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A novel assay of cell rubidium uptake using graphite furnace atomic absorption: application to rats on a magnesium-deficient diet.

The [Na,K]ATPase or sodium pump (SP) is a ubiquitous membrane cation transport system. Because of its potential participation in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension and cataract formation, the SP is under active investigation to detail its function and control. In this paper, we describe a novel, nonradioactive method of measuring SP ion transport activity in intact red blood cells (RBCs) using graphite furnace atomic absorption measurement of rubidium ion (Rb) uptake. This method provided sensitivity comparable to radioactive techniques, as assessed by experiments with human red blood cells (RBC) and ouabain, a known SP inhibitor, but this analytical approach eliminates the use of radioisotopes common to other Rb uptake assay methods. As a demonstration of its broader utility, the assay was used to assess the effects of dietary magnesium intake on SP-mediated ion transport in the RBCs of diet-controlled rats. Rats on 7 weeks of a magnesium-deficient (MgD) diet showed significant reductions in serum magnesium concentration, although levels remained in the lower region of the reference interval for healthy, magnesium replete animals. Red cell Rb uptake was significantly reduced in cells from the magnesium-restricted animals, demonstrating the sensitivity of Rb uptake to reduced magnesium intake, despite serum levels that fell within the reported normal range, and the utility of this Rb uptake assay in measuring physiological changes in SP function.

Animals↗

Sensitive method for nontransferrin-bound iron quantification by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a sensitive method for measuring nontransferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in serum samples using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). DESIGN AND METHODS: Nontransferrin-bound iron (NTBI) was chelated using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and then ultrafiltered according to the method employed by Singh et al. [1]. Serum ultrafiltrates were diluted eightfold with distilled water. NTBI from the Fe-NTA complex present in the serum ultrafiltrate was measured using GFAAS. RESULTS: Nontransferrin-bound iron (NTBI) and other parameters were measured in seven patients diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis by liver biopsy. Total serum iron, NTBI and transferrin saturation values (ranging from 87% to 90%) were elevated for three of the seven hemochromatosis patients tested before therapeutic phlebotomy. Six of the seven hemochromatosis patients had undergone phlebotomy and revealed normal total serum iron, NTBI and transferrin saturation values. Nine test subjects (not diagnosed with hemochromatosis) with abnormally high total serum iron and/or ferritin concentrations exhibited normal NTBI values (< or =0.14 micromol/L to 0.29 micromol/L). The detection limit was 0.1 micromol/L for a 25 microL injection volume. CONCLUSIONS: The GFAAS method presented here provides a sensitive assay to quantitate NTBI in serum samples. The method developed is 4 to 5 times more sensitive than the only other GFAAS method [2] and more than an order of magnitude more sensitive than other colorimetric methods [1,3]. Improvement in sensitivity over the other GFAAS method [2] may be accounted for by differences in sample preparation between this method and that of Nielsen et al. [2]. Serum ultrafiltrates in this study were diluted eightfold with distilled water and mixed with a magnesium nitrate matrix modifier before GFAAS analysis. NTBI results obtained from this study indicate that the plasma iron pool in hemochromatosis patients awaiting phlebotomy increases to a level at which transferrin's ability to bind iron becomes exhausted and elevated NTBI levels appear in the serum. NTBI can mediate the production of reactive oxygen species and may cause organ damage associated with iron overload.

Adult↗

Stability of organophosphorus insecticides on graphitized carbon black extraction cartridges used for large volumes of surface water.

The stability of nine organophosphorus insecticides (azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, diazinon, EPN, ethion, fonofos, malathion, phosmet and parathion-methyl) was evaluated under a variety of storage conditions. Large volumes of surface water (4 l) were extracted using large-particle-size graphitized carbon black cartridges (Carbopack B 60-80 mesh). The effects of temperature, matrix type and drying of cartridges on the recovery of these contaminants, after different storage periods, were studied and compared to the conservation of surface water in bottles. After a 2-month period, all the chemicals stored on cartridges and kept at -20 degrees C remained stable, with recoveries ranging from 70 to 134%. By contrast, phosmet and EPN could no longer be recovered from the bottled surface water. Cartridges kept at -20 degrees C fared better than did those stored at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C. The type of matrix water selected appears to have kept the target pesticides stored on cartridges from degrading, compared to the Milli-Q water, in which malathion and phosmet were unstable. The effect of the cartridges being either wet or dry made no difference in terms of improving the recovery of chemicals. After immediate surface water extraction, the most practical storage condition for the target insecticides was found to be storage on cartridges in the dark at -20 degrees C, with no drying or solvent washing of the Carbopack B material.

