Speciation Analysis of Inorganic Tin (Sn(II)/Sn(IV)) by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Following Ion-Exchange Separation

A new method based on anion exchange resin separation and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) detection is proposed for the determination of inorganic tin species. The result showed that Sn(IV) was quantitatively retained on the resin when [HCl] = 9.0 mol · L⁻¹, but Sn(II) could not be adsorbed on the resin under the same condition. Thus, a separation of Sn(II) and Sn(IV) has been realized. When the concentration of NaOH solution was between 2.0–7.0 mol · L⁻¹, Sn(IV) that adsorbed on the resin could be eluated from the resin completely. Meanwhile, under the atmosphere and the nitrogen states, the translation between Sn(II) and Sn(IV) was investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of Sn(IV) is 0.40 μg · L⁻¹ with RSD of 2.3% (n = 5, c = 2.0 μg · L⁻¹). The proposed method was applied to the speciation analysis of tin in different water samples and the recovery of total Sn was in the range of 98.7–101.7%. In order to verify the accuracy of the method, a certified reference water sample was analyzed and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified value.     

Synthesis and characterization of isotopically enriched methylmercury (CH3201Hg+)

A simple procedure for the synthesis of an important standard, isotopically enriched methylmercury, which is not commercially available, has been established successfully. The isotopically enriched standard synthesized is utilized in conventional isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), as well as in speciated IDMS (SIDMS), for determination of the true concentration of methylmercury in environmental samples. The CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺ standard has been synthesized from commercially available ²⁰¹HgO and tetramethyltin. The synthesis time required is 1 h at 60°C. The product is highly pure, yielding more than 90% as ²⁰¹Hg in CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺. Hazardous dimethylmercury does not occur during this synthesis procedure. The product synthesized was analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and ICP‐MS alone in order to determine its concentration, isotopic composition and purity. The stability of the product was also evaluated for over 6 months and found to be stable at 4°C in the dark. The isotopically enriched methylmercury synthesized can be used in SIDMS and IDMS analyses as a standard. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On an approach to the study of the Jaynes–Cummings sum in quantum optics

A new approach to the study of the Jaynes–Cummings sum, which determines the atomic inversion in quantum model of a single two-level atom interacting with a single mode of the quantized radiation field, based on the number theory theorems on approximation of trigonometric sums is presented.      

The prediction of coal properties using compressed infrared data from osculating polynomials

Reduction of the representation of infrared spectra from coal samples by osculating polynomials of degree nine is discussed. The reduced representation contains polynomial coefficients of order zero to four. Mathematical models of the original spectra are obtained by linear combination of the coefficients. These compressed models are statistically correlated to coal properties, namely, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, heating value, hydrogen, carbon, sulphur, nitrogen, and maximum vitrinite reflectance, and the results are compared with those previously obtained from second derivatives of the same spectra. The use of compressed data, while giving slightly better correlations for some of the properties, has the advantage of requiring less computational time.     

Two new asterosaponins from the starfish Asterias rubens: application of a cryogenic NMR probe head

We report two new asterosaponins from the Baltic starfish Asterias rubens along with their ¹H and ¹³C NMR data. The compounds were isolated after on‐flow liquid chromatography–NMR–mass spectrometry screening indicated that they had not been identified before. The one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments used to elucidate the structures were recorded using a 5 mm cryogenic probe head. The advantages of cryogenic probes for this kind of examination in comparison with conventional probe heads are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-Throughput Screening of Ten Microcystins and Nodularins, Cyanobacterial Peptide Hepatotoxins, by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry was evaluated in the high-throughput analysis of microcystins and nodularins, cyanobacterial peptide hepatotoxins. Extracts originating from cyanobacterial strains and field material were separated on a 30 mm × 4 mm I.D. Merck Purospher STAR RP-18e column using a rapid gradient of aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile, ionised by electrospray technique and analysed on a Micromass Quattro II triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in the selected ion recording (SIR) mode. The total analysis time per sample was 2.8 min corresponding to 514 samples a day. The system showed good robustness during a series of 320 repetitive injections of a field sample containing three major microcystins.     

热等离子体裂解天然气制备C2烃

采用氮气热等离子体来裂解天然气制备乙炔乙烯,着重研究了天然气转化率和乙炔、乙烯收率随氮气流量和天然气流量的变化.结果表明,天然气流量与氮气流量之比为11时,可得到较好的结果.当等离子体功率为15kW、天然气流量为3Nm3*h-1、氮气流量为3Nm3*h-1时得到最好的结果.这时天然气转化率为57%,乙炔、乙烯的收率分别为34%和9%;乙炔在反应气中的体积浓度为7.5%,与部分氧化法相似;扣除不参加反应的氮气,乙炔在气相产品中的体积浓度为13.2%,与热力学平衡计算结果基本符合.     

Level shift operators for open quantum systems

Level shift operators describe the second-order displacement of eigenvalues under perturbation. They play a central role in resonance theory and ergodic theory of open quantum systems at positive temperatures. We exhibit intrinsic properties of level shift operators, properties which stem from the structure of open quantum systems at positive temperatures and which are common to all such systems. They determine the geometry of resonances bifurcating from eigenvalues of positive temperature Hamiltonians and they relate the Gibbs state, the kernel of level shift operators, and zero energy resonances. We show that degeneracy of energy levels of the small part of the open quantum system causes the Fermi Golden Rule Condition to be violated and we analyze ergodic properties of such systems.