Determination of the Insect Repellent Bayrepel® in Pool and Lake Water by Gas Chromatography after Preconcentration with Solid-Phase Extraction and Stir-Bar-Sorptive Extraction

A method for the determination of the new insect repellent Bayrepel in bathing lakes and public pools is presented. Sample preconcentration is performed either by solid-phase extraction (SPE) or stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). Analysis of the enriched analyte using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) led to almost identical limits of detection (LOD) of 25ngL^–1 for Bayrepel with both extraction methods. Because of the slightly reduced handling effort involved, the method based on preconcentration by SBSE was finally chosen for the analysis of real samples.     

Thermal transitions and fat droplet stability in ice-cream mixmodel systems

We studied thermal transitions and physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions containing different milk fat compositions, arising from anhydrous milk fat alone (AMF) or in mixture (2:1 mass ratio) with a high melting temperature (AMF–HMT) or a low melting temperature (AMF–LMT) fraction. Changes in thermal transitions in bulk fat and emulsion samples were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under controlled cooling and reheating cycles performed between 50 and –45°C (5°C min^–1). Comparison between bulk fat samples and emulsions indicated similar values of melting completion temperature, whereas initial temperature of fat crystallization (T_onset) seemed to be differently affected by storage temperature depending on triacylglycerols (TAG) composition. After storage at 4°C, T_onset values were very similar for emulsified and non-emulsified AMF–HMT blend, whereas they were lower (by approx. 6°C) for emulsions containing AMF or mixture of AMF–LMT fraction. After storage at –30°C, T_onset values of re-crystallization were higher in emulsion samples than in bulk fat blends, whatever the TAG fat composition. Light scattering measurements and fluorescence microscopic observations indicated differences in fat droplet aggregation-coalescence under freeze-thaw procedure, depending on emulsion fat composition. It appeared that under quiescent freezing, emulsion containing AMF–LMT fraction was much less resistant to fat droplet aggregation-coalescence than emulsions containing AMF or AMF–HMT fraction. Our results indicated the role of fat droplet liquid-solid content on emulsion stability.     

Lattice Dynamics in LaTa2-2xNb2xVO9-δ (x=0–0.1) Solid Solutions

The oxygen nonstoichiometry (x) of LaTa_2-2xNb_2xVO₉- (x = 0–0.1) solid solutions was studied using Xray phase analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, and radiospectroscopy. A correlation was found between (x) and the unit cell volume V(x) of the solid solutions. It was shown that the infrared spectra of LaTa₂VO₉- change in passing from = 0 to 0. The structural position of the oxygen vacancy in LaTa_2-2xNb_2xVO₉- is discussed.     

Cooled internal reflection element for infrared chemical sensing of volatile to semi-volatile organic compounds in the headspace of aqueous solutions

In this study, the cooling effect was applied to an evanescent wave type infrared (IR) chemical sensing method to effectively trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been absorbed in the hydrophobic film coated around the internal reflection element (IRE). The detection of VOCs in aqueous solutions was taken in the headspace of the aqueous solution. This method eliminates the long-term instability of hydrophobic film soaked in an aqueous solution and the potential spectral interference caused by the matrix of the aqueous solution. Thermal energy has been applied to the aqueous solution to assist in the evaporation of VOCs out of the aqueous matrix. By applying a cooling system to the IRE, the excess thermal energy can be removed leading to more stable IR signals. After examination of organic compounds with vapour pressure (P_v) ranging from 0.017 to 150 Torr, significant differences were found between IR signals from cooled and un-cooled systems. Because the thermal conductivity of the IRE used in IR detection is typically low; the efficiency in removing the thermal energy is limited. By heating the aqueous solutions to different temperatures, the IR signals showed that the sample temperature was limited to around 80 °C. The IR signal determination results for five different volatility organic compounds indicated that the optimal heating temperature was not necessary to match with the volatilities of organic compounds in cooling system. The linear regression coefficient (R²) of the standard curve for sample concentrations in the range 5-200 μg ml⁻¹ was generally higher than 0.991 and the detection limit was around a few hundred ng ml⁻¹, which was two to three times lower than that of un-cooled system.     

