IMEP in support of the comparability of measurement results across the Romanian chemical metrology infrastructure

On the basis of quantitative chemical measurements many important decisions are made in support of legislation or in industrial processes or social aspects. For this reason it is important to improve the quality of chemical measurement results and thus make them comparable and acceptable everywhere. The measurement quality is important to enable an equivalent implementation of the European Union regulations and directives across an enlarged EU. In this context, the European Commission–Joint Research Centre–Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (EC-JRC-IRMM) set up a programme to improve the scientific basis for metrology in chemistry (MiC) in EU candidate countries in the framework of EU enlargement. Several activities were initiated, such as training, fellowships, sponsoring of seminars, conferences and participation in interlaboratory comparisons. To disseminate measurement traceability, IRMM provides through its International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP) an interlaboratory tool to enable the benchmarking of laboratory performance. IMEP emphasizes the metrological aspects of measurement results, such as traceability and measurement uncertainty. In this way it has become a publicly available European tool for MiC. The Romanian Bureau of Legal Metrology – National Institute of Metrology (BRML-INM) actively supports the participation of Romanian authorized and field laboratories in IMEP interlaboratory comparisons. This paper describes the interest of Romanian laboratories participating in this programme, the analytical and metrological problems that became relevant during these exercises and some actions for improvement. The results from Romanian laboratories participating in IMEP-12 (water), IMEP-16 (wine), IMEP-17 (human serum) and IMEP-20 (tuna fish) are presented. To conclude, the educational and training activities at national level organized jointly by the Romanian National Institute of Metrology (INM) and IRMM are also mentioned.     

STUDIES ON PREPARATION OF INACTIVATED VACCINES FROM CELL CULTURES OF MINK ENTERITIS VIRUS (MEV) AND THEIR IMMUNITY

In this paper, superhigh reproductive rate strains of MEV with titre more than HA8192* or TCID50 log9.7 10 have been achieved both by cultivation in cell lines with different susceptibility to MEV and by isolating and identifying in field by the author. The systematic tests proved that S18 and L12 strains of MEV are the best strains for vaccine preparation. In this study, the best means for the tissue cultivation of MEV and the most advanced technological process for the production and detection of serum-free cell-cultured MEV fluids with super-high HA titre in batches in large quantities have been established for the first time. Optimum conditions for MEV inactivation were determined, and safe and effective inactivated vaccines with mineral oil or A1(OH)3 gel adjuvant were successfully prepared with serum-free cell-cultured MEV fluids. Both vaccines with different adjuvants can be manufactured in batches in large quantities and have been widely used all over China since 1986. The change laws of the imm     

Characterization of the Effects of Vanadium Traps in Cracking Catalysts by Imaging Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Microactivity Test

The vanadium trapping effect of Mg and La containing additives in cracking catalyst contaminated with 2300 ppm Ni and 4700 ppm V has been analyzed by microactivity test (MAT) and imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The results of SIMS imaging are consistent with cracking activity data and show that the La/spinel is a superior vanadium trap for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons (FCC) operation. La/spinel serves as a dual function additive for both vanadium trap and SO_x removal. The optimum amount of La/spinel added to the cracking catalyst is about 15% by weight. This results in an increased catalytic activity, an increase in gasoline yield, and a decrease in coke and gas factors. The MgAl₂O₄ phase of Mg/Al₂O₃ additive is found capable of trapping vanadium while its MgO of Mg/Al₂O₃ phase can migrate to zeolite particles (the active component of the FCC catalyst) that, in turn, causes a decline in the activity of that catalyst.     

FeZSM－5沸石上乙苯的吸附态及氧化脱氢

ＦｅＺＳＭ－５吸附乙苯前后的ＩＲ、ＸＰＳ、ＥＳＲ及Ｍｏｓｓｂａｕｅｒ谱表明，乙苯分子的侧链和苯环与ＦｅＺＳＭ－５的活性位（以Ｆｅ为中心的结构单元）同时发生配位络合作用，减弱了乙苯分子侧链的α和β位Ｃ－Ｈ键，使其活化，在氧存在下易发生氧化脱氢反应生成苯乙烯．Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）是乙苯氧化脱氢的活性中心，尤其是骨架不饱和配位的Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）对活化乙苯分子起到了关键作用，碱金属平衡阳离子起到了助催化剂的作用．骨架Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）比非骨架Ｆｅ（Ⅲ）具有更高的氧化脱氢活性     

Corrosion-stable nickel- and cobalt-based alloys for dental applications

In a comparative study the in vitro corrosion behavior of a selection of nickel- and cobalt-based alloys for application in dentistry containing no noble metals was studied with slow scan cyclic voltammetry. The obtained breakthrough potentials, the repassivation behavior and further typical features of the cyclic voltamograms are correlated with the chemical composition as measured with electron beam microanalysis. Surface inhomogenities detected with the latter method are discussed with respect to the electrochemical behavior. For all alloys stabilities in terms of breakthrough potential superior to previously reported data for nickel-base alloys are found.     

