Chemische Charakterisierung und Spurenanalytik
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Messergebnisse in der chemischen Analyse müssen vergleichbar sein. Dies wird durch die metrologische Rückführbarkeit (traceability) auf SI realisiert. In der Chemie dienen Reinststoffe als Primärnormale, deren Reinheit mit einer Unsicherheit von < 0.01% ermittelt werden soll. Ein eleganter Weg, die Reinheit eines realen Materials mit hoher Präzision zu bestimmen, ist, alle Verunreinigungen zu messen, diese aufzusummieren und von der idealen Reinheit von 100 Prozent abzuziehen. Die metallischen Verunreinigungen in Metallen lassen sich mittels hochauflösender Massenspektrometer ermitteln. Eine weit größere Herausforderung ist die Bestimmung von Nichtmetallen wie Sauerstoff, Wasserstoff und Stickstoff im Metall, zumal diese auch oft die Hauptverunreinigung darstellen. Für die quantitative Bestimmung von Verunreinigungen wurden mit Standards dotierte Pulverpresslinge und mit H, O und N dotierte, gesinterte Materialien auf ihre Eignung als Kalibrierstandards für die GD-OES und GD-MS untersucht. Dabei kamen unterschiedliche Plasmabedingungen (pulsed/ continuous mode; verschiedene Plasmagase) zum Einsatz. Ein Überblick über analytische Kenngrößen und Grenzen der verwendeten Kalibrierstrategien wird gegeben.
Um in einem veränderten Umfeld erfolgreich bestehen zu können, müssen Chemie-unternehmen neue Pfade beschreiten. Dazu gehört insbesondere das Potential digi-taler Technologien. Mit flexiblen, modularen chemischen Vielzweck-Produktionsanlagen lassen sich häufig wechselnde Produkte mit kürzeren Vorlauf- und Stillstandzeiten zwischen den Kampagnen und dennoch hoher Qualität realisie-ren. Intensivierte, kontinuierliche Produktionsanlagen erlauben auch den Umgang mit schwierig zu handhabenden Substanzen.
Grundvoraussetzung für solche Konzepte ist eine hochautomatisierte "chemische" Prozesskontrolle zusammen mit Echtzeit-Qualitätskotrolle, die "chemische" Informati-onen über den Prozess bereitstellt. In einem Anwendungsbeispiel wurde eine phar-mazeutische Lithiierungsreaktion aus einer modularen Pilot-Anlage betrachtet und dabei die Vorzüge eines vollautomatischen NMR-Sensors untersucht. Dazu wurde ein kommerziell erhältliches Benchtop-NMR-Spektrometer mit Permanentmagnet auf die industriellen Anforderungen, wie Explosionsschutz, Feldkommunikation und voll-automatischer, robuster Datenauswertung angepasst. Der NMR-Sensor konnte schließlich erfolgreich im vollautomatischen Betrieb nach fortschrittlichen Regelkon-zepten und für die Echtzeitoptimierung der Anlage getestet werden. Die NMR-Spektroskopie erwies sich als hervorragende Online-Methode und konnte zusammen mit einer modularen Datenauswertung sehr flexibel genutzt werden. Die Methode konnte überdies als zuverlässige Referenzmethode zur Kalibrierung konventioneller Online-Analytik eingesetzt werden.
Zukünftig werden voll integrierte und intelligent vernetzte "smarte" Sensoren und Pro-zesse eine kontinuierliche Produktion von Chemikalien und Pharmazeutika mit ver-tretbaren Qualitätskosten möglich machen.
Die NMR-Spektroskopie stellt heutzutage eine der wichtigsten Analysenmethoden in der organischen Chemie dar. Während der Großteil aller Untersuchungen qualitativ mit dem Ziel der Stoffidentifikation und Strukturaufklärung erfolgt, erlangt die quantitative NMR-Spektroskopie (qNMR) zunehmend an Bedeutung in Forschung und Industrie. Der entscheidende Vorteil gegenüber anderen Analysenmethoden liegt in der direkten Proportionalität der Signalfläche zur Anzahl Kernspins im Messvolumen. Dies erlaubt eine kalibrationsfreie Relativquantifizierung. Zur Absolutquantifizierung reicht die Zugabe einer definierten Menge eines vom Analyten unabhängigen NMR-Standards aus.
