Organic fuelled flames in selective ionization detectors for chromatography

Summary The selectivities of two flame-based ionization detectors identified as a Remote FID (RFID) and a Flame Thermionic Ionization Detector (FTID) have been improved by introducing methane as a fuel for the flame. Both the RFID and FTID feature a detector struture in which the ionization polarizer and collector are located several centimeters downstream of an oxygen-rich flame, rather than immediately adjacent to the flame as in a flame ionization detector. The RFID detects long-lived negative ions produced in the flame by the combustion of lead, tin, phosphorus, or silicon compounds. The FTID re-ionizes and detects neutral electronegative products generated by combustion of nitrogen, halogen, or phosphorus compounds. An organic-fuelled RFID can detect 1 pg Pb (Sn, P)/sec with a selectivity of the order of 10⁶ versus hydrocarbons. An organic fuelled FTID is applicable to detection of compounds at nanogram and higher levels. FTID selectivity for PCB compounds in a transformer oil matrix is of the order of 10⁵1. The improved selectivity achieved by using an organic-fuelled flame is also applicable to the detection of phospholipid and other non-volatile N, P, or Cl compounds using an FID/FTID detector accessory for a TLC/FID analyser.     

Determination of partition behavior of organic surrogates between paperboard packaging materials and air

The suitability of recycled paperboard packaging materials for direct food contact applications is a major area of investigation. Chemical contaminants (surrogates) partitioning between recycled paper packaging and foods may affect the safety and health of the consumer. The partition behavior of all possible organic compounds between cardboards and individual foodstuffs is difficult and too time consuming for being fully investigated. Therefore it may be more efficient to determine these partition coefficients indirectly through experimental determination of the partitioning behavior between cardboard samples and air. In this work, the behavior of organic pollutants present in a set of two paper and board samples intended to be in contact with foods was studied. Adsorption isotherms have been plotted and partition coefficients between paper and air have been calculated as a basis for the estimation of their migration potential into food. Values of partition coefficients (Kpaper/air) from 47 to 1207 were obtained at different temperatures. For the less volatile surrogates such as dibutyl phthalate and methyl stearate higher Kpaper/air values were obtained. The adsorption curves showed that the more volatile substances are partitioning mainly in air phase and increasing the temperature from 70 to 100 degrees C their concentrations in air (Cair) have almost doubled. The analysis of surrogates was performed with a method based on solvent extraction and gas chromatographic-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) quantification.     

Determination of polar organic compounds by potentiometry at an anodically pretreated nickel oxide electrode

The open-circuit potential drop of an oxidatively pretreated nickel electrode in 0.1 M NaOH was used to develop a technique for the determination of alcohols, amino acids, carbohydrates, etc., in aqueous solution. The electrode pretreatment consisted of the formation of nickel hydrated oxides on the electrode surface with an oxidation state > 2. Both electrochemical and chemical pre-oxidation of the electrode surface were examined. The analytical signal was the enhancement of the potential drop corresponding to analyte concentration. The analytical signal was linearly related to the logarithm of the analyte concentration. The limits of determination ranged from 1 mM for low-molecular-weight to 0.02 mM for alkyl polyether alcohols. The flow-injection technique allows convenient pretreatment and direct observation of the analytical signal. Interferences from chloride and calcium can be readily eliminated by excluding them during electrode pretreatment. Potentiometric measurements were correlated with amperometric anodic responses at the nickel oxide electrode, allowing an unusual direct comparison of the two methods.     

Preparation and application of cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal gas-chromatographic detector

A re-usable and sensitive cryptand-22-coated quartz-crystal membrane piezoelectric sensor with a homemade computer interface for signal acquisition and data processing was prepared and applied as a gas-chromatographic (GC) detector for various organic molecules. The oscillating frequency of the quartz crystal decreased due to the adsorption of organic molecules on cryptand-22. Effects of functional group, molar mass, steric hindrance and polarity of organic molecules on frequency responses of the cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal detector were investigated. The cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal GC detector had demonstrated high sensitivity for various polar organic molecules and good reproducibility when re-used. The frequency responses of the cryptand-coated crystal for various molecules were in the following order: carboxylic acids (RCOOH)primary amines (R-NH₂)>alcohols (ROH)>secondary amines (R₂NH)>tertiary amines (R₃N)>ketones. More polar molecules exhibited better frequency responses. The effect of temperature and amount of coating on the frequency responses of cryptand-coated crystal GC detector were also investigated. The cryptand-coated piezoelectric crystal GC detector compared well with the commercial thermal conductivity detector (TCD).     

