Evaluation of different rhodium modifiers and coatings on the simultaneous determination of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Se and of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn in milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Different kinds of modifiers and coatings on the integrated platform of transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) have been tested for the simultaneous determination of two group of elements: the first, the more volatile, formed by arsenic, bismuth, lead, antimony and selenium; the second, the less volatile, formed by cobalt, chromium, cupper, iron and manganese in milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Different Rh-modifiers were studied, such as Rh-coated platforms (Rh), carbide plus rhodium coated platforms (W-Rh, Zr-Rh), carbide-coated platforms (W and Zr) with co-injection of RhCl3, solutions and uncoated platforms with injection of solutions of Pd(NO3)(2), Mg(NO3)(2), and RhCl3. Milk samples were diluted 1:10 in 1.0% HNO3 and injected into the tube. The mass of modifier deposited and co-injected in the tube and the use of end capped tubes were also evaluated in order to improve the electrothermal behavior of analytes. Integrated platform pretreated with W plus co-injection RhCl3 for first group and pretreated with W-Rh for second group were elected. For 20 mu L injected samples the analytical curves in the 5.0-20.0 mu g L-1 concentration range have good linear correlation coefficients (r > 0.998). Relative standard deviations (n = 12) are < 6% and the calculated characteristic masses are between 5 pg and 62 pg.

Comparison of the effects of epidural or intravenous methadone on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The workload and plasma ion concentration in a training match session of high-goal (elite) polo ponies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Pre-concentration of Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Ni(II) on a column packed with free carboxymethylcellulose (CMCH)

Carboxymethylcellulose packed in to a glass column was used to pre-concentrate metallic cations from aqueous solutions. The pre-concentrated metal cations are directly eluted from the column using 5.0 mL of 1.0 mol L -1 hydrochloric acid. The optimum pre-concentration conditions are given (glass column, 16 cm length, 0.80 cm i.d., stationary phase height of 12 cm, flow-rate, 1.5 mL min -1). The recuperation efficiency achieved is greater than 95%, while the enrichment factor is 10 for 50 mL of solution (0.50 mg L -1 each).

Calcium hydroxide root canal sealers: Evaluation of pH, calcium ion concentration and conductivity

The calcium hydroxide ionization of four root canal sealers (Sealapex, CRCS, Sealer 26, and Apexit) was studied by measuring conductivity and pH and by conducting atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Samples 6 mm in diameter and 15 mm long were prepared from these sealers. After setting and 48 h storage in a desiccator, five samples of each material were placed in 50 mL distilled water and analysed after 0,1,2,4, 6 and 24 h and 5, 15 and 30 days. The results showed that Sealapex was the root canal sealer showing the highest pH, ionic calcium and total calcium values (P<0.05) throughout the experimental period, followed by CRCS, Apexit and Sealer 26.

Effect of α-tocopherol, taurine and selenium on the attenuation of ischemia/reperfusion injury of splanchnic organs

Background: Splanchnic artery occlusion shock is caused by increased capillary permeability and cellular injury precipitated by oxygen derived free radicals following ischemia and reperfusion of splanchnic organs. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of several well-known oxygen- derived free radical scavengers in ameliorating or preventing this syndrome. Study design: Anesthetized rats were subjected to periods of occlusion of the visceral arteries and reperfusion. Tocopherol, taurine, selenium or a 'cocktail' of these three agents was injected subcutaneously for 4 consecutive days prior to operation. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured throughout the experimental period. Fluorometry and technetium-99m pyrophosphate counting of the visceral organs were performed as well as a histologic grading system for intestinal viability. Results: Final mean arterial blood pressure associated with the 'cocktail' and selenium groups was 79.1 ± 27.4 mmHg and 83.6 ± 17.8 mmHg, respectively. These values were significantly higher than the control group, 40.8 ± 11.4 mmHg (P < 0.05). Similar patterns of the benefit of selenium in contrast with the other groups were obtained with fluorescein perfusion, radioisotopic activity and histologic analysis. Conclusion: Pretreatment with selenium of splanchnic ischemia and reperfusion in the rat improves mean arterial blood pressure and microcirculatory visceral perfusion. Further analysis of the precise protective mechanism of selenium for reperfusion injury will enable visceral organs to withstand the consequences of increased capillary leakage and oxidant injury.

Measuring fluoride concentration in mineral waters in the Araraquara region, Brazil

It has been shown that people of all ages can benefit from the topical and systemic effects of water fluoridation. However, the increase in consumption of bottled water, either to substitute for or supplement consumption of water from public sources, has implications for safe fluoride supplementation. Taking that into consideration, in 1995 we analyzed the fluoride content in 31 commercial brands of mineral water in the region of Araraquara, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fluoride concentration as determined by our analysis was compared to the concentration of fluoride specified on each label. Only 25% of the products studied listed the fluoride concentration on their labels. In addition, among 31 mineral water brands, 26 listed the date when the chemical analysis to determine chemical composition had been performed. Of these, 20 had not been put through the annual chemical analysis determined by Brazilian law. Based on these results, if the mineral waters tested had been the only source of drinking water, fluoride supplementation would have been necessary in 69% of the samples analyzed. In the case of children up to 6 years of age who use products containing fluoride, such as topical gels, mouthwashes or toothpastes, supplementation should be recommended only if commercially bottled water is the only source of water used, not only for drinking but for cooking as well.