Trotz dieser Vorteile findet sich die qNMR bislang nur vereinzelt in Normen und Standardverfahren wieder. Zahlreiche Ringversuche in Metrologie und Industrie demonstrieren die Leistungsfähigkeit moderner NMR-Spektrometer und stärken das Vertrauen in die Methode. Die Entwicklung von Validierungskonzepten, sowie die kommerzielle Verfügbarkeit geeigneter zertifizierter Referenzmaterialien erleichtern die Anwendung, insbesondere im zumeist stark regulierten industriellen Umfeld.
Neben etablierten Hochfeld-NMR Spektrometern hat sich in den letzten Jahren ein stark wachsender Markt für kompakte Benchtop-NMR Geräte auf Permanentmagnetbasis entwickelt. Die geringeren Anschaffungs- und Betriebskosten, sowie die einfache Bedienbarkeit erlaubt es auch kleineren Unternehmen in diese Analysenmethode einzusteigen. Weiterhin besteht die Möglichkeit diese mobilen Systeme näher an die Produktion zu bringen, welches von der klassischen Qualitätskontrolle bis hin zur Online-Prozesskontrolle als vollautomatisierter Analysator reicht. Die geringere Feldstärke der Systeme erfordert hier oft den Einsatz modellbasierter Ansätze zur Spektrenauswertung (z.B. Indirect Hard Modeling).
Dieser Beitrag gibt eine Übersicht über aktuelle Anwendungen und Entwicklungen der qNMR von der universellen, hochgenauen Labormethode bis hin zur robusten Anwendung als Online-Analysator im Feld.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Within the Working Group on Inorganic Analysis (IAWG) of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) international key comparisons and pilot studies related to inorganic analysis are carried to ensure consistency in this field at the highest level. Some of these comparisons deal directly with the preparation and characterization of monoelemental solutions or with topics, closely related. The importance of monoelemental solutions lies in the fact that almost every measurement in inorganic analysis relies on the comparison with either a reference material, or references in form of solutions, usually (mono)elemental solutions. All quantitative measurement approaches, e.g. isotope dilution or standard addition, need an accurate reference solution made from a well characterized reference material, prepared under full gravimetric control. These primary (monoelemental) solutions do not only serve as arbitrary references/calibration solutions, but they also link up measurement results to the International System of units (SI), this way establishing the so-called metrological traceability to a measurement unit of the SI. Without such solutions on the highest possible level of accuracy and with the smallest possible associated uncertainties (for e.g. element content and/or impurities), an analysis itself can never be as good as it could be with appropriate reference solutions. This article highlights select key comparisons and pilot studies dealing with monoelemental solution related topics within the IAWG from the foundation of CCQM – 25 years ago – up to latest achievements in the field of inorganic analysis.
Die metallischen Verunreinigungen in Metallen lassen sich mittels hochauflösender Massenspektrometer relativ einfach ermitteln. Die Glimmentladungs-Massenspektrometrie (GD-MS) stellt hierfür eine schnelle Multielementmethode dar. Aufgrund ihrer höheren Anregungs- und Ionisationsenergien ist die Bestimmung von Nichtmetallen eine weit größere Herausforderung. Außerdem fehlt es an für die direkte Feststofftechnik notwendigen Kalibrierstandards z.B. in Form zertifizierter Referenzmaterialien. Für die quantitative Bestimmung von Verunreinigungen wurden mit Standards dotierte Pulverpresslinge und dotierte, gesinterte Materialien auf ihre Eignung als Kalibrierstandards für die GD-MS untersucht. Dabei kamen unterschiedliche Plasmabedingungen (gepulster/ kontinuierlicher Betrieb; verschiedene Plasmagase) zum Einsatz. Ein Überblick über analytische Kenngrößen und Grenzen der verwendeten Kalibrierstrategien wird gegeben. Zur Validierung des Verfahrens wurde die hochauflösende Continuum Source Absorptionsspektrometrie (HR-CS-MAAS) verwendet. Die analytische Nutzung der Molekül-absorptionsspektrometrie zur Bestimmung von Halogenen basiert auf der Bildung insitu-generierter zweiatomiger Moleküle (AlCl, GaF). Die entstehenden Molekülspektren werden im Echelle-Spektrometer aufgespalten und mittels CCD-Array detektiert, was eine sehr empfindliche Messung und präzise Quantifizierung ermöglicht.
In recent years, elemental imaging of biological samples like tissue thin sections using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is gaining more and more importance. Improvements concerning spatial resolution as well as signal-to-background ratio due to low-dispersion sample chambers make LA-ICP-MS also interesting for single cell analysis.
