A coated piezoelectric crystal detector for the selective detection and determination of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere

A method for the selective detection and determination of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere is presented. This method utilizes the reversible adsorption of H₂S on a piezoelectric quartz crystal coated with an acetone extract of soots resulting from the burning of organochlorine compounds. The extract of a soot prepared from chlorobenzoic acid provided the best substrate. The method is useful in the concentration range 1–60 ppm.     

Win X-ray: a new Monte Carlo program that computes X-ray spectra obtained with a scanning electron microscope.

A new Monte Carlo program, Win X-ray, is presented that predicts X-ray spectra measured with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) attached to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) operating between 10 and 40 keV. All the underlying equations of the Monte Carlo simulation model are included. By simulating X-ray spectra, it is possible to establish the optimum conditions to perform a specific analysis as well as establish detection limits or explore possible peak overlaps. Examples of simulations are also presented to demonstrate the utility of this new program. Although this article concentrates on the simulation of spectra obtained from what are considered conventional thick samples routinely explored by conventional microanalysis techniques, its real power will be in future refinements to address the analysis of sample classifications that include rough surfaces, fine structures, thin films, and inclined surfaces because many of these can be best characterized by Monte Carlo methods. The first step, however, is to develop, refine, and validate a viable Monte Carlo program for simulating spectra from conventional samples.     

Immobilized enzyme electrode for the determination of salicylate in blood serum

This determination of salicylate in blood serum is based on application of an immobilized enzyme electrode. Salicylate hydroxylase (E.C.1.14.13.1) is chemically immobilized onto a pig intestine mounted on an oxygen electrode. The signals are monitored amperometrically and the resulting output voltage is read using a simple adapter. The experimental parameters and possible interferences are discussed. Samples containing 1.0 × 10^?5?1.87 × 10^?3 M (1.6–300 μg ml^?1) salicylate were assayed with relative standard deviations between 1.3% and 6% and recoveries between 98.7 and 103%. Results obtained by the proposed method and by the established clinical method for randomly spiked pooled serum samples correlated well (r = 0.99).     

A coated piezoelectric crystal detector for phosgene

A piezoelectric quartz crystal coated with methyltrioctylphosphonium dimethylphosphate was found to be a good detector for phosgene in air. The coating is sensitive to phosgene in the μg 1^?1 range and has a reasonably long lifetime. The response curve is linear over the concentration range 5–140 μg 1^?1. The coated crystal can be used for more than six weeks without significant loss in sensitivity, provided that high ammonia concentrations are not encountered.     

Determination of phosphite,hypophosphite, tellurium and mercury

A new catalytic oxidation procedure, involving the use of a cerium(IV) sulfate reagent in perchloric acid with a mixed silver(I)—manganese(II) perchlorate catalyst, has been developed for the determination of phosphite, hypophosphite, and tellurium. By this method 15—100 mg of phosphite, 5—35 mg of hypophosphite, and 10—105 mg of tellurium may be determined with standard deviations of ±0.17, ±0.32, and ±0.21% respectively. A direct titration procedure for mercury(I) is described using a ceric perchlorate solution as titrant with the mixed catalyst system. Samples from 65–510 mg may be analyzed with a standard deviation of ±0.36%.     

Intersequence cyclization in copolymers of N-vinyl carbamates

Monomer reactivity ratios determined for the copolymerization of tert-butyl N-vinylcarbamate (r_A = 0.55 ± 0.05) with phenyl N-vinylcarbamate (r_B = 2.08 ± 0.15) indicate that the monomer units are distributed randomly along the polymer chains. The following sequence of reactions was used to cause intersequence cyclization between tert-butyl N-vinylcarbamate and phenyl N-vinylcarbamate units in the copolymers. The extent of cyclization obtained was in accord with that expected for random copolymers.      

Spirocyclization of 1-(o-aminophenyl)cycloalkanols and 1-(2′-amino-3′-pyridinyl)cycloalkanols

A one-step synthesis of spiro[cycloalkane-1,4′-2H-3′,1-benzoxazin]-2′-ones and spiro[cycloalkane-1,4′-1H-pyrido[2′,3′-d][1,3′]oxazin]-2′-ones, obtained in good yield from the corresponding 1-(o-aminophenyl) and 1-(2′-amino-3′-pyridinyl)cycloalkanols is described using ethyl carbonate in presence of n-butyllithium.     

Peroxide optrode based on micellar-mediated chemiluminescence reaction of luminol

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used to overcome the pH mismatch of the luminol (5-amino-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione ) chemiluminescence reaction when coupled to the glucose/glucose oxidase reaction at neutral pH. The results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting both reactions simultaneously and efficiently at pH 7.5–8.5. The incorporation of the CTAB micellar system in the coupled luminol/enzymatic reaction allows quantification of glucose in the 3 × 10^?7?3 × 10^?4 M range. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 5 replicates of 5 × 10^?5 M glucose was 3.8%. Also, hydrogen peroxide was quantified in the 1.2 × 10^?4?2.4 × 10^?8 M range with RSD 2.6%. The micellar-mediated luminol reaction was applied successfully to the determination of glucose in blood serum. Excellent agreement with reported results by standard assays was obtained.     

Stereoselective syntheses of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-octitols and novel tetrahydroxyindolizidines

A new route for the preparation of four new indolizidines, (1R,2S,6S,7S,8aS)- and (1R,2S,6R,7R,8aS)-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxyindolizidine (30 and 32) and (1S,2R,7S,8S,8aR)- and (1S,2R,7R,8R,8aR)-1,2,7,8-tetrahydroxyindolizidine (44 and 46), is reported. The synthesis is based on Knoevenagel homologation of the readily available enantiomerically pure pyrrolidin-carbaldehydes 13 and 37followed by asymmetric dihydroxylation of the subsequent alkenyl pyrrolidines and cyclization of the corresponding imino-octitols. The new indolizidines and their precursors (imino-octitols 20, 25, 26) and indolizidinones 28a and 28b have been tested for inhibitory activities toward 26 glycosidases. The enzymatic inhibition of trans-7-hydroxy-d-(-)-swainsonine (44) toward alpha-mannosidases is similar to that described for trans-7-hydroxy-l-(+)-swainsonine (11b) toward naringinase (alpha-l-rhamnosidase from Penicillium decumbens).     

Enzyme analysis by means of the air-gap electrode-determination of urease and arginase by monitoring of the initial reaction rate

The air-gap electrode has been used in kinetic chemical analysis, illustrated by the assay of the activities of the enzymes urease and arginase. The determinations are based on monitoring the initial reaction rates of the selective release of ammoniacal nitrogen, which in the arginine—arginase system was ensured by adding excess of urease. The reaction rates measured are in the range 2.5 · 10^-5—1.5 · 10^-3M min^-1; the relative standard deviation is ca. 2.8 %.