Quantitative High Resolution Electron Microscopy

 With the resolution becoming sufficient to reveal individual atoms, HREM is now entering the stage where it can compete with X-ray methods to quantitatively determine atomic structures of materials without much prior knowledge, but with the advantage of being applicable to aperiodic objects such as crystal defects. In our view the future electron microscope will be characterised by a large versatility in experimental settings under computer control such as the illumination conditions (TEM-STEM), CBED, detecting conditions (diffraction, image, ptychography) and many other tunable parameters such as focus (g), voltage, spherical aberration (C _s ), beam tilt, etc. Since modern detectors can detect single electrons, also the counting statistics is known. The only limiting factor in the experiment will be the total number of electrons that interact with the object during the experiment due to the limitations in the exposure time or in the object damage. However, instrumental potentialities will never be exploited fully if not guided by an experimental strategy. Here intuitive guidelines can be very deceptive. For instance an image made with the best electron microscope (C _s  = 0) at the best focus (g = 0) from the best object (phase object) would show no contrast at all. Hence, questions such as what is the best C _s , focus, object thickness, etc. can only be answered properly if done using a method of experiment design.     

The analysis of C4–C11 hydrocarbons in naphtha and reformate with a new apolar fused silica column

This paper deals with the separation of alkanes, naphthenes, and aromatic compounds in naphtha and reformate, on a newly developed apolar high resolution GC column. The selectivity of this apolar phase has been compared with those of squalane, DB-1, and SE-30. A total of 95 hydrocarbons were reliably identified, mostly by GC-MS. Repeated measurements of Kováts retention indices are presented as evidence for the reproducible manufacture of fused silica columns coated with this phase.     

Schrödinger Equation Solutions for the Central Field Power Potential Energy I. V(r) = V 0(r/a 0)2ν−2, ν ≥ 1

The solution of a generalized non-relativistic Schrödinger equation with radial potential energy V(r)=V ₀(r/a ₀)^2–2 is presented. After reviewing the general properties of the radial ordinary differential equation, power series solutions are developed. The Green's function is constructed, its trace and the trace of its first iteration are calculated, and the ability of the traces to provide upper and lower bounds for the ground eigenvalue is examined. In addition, WKB-like solutions for the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are derived. The approximation method yields valid eigenvalues for large quantum numbers (Rydberg states).     

HPLC of synthetic polymers characterization of polystyrenes by high performance precipitation liquid chromatography (HPPLC)

Summary The advantages and disadvantages of high performance precipitation liquid chromatography have been demonstrated for polystyrene homopolymers. Depending on the mobile phase composition at the dissolution point of the polymeric sample and surface properties of the stationary phase, elution is governed either by a solution process or by adsorption. A contribution by adsorption was noticed on silica as well as on reversed phases based on silica with a normal phase gradient of increasing polarity (heptane to dichloromethane). Elution was solely governed by solubility of the polymers on both types of stationary phase for polystyrenes with a molecular weight above 35 000 and reversed phase gradient of decreasing polarity (methanol to dichloromethane). Under these conditions an identical dependence of elution solvent composition on sample size was found as for turbidity titrations. Due to differences in the velocity of the eluent front and the polymeric sample with porous stationary phases the polymers can be eluted as colloidal solutions Non-porous stationary phases are superior in this respect because the velocities of eluent and solutes are identical.     

Determination of diethanolamine or <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyldiethanolamine in high ammonium concentration matrices by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection: application to the analysis of refinery process waters

Alkanolamines such as diethanolamine (DEA) and N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) are used in desulfurization processes in crude oil refineries. These compounds may be found in process waters following an accidental contamination. The analysis of alkanolamines in refinery process waters is very difficult due to the high ammonium concentration of the samples. This paper describes a method for the determination of DEA in high ammonium concentration refinery process waters by using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with indirect UV detection. The same method can be used for the determination of MDEA. Best results were achieved with a background electrolyte (BGE) comprising 10 mM histidine adjusted to pH 5.0 with acetic acid. The development of this electrolyte and the analytical performances are discussed. The quantification was performed by using internal standardization, by which triethanolamine (TEA) was used as internal standard. A matrix effect due to the high ammonium content has been highlighted and standard addition was therefore used. The developed method was characterized in terms of repeatability of migration times and corrected peak areas, linearity, and accuracy. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) obtained were 0.2 and 0.7 ppm, respectively. The CE method was applied to the determination of DEA or MDEA in refinery process waters spiked with known amounts of analytes and it gave excellent results, since uncertainties obtained were 8 and 5%, respectively.     

