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Due to its advantages of being a direct comparison method, quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) becomes more and more popular in industry. While conventional high-field NMR systems are often associated with high investment and operational costs, the upcoming market of permanent-magnet based benchtop NMR systems show a considerable option for a lot of applications. The mobility of these systems allows to bring them more closely to the real production environment, e.g. for at-line quality control.
In this work we present an interlaboratory comparison study investigating the qNMR performance of state-of-the-art benchtop NMR spectrometers. Therefore, BAM prepared two samples of a mixture of NMR reference standards tetramethylbenzene (TMB) and tetrachloronitrobenzene (TCNB) at concentration levels of 200 mM and 10 mM. These “ready-to-use” samples were sent to participant laboratories, which performed analysis on their benchtop NMR equipment of different vendors and fields from 43 to 80 MHz. Raw data was reported back and further investigated by using different data analysis methods at BAM.
After this very first qNMR comparison study of benchtop NMR spectrometers show promising results, following studies are planned to cover more parts of the qNMR process, e.g. sample preparation and weighing, but also data analysis, as commonly done in similar studies for high-field NMR spectroscopy in industry and metrology.
The importance of plasmonic heating for the plasmondriven photodimerization of 4-nitrothiophenol
(2019)
Metal nanoparticles form potent nanoreactors, driven by the optical generation of energetic electrons and nanoscale heat. The relative influence of these two factors on nanoscale chemistry is strongly debated. This article discusses the temperature dependence of the dimerization of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) into 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) adsorbed on gold nanoflowers by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Raman thermometry shows a significant optical heating of the particles. The ratio of the Stokes and the anti-Stokes Raman signal moreover demonstrates that the molecular temperature during the reaction rises beyond the average crystal lattice temperature of the plasmonic particles. The product bands have an even higher temperature than reactant bands, which suggests that the reaction proceeds preferentially at thermal hot spots. In addition, kinetic measurements of the reaction during external heating of the reaction environment yield a considerable rise of the reaction rate with temperature. Despite this significant heating effects, a comparison of SERS spectra recorded after heating the sample by an external heater to spectra recorded after prolonged illumination shows that the reaction is strictly photo-driven. While in both cases the temperature increase is comparable, the dimerization occurs only in the presence of light. Intensity dependent measurements at fixed temperatures confirm this finding.
There is a need within the NMR community to progress forward in exploring new facets in which we can use analytical techniques to advance our understanding of various systems. One aspect the NMR community hasn’t fully encompassed is the validation process, which also involves setting reference standards, establishing a common language that directly relates to NMR, communication relating to validation, and much more.
This workshopcontribution starts with an overview on international metrology for qNMR spectroscopy. Since NMR is completely described by mathematical equations, the measurement unceartainty can directly be dreived from formula. Examples are presented. These are differentiated between type A and B evaluations. Finally the Expanded Unceartainty is defined. Since the user needs a risk-based unceartainty assessment, different "leagues" for routine, advanced, and high level needs are proposed to make clear, that no all sources of uncertainty have to be taken in considerention at practical levels.
Accelerating chemical process development and manufacturing along with quick adaption to changing customer needs means consequent transformation of former batch to continuous (modular) manufacturing processes. These are justified by an improved process control through smaller volumes, better heat transfer, and faster dynamics of the examined reaction systems.
As an example, for such modular process units we present the design and validation of an integrated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) micro mixer tailor‐made for a desired chemical reaction based on computational modelling. The micro mixer represents an integrated modular production unit as an example for the most important class of continuous reactors. The quantitative online NMR sensor represents a smart process analytical field device providing rapid and non‐invasive chemical composition information without need for calibration. We describe the custom design through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the demands of the NMR sensor as well as for the given reaction conditions. The system was validated with an esterification reaction as an example for a chemical reaction process.
Systems utilizing such an online NMR analyser benefits through short development and set‐up times based on “modular” spectral models. Such models can simply be built upon pure component NMR spectra within minutes to a few hours (i.e., assignment of the NMR signals to the components) instead of tedious DoE calibrations runs. We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling and Quantum Mechanical calculations). The approach was validated for typical industrial reactions, such as hydrogenations or lithiations.
This work wants to show the benefit of NMR spectroscopy as online analytical technique in industrial applications for improving process understanding and efficiency. Especially development and set‐up times based on “modular” data analysis models will enable new production concepts, which are currently discussed with respect to digitization of process industry.
PANIC is the ideal forum for such discussions in the application of NMR spectroscopy and its data analysis to the everyday problems in process industry.
DNA and locked nucleic acid (LNA) were characterized as single strands, as well as double stranded DNA-DNA duplexes and DNA-LNA hybrids using tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation. Additionally, ion mobility spectrometry was carried out on selected species. Oligonucleotide duplexes of different sequences – bearing mismatch positions and abasic sites of complementary DNA 15-mers – were investigated to unravel general trends in their stability in the gas phase. Single stranded LNA oligonucleotides were also investigated with respect to their gas phase behavior and fragmentation upon collision-induced dissociation. In contrast to the collision-induced dissociation of DNA, almost no base loss was observed for LNAs. Here, backbone cleavages were the dominant dissociation pathways. This finding was further underlined by the need for higher activation energies. Base losses from the LNA strand were also absent in fragmentation experiments of the investigated DNA-LNA hybrid duplexes. While DNA-DNA duplexes dissociated easily into single stranded fragments, the high stability of DNA-LNA hybrids resulted in predominant fragmentation of the DNA part rather than the LNA, while base losses were only observed from the DNA single strand of the hybrid.
