Book reviews

This work is a thorough investigation on the major operating parameters of the programmable temperature vaporisation (PTV) inlet used for gas chromatographic injection, including injection mode and volume, inlet temperature, vent and purge flow rates. The results clearly demonstrate the advantage of large volume injection in enhancing the detection of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Partial loss of injected PBDEs occurred during solvent venting and due to incomplete sample transfer. Such loss was minimised by lowering the initial inlet temperature and vent flow and elevating the final inlet temperature. The results show that 50 mL/min vent flow, as low as 0°C initial and higher than 300°C final inlet temperatures produced the relatively high responses. Two mass spectrometric parameters were also evaluated. Indoor dust, lake sediment and human placenta tissue samples were analysed to demonstrate reliability and sensitivity improvement of the PTV large volume injection.     

Analysis of PCBs in Biotic Matrices by Two-Dimensional GC-ECD

Abstract

The suitability of three GC-ECD systems for the separation of a model mixture containing various congeners of PCBs together with persistent chlorinated aromatics (pesticides and their metabolites, industrial chemicals) was tested. Analyses were performed on two parallel capillaries, the stationary phase of one of them was always in routine practice very common 5% phenyl-methylpolysiloxane, the second one was either 50% phenylmethylpolysiloxane or 7% phenyl-7% cyanopropyl-methylpolysiloxane. The number of unresolved (coeluted) analytes was significantly reduced in these systems and thus unbiased quantitation of PCBs and other components used for regulation was possible. The utilization of this type of multidimensional chromatography for rapid and reliable analysis of real samples (fish oil, human fat) was documented.     

Conventional processes and membrane technology for carbon dioxide removal from natural gas:A review

Membrane technology is becoming more important for CO 2 separation from natural gas in the new era due to its process simplicity,relative ease of operation and control,compact,and easy to scale up as compared with conventional processes.Conventional processes such as absorption and adsorption for CO 2 separation from natural gas are generally more energy demanding and costly for both operation and maintenance.Polymeric membranes are the current commercial membranes used for CO 2 separation from natural gas.However,polymeric membranes possess drawbacks such as low permeability and selectivity,plasticization at high temperatures,as well as insufficient thermal and chemical stability.The shortcomings of commercial polymeric membranes have motivated researchers to opt for other alternatives,especially inorganic membranes due to their higher thermal stability,good chemical resistance to solvents,high mechanical strength and long lifetime.Surface modifications can be utilized in inorganic membranes to further enhance the selectivity,permeability or catalytic activities of the membrane.This paper is to provide a comprehensive review on gas separation,comparing membrane technology with other conventional methods of recovering CO 2 from natural gas,challenges of current commercial polymeric membranes and inorganic membranes for CO 2 removal and membrane surface modification for improved selectivity.     

Electron Capture Determination of Propoxyphene from Human Plasma

Abstract

A procedure for the determination of propoxyphene (α-d-dimethylamino-1, 2 -diphenyl-3 -methyl-2 -propionoxybutane) in plasma is reported. The method is based on the electron capture characteristics of propoxyphene. The plasma is rendered basic to generate the free amine and extracted with ether. The extract is analyzed by gas chromatography using a 4 foot OV-225 column. An internal standard of imipramine hydrochloride is used to quantitate the propoxyphene. This internal standard is carried through the entire procedure. The ratio of the peak heights of propoxyphene to imipramine is compared to ratios obtained from standards placed in plasma and treated in the same manner as the samples. Six subjects were given propoxyphene at different time intervals, and the data are presented concerning these subjects.     

Separation and Analysis of o.p'-DDD and its Lipophilic Metabolite,O.P'-DDE,in Tissue,Faeces and Plasma

Abstract

An analytical procedure based on electron capture gas chromatography for the determination of o,p′-DDD, a drug used for the treatment of Cushing′s syndrome, is presented. Detection of a metabolite, identified as o,p′-DDE, is also described.     

Weak solutions for a hyperbolic system with unilateral constraint and mass loss

We consider isentropic gas dynamics equations with unilateral constraint on the density and mass loss. The γ and pressureless pressure laws are considered. We propose an entropy weak formulation of the system that incorporates the constraint and Lagrange multiplier, for which we prove weak stability and existence of solutions. The nonzero pressure model is approximated by a kinetic BGK relaxation model, while the pressureless model is approximated by a sticky-blocks dynamics with mass loss.     

Metastable systems driven by colored noise: The stationary state

The influence of the Bardeen-Herring back-jump correlations on the Fermi-Dirac statistics of the one-dimensional nonhomogeneous fermionic lattice gas is studied by the Monte Carlo simulation technique and semianalytically. The resulting distribution is obtained, exhibiting increased population of the lower levels in comparison to the Fermi-Dirac statistics.     

A lattice gas model for thermohydrodynamics

The lattice gas model is extended to include a temperature variable in order to study thermohydrodynamics, the combination of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. The compressible Navier-Stokes equations are derived using a Chapman-Enskog expansion. Heat conduction and convection problems are investigated, including Bénard convection. It is shown that the usual rescaling procedure can be avoided by controlling the temperature.     

小间隙高放大多丝室及其放电机制

对以强猝灭气体工作的小间隙多丝室及其放电机制进行了研究,实验表明,因为工作在饱和模式区,这种室同时具有很高的气体放大和相当快的时间特性.文中探讨了放电机制,雪崩中空间电荷效应以及电离光子的产生和作用是重要的因素,而其中后一因素又受到强猝灭气体的抑制.