Simultaneous speciation of mercury and butyltin compounds in natural waters and snow by propylation and species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry analysis

A robust method has been developed for simultaneous determination of mercury and butyltin compounds in aqueous samples. This method is capable of providing accurate results for analyte concentrations in the picogram per liter to nanogram per liter range. The simultaneous determination of the mercury and tin compounds is achieved by species-specific isotope dilution, derivatization, and gas chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (GC–ICP–MS). In derivatization by ethylation and propylation, reaction conditions such as pH and the effect of chloride were carefully studied. Ethylation was found to be more sensitive to matrix effects, especially for mercury compounds. Propylation was thus the preferred derivatization method for simultaneous determination of organomercury and organotin compounds in environmental samples. The analytical method is highly accurate and precise, with RSD values of 1 and 3% for analyte concentrations in the picogram per liter to nanogram per liter range. By use of cleaning procedures and SIDMS blank measurements, detection limits in the range 10–60 pg L^–1 were achieved; these are suitable for determination of background levels of these contaminants in environmental samples. This was demonstrated by using the method for analysis of real snow and seawater samples. This work illustrates the great advantage of species-specific isotope dilution for the validation of an analytical speciation method—the possibility of overcoming species transformations and non-quantitative recovery. Analysis time is saved by use of the simultaneous method, because of the use of a single sample-preparation procedure and one analysis.     

Ion Transfer in CdF<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based Iso- and Polyvalent Solid Solutions

The ionic conductivity of solid solution Cd_0.77Sr_0.23F₂ is 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 500 K. The conduction mechanism changes from a vacancy mechanism to an interstitial one at 523–553 K. In solid solutions Cd_0.9R_0.1F_2.1 (R = La-Lu, Y), the activation enthalpy of conduction decreases from 0.9 to 0.8 eV with decreasing ionic radius of R³⁺, raising the 500-K conductivity from 6 ×10⁻⁶ S/cm for La³⁺to 6 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm for Lu³⁺. For crystalline Cd_0.95In_0.05F_2.05, ionic and electronic conductivities at 313 K equal 5 × 10⁻⁴ and 5 − 10⁻⁶ S/cm.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 627–632.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sorokin, Buchinskaya, Sul’yanova, Sobolev.     

Electroreduction of α-glucose on CNT/graphite electrode modified by Zn and Zn–Fe alloy

Electroreduction of -glucose to form sorbitol on Zn/CNTs and Zn alloy/CNTs electrodes has been investigated in this paper. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) used in this paper are grown directly on graphite disks by chemical vapor deposition. Zn and Zn alloy are electrodeposited on the activated CNTs/graphite electrode by pulse galvanostatic method. The micrographs of Zn/CNTs and Zn alloy/CNTs electrodes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the current efficiency of -glucose reduction on CNTs electrodes is much better than that on flat Zn electrodes. The order of the current efficiency on different electrodes is as follows: Zn/CNT (0.58) Zn–Fe/CNT (0.57)>Zn–Ni/CNT (0.43) Zn/graphite (0.42)>Zn (0.40). It indicates that CNTs have good potential application in electrosynthesis. Additionally, effects of some operating parameters, such as pH, temperature and -glucose concentration, on the current efficiency of -glucose reduction are also discussed.     

Single-molecule fluorescence detection in microfluidic channels—the Holy Grail in μTAS?