Current mass spectrometry strategies for selenium speciation in dietary sources of high-selenium

This document reviews the most relevant mass spectrometry approaches to selenium (Se) speciation in high-Se food supplements in terms of qualitative and quantitative Se speciation and Se-containing species identification, with special reference to high-Se yeast, garlic, onions and Brazil nuts. Important topics such as complexity of Se speciation in these materials and the importance of combining Se-specific detection and molecule-specific determination of the particular species of this element in parallel with chromatography, to understand their nutritional role and cancer preventive properties are critically discussed throughout. The versatility and potential of mass spectrometric detection in this field are clearly demonstrated. Although great advances have been achieved, further developments are required, especially if speciatedcertified reference materials (CRMs) are to be produced for validation of measurements of target Se-containing species in Se-food supplements.     

Mechanical properties of BPDA-ODA polyimide fibers

An aromatic polyimide was synthesized via a one-step polycondensation reaction between biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) in p-chlorophenol. The polyimide (BPDA-ODA) solution dopes were spun into fibers by means of dry-jet wet spinning. The as-spun fibers were drawn and treated in heating tubes for improving the mechanical properties. The thermal treatment on the fibers resulted in a relatively high tensile strength and modulus. Thermal mechanical analysis (TMA) was employed to study the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA) spectra showed that the BPDA-ODA fibers possessed an excellent property of thermo-oxidative degradation resistance. The sonic modulus E_s of the polyimide fibers was measured.     

C2H4-K体系中振动态至电子态传能的研究

用TEA CO_2激光将C_2H_4分子激发到高振动激发态，高振动激发态的C_2H_4分子与基态的K原子碰撞发生振动态→电子态（V→E）传能过程，根据提出的能级组模型，对测得的时间分辨原子荧光信号进行处理，获得温度在453－663 K范围内，C_2H_4-K体系中V→E传能速率的数量级为10~(-10)/cm~3·molecule~(－1)·s~(－1)，对应的碰撞传能截面约为0.30～0.80 nm．随着反应温度升高，V→E传能截面减小．上述实验结果表明碰撞体间吸引相互作用在这种非共振的V→E传能过程中起主要作用．利用多极相互作用势下的碰撞络合物模型对实验结果进行了讨论．     

Quantitative characterization of the global electrophilicity pattern of some reagents involved in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

The global electrophilicity power, ω, of a series of dipoles and dipolarophiles commonly used in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions may be conveniently classified within a unique relative scale. The effects of chemical substitution on the electrophilicity of molecules have been evaluated using a representative set of electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing groups for a series of dipoles including nitrone, nitrile oxide and azide derivatives. The absolute scale of electrophilicity is used to rationalize the chemical reactivity of these species as compared to the static reactivity pattern of the reagents involved in the Diels-Alder reactions.     

源内裂解液相色谱-质谱鉴别人参皂甙砒和拟人参皂甙F11

研究了利用源内碰撞诱导解离（in-source collision—induced dissociation）的高效液相色谱-大气压化学电离质谱（HPLC—APCI／MS）获取人参和西洋参的化学标志物——人参皂甙Rf和拟人参皂甙F11的特征结构信息及鉴别人参和西洋参的方法。在乙腈-水梯度洗脱反相液相色谱及源内碰撞诱导解离条件下，能获得人参皂甙Rf和拟人参皂甙F11的母核离子及去糖基离子的源内碰撞诱导解离谱，从其差别能清楚区分这对同分异构体。本方法对人参皂甙Rf和拟人参皂甙F11的检出限能达到10^-7g柱上样量，简单、快速，单次质谱实验就能鉴别人参和西洋参。