Trace anion determination in concentrated hydrofluoric acid solutions by two-dimensional ion chromatography II. Method performance study with a hydroxide eluent and a low noise suppressor

The two-dimensional ion exclusion chromatography/ion chromatography (ICE-IC) approach is considered to be the method of choice for the determination of trace anions in concentrated hydrofluoric acid (48-50%, w/w). In order to achieve lower detection limits, this method was for the first time used with electrolytically generated and purified hydroxide eluents in combination with a low noise electrochemical suppressor. Compared to carbonate based eluents, the achieved gain in peak height sensitivity for chloride, sulfate, nitrate and phosphate is a factor of 6, 7, 16 and 13, respectively. The instrumental detection limits, based on the background noise, are 2, 0.2, 0.4 and 1.4 microg/kg HF 50% (w/w) for the same anions. Their method detection limits, calculated according to SEMI, are all within the 6-10microg/kg HF 50% (w/w) range and thus at least 10 times lower than the current Tier C grade requirements. The chromatographic run time could be shortened with some 10 min by the use of a relatively fast high-capacity hydroxide selective anion exchange column.     

Oxidative addition of the ethane C-C bond to Pd. An ab initio benchmark and DFT validation study

We have computed a state-of-the-art benchmark potential energy surface (PES) for the archetypal oxidative addition of the ethane C-C bond to the palladium atom and have used this to evaluate the performance of 24 popular density functionals, covering LDA, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid density functionals, for describing this reaction. The ab initio benchmark is obtained by exploring the PES using a hierarchical series of ab initio methods [HF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T)] in combination with a hierarchical series of five Gaussian-type basis sets, up to g polarization. Relativistic effects are taken into account either through a relativistic effective core potential for palladium or through a full four-component all-electron approach. Our best estimate of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters is -10.8 (-11.3) kcal/mol for the formation of the reactant complex, 19.4 (17.1) kcal/mol for the activation energy relative to the separate reactants, and -4.5 (-6.8) kcal/mol for the reaction energy (zero-point vibrational energy-corrected values in parentheses). Our work highlights the importance of sufficient higher angular momentum polarization functions for correctly describing metal-d-electron correlation. Best overall agreement with our ab initio benchmark is obtained by functionals from all three categories, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid DFT, with mean absolute errors of 1.5 to 2.5 kcal/mol and errors in activation energies ranging from -0.2 to -3.2 kcal/mol. Interestingly, the well-known BLYP functional compares very reasonably with a slight underestimation of the overall barrier by -0.9 kcal/mol. For comparison, with B3LYP we arrive at an overestimation of the overall barrier by 5.8 kcal/mol. On the other hand, B3LYP performs excellently for the central barrier (i.e., relative to the reactant complex) which it underestimates by only -0.1 kcal/mol.     

LOWLAD: a locally weightedL 1 smoothing spline algorithm with cross validated choice of smoothing parameters

The computation ofL ₁ smoothing splines on large data sets is often desirable, but computationally infeasible. A locally weighted, LAD smoothing spline based smoother is suggested, and preliminary results will be discussed. Specifically, one can seek smoothing splines in the spacesW _m (D), with [0, 1] ⁿ D. We assume data of the formy _i =f(t _i )+ _i ,i=1,..., N with {t _i } _i=1 ^N D, the _i are errors withE( _i )=0, andf is assumed to be inW _m . An LAD smoothing spline is the solution,s , of the following optimization problem

AnL 1 smoothing spline algorithm with cross validation

We propose an algorithm for the computation ofL ₁ (LAD) smoothing splines in the spacesW _M (D), with . We assume one is given data of the formy _i =(f(t _i ) + _i , i=1,...,N with {itt_i} _i=1 ^{N D} , the _i are errors withE( _i )=0, andf is assumed to be inW _M . The LAD smoothing spline, for fixed smoothing parameter0, is defined as the solution,s , of the optimization problem (1/N) _i=1 ^N ¦y _i –g(t _i ¦+J _M (g), whereJ _M (g) is the seminorm consisting of the sum of the squaredL ₂ norms of theMth partial derivatives ofg. Such an LAD smoothing spline,s , would be expected to give robust smoothed estimates off in situations where the _i are from a distribution with heavy tails. The solution to such a problem is a thin plate spline of known form. An algorithm for computings is given which is based on considering a sequence of quadratic programming problems whose structure is guided by the optimality conditions for the above convex minimization problem, and which are solved readily, if a good initial point is available. The data driven selection of the smoothing parameter is achieved by minimizing aCV() score of the form .The combined LAD-CV smoothing spline algorithm is a continuation scheme in 0 taken on the above SQPs parametrized in, with the optimal smoothing parameter taken to be that value of at which theCV() score first begins to increase. The feasibility of constructing the LAD-CV smoothing spline is illustrated by an application to a problem in environment data interpretation.     

