Quantification of glycine betaine,choline and trimethylamine N-oxide in seawater particulates: Minimisation of seawater associated ion suppression

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS, electrospray ionisation) method has been developed for the quantification of nitrogenous osmolytes (N-osmolytes) in the particulate fraction of natural water samples. Full method validation demonstrates the validity of the method for measuring glycine betaine (GBT), choline and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in particulates from seawater. Limits of detection were calculated as 3.5, 1.2 and 5.9 pg injected onto column (equivalent to 1.5, 0.6 and 3.9 nmol per litre) for GBT, choline and TMAO respectively. Precision of the method was typically 3% for both GBT and choline and 6% for TMAO. Collection of the particulate fraction of natural samples was achieved via in-line filtration. Resulting chromatography and method sensitivity was assessed and compared for the use of both glass fibre and polycarbonate filters during sample collection. Ion suppression was shown to be a significant cause of reduced instrument response to N-osmolytes and was associated with the presence of seawater in the sample matrix.     

香豆素改性透明质酸颗粒乳化剂的制备及应用

利用7-(2-羟基乙氧基)-4-甲基香豆素(HEMC)疏水改性透明质酸(HA)制得光敏双亲大分子(HA-HEMC),并通过自组装形成了HA-HEMC胶体粒子。通过核磁共振氢谱和紫外分光光度计确定了HA-HEMC的结构及取代度;采用动态激光光散射、纳米粒度仪和透射电镜等手段对胶体粒子的性质及形貌进行了表征。进一步以HA-HEMC胶体粒子作为颗粒乳化剂稳定油水界面,研究了胶体粒子质量浓度、油相类型、水相pH和盐浓度对胶体粒子乳化性能的影响。结果表明:HA-HEMC可以在选择性溶剂中自组装形成粒径约为236nm的球形胶体粒子;该胶体粒子能够在较宽的pH范围内(3~11)稳定水包油型乳液且所得乳液有良好的耐盐性;此外,HAHEMC胶体粒子还能稳定多种油-水体系。     

Determination of Trace Amounts of Organic Pollutants in the Yellow River by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The trace organic pollutants in the Yellow River enriched by a solvent extraction method were pre-separated into four different fractions of fatty hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polar compounds and organic acids and were analyzed by the use of combined capillary column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Using the combined techniques of relative retention value, mass spectra and mass chromatogram, more than 60 organic pollutants were identified, among which 16 fatty hydrocarbons and 6 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which were quantitatively analyzed. The concentration range of fatty hydrocarbon was 5–800 ng/l, and that of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon was 0-90ng/l.     

离散系统通用动力学方程求解算法的研究进展

离散系统中的颗粒物在凝并、破碎、冷凝/蒸发、成核、沉积等事件作用下颗粒尺度分布的时间演变由通用动力学方程所描述.该方程为一典型的部分积分微分方程,普通数值方法难以求解.本文详细介绍了求解通用动力学方程的矩方法、分区法、离散法、离散-分区法、MonteCarlo方法等几种算法的原理、优缺点和最新的研究进展,并着重介绍了MonteCarlo算法,包括基于时间驱动Monte Carlo方法、基于事件驱动MonteCarlo方法、常数目法、常体积法以及多重Monte Carlo算法.      

An immersed‐boundary finite‐volume method for direct simulation of flows with suspended paramagnetic particles

In the present study, we have proposed an immersed‐boundary finite‐volume method for the direct numerical simulation of flows with inertialess paramagnetic particles suspended in a nonmagnetic fluid under an external magnetic field without the need for any model such as the dipole–dipole interaction. In the proposed method, the magnetic field (or force) is described by the numerical solution of the Maxwell equation without current, where the smoothed representation technique is employed to tackle the discontinuity of magnetic permeability across the particle–fluid interface. The flow field, on the other hand, is described by the solution of the continuity and momentum equations, where the discrete‐forcing‐based immersed‐boundary method is employed to satisfy the no‐slip condition at the interface. To validate the method, we performed numerical simulations on the two‐dimensional motion of two and three paramagnetic particles in a nonmagnetic fluid subjected to an external uniform magnetic field and then compared the results with the existing finite‐element and semi‐analytical solutions. Comparison shows that the proposed method is robust in the direct simulation of such magnetic particulate flows. This method can be extended to more general flows without difficulty: three‐dimensional particulate flows, flows with a great number of particles, or flows under an arbitrary external magnetic field. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variation of PM2.5 concentration in Hangzhou,China