To evaluate the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with cells LA-ICP-MS was applied for the imaging of individual cells. Our findings show, that NP aggregates can be localized within cellular compartments. The uptake efficiency depends strongly on the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructures (size, chemical composition, surface modification), as well as on the incubation conditions (concentration, time).
Moreover, LA-ICP-MS is increasingly becoming an important complementary technique in bioanalysis by using element-tagging strategies to determine biomolecules indirectly. Based on the specific binding between antibodies and their corresponding antigens, proteins and peptides can be detected in tissue or cells using tagged antibodies. As artificial tags metal chelates loaded with lanthanides, polymer-based elemental tags or metal-containing nanoparticles can be used. Thereby LA-ICP-MS is a sensitive detection tool for multiplexed immuno-histochemistry of tissue and cell samples.
Our results demonstrate the potential of LA-ICP-MS to investigate the distribution of naturally occurring elements, administered agents as well as biomolecules by using metal-tagged antibodies.
In den vergangen Jahren hat das Umweltbewusstsein in der Bevölkerung stark zugenommen und somit auch das Interesse an der Vermeidung von anthropogenen (Schad-)Stoffen in der Umwelt. Eine (neue) Substanzklasse, deren Umweltauswirkungen noch nicht vollständig untersucht sind und die in den vergangenen Jahren immer mehr an Bedeutung gewonnen hat, sind (metallbasierte) Nanomaterialien. Im Gegensatz zu bspw. Elementspezies weisen Nanomaterialien eine Vielzahl von Eigenschaften auf und lassen sich nicht über nur ein Merkmal beschreiben - dies stellt eine große analytische Herausforderung dar. Hier haben sich vor allem die Feld-Fluss-Fraktionierung (AF4) und die single-particle-ICP-MS als leistungsstarke analytische Methoden herausgestellt. In (aquatischen) Umweltmatrizes (z.B. Oberflächengewässern) liegen neben artifiziellen auch natürliche Partikel vor, was eine weitere große Herausforderung für den Nachweis von Nanomaterialien darstellt.
Neben dem Nachweis von anthropogenen Stoffen in der Umwelt ist zudem deren ökotoxikologische Bewertung wichtig. In der aquatischen Ökotoxikologie werden hierzu Testorganismen mit den jeweiligen Substanzen über die Wasserphase exponiert. Effektkonzentrationen (EC50) werden dabei auf Basis der Konzentrationen in der Wasserphase abgeleitet - tatsächlich bioakkumulierte Mengen werden hierbei jedoch meist nicht ermittelt; eine weitere große Herausforderung besteht zudem in der Bewertung von Mischungstoxizitäten. Gängige Testorganismen sind u.a. Kieselalgen (Diatomeen). Diatomeen stehen am Anfang der Nahrungskette - toxikologisch relevante Metalle/Nanomaterialien können sich hierüber im Nahrungsnetz der Oberflächengewässer anreichern und ggf. nachhaltig auswirken.
Im ersten Teil des Vortrages werden zunächst neue elementanalytische Methoden zum Nachweis von metallbasierten Nanopartikeln in Umweltmatrizes auf Basis der AF4/ICP-SFMS sowie stabilen Isotopenlabeln am Beispiel von Eisennanopartikeln vorgestellt.
Im zweiten Teil wird eine neue elementanalytische Methode als komplementäre Technik zur ökotoxikologischen Bewertung von (Schad-)Stoffen vorgestellt. Die neue Methode basiert auf der on-line Kopplung von HPLC mit der single-cell-ICP-(ToF)-MS (sc-ICP-(ToF)-MS) [1, 3-5]. Hierüber konnten wir erfolgreich die automatisierte Multielementanalytik einzelner Diatomeen realisieren und zur Analyse von mit Metallen inkubierten Diatomeen (cyclotella meneghiniana) einsetzen. Wir konnten zeigen, dass die sc-ICP-ToF-MS zukünftig eine leistungsstarke, komplementäre Technik in der aquatischen Ökotoxikologie zum z.B. Test von Metallen und Nanomaterialien darstellt.
Elementanalytische Verfahren werden heute zu mehr eingesetzt als bloß zur Bestimmung von Metallgesamtgehalten in diversen Probenmatrizes. Sie stellen heute ein wichtiges Werkzeug zur Beantwortung lebenswissenschaftlicher Fragen aus Umwelt, Medizin und Biologie dar. In der vorliegenden Arbeit kommt die single-cell-ICP-Flugzeitmassenspektrometrie (single-cell-ICP-TOF-MS) zur Multielementanalytik in einzelnen Kieselalgen (Diatomeen) zum Einsatz und wird zukünftig ein wichtiges Werkzeug z.B. bei der Beantwortung
ökotoxikologischer Fragestellung sein.
