Stainless steel capillary columns for high temperature gas chromatography

A layer of elemental silicon has been deposited on the surface of stainless steel tubing by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Two kinds of capillary column were prepared from the deactivated tubing: cross-linked, silanol-terminated polydime-thylsiloxane wall coated open tubular (WCOT) columns and molecular sieve 13X porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns. Unlike fused silica capillary columns, stainless steel WCOT and PLOT columns can be operated at temperatures in excess of 400°C. High temperature simulated distillation has been performed successfully with a macro bore WCOT column and rapid PNA (paraffin, naphthene, and aromatic) analysis with a multidimensional gas solid chromatographic (GSC) system using PLOT columns.     

Fermentation characteristics and the dynamic trend of chemical components during fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata

As a representative of traditionally fermented Chinese medicine, Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) shows the functions of invigorating the spleen and stomach and promoting digestion, which plays an important role in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The fermentation mechanism and the key factors that affect the quality of MMF have not been revealed yet, which has become an urgent issue that limits its clinical application. This article aims to systematically and comprehensively reveal the transformation of physical properties and the dynamic trend of chemical components including substrate components, volatile components, and lactic acid as anaerobic fermentation product during MMF fermentation. Along with obvious hyphae growth observed for MMF, the weight of MMF decreased, and the moisture and temperature increased. Through the quantified 14 components from substrate, ferulic acid increased from 45.53 ± 6.94 to 141.89 ± 78.40 μg/g, while glycosides and phenolic acids declined except caffeic acid. Also, within the 66 volatile components analyzed, alcohols and acids increased, while aldehydes and ketones decreased. Lactic acid was not detected in the fermentation substrate, but an apparent increase in lactic acid content was observed along with the increased fermentation days, resulting in 2.54 ± 0.15 mg/g on day 8. Based on the tested components, the fermentation process of MMF was discriminated into three distinct stages by principal component analysis, and an optimal fermentation time of four days was proposed. The results of this study will be of great significance to clarify the characteristics of fermentation and conduce to improving quality standards of MMF.     

On the Criteria of Instability for Electrochemical Systems

Both cyclic-voltammetry-based and impedance-based experimental criteria that have been developed recently for the oscillatory electrochemical systems are critically appraised with two typical categories of oscillators.Consistent conclusions can be drawn by the two criteria for the category of oscillators that involve the coupling of charge transfer mainly with surface steps(e.g.ad-and desorption)such as in the electrooxidation of C1 organic molecules.Whereas,impedance-based criterion is not applicable to the category of oscillators that involve the coupling of charge transfer mainly with mass transfer(e.g.diffusion and convection) such as in the Fe(CN)6^3- reduction accompanying periodic hydrogen evolution.The reason is that the negative impedance cannot include the feedback information of convection mass transfer induced by the hydrogen evolution.However,both positive and negative nonlinear feedbacks,i.e., the diffusion-limited depletion and convection-enhanced replenishment of the Fe(CN)6^3- surface concentration,that coexist between the bistability,i.e.,Fe(CN)6^3- reduction with and without hydrogen evolution at lower and higher potential sides respectively,are all reflected in the crossed cyclic voltammogram(CCV).It can be concluded that the voltammetry-based criterion(in time domain)is more intuitive,less time-consuming and has a wider range of applications than the impedancebased one (in frequency domain).     

The preparation of thick-film glass capillary columns

A detailed method for the routine preparation of glass capillary columns is presented. The method consists of coating a glass tube with quartz powder prior to pulling the tube into a capillary. The inner surface of the capillary consists of an even distribution of quartz particles fused to the walls. This surface has been found readily deactivated by standard procedures and ideal for the preparation of thick-film glass capillary columns. The method has been thoroughly tested in two independent laboratories to ensure that the procedures described are reproducible.     

“限时服务规则”下的复线船闸多目标调度优化

针对现有船舶过闸排队规则的欠缺,基于“限时服务规则”,构建复线船闸多目标双层优化调度模型:上层模型用于获得两个闸室安全区域的船舶排布可行方案;下层模型用于获得不同船舶排布可行方案的优化闸次数。下层模型分两个阶段完成:对符合“限时服务规则”的船舶,构建以闸次最少为目标的0-1规划模型,获得此类船舶安排的闸次;对其余船舶按照“先到先服务规则”,构建以闸次最少、闸室利用率最大为目标的多目标决策模型,获得不同船舶排布可行方案应该安排的频次。以位于江苏省干线航道上的某复线船闸某日24小时内过闸船舶的数据为例,计算结果表明:采用本文优化模型获得的优化方案与“经验编排方式”相比,两座船闸各节约2个闸次,两个船闸的平均闸室利用率分别提高了3.66和4.72个百分点。     

Estimation of Multinomial Probabilities under a Model Constraint

In this paper estimation of the probabilities of a multinomial distribution has been studied. The five estimators considered are: unrestricted estimator (UE), restricted estimator (RE) (under model ), preliminary test estimator (PTE) based on a test of the model , shrinkage estimator (SE) and the positive-rule shrinkage estimator (PRSE). Asymptotic distributions of these estimators are given under Pitman alternatives and the asymptotic risk under a quadratic loss has been evaluated. The relative performance of the five estimators is then studied with respect to their asymptotic distributional risks (ADR). It is seen that neither of the preliminary test and shrinkage estimators dominates the other, though each fares well relative to the other estimators. However, the positive rule estimator is recommended for use for dimension 3 or more while the PTE is recommended for dimension less than 3.     

Prediction of the retention indices of methyl pyridines and pyrazines in capillary gas chromatography based on the non-linear additivity of the sorption energy

Summary Methylbenzenes, pyridines and pyrazines were investigated on fused-silica and glass capillary columns coated with SE-30 and PEG-40M/KF liquid phases, at two temperatures, 80° and 110°C. The contribution of the methylene groups to the partial molar free sorption energy was determined for methylpyridines and pyrazines. Equations are proposed for the calculation of the retention indices of methyl pyridines and pyrazines. These equations are based on the ortho- and α-effects of the methyl groups. The predicted indices have been experimentally tested for six dimethyl- and trimethylpyridines, and four methylpyrazines. Good accuracy of the calculation permits to use this method for the identification of methylpyridines and pyrazines in complex mixtures. Enlarged text of the paper presented at the Eighth International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography, Riva del Garda, Italy, May 19–21, 1987.     

Efficiency of composite vs. conically shaped chromatographic columns

The theory of composite chromatographic columns has been re-examined and general equations relating their efficiency to those of individual columns were derived. The derivations were based on elementary principles without reference to the principle of variance additivity. Derived also, were general equations for the efficiency of columns with continuously varying diameters, HETP and other properties from which formulae for special cases of practical interest were deduced. An example comparing the efficiencies of two columns, one conical and the other composite was given. The calculations show clearly that the conical column is superior in efficiency for the same total length and total retention volume.     

Fluorinated polysilanes. Palladium catalyzed 1,4-addition of fluorodisilanes to conjugated diene and enone systems

In the presence of palladium complexes as catalysts, fluorinated disilanes add to 1,3-dienes, metehyl vinyl ketone and p-benzoquinone to give mainly 1,4-addition products.