Accuracy and long-term reproducibility of lead isotopic measurements by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using an external method for correction of mass discrimination

The precision of isotopic measurements of Pb by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) is limited by the fact that this element does not possess an invariant isotope ratio that can be used for the correction of mass fractionation by internal normalization. Multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) can overcome this limitation, because with plasma ionization, elements with overlapping mass ranges are thought to display identical mass discrimination. With respect to Pb, this can be exploited by the addition of Tl to the sample solutions; the mass discrimination factor obtained for Tl can then be used for the correction of the measured Pb isotope ratios. In this article we present the results of a detailed study that investigates the accuracy and precision of such an external correction technique for mass discrimination based upon the results of multiple analyses of a mixed standard solution of NIST SRM-981 Pb and SRM-997 Tl. Our data indicate that normalization of the Pb isotope ratios to the certified isotopic composition of SRM-997 Tl produces Pb isotopic results that are significantly lower than recently published reference values by TIMS. This systematic offset can be eliminated by renormalization of the Pb data to a different Tl isotopic composition to obtain an empirically determined mass discrimination factor for Pb that generates accurate results. It is furthermore shown that a linear law is least suited for the correction of mass discrimination, whereas a power or exponential law function provide significantly more accurate and precise results. In detail, it appears that a power law may provide the most appropriate correction procedure, because the corrected Pb isotope ratios display less residual correlations with mass discrimination compared to the exponentially corrected data. Using an exponential or power law correction our results, obtained over a period of over seven months, display a precision (2σ) of better than 60 parts per million (ppm) for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and of better than 350 ppm for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. This represents a significant improvement compared to conventional TIMS techniques and demonstrates the potential of MC-ICPMS for routine, high-precision measurements of Pb isotopic compositions.     

Surface forces in foam films from ABA block copolymer: a dynamic method study

The thinning of foam films from aqueous solutions of an ABA triblock copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide (average molecular weight 14,000 g/mol) is studied experimentally. The dependence of the surface forces on film thickness is obtained by the dynamic method of Scheludko and Exerowa.The total surface force measured in foam films (radius 60–70 m) from 10^–5 M (0.014 wt%) polymer solution with 0.1 M NaCl is positive at thicknesses from about 800 down to 460 . The electrostatic repulsion is negligible while the contribution of van der Waals attraction is small (within 15%). Therefore a positive surface force component predominates. Most probably it arises from steric interactions between the hydrophilic polyethylene oxide tails of the polymer. The dynamic method appears to be a suitable technique for exploring the stabilization of foam films from ABA copolymers.     

表面热电离质谱的进展

本文评述了表面热电离质谱（ＴＩＭＳ），特别是负离子质谱（ＮＴＩ－ＭＳ）对非金属和具有高电离电位的金属元素的同位素测定的进展，引用文献３４篇。     

Electrochemistry of capillary systems with narrow pores. IV. Dialysis potentials

The dialysis potentials of different collodion membranes with graded pore sizes and electrochemical activities have been measured in dilute aqueous KCl solutions as functions of concentration. It is possible to predict the value of the diffusion potential within a few millivolts on the basis of electrical conductivity data obtained with the same membranes. In general, the measured values are lower than those calculated. It is assumed that this difference is caused by the membranes having a distribution of pore sizes.     

Measurement of Diffusion in Zeolites—A Never Ending Challenge?

A review is given on the main problems associated with the determination and interpretation of molecular diffusion in zeolites. It is shown that the diffusivities may most decisively depend on the relevant space and time scales of observation, as well as on the physical state under which the measurements are carried out. Special emphasis is given to the microscopic techniques and their most recent evidence on the existence of transport resistances distributed over the intracrystalline space.     

Glass and polymeric membrane electrodes for the measurement of pH in milk and cheese

While there is a considerable interest in the food industry in determining various analytes using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), only few reports describe their use for direct measurements in food. In this study, the suitability of glass electrodes and ionophore-based solvent polymeric ISEs for the determination of pH in Process cheese, Cheddar cheese and milk was investigated. The liquid junction potential between a 3 M KCl bridge electrolyte and diluted as well as undiluted Process cheese was found to be negligible. Reference electrodes with ceramic plug and sleeve-type junctions performed well, although precautions needed to be taken to prevent plugging at the junctions. While the protein rennet casein posed no problems in pH measurements, the extraction of neutral lipophilic compounds or hydrophobic peptides into solvent polymeric membranes was evident, resulting in some loss of selectivity for monovalent cations upon exposure to cheese. However, it was found that ISEs based on tridodecylamine (R₃N) as ionophore and o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (oNPOE) as plasticizer can be used to accurately measure the pH of milk and, after desensitization of the electrodes in a cheese emulsion, of diluted Process cheese. Since pH measurements with a glass electrode showed that emulsions of cheese moderately diluted to a cheese content of 70% have the same pH as undiluted cheeses, it is possible to determine the pH in cheese with ionophore-based ISEs. R₃N membranes also performed well in undiluted milk.     

对固体圆二色光谱测试方法的再认识——兼谈“浓度效应”

对近期发展的固体圆二色(CD)光谱测试方法进行了概述、评价和比较, 着重探讨了“浓度效应”的存在使固体CD光谱失真的原因. 通过对本课题组和其他作者已报道的四种化合物的固体CD谱再测试的反思, 强调了依手性化合物的手性光谱学性质不同, 根据浓度梯度实验选择其合适测试浓度的必要性. 对固有手性的阻转异构化合物(S)-1,1'-联二萘酚(S-BINOL)进行了成膜法固体CD谱浓度梯度测试, 发现所得固体薄膜CD谱中也存在着“浓度效应”     

对固体圆二色光谱测试方法的再认识——兼谈“浓度效应”

对近期发展的固体圆二色(CD)光谱测试方法进行了概述、评价和比较, 着重探讨了“浓度效应”的存在使固体CD光谱失真的原因. 通过对本课题组和其他作者已报道的四种化合物的固体CD谱再测试的反思, 强调了依手性化合物的手性光谱学性质不同, 根据浓度梯度实验选择其合适测试浓度的必要性. 对固有手性的阻转异构化合物(S)-1,1'-联二萘酚(S-BINOL)进行了成膜法固体CD谱浓度梯度测试, 发现所得固体薄膜CD谱中也存在着“浓度效应”     

对固体圆二色光谱测试方法的再认识——兼谈“浓度效应”

对近期发展的固体圆二色(CD)光谱测试方法进行了概述、评价和比较, 着重探讨了“浓度效应”的存在使固体CD光谱失真的原因. 通过对本课题组和其他作者已报道的四种化合物的固体CD谱再测试的反思, 强调了依手性化合物的手性光谱学性质不同, 根据浓度梯度实验选择其合适测试浓度的必要性. 对固有手性的阻转异构化合物(S)-1,1'-联二萘酚(S-BINOL)进行了成膜法固体CD谱浓度梯度测试, 发现所得固体薄膜CD谱中也存在着“浓度效应”