Simultaneous Determination of Trichothecenes A, B, and D in Maize Food Products by LC–MS–MS

Two new methods of analysis, based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, for simultaneous determination of trichothecenes A, B, and D in maize flour and oil have been developed and validated in accordance with European Commission decision 2002/657/EC (recovery, CCα, CCβ, and precision). The trichothecenes were extracted from maize flour by matrix solid-phase dispersion, with recoveries ≥79%, and from maize oil by liquid–liquid extraction, with recoveries ≥78%. Limits of quantitation ranged between 0.03 and 50 μg kg^?1, depending on the electrospray response to each analyte and on the matrix. Monitoring of flour and oil samples with this HPLC–MS–MS method revealed the presence of deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, and diacetoxyscirpenol at very low concentrations.     

Biomimetic complexes of Cd(II), Mn(II), and Zn(II) with 1,1-diaminobutane–Schiff base. EGA/MS study of the thermally induced decomposition

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Frequently, in addition to X-ray and spectroscopic approaches, thermal analysis is the method of choice for comprehensive characterization of precipitated...     

Thermal analysis and health safety

Hardwood dust is a human carcinogen; upon inhalation, it can cause sinonasal adenocarcinoma. Softwood, on the other hand, is only suspected of carcinogenic properties. However, the toxicology-based recommended exposure limits for hardwood and softwood dust in working environments have been derived identically. While it is very simple to distinguish the wood by morphological evaluations, the wood dust produced in working activities does not allow differentiation. Thermal analysis, especially thermogravimetry, was applied to evaluate the different characteristic thermal profile of standard hardwood and softwood dusts. The different TG and DTG traces allow to propose thermogravimetry as a new tool to distinguish and quantify the different dust origin.     

Phase-locked, time-delayed harmonic pulses for high spectral resolution in the extreme ultraviolet

We present experiments in the time and frequency domains aimed at confirming the measured mutual phase coherence of time-delayed, collinear harmonic pulses. We show that pairs of phase-locked harmonic pulses of medium order can be generated for peak intensities up to ~1.5 10(14)W/cm(2) in xenon, demonstrating the possibility of performing high-resolution spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet with Ramsey-like techniques.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of palladium(II) 1‐allylimidazole complexes

Thermal dehydration and decomposition processes of a Pd(II) coordination compound, [PdL₄]Cl₂·3H₂O ( 1 ), (where L is 1‐allylimidazole) were studied by simultaneous TG/DSC techniques under constant heating rates condition. The released gas products were analyzed by online coupling a FTIR spectrometer to the TG equipment. The so obtained evolved gas analysis confirmed that only two ligand molecules were released and that a new 1‐allylimidazole Pd(II) complex, trans‐[PdL₂Cl₂] ( 2a ), was obtained. The same coordination compound was also prepared by heating 1 at 413.15 K in air atmosphere until a constant weight was reached 2b . Thermal decomposition mechanisms for the 2a and 2b complexes examined were proposed according to the three mass loss steps derived by TG data. Based on the model‐free isoconversional method described by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), the dependencies of activation energy on the degree of conversion were determined. A model‐free “single point” method was also applied using the Kissinger equation, and derived results were compared to those of the former method. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 667–674, 2005     

Evolved Gas Analysis by Mass Spectrometry

Abstract: Periodic publications have been published that address advances in evolved gas analysis techniques, because the correct interpretation for the mechanism of a thermally induced reaction, involving the formation of gaseous species, is strongly dependent on the characterization of the evolved products.

When the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled-temperature program are online determined, the results allow one to prove a supposed reaction, either under isothermal or under heating conditions.

Very recent analytical applications of evolved gas analysis performed by mass spectrometry, selected among those published in 2012 and 2013, are collected in this review.     

Crystal structure and thermoanalytical study of a manganese(II) complex with 1-allylimidazole

The crystal structure of a manganese(II) 1-allylimidazole complex ([Mn(1-AIm)₃(NO₃)₂], where 1-Aim=1-allylimidazole), was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using SHELX-97. The thermal behaviour of the complex was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) coupled with an FTIR unit. The complex showed a multi-step decomposition related to the release of the ligand molecules, followed by oxidation. The final residue at 1073 K was found to be manganese(II) oxide. Evolved gas analysis allowed to prove the oxidative decomposition pattern of the examined complex, initially proposed by the percentage mass loss data. Finally, a kinetic analysis of the oxidative decomposition steps was made using the Kissinger equation, while the complex nature of the decomposition kinetics was revealed by the isoconversional Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method.     

Search of structure and ligands exchange for palladium(II) complexes with N-allylimidazole; X-ray and solid-state/solution NMR studies

Two coordination compounds of palladium(II) with N-allylimidazole (l) of the general formula [PdL₄]Cl₂ · 3H₂O (1) and trans-[PdL₂Cl₂] (2) have been synthesized. The crystal and molecular structure of complexes 1 and 2 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The X-ray structural data were supplemented by solid-state ¹³C NMR measurements (CP MAS and PASS 2D). The 1D and 2D NMR studies in solution reveal that complex 1 is unstable at room temperature and undergoes reversible decomposition to 2. The method for how to preserve a complex with four allyl-imidazole ligands in solution is shown.     

A new tool for painting diagnostics: Optical coherence tomography

Nondestructive techniques have seen successful growth in the last few years, and, among them, optical ones are widespread and extremely well received in the field of painting diagnostics because of their effectiveness and safety. At present, many techniques for nondestructive investigations of paintings are available; nevertheless, none of them is suitable for a quantitative characterization of varnish. However, varnish removal, either partial or complete, is a fundamental part of the cleaning process, which is an essential step in painting conservation. This critical process has been carried out, up to now, without the possibility of any non-destructive measurement for assessing the actual varnish thickness, but with microscopic observation of a detached microfragment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive technique that is well established for biomedical applications. In this work, we present a novel application of OCT to measure the varnish film thickness for painting diagnostics. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Applications of evolved gas analysis Part 2: EGA by mass spectrometry

The analytical applications of the evolved gas analysis (EGA) performed by mass spectrometry, for the period extending from 2001 to 2004, are collected in this review. By this technique, the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program is on-line determined, with the possibility to prove a supposed reaction, either under isothermal or under heating conditions.