Metastasis is the main cause of death from colorectal cancer (CRC). About 20% of stage II CRC patients develop metastasis during the course of disease. We performed metabolic profiling of plasma samples from non-metastasized and metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients to assess the potential of plasma metabolites to serve as biomarkers for stratification of stage II CRC patients according to metastasis risk. We compared the metabolic profiles of plasma samples prospectively obtained prior to metastasis formation from non-metastasized vs. metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients of the German population-based case–control multicenter DACHS study retrospectively. Plasma samples were analyzed from stage II CRC patients for whom follow-up data including the information on metachronous metastasis were available. To identify metabolites distinguishing non-metastasized from metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients robust supervised classifications using decision trees and support vector machines were performed and verified by 10-fold cross-validation, by nested cross-validation and by traditional validation using training and test sets. We found that metabolic profiles distinguish non-metastasized from metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients. Classification models from decision trees and support vector machines with 10-fold cross-validation gave average accuracy of 0.75 (sensitivity 0.79, specificity 0.7) and 0.82 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.77), respectively, correctly predicting metachronous metastasis in stage II CRC patients. Taken together, plasma metabolic profiles distinguished non-metastasized and metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients. The classification models consisting of few metabolites stratify non-invasively stage II CRC patients according to their risk for metachronous metastasis.
DNA is effectively damaged by radiation, which can on the one hand lead to cancer and is on the other hand directly exploited in the treatment of tumor tissue. DNA strand breaks are already induced by photons having an energy below the ionization energy of DNA. At high photon energies, most of the DNA strand breaks are induced by low-energy secondary electrons. In the present study we quantified photon and electron induced DNA strand breaks in four different 12mer oligonucleotides. They are irradiated directly with 8.44 eV vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons and 8.8 eV low energy electrons (LEE). By using Si instead of VUV transparent CaF2 as a substrate the VUV exposure leads to an additional release of LEEs, which have a maximum energy of 3.6 eV and can significantly enhance strand break cross sections. Atomic force microscopy is used to visualize strand breaks on DNA origami platforms and to determine absolute values for the strand break cross sections. Upon irradiation with 8.44 eV photons all the investigated sequences show very similar strand break cross sections in the range of 1.7 - 2.3 x 10-16 cm2. The strand break cross sections for LEE irradiation at 8.8 eV are one to two orders of magnitude larger than the ones for VUV photons, and a slight sequence dependence is observed. The sequence dependence is even more pronounced for LEEs with energies < 3.6 eV. The present results help to assess DNA damage by photons and electrons close to the ionization threshold.
Radiation therapy is a basic part of cancer treatment. To increase the DNA damage in carcinogenic cells and preserve healthy tissue at the same time, radiosensitizing molecules such as halogenated nucleobase analogs can be incorporated into the DNA during the cell reproduction cycle. In the present study 8.44 eV photon irradiation induced single strand breaks (SSB) in DNA sequences modified with the radiosensitizer 5-bromouracil (5BrU) and 8-bromoadenine (8BrA) are investigated. 5BrU was incorporated in the 13mer oligonucleotide flanked by different nucleobases. It was demonstrated that the highest SSB cross sections were reached, when cytosine and thymine were adjacent to 5BrU, whereas guanine as a neighboring nucleobase decreases the activity of 5BrU indicating that competing reaction mechanisms are active. This was further investigated with respect to the distance of guanine to 5BrU separated by an increasing number of adenine nucleotides. It was observed that the SSB cross sections were decreasing with an increasing number of adenine spacers between guanine and 5BrU until the SSB cross sections almost reached the level of a non-modified DNA sequence, which demonstrates the high sequence dependence of the sensitizing effect of 5BrU. 8BrA was incorporated in a 13mer oligonucleotide as well and the strand breaks were quantified upon 8.44 eV photon irradiation in direct comparison to a non-modified DNA sequence of the same composition. No clear enhancement of the SSB yield of the modified in comparison to the non-modified DNA sequence could be observed. Additionally, secondary electrons with a maximum energy of 3.6 eV were generated when using Si as a substrate giving rise to further DNA damage. A clear enhancement in the SSB yield can be ascertained, but to the same degree for both the non-modified DNA sequence and the DNA sequence modified with 8BrA.
Raman microspectra combine information on chemical composition of plant tissues with spatial information. The contributions from the building blocks of the cell walls in the Raman spectra of plant tissues can vary in the microscopic sub-structures of the tissue. Here, we discuss the analysis of 55 Raman maps of root, stem, and leaf tissues of Cucumis sativus, using different spectral contributions from cellulose and lignin in both univariate and multivariate imaging methods. Imaging based on hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) indicates different substructures in the xylem cell walls of the different tissues. Using specific signals from the cell wall spectra, analysis of the whole set of different tissue sections based on the Raman images reveals differences in xylem tissue morphology. Due to the specifics of excitation of the Raman spectra in the visible wavelength range (532 nm), which is, e.g., in resonance with carotenoid species, effects of photobleaching and the possibility of exploiting depletion difference spectra for molecular characterization in Raman imaging of plants are discussed. The reported results provide both, specific information on the molecular composition of cucumber tissue Raman spectra, and general directions for future imaging studies in plant tissues.
The departure from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug-and-play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Monitoring specific information (i.e., “chemical” such as physico-chemical properties, chemical reactions, etc.) is the key to “chemical” process control.
The talk introduces a smart online NMR sensor module provided in an explosion proof housing as example. This sensor was developed for an intensified industrial process (pharmaceutical lithiation reaction step) funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (www.consens-spire.eu). Due to NMR spectroscopy as an “absolute analytical comparison method”, independent of the matrix, it runs with extremely short set-up times in combination with “modular” spectral models. Such models can simply be built upon pure component NMR spectra within a few hours (i.e., assignment of the NMR signals to the components) instead of tedious calibrations runs.
The talk also generally covers current aspects of high-field and low-field online NMR spectroscopy for reaction monitoring and process control.
We present a versatile and simple method using electrochemistry for the exclusive functionalization of the edge of a graphene monolayer with metal nanoparticles or polymeric amino groups. The attachment of metal nanoparticles allows us to exploit surface-enhanced Raman scattering to characterize the chemistry of both the pristine and the functionalized graphene edge. For the pristine patterned graphene edge, we observe the typical edge-related modes, while for the functionalized graphene edge we identify the chemical structure of the functional layer by vibrational fingerprinting. The ability to obtain single selectively functionalized graphene edges routinely on an insulating substrate opens an avenue for exploring the effect of edge chemistry on graphene properties systematically.
