Surface characterization of fluorinated polymers (PTFE, PVDF, PFA) for use in ultratrace analysis

Surface characterization of new unused PTFE, PFA and PVDF labware has been carried out by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, profilometry and atomic force microscopy. It has been found that in spite of higher micro-roughness, PFA exhibits the lowest nano-roughness and hence seems best suited as vessel material for relatively mild pressureless chemical operations for sample preparation of ultrapure substances, as container material for storage of ultrapure liquids, and for transport of such liquids, e.g., from the producer in the chemical to the end user in the microelectronics industry. This suitability refers only to the surface quality of the investigated materials. PTFE-surfaces, due to the sintering process of production, exhibit the most unfavourable surface quality of the investigated fluorinated polymers.     

Mass spectrometry of steroid glucuronide conjugates. II-Electron impact fragmentation of 3-keto-4-en- and 3-keto-5alpha-steroid-17-O-beta glucuronides and 5alpha-steroid-3alpha,17beta-diol 3- and 17-glucuronides

The steroid glucuronide conjugates of 16,16,17-d(3)-testosterone, epitestosterone, nandrolone (19-nortestosterone), 16,16,17-d(3)-nortestosterone, methyltestosterone, metenolone, mesterolone, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, 2,2,3,4,4-d(5)-5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, 19-nor-5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, 2,2,4,4-d(4)-19-nor-5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol and 1alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstane-3alpha/beta,17beta-diol were synthesized by means of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. Selective 3- or 17-O-conjugation of bis-hydroxylated steroids was performed either by glucuronidation of the corresponding steroid ketole and subsequent reduction of the keto group or via a four-step synthesis starting from a mono-hydroxylated steroid including (a) protection of the hydroxy group, (b) reduction of the keto group, (c) conjugation reaction and (d) removal of protecting groups. The mass spectra and fragmentation patterns of all glucuronide conjugates were compared with those of the commercially available testosterone glucuronide and their characterization was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For mass spectrometry the substances were derivatized to methyl esters followed by trimethylsilylation of hydroxy groups and to pertrimethylsilylated products using labelled and unlabelled trimethylsilylating agents. The resulting electron ionization mass spectra obtained by GC/MS quadrupole and ion trap instruments, full scan and selected reaction monitoring experiments are discussed, common and individual fragment ions are described and their origins are proposed.     

Peritektische Zersetzung von YBa2Cu3O7−x

During the heating of YBCO a peritectic reaction takes place at 1020C, which can be described by: 2YBa₂Cu₃O_7–xY₂BaCuO₅+L+(1-2x)/2O₂ (1) whereL = 3BaCuO₂ +2CuO is a fluid with limited amount of yttrium.It has been reported, that many parameters can influence the reaction. From one side not only the starting size of grains but also the heating rate have an influence on the resulting Y₂BaCuO₅-phase. From the other side, there is a change of the peritectical temperature caused by changing of the partial pressure of O₂ and the presence of parasitic phase.From general kinetic consideration one can draw the conclusion, that different mechanisms (nucleation, phase-boundary reaction and diffusion) can control the reaction.Using DTA/TG measurements, the peritectic reaction has been examined. Classical kinetic methods (Kissinger and Friedman) has been used. The Friedman method has given the dependence of the activation energy from reaction degree. This suggests many steps reactions. The dependence of the DTA-peaks from the heat rate suggest a parallel steps of reaction. This assumption can be motivated by evaluation of free O₂, one solid and liquid phase formation. Amount of this phases depends on the heating rate. Additionally X-ray and microscopic methods has been used. In this way was shown, that the perovskit structure is stable up to peritectical temperature and than is dramatically destroyed. From microscopic observations has been got information about shape and size of solid phase and it's creation as a function of temperature, time and starting grain size.

Die Arbeit wurde BMBF gefördert und durch Land NRW unterschtützt.     