Carbon↗

Ozone reaction with n-aldehydes (n=4-10), benzaldehyde, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol adsorbed on a dual-bed graphitized carbon-carbon molecular sieve adsorbent cartridge.

Ozone reacts with n-aldehydes (n=4-10), benzaldehyde, ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol adsorbed on a dual-bed graphitized carbon-carbon molecular sieve adsorbent cartridge. Destruction of n-aldehydes increases with n number and with ozone concentration. In some sampling experiments both generation and destruction of n-aldehydes by ozone are observed. In field experiments the results of sample analysis for n-aldehydes and benzaldehyde are frequently not proportional to sample volume whereas results for toluene and isoprene, and sometimes for total carbon, are. A simple theory is developed to simulate the net result of three processes: the adsorption of compounds from an air stream onto a solid adsorbent, the generation of compounds by reaction of ozone with materials upstream of or on the adsorbent, and the destruction by ozone of pre-existing compounds and compounds adsorbed from the sample stream. The use of distributed volume pairs is recommended as a way to identify loss of sample integrity during air monitoring experiments.

1-Propanol↗

Comparison of octadecylsilica and graphitized carbon black as materials for solid-phase extraction of fungicide and insecticide residues from fruit and vegetables.

Methods for the determination of thirteen fungicide and insecticide residues by solid-phase extraction with C18 and graphitized carbon black (GCB) were evaluated. The extraction of the residues was achieved by using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and more conventional polar solvent extraction followed by liquid-solid phase partitioning. Determination was carried out by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture and mass spectrometry detectors. The recoveries were determined by fortifying six different crops (apples, oranges, pears, tomatoes, lettuces and paprikas) with the pesticides studied (bromopropylate, chlorpyrifos methyl, cypermethryn, deltamethryn, fenarimol, fenvalerate, imazalil, lindane, permethryn, phentoate, procymidone, propiconazole and vinclozoline). Although, the data showed that the two extraction methods and both sorbents were able to isolate the pesticide residues from fruit and vegetables, the best results were obtained using MSPD with C18 which gave recoveries ranging from 70 to 105% and practical detection limits between 5.0 and 50.0 micrograms/kg for all the compounds. Ten of these pesticides have been detected in samples taken from Valencia markets, at levels of 0.02-20.50 mg/kg using the described methodology.

Carbon↗

Determination of inorganic anions by ion chromatography using a graphitized carbon column dynamically coated with cetyltrimethylammonium ions.

The simultaneous determination of inorganic anions by ion chromatography using a dynamically coated graphitized carbon column with cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) ions was investigated with suppressed conductivity detection. Column preparations with CTA and sodium carbonate-sodium hydrogencarbonate concentration in the eluent were examined to optimize the separation of seven common anions (F-, Cl-, NO2-, Br-, NO3-, HPO(4)2- and SO(4)2-). Calibration curves were linear from 0.5 to 5 micrograms/ml for F-, from 1.0 to 10 micrograms/ml for Cl-, from 1.5 to 15 micrograms/ml for NO2-, from 2.0 to 20 micrograms/ml for Br- and NO3-, from 5.0 to 50 micrograms/ml for HPO(4)2- and from 3.0 to 30 micrograms/ml for SO(4)2- with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.999 or better. The relative standard deviations of peak areas were between 0.3 and 0.9% for 10 repeated measurements. The application of this newly developed method was demonstrated by the determination of inorganic anions in the water for pharmaceutical purposes. Using CTA-Br as the coating agent, a permanently coated ion-exchange column was obtained, which allowed efficient separations of seven anions without adding any coating agent to the eluent.

