Methane production from synthesis gas using a mixed culture ofR. rubrum M. barkeri,and M. formicicum

The components of synthesis gas, CO, H₂, and CO₂, may be converted into CH₄ biologically through either acetate or H₂/CO₂ as intermediates. Of these two routes, conversion through H₂/CO₂ is preferred. This paper presents results of mixed-culture studies employing the photosynthetic bacteriumR. rubrum for converting CO to CO₂ and H₂ by the water gas shift reaction and two methanogens,M. formicicum andM. barkeri, for converting CO₂ and H₂ into CH₄. Results are presented for triculture operation in two types of reactors, the packed bubble column and the trickle-bed reactor.     

Effect of column diameter on efficiency in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

Fused silica capillary columns with internal diameters from 100 to 25 μm were coated with SE-54 and evaluated under supercritical fluid chromatographic conditions using carbon dioxide as mobile phase. Experimental results compared well with theoretical predictions. At ten times the optimum mobile phase velocity and for a capacity factor, k of 3, efficiencies of 2300 to 5600 plates m^?1 were obtained for column diameters of 100 to 25 μm, respectively.     

Characterization of plant oils on a monolithic silica column by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical lonization-mass spectrometry

Summary Five plant oils (peanut, pumpkin seed, sesame seed, soybean, and wheat germ) have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). Gradient elution was performed with acetone-acetonitrile mobile phases on a short monolithic silica column (SilicaROD, RP-18e, 50 mm×4.6 mm). Identification of plant oil triacylglycerols (TAG) was based on the pseudomolecular ion [M+H]⁺ and the diacylglycerol [M−RCO₂]⁺ fragments. Positional isomers of triacylglycerols were identified from the relative intensities of the [M-RCO₂]⁺ fragments. Principal-component analysis, used to find similarities and differences between the different oils, indicated that the different plant oils could be clearly differentiated according to their triacylglycerol composition. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001     

An automated analyzer for vancomycin in plasma samples by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

An automated analyzer for vancomycin in rat plasma by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection was developed. The method includes in-line extraction of vancomycin by ion-exchange cartridge column and a separation on a reversed-phase column with UV detection at 215 nm. Plasma samples were diluted by mobile phase solution and directly injected to HPLC. Vancomycin was quantitatively recovered from rat plasma samples. The separation was completed within 15 min. The calibration curve was linear over the range from 0.5 to 100 microg/mL with the detection and quantification limits of 0.5 microg/mL (2.5 ng on column; signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The values of precision in intra- and inter-day assays (n = 3) were less than 1.92 and 3.69%, respectively. This method does not require time-consuming pre-treatment and is suitable for the routine assay of plasma samples.     

Capillary and packed column SFC/MS

A frit restrictor interface for capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SFC/MS) has been constructed and used for the analysis of high boiling point alkanes. Packed column SFC/MS is described using both a moving belt liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric interface and a thermospray source in the filament-on mode.     

Enhancing the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis using a microcolumn solid phase extraction setup

In this paper, a setup called micro‐column solid phase extraction (MicroSPE) was developed to enhance the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis. The setup consists of a manual pump, several insulin syringes, and a Teflon extraction cartridge. The cartridge was made of 2–4 mm irregular C₁₈ solid phase materials in a Teflon tube (375 μm ID) with glass fiber frits. Two pieces of capillary tubing were connected to both the ends of the cartridge. Using sulindac‐spiked urine as the test sample, the extraction and analytical conditions were investigated in detail. When 1 μL 70/30 methanol/water was applied as the elution solvent, satisfactory results could be obtained. The internal standard method was used to quantitatively determine the compound in urine. The detection limit for sulindac was 2.9 ng/mL and the enrichment factor reaches more than 260. The result illustrates that the MicroSPE setup has a significant concentrating effect and is suitable for preconcentrating and cleaning‐up samples with complex matrices.     

Adsorption Characteristics of Pb(II) and Cr(III) onto C‐4‐Methoxyphenylcalix[4]Resorcinarene in Batch and Fixed Bed Column Systems

A study on the adsorption characteristics of Pb(II) and Cr(III) cations onto C‐4‐methoxyphenylcalix‐[4]resorcinarene (CMPCR) in batch and fixed bed column systems has been conducted. CMPCR was produced by one step synthesis from resorcinol, 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde, and HCl. The synthesis was carried out at 78 °C for 24 hours and afforded the adsorbent in 85.7% as a 3:2 mixture of C_4ν:C_2ν isomer. Most parameters in batch and fixed bed column systems confirm that CMPCR is a good adsorbent for Pb(II) and Cr(III), though Pb(II) adsorption was more favorable than that of Cr(III). The adsorption kinetic of Pb(II) and Cr(III) adsorptions in batch and fixed bed column systems followed a pseudo 2ⁿ order kinetics model. The rate constant of Pb(II) was higher than that of Cr(III) in the batch system, but this result was contrary to the result obtained in a fixed bed column system. Desorption studies to recover the adsorbed Pb(II) and Cr(III) were performed sequentially with distilled water and HCl, and the results showed that the adsorption was dominated by chemisorption.     

Separation of fatty acid methyl esters by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with packed columns and programming of sampling duration

Fatty acid methyl esters from various fats and oils were separated by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with conventional packed columns and FID detection. The first dimension was a silica gel column and the second dimension was an ODS column. This combination was largely orthogonal for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters. The first dimension separations were primarily based on the number of double bonds while the second dimension separations were based on the chain length. The highly-ordered chromatograms and improved resolution allowed the easy detection and identification of minor components. Although the first dimension separations were performed under isobaric conditions where the peak width increased in proportion to the retention, the programming of the sampling duration allowed us to maintain the optimum re-injection frequency (3–4 times) per peak into the second dimension and so to minimize the total analysis time without deteriorating the resolution.     

矩形截面毛细管电泳和二维分离

在石英单晶表面制成矩矩截面毛细管柱中进行电泳实验。由于矩形柱比圆形柱有更大散热侧面积且石英单晶的导热性能远无于熔融石英，所以可施加较高的场强，不仅提高了柱效，而且缩矩了分离时间。两相交的通道之间形成自然连接，可实现二维分离，并消除死体积。     

微流控芯片分析系统中硅胶整体柱和膜滤复合预处理单元的构建

以改性C18反相硅胶整体柱为微流控芯片分析系统中固相萃取介质材料, 构建不同功能单元的样品预处理微分析系统, 实现了血清样品中痕量盐酸多巴酚丁胺的富集. 初步构建了单一改性硅胶微柱固相萃取预处理单元, 测试得到了改性硅胶整体柱对血清中痕量盐酸多巴酚丁胺的平均富集倍数为77.2, RSD为12.35％. 为了提高测试的精密度, 进而设计含膜复合式预处理芯片, 探讨了不同预处理单元对血清样品中痕量盐酸多巴酚丁胺富集效率的影响, 优化设计了外接式硅胶整体柱-亲和膜微芯片固相萃取预处理单元, 复合式的反相硅胶整体柱对血清中微量盐酸多巴酚丁胺的平均富集倍数提高到89.4, RSD为4.37％. 结果显示了该预处理单元在血清中痕量药物富集的可行性和有效性.