The extraction of rare earths using mixtures of acidic phosphorus-based reagents or their thio-analogues

The solvent extraction of rare earths from chloride solution has been investigated using mixtures of 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-(2-ethylhexyl) ester (HEHEHP, P507) and organophosphorus acids [di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP, P204), isopropylphosphonic acid 1-hexyl-4-ethylocryl ester (HHEOIPP), bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272), bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 302), and bis(2,4,4-trimethypentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 301)]. Results show that the extractability of the selected extractants for rare earths decreases in the order: HEHEHP/HDEHP > HEHEHP/Cyanex 301 > HEHEHP/HHEOIPP > HEHEHP/Cyanex 302 > HEHEHP/Cyanex 272. A possible explanation of the different extractabilities is given based on the structure of the extractants. Furthermore, the possibilities of the separation of adjacent rare earths with these mixtures were investigated according to the extractabilities; the results show the possibility of separating the rare earths.

Extraction of rare earths(III) from nitrate medium with di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate and synergistic extraction combined with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoy l-pyrazolone-5

The extraction of trivalent rare earths ( RE) from nitrate solutions with di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (DEHEHP, B) and synergistic extraction combined with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazolone-5 (HPMBP, HA) were investigated. The extraction distribution ratios demonstrate a distinct "tetra effect," and Y lies between Tb and Dy when DEHEHP is used as a single extractant for RE. According to the corresponding separation factors (SF12) for adjacent pairs of rare earths, it could be concluded that DEHEHP could be employed for the separation of La from the other rare earths, and Y from light rare earths. The present work has also found that mixtures of HPMBP and DEHEHP have an evident synergistic effect for RE(III). Taking Y( III) as an example, a possible synergistic extraction mechanism is proposed. The enhancement of extraction in the binary system can be explained due to the species Y(NO3) (.) A(2) (.) HA (.) B formed. The synergistic enhancement coefficients ( R), extraction constants, formation constants and thermodynamic functions of the reaction were calculated.

Determination of biogenic amines by capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection

The biogenic amines, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine were separated and quantified by capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection. Detection potential of the pulsed amperometric detection was optimized as 0.6 V Optimal separation of the biogenic amines was achieved using a separation buffer of 30 mM citrate at pH 3.5, while keeping the buffer in the detection cell as 20 mM NaOH. Using these conditions, the four biogenic amines were baseline separated. Extrapolated limits of detection for putrescine, cadaverime, spermidine and spermine were 400, 200, 100 and 400 nM for the standard mixture (polyamines dissolved in running buffer), respectively. These are lower than ultraviolet detection and comparable or even lower than laser-induced fluorescence detection results as reported in the literature. The number of theoretical plates was maintained at the 105 level, which is absolutely higher than any reported method. When applying capillary electrophoresis-pulsed amperometric detection to milk analysis, only spermidine was found in amounts varying between 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg.

Adsorption studies of divalent metal ions with extraction resin containing 1-hexyl-4-ethyloctyl isopropylphosphonic acid

Equilibrium distributions of cobalt(II), nickel(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), and copper(II) have been studied in the adsorption with extraction resin containing 1-hexyl-4-ethyloctyl isopropylphosphonic acid (HEOPPA) as an extractant from chloride medium. The distribution coefficients are determined as a function of pH. The data are analyzed both graphically and numerically. The extraction of the metal ions can be explained assuming the formation of metal complexes in the resin phase with a general composition ML2(HL)(q). The adsorbed species of the metal ions are proposed to be ML2 and the equilibrium constants are calculated. The efficiency of the resin in the separation of the metal ions is provided according to the separation factors values. The separation of Zn from Ni, Cd, Cu, Co, and Co from Ni, Cd, Cu with the resin is determined to be available. Furthermore, Freundlich's isothermal adsorption equations and thermodynamic quantities, i.e., DeltaG, DeltaH, and DeltaS are determined.

High-sensitivity molecular mass determination of lysozyme prior to MALDI-MS

Sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) is a powerful solubilizing detergent which is often used during the separation of highly complex protein mixtures by one- or two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is a widely used technique for mass spectrometric analysis of some protein molecules compared to other techniques. But the presence of SDS or some salts usually leads to signal deterioration when using MALDI-MS. A method for using nitrocellulose membrane as the solid-phase carrier combined with n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the matrix highly enhances the sensitivity of the molecular mass determination of lysozyme. This technique has the advantage that the signal-to-noise of the molecular weight profile is improved compared with the mass spectrum and the profile is relatively easy to interpret.