Anions↗

Ion-pair chromatography on a porous graphitic carbon stationary phase for the analysis of twenty underivatized protein amino acids.

The analysis of twenty underivatized protein amino acids has been achieved on porous graphitic carbon packing material (Hypercarb). Five perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (trifluoroacetic, heptafluorobutyric, nonafluoropentanoic, tridecafluoroheptanoic and pentadecafluorooctanoic acid) have been studied as ion-pairing reagent. Several parameters (equilibration time, quantities adsorbed onto the chromatographic support, concentration and nature of the ion-pairing reagent, as well as temperature effect) have been studied leading to the complete separation of these compounds in gradient elution mode. Evaporative light scattering detector has allowed the detection of these non UV-visible absorbent molecules. The chromatographic methodology developed can also be easily coupled with pneumatically assisted electrospray mass spectrometry.

Amino Acids↗

Determination of lead and cadmium in food and blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: a comparison with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

To compare inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectometry (GF-AAS) as the method for determining lead and cadmium in the human diet and blood, 418 diet homogenate samples and the same number of blood samples were collected from Chinese and Japanese women and were analyzed by the two methods. The results showed that our ICP-MS method is precise and accurate, being comparable to the GF-AAS method established previously. The ICP-MS method is simple and fast spending only one-tenth of the time necessary for GF-AAS and allows simultaneous analyses of lead and cadmium with low detection limits. When applied to actual sample analysis, however, ICP-MS results tend to be 10-20% lower than GF-AAS results in the analysis of lead in the diet and blood and cadmium in blood. This is possibly due to some interference in ICP-MS and matrix of samples. As the ICP-MS results could be mathematically corrected to be equivalent to the GF-AAS results, we conclude that this ICP-MS method can be used as a routine analytical method for the determination of lead and cadmium in human diet and blood samples.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

Silicic acid (Si(OH)(4)) is a significant influence upon the atomic absorption signal of aluminium measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).

We have identified silicic acid (Si(OH)(4)) as an important modifier of the absorbance signal of aluminium measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The presence of Si(OH)(4) enhanced the signal by as much as 50%. The extent of the enhancement was dependent upon both [Al] and [Si(OH)(4)] and was maximal when [Al]< or =4.44 micromol dm(-3) and [Si(OH)(4)]> or =0.50 mmol dm(-3). The enhancement of the Al absorbance signal was not linearly related to [Si(OH)(4)] and the effect was, generally, saturated, for all [Al] tested, at [Si(OH)(4)]> or =0.50 mmol dm(-3). Si(OH)(4) was significantly more effective in enhancing the Al absorbance signal than Mg(NO(3))(2). However, the co-occurrence of 10 mmol dm(-3) Mg(NO(3))(2) and 2 mmol dm(-3) Si(OH)(4) in samples abolished the enhancement due to Si(OH)(4). The presence of Si(OH)(4) in samples could result in an overestimation of the Al content of those samples by as much as 50%. Errors in the measurement of Al in samples containing Si(OH)(4) could be prevented using matrix-matched calibration standards. Our observation could have serious implications for the determination of Al in aqueous samples of both geochemical and biological interest. It may also point towards the application of Si(OH)(4) as a novel and effective matrix modifier in the determination of Al by GFAAS since the inclusion of Si(OH)(4) in standards and samples improved the limit of detection of Al from ca 8 nmol dm(-3) to 3 nmol dm(-3).

Absorption↗

A model for the hillock formation on graphite surfaces by 246 MeV Kr+ ions.

Scanning tunnelling microscopy has been used to study the effect of ion bombardment at different angles of incidence on a graphite surface. The 246 MeV energy of Kr+ ions was selected in the medium energy range, where the electronic and nuclear stopping is nearly balanced. The low dose (1 x 10(12)/cm2) of ions allows the characterization of single features caused by bombardment in perpendicular, at 30 degrees and at 60 degrees incidence. The density of hillocks caused by the ion bombardment is significantly lower than the ion dose and this density depends on the angle of incidence. The hillocks are attributed to knocked-on atoms leaving the sample surface. A simple model for the scattering process is presented to enlighten the hillock density differences. Other features produced by the ion bombardment, such as elongated traces and (square root of 3 x square root of 3) R30 superstructures are also reported.

Journal Article↗

Relationship between retention characteristics and physicochemical parameters of solutes on porous graphitized carbon column.

The retention of 44 barbituric acid derivatives was determined on porous graphitized carbon (PGC) column using dioxane water mixtures as eluents. Linear correlations were calculated between the logarithm of the capacity factor and the dioxane concentration in the eluent. Free Wilson analysis combined with stepwise regression analysis was used to elucidate the role of individual substituents in the retention behaviour. Calculations indicated that the apolar substituents lie parallel to the surface of PGC surface increasing in this manner the retention and--as opposed to the retention characteristics of traditional reversed-phase supports--the position of substituents also exerts a marked influence on the retention.

Barbiturates↗

Complex particles produced from graphite powder by acoustic cavitation in water.

Spaghetti-like structures made of fibers whose diameter are of about 1-2 microns, straight structures from about 10-20 microns and optically semitransparent particles, with linear dimension up to about 0.3 mm, were obtained from fine graphite powder in water subjected for 20 h to acoustic cavitation at a frequency of 19.5 kHz. A picture of spaghetti-like structures obtained by scanning electron microscopy is reported. From X-ray diffraction pattern, it was found that the semitransparent precipitates have an amorphous nature.

Journal Article↗

Automatic classification of graphite in cast iron.

A method for automatic classification of the shape of graphite particles in cast iron is proposed. In a typical supervised classification procedure, the standard charts from the ISO-945 standard are used as a training and validation population. Several shape and size parameters are described and used as discriminants. A new parameter, the average internal angle, is proposed and is shown to be relevant for accurate classification. The ideal parameter sets are determined, leading to validation success rates above 90%. The classifier is then applied to real cast iron samples and provides results that are consistent with visual examination. The method provides classification results per particle, different from the traditional per field chart comparison methods. The full procedure can run automatically without user interference.

Journal Article↗

Electrochemical study of chemically modified and screen-printed graphite electrodes with

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of graphite electrodes modified with hexadecylpyridinium-bis(chlorilato)-antimonyl(V), [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex, (CMEs) as well as their behavior as electrocatalysts toward the oxidation of sulfide are described. The self-exchange rate constant ko of immobilized [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex and the effect of the surface coverage were evaluated. [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex is a new compound. Synthesis protocol and some identification studies are given. The fabrication of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) with a mixture of 5% (w/ w) [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex/graphite powder in 1.5% (w/v) ethyl cellulose in 2-butoxyethyl acetate is also described. SPEs, poised at +0.08 mV versus Ag/AgCl, at pH 6.5 were utilized for the determination of sulfide in simulated wastewater samples. Interference of various compounds was also tested. The proposed method correlates well with a colorimetric method. Calibration graphs were linear over the range 0.01-0.7 mM sodium sulfide and the CV was 2.8% (n = 8) for 0.1 mM sodium sulfide. Recovery ranged from 94 to 102%. Both [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex CMEs and SPE showed very good storage stability. [SbVO(CHL)2]Hex CMEs showed poor working stability in contrast to printed electrodes, which operated with no remarkable loss of their initial activity for more than 100 runs.

Journal Article↗

Graphite surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins from liquid solutions.

Laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectra of peptides and proteins, as well as of lower molecular weight analytes, have been obtained by using a pulsed nitrogen UV laser (337 nm) to irradiate mixtures of 2-150 microns graphite particles and solutions of the analytes in glycerol. Protonated analytes as well as abundant alkali cation adducts were observed. Carbon cluster ions, Cn+, typically had a low abundance but dominated the mass spectrum at elevated laser powers. In spectra of a cytochrome c tryptic digest, all but one of the tryptic peptides were easily observed. Spectra of low molecular weight analytes dissolved in glycerol are very similar to FAB spectra of the same glycerol solution with added alkali salts. However, in many peptide and protein spectra, glycerol ion abundances are very low, and the alkali ions dominate the spectra at low mass. These spectra may correspond to wet and dry surface desorption conditions, respectively. The best spectra of the larger molecules were observed under dry conditions. In these initial experiments, we have obtained a sensitivity in the pico- to nanomole range and a mass resolution of about 300. The signal intensity is as good as that in conventional MALDI, and under optimal conditions, few background peaks appear, even at low mass.

Mass Spectrometry↗

Continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry in a graphite furnace with photodiode array detection.

A graphite furnace continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer using a photodiode array detector is described that provides high-resolution wavelength versus absorbance spectra over a 2.5-nm range for a single atomization step. The multiwavelength detection power allows the simultaneous determination of several elements, reduces problems caused by spectral interferences, and automatically corrects for nonzero background absorbance. Each spectrum is acquired in 0.33 s, and several successive spectra can be obtained during a single run. Three-dimensional wavelength-absorbance-furnace temperature spectra can be obtained by using ramped heating steps to provide a rough separation of elements in a mixture. Limits of detection calculated for 19 elements range from 0.1 pg for magnesium to 700 pg for arsenic. The sampling precision was found to be better than 10% relative standard deviation in all cases, with the precision for a single atomization being greatly increased when multiple absorption lines for a single element are observed in the spectrum. The error found for the measurement of the iron concentration in an NBS standard bronze was 8.5%, with the calculated concentration agreeing with the certified concentration within 95% confidence limits.

Metals↗

Direct and simultaneous determination of copper, chromium, aluminum, and manganese in urine with a multielement graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer.

A simple method was developed for the direct and simultaneous determination of copper, chromium, aluminum, and manganese in urine using a multielement GFAAS (Perkin-Elmer SIMAA6000). Pd was used as the chemical modifier along with a special purge gas (5% H2 in Ar). A simple calibration curve method can be used (with 1:1 dilution). A standard reference material (Seronorm Trace Elements Urine) was used to find the optimal temperature program and to confirm the accuracy of the technique. The analyzed values were within 90-110% of the certified values. The relative standard deviations were 1.7, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.5% for these four elements and the detection limits were 0.08 microg L(-1) for Cu, 0.05 microg L(-1) for Cr, 0.06 microg L(-1) for Al, and 0.06 microg L(-1) for Mn. The recoveries of Cu, Cr, Al, and Mn from real urine samples were 100 +/- 5%, except for Cu (80%). The found values of Cu, Cr, Al, and Mn in a real urine sample were 14.3, 0.78, 18.9, and 0.06 microg L(-1), respectively. Scanning electron micrographs were used to investigate the physical form of Pd on the surface of the platform in the graphite furnace. Use of 5% H2 in Ar as the purge gas resulted in smaller and more uniformly distributed Pd particles (Pd particle diameters 0.4-0.6 microm using 5% H2 in Ar compared to 0.4-1.2 microm using pure Ar), increasing the effect of the Pd chemical modifier and promoting the efficiency of atomization.

Humans↗

The Sonogel-Carbon electrode as a sol-gel graphite-based electrode.

In this work, a novel sol-gel-based procedure to obtain solid carbon composite electrodes is proposed. The procedure is based on the use of sonocatalysis to apply high-energy ultrasound directly to the precursors; this way, ultrasonic cavitation is achieved so that hydrolysis with acidic water is promoted in the absence of any additional solvent and the time needed to get a unique phase is reduced drastically. The mix of sonogel with spectroscopic grade graphite leads to a new type of sol-gel electrode: the Sonogel-Carbon electrode. The amount of water, necessary for hydrolysis to occur, has been studied, as well as the sol pH value and the electrochemical behavior of the Sonogel-Carbon electrode in Britton-Robinson buffer. Mechanical renewal of the electrodes surfaces and background signal stability for at least 42 days have been also tested. We have carried out some tests to check the ability of the synthesized material to give electrochemical response when redox species are present in the background electrolyte. Mechanical and electrochemical studies indicate that the Sonogel-Carbon electrode shows good properties for use as an electrochemical sensor.

Journal Article↗