Flow-injection microcolumn on-line preconcentration for the determination of chromium (VI)

A rapid and sensitive on-line preconcentration method for spectrophotometric determination of chromium (VI) in nature water is described. Preconcentration and determination are based on (i) the quantitative and fast adsorption of chromium (VI) on the high surface area nanometer-size TiO₂ (anatase) powders, which prepared by a sol-gel method from hydrolysis of TiCl₄ and (ii) the quantitative and reproducible elution of Cr (VI) by 2.0 mol·L⁻¹ HCl. A mini-column system for preconcentration is developed, Cr(VI) on the mini-column is eluted and merged with a stream water and DPCB (1,5-diphenylcarbazide) as the chromogenic reagent. The proposed system permits throughputs of 6 sample h⁻¹ (0.001 μg·mL⁻¹ Cr(VI)) or 20 sample h⁻¹ (0.1 μg·mL⁻¹ Cr(VI)). The preconcentration factor is 55. The detection limit is 0.8 ng · mL⁻¹ Cr(VI). The reproducibility is satisfactory with a relative standard deviation of less than 3.35% (0.01 μg·mL⁻¹ Cr(VI),n=5). Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Ma Wanhong: born in 1961, Ph. D. Graduate student, Associate professor     

The contribution of root respiration to soil CO2 efflux in Puccinellia tenuiflora dominated community in a semi-arid meadow steppe

Rising atmospheric CO2 and temperature are altering ecosystem carbon cycling. Grasslands play an important role in regional climate change and global carbon cycle. Below-ground processes play a key role in the grassland carbon cycle because they regulate …     

Modes of occurrence of arsenic in high-arsenic coal by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

The concentration ranges of As and Sb in six Late Permian high-arsenic coals collected from Xingren and Xingyi, Guizhou Province are 94.1 μg·g -1-3 2 and 8 1 μg·g -1-120 μg·g -1, respectively. Based on the mineralogical analysis, no arsenic and arsenic-bearing minerals are detected in these samples and arsenic occurs in coal macerals. By extended X-ray absorption fine structure(EXAFS) spectroscopy, we have found that arsenic in these high-arsenic coal samples coordinates with oxygen; the coordination number of As with oxygen for these samples is 4 except one sample(H-9) for which the coordination number of As is 3. Therefore, arsenic in these high-arsenic coals does not occur in sulfide minerals, but occurs in arsenate or arsenite phase, and the preponderance of As is in arsenate of As 5+.     

Formate and acetate as recorded in a mid－latitude glacier in west China

Formic (HCOOH) and acetic (CH3COOH) acids are the chief carboxylic compounds in the troposphere[1]. Although weak acids, they contribute significantly to the free acidity, ionic balance of precipitation and the chemical reactions in the atmosphere, especially in the remote areas[2—4]. General sources for formate and acetate have been identified in the past 3 decades although a satisfactory source attribution is lacking to explain atmospheric observations[5]. Possible sources include veget…     

Application of Nanometer-Size Titanium Dioxide in Extreme-Trace V（Ⅴ） Analysis

0Introduction Vanadiumplaysanimportantroleinmodernindustry,es peciallyinsteelandchemicalindustry.Forinstance,itscompoundsarewidelyappliedintheproceduresofvitrioland petroleumchemicalmanufactureascatalyzers[14].Vanadium hasseveralvalences,butgenerallyitslowvalencesturnintohighoneseasilyinenvironment[5].BecauseV(Ⅴ)isthemost stableandpoisonousone,weoftenlayemphasisonitinenvi ronmentalpollutioncontrol.Vanadiumexistsinenvironmentalwaterwithextremelylowconcentration.Inseawateritscontentislessthan…     

Validating a dust production model by field experiment in Mu Us Desert, China

It is essential for validation and improvement of a dust production model to perform field observations on dust emissions. The dust production model (DPM model) consists of two physically explicit sub-models, namely saltation model [1, 2] (eq. (1)) and sandblasting model [3] (eqs. (2) and (3)). Fh is saltation flux, E is fraction of erodible surface, C is a dimensional constant, ρa is air density, g is gravitational acceleration, U* is the wind friction velocity, Ut*(Dp) is threshold frict…     

Electrochemical properties of LiNi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1.3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/Li<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> cells

Spinel compounds LiNi_0.5Mn_1.3Ti_0.2O₄ (LNMTO) and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) were synthesized by different methods. The particle sizes of LNMTO and LTO are 0.5–2 and 0.5–0.8 μm, respectively. The LNMTO/LTO cell exhibits better electrochemical properties at both a low current rate of 0.2C and a high current rate of 1C. When the specific capacity was determined based on the mass of the LNMTO cathode, the LNMTO/LTO cell delivered 137 mA·h·g⁻¹ at 0.2C and 118.2 mA·h·g⁻¹ at 1C, and the corresponding capacity retentions after 30 cycles are 88.5% and 92.4%, respectively.     