The fast and accurate detection of disease-related biomarkers and potentially harmful analytes in different matrices is one of the main challenges in the life sciences. In order to achieve high signal-to-background ratios with frequently used photoluminescence techniques, luminescent reporters are required that are either excitable in the first diagnostic window or reveal luminescence lifetimes exceeding that of autofluorescent matrix components. Here, we demonstrate a reporter concept relying on broad band emissive ternary quantum dots (QDs) with luminescence lifetimes of a few hundred nanoseconds utilized for prolongating the lifetimes of organic or inorganic emitters with lifetimes in the order of a very few 10 ns or less through fluorescence resonant energy transfer. Using spectrally resolved and time-resolved measurements of the system optical response we demonstrate the potential of lifetime multiplexing with such systems exemplarily for AgInS2/ZnS and CdSe/ZnS QDs.
There is an increasing interest in bridging the gap between the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) commonly assessed in ensemble studies and the PL features of single QDs for life sciences applications such as bioimaging studies or use in microfluidic assays. The fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) is a key performance parameter for all molecular and nanoscale emitters, increasingly employed in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and medical diagnostics.
ΦF determines not only the signal size together with the reporter´s molar extinction coefficient, yet it is particularly relevant for nanocrystals like QDs with coordinatively bound surface ligands and size- and surface chemistry-dependent PL characteristics.
The importance of ΦF measurements at ultralow concentration encouraged us to explore the potential of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) for the relative determination of ΦF of ligand-stabilized CdTe nanocrystals in comparison to molecular dyes with closely matching spectral properties and known ΦF.
We describe a FCS-based method for the relative determination of ΦF of dispersed QDs at ultralow concentrations, and procedures to overcome QD-inherent challenges like complex and power-dependent blinking behavior as well as ligand- and QD-specific aggregation. We could demonstrate the potential of this approach by comparison with steady state ensemble measurements.
The formation of transformation products (TPs) from contaminants and residues is becoming an increasing focus of scientific community. All organic compounds can form different TPs, thus demonstrating the complexity and interdisciplinarity of this topic. The properties of TPs could stand in relation to the unchanged substance or be more harmful and persistent. To get important information about the generated TPs, methods are needed to simulate natural and manmade transformation processes. Current tools are based on metabolism studies, photochemical methods, electrochemical methods, and Fenton's reagent. Finally, most transformation processes are based on redox reactions. This review aims to compare these methods for structurally different compounds. The groups of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, brominated flame retardants, and mycotoxins were selected as important residues/contaminants relating to their worldwide occurrence and impact to health, food, and environmental safety issues. Thus, there is an increasing need for investigation of transformation processes and identification of TPs by fast and reliable methods.
Lead isotope amount ratios are commonly used in diverse fields such as archaeometry, geochemistry and forensic science. Currently, five reference materials with certified lead isotope amount ratios are available, namely NIST SRM 981, 982 and 983, GBW-04442 and NMIJ 3681-a. Only NIST SRM 981 and NMIJ 3681-a have approximately natural isotopic compositions, and NIST SRM 981 is predominantly used for correcting mass discrimination/mass fractionation in the applied mass spectrometric procedures. Consequently, there is no other certified reference material available to be used for validation and/or quality control of the analytical procedures applied to lead isotope amount ratio measurements. To fill this gap, two new reference materials have been produced and certified for their lead isotope amount ratios. For both certified reference materials, complete uncertainty budgets have been calculated and SI traceability has been established. This provides the users with independent means for validating and verifying their analytical procedures and for conducting quality control measures. ERM-EB400 is a bronze material with a nominal lead mass fraction of 45 mg kg-1 and certified lead isotope amount ratios of n(206Pb)/n(204Pb) = 18.072(17) mol mol-1, n(207Pb)/n(204Pb) = 15.578(18) mol mol-1 and n(208Pb)/n(204Pb) = 38.075(46) mol mol-1 with the associated expanded uncertainties (k = 2) given in brackets. ERM-AE142 is a high-purity solution of lead in 2% nitric acid with a nominal mass fraction of 100 mg kg-1 and certified Pb isotope amount ratios of n(206Pb)/n(204Pb) = 21.114(17) mol mol-1, n(207Pb)/n(204Pb) = 15.944(17) mol mol-1 and n(208Pb)/n(204Pb) = 39.850(44) mol mol-1 with the associated expanded uncertainties (k = 2) given in brackets. Both materials are specifically designed to fall within the natural lead isotopic variation and to assist users with the validation and verification of their analytical procedures. Note that while one of these reference materials requires the chemical separation of Pb from its matrix (ERM-EB400), the other does not (ERM-AE142). As additional information, δ208/206PbNIST SRM981 values are provided for both materials. For ERM-AE142, a delta value of δ208/206PbNIST SRM981 = -28.21(30) ‰ was obtained, and for ERM-EB400, a delta value of δ208/206PbNIST SRM981 = -129.47(38) ‰ was obtained, with the associated expanded uncertainties (k = 2) given in brackets.
We have applied laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) with subcellular resolution as an elemental mass microscope to investigate the distributions of Ag nanoparticles (NP) in a 3-dimentional multicellular spheroid (MCS) model. The production of MCS has been optimized by changing the seeding cell number (500 to 40,000 cells) and the growth period (1 to 10 days). Incubations of MCS with Ag nanoparticle suspensions were performed with a concentration of 5 µg mL-1 for 24 hours. Thin-sections of the Eosin stained MCS were analysed by elemental mass microscopy using LA-ICP-MS to image distributions of 109Ag, 31P, 63Cu, 66Zn and 79Br. A calibration using NP suspensions was applied to convert the measured Ag intensity into the number of particles being present in each measurement pixel. The numbers of NP determined ranged from 30 up to 4,000 particles in an enrichment zone. The particle distribution was clearly correlated to 31P, 66Zn and 79Br and was localized in an outer rim of proliferating cells (confirmed by DAPI) with a width of about two-single cell diameters. For the highest seeding cell number NPs were only detected in this outer rim, whereas small molecules as for instance 79Br and 109Ag ions were detected in the core of the MCS as well. Aniline blue staining demonstrated that this outer rim was rich in collagen structures in which fibroblast cells were embedded and a thin-membrane was visible which separated the core from the biological active cell layer functioning as biological barriers for NP transport. In this presentation, we will show the possibility using this 3-dimensional model for toxicological and medical applications.
