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.     

THERMODYNAMIC STUDY OF ADSORPTION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY A WATER-COMPATIBLE HYPERCROSSLINKED POLYMERIC ADSORBENT

Equilibrium data for the adsorption of phenolic compounds, i.e., phenol, p-cresol, p-chlorophenol and p-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions by a water-compatible hypercrosslinked polymeric adsorbent (NJ-8) within temperature range of 283-323 K were obtained and correlated with a Freundlich-type of isotherm equation, so that equilibrium constants KF and n were obtained. The capacities of equilibrium adsorption for all the four phenolic compounds on the NJ-8 from aqueous solutions are around 2 times as high as those of Amberlite XAD-4, which may be attributed to the unusual micropore structure and the partial polarity on the network. The values of the enthalpy (always negative) are indicative of an exothermic process, which manifests the adsorption of all the four phenolic compounds on the two polymeric adsorbents to be a process of physical adsorption. The negative values of free energy change show that the solute is more concentrated on the adsorbent than in the bulk solution. The absolute free energy values of adsorption for NJ-8 are always higher than those for Amberlite XAD-4, which indicates that phenolic compounds are preferentially adsorbed on NJ-8. The negative values of the adsorption entropy are consistent with the restricted mobilities of adsorbed molecules of phenolic compounds as compared with the molecules in solution. The adsorption entropy values of phenolic compounds for NJ-8 are lower than those for Amberlite XAD-4, which means the micropores of NJ-8 require more orderly arranged adsorbate.     

Analyzing Anisotropic Exchange in a Pentanuclear Os2Ni3 Complex

Spin Hamiltonian parameters of a pentanuclear Os Ni cyanometallate complex are derived from ab initio wave function based calculations, namely valence-type configuration interaction calculations with a complete active space including spin-orbit interaction (CASOCI) in a single-step procedure. While fits of experimental data performed so far could reproduce the data but the resulting parameters were not satisfactory, the parameters derived in the present work reproduce experimental data and at the same time have a reasonable size. The one-centre parameters (local matrices and single-ion zero field splitting tensors) are within an expected range, the anisotropic exchange parameters obtained in this work for an Os−Ni pair are not exceedingly large but determine the low-T part of the experimental χT curve. Exchange interactions (both isotropic and anisotropic) obtained from CASOCI have to be scaled by a factor of 2.5 to obtain agreement with experiment, a known deficiency of such types of calculation. After scaling the parameters, the isotropic Os−Ni exchange coupling constant is cm⁻¹ and the D parameter of the (nearly axial) anisotropic Os−Ni exchange is ⁻¹, so anisotropic exchange is larger in absolute size than isotropic exchange. The negative value of the isotropic J (indicating antiferromagnetic coupling) seemingly contradicts the large-temperature behaviour of the temperature dependent susceptibility curve, but this is caused by the negative g value of the Os centres. This negative g value is a universal feature of a pseudo-octahedral coordination with configuration and strong spin-orbit interaction. Knowing the size of these exchange interactions is important because Os(CN) is a versatile building block for the synthesis of / magnetic materials.     

Thermal-Adsorptive Concentration

Methods for concentrating dilute fluids using adsorption followed by partial thermal regeneration were studied using the simulation package ADSIM. The systems studied were NaCl in liquid water on Amberlite XD-2 resin and benzene vapor in nitrogen on activated carbon. Cycles studied included counter-current regeneration with pure hot fluid, co-current regeneration with pure hot fluid, a new process called Hot Feed Addition (HFA) consisting of co-current regeneration with pure hot fluid followed by hot feed, and cycling zone adsorption (co-current alternating hot and cold feeds with no pure regeneration fluid). The optimum system depends upon the conditions of the system and the value function chosen to evaluate the systems. For example, for benzene in nitrogen with hot regeneration gas at 467.4 K, cycling zone adsorption used no carrier gas, had the most concentrated benzene stream and a very pure nitrogen product, but the energy use was greater than the other processes. For liquid systems counter-current operation could produce the purest product, but regenerant requirements were high. With slightly lower purity requirements HFA reduced solvent usage and increased the concentration of the concentrated waste stream. For the liquid system all processes used approximately 3% or less of the energy that would be required for evaporation.     