Capillary liquid chromatographic-high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis of ribonucleotides

A method of capillary HPLC-high-resolution MS was developed for the trace analysis of ATP, GTP, dATP and dGTP Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA) was used as ion-pairing agent for the HPLC retention and separation of the nucleotides and positive ion electrospray time-of-flight MS was used for the detection. The application of capillary HPLC allowed minimal usage of DMHA while providing excellent peak retention and resolution, which significantly reduced the ion suppression in electrospray ionization-MS analysis and thus increased the sensitivity. Adduct ions of nucleotides and DMHA were used as quantitative ions in order to achieve the best sensitivity. DMHA concentration at 5 mM in the aqueous mobile phase at pH 7 was found to be the optimal conditions for the C Is capillary column. The method was applied to determine ATP level in cultured C6 glioma cells that were treated with toxic concentrations of Zn. The results showed that the cellular ATP level decreased from 2.7 pmol/cell (<10% cell death) in average control cell samples to 0.36 pmol/cell as the concentration of Zn increased to 120 mg/l (>35% cell death) in culture medium.

Determination of sulpiride by capillary electrophoresis with end-column electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection

Background: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)]-electro-generated chemiluminescence (ECL) detection is a promising method for clinical analysis. In this study, a method combining CE with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL (CE-ECL) detection that can be applied to amine-containing clinical species was developed, and the performance of CE-ECL as a quantitative method for determination of sulpiride in human plasma or urine was evaluated. Methods: Sulpiride was separated by capillary zone electrophoresis in uncoated fused-silica capillaries [510 cm x 25 mum (i.d.)] filled with phosphate buffer (pH 8.0 and a driving voltage of +15 kV, with end-column Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL detection. A platinum disc electrode was used as working electrode. Sulpiride in human plasma or urine samples (100 muL) was extracted by a double-step liquid-liquid extraction procedure, dried under nitrogen at 35 degreesC in a water bath, and reconstituted with 100 muL of filtered water. The extraction solvent was ethyl acetate-dichloromethane (5:1 by volume). Results: Under optimum conditions (pH 8.0 phosphate buffer, injection for 6 s at 10 kV, and +1.2 V as detection potential), separation of sulpiride was accomplished within 4 min. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 0.05-25.0 mumol/L, and the limit of detection was 2.9 x 10(-8) mol/L for sulpiride. Intra- and interday CVs for ECL intensities were <6%. Extraction recoveries of sulpiride were 95.6-101% with CVs of 2.9-6.0%. The method was,clinically validated for patient plasma and urine samples. Conclusions: CE combined with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL is reproducible, precise, selective, and enables the analysis of sulpiride in human plasma and urine. It thus is of value for rapid and efficient analysis of amine-containing analytes of clinical interest.

Determination of three beta-blockers by capillary electrophoresis with end-column electrochemical detection

Three beta -blockers (propranolol, timolol, acebutolol) were separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) and detected by end-column electrochemical detection (EC). In the present work, a carbon fiber (33 mum) electrode was used as the working electrode. The effect of the buffer concentration, buffer pH, detection potential and separation voltage on the separation of analytes and behavior of electrochemical detection was systematically investigated. The optimum conditions determined were as following: 40 cm length, 25 mum i.d. capillary; 17.5 kV separation voltage; 2 s injection at 15 kV; 70mM phosphate buffer, pH 3.5; detection potential + 1.2V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Under these conditions, the linear ranges of beta -blockers were over three orders of magnititude and the low detection limit of 10(-8)M was obtained. This method was also applied to detect the simulated urine sample.

Phase behavior of polymer blends

The present report deals with some results on phase behavior, miscibility and phase separation for several polymer blends casting from solutions. These blends are grouped as the amorphous polymer blends, blends containing a crystalline polymer or two crystalline polymers. The blends of PMMA/PVAc were miscible and underwent phase separation at elevated temperature, exhibited LCST behavior. The benzoylated PPO has both UCST and LCST nature. For the systems composed of crystalline polymer poly(ethylene oxide) and amorphous polyurethane, of two crystalline polymers poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly[3,3,-bis-(chloromethyl) oxetane], appear a single T-g, indicating these blends are miscible. The interaction parameter B's were determined to be -14 J cm(-3), -15 J cm(-3) respectively. Phase separation of phenolphthalein poly(ether ether sulfone)/PEO blends were discussed in terms of thermal properties, such as their melting and crystallization behavior.