Complementarity of molecular and elemental mass spectrometric imaging of Gadovist™ in mouse tissues
(2019)
Drug biodistribution analyses can be considered a key issue in pharmaceutical discovery and development. Here, mass spectrometric imaging can be employed as a powerful tool to investigate distributions of drug compounds in biologically and medically relevant tissue sections. Both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–mass spectrometric imaging as molecular method and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometric imaging as elemental detection method were applied to determine drug distributions in tissue thin sections. Several mouse organs including the heart, kidney, liver, and brain were analyzed with regard to distribution of Gadovist™, a gadolinium-based contrast agent already approved for clinical investigation. This work demonstrated the successful detection and localization of Gadovist™ in several organs. Furthermore, the results gave evidence that gadolinium-based contrast agents in general can be well analyzed by mass spectrometric imaging methods. In conclusion, the combined application of molecular and elemental mass spectrometry could complement each other and thus confirm analytical results or provide additional information.
Correlating the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) and upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs) assessed in ensemble studies and at the single particle level is increasingly relevant for applications of these nanomaterials in the life sciences like bioimaging studies or their use as reporters in microfluidic assays. Here we present a comparison of the spectroscopic properties of ensembles and single emitters for QDs like II/VI QDs and cadmium-free AIS/ZnS QDs as well as different UCNPs. The overall goal of this study was to derive particle architectures well suited for spectroscopic and microscopic applications.
Metal tags find application in a multitude of biomedical systems and the combination with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) offers an opportunity for multiplexing. To lay the foundation for an increase of the signal intensities in such processes, we herein present a general approach for efficient functionalization of a well-defined metal oxido cluster [Bi6O4(OH)(4)(SO3CF3)(6)(CH3CN)(6)].2 CH3CN (1), which can be realized by selecting 7mer peptide sequences via combinatorial means from large one-bead one-compound peptide libraries. Selective cluster-binding peptide sequences (CBS) for 1 were discriminated from non-binders by treatment with H2S gas to form the reduction product Bi2S3, clearly visible to the naked eye. Interactions were further confirmed by NMR experiments. Extension of a binding peptide with a maleimide linker (Mal) introduces the possibility to covalently attach thiol-bearing moieties such as biological probes and for their analysis the presence of the cluster instead of mononuclear entities should lead to an increase of signal intensities in LA-ICP-MS measurements. To prove this, CBS-Mal was covalently bound onto thiol-presenting glass substrates, which then captured 1 effectively, so that LA-ICP-MS measurements demonstrated drastic signal amplification compared to single lanthanide tags.
Due to its advantages of being a direct comparison method, quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) becomes more and more popular in industry. While conventional high-field NMR systems are often associated with high investment and operational costs, the upcoming market of permanent-magnet based benchtop NMR systems show a considerable option for a lot of applications. The mobility of these systems allows to bring them more closely to the real production environment, e.g. for at-line quality control.
In this work we present an interlaboratory comparison study investigating the qNMR performance of state-of-the-art benchtop NMR spectrometers. Therefore, BAM prepared two samples of a mixture of NMR reference standards tetramethylbenzene (TMB) and tetrachloronitrobenzene (TCNB) at concentration levels of 200 mM and 10 mM. These “ready-to-use” samples were sent to participant laboratories, which performed analysis on their benchtop NMR equipment of different vendors and fields from 43 to 80 MHz. Raw data was reported back and further investigated by using different data analysis methods at BAM.
After this very first qNMR comparison study of benchtop NMR spectrometers show promising results, following studies are planned to cover more parts of the qNMR process, e.g. sample preparation and weighing, but also data analysis, as commonly done in similar studies for high-field NMR spectroscopy in industry and metrology.
Improvement in deep process understanding is a mandatory prerequisite for the application of modern concepts like Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or “Industrie 4.0”. The direct hyphenation with online methods of process analytical technology (PAT) allows profound insights into the actual reactions within chemical and pharmaceutical production steps and provides necessary information for associated advanced control strategies.
While the industrial application of online Raman spectroscopy has already been successfully demonstrated, low-field NMR spectroscopy is not yet adequately developed as a robust online method for use in process industry. The high information content combined with the low calibration effort makes NMR spectroscopy a highly promising method for modern process automation with a high flexibility due to short set-up times and novel calibration concepts. This is a major advantage compared to other analytical methods, especially regarding multi-purpose plant strategies, as well as processes suffering from fluctuating quality of raw materials.
The work presented here focusses on the heterogeneous catalyzed hydrogenation of 2-butyne-1,4-diol, as a step of the synthesis of industrially important solvent tetrahydrofuran. This reaction is proceeding via an intermediate product and suffers from competitive reaction paths. In this application, online NMR and Raman spectroscopy were combined with data from classical process sensors, e.g., pressure, temperature, and flow transducers in a highly automated setup for the development of innovative control concepts.
The transition from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug-and-play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Monitoring specific information (i.e., “chemical” such as physico-chemical properties, chemical reactions, etc.) is the key to “chemical” process control. Here we introduce our smart online NMR sensor module provided in an explosion proof housing as example.
Due to NMR spectroscopy as an “absolute comparison method”, independent of the matrix, it runs with very short set-up times in combination with “modular” spectral models. These are based on pure component NMR spectra without the need for tedious calibrations runs. We present approaches from statistical, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling).
Based on concentration measurements of reagents and products by the NMR analyser a continuous production and direct loop process control were successfully realized for several validation runs in a modular industrial pilot plant and compared to conventional analytical methods (HPLC, near infrared spectroscopy). The NMR analyser was developed for an intensified industrial process funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (“Integrated CONtrol and SENsing”, www.consens-spire.eu).
Chemical companies must find new paths to successfully survive in a changing environment. The potential of digital technologies belongs to these. Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
In future, such fully integrated and intelligently interconnecting “smart” systems and processes can speed up the high-quality production of specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Chemical companies must find new paths to successfully survive in a changing environment. The potential of digital technologies belongs to these. Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
In future, such fully integrated and intelligently interconnecting “smart” systems and processes can speed up the high-quality production of specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Relative and Absolute Methods for Measuring Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of UV/vis/NIR Emitters
(2019)
One of the key spectroscopic performance parameters of molecular and particulate emitters is the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) that provides a direct measure for the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This triggered the interest in methods suitable for measuring this property for emitters in various environments in the UV/vis/NIR and above 1000 nm as well as on the ensemble and single emitter level. Moreover, for nonlinear emitters like lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals methods including instrumentation for power density-dependent PL QY studies are required.
