Electrochemical response of ascorbic acid at conducting and electrogenerated polymer modified electrodes for electroanalytical applications: a review

The present short review deals with electroanalytical aspects of electrochemical response of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) at conducting and electrogenerated polymer modified electrodes. Two main topics are considered: (i) electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbate at conducting polymer modified electrodes, leading to electroanalytical techniques for ascorbate assay, and (ii) retardation of ascorbate penetration through a layer of electrogenerated polymers, leading to permselective coatings and their diverse uses, especially for biosensing devices.     

Fermentation characteristics and the dynamic trend of chemical components during fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata

As a representative of traditionally fermented Chinese medicine, Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) shows the functions of invigorating the spleen and stomach and promoting digestion, which plays an important role in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The fermentation mechanism and the key factors that affect the quality of MMF have not been revealed yet, which has become an urgent issue that limits its clinical application. This article aims to systematically and comprehensively reveal the transformation of physical properties and the dynamic trend of chemical components including substrate components, volatile components, and lactic acid as anaerobic fermentation product during MMF fermentation. Along with obvious hyphae growth observed for MMF, the weight of MMF decreased, and the moisture and temperature increased. Through the quantified 14 components from substrate, ferulic acid increased from 45.53 ± 6.94 to 141.89 ± 78.40 μg/g, while glycosides and phenolic acids declined except caffeic acid. Also, within the 66 volatile components analyzed, alcohols and acids increased, while aldehydes and ketones decreased. Lactic acid was not detected in the fermentation substrate, but an apparent increase in lactic acid content was observed along with the increased fermentation days, resulting in 2.54 ± 0.15 mg/g on day 8. Based on the tested components, the fermentation process of MMF was discriminated into three distinct stages by principal component analysis, and an optimal fermentation time of four days was proposed. The results of this study will be of great significance to clarify the characteristics of fermentation and conduce to improving quality standards of MMF.     

Comparison of purge and trap GC/MS and spectrophotometry for monitoring petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in oilfield produced waters

Results of using a field spectrophotometer and its appropriate protocols as a surrogate method for an oilfield produced water treatment process is presented. Methylene chloride extractions of the produced water before and after treatment maintained a yellow color pigment that was directly proportional to the hydrocarbon concentration. From this, an absorption spectrum and standard curve were developed. A resultant linear plot of the standard curve indicated that there is an excellent correlation (r²=0.9847) between the varying concentrations and the associated absorbance values at a wavelength of 400 nm. Total n-alkane concentration comparisons between the laboratory GC/MS analysis and the spectrophotometry analysis generated data of similar accuracy and precision at concentrations ranging from 1 to 137 mg/l (alpha=0.05). Linear comparisons between GC/MS and spectrophotometric coefficients were near unity, with the constant being near zero, with a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.99. Based on this study, spectrophotometry is a complimentary method to GC/MS for determining total n-alkane concentrations in oilfield produced water samples.     

HPLC and GC Methods for Determination of Lubricants and Their Evaluation in Analysis of Real Samples of Polyethylene

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) are introduced for analysis of polymer lubricants (stearamide, oleamide and erucamide). In the HPLC method, a reverse phase octadecylsilane (ODS) column along with acetonitrile/methanol (60:40) as a mobile phase were used. Detection of analytes was performed by a UV detector at 202 nm. The analysis time was less than 8 min. In the GC method, polar capillary column and flame ionization detector (FID) were used for separations and detection, respectively. The analysis time by GC was longer than HPLC and was about 30 min. Limits of detection, linear range and repeatability of both methods are similar, but determination of oleamide in real samples by HPLC method is difficult due to complexity of the initial part of HPLC chromatogram in polyethylene samples. That problem is not observed in the GC method. Detection limits in both methods for all analytes are lower than 0.003% which are much lower than the amount of lubricants in commercial polymers (0.05–0.2%).     

A fast procedure to immobilize polyethylene glycols in glass capillary columns

Polyethylene glycols can be immobilized in glass capillary columns by a new procedure involving covering the glass walls with a layer of graphitized carbon black and by flowing a mixture of the stationary phase and dicumyl peroxide. After curing and conditioning the column is ready for use. Excellent performance is reported for Carbowax 20 M and high molecular weight glycols. For other glycols the immobilized layer is less stable and can be washed out.     

江西樟树四特酒香味成分的GC／MS分析

通过对四特酒进行化学处理、分类收集组分,采用GC/MS联用技术对各组分进行分离与定性定量测定,分离出130多个色谱峰,鉴定出65个化合物.     

油菜花粉气味成分研究

为了提高气相色谱/质谱的检出灵敏度,采用进样新方法对油菜花粉气味组分进行分离测定,对下列11种成分作了鉴定:二甲二硫;正辛烷;1,3-二甲苯,异硫氰酸丙烯酯;1,4-二甲苯;1,2-二甲苯;3,4-二甲基庚烷;二甲三硫;2-甲基-5-已烯腈;萘;对-甲氧基苯丙烯。     

蛇油中脂肪酸成分的GC—MS研究

用溶剂热抽提蛇油脂肪和ＫＯＨ／甲醇酯交换甲酯化,以气相色谱－质谱联用技术测定脂肪酸组成,鉴定了２９种脂肪酸成分,其中含量较高的成分有肉豆蔻酸,棕榈油酸,棕榈酸,亚油酸,油酸,硬脂酸,花生四烯酸,二十碳三烯酸,二十碳二烯酸,二十二碳四烯酸等．蛇油中不饱和脂肪酸的含量占脂肪酸总量的６３％以上．     

Distance distributions and dynamics of a zinc finger peptide from fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements

Time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements were used to measure distance distributions and intramolecular dynamics (site-to-site diffusion) of a 28-residue single-domain zinc finger peptide in the absence and presence of zinc ion. Energy transfer was measured between TRP₁₄ and a N-terminal DNS group. As expected, the TRP-to-DNS distance distribution for zinc-bound peptide is shorter and narrower (R _av=11.2 Å,hw=2.8 Å) than the metal-free peptide (R _av=20.1 Å,hw=14.5 Å). The degree of mutual donor-to-acceptor diffusion (D) was also determined for these distributions. For zinc-bound peptide there is no detectible diffusion (D0.2 Ų/ns), whereas for metal-free peptide a considerable amount of motion is occurring between the donor and the acceptor (D=12 Ų/ns). These results indicate that the zinc-bound peptide folds into a unique, well-defined conformation, whereas the metal-free conformation is flexible and rapidly changing. The absence of detectible mutual site-to-site diffusion between the donor and the acceptor in the metal-bound zinc finger peptide indicates that intramolecular motion is essentially frozen out, on the FRET time scale, as a consequence of zinc coordination.Dedicated to the memory of Barbara D. Wells.     

Determination of butyl- and phenyltin compounds in biological material by gas chromatography-flame photometric detection after ethylation with sodium tetraethylborate

A reliable and rapid speciation method for the simultaneous determination of butyl- and phenyltin species in biological samples has been developed. Three extraction procedures are compared: enzymatic hydrolysis and solubilization by ethanoic and hydrochloric acids. Derivatization is performed by the one-step ethylation/extraction procedure using the sodium tetraethylborate reagent directly in the aqueous phase in the presence of an isooctane layer. Analysis is performed using capillary gas chromatography coupled to flame photometric detection. The detection limits are in the range of a few ng(Sn)/g. Analysis of the environmental samples and the certified reference material demonstrates the accuracy of the analytical method.