Unraveling the mystery of efficacy in Chinese medicine formula: New approaches and technologies for research on pharmacodynamic substances

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the key to unlock treasures of Chinese civilization. TCM and its compound play a beneficial role in medical activities to cure diseases, especially in major public health events such as novel coronavirus epidemics across the globe. The chemical composition in Chinese medicine formula is complex and diverse, but their effective substances resemble “mystery boxes”. Revealing their active ingredients and their mechanisms of action has become focal point and difficulty of research for herbalists. Although the existing research methods are numerous and constantly updated iteratively, there is remain a lack of prospective reviews. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive account of existing new approaches and technologies based on previous studies with an in vitro to in vivo perspective. In addition, the bottlenecks of studies on Chinese medicine formula effective substances are also revealed. Especially, we look ahead to new perspectives, technologies and applications for its future development. This work reviews based on new perspectives to open horizons for the future research. Consequently, herbal compounding pharmaceutical substances study should carry on the essence of TCM while pursuing innovations in the field.     

氧弹燃烧灰化法测定有机物中磷

用氧弹燃烧法灰化有机物进行元素测定，操作简便，快速，无污染，该方法用于有机物中磷的分析，结果可靠。     

双(6-溴代-9-乙基-咔唑-3-基)甲苯基碘盐的合成

双(9-乙基-咔唑-3-基)甲苯基碘盐是一种性能优良的有机光电导体增感剂.本文合成了双(6-溴代-9-乙基-咔唑-3-基)甲苯基碘盐,其分子结构通过红外、核磁、质谱和元素分析得到证实.初步实验表明该染料具有较宽范围的光谱响应,与聚 N-乙烯基咔唑(简称 PVK)相配合具有优良的光敏性能.     

Application of differential scanning calorimetry in food research and food quality assurance

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is the most widely used thermal analytical technique in food research and it has a great utility in quality assurance of food. Proteins are the most studied food components by thermal analysis including studies on conformation changes of food proteins as affected by various environmental factors, thermal denaturation of tissue proteins, food enzymes and enzyme preparations for the food industry, as well as effects of various additives on their thermal properties. Freezing-induced denaturation of food proteins and the effect of cryoprotectants are also monitored by DSC. Polymer characterization based on DSC of polysaccharides, gelatinization behaviour of starches and interaction of starch with other food components can be determined, and phase transitions during baking processes can be studied by DSC. Studies on crystallization and melting behaviour of fats observed by DSC indicate changes in lipid composition or help characterizing products. Thermal oxidative decomposition of edible oils examined by DSC can be used for predicting oil stability. Using DSC in the freezing range has a great potential for measuring and modelling frozen food thermal properties, and to estimate the state of water in foods and food ingredients. Research in food microbiology utilizes DSC in better understanding thermoadaptive mechanisms or heat killing of food-borne microorganisms. Isothermic microcalorimetric techniques provide informative data regarding microbial growth and microbial metabolism.     

Simultaneous extraction of organotin, organolead and organomercury species from soils and litter

Extracting organotin compounds (OTC) from soils is difficult due to the high cation exchange and complexation capacity of soils, and little information about OTC in soils is available. In this study, a new extraction method, combining 1 M CaCl₂, 0.1% tropolone, and glacial acetic acid was developed. Recoveries of mono-substituted OTC from spiked plant litter, and soil samples were improved substantially to 40% compared to classical glacial acetic acid extraction commonly used in sedimentology, yielding <10% recovery in C-rich soil samples. Simultaneously, the recovery of other OTC, trimethyllead and monomethylmercury was satisfactory. The recoveries of most species from the spiked litter, upland and wetland soils exceeded 70%. The new method extracted much more organometallics from unspiked organic soils and litter than microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction, most likely due to exchange of organometallics from the solid phase by Ca²⁺. The method is simple, highly efficient and with low contamination. Together with GC-ICP-mass spectrometry, the method allows the detection of these organometallics in the pg g⁻¹ range and it is particularly suitable for soil and plant materials with low organometallics contents.     

南瓜籽烘烤前后化学成分的分析

对烘烤前后南瓜籽中的化学成分进行分析并对比。采用同时蒸馏萃取装置萃取南瓜籽中的挥发性成分,采取超临界CO2萃取技术萃取南瓜籽油脂,并将其分为酸、碱、中性三个部分,用气相色谱-质谱联用方法分析其中化学成分并进行对比。结果表明,南瓜籽挥发性成分中含有多种醛类和酯类化合物,烘烤后产生了大量的烷基吡嗪,其在碱性部分中的相对含量比烘烤前提高14倍多,不饱和醛类化合物含量也有明显提高。南瓜籽油脂中的主要化学成分是油酸、亚油酸及其酯类。还含有生物活性功能成分如植物甾醇、角鲨烯和维生素E等。烘烤后除角鲨烯含量有所降低,维生素E、植物甾醇、亚麻酸等均有提高。