An overview of the research activities in Division Biophotonics of BAM is given and suitable relative and absolute methods for the deter-mination of PL QY of organic dyes and different types of application-relevant nanomaterials in dispersion and in the solid state are presen-ted. This covers also the design and calibration of integrating sphere setups, achievable uncertainties, and candidates for PL QY reference materials.
Chemical companies must find new paths to successfully survive in a changing environment. The potential of digital technologies belongs to these. Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
In future, such fully integrated and intelligently interconnecting “smart” systems and processes can speed up the high-quality production of specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
The talk also generally covers current aspects of high-field and low-field online NMR spectroscopy for reaction monitoring and process control and gives also an overview on direct dissolution studies of API cocrystals.
Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
The fluorescence lifetime is a key property of fluorophores that can be utilized for microenvironment probing, analyte sensing, and multiplexing as well as barcoding applications. For the rational design of lifetime probes and barcodes, theoretical methods have been developed to enable the ab initio prediction of this parameter, which depends strongly on interactions with solvent molecules and other chemical species in the emitters' immediate environment. In this work, we investigate how a conductor-like screening model (COSMO) can account for variations in fluorescence lifetimes that are caused by such fluorophore−solvent interactions. Therefore, we calculate vibrationally broadened fluorescence spectra using the nuclear ensemble method to obtain distorted molecular geometries to sample the electronic transitions with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The influence of the solvent on fluorescence lifetimes is accounted for with COSMO. For example, for 4-hydroxythiazole fluorophore containing different heteroatoms and acidic and basic moieties in aprotic and protic solvents of varying polarity, this approach was compared to experimentally determined lifetimes in the same solvents. Our results demonstrate a good correlation between theoretically predicted and experimentally measured fluorescence lifetimes except for the polar solvents Ethanol and acetonitrile that can specifically interact with the heteroatoms and the carboxylic acid of the thiazole derivative.
A systematic study of the luminescence properties of monodisperse β-NaYF4: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with sizes ranging from 12–43 nm is presented utilizing steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry.
Special emphasis was dedicated to the absolute quantification of size- and environment-induced quenching of upconversion luminescence (UCL) by highenergy O–H and C–H vibrations from solvent and ligand molecules at different excitation power densities (P). In this context, the still-debated Population pathways of the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+ were examined. Our results Highlight the potential of particle size and P value for color tuning based on the pronounced near-infrared emission of 12 nm UCNPs, which outweighs the red Er3+ emission under “strongly quenched” conditions and accounts for over 50% of total UCL in water. Because current rate equation models do not include such emissions, the suitability of these models for accurately simulating all (de)population pathways of small UCNPs must be critically assessed. Furthermore, we postulate population pathways for the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+, which correlate with the size-, environment-, and P-dependent quenching states of the higher Er3+ energy levels.
Chemical companies must find new paths to successfully survive in a changing environment. The potential of digital technologies belongs to these. Flexible and modular chemical plants can produce various high-quality products using multi-purpose equipment with short down-times between campaigns and reduce time to market for new products. Intensified continuous production plants allow for difficult to produce compounds.
Therefore, fully automated “chemical” process control along with real-time quality control are prerequisites to such concepts and thus should be based on “chemical” information. The advances of a fully automated NMR sensor were exploited, using a given pharmaceutical lithiation reaction as an example process within a modular pilot plant. A commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer was integrated to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment such as , e.g., explosion safety, field communication, and robust evaluation of sensor data. It was thereof used for direct loop advanced process control and real-time optimization of the process. NMR appeared as preeminent online analytical tool and allowed using a modular data analysis tool, which even served as reliable reference method for further PAT applications.
In future, such fully integrated and intelligently interconnecting “smart” systems and processes can speed up the high-quality production of specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
This presentation gives a short overview of isotope ratio measurements being carried out in the past few years at BAM in different fields such as plant metabolism, food web structures and archaeology. The corresponding isotope reference materials which have been certified at BAM in parallel are presented as well. Additionally an outlook is being provided on future iRM projects.
Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth. Lack of valid methods for pretreatment and measurement of δ11B in plant restrict applications of it in the biosphere. Dry ashing, one step cation exchange and micro-sublimation were combined to separate and purify boron (B) in plant tissues. The low procedure blank, high B recovery and the accurate δ11B values of the plant reference materials demonstrate that this method is suitable and valid for B pretreatment and δ11B measurement in plant samples by MC-ICP-MS. Based on this method, the δ11B in different plants (Brassica napus, Chenopodium album L, moss, lichen, and Nostoc commune) was analyzed. For Brassica napus, δ11B increased gradually from root to leaf, and then decreased to rapeseed. For the same parts, the δ11B increased from the lower parts to the higher parts. This variation may be due to the B(OH)3 transporter of NIP6;1 and the incorporation of B into the cell. The reason for lower δ11B values in shell and rapeseed compared to those in leaves presumably is to the preferred Transport of borate in the phloem. The largest δ11B fractionation between leaf and root in Brassica napus and Chenopodium album L was +24.2‰ and +26.6‰, respectively. The large variation and fractionation of δ11B within plants indicates that δ11B is a good tracer to study the B translocation mechanisms and metabolism within plants. The δ11B in Nostoc commune, lichen, and moss showed variations of -4.1‰ to +21.5‰, −9.4‰ to +7.3‰, and −18.3‰ to +11. 9‰, respectively. In the same site, δ11B in different plants ranked Nostoc commune>moss>lichen and δ11B in mosses growing in different environment ranked soil>tree>rock. Rain and soil available B are the main B sources for these plants. The δ11B in Nostoc commune, lichen, and moss may be a useful tracer to study the atmospheric B input. In the future, plants culture experiments under certain environments and studies from molecular level are necessary to decipher the variation of δ11B and fractionation mechanisms within plants.