Both single-molecule detection (SMD) methods and miniaturization technologies have developed very rapidly over the last ten years. By merging these two techniques, it may be possible to achieve the optimal requirements for the analysis and manipulation of samples on a single molecule scale. While miniaturized structures and channels provide the interface required to handle small particles and molecules, SMD permits the discovery, localization, counting and identification of compounds. Widespread applications, across various bioscience/analytical science fields, such as DNA-analysis, cytometry and drug screening, are envisaged. In this review, the unique benefits of single fluorescent molecule detection in microfluidic channels are presented. Recent and possible future applications are discussed.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

Preconcentration and separation of iron, zinc, cadmium and mercury, from waste water using Nile blue a grafted polyurethane foam

The present work describes a novel method for the incorporation of Nile blue A into polyurethane foam matrix. This foam material was found to be very suitable for the extraction of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The characterization of Nile blue A grafted foam and the effect of halide concentration, pH, shaking time, extraction isotherm and capacity have been investigated. This foam material was found to be suitable for the separation and preconcentration of iron (III), zinc (II), cadmium (II) and mercury (II) from waste water. The extraction was accomplished in (15-20) minutes. Iron was separated from acid medium (2-4 M HCl), zinc from (3-5 M HCl), cadmium from (4-6 M HCl) as thiocyanate complexes and mercury was separated from (1-2 M HCl) as chloride.     

Oligonucleotides containing new fluorescent 1-phenylethynylpyrene and 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene uridine-2′-carbamates: synthesis and properties

The synthesis of two novel fluorescent uridine-2′-carbamate phosphoramidites is described. The reagents carrying fluorescent polyaromatic hydrocarbons 1-phenylethynylpyrene (PEPy) or 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (BPEA) are suitable for oligonucleotide synthesis. Prepared oligonucleotide conjugates show strong dye emissions at 401 and 485 nm, but low FRET rate when located in the oligonucleotide duplex. The dyes show considerable compensation of the usual carbamate duplex destabilization. The possible explanation of both effects is binding of PEPy and BPEA to the minor groove of the DNA duplex.     

Lifetimes and Quenching of the Ā 2A′(υ3′ = 0 – 2) → X̄ 2A″ Fluorescence of HSO

Fluorescence lifetimes of vibrational levels of the first electronically excited state (ā ² A′) of HSO, determined by the technique of discharge flow and laser-induced fluorescence, are 81 ± 10, 74 ± 8, and 76 ± 14 μs for υ₃′ = 0, 1 and 2, respectively. The rate coefficients of quenching of each level by He, N₂, O₂ and O₃ were measured; the coefficients for HSO (ā, υ₃′ = 0 – 2) quenched by O₃ arc 35–50 times as great as those of HSO by He.     

聚烯烃（聚乙烯）低温热氧化与降解

综述了近年来聚烯烃特别是聚乙烯的低温热氧化机理，动力学以及氧化降解研究现状及发展，指出现今低温热氧化与降解研究意义。     

Some Reactions of 5-(3 or 4-Pyridyl)-1,3,4-Oxadiazoles with Amines and Hydrazines

2-Amino-and 2-hydrazino-5-(3 or 4-pyridyl)-1, 3, 4-oxadiazoles [II_i-k] have been prepared by racting 2-chloro derivatives with the corresponding amines or hydrazines, the 2-hydrazino (II_i-k) compounds that obtained were heated with carbon disulphide and alcoholic potassium hydroxide where 5-(3 or 4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazolo (2,3-C)-1,2,4-triazole 5-thione (III_a-c) were obtained, the given structures were biologically screened.     

Pulse plating effect on microstructure and corrosion properties of Zn–Ni alloy coatings

The influence of pulse plating parameters on the surface morphology, grain size, lattice imperfection and corrosion properties of Zn–Ni alloy has been studied. The coatings were electrodeposited in an alkaline cyanide-free solution. AFM was applied for surface morphology examination, XRD measurements were carried out for phase composition and texture analysis, electron probe microanalysis was used for alloy chemical composition studies, while electrochemical techniques were applied for corrosion performance evaluation. The pulse plated Zn–Ni coatings appeared to consist of the γ-Zn₂₁Ni₅ phase and the composition of the alloy depended on the plating parameters. The grain size, lattice imperfection and homogeneity of grain distribution were established to be the main factors determining corrosion behaviour of the coating. Presented at the 4th Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Greifswald, March 13–16, 2005