Monitoring programs should generate high-quality data on the concentrations of substances and other pollutants in the aquatic environment to enable reliable risk assessment. Furthermore, the need for comparability over space and time is critical for analysis of trends and evaluation of restoration of natural environment. Additionally, research work and exercises at the European level have highlighted that reliable measurements of estrogenic substances at the PNEC level are still challenging to achieve. The project EDC-WFD “Metrology for monitoring endocrine disrupting compounds under the EU Water Framework Directive” aims to develop traceable analytical methods for determining endocrine disrupting compounds and their effects, with a specific focus on three estrogens of the first watch list (17-beta-estradiol (17βE2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estrone (E1)). Estrogens 17-alpha-estradiol (17aE2) and estriol (E3) will be included to demonstrate the reliability of the developed methods - Mass Spectrometry based method and effect-based methods (EBM) - and to support the requirements of Directive 2013/39/EC, Directive 2009/90/EC and Commission Implementation Decision (EU) 2018/840, hence improving the comparability and compatibility of measurement results within Europe. During the EDC-WFD project four EBM will be deeply investigated in order to improve their rationale use and their support in water quality assessment.
Monitoring programs should generate high-quality data on the concentrations of substances and other pollutants in the aquatic environment to enable reliable risk assessment. Furthermore, the need for comparability over space and time is critical for analysis of trends and evaluation of restoration of natural environment. Additionally, research work and exercises at the European level have highlighted that reliable measurements of estrogenic substances at the PNEC level are still challenging to achieve. The project EDC-WFD “Metrology for monitoring endocrine disrupting compounds under the EU Water Framework Directive” aims to develop traceable analytical methods for determining endocrine disrupting compounds and their effects, with a specific focus on three estrogens of the first watch list (17-beta-estradiol (17βE2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estrone (E1)). Estrogens 17-alpha-estradiol (17aE2) and estriol (E3) will be included to demonstrate the reliability of the developed methods - Mass Spectrometry based method and effect-based methods (EBM) - and to support the requirements of Directive 2013/39/EC, Directive 2009/90/EC and Commission Implementation Decision (EU) 2018/840, hence improving the comparability and compatibility of measurement results within Europe. During the EDC-WFD project four EBM will be deeply investigated in order to improve their rationale use and their support in water quality assessment.
Monitoring programs should generate high-quality data on the concentrations of substances and other pollutants in the aquatic environment to enable reliable risk assessment. Furthermore, the need for comparability over space and time is critical for analysis of trends and evaluation of restoration of natural environment. Additionally, research work and exercises at the European level have highlighted that reliable measurements of estrogenic substances at the PNEC level are still challenging to achieve. The project EDC-WFD “Metrology for monitoring endocrine disrupting compounds under the EU Water Framework Directive” aims to develop traceable analytical methods for determining endocrine disrupting compounds and their effects, with a specific focus on three estrogens of the first watch list (17-beta-estradiol (17βE2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estrone (E1)). Estrogens 17-alpha-estradiol (17aE2) and estriol (E3) will be included to demonstrate the reliability of the developed methods - Mass Spectrometry based method and effect-based methods (EBM) - and to support the requirements of Directive 2013/39/EC, Directive 2009/90/EC and Commission Implementation Decision (EU) 2018/840, hence improving the comparability and compatibility of measurement results within Europe. During the EDC-WFD project four EBM will be deeply investigated in order to improve their rationale use and their support in water quality assessment.
The knowledge of transformation pathways and identification of transformation products (TPs) of veterinary drugs is important for health, food and environmental matters. Monensin (MON) is an ionophore antibiotic widely used to cure and prevent coccidiosis by chicken especially in broiler farming. Residues are not only found in food products (chicken and eggs) but also in the environment (manure, soil or water). Several transformation processes can alter the parent compound MON, ranging from biotransformation in living organism to biotic/abiotic and microbial processes in environmental matters.
The main objective of this work was to investigate the potential of electrochemistry (EC) to simulate oxidative transformation processes and to predict TPs of MON. An electrochemical reactor was used consisting of a flow-through cell with a glassy carbon working electrode. Derived TPs were analyzed by online coupling of EC and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and LC-HRMS offline measurements. Among the generated TPs already known as well as unknown TPs of MON could be found.