Extraction, chromatographic separation, and quantification of low-concentration organic compounds in complex matrices are core challenges for reference material producers and providers of calibration services. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons is needed to document measurement capability claims made by national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs). To enable NMIs and DIs to update or establish their claims, in 2014 the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) initiated CCQM-K95.1 "Low-Polarity Analytes in a Botanical Matrix: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Tea". This was a follow-on comparison from CCQM-K95 which was completed in 2014.
The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) benz[a]anthracene (BaA) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are considered priority pollutants by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are regulated contaminants in food, pose chromatographic separation challenges, and for which exist well-characterized measurement procedures and standard materials. BaA and BaP in a smoked tea were therefore selected as representative target measurands for CCQM-K95.1. Ten NMIs participated in CCQM-K95.1. The consensus summary mass fractions for the two PAHs are in the range of (50 to 70) ng/g with relative standard deviations of (6 to 10) %.
Successful participation in CCQM K95.1 demonstrates the following measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with molar mass of 100 g/mol to 500 g/mol and having polarity pKow −2, in a botanical matrix ranging in mass fraction from 10 ng/g to 1000 ng/g: (1) value assignment of primary reference standards (if in-house purity assessment carried out), (2) value assignment of single and/or multi-component organic solutions, (3) extraction of analytes of interest from the matrix, (4) cleanup and separation of analytes of interest from interfering matrix or extract components, and (5) separation and quantification using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography.
Solutions of organic analytes of known mass fraction are typically used to calibrate the measurement processes used to determine these compounds in matrix samples. Appropriate value assignments and uncertainty calculations for calibration solutions are critical for accurate measurements. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons is needed to document measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs). To enable NMIs and DIs to update or establish their claims, in 2015 the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) sponsored CCQM-K131 "Low-Polarity Analytes in a Multicomponent Organic Solution: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Acetonitrile".
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) result from combustion sources and are ubiquitous in environmental samples. The PAH congeners, benz[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and naphthalene (Nap) were selected as the target analytes for CCQM-K131. These targets span the volatility range of PAHs found in environmental samples and include potentially problematic chromatographic separations. Nineteen NMIs participated in CCQM-K131. The consensus summary mass fractions for the three PAHs are in the range of (5 to 25) μg/g with relative standard deviations of (2.5 to 3.5) %.
Successful participation in CCQM-K131 demonstrates the following measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds of moderate to insignificant volatility, molar mass of 100 g/mol up to 500 g/mol, and polarity pKow < −2 in a multicomponent organic solution ranging in mass fraction from 100 ng/g to 100 μg/g: (1) value assignment of primary reference standards (if in-house purity assessment carried out), (2) value assignment of single and/or multi-component organic solutions, and (3) separation and quantification using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography.
Hepcidin-25 concentrations measured by various methods differ considerably, complicating interpretation. Here, a previously identified plasma-based candidate secondary reference material (csRM) was modified into a serum-based two-leveled sRM. We validated its functionality to increase the equivalence between methods for international standardization. We applied technical procedures developed by the International Consortium for Harmonization of Clinical Laboratory Results. The sRM, consisting of lyophilized serum with cryolyoprotectant, appeared commutable among nine different measurement procedures using 16 native human serum samples in a first round robin (RR1). Harmonization potential of the sRM was simulated in RR1 and evaluated in practice in RR2 among 11 measurement procedures using three native human plasma samples. Comprehensive purity analysis of a candidate primary RM (cpRM) was performed by state-of-the-art procedures. The sRM was value assigned with an isotope dilution mass spectrometry-based candidate reference method calibrated using the certified pRM. The inter-assay CV without harmonization was 42.1% and 52.8% in RR1 and RR2, respectively. In RR1, simulation of harmonization with sRM resulted in an inter-assay CV of 11.0%, whereas in RR2 calibration with the material resulted in an inter-assay CV of 19.1%. Both the sRM and pRM passed international homogeneity criteria and showed long-term stability. We assigned values to the low (0.95 ± 0.11 nmol/L) and middle concentration (3.75 ± 0.17 nmol/L) calibrators of the sRM. Standardization of hepcidin is possible with our sRM, which value is assigned by a pRM. We propose the implementation of this material as an international calibrator for hepcidin-25.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity, nondestructive character, and easy instrumentation suitable for miniaturization. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument-related effects. Thus, at the core of standardization approaches for all fluorescence-based techniques are evaluated fluorescence standards for the consideration of instrument-specific spectral and intensity distortions of measured signals and for instrument performance validation (IPV).
Here, we summarize the research of BAM division 1.2 on development of liquid and solid fluorescence standards for various application-relevant fluorescence parameters and techniques. The portfolio of BAM fluorescence reference materials presently consists of:
i) a Spectral Fluorescence Standard Kit, i.e., a set of liquid fluorescence standards with certified normalized corrected emission spectra, for the determination of a broad variety of fluorescence parameters
ii) a ready-to-use, glass-based multi-emitter fluorescence standard for IPV and the determination of instrument-to-instrument variations
iii) specially adapted calibration tools and validation concepts for microarray-based platforms used in molecular diagnostics and food safety control
iv) quantum yield (Φf) standards for relative determination of the key performance parameter Φf of fluorescent materials, which can be also used for the evaluation of the performance of absolute, standard-free methods utilizing integrating sphere setups or spectrometer accessories. These materials, that will eventually cover the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared spectral region, are currently under certification.
This toolbox of method-adapted reference materials can perfectly complement existing fluorescence standards. These easy-to-use, reference materials can pave the way to traceable fluorescence measurements to a radiometric scale like the spectral radiance or spectral photon radiance for all users of fluorescence techniques in material sciences and analysis, as well as environmental monitoring and biotechnology. They are particularly useful for customers working in strongly regulated areas like medical diagnostics or pharmaceutical research, where certified standards in conjunction with validated standard operating procedures are mandatory.
Invited for this month’s cover picture is the group of Dr. Knut Rurack at the Department of Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials at the Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM) in Berlin (Germany). The cover picture shows how differences in color and fluorescence on a test strip can be easily read out with a mobile device. Two reference spots Frame the sensitive spot that indicates the presence of trace amounts of HgII below the threshold in a natural water sample. This dipstick contains a hybrid material that combines boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) probes sterically loaded into specifically tailored mesoporous silica particles, allowing for ultrasensitive HgII detection through enhanced fluorescence in a few seconds. The applicability in real water samples and fish extracts are also studied.