This observational study investigates the variation of PM_2.5 concentration and its ratio against PM₁₀ concentration under different weather systems and pollution types.The study was conducted in Hangzhou on east China’s Yangtze River Delta using data collected at seven ambient air quality monitoring stations around the metropolitan area between 2006 and 2008 and using weather information in the same period, Nine predominant weather systems affecting the city were classified through careful analysis of the 11- year surface and upper air weather charts from 1996 to 2006,Each observational day was then assigned to one of the nine weather systems.It was found that the PM_2.5 concentration varied greatly for different weather systems,with the highest PM_2.5 concentration associated with the post-cold-frontal system at 0.091 mg/m³ and the lowest PM_2.5 concentration with the easterlies system at 0.038 mg/m³,although the PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio remained consistently above 0.5 for all systems.The post-cold-frontal system typically occurs in autumn and winter while the easterlies system is more a summer phenomenon.Among all types of pollution,the highest PM_2.5 concentration of 0.117 mg/m³ coincided with the large-scale continuous pollution events,suggesting that this type of pollution was more conducive to the formation of secondary particulate matters.The ratio of PM_2.5/PM₁₀ was above 0.5 in non-pollution days and all pollution types but one under the influence of dust storms when the ratio decreased to 0.3 or less.The outcomes of this study could be used to develop a rudimental predictive model of PM_2.5 concentration based on weather system and pollution type.     

Composites of poly (dimethylsiloxane) and spherically shaped poly (2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) particles for biomedical use

Silicone rubbers have shown considerable promise in the biomedical field, but their hydrophobicity leads to serious problems in long‐term implants. In our study, composites of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and spherically shaped poly (2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) microparticles were prepared. Unlike previous silicone hydrogel composites, suspension polymerization was carried out in an aqueous medium to prepare PHEMA particles directly, which avoided the removal of organic phase and give hydrogel particles with high purity. Very fine PHEMA particles with uniform geometry and small size were obtained through various influencing factors during their formation. Through the introduction of PHEMA particles, PDMS matrix was endowed with hydrophilicity to a certain extent. With an increase in hydrogel content, higher swelling ability and surface wettability of the composites were observed. We have also demonstrated that smaller sized particles are more favorable for hydrophilicity improvement. The results of improved swelling ability, surface wettability, and low affinity to lipid show that this composite material is suitable for biomedical use. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring Airborne Particulate Mass by Beta Absorption

Abstract

A prototype airborne particulate mass monitor, using the principle of beta radiation absorption, has been fabricated and evaluated on airborne particulate matter. A detection sensitivity of 80 μg/cm² was attained. A series of samples were collected, and a comparison made between the gravimetric and beta absorption results obtained on each sample. This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating a fully automated system for the collection and analysis of airborne particulate mass, using the principle of beta absorption attenuation.     

Cadmium Determination in Sedimented Dust by Atomic Emission Spectrometry With a New Radiofrequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma Source

ABSTRACT

A new radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasma source (r.f.CCP) was used for Cd determination in dust samples by atomic emission spectrometry. The plasma torch consists of a molybdenum tube electrode and one or two ring electrodes situated outside the quartz tube. Plasma was operated at 27.12 MHz, at low power (275 W) and low gas consumption (0.4 1 min^? argon flow). The choice of the optimum operating conditions for Cd determination in dust samples dissolved in acids and pneumatically nebulized is presented. The results obtained in such samples were compared with those obtained by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The matrix effect of NaCl and CaCl₂ on Cd emission was also studied depending of the plasma coupling system. The true limit of detection for Cd in dust sample by r.f.CCP-AES is 3 μg g^?1. Concentration of Cd higher than 10 μg g^?1 can be determined by the proposed method with a relative standard deviation within the range 5 - 10%. The recovery is 100 ± 10%.