Additionally, MON was subjected also to other transformation methods such as Fenton reaction, photochemical and hydrolysis experiments as well as metabolism tests with microsomes. As a result, different targeted and suspected TPs could be identified by analysis with LC-HRMS.
An overview of detected/identified TPs from this study will be presented in comparison to literature known metabolites and TPs.
Carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE) is a commonly applied technique for determination of hydrogen in weld joints using a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for hydrogen measurement. The CGHE is based on the accelerated hydrogen effusion due to thermal activation at elevated temperatures. The ISO 3690 standard suggests different specimen geometries as well as necessary minimum extraction time vs. temperature. They have the biggest influence on precise hydrogen determination. The present study summarizes the results and experience of numerous test runs with different specimen temperatures, geometries (ISO 3690 type B and small cylindrical samples), and factors that additionally influence hydrogen determination. They are namely specimen surface (polished/as-welded), limited TCD sensitivity vs. specimen volume, temperature measurement vs. effects of PI-furnace controller, as well as errors due to insufficient data assessment. Summarized, the temperature is the driving force of the CGHE. Two different methods are suggested to increase the heating rate up to the desired extraction temperature without changing the experimental equipment. Suggestions are made to improve the reliability of hydrogen determination depended on the hydrogen signal stability during extraction accompanied by Evaluation of the recorded data. Generally, independent temperature measurement with dummy specimens is useful for further data analysis, especially if this data is used for calculation of trapping kinetics by thermal desorption analysis (TDA).
Digital holographic cytometry (DHC) is a state-of-the-art quantitative Phase imaging (QPI) method that permits time-lapse imaging of cells without induced cellular toxicity. DHC platforms equipped with semi-automated image segmentation and analysis software packages for assessing cell behavior are commercially available. In this study we investigate the possible uptake of nanoprobes in macrophages in vitro over time.
Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is nowadays an established multi-elemental analysis and mapping technique. It was shown that LA-ICP-MS can visualize the elemental distribution within tissue thin sections or cell samples. Quantification is possible by using appropriate matrix-matched calibration samples. Besides naturally occurring elements and metals from contrast agents, biomolecules using metal-tagged antibodies were detected in different bio-medical samples. By combining the results with findings from histology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other techniques disease related changes like alterations of the extracellular matrix can be investigated.
Single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS) has become an effective tool for the detection and quantification of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). While sizing of NPs suspended in water is relatively straightforward by sp-ICP-MS, accurate mass quantification of NPs in complex media, such as consumer products and natural systems still remains a challenge. When NPs are suspended in a complex medium, the matrix may affect the analyte sensitivity and lead to inaccurate NP sizing. Here, we investigate the use of an online microdroplet calibration system to size NPs in a single step. In this setup, microdroplets—which are used as the calibrant to determine elemental sensitivities—and nebulized NP-containing solutions are introduced concurrently into the ICP via a dual-inlet sample introduction system. Because calibrant microdroplets and analyte NPs experience the same plasma conditions, both the microdroplets and the NPs are subjected to the same matrix-related signal enhancement or suppression. In this way, the microdroplet calibration standards are automatically matrix matched with the NP-containing solution. The online microdroplet calibration system is combined with an ICP-TOFMS instrument for simultaneous measurement of multiple elements in microdroplets and NPs. We investigate the ability of online microdroplet calibration to compensate for matrix effects through a series of experiments, in which Ag and Au NPs are measured with variable plasma-sampling positions, varying concentrations of HCl and HNO3, varying concentrations of single element solutions, and high concentrations of a salt matrix, i.e. phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Through these experiments, we demonstrate that the online microdroplet calibration strategy provides a matrix-independent mass quantification of analyte NPs in the presence of several established types of matrix effects, including acid effects, space-charge effects, and ionisation suppression. In results presented here, we focus on the size determination of the NPs.
1,3,5-Tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione (TDBP-TAZTO) is an emerging brominated flame retardant which is widely used in several plastic materials (electric and electronic equipment, musical instruments, automotive components).