Type-I pyrethroids are frequently used for disinfection purposes against insects such as adult mosquitoes, or diseases carried by insects, like Malaria or Zika in cabins of airplanes on long-distance flights especially from tropical destinations. This treatment is mandatory at various airports but compliance with the rules is difficult to test for. Moreover, if improperly used, these compounds can entail negative health effects for crews and passengers.
The detection of the pyrethroids will be achieved thanks to an antibody-gated indicator delivery system (gAID) utilizing monoclonal antibodies and hybrid sensory nanoparticles. After the interaction of the pyrethroid with the gAID, the liberated indicator (dye) will be detected. Since only few analyte molecules are necessary for pore opening yet release a large number of dyes, the system shows intrinsic signal amplification.
The device system to be developed has to be so simple that chemically untrained personnel, such as ground or cabin crew, can use it and obtain a result in a reasonably short period of time, e.g., ≤5 min. The need for high accuracy and sufficient sensitivity, established at 0.001 g m–2, is a critical requirement and imposes another significant challenge since this value is beyond current LFTs reported in the literature for pesticide detection to date.
In order to achieve the selectivity and sensitivity required by the test itself, and to avoid cross reactivity with other type I pyrethroids, the production of a monoclonal antibody for both Permethrin and Phenontrin is necessary. The synthesis of the two hapten molecules and the subsequent immunization with different immunogens represent the first goal of the work.
Recent recommendations by the Food and Drug Administration1 and the European Medicines Agency2 are to limit the clinical use of linear gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) due to convincing evidence of deposition in tissues. Macrocyclic GBCA continued to be considered safe, provided that patients have normal renal function. To date, given the low sensitivity of conventional MRI, there has been a debate about the signal increase following the injections of a macrocyclic GBCA.
In this paper, we describe the labelling of antibodies by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with diameters of 10 and 60 nm with detection by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Additionally, the AuNPs labelling strategy is compared with commercially available labelling reagents based on MeCAT (metal coded affinity tagging). Proof of principle experiments based on dot blot experiments were performed. The two labelling methods investigated were compared by sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD). The absolute LODs achieved were in the range of tens of picograms for AuNP labelling compared to a few hundred picograms by the MeCAT labelling.
Synthetic peptide pools are used in antigen-specific T-cell assays, which are an important part in vaccine and immunotherapeutic clinical trials. As the analytical characterization is challenging due to the similarity of the single peptides or is expensive due to isotope labeled standards, usually only a pre-characterization of the single peptides is performed. However, a regular quality control of the peptide mix would be highly desirable. Therefore, a cost-efficient high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) method for quality control of a model peptide pool is developed.
Peptides were synthesized using peptides&elephants proprietary libraries of individual peptides (LIPS) technology and purified by reversed-phase chromatography to > 90% each. The lyophilized single peptides were combined to a model peptide pool and analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance capillary liquid chromatography coupled to an orbitrap mass spectrometer. Separation was performed on a capillary reversed phase column (2 μm, ID x L 300 μm x 150 mm) with a linear gradient of acetonitrile + 0,05% trifluoroacetic acid.
For the separation of a model peptide pool the additive, additive concentration, the gradient elution and the temperature were optimized. Different quantification approaches were tested. Identification was performed by high resolution mass spectrometry in which extracted ion chromatograms (XIC) were used to confirm exact masses.
In line with the development of a new cost-efficient quality control method for the separation and identification of complex synthetic peptide pools, varied HPLC parameters highlighted their influence on chromatographic resolution and peptides were identified with high mass accuracy.
Most factors acting on concrete rheology work at an extremely small-scale level. Influencing factors in the millimetre or centimetre area are essentially restricted to sand and aggregates. The latter, however, make up 50 to 70% of the total volume of most concretes – a fact often ignored in research on controlling concrete processing properties.
Whereas suitably chosen concrete admixtures and additives can influence rheology in a very targeted manner, sand and aggregates are less suitable for controlling rheology but nonetheless contribute to the rheology of the Overall system. The actions of sand and aggregate can impose themselves upon the actions of admixtures and additives
and, in unfavourable circumstances, even render them redundant. For this reason, any results concerning the processability of binding agent systems can only be transferred to concrete with great care. It is important to better understand the action of sand and aggregates in order to be able to harmonise them in such a way that they complement the action of superplasticisers positively, instead of
working against them. Savings on costs can also be made by this targeted fine-tuning.
The sensitive detection of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) utilizing ist fluorescence requires approaches to enhance the emission. In this respect, we studied the complexation of CIT and ochratoxin A (OTA) with Al3+ in methanol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this context, an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a polymer column and a fluorescence detector was also developed that enables the separation of the metal ion complexes from the free ligands and non-complexed Al3+. CIT and OTA showed distinct changes in their absorption and fluorescence properties upon Al3+-coordination, and the fluorescence of CIT was considerably enhanced. Analysis of the photometrically assessed titration of CIT and OTA with Al3+ using the Job plot method revealed 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometries for the Al3+ complexes of CIT (Al:CIT) and OTA (Al:OTA), respectively. In the case of CIT, only one -diketone moiety participates in Al3+ coordination. These findings can be elegantly exploited for signal amplification and provide the base to reduce the limit of detection for CIT quantification by about an order of magnitude, as revealed by HPLC measurements using a fluorescence detector.
For years there have been more and more reports on the presence of drugs in the aquatic environment. Due to the demographic change, the consumption of pharmaceuticals has risen sharply. After taking the drugs, they are partly metabolized in the human body. However, the metabolism is not complete so that both the metabolites and non-metabolized amounts of the parent compounds are excreted. These compounds reach the waste water and afterwards the sewage treatment plants. In sewage treatment plants transformation products can be formed by the oxidative conditions during wastewater treatment processes. The transformation products may have a higher toxicity than the actual environmental pollutants and are often only partly removed during the waste water treatment. Since a lot of these compounds are still unknown, the transformation products are not detected by target analysis used in sewage treatment plants and are often released undetected in the aquatic ecosystems. The released substances may be subject to additional transformation processes in the environment. Pharmaceuticals produced in high amounts can be already detected in the μg/L range in water bodies worldwide.