Direct determination of estriol 3- and 16-glucuronides in pregnancy urine by column-switching liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Using column-switching liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we developed an improved analytical method of urinary estriol glucuronides. This new method is derived predominantly from maternal and fetal precursors in pregnancy. We used in the following procedure: first, we filtered urine samples with a membrane filter. Next, we directly injected the 50 microL aliquot of urine samples onto a pre-column. Then, after activating the column-switching valve, we backflushed the loaded samples onto the C(18) analytical column. Urine samples can be assayed within 20 min without any sample preparation steps. We monitored separated estriol glucuronides by negative electrospray ionization (ESI) and selected-reaction monitoring (SRM). The calibration range of estriol-3-glucuronide (E3-3G) and estriol-16-glucuronide (E3-16G) was 0.1-20 microg/mL and the linearity of the method was 0.9984 for E3-3G and 0.9987 for E3-16G. The limits of detection at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 were 10 ng/mL (E3-3G) and 5 ng/mL (E3-16G). The analytical recovery was over 85% and, in general, inter-day and intra-day variability for precision and accuracy were less than 10%. When applied to a pregnancy urine sample to biomedical monitoring of the function of the maternal/fetal unit, the proposed method allowed rapid and sensitive screening for the detection of E3-3G and E3-16G.     

Determination of Size Distribution of Nano-particles by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

A new method was developed for the determination of the size distribution of nano-particles by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Scattering effect of nanoparticles was studied. This method for the determination of size distribution was statistical.     

Fast spatially localised electrooptical mode in vertically aligned nematic LCs with negative dielectric anisotropy

ABSTRACT

Electro-optical switching and the liquid crystal (LC) director distribution are studied in spatially periodic electric field for vertically aligned LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. Two electro-optical switching modes characterised by different switching times are observed. These modes are well distinguished optically by choosing proper geometry for the polarisers axes orientation. One of these modes is significantly faster as compared to the other. The fast switching is explained in terms of localised near-to-surface director reorientation. The 3D-numerical simulation shows very good agreement with the experiment: it points out the existence of the disclination lines and field-stabilised walls responsible for the localised director field switching and its relaxation. Possibilities of enhancing the fast mode for high-speed light modulators are discussed.     

Determination of aristolochic acid by capillary zone electrophoresis

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of aristolochic acid (AA) in dietary supplements and selected herbs is described. A clear separation of AA from other sample constituents was achieved within 5 minutes without any sample clean up. A mixture of 20 mM-morpholinethanesulphonic acid+10 mM-BisTrisPropane+0.2% hydroxyethylcelullose in 10% methanol serves as a background electrolyte. The linearity, accuracy, intra-assay and detection limit of the developed method are 200–6000 ng/mL, 95–103%, 3.5%, and 50 ng/ml, respectively. Ease of use, sufficient sensitivity and low running cost are the most important attributes of the CZE method. The proposed CZE method was compared with HPLC.     

Simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in human plasma by capillary zone electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoretic method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in plasma was developed. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim extracted from human plasma with ethyl acetate were analyzed at 20 kV and 25 degrees C using 15 mm phosphate buffer (pH 6.2) as the electrolyte. The detection was by UV at 220 nm. The run time was 8.0 min and the limit of quantification was 10.00 microg/mL for sulfamethoxazole and 2.00 microg/mL for trimethoprim. The recovery was >99% for both compounds. This method enabled the detection of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in plasma of patients after oral ingestion of their combined formulation. The present simple and rapid method is applicable to drug monitoring in immunocompromised patients who are taking the combined formulation of these compounds for the treatment or prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.