IMEP-24 analysis of eight trace elements in toys

The International Measurement Evaluation Program (IMEP) organized the IMEP-24 interlaboratory comparison after reports in the media about high levels of lead in toys. The aim of this comparison was to verify the laboratories’ capacity to evaluate trace-element levels in a possible toy-like material according to the European Standard EN 71-3:1994. As test material, it used a former certified reference material containing levels of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and selenium around the limits set in the standard.Four expert laboratories confirmed the reference values (Xref) for all elements but Hg, and established a reference value for Hg. The scatter of the results reported by the participants was large, as expected, but showed a close to normal distribution around the reference values for five of the eight trace elements. The spread of results was mainly attributed to sampling and sample preparation.One major issue observed in this exercise was the lack of legislative rules about how to report the result, or, more specifically, the use of the analytical correction, which was introduced in EN 71-3:1994 to achieve consistent interpretation of results and which is to be applied when values are equal to or above the maximum limits set in the standard. Its application by the participants was very inconsistent and led to problems in their evaluation. There is clearly a need for clarification and for more formal regulations with regard to result reporting in order to minimize the risk of confusion.Participants were also asked to give their opinion with regard to the acceptability of the test material for the market. The majority correctly considered the material as non-compliant. However, almost one-third incorrectly assessed the material as compliant.     

IMEP-24 analysis of eight trace elements in toys

The International Measurement Evaluation Program (IMEP) organised the IMEP-24 interlaboratory comparison after reports in the media about high levels of lead in toys. The aim of this comparison was to verify the laboratories’ capacity to evaluate trace-element levels in a possible toy-like material according to the European Standard EN 71-3:1994. As test material, it used a former certified reference material containing levels of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and selenium around the limits set in the standard.Four expert laboratories confirmed the reference values (Xref) for all elements but Hg, and established a reference value for Hg. The scatter of the results reported by the participants was large, as expected, but showed a close to normal distribution around the reference values for five of the eight trace elements. The spread of results was mainly attributed to sampling and sample preparation.One major issue observed in this exercise was the lack of legislative rules about how to report the result, or, more specifically, the use of the analytical correction, which was introduced in EN 71-3:1994 to achieve consistent interpretation of results and which is to be applied when values are equal to or above the maximum limits set in the standard. Its application by the participants was very inconsistent and led to problems in their evaluation. There is clearly a need for clarification and for more formal regulations with regard to result reporting in order to minimise the risk of confusion.Participants were also asked to give their opinion with regard to the acceptability of the test material for the market. The majority correctly considered the material as non-compliant. However, almost one-third incorrectly assessed the material as compliant.     

Synthesis, characterization and standard molar enthalpy of formation of La(C7H5O3)2·(C9H6NO)

The product from reaction of lanthanum chloride seven-hydrate with salicylic acid and 8-hydroxyquinoline, La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO), was characterized by IR, elemental analysis, molar conductance, and thermogravimetric analysis. The standard molar enthalpies of solution of [LaCl₃·7H₂O (s)], [2C₇H₆O₃ (s)], [C₉H₇NO (s)] and [La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO) (s)] in a mixed solvent of absolute ethyl alcohol, dimethyl formamide (DMF) and perchloric acid were determined by calorimetry to be [LaCl₃·7H₂O (s), 298.15 K] = −96.45 ± 0.18 kJ mol⁻¹, [2C₇H₆O₃ (s), 298.15 K] = 14.99 ± 0.17 kJ mol⁻¹, [C₉H₇NO (s), 298.15 K] = −3.86 ± 0.06 kJ mol⁻¹ and [La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO) (s), 298.15 K] = −117.78 ± 0.11 kJ mol⁻¹. The enthalpy change of the reaction

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Crystal structure and the standard molar enthalpy of formation of a coordination polymer [Cu(nip)(phen)]n

A coordination polymer [Cu(nip)(phen)]_n was hydrothermally synthesized by the reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ with 5-nitroisophthalic acid and phen. Single-crystal structure analysis showed that the complex crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c; a = 10.6566(13); b = 12.5931(15); c = 13.0514(16) Å; β = 95.474(2)°, V = 1743.5(4) Å³; Z = 4. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the complex was determined to be −554 ± 11 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Standard enthalpies of formation of selected XYZ half-Heusler compounds