Optimization and validation of an enzyme immunoassay for the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantitative detection of the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb. Polyclonal rabbit antisera, raised against protein conjugates of four haptenic derivatives of fenoxycarb, were utilized in immobilized antigen-based, competitive immunoassays. With ELISA systems that were both hapten- and carrier-heterologous, most antiserum titers fell in the range of 1:1000-1:30,000. Assay conditions, including concentrations of antisera and coating antigens, were optimized. The effect of pH, organic solvents, and various blocking agents was also investigated. A hapten-homologous and two hapten-heterologous indirect ELISAs allowed fenoxycarb determination in the range of 0.1-85 ng ml⁻¹ with apparent IC₅₀ values of 1.2-2.8 ng ml⁻¹. Cross-reactivities with a number of compounds (e.g. pesticides of related structure, hapten synthesis intermediates, fenoxycarb metabolite, photodegradation products) were determined, and the assay proved highly selective for fenoxycarb. In particular, no significant interference was found with selected pyrethroid and juvenile hormone analog insecticides, phenoxyacetic acid herbicides, and photodegradation products of fenoxycarb. Using spiked water samples, assay performance was validated by SPME/GC-MS.     

Evaluation of measurement uncertainty for analytical procedures using a linear calibration function

In the EURACHEM/CITAC draft ”Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement” estimations of measurement uncertainty in analytical results for linear calibration are given. In this work these estimations are compared, i.e. the uncertainty deduced from repeated observations of the sample vs. the uncertainty deduced from the standard residual deviation of the regression. As a result of this study it is shown that an uncertainty estimation based on repeated observations can give more realistic values if the condition of variance homogeneity is not correctly fulfilled in the calibration range. The complete calculation of measurement uncertainty including assessment of trueness is represented by an example concerning the determination of zinc in sediment samples using ICP-atomic emission spectrometry. Received: 9 February 2002 Accepted: 17 April 2002     

Validation steps for traceability of linear calibrated chemical measurements

Based on the new draft of the EURACHEM/CITAC Guide Traceability in Chemical Measurement, this publication describes how traceability can be achieved for chemical measurements using a linear calibration function. Traceability can be accomplished without larger expenditure, if the measurement is calibrated on the basis of appropriate reference standards and the linear regression employed is selected and validated statistically in a suitable form. The determination of nickel in aqua regia eluates of sediment samples, employed for an ICP-OES measurement, is used as a practical illustration of this approach.     

Validation of a screening method for the simultaneous identification of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins (A,E, B<Subscript>1</Subscript>, B<Subscript>2</Subscript> and B<Subscript>6</Subscript>) in an aqueous micellar medium of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride

Simultaneous determination of the fat-soluble vitamins A and E and the water-soluble vitamins B₁, B₂ and B₆ has been carried using a screening method from fluorescence contour graphs. These graphs show different colour zones in relation to the fluorescence intensity measured for the pair of excitation/emission wavelengths. The identification of the corresponding excitation/emission wavelength zones allows the detection of different vitamins in an aqueous medium regardless of the fat or water solubility of each vitamin, owing to the presence of a surfactant which forms micelles in water at the used concentration (over the critical micelle concentration). The micelles dissolve very water insoluble compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, inside the aggregates. This approach avoids the use of organic solvents in determining these vitamins and offers the possibility of analysing fat- and water-soluble vitamins simultaneously. The method has been validated in terms of detection limit, cut-off limit, sensitivity, number of false positives, number of false negatives and uncertainty range. The detection limit is about g L^–1. The screening method was applied to different samples such as pharmaceuticals, juices and isotonic drinks.     

Performance validation of step-isothermal calorimeters

Isothermal calorimetry is becoming indispensable as a tool for the study of a wide variety of systems. As with all scientific instruments it is essential that robust calibration routines be developed in order to validate the data obtained. Chemical test reactions offer many advantages over (the traditionally used) joule effect heating methods, not least because they have the potential to validate instrument performance (i.e. they can be used to assess all aspects of calorimeter operation). In this work the results of a validation exercise, conducted by Thermal Hazard Technology as part of an installation routine, using the base catalysed hydrolysis of methyl paraben are discussed. In the case described, a systematic misreporting of the reported temperature of a calorimeter was identified, caused by an upgrade to the calorimeter's firmware, a discrepancy which may not have been noted using traditional electrical calibration methods and one which highlights the importance of both manufacturers and end-users adopting chemical test reactions into their test and validation routines.     

BCEIA 2001学术报告会论文作者调查研究

对BCEIA2001学术报告会论文作者问卷调查资料进行统计分析，我国从事分析测试科研活动的人员以青年人为主，且具有高学历、高职称的特点；分析测试领域的科研活动主要集中在北京、湖北、辽宁、广东、上海等省市；分析测试领域的研究主要涉及分析测试物质的成份、结构以及提高分析测试质量；当前分析测试领域的研究热点在化学／化工、环保、生物技术、卫星／临床、制药等领域；分析测试领域研究工作的资金主要来源于各种基金的支持。