Determination of allopurinol and its active metabolite oxypurinol by capillary electrophoresis with end-column amperometric detection

A simple method was proposed for the separation of allopurinol (AP) and its active metabolite oxypurinol (OP) by capillary electrophoresis with end-column amperometric detection. A running buffer composed of 15 rum Na2HPO4/NaH2PO4 at a pH 9.55, electrokinetic injection 7 s at 5 kV, separation voltage at 15 kV and detection potential at 1.20 V were investigated to be the optimal condition for the separation. The method exhibited low detection Emit (S/N = 3) as 1 x 10(-8) mol/l for AP and OP, wide linearity range of 2 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-4) mol/l, 1 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-4) and high efficiency of 1.2 x 10(5) and 1.8 x 10(5) N/m for AP and OP, respectively. The potential application examined for the method was the determination of the spiked urine sample, which was proved to be sensitive and efficient. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of 14 rare earth impurities in Y2O3 by petroleum sulfoxide extraction chromatography

Petroleum sulfoxide-NH4SCN extraction chromatography was developed for the separation of Y from other rare earth elements. Some chromatographic parameters were chosen and separation factors between Y and other rare earth elements were determined. A column of resin coated with petroleum sulfoxide was used. The Y in the sample was eluted with NH4SCN, then titrated with EDTA. The recovery was 67%-120% and relative standard deviation +/-4.0%-19.4%. This method can be applied to the determination of trace amounts of rare earth impurities in Y2O3 with a purity of 99.999 9%-99. 999 99%.

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of Co(En)(3)MoO4

Co(En)(3)MoO4 was synthesized by using the method of hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ESR and single-crystal X-ray methods. It crystallizes in hexagonal space group P (3) over bar C1 with a=1.596 4(2) nm, b=1.596 4(2) nm, c = 0.993 5(2) nm, alpha=beta=90 degrees gamma=120 degrees, M-c=399.18, V=2.192 6(6) nm(3), D-c=1.814 g/nm(3), Z=6, F(000)=1 2181 R-1=0.070 3, R-w=0.220 7. According to separation of anion which acted on electrostatic potential, the anion and cation ions formed a type of organic and inorganic material.

Gas separation with organo-soluble high performance aromatic polyimide films

An organo-soluble polyimide based on 4,4'-(1,4-phenylenedioxy)diphthalic anhydride and 2,2'-dimethyl-4,4'-methylenedianiline was synthesized by two-step polycondensation accompanied by chemical imidization. Polyimide films were prepared by spray casting onto glass substrates. The study focused on the separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from natural gas and the enrichment of methane (CH4) from butane (C4H18). The permeability and permselectivity coefficients of these gases were determined.

Electrochemical study of interactions between DNA and viologen-thiol self-assembled monolayers

We investigated the binding characteristics of double-stranded DNA to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing viologen groups formed on the surface of gold electrodes via Au-S bonds. The positive charged and hydrophobic surfaces of the viologen SAMs modified gold electrodes are suitable to bind strongly dth DNA, whose interactions to solution DNA and adsorbed DNA both lead to positive shifts (22.5 mV and 65 mV, respectively) in the first redox potential ci viologen centers, indicating that the main interaction is from a hydrophobic interaction. Meanwhile, the binding of DNA strongly affects the kinetics of electron transfer of the viologen group so that the separation of anodic and cathodic peak potentials becomes larger and the heterogeneous electron transfer constant becomes smaller.

Manipulation of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrophoresis for iodide and iodate

Manipulation of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrophoresis is an important step for separation of inorganic anions. The type. and concentration of electroosmotic flow modifier (OFM) exert a tremendous influence on the electroosmotic mobility. In the presence of CTAB as buffer solutions' pH values increase, the electroosmotic mobility becomes lower. At the same ionic strength, the buffer type affects the electroosmotic velocity and the migration order for iodide and iodate.