However, until today, no photochemical studies as well as the identification of possible phototransformation products (PTPs) were described in literature. Therefore, in this study, UV-(C) and simulated sunlight irradiation experiments were performed to investigate the photolytic degradation of TDBP-TAZTO and to identify relevant PTPs for the first time. The UV-(C) Irradiation experiments show that the photolysis reaction follows a first-order kinetic model. Based on this, the photolysis rate constant k as well as the half-life time t1/2 were calculated to be k = (41 ± 5 ×10−3) min−1 and t1/2=(17±2) min. In comparison, a minor degradation of TDBP-TAZTO and no formed phototransformation products were obtained under simulated sunlight. In order to clarify the photochemical behavior, different chemicals were added to investigate the influence on indirect photolysis: (i) H2O2 for generation of hydroxyl radicals and (ii) two quenchers (2-propanol, sodium azide) for scavenging oxygen species which were formed during the irradiation experiments. Herein, nine previously unknown PTPs of TDBP-TAZTO were detected under UV-(C) irradiation and identified by HPLC-(HR)MS. As a result, debromination, hydroxylation, and dehydrobromination reactions could be presumed as the main degradation pathways by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The direct as well as the OH radical-induced indirect photolysis were observed.
Mykotoxine in Lebensmitteln stellen weltweit Probleme dar, Zearalenon in Speiseöl ist ein solches. Neue Hydrazinbasierte Analyseverfahren können jetzt helfen, den EU-Grenzwert besser zu kontrollieren. Aber auch die Strukturaufklärung von Transformationsprodukten und verlässliche Kalibrierstandards sind aktuelle Herausforderungen.
We have efficiently produced collagen-rich microstructures in fibroblast multicellular spheroids (MCSs) as a three-dimensional in vitro tissue analog to investigate silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) penetration. The MCS production was examined by changing the seeding cell number (500 to 40,000 cells) and the growth period (1 to 10 days). MCSs were incubated with Ag NP suspensions with a concentration of 5 μg/mL for 24 h. For this study, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to visualize Ag NP localization quantitatively. Thin sections of MCSs were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS with a laser spot size of 8 μm to image distributions of 109Ag, 31P, 63Cu, 66Zn, and 79Br. A calibration using a NP suspension was applied to convert the measured Ag intensity into the number of NPs present. The determined numbers of NPs ranged from 30 to 7200 particles in an outer rim of MCS. The particle distribution was clearly correlated with the presence of 31P and 66Zn and was localized in the outer rim of proliferating cells with a width that was equal to about twice the diameter of single cells. Moreover, abundant collagens were found in the outer rim of MCSs. For only the highest seeding cell number, NPs were completely captured at the outer rim, in a natural barrier reducing particle transport, whereas Eosin (79Br) used as a probe of small molecules penetrated into the core of MCSs already after 1 min of exposure.
Plasmas as atomization and ionization/excitation sources have been used for more than 50 years. The term plasma spectrochemistry was introduced in the 1980s and is nowadays a topic of annual reviews and different conferences such as the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry (held in USA), the European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, and The Nordic conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry.
The development of advanced materials is inherently connected with improvements in analytical chemistry, and often is the driving force for method development in plasma-based spectrometry. Besides the determination of physical characteristics such as tensile strength, density, and conductivity, the investigation of their chemical constituents down to the trace and ultra-trace levels becomes more and more important and, therefore, the demand of sensitive and precise analytical methods is growing. In some cases, the determination of the average content is a sufficient result, for instance for the characterisation of raw material or waste management. However, lately laterally resolved analysis, depth profiling of layered materials and characterization of high purity materials are of growing importance. The aim of this article is to give an introduction into plasma spectrometry and its application in materials science. A theoretical overview of the used plasma techniques and a review on applications with a special focus on direct solid sampling will be presented.
The performance of glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS) is investigated for the accurate quantification of metallic impurities and oxygen in solid samples using the fast flow source GD-MS instrument ELEMENT GD.
Different quantification approaches based on relative and absolute sensitivity factors are evaluated for the determination of metallic impurities using three sample matrixes (Al, Cu and Zn). The effect of the discharge conditions (voltage, current, discharge gas pressure/flow) on the sensitivity is investigated and the parameters are optimized to favour matrix independent calibrations. Improved standard relative sensitivity factors (StdRSFs) are calculated under optimal conditions based on multi-matrix calibrations. The sputtering rate corrected calibration is also presented as a multi-matrix calibration approach.
The capabilities of GD-MS for oxygen determination are also investigated using a set of new conductive samples containing oxygen with mass fractions in the percent range in three different matrices (Al, Mg and Cu) produced by a sintering process. Poor limits of detection (in the order of g/kg) were obtained as consequence of the reduced sensitivity of oxygen in GD-MS and high oxygen background signal intensity as well as its variations. The absolute sensitivity procedure is shown as a matrix-independent approach, which provides quantitative values consistent with those obtained by carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE).