Metformin and its major transformation product guanylurea are one of the main representatives. Metformin is the drug of choice for treating type 2 diabetes. The drug therapy for diabetes mellitus has increased significantly in recent years. In the year 2015 1500 tons of metformin were prescribed in Germany (for statutory insured persons). Metformin is not metabolized in the human body and is excreted unchanged therefore concentrations between 57 μg/L and 129 μg/L are found in German waste water treatment plants influents.
In this work the transformation of the antidiabetic drug metformin is investigated. The degradation of metformin is initialize by commercial water treatment techniques like UV-radiation or noncommercial techniques like heterogenous photocatalysis based on titanium dioxide. The degradation of metformin and resulting transformation products are analyzed by LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS.
In addition to previously reported results on the simulated aging of polystyrene samples (PS) containing 1 wt. % hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), we present the first results of our investigations of polypropylene (PP)-samples containing 0.1 wt. % BDE-209. All studied polymer samples were exposed to a defined weathering schedule in a climate chamber in accordance to regulation EN ISO 4892-3:2006.For the determination of BDE-209 in the collected rain water samples derived from the used climate chamber, the samples were prepared in accordance with a validated protocol. Before the analyses, each sample was spiked with 2 µL of isotopically labeled BDE-209 (13C10-BDE-209) to serve as internal standard (ISTD) in the performed stable isotope dilution analysis. Subsequently the samples were extracted with isooctane, the obtained aliquots of the extracts were concentrated to 200 µL and 2 µL of the resulting solution were injected to the GC/MS for quantification.
Additionally, the total bromine contents are monitored for the aged and untreated samples using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as well as X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) as non-destructive and rapid method. Furthermore, results from surface analysis using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) for morphological characterization of the aged and untreated samples were presented and discussed. In general, the resulting data from the accelerated aging will be compared to those from the natural weathering experiments (“atmospheric exposure”, in soil).
The atmospheric exposure was performed by placing the samples on a weathering rack, which is aligned in SW direction (in a 45° angle to the horizon). The weathering data were regularly recorded by Deutscher Wetterdienst at this site. The surfaces of the test specimens (aged and stored references) were analyzed by ESEM as well as by LA-ICP-MS and by XRF. The surface of PS and PP specimens aged outdoors present the aging under real conditions and allow the comparison to the accelerated aged specimens by means of the weathering chamber. This way, we explore the efficiency of the accelerated aging procedure, which provides the advantage of well-defined and reproducible conditions compared to natural weathering, as a tool for testing different plastic materials.
Additionally “in soil” experiments were conducted in-door in a well characterized testing soil. The soil (boulder-clay, sand with 12 % loam, particle size in total 0.2-4 mm) is filled in a free-draining concrete basin inside of an air-conditioned room. In this manner, TOC, water capacity and humidity are recorded parameters. To assure a washing out process from the samples by the raining water, the target water content is calculated to 8%. The actual humidity is measured by a tensiometer, assuring the duration of the raining period. The water content is additionally monitored by weight of the basin, capturing water from raining periods. The correct humidity is a fundamental parameter for biological activity. Samples of PS resp. PP were of dimension 10x1cm and 5 specimens were placed up to the half in the soil per basin. Microbial activity of the soil, monitored by the reference polyurethane, sets HBCD resp. BDE-209 of the samples free and will be leached from the samples by raining water. Thereafter these will be captured by passive samplers placed in a distinct distance to the samples in the soil. The “in soil” experiments are complementary to the weathering experiments due to the biological activity in the soil. These experiments simulate the fate of the brominated flame retardants in the biosphere.
Environmental sustainability and –stability of Materials concerning the Migration of pollutants
(2018)
MaUS is an acronym for ”Material und Umweltsimulationen“. Plastics are in the focus of environmental politics due to their long-term behaviour and therefore to their persistence. Not only that they appear as visible contaminants in the sea and on the beach, but their unknown behaviour concerning their additives as well as the related transformation products are anxious. Therefore, we wish to establish a certified reference method to provide a method for testing plastics.
Aim of this project is the development of fast motion standard reference methods for testing plastics regarding to their environmental compatibility. To establish these testing methods, we use polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) with environmental relevant brominated flame retardants, known for their persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) properties. In case of PS the material contains 1 wt% of 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecan (HBCD) and in case of PP 0.1 wt% bromodiphenylether (BDE-209), which is known as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). Furthermore, we use polycarbonate (PC), which is still used as material in baby flasks and releases Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic active substance.
As an additional material PTFE is used for its importance as a source for two ubiquitous environmental substances (PFOS and PFOA), whose toxicological effects are still incompletely known.
The focus in this current work is set on the transfer of potential pollutants out of applied materials mentioned above into environmental compartments like water or soil. Here an accelerated aging concept should be developed to shortened time consuming natural processes. For these resulting simulations we use a programmable weathering chamber with dry and wet periods and with high and low temperatures. These programmes run for several weeks and according to a defined sampling schedule we take water samples, run a clean-up procedure by SPE (Molecular imprinted polymers (MiPs) resp. polymer-based cartridges (Waters Oasis HLB)) and analyse them by HPLC-UV resp. LC-MS/MS. Of most interest in case of flame retardants are photocatalytic transformation products. Therefore, we conduct a non-target-screening resp. a suspected target-screening by LC-MS/MS and HRMS.
Grazing incidence SANS and reflectometry combined with simulation of adsorbed microgel particles
(2018)
Adsorbed ethylene glycol based microgel particles on a Silicon surface were studied. Neutron reflectometry (NR) and grazing incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) were performed to investigate their internal structure. Scattering experiments on soft matter systems such as adsorbed microgels often give only partial Information about the inner structure of the polymer system. In this contribution, we discuss how the detailed inner structure of adsorbed microgel particles can be reconstructed by a combination of the specular Neutron Reflectivity (NR), Grazing Incidence Small Angle Neutron Scattering (GISANS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and a simulation in the framework of the Distorted Wave Born Approximation.