Effect of in concentration in the starting solution on the structural and electrical properties of ZnO films prepared by the pyrosol process at 450°C

Undoped and indium-doped Zinc oxide (ZnO) solid films were deposited by the pyrosol process at 450°C on glass substrates from solutions where In/Zn ratio was 2, 5, and 10 at.%. Electrical measurements performed at room temperature show that the addition of indium changes the resistance of the films. The resistivities of doped films are less than non-doped ZnO films by one to two orders of magnitude depending on the dopant concentration in the solution. Preferential orientation of the films with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate was detected by X-ray diffraction and polarized extended X-ray absorption fine structures measurements at the Zn K edge. This orientation depends on the indium concentration in the starting solution. The most textured films were obtained for solutions where In/Zn ratio was 2 and 5 at.%. When In/Zn = 10 at.%, the films had a nearly random orientation of crystallites. Evidence of the incorporation of indium in the ZnO lattice was obtained from extended X-ray absorption fine structures at the In and Zn K edges. The structural analysis of the least resistive film (Zn/In = 5 at.%) shows that In substitutes Zn in the wurtzite structure. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. as related with nutrient concentration in the growing media

Dendrobium nobile orchids were grown for three years in different substrates (tree fern fiber, blocks of pressed coconut bark, bark of Eucalyptus grandis, mixtures with coconut bark blocks and eucalyptus bark and mixtures with the latter materials and charcoal. Plant growth increased with higher concentrations of S (up to 1.6 g/kg), Cu (up to 46 mg/kg) and Zn (up to 147 mg/kg), and decreased with higher concentrations of Ca (up to 13.2 g/kg), Mg (up to 6.6 g/kg) and B (up to 19 mg/kg). High Mo (up to 5.3 mg/kg) caused a more intense loss of leaves after planting. Relations between nutrient concentrations also affected plant growth. With exception of eucalyptus bark, all growing media under study were suitable for plant growth.

Effects of nitrate concentration on larval development of the giant river prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The effect of nitrate concentration on giant river prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, larvae was investigated. Survival rate, weight gain, and larval development were evaluated for different concentrations of nitrate in three experiments. The experiments were divided i n to two phases. In the first phase, larvae from stages I through VIII were analysed, while in the second phase larvae from stage VIII through post-larvae metamorphosis were analysed. Oxygen consumption was also determined for zoea I, II, and VIII exposed to 0, 700, and 1,000 mg/L of nitrate-N. No effect was observed for concentrations up to 180 mg/L NO3-N (experiments I and II), and nitrate levels as 1,000 mg/L NO3-N did not affect survival in the first phase of the third experiment. On the other hand, larval stage index (LSI) and weight gain decreased as nitrate-N concentration increased from 0 to 1,000 mg/L. In the second phase, survival and metamorphosis rate decreased as nitrate concentration increased, according to a linear model. The effect of nitrate levels on weight gain followed a curvilinear pattern. Larval respiration decreased in the water where nitrate was added, but only during stage II. The results demonstrated that nitrate presents extremely low toxicity for giant river prawn larvae, and data were related to the levels of nitrate that usually occur in larviculture systems also discussed. Therefore, nitrate is not a limiting factor for giant river prawn larviculture. © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Geogenic factors affecting the selenium(IV) distribution in sediments from Madeira River Basin, Brazil

This investigation was carried out at the Madeira River basin, located in the state of Rondônia, Brazilian Amazon. Sediments from Madeira River between Teotônio and Santo Antônio waterfalls along 25 km upstream from Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia state, and from nine lakes located around Porto Velho municipality were chemically analyzed for Se (IV) in order to evaluate the main factors affecting the Se(IV) distribution in the environment, Selenite ion was chosen to investigate the selenium behavior in the area, because acid conditions are dominant there. The importance of clays, iron oxides, organic matter and minor refractory minerals was considered in order to explain most of the obtained data.

Determination of Cu, Ni and Pb in Aqueous Medium by FAAS after Pre-Concentration on 2-Aminothiazole Modified Silica Gel

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of 2-aminothiazole modified silica gel (SiAT), and the results of a study of the adsorption and pre-concentration (in batch and using a flow-injection system coupled to an absorption atomic spectrometer) of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous medium. The adsorption capacities for each metal ions in mmol g -1 were: Cu(II)= 1.18, Ni(II)= 1.15 and Pb(II)= 1.10. The results obtained in the flow experiments showed a recovery of practically 100% of the metal ions adsorbed in a mini-column packed with 100 mg of SiAT, using 100 μL of 2.0 mol L -1 HCl solution as eluent. The sorption-desorption of the metal ions made possible the application of a flow-injection system for the pre-concentration and quantification by FAAS of metal ions at trace level in natural water samples digested and not digest by an oxidizing UV photolysis.

Use of the internal standardization for difficult sampling by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

This work shows the potentiality of As as internal standard to compensate errors from sampling of sparkling drinking water samples in the determination of selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The mixture Pd(NO 3) 2/Mg(NO 3) 2 was used as chemical modifier. All samples and reference solutions were automatically spiked with 500 μg l -1 As and 0.2% (v/v) HNO 3 by the autosampler, eliminating the need for manual dilutions. For 10 μl dispensed sample into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r=0.9996) was obtained between the ratio of analyte absorbance by the internal standard absorbance and the analyte concentrations. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of measurements varied from 0.05 to 2% and from 1.9 to 5% (n=12) with and without internal standardization, respectively. The limit of detection (LD) based on integrated absorbance was 3.0 μg l -1 Se. Recoveries in the 94-109% range for Se spiked samples were obtained. Internal standardization (IS) improved the repeatability of measurements and increased the lifetime of the graphite tube in ca. 15%. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.