Optimization of a nitrogen analyser based on the Dumas method

The objectives of this work was to obtain a total nitrogen concentration in milk with the Dumas method for industrial and research applications. This method was faster than the Kjheldal method (5 min against 2 h or 3 h) but less precise. A three factor experimental design was performed to optimize the instrument, a FP-2000 supplied by LECO. The first interpretation of the experimental design was disappointing and no conclusion could be done. It was not a failure of experimental design but a lack of thinking on the physical and chemical aspect of the problem. Selection and construction of composite responses based on chemical and physical consideration were the keys to optimize the Dumas method. This method is now as precise as the Kjheldal method, but considerably faster.     

Artificial neural networks for quantification in unresolved capillary electrophoresis peaks

The application of the combination of experimental design (ED) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the quantification of overlapped peaks in capillary zone electrophoresis is described. When the total separation cannot be achieved by separation techniques, the use of ED-ANN can be a suitable approach. The unstability of EOF causes peak shift that has to be corrected in order to apply ED-ANN methods. In this work, normalization procedure of electropherograms with consequent application of ANNs for quantification purpose was developed. Both, spectra and electropherograms can be used as multivariate data. In general, both kinds of data were found to be suitable for unresolved peaks quantification by ED-ANN approach.     

Flow injection system for hydrolysable tannin determination

A flow injection system was proposed to evaluate the transient product of a colorimetric reaction between hydrolysable tannin and potassium iodate (KIO₃) solution. The system optimization was accomplished by using statistical methods based on experimental design. Flow rate of KIO₃ solution, sample volume, carrier flow rate, and reaction coil were the selected factors for evaluation. On screening step, complete factorial 2⁴ was used and two levels for each selected factor were studied. For the optimization phase, a centered face composite design 2² + star was employed to evaluate sample volume and flow rate of KIO₃ solution, which were the factors identified in the screening phase as having more influence on the absorbance signal. After optimization, the proposed system was compared with batch determination. Some characteristics, such as analytical frequency, reagent consumption and chemical residues generation presented better results by the use of the proposed system if compared with batch method. The system presented good repeatability with standard deviation lower than 3%, for n = 10, linearity (R² = 0.9974) for tannic acid standard, analytical frequency of 15 injections h^− 1 and limit of quantification of 24 mg L^− 1 of tannic acid. Good results were obtained when the proposed system was applied to hydrolysable tannin determination in Stryphnodendron barbatimão, Eucalyptus citriodora and Phyllanthus niruri, samples of plants commonly used in popular medicine.     

The strong coupling constant: Its theoretical derivation from a geometric approach to hadron structure

Since more than a decade, abi-scale, unified approach to strong and gravitational interactions has been proposed, that uses the geometrical methods of general relativity, and yielded results similar to strong gravity theory's. We fix our attention, in this note, on hadron structure, and show that also the strong interaction strength _S, ordinarily called the (perturbative) coupling-constant square, can be evaluated within our theory, and found to decrease (increase) as the distancer decreases (increases). This yields both the confinement of the hadron constituents (for large values ofr) and their asymptotic freedom (for small values ofr inside the hadron): in qualitative agreement with the experimental evidence. In other words, our approach leads us, on a purely theoretical ground, to a dependence of _S onr which had been previously found only on phenomenological and heuristic grounds. We expect the above agreement to be also quantitative, on the basis of a few checks performed in this paper, and of further work of ours on calculating meson mass spectra.     

The difference between Newtonian and relativistic forces

This paper discusses a new turn in the 148-year old electrodynamic force law controversy between the 1822 Ampère force law of the Newtonian electrodynamics and Grassmann's 1845 law which has become the electrodynamic force law of relativistic electromagnetism. Faced with the infallibility of Ampère's empirical law, defenders of relativity theory now argue that Ampère's law is equivalent to the relativistic law. This paper demonstrates that, far from being equivalent, the laws require two different mechanics of solid bodies, disagree on internally generated stresses, and predict different force distributions.     

Optimisation of chiral separation of omeprazole and one of its metabolites on immobilized α1-acid glycoprotein using chemometricsglycoprotein using chemometrics

Summary A strategy for the optimisation of direct chiral separation of omeprazole and a metabolite, hydroxi-omeprazole, in reversed phase liquid chromatography is described. A factorial design was used, where mobile phase pH, concentration of a mobile phase modifier, ionic strength and column temperature were tested as the variables and enantioselective retention, column efficiency and asymmetry factor as the responses. The experimental results were evaluated with multivariate analyses, which demonstrated that the column temperature and content of mobile phase acetonitrile were by far the most important variables. The enantiomers of omeprazole and one of its metabolites were baseline resolved within 15 minutes. The optimised chromatographic system was used for a separation of the enantiomers of omeprazole and its main metabolite in a patient plasma sample.     

Rapid determination of protein in plant material by flow injection spectrophotometry with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid

The rapid determination of protein in plant material based on spectrophotometric determination of amino acids in protein hydrolysates with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid has been adapted to flow injection analysis. With the manifold described, a routine sampling rate of 120 samples/h is possible, though this, as well as sensitivity, can easily be varied. The method was calibrated against the Kjeldahl method and a good correlation was obtained between the two methods over a wide range of protein values for beans.     

A computer program for searching the best model for describing different experimental systems

An algorithm for searching the best polynomial analytical function for describing different experimental systems is presented. It is based

1. (1)on the generation of all possible analytical functions of a given order, with a given number of terms and with a given number of independent variables, and

2. (2)on the calculation of the parameters of all selected functions using the linear regression method.

To show the ability of the program two different examples are given:

1. (1) searching the best univariate polynomial model, and

2. (2) modelling of the stability of a two-component mixture as a function of three factors.

Optimization of the Microwave-Assisted Saponification and Extraction of Organic Pollutants from Marine Biota Using Experimental Design and Artificial Neural Networks

Several improvements in sample pretreatment for the determination of organic pollutants (i.e. n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) in marine biota (mussels) are presented. The use of liquid nitrogen and homogenization of the samples are shown to be an alternative to the time consuming liophilization step required for the analysis of biota samples. Microwave-assisted hydrolysis and extraction are combined to isolate organic pollutants (19 n-alkanes and 27 PAHs) from biota matrices. Experimental design (ED) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to optimize the experimental conditions. NIST-CRM 2978 was used to test the validity of the developed method which shows a good agreement with certified values.     

Method to determine quadruple points of a two-component system containing a simple hydrate phase and behavior of the system near these points

A method for determining quadruple points of a two-component system containing a simple hydrate phase is proposed. This method utilizes the quasi-static change of the system along three-phase equilibrium lines and was proved to be able to determine the quadruple points as accurately as the conventional method. By using this method, even though some preparation is necessary, a quadruple point can be determined in just a single experimental run. The behavior of the system near the quadruple points was also examined experimentally, for both the quasi-static and the irreversible change cases. At the quadruple points, the temperature and pressure of the system were kept constant for a while, as at the triple point of water. In both cases, the representative point of the state of the system passed through the quadruple point on a p–T diagram.