Minimization of water vapor interference in the analysis of non-methane volatile organic compounds by solid adsorbent sampling

Water vapor can be a significant interference in the analysis of air for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) using solid-adsorbent sampling techniques. The adsorbent materials used in sampling cartridges have different hydrophobic characteristics, and it is therefore necessary to characterize solid-adsorbent cartridges over a wide range of humidity. Controlled humidity experiments were performed to assess the extent of water vapor interference when samples are collected onto AirToxics solid-adsorbent cartridges. It was found that elevating the temperature of the cartridge to 10 degrees C above the temperature of the air sample greatly reduced water vapor adsorption and interferences and resulted in > or = 90% recovery of NMVOCs, biogenic VOCs and chlorofluorocarbons. Similar collection efficiencies were obtained at ambient temperature by reducing the relative humidity to > or = 60% in the sample by dilution with dry, scrubbed ambient air. A procedure also was developed and optimized for dry-purging cartridges prior to analysis. However, under optimized conditions, significant losses of C3-C5 compounds still occurred under highly humid conditions. It was determined that these losses were due to reduced retention during sampling rather than loss during the dry purge procedure. The dry purge method was shown to be adequate at high humidities for sampling NMVOCs with retention indices greater than 500.     

Photophysical behaviour of azaphenanthrenes

Nitrogen position and internal heavy atom effects on the radiative and radiationless transitions from the lowest excited states of the isomeric azaphenanthrenes and some of their methyl, chlorine and bromine derivatives have been studied in E.P.A. solutions at 77 K. The nitrogen position affects the fluorescence and S₁-T₁ intersystem crossing rates more than the phosphorescence and T₁-S₀ intersystem crossing rates. Small differences in the behaviour of 9-azaphenanthrene are enhanced in non-hydroxylic solvents and at room temperature, and it is inferred that (n, π*) states play a more important role in the photophysical behaviour of this isomer. Halogen, substitution in all the isomers increases the phosphorescence rate, induces a smaller increase in the T₁-S₀ intersystem crossing rates and has a negligible effect on the fluorescence rate.     

Determination of carbonyl compounds in air by HPLC using on-line analyzed microcartridges,fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection

Summary Sensitive and selective detection of dansylhydrazones of atmospheric carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) can be achieved using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence or chemiluminescence detection. The carbonyl compounds are derivatized by drawing air through small glass cartridges packed with porous glass particles impregnated with dansylhydrazine. After sampling, the contents of the cartridges are analyzed on-line by using a small plug of water (200 L) to transfer and focus the hydrazone derivatives at the head of a HPLC column. Greatly increased sensitivity over traditional methods derives from 1) analysis of the entire contents of the sampling cartridge, and 2) detection by fluoresence or peroxyoxalate chemilum-inescence. Results are compared for photo-initiated and H₂O₂-initiated peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence. This novel and practical system enables the detection of sub-ppbv concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and higher carbonyls in air using relatively short sampling times.     

Formation of oxygen atoms in the reaction of chlorine atoms with ozone

Oxygen atoms are detected by NO + O + M chemiluminescence as a secondary product of the reaction between Cl and O₃. The mechanism Cl + O₃ → ClO + O₂(¹Σ⁺_g), O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) + O₃ → O₂ + O₂ + O is proposed to account for the oxygen atom formation. The branching ratio to the O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) product in the reaction of Cl with O₃ is estimated to be in the range (0.1–0.5) x 10^?2.     

Quantification of clenbuterol in equine plasma,urine and tissue by liquid chromatography coupled on-line with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Clenbuterol (CBL) is a potent beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist used for the management of respiratory disorders in the horse. The detection and quantification of CBL can pose a problem due to its potency, the relatively low dose administered to the horse, its slow clearance and low plasma concentrations. Thus, a sensitive method for the quantification and confirmation of CBL in racehorses is required to study its distribution and elimination. A sensitive and fast method was developed for quantification and confirmation of the presence of CBL in equine plasma, urine and tissue samples. The method involved liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), separation by liquid chromatography (LC) on a short cyano column, and pseudo multiple reaction monitoring (pseudo-MRM) by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). At very low concentrations (picograms of CBL/mL), LLE produced better extraction efficiency and calibration curves than solid-phase extraction (SPE). The operating parameters for electrospray QTOF and yield of the product ion in MRM were optimized to enhance sensitivity for the detection and quantification of CBL. The quantification range of the method was 0.013-10 ng of CBL/mL plasma, 0.05-20 ng/0.1 mL of urine, and 0.025-10 ng/g tissue. The detection limit of the method was 13 pg/mL of plasma, 50 pg/0.1 mL of urine, and 25 pg/g of tissue. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of CBL in plasma, urine and various tissue samples, and in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of CBL in the horse. CBL was quantified for 96 h in plasma and 288 h in urine post-administration of CLB (1.6 micro g/kg, 2 x daily x 7 days). This method is useful for the detection and quantification of very low concentrations of CBL in urine, plasma and tissue samples.     

The photophysics of trans-stilbene

The fluorescence lifetime of trans-stilbene in dilute methylcyclohexane/iso-hexane solution has been measured and the mean S₁ radiative (k_F), radiationless (k_I) and cis-isomerization (k_C) rate parameters have been determined from ?90 to 60°C. S_i consists of a fluorescent trans (¹B_u^*) state (k_F⁰ = 6.0 × 10⁸ s^?1) which undergoes reversible thermal-activated rotational internal conversion (ΔH = 1.75 kcal mole^?1, ΔS = 10.6 cal deg^?1 mole^?1) to a non-fluorescent perp (¹A_g^*) state. p(¹A_g^*) lies 610 cm^?1 above t (¹B_u^*) with an intermediate S₁ potential maximum. p(¹A_g^*) undergoes internal conversion(k_I.^∞ = 5.8 × 10⁸ s^?1) to p (¹A_g) leading to cis-isomerization. This is the main isomerization channel over the whole temperature range.     

X-ray fluorescence analysis of the concentration and valence state of sulfur in pollution samples

Two special X-ray spectrometers have been developed for the measurement of sulfur pollution. One of them is a portable instrument which uses a 50 W aircooled X-ray tube and a vacuum spectrometer with a NaCl crystal. It can detect 0.5μg/cm² of S in 100-s counting interval. The other instrument is specifically for the measurement of valence state of sulfur. It consists of a replacement channel for the multiple-crystal spectrometer instrument used by the Environmental Protection Agency for routine analysis. With this replacement channel details of the sulfur spectrum can be scanned or the crystal may be set for the sulfate Kβ satellite for routine determination of the sulfate fraction of total sulfur.     

Selective mode excitation in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

Modes are selectively excited by launching light through the cladding from the side into a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Measuring the total output power at the end of the fiber as a function of the angle of incidence of the exciting laser beam provides a powerful diagnostic for characterizing the cladding bandgap. Furthermore, various types of modes on either side of the bandgap are excited individually, and their nearfield images are obtained.