Applications of crown ether cross-linked chitosan for the analysis of lead and cadmium in environmental water samples

A new type of crown ether cross-linked chitosan was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan with 4,4′-dibromodibenzo-18-crown-6 (Br-DBC). Its token structure was analyzed with FT-IR and NMR and the adsorption behaviors for lead and cadmium in environmental water samples by FAAS were studied. In addition the best analysis conditions were discussed and the adsorption mechanism was explained. As the enrichment factor is above 100, both recoveries are 94%–106%, the detection limits of lead and cadmium are 0.5μg·L⁻¹ and 0.04 μg·L⁻¹ and the relatively standard deviations of lead and cadmium are 3.1% and 2.8% respectively, this new method was successfully applied to the determination of environmental water samples. This method is fast and simple and it greatly enhances the determination ability of FAAS for lead and cadmium. Foundation item: Supported by the State Education Committee Doctoral Foundation (No. 2000048615) Biography: Tang Yu-rong(1943-), female, Associate professor, research direction: trace elements analysis.     

Petrographic and geochemical characterization of seep carbonate from Alaminos Canyon,Gulf of Mexico

Seep carbonates were collected from the Alaminos Canyon lease area, Gulf of Mexico. The carbonates are present as slabs and blocks. Bivalve shell and foraminifer are the dominant bioclasts in carbonate. Pores are common and usually filled with acicular aragonite crystals. XRD investigation shows that aragonite is the dominate mineral （98%）. Peloids, clotted microfabirc and botryoidal aragonite are developed in carbonate and suggest a genesis linked with bacterial degradation of the hydrocarbons. The δ^13C value of bioclasts in carbonate is from -4.9‰ to -0.6‰, indicating that the carbon source is mainly from sea water as well as the small portion incorporation of the seep hydrocarbon. The microcrystalline and sparite aragonite shows the δ^13C value from -31.3‰ to -23.4‰, suggesting that their carbon is derived mainly from microbial degradation of crude oil. ^14C analyses give the radiocarbon age of about 10 ka. Rare earth elements （REE） analyses of the 5% HNO3-treated solution of the carbonates show that the total REE content of the carbonates is low, that is from 0.752 to 12.725 μg·g^-1. The shale-normalized REE patterns show significantly negative Ce anomalies. This suggests that cold seep carbonate is most likely formed in a relatively aerobic environment.     

Trend, seasonal and diurnal variations of atmospheric CO2 in Beijing

The concentration of atmospheric CO₂ in Beijing increased rapidly at a mean growth rate of 3.7% · a⁻¹ from 1993 to 1995. After displaying a peak of (409.7±25.9) μmol · mol⁻¹ in 1995, it decreased slowly. Both the almost stable anthropogenic CO₂ source and increasing biotic CO₂ sink contribute to the drop of CO₂ concentration from 1995 to 2000. The seasonal variation of CO₂ concentration exhibits a clear cycle with a maximum in winter, averaging (426.8±20.6) μmol · mol⁻¹, and a minimum in summer, averaging (369.1±6.1) μmol·mol⁻¹. The seasonal variation of CO₂ concentration is mainly controlled by phenology. The mean diurnal variation of atmospheric CO₂ concentration for a year in Beijing is highly clear: daily maximum CO₂ concentration usually occurs at night, but daily minimum CO₂ concentration does in the daytime, with a mean diurnal difference more than 34.7 μmol·mol⁻¹. It has been revealed that the interannual variations of atmospheric CO₂ concentration in winter and autumn regulated the interannual trend of atmospheric CO₂, whereas the interannual variation of CO₂ concentration in summer affected the general tendency of atmospheric CO₂ in a less degree.     

An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, 3-benzidino-5-methyl-6-phenylpyridazine, blocking outward potassium currents in acutely isolated rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons

3-benzidino-5-methyl-6-phenylpyridazine (BMP) inhibited electric eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with IC50 being 0.58 μmol·L-1. As an AChE inhibitor, the effects of BMP on delayed rectifier potassium current (IK(DR)) and transient outward potassium current (IK(A)) in acutely isolated rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons were studied using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. BMP (0.1―50 μmol·L-1) inhibited IK(DR) and IK(A) in a concentration-dependent and voltage-independent manner. The IC50 value for the bl...     

Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of LiFePO4/C Cathode Material

Lithium iron phosphate coated with carbon (LiFePO₄/C) was synthesized by improved solid-state reaction using comparatively lower temperature and fewer sintering time. The carbon came from citric acid, which acted as a new carbon source. It was characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X ray diffractometer (XRD), Element Analysis (EA) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). We also studied the electrochemical properties of the material. The first discharge capacity of the LiFePO₄/C is 121 mAh·g⁻¹ at 10 mA·g⁻¹, at room temperature. When the current density increased to 100 mA·g⁻¹, the first discharge capacity decreased to 110 mAh·g⁻¹ and retained 95% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles. The LiFePO₄/C obtained shows a good electrochemical capacity and cycle ability at a large current density. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20071026) Biography: ZHOU Xin-wen (1980-), male, Master, research direction: inorganic material chemistry.     

Preconcentration of vanadium(V) on crosslinked chitosan and determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A new method is proposed for the preconcentration of vanadium(V) with crosslinked chitosan (CCTS) and determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The adsorption rate of vanadium(V) by CCTS was 97% at pH 4.0, and vanadium(V) was eluted from crosslinked chitosan with 2 mL 2.0 mol·L⁻¹ chlorhydric acid and determined by GFAAS. The detection limit (3σ,n=7) for vanadium (V) was 4.8×10⁻¹²g and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D) at concentration level of 2.6 μg·L⁻¹ is less than 3.6%. The method shows a good selectivity and high sensity, and it was applied to determination of vanadium(V) in oyster and water samples. The analytic recoveries are (97±5)%. Biography: Wu Wei (1975-), female, Master candidate, research direction: environmental & analytical chemistry.     

Carbonaceous particles in Muztagh Ata ice core,West Kunlun Mountains,China

Carbonaceous particles concentrations of OC and EC are determined using a two-step gas chroma- tography system in Muztagh Ata ice core covering the time period of 1955--2000. Over the period represented by the core, OC and EC concentrations appear to have changed significantly, varied in the range of 17.7--216.7 and 6.5--124.6, and averaged 61.8, 32.9 ng·g^-1, respectively. The average concentration of EC in Muztagh Ata ice core is much lower than that in an Alpine ice core record （100--300 ng·g^-1） during the same period, but it is a factor of 14 in Greenland ice core （2.3 ng·g^-1）, this may induce a strong impact on the snow albedo in the last 46 years in our study area. Observations indicate two periods with obviously high deposition concentrations （1955--1965 and 1974--1989） and two periods with low concentrations （1966--1973 and 1990--1995）, as well as a recent increasing trend. By comparing EC and SO4^2- concentration variations and deciphering OC/EC ratios recorded in the same ice core, we can judge roughly that the carbonaceous particles deposited in Muztagh Ata ice core were attributed to fossil fuel combustion sources.     

Investigation of Ru （ phen ）3^2＋-Hydrazine-Ce（Ⅳ） Chemiluminescence System and Its Analytical Application

0 IntroductionThbiep ycroidmipnlee)xru ctahteinoinu mof(Ⅱ r)u t(he Rniuu(mbip,y m)3ai2n +ly) atrnids- t(r2is -,(21’ -,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(Ⅱ) (Ru(phen)32 +) ,is a kindof sensitive analytical reagent for electrogenerated chemilumi-nescence(ECL) and chemiluminescence(CL) ,on which a par-ticular review has been presented[1]. The earliest publicationon the synthesis of Ru(bipy)32 +appeared in 1936[2], andduringthefollowing30 years ,theinvestigations relatedtothissubstance were only in…     

Sensitive Determination of DNA by RLS Enhancement of Metal Ions

0　IntroductionThequantitativeanalysisofnucleicacids,especiallythemi cro determinationofnucleicacids,isbecomingmoreandmoreimportantinmanybiologicalstudies.Recently ,apromisingspectraltechnique ,whichwasbasedonthemeasurementofen hancedresonancelightscattering (RLS) [1 ,2 ] ,hasgivenrisetostronginterestbyanalystsandbiochemistsfornucleicacidsandproteinassay[3 9] .Uptonow ,manykindscompoundshavebeenfoundRLSenhancementwhilebindingtoDNA ,andallthesecompoundsarecharacterizedofpositivechargewhicha…     

Direct determination of trace silicon in lanthanum oxide by using a selective volatility and slurry sampling-FETV-ICP-AES