Enantioselectivity of 6-O-alkyldimethylsilyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrins as chiral stationary phases in capillary GC

Summary Clenbuterol has been determined in urine by solidphase extraction on a C₁₈ cartridge, diazotization of the eluate with nitrite, coupling of the diazonium ion with 1-(naphthyl)ethylenediamine, and separation of the azo dye formed by HPLC with a C₁₈ column and a micellar mobile phase containing 0.1 M sodium dodecyl sulphate, 12%n-butanol and 0.05 M citrate buffer, pH 3. Recoveries higher than 90% were obtained by mixing the samples with a 20% 0.2 M NaOH before extraction. Limits of detection of 51 and 6.7 ng L⁻¹ were obtained with spectrophotometric and thermal lens spectrometric detection, respectively; respective repeatabilities were 3.1% (5 μg mL⁻¹) and 5.6% (0.16 μg mL⁻¹).     

Dependence of the relative retention of organic compounds on the nature and pressure of the carrier gas and on the thickness of the PEG-20M film in the capillary column

The effects of the carrier gas nature and pressure on the relative retention values of organic compounds were studied using a series of capillary columns differing in the film thickness of the polar stationary phase (PEG-20M). Relative retention depends linearly on the carrier gas pressure. This dependence becomes more pronounced in the following order of carrier gases: helium < nitrogen < carbon dioxide. The limiting relative retention at a carrier gas pressure approaching zero rather than relative retention values measured experimentally (relative retention time, Kovats retention index,etc.) is an invariant characteristic of a compound subjected to chromatography. For the carrier gases studied, the limiting retention values almost does not depend on the nature of the carrier gas used. The limiting indicating the complex absorption-adsorption nature of these parameters. Dissolution of a carrier gas in the stationary liquid phase has an effect on the relative retention. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2177–2186, December, 1997.     

Do proficiency tests always verify laboratories’ performance? The case of FAPAS PT 0270

In this paper, the case of FAPAS PT 0270 “Doramectin and Oxfendazole in Sheep Liver” is discussed. During evaluation of the data received from participants (determination of total, oxidised oxfendazole residue and calculation of the sum of oxfendazole and oxfendazole sulfone residues), significant differences were observed between the results obtained by use of two analytical approaches. This phenomenon can be explained by the route of oxfendazole metabolism, which results in the presence of fenbendazole in the sample. This was not predicted by the provider; consequently, not all the necessary tests on the material were conducted. Due to the high uncertainty of the z-scores in this test, the results of the PT cannot be used for purposes of evaluation, and the benefits of participation in PT 0270 are questionable.     

The Reactivity of Cr‐Te Superlattice Reactants and of Co‐deposited Cr‐Te Films: Studies with in‐situ X‐ray Diffractometry

The reactivity of a Cr‐Te multilayer film consisting of 326 Cr/Te double‐layers with about 88(3) at% Te was investigated with in‐situ X‐ray diffraction. The occurrence of a superstructure reflection caused by the multilayer system is observed. During the annealing procedure between 80 and 90 °C the layer‐by‐layer arrangement is destroyed and elemental Te crystallizes. After 6 h isothermal annealing at 140 °C CrTe₃ starts to crystallize. The amount and the crystal size of CrTe₃ increase with raising temperature and Te is consumed during the growth process. At 220 °C the formation of crystalline Cr₂Te₃ is observed and between 220 and 260 °C CrTe₃ is completely decomposed into Cr₂Te₃. The two Cr tellurides grow as highly textured materials. The size of CrTe₃ crystals is significantly larger than that of Cr₂Te₃. For a co‐deposited Cr‐Te film with composition 77(3) at% Te the tri‐telluride and elemental Te crystallize simultaneously. The texture of CrTe₃ is less pronounced and different reflections of the tri‐telluride occur besides the (h00)‐reflections. Up to 160 °C a pronounced increase of the crystallite size is observed and the crystals are significantly larger than those obtained with the multifilm sample. At 130 °C the crystallization kinetics seem to be controlled by nucleation.     

The identification of tricyclic neuroleptics and sulphonamides by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Circular high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) has been used to differentiate a series of twelve tricyclic neuroleptics, using both normal phase and reverse phase procedures. The use of normal phase systems also allows the resolution of geometric isomers of chlorprothixene, clopenthixol and flupenthixol. Thirteen sulphonamides and Trirnethoprim may also be distinguished using HPTLC.