Elemental impurities (EI) in medicinal products for human use are limited according to ICH guideline Q3D, which is in force since December 2017 in Europe and US.
As a consequenceconsequence, the relevant texts of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) have been modified to reflect and complement ICH Q3D, providing details on the analytical methods to be used. In those chapters (Ph. Eur. 2.4.20., USP <233>), it is stated that for the quantification of elemental impurities, certified reference materials (CRM) from a national metrology institute (NMI) or reference materials that are traceable to the CRM of an NMI should be used.
The Ph. Eur. has so far implemented elemental impurity standards of this type for the four most important elemental impurities i.e. those corresponding to ICH Q3D Class 1: lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.
The poster provides details on the development of those four reference standards, which was undertaken in partnership with a major institute accredited CRM producer (JRC, European Commission), and a national metrology institute (BAM and PTB, Germany), and a Designated Institute and accredited CRM producer (BAM, Germany). The reference standards were established and characterised according to rigorous metrological principles and are supplied with extended supporting information as required for the intended use.
After successful completion of the project, the four reference standards have been added to the Ph.Eur. catalogue and are in distribution. It is expected that another three elemental impurity standards will be implemented and made available to users within the next three years.
Shortly after founding the CCQM in 1993, the first key comparison (CCQM-K2) about the determination of Cd and Pb content in river water was hosted by IRMM. It has been clear from the beginning that for the determination of an element mass fraction in a matrix, accurate reference solutions would be the key point for a metrologically sound analysis. Triggered by the not entirely satisfactory results it was decided to investigate the basis of all measurements: the reference solutions. Thus in 1999, CCQM-K8, hosted by EMPA/LNE, started the tedious but indispensable work on elemental solutions standards.
Additionally, PTB, BAM and Merck KGaA initiated a project to establish a traceability system for inorganic analysis based on accurate monoelemental solutions. Within this unique approach ten high purity reference materials were fully characterized, and solutions were prepared gravimetrically thereof. These materials (forming the primary standards of elemental analysis) are available for NMIs/DIs from BAM.
CCQM-P46 (Cu, Mg, Rh) demonstrated the actuality of the topic and the challenges to prepare elemental solutions for every element. The accurate preparation and use of monoelemental solutions is consequently reflected in the recurrent conduct of (key) comparisons: CCQM-P149 (purity of zinc), CCQM-K87 (Co, Cr, Pb), and the current CCQM-K143/P181 (Cu solutions), to name only a few in a long series.
Is it necessary to put so much effort into the preparation of reference solutions? It clearly is! An example outside the world of academia: Recently, EDQM*, PTB, BAM and JRC have developed monoelemental reference standards traceable to the SI for toxic elements in support of the chapters of the European Pharmacopoeia, related to the analysis of elemental impurities in medicinal products. A new ICP OES method has been established allowing the comparison of two 1 g/kg mercury solutions with an outstandingly small uncertainty of Urel(w(Hg)) = 0.16 %. However, this technical progress would not have been possible without the ongoing effort of the metrological community within 25 years of research in the field of high accuracy monoelemental solutions.
* EDQM: European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare
Since cereals constitute a staple food worldwide, monitoring of growth, storage and processing represent a perseverative challenge of analytical sciences. Especially during storage infested grains breed fungal clusters (“hot spots”) in which mycotoxins accumulate and can highly exceed allowed maximum levels. Because of their unpredictable presence, analytical procedures – including representative sampling - contain invasive and time intensive steps.
To avoid erroneously negative results in mycotoxin analysis in cereals, the samples´ homogeneous headspace might be investigated instead of analyzing subsamples of the grains. So-called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC´s) provide information for instance about the fungal status of grains. Previous investigations revealed trichodiene to be a precursor of trichothecene mycotoxins which comprises more than 180 different compounds. Due to its non-functionalised sesquiterpene structure, quantification of trichodiene using Headspace GC-MS methods is possible. Thereby, it could be used as biomarker for trichothecene contamination of cereals.