Characterisation of pure or coated metal surfaces with streaming potential measurements

In the field of corrosion prevention, the characterisation of metal surfaces is useful to obtain information about the necessary preparation of the surface and about the quality of thin coatings of coupling and protective agents. Electrokinetic measurements can be used to determine the properties of modified polymer surfaces, metal sheets, and different surface preparations. However, it was necessary first to create special conditions for measuring the streaming potential, such as electrical isolation of the sample sheets together with the use of inert systems, as shown by the example of aluminium. According to the usual procedure the metal was first coated with a thin layer of a coupling agent. The effect of this adhesive agent depends on the degree of its adsorption by the metal surface. The quality of this layer can be characterised by streaming potential measurements, which can show the degree of coverage, the adhesive strength of the coated layer, and the effective chemical properties of the treated surface. These results were confirmed by wetting measurements. The production of surfaces which allow us to couple a coating varnish to the adhesive agent in good quality was demonstrated. Received: 24 June 1996 / Revised: 30 January 1997 / Accepted: 30 January 1997     

High speed determination of beta-receptor blocking agents in human urine by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Beta-receptor blocking agents are present on the international market in a huge variety. The International Olympic Committee prohibits the use of these drugs in several sport sections and doping control laboratories analyse urine samples of high-performance athletes with different techniques. Therefore, fast and reliable methods are required to enable a sensitive detection of many drugs and a high throughput of samples. In the present study a screening procedure is described using high speed liquid chromatography and multiple reaction monitoring to identify 32 beta-receptor blocking agents extracted from human urine. Urine specimens (blank urine samples, spiked urine samples and specimens of excretion studies) were hydrolysed, extracted and analysed within 7 min. Quasi-molecular ions (M(+) + H) of the beta-blockers are generated by means of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface followed by collision-induced dissociation in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer and subsequent detection of daughter ions. Proposals for the origin of common and individual secondary ions are presented.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric characterization and quantitation of xanthine derivatives using isotopically labelled analogues: an application for equine doping control analysis

Isotope-dilution mass spectrometry has been employed successfully in numerous fields of analytical chemistry enabling the establishment of fast and reliable procedures. In equine sports, xanthine derivatives such as caffeine and theobromine are prohibited, and doping control laboratories analyze horse urine specimens regarding these illicit performance-enhancing drugs. Theobromine has to exceed a threshold level of 2 microg/mL, hence a robust and reliable quantitation is required. Stably deuterated theobromine and caffeine were synthesized by the reaction of xanthine or theobromine with iodomethane-d3 in the presence of N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide or potassium carbonate in acetonitrile, respectively. Both compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, and a robust and fast assay for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of theobromine in equine urine samples was validated. Urine specimens were extracted by means of solid-phase extraction cartridges, and concentrated extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography interfaced to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. In addition, the dissociation behavior of deuterated analogues to caffeine and theobromine allowed proposals for fragmentation routes of xanthine derivatives after atmospheric pressure ionization and collisionally activated dissociation.     

N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide-promoted synthesis and mass spectrometric characterization of deuterated ephedrines

Synthesis and mass spectrometric characterization of drugs or metabolites labeled by stable isotopes has been of great interest in fields of clinical, forensic and doping control analysis. Deuterated ephedrine and p-hydroxypseudoephedrine were prepared from corresponding amines by a novel procedure utilizing N- methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide and deuterated iodomethane. The mechanism of methylation was studied by mass spectrometry using phenylethylamine as a model compound, and a rearrangement based on an intermediate six-membered ring structure with a trimethylsilyl-enol-ether is proposed giving rise to a leaving group of trimethyliodosilane and the desired monomethylated product. Deuterated analogues to frequently quantitated ephedrines were readily synthesized with purities >90%, and mass spectra recorded under different ionization and dissociation conditions presented distinct fragmentation processes including eliminations of water and methylamine as well as the generation of a benzyl cation.     

Investigations on the thermal decomposition of 1,2-dioxetanes via DSC

Reproducible measurements, reliable results and 1^st order kinetics for the whole reaction are obtained during the thermal decomposition of dioxetanes only, if inclusions of impurities in commercial sample pans are blocked by additional thick (magnitude of 100 ?m) and close Al₂O₃ protective layers. As a rule, nearly the same activation parameters are then found both for the decomposition of solvent-free dioxetanes and diluted solutions in several solvents. Mixtures of different dioxetanes in the same solvent contribute independently to the overall heat flow rate.

     

Optimale Strategie zur Ermittlung von Eichkurven, dargestellt am Beispiel der AAS

Summary Accuracy of the determination of concentrations depends under calibration conditions on experimental factors as well as the mathematical treatment of the calibration data matrix. An advantageous strategy for computation of calibration curves which considers all relevant information including standard measuring error as well as standard errors of concentrations in the estimation procedure is presented here.The example of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) given shows that the connection of the developed strategy with application of non-linear regression functions yields remarkable improvements of the detection power.