trace elements are to be determined, the fractionation should take placein situ or shortly after sampling. As the concentrations involved in speciation studies may be extremely low, there is an increasing awareness of potential sources of errors influencing analytical results. Sample collection and separation/fractionation/concentration procedures prior to analysis are, therefore, essential within Analytical Chemistry, and the whole procedure must be taken into account when interpreting the results. There are, however, several requirements which should be met by techniques applicable for speciation purposes. In general, size fractionation techniques (e.g.in situ hollow fibre ultrafiltration) should be applied prior to the addition of any chemical reagents (charge fractionation techniques).