Chemometric approaches in environmental problems concerning PCDD and PCDF. Data interpretation and source correlation. Mechanisms of formation and destruction in MSW combustion process

Summary The role of multivariate analysis methods in evaluating, rationalizing, and working out complex environmental problems is discussed. The discussion is organized in two sections; a literature analysis of the application of chemometric methods to PCDD/PCDF data interpretation and source correlation and a review of the role of chemometric methods in analysing the results obtained by the Authors studying PCDD/PCDF formation and destruction mechanisms in MSW combustion processes.     

Identification of inhibitors for UDP-galactopyranose mutase

The flavoenzyme uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP)-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) plays a key role in the cell wall biosynthesis of many pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using a synthetic fluorescent ligand, we screened 16 000 compounds in a fluorescence polarization assay. Effective inhibitors of UGM were identified.     

The reaction of N-aminophthalimide with isothiocyanates

N-Aminophthalimide ( I ) reacted in refluxing isopropyl alcohol with a number of isothiocyanates to give the related 1:1 addition products, N-(3-substitutedthioureido)phthalimides III. On the other hand, heating I directly with an excess of neat arylisothiocyanates produced the N-arylphthalimides IV. As shown for IIIa, the 1:1 addition products are conveniently deblocked by the Ing-Manske procedure to yield the 4-substituted thiosemicarbazide.     

Enhancing selectivity in oxidation catalysis with sol-gel nanocomposites

Valuable organic compounds such as alpha-hydroxy acids are easily synthesised with relevant selectivity enhancement using a sol-gel hydrophobized nanostructured silica matrix doped with the organocatalyst TEMPO: A materials science based synthetic route which cannot be achieved via classical homogeneous synthesis.     

The extraction of mercury(II), silver(I), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) by dioctylarsinic acid in chloroform

Dioctylarsinic acid (HDOAA) in chloroform solution has been investigated as a reagent for the extraction of Hg(II), Ag(I), Co(II), and Cd(II). Silver, cobalt and cadmium are not extracted below pH 7. An extraction coefficient of 1.1, constant over the pH range 1–6.5, was observed for Hg(II). With HCl concentrations of 1–8 M the extractability of mercury decreased slowly, reaching E_a⁰ = 0.05 at 8 M HCl. Silver formed a silver dioctylarsinate precipitate which collected at the interface. The extraction coefficients for Hg(II), Co(II) and Cd(II) increased above pH 7 to values of 20 (pH 9.1), 30 (pH 8.0), and 23 (pH 10), respectively. Reagent- and pH-dependence studies indicated that Co(II) and Cd(II) are extracted as M(DOAA)₂ or M(DOAA)Cl through interaction of HDOAA with M(OH)₂ or M(OH)⁺. Mercury was extracted from solutions of pH 1–6.5 as HgCl₂ (HDOAA)_2.5.     

Fast solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure for oil fingerprinting. Application to the Prestige oil spill

A rapid and simple fractionation procedure using solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges was developed for an accurate determination of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum residues and further application in chemical fingerprinting of oil spills by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among the adsorbents evaluated, SiO2/C3-CN exhibited the best selectivity, providing, by elution with n-hexane (4 ml) and n-hexane-CH2Cl2 (1:1) (5 ml), two well-resolved aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions, with recoveries of 97 +/- 7.2 and 99.7 +/- 13.9%, respectively. The SPE fractionation procedure was compared with the conventional silica-alumina adsorption chromatography showing similar results but practical advantages in terms of reproducibility, analysis time, solvent reduction and cost. Moreover, is particularly suitable for routine analysis with a high sample throughput. The developed methodology was tested in the characterization of fuel-oil samples collected along the Spanish north-west coast, after the Prestige oil spill accident.     

PHOTOOXIDATION OF A REFINED PETROLEUM OIL: INHIBITION BY β-CAROTENE AND ROLE OF SINGLET OXYGEN

Abstract— β-Carotene, at concentrations 0.1 m M , inhibits the formation of hydroperoxides and other oxidation products in a refined petroleum oil exposed to Pyrex-filtered UV. The effect appears to be due to ¹O₂ quenching. A mechanism incorporating ¹O₂ and radical processes is proposed as a model for environmental photooxidation of petroleum.