A new method for determination of trace sillicon in high purity lanthanum oxide by using electrothermal vaporization (ETV)-ICP-AES with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) slurry as a fluorinating reagent has been proposed. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the fluorination reactions of analyte (Si) and matrix(La) with PTFE in the graphite furnace took place at high temperature, and the fractional volatilily between Si and La was observed. Based on this principle the matrix interference could be eliminated. The detection limit of Si was 4.0μg·L⁻¹, and the RSD was 3.4%(C=0.2mg·L⁻¹,n=10). The procedure proposed has been applied successfully to determine trace Si in La₂O₃ without any chemical pre-treatment. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Qin Yongchao: born in Dec. 1953, ph. D., Assciate Professor     

Photodegradation of bisphenol a induced by metal ions in aqueous solution in the presence of ascorbic acid

The photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution containing metal ions and ascorbic acid (AsA) was investigated. After strong irradiation, the aqueous solution containing AsA and Cu²⁺ could produce hydroxyl radicals that induced the photodegradation of BPA. The photodegradation efficiency of BPA in the solution containing 70 μmol·L⁻¹ Cu²⁺ and 15 mg·L⁻¹ AsA reached 59% at pH 6.0 after 4 hours irradiation with high pressure mercury lamp. The photodegradation efficiency of BPA reached 10% after 4 hours irradiation with daylight lamp in the presence of 70 μmol·L⁻¹ Cu²⁺ and 15 mg·L⁻¹ ascorbic acid. BPA was not degraded in the aqueous solution only containing AsA or Cu²⁺. The BPA photodegradation in aqueous solution containing AsA and Fe³⁺ was weaker than in aqueous solution that containing AsA and Cu²⁺ at the same concentration. This work showed a new route of the BPA photodegradation in aqueous environment. Biography: PENG Zhang’e (1970–), female, Ph. D. candidate, research direction: aquatic environmental chemistry.     

Preparation and properties of C/C-SiC brake composites fabricated by warm compacted-<Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> reaction

Carbon fibre reinforced carbon and silicon carbide dual matrix composites (C/C-SiC) were fabricated by the warm compacted-in situ reaction. The microstructure, mechanical properties, tribological properties, and wear mechanism of C/C-SiC composites at different brake speeds were investigated. The results indicate that the composites are composed of 58wt% C, 37wt% SiC, and 5wt% Si. The density and open porosity are 2.0 g·cm⁻³ and 10%, respectively. The C/C-SiC brake composites exhibit good mechanical properties. The flexural strength can reach up to 160 MPa, and the impact strength can reach 2.5 kJ·m⁻². The C/C-SiC brake composites show excellent tribological performances. The friction coefficient is between 0.57 and 0.67 at the brake speeds from 8 to 24 m·s⁻¹. The brake is stable, and the wear rate is less than 2.02×10⁻⁶ cm³·J⁻¹. These results show that the C/C-SiC brake composites are the promising candidates for advanced brake and clutch systems.     

Responses of woody plant root and xylem sap ATP to soil drying

The ATP in roots and xylem sap of two woody plant species, Platycladus orientalis and Acacia auriculiformis, subjected to rapid and slow soil drying has been determined employing firefly luciferase ATP assay method (sensitivity is at 10-12 mol ATP L-1). The ATP levels in the two species were 1.6 nmol·gDW-1 and 0.6 nmol·gDW-1 in roots, and 5.6 μmol·m-3 and 8 μmol ·m-3 in xylem sap, respectively. When plants of P. orientalis and A. auriculiformis were subjected to rapid soil drying, respectively, as soil water content (SWC) decreased from the normal level ( 0. 25 g ·gDW-1) to 0. 02 and 0. 06 g ·gDW-1, separately, plant water potential ( ) dropped to -4 and -3.2 MPa, differently, the ATP in roots decreased 99.7% and 42%, respectively . When the rapidly dried soil was watered for up to 6 d, SWC and were found to recover to their normal levels, but ATP content in roots of P. orientalis and A. auriculiformis recovered by 10% and 23%, respectively. When plants of P. orientalis and A. auriculiformis were subjected to slow soil drying, respectively, as SWC was found to decrease from the normal level to 0.1 and 0.13 g·gDW-1, separately, dropped to - 2.5 and - 2 MPa, differently, the ATP content in roots decreased 98% and 38%, respectively. When the slowly dried soil was watered for up to 8 d, ATP levels in roots of P. orientalis and A, auriculiformis recovered by 30% and 24%, respectively. However, ATP concentrations in xylem sap were not directly influenced by either SWC or . The plot dots of xylem sap ATP concentration versus root ATP content were found to be distributed diagonally. It is concluded that ATP in roots is more sensitive in response to SWC changes than that to and root-sourced ATP is a source of that in xylem sap. When plants are subjected to slow soil drying, the ATP levels in both root and xylem sap are higher than that to rapid soil drying.