Nevertheless, further investigations are necessary. To be able to draw conclusion about the trichothecene content in cereal samples, a possible correlation between trichodiene concentration in the gas phase and trichothecene concentration in the sample must be examined. Realizing this idea would widely extend the applicability of trichodiene and enormously simplify trichothecene detection. Hence, the first step of an ongoing study aims to develop a laboratory reference method using trichodiene as volatile biomarker to quantify trichothecenes in cereals. Both static headspace and SPME-enrichment coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were tested and compared. In a second step, this reference method is intended to validate new approaches for fast on-site screening of trichodiene in cereals.
Ball mass is an important parameter that is known to have an influence on the outcome of a mechanochemical reaction induced by ball-milling. A standard way of modifying the ball mass is to change the size of the ball made of the same material. In this case, however, a change in mass is accompanied by a simulatneous change in the ball size. It is therefore not possible to disentangle the effects of mass and Surface area in these cases. In the present work we report the results of experiments with specially designed and manufactured balls in which (1) milling ball mass is held constant, but their size differs, and (2) the ball mass is altered, with the diameter of the milling ball being held constant. Using the cocrystallisation of theophylline + nicotinamide as a case study it was found that both diameter and ball mass play crucial roles in determining the rate of a mechanochemical reaction. For comparison, we have also used milling balls with the same size (different mass), and others with the same mass (different size) made of different materials, as would be “traditional”. It was found that, despite having the same size, the lightest milling ball (nylon) was the most efficient in initiating the co-crystallisation, presumably due to the sorption of EtOH. Hence, the results of this manuscript also demonstrate how milling ball material can in fact be the most influential parameter, and potentially counterintuitive to classical mechanics.
Regardless of its ban in agricultural use, the triazine derivative terbutryn is still used as a biocide against biofouling in building materials, such as façade colors and roof tiles. From there, it is washed off and may contaminate soil and surface waters, where it shows ecotoxicological behavior. For understanding of these leaching processes, analytical methods that can detect terbutryn in traces are necessary. In contrast to separation methods (Gas (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC)) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) have proven to be adequate tools for environmental monitoring. Compared to GC-or LC-MS, they are cheap, require only limited time and experimental expertise and enable high throughput. For quantification of terbutryn, EIAs have been established, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 50 ng L-1. For leaching experiments however, a lower LOD would be advantageous.
For detection of terbutryn we developed a direct competitive ELISA based on a monoclonal antibody: Terbutryn and an enzyme-terbutryn conjugate (“tracer”) compete for the binding sites of the immobilized antibody. The bound tracer converts a colourless substrate into a blue-coloured product, which can be detected via spectrophotometry. For quantification of terbutryn, a sigmoidal calibration curve is used. For establishing of the EIA, a new tracer based on a terbutryn surrogate (“hapten”) was synthesized. After optimization of the experimental conditions, the immunoassay exhibited a more than ten-fold increased sensitivity (LOD: 3 ng L-1), high stability against sample compounds (Ca2+, NaCl) and lower cross-reactivities against structurally related compounds, than reported before. Analysis of spiked samples was possible with high precision (inter-assay CV: < 10 %) and accuracy (recoveries from spiked samples: 89 % ± 10%). We therefore propose it as quick and reliable method for leaching studies of terbutryn out of building materials.
Screening of one-bead-one-peptide libraries is a powerful analytical tool for the identification of protein ligands. However, the traditional peptide screening procedure involves tedious steps such as manual selection, sequencing, and characterization. We present a high-throughput “all in one chip” system, allowing the screening of a high number of resin beads in short time. Here, beads of a combinatorial one-bead one compound peptide library are immobilized on an in-house produced chip, on which every bead has a well-defined position. The chip is then incubated with a fluorophore-labeled protein, identifying suitable peptides by a high-resolution fluorescence scan. The screening is followed by MALDI-MS experiments directly on the respective glass chip. To circumvent the need for peptide fragmentation normally used for peptide de novo sequencing, which can result in incomplete sequence information, an approach based on ladder sequencing has been used. This allows the peptide sequence identification by fragmentation-free MS with almost 100 % accuracy. For this purpose, a software tool was developed automatically translating MALDI-MS spectra into the corresponding peptide sequences.
Increasing numbers of implant revisions are a current clinical issue. Interactions of the endoprosthesis biomaterial with the body affect implantation time by wear processes, i.e. corrosion and abrasion. Previously, cobalt-chrome implants were shown to cause high levels of cobalt ions being deposited in the bone matrix. To determine a poten- tial functional role of these ions on bone homeostasis, we have developed a non-destructive dual analysis of highly sensitive elemental analysis by synchrotron XRF directly in undecalcified histological bone thin sections (4 μm). In this study, samