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.     

Hydrophobic-phase-modified fused-silica columns for capillary electrophoresis

Coated capillaries modified with a hydrophobic layer were developed. Linear hydrocarbons and ethylbenzene modified surfaces greatly improved the electrophoretic performance of the capillaries. The column efficiency for organic compounds reached as high as 327 000 theoretical plate numbers per meter on a 50 microm I.D. linear hydrocarbon (C6) surface treated fused-silica capillary column. This value did not change during 50 repeated analyses and the columns showed strong stability against 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M HCl. The relative standard deviation of the run-to-run, day-to-day, and capillary-to-capillary coating with hydrophobic layer showed values of < or =2.5%, and good reproducibility. The separations of four aromatic amines and six pharmacological amines at pH 2.5 is reported.     

Kaolin as support for porous layer open tubular columns

Summary PLOT columns have been prepared with kaolin as the liquid phase support. These columns show good efficiency with different stationary phases and good thermal stability with polar phases. The performance of columns is shown by the separation of various mixtures such as fatty acids, phenols and anilines which are of analytical importance.     

Photodynamic Activity on Biofilm in Endotracheal Tubes of Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection that arises after endotracheal intubation affecting patients under intensive care. The presence of the endotracheal tube (ETT) is a risk factor since it is colonized by multispecies biofilm. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) could be a strategy to decontaminate ETTs. We verify if methylene blue (MB) associated with external illumination of the ETT could be an alternative to destroy biofilm. We performed an in vitro and ex vivo study. In vitro study was performed with P. aeruginosa biofilm grew over ETT for 7 days. After treatment, the surviving cells were cultured for 3 days and the biofilm was analyzed by crystal violet absorbance. Ex vivo study employed ETT obtained from extubated patients. aPDT was performed with MB (100 µm ) and red LED (λ = 640±20 nm). We quantified the biofilm thickness and used scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence technique to verify morphological and functional changes after aPDT. Our results showed that bacteria remain susceptible to aPDT after sequential treatments. We also attested that aPDT can reduce biofilm thickness, disrupt biofilm attachment from ETT surface and kill microbial cells. These data suggest that aPDT should be investigated to decrease VAP incidence via ETT decontamination.     

Chloroperoxidase Modified Electrode for Amperometric Determination of 2,4,6‐Trichlorophenol

A carbon paste‐poly(o‐phenylendiamine)‐modified electrode to be used as amperometric biosensor for 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) is described. The enzyme chloroperoxidase (EC 1.11.1.10) from Caldariomyces fumago is immobilized through dispersion in a graphite paraffin oil carbon paste covered by an electrogenerated poly(o‐phenylendiamine) (PPD) layer. The main enzymatic dehalogenation product, 2,6‐dichloro‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DCQ) is characterized by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry. This product is electrochemically active and can be detected amperometrically at +150 mV vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl (3 M). The biosensor exhibits a response time of 4 min, a detection limit of 10^?7 M, and a dynamic linear range between 10^?7 and 10^?6 M. Selectivity as well as operating and storage stability were evaluated.     

0-aminophenol and 8-hydroxyquinoline as ligands of Cu(II) in 1M-Na(ClO4) at 25°C

The complex formation between Cu(II) and 8-hydroxyquinolinat (Ox) was studied with the liquid-liquid distribution method, between 1M-Na(ClO₄) and CHCl₃ at 25°C. The experimental data were explained by the equilibria: $$\begin{gathered} \operatorname{Cu} ^{2 + } + Ox \rightleftharpoons \operatorname{Cu} Ox \log \beta _1 = 12.38 \pm 0.13 \hfill \\ \operatorname{Cu} ^{2 + } + 2 Ox \rightleftharpoons \operatorname{Cu} Ox_2 \log \beta _2 = 23.80 \pm 0.10 \hfill \\ \operatorname{Cu} Ox_{2aq} \rightleftharpoons \operatorname{Cu} Ox_{2\operatorname{org} } \log \lambda = 2.06 \pm 0.08 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The equilibria between Cu(II) and o-aminophenolate (AF) were studied potentiometrically with a glass electrode at 25°C and in 1M-Na(ClO₄). The experimental data were explained by the equilibria: $$\begin{gathered} \operatorname{Cu} ^{2 + } + AF \rightleftharpoons \operatorname{Cu} AF \log \beta _1 = 8.08 \pm 0.08 \hfill \\ \operatorname{Cu} ^{2 + } + 2AF \rightleftharpoons \operatorname{Cu} AF_2 \log \beta _2 = 14.60 \pm 0.06 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The protonation constants ofAF and the distribution constants between CHCl₃?H₂O and (C₂H₅)₂O?H₂O were also determined.