Ionic Mobility, Phase Transitions, and Superionic Conduction in Solid Solutions (100 ? x)PbF2-xZrF4 and Crystals K2ZrF6, (NH4)2ZrF6, KSnZrF7, and M(NH4)6Zr4F23 (M = Li, Na)

Methods of (¹⁹F, ¹H) NMR and impedance spectroscopy are used to investigate the internal mobility and ionic conduction in solid solutions arising in the system PbF₂-ZrF₄ and polycrystals KSnZrF₇, Li(Na)(NH₄)₆Zr₄F₂₃, and M₂ZrF₆ (M = K, NH₄). Factors responsible for the form of ionic motions and their energetics at 170–550 K are considered. It is established that the phase transitions in these compounds are connected with the crystal transition to a superionic state and that the high ionic (superionic) conductivity of beta phases is due to the diffusion of fluoride ions, ammonium cations, and possibly alkali metal cations. The obtained data testify to a substantial role of chainlike aggregation of anionic groupings and a variableness of structural mechanisms of formation of such chains in fluorozirconates for the development of translational diffusion in these compounds.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 573–582.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kavun, Uvarov, Slobodyuk, Goncharuk, Kotenkov, Tkachenko, Gerasimenko, Sergienko.     

Highly sensitive catalytic determination of molybdenum

A novel, highly sensitive, selective, and simple kinetic method was developed for the determination of Mo(VI) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (ANSA) with H₂O₂. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by tracing the oxidized product at 465 nm after 30 min of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were: 10 mmol l⁻¹ ANSA, 50 mmol l⁻¹ H₂O₂, 100 mmol l⁻¹ acetate buffer of pH 5.0 ± 0.05 and at 40 °C. Addition of 200 μg ml⁻¹ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) conferred high selectivity for the proposed method. Following the recommended procedure, Mo(VI) could be determined with a linear calibration graph up to 2.5 ng ml⁻¹ and a detection limit, based on the 3S_b-criterion, of 0.027 ng ml⁻¹. The unique sensitivity and selectivity of the implemented method allowed its direct application to the determination of Mo(VI) in natural and industrial waste water. The method was validated by comparison with the standard ETAAS method. Moreover, published catalytic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of molybdenum were reviewed.     

Solid-phase synthesis of lipidated peptides

A new flexible and efficient methodology for the solid-phase synthesis of lipidated peptides has been developed. The approach is based on the use of previously synthesized building blocks and overcomes the limitations of previously reported methods, since long doubly lipidated peptides can be synthesized by using this route. Furthermore, it was thus possible to prepare a large number of N- and H-Ras peptides bearing a wide range of reporter and/or linking groups--efficient tools for the investigation of biological processes. In terms of efficiency and flexibility this solid-phase method is superior to the solution-phase synthesis. It gives pure peptides in multimilligram amounts within a much shorter time and with superior overall yield.     

蒙脱土表面键合配位体固相萃取填料的制备及其对重金属离子的吸附性能

通过酸洗、硅烷偶联剂表面活化、键合苯甲酰异硫氰酸酯对蒙脱土进行改性,制得新型固相萃取(SPE)材料。 采用红外光谱、扫描电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱表征了改性蒙脱土的结构和形貌。 考察了制备的SPE填料对水中As³⁺、Bi³⁺、Cu²⁺、Sb³⁺、Sn²⁺和Pb²⁺的吸附性能,确定了最佳固相萃取条件,对6种金属离子吸附容量分别为10.83、11.92、12.67、10.43、10.01及10.54 mg/g。 通过SPE与电感耦合等离子体质谱联用测定了样品中As³⁺、Bi³⁺、Cu²⁺、Sb³⁺、Sn²⁺和Pb²⁺ 6种重金属离子的含量,检出限分别为0.024、0.013、0.075、0.037、0.011和0.064 μg/L。     

Effect of the Electrode Potential on the Oxygen Reaction Rate in the Electrode System O2, Au/La0.88Sr0.12Ga0.82Mg0.18O2.85

The polarization dependences of a porous gold electrode in contact with a solid electrolyte of the composition La_0.88Sr_0.12Ga_0.82Mg_0.18O_2.85 are studied at 600–800°C and oxygen pressures of 2 × 10⁻²-1 atm. It is shown that the rate of cathodic reduction of oxygen out of the gas phase depends on the preliminary treatment of the sample. The activation energy is equal to 110–135 kJ mol⁻¹ at a low polarization. After increasing the polarization, the activation energy for the cathodic reduction of oxygen equals 75–85 kJ mol⁻¹ and depends on the oxygen pressure as a power function with a power index of 1/4. The rate of the anodic evolution of oxygen is dependent neither on the preliminary treatment of the sample nor on the oxygen pressure in the gas phase and the polarization curve has a characteristic segment, which corresponds to a limiting overvoltage.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2005, pp. 954–962.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shkerin, Sokolova, Beresnev.     

ZrO_2/S_2O_8~(2-)固体超强酸高效催化合成二芳砜化合物

报道了以ZrO_2／S_2O_8～(2-)固体超强酸为催化剂，在无溶剂条件下，依照 傅一克反应的原理，由芳香磺酰氯与芳香化合物作用合成了一系列二芳砜化合物， 收率为79％～93％．此方法具有操作简便，催化剂价廉易得、活性高、对环境友好 、可回收重复使用等优点．