The standard enthalpies of formation of selected ternary half-Heusler type compositions XYZ (X = Au, Co, Fe, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru; Y = Hf, Mn, Ti, Zr; Z = Ga, Sn) were measured using high temperature direct reaction calorimetry. The measured standard enthalpies of formation (in kJ/mole of atoms) of the half-Heusler compounds (prototype MgAgAs, Pearson symbol cF12, space group F-43m) are, IrMnSn (−29.4 ± 1.8); NiTiSn (−52.6 ± 2.4); PtHfSn (−98.8 ± 3.4); PtMnSn (−55.8 ± 2.6); PtTiSn (−93.6 ± 3.3); PtZrSn (−104.9 ± 3.8); for the B2 compound (prototype CsCl, Pearson symbol cP2, space group Pm-3m), RuMnGa (−26.9 ± 1.7); for the C1 structured (prototype CaF₂, Pearson symbol cF12, space group Pm-3m) or the C1_b structured compound IrMnGa (−40.9 ± 1.7). Indicative standard enthalpies of formation of the following compounds were obtained, half-Heusler compounds AuMnSn, CoTiSn, IrZrSn, NiHfSn, NiZrSn, PdHfSn, PdZrSn, RhTiSn; Heusler compound (prototype Cu₂MnAl, Pearson symbol cF16, space group Fm-3m) RhMnSn; hexagonal compound (prototype BeZrSi, Pearson symbol hP6, space group P6₃/mmc) PtMnGa and another type of hexagonal compound (prototype RhHfSn, Pearson symbol hP18, space group P-62c) RhHfSn, IrZrsn, RhZrSn. Values were compared with ab initio calculations from AFLOW and OQMD. Lattice parameters of these compounds were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Selected alloys were further annealed to investigate phase transformations and phase relationships.     

A novel second-order standard addition analytical method based on data processing with multidimensional partial least-squares and residual bilinearization

In the presence of analyte-background interactions and a significant background signal, both second-order multivariate calibration and standard addition are required for successful analyte quantitation achieving the second-order advantage. This report discusses a modified second-order standard addition method, in which the test data matrix is subtracted from the standard addition matrices, and quantitation proceeds via the classical external calibration procedure. It is shown that this novel data processing method allows one to apply not only parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS), but also the recently introduced and more flexible partial least-squares (PLS) models coupled to residual bilinearization (RBL). In particular, the multidimensional variant N-PLS/RBL is shown to produce the best analytical results. The comparison is carried out with the aid of a set of simulated data, as well as two experimental data sets: one aimed at the determination of salicylate in human serum in the presence of naproxen as an additional interferent, and the second one devoted to the analysis of danofloxacin in human serum in the presence of salicylate.     

Second-order calibration of excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra for determination of glutathione in human plasma

A rapid non-separative spectroflourimetric method based on the second-order calibration of the excitation-emission data matrix was proposed for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in human plasma. In the phosphate buffer solution of pH 8.0 GSH reacts with ortho-phthaldehyde (OPA) to yield a fluorescent adduct with maximum fluorescence intensity at about 420 nm. To handle the interfering effects of the OPA adducts with aminothiols other than GSH in plasma as well as intrinsic fluorescence of human plasma, parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis as an efficient three-way calibration method was employed. In addition, to model the indirect interfering effect of the plasma matrix, PARAFAC was coupled with standard addition method. The two-component PARAFAC modeling of the excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra accurately resolved the excitation and emission spectra of GSH, plasma (or plasma constituents). The concentration-related PARAFAC score of GSH represented a linear correlation with the concentration of added GSH, similar to that is obtained in simple standard addition method. Using this standard addition curve, the GSH level in plasma was found to be 6.10 ± 1.37 μmol L⁻¹. The accuracy of the method was investigated by analysis of the plasma samples spiked with 1.0 μmol L⁻¹ of GSH and a recovery of 97.5% was obtained.     

用1H NMR相对化学位移计算CyDTA金属配合物乙羧基键合几率的方法

用~１ＨＮＭＲ相对化学位移计算ＣｙＤＴＡ金属配合物乙羧基键合几率的方法宋瑞方,李菲,刘广民,毛友钢（吉林大学理论化学研究所分子光谱与分子结构开放实验室,长春,１３００２３）关键词ＭＣｙＤＴＡ,乙羧基键合分布几率,标准自由能胺羧金属配合物一般为正八面体?..     

铌团簇和配合物的多面体分子轨道理论研究

应用多面体理论方法研究铌纯金属团簇和配合物的电子结构成键性质,并将理论预测结果用密度泛函方法验证.证实多面体理论是简便预测过渡金属簇,尤其是簇骨架电子结构的有效方法.铌的小团簇总是以低自旋密堆积结构为稳定构型,当体系的价电子数满足轨道成键数时,用该方法可较准确地推断成键性质(如Nb₄和[Nb₆Cl₁₂]⁺⁴);而对于不满足成键数的体系(如Nb₅和Nb₆),则可利用该理论分析畸变趋势.