Separation of mixtures of permanent gases and light hydrocarbons on spherical carbon molecular sieves by gas-solid chromatography

Summary Experimental results are presented on the application of Carbosieve S (Supelco) and Spherocarb (Analabs) spherical carbon molecular sieves for the gas chromatographic separation of mixtures of permanent gases and C₁–C₃ hydrocarbons using a single column or two columns in series. At a programmed temperature of 35–300°C, good separation of the sample components was obtained when using helium as the carrier gas. When hydrogen was used as the carrier gas and the analysis was carried out under isothermal conditions the elution sequence of oxygen and nitrogen reversed as the temperature was increased. This behaviour was observed within a temperature range of 35–225°C for Carbosieve S, and within a temperature range of 35–300°C for Spherocarb.     

Synthesis and characterization of MCM-48 tubular membranes

MCM-48 membranes have been prepared on alumina supports of different pore sizes. A battery of characterization techniques has been used to study the physical properties and the quality of the membranes prepared. The highest quality membranes were prepared on supports with pore size of up to 60 nm. The MCM-48 membranes were tested in the separation of gas phase mixtures and a cyclohexane/O₂ selectivity higher than 270 was obtained. The selective separation of organic compounds from inert components is a result of the cooperative effects of capillary condensation in MCM-48 pores and of the specific interactions of the permeating compounds and the membrane material.     

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.     

Optimization of alkali-alkalkine earth cation separation on weak cation-exchangers

Summary The elution behavior of alkali and earth alkaline cations has been studied on a newly synthesized weak cationexchanger (WCX). Applying this stationary phase isocratic separation of these cations is possible. The dependence of retention on competing ion concentration is described via a simple model. The influence of crown ethers as well as organic eluent additives on selectivity and peak efficiency is demonstrated. With optimized separation such cations can be determined with detection limits of about 0.5 ppm using a conductivity detector without ion suppression.     

Chiral stationary phases for LC and SFC obtained by “Polymer coating”

Summary Chirally substituted Si–H-containing polysiloxanes were synthesized, which can be immobilized on small particle silica gel as well as on the smooth surfaces of fused silica capillaries. Immobilization is achieved either by crosslinking or by chemical bonding to the surfaces via silanol groups; both reactions can only be performed by addition of H₂PtCl₆, which acts as catalyst for hydrosilylation and as stoichiometric reagent for crosslinking. Chiral substituents of systematically varied chemical structure were introduced into the polysiloxanes by hydrosilylation. The mechanism of immobilization was investigated by spectroscopic methods, notably²⁹Si-NMR. Homogenous stationary-phase coatings of variable film thickness and corresponding retentivity can easily be achieved. The enantioselectivity of the phase systems was characterized in dependency on the chemical structure of the chiral selectors attached to the polysiloxane chain of the chiral stationary phases and also in terms of the functional groups introduced into the solutes by derivatisation.     

HPLC determination of urinary 2,4- and 2,6-toluendiamines as potential degradation products of polyurethane breast implants

Summary A reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed for the urinary determination of mutagenic 2,4- and 2,6-toluendiamines. These amines are degradation products of polyurethane, a material used to cover textured silicone breast implants. FMOC-Cl was used as fluorescent derivatising agent in order to obtain a limit of detection of 15 ng/ml in urine. Pre-treatment of urine samples was by liquid/liquid extraction and urine specimens of patients after surgury were analysed.     

ICP-MS for elemental speciation studies

The use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled with separation techniques for the purpose of elemental speciation has recently gained a lot of attention. Much of this is due to ever improving separation capabilities of Chromatographic techniques, the high sensitivity of ICP-MS, and the continuing development of better interface techniques. Additionally, there is a growing awareness of the need to monitor various species of an analyte, rather than just total analyte concentrations, due to their often varying natures. For the sake of learning from different elemental speciation approaches, this review brings together some selected types of elemental speciation which have been recently seen in literature. These include separations using various forms of liquid chromatography, such as reversed phase, reversed phase ion pairing, micelle, ion exchange, and size exclusion. Elemental speciation employing gas Chromatographie separations and supercritical fluid separations are discussed as well as elemental speciation using capillary electrophoresis.     

The effect of the structure of bonded cyanoalkyl stationary phases on their selectivity in the liquid chromatographic separation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons

Summary The paper discusses the effect of the length and structure of the hydrocarbon chain connecting the nitrile group to the silica gel surface on the chromatographic properties of cyanoalkyl phases.When using non-polar and polar mobile phases, the selectivity of the cyanodecyl phases toward PAHs is higher than of the cyanopropyl phase and of hydroxylated silica gel.Polar additives to the mobile phase drastically decrease the retention on silica gel and on the cyanopropyl phase while affect the properties of cyanodecyl phases only to a considerably less degree. Newly synthesized phases with different structures of the hydrocarbon chain are compared with the commerical cyano-and ODS-phases. The retention mechanism on the cyanoalkyl phases is discussed.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Amino Acids in Edible Seaweeds after Derivatization with Phenyl Isothiocyanate

Summary A reversed-phase high-performance liquid-chromatographic method has been used for analysis of the amino acids in edible seaweed. Sample proteins were hydrolysed with hydrochloric acid and the amino acids produced were derivatized with phenyl isothiocyanate. The resulting phenylthiocarbamyl amino acids were chromatographed on an ODS2 column with UV detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.14 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.4, containing 0.05% triethylamine (A) and 60:40 (v/v) acetonitrile–water (B), at a flow rate of 1.1 mL min^–1; the elution gradient (min:A%) was: 0:90, 8:90, 10:70, 12:70, 18:52, 20:0, 25:0, 28:90, 35:90. Method precision for the different amino acids was between 1.33 and 3.88% (relative standard deviation); detection limits were between 6.9 and 14.3 ng mL^–1. The amino acid content of the algae analysed ranged from 22.4 ± 1.9 to 138.0 ± 5.6 mg g^–1 d.w. The amino acids present at highest concentrations were glutamic acid, alanine, and phenylalanine.