Two-step-method extraction of endohedral metallofullerenes

A new and efficient extraction method of endohedral metallofullerenes, especially of rare-earth elements encapsulated metallofullerenes, has been reported in this paper. Soxhlet-extraction of raw soot with toluene was used in the first step to wash away most accompanying C-60, C-70. Then pyridine was chosen as solvent to obtain high-temperature and high pressure extract. Two kinds of extract were analysed by DEI-MS and LDI-MS, the results indicate that this two-step method can provide the extract which has the highest fraction of endohedral metallofullerenes. So it will greatly simplify the following separation and purification processes of metallofullerenes.

Improvements in the selectivity of electrochemical detectors for liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis using the self-assembled n-alkanethiol monolayer-modified au electrode

4-Aminophenol (4-AP), paracetamol (PRCT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) (all somewhat hydrophobic compounds) were HPLC electrochemically detected while the signals from uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) (both hydrophilic compounds at the pH studied) were minimized, taking advantage of the permselectivity of the self-assembled n-alkanethiol monolayer (C-10-SAM)-modified Au electrodes based on solute polarity, The effects of various factors, such as the chain length of the n-alkanethiol modifier, modifying time, and pH value, on the permeability of C-10-SAM coatings were examined, The calibration curves, linear response ranges, detection limits, and reproducibilities of the EC detector for 4-AP, PRCT, NE, and DA were obtained, The result shows that the EC detector can be applied in the chromatographic detection of 4-AP, PRCT, NE, and DA in urine, effectively removing the influence of UA and AA in high concentrations existing in biological samples. As a result, a great improvement in the selectivity of EC detectors has been achieved by using Au electrodes coated with neutral n-alkanethiol monolayer.

Synthesis and extraction of lanthanofullerenes and its DEIMS, ESR characterizations

The synthesis for lanthanofullerenes was studied by activating the La2O3 containing graphite rod in situ and back-burning the carbide-rich cathode deposite, La@C-2n are efficiently extracted in high temperature toluene, among them, La@C-74 as a new species is added into the soluble lanthanofullerenes, The toluene extraction is first characterized by desorption electron impact (DEI) mass spectrometry, The ESR spectrum of the extraction at room temperature is also discussed.

High-yield Synthesis and Extraction of Gd@C-2n

Endohedral metallofullerene Gd@C-2n were synthesized with high-yield using the carbon-arc discharge method of activating the Gd2O3-containing graphite anode in situ and back-burning technique. A series of Gd@C-2n for 2n from 70 to 96 were effectively extracted by toluene at high-temperature and under high-pressure condition. Gd@C-82, Gd@C-74 were considered to be fairly stable and soluble metallofullerene species.

High yield synthesis and extraction of La@C-2n

A higher yield synthesis for lanthanofullerenes has been studied by activating the La2O3 containing graphite rod in situ and back-burning the graphite-rich cathode deposit. La@C-2n are efficiently extracted by high temperature toluene (180 degrees C) in a closed vessel, in which a new species La@C-74 is added to the members of the soluble lanthanofullerenes. The toluene extraction is first characterized by desorption electron impact mass spectrometry. The influence of anode components on synthesis is also analyzed by the XRD technique. Furthermore, the EPR spectra change with temperature are also studied. The assignment of octet II peaks in EPR is also discussed.

SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF GUANINE, URIC-ACID, HYPOXANTHINE AND XANTHINE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY REVERSED-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH AMPEROMETRIC DETECTION

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with amperometric detection is described for the separation and quantification of uric acid, guanine, hypoxanthine and xanthine. The isocratic separation of a standard mixture of the compounds was achieved in 5 min on a Spherisorb 5 C-18 reversed-phase column, with a mobile phase of NaH2PO4 (300 mmol dm(-3) pH 3.0)-methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (97.8 + 0.5 + 1.5 + 0.2). Uric acid, guanine, hypoxanthine and xanthine were completely separated, with detection limits in the range 2-20 pmol per injection. The effect of pH and the composition of the mobile phase on the separation are described. The hydrodynamic voltammograms of these compounds were recorded at a glassy carbon electrode. The linear range of the calibration graph for each compound was: uric acid; 1-5000 mu mol dm(-3); guanine, 0.5-2000 mu mol dm(-3); hypoxanthine, 0.1-500 mu mol dm(-3) and xanthine, 0.5-5000 mu mol dm(-3). The within- and between-day precision was good. The uric acid and hypoxanthine content in human plasma was measured using the proposed method. Good recoveries of uric acid (97.9-103%), hypoxanthine (98.0-99.2%), guanine (96.0-98.3%) and xanthine (96.0-102%) were obtained from human plasma. The results of electrochemical detection were in good agreement with those of UV detection.

DETERMINATION OF CYSTEINE AND REDUCED GLUTATHIONE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH PULSED AMPEROMETRIC ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION USING A PLATINUM-PARTICLES MODIFIED GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE

An assay procedure utilizing pulsed amperometric detection at a platinum-particles modified electrode has been developed for the determination of cysteine and glutathione in blood samples following preliminary separation by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. A chemically modified electrode (CME) constructed by unique electroreduction from a platinum-salt solution to produce dispersed Pt particles on a glassy carbon surface was demonstrated to catalyze the electo-oxidation of sulfhydryl-containing compounds: DL-cysteine (CYS), reduced glutathione (GSH). When used as the sensing electrode in flow-system pulsed-amperometric detection (PAD), electrode fouling could be avoided using a waveform in which the cathodic reactivation process occurred at a potential of - 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl to achieve a cathodic desorption of atomic sulfur. A superior detection limit for these free thiols was obtained at a Pt particle-based GC electrode compared with other methods; this novel dispersed Pt particles CME exhibited high electrocatalytic stability and activity when it was employed as an electrochemical detector in FIA and HPLC for the determination of those organo-sulfur compounds.

DETERMINATION OF AMINOPYRINE AND ITS METABOLITE IN BIOLOGICAL FLUID BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY ELECTROCHEMISTRY WITH A GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE DISPERSED WITH ALPHA-ALUMINA PARTICLES

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative determination of aminopyrine (AM) and its metabolite 4-aminoantipyrine (AAN). The method utilizes reverse-phase chromatography/amperometric detection with a glassy carbon electrode dispersed with alpha-arumina particles as the working electrode, on which the oxidation of AM and AAN was greatly improved compared with that on a bare glassy carbon electrode. As a result, the detection limit was as low as 1.4 ng for AM and 0.8 ng for AAN, and the calibration plots for the above compounds have wide linear ranges from 100 ng/mL to 100 mu g/mL and 60 ng/mL to 80 mu g/mL (for AM and AAN, respectively). The above method was applied for the detection of these materials in human urine with satisfactory results.

SOLVENT-EXTRACTION OF SC(III), ZR(IV), TH(IV), FE(III), AND LU(III) WITH THIOSUBSTITUTED ORGANOPHOSPHINIC ACID EXTRACTANTS

The solvent extraction of Sc(III), Zr(IV), Th(IV), Fe(III) and Lu(III) with Cyanex 302 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid) and Cyanex 301 ( bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) dithiophosphinic acid) in n-hexane from acidic aqueous solutions has been investigated systematically. The effect of equilibrium aqueous acidity on the extraction with these reagents was studied. The separation of Th(IV), Fe(III) and Lu(III) from Sc(III), or the separation of other metals from Lu(III) with Cyanex 302, can be achieved by controlling the aqueous acidity. However, Cyanex 301 exhibited a poor selectivity for the above metals, except for Lu(III). The extraction of these metals with Cyanex 272, Cyanex 302 and Cyanex 301 has been compared. The stripping percentages of Sc(III) for Cyanex 302 and Cyanex 301 in a single stage are near 78% and 75% with 3.5 mol/L and 5.8 mol/L sulphuric acid solutions, respectively. The effects of extractant concentration and temperature on the extraction of Sc(III) were investigated. The stoichiometry of the extraction of Sc(III) with Cyanex 302 was determined. The role of different components of Cyanex 302 in the extraction of Sc(III) was discussed.

SOLVENT-EXTRACTION OF TERBIUM(III,IV) PERIODATE COMPLEXES WITH QUATERNARY AMINE

The differences between the solvent extraction of Tb(III) and Tb(IV) periodate complexes with quaternary amine were studied carefully for the first time. The effects of extractant concentration, phase ratio, the pH value of stock solution, salting-out agent, extractant form, diluent, and extraction time were comprehensively investigated. Under optimal conditions the separation factor between Tb(IV) and Tb(III) periodate complexes is over 5.5.

DIRECT-INJECTION OF URINE AND DETERMINATION OF ACETAMINOPHEN BY MICELLAR LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH A WALL-JET CELL CARBON-FIBER MICROELECTRODE

A wall-jet cell/carbon fibre microelectrode detector was designed and used for the micellar liquid chromatographic assay of acetaminophen. The separations were carried out in an analytical column packed with C-18 stationary phase and the mobile phase was

AMPEROMETRIC DETECTION OF CATECHOLAMINES WITH LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY AT A POLYPYRROLE-PHOSPHOMOLYBDIC ANION-MODIFIED ELECTRODE

A conducting polypyrrole film immobilized with PMo12O403- anion on a glassy carbon electrode was prepared by an electrochemical method. This kind of chemically modified electrode (CME) was prepared successfully by doping the polypyrrole film electrode wit

EXTRACTION MECHANISM OF SC(III) AND SEPARATION FROM TH(IV),FE(III) AND LU(III) WITH BIS(2,4,4-TRIMETHYLPENTYL)PHOSPHINIC ACID IN N-HEXANE FROM SULFURIC-ACID-SOLUTIONS

The extraction equilibrium data of sulphuric acid and scandium(III) with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (H[BTMPP]) from sulphuric acid solutions have been obtained. There are two extraction mechanisms of scandium(III) with H[BTMPP] at different

ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION AND AMPEROMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SULFHYDRYL COMPOUNDS AT A COPPER HEXACYANOFERRATE FILM GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE IN LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Electrocatalytic oxidation of sulfhydryl compounds was effective on a copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) film glassy carbon electrode, at a significantly reduced overpotential (0.55 to 0.65 V) and for a broader pH range (2.0 to 7.0). The electrocatalysis was

ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF COBALT IN HAIR FOLLOWING ON-COLUMN DERIVATIZATION WITH 1-(2-PYRIDYLAZO)-2-NAPHTHOL-6-SULFONIC ACID AND REVERSED-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A method for the specific determination of cobalt based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography with amperometric detection via on-column complex formation has been developed. A water-soluble chelating agent, 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol-6-sulphonic acid (PAN-6S), is added to the mobile phase and aqueous cobalt solutions are injected directly into the column to form in situ the cobalt-PAN-6S chelate, which is then separated from other metal PAN-6S chelates and subjected to reductive amperometric detection at a moderate potential of -0.3 V. Because the procedure eliminates the interference of oxygen and depresses the electrochemical reduction of the mobile phase-containing ligand PAN-6S, by virtue of the quasi:reversible electrode process of the cobalt-PAN-6S complex, a low detection limit of 0.06 ng can be readily obtained. Interference effects were examined for sixteen common metal species, and at a 5- to 8000-fold excess by mass no obvious interference was observed. The feasibility of the method as an approach to the specific analysis of cobalt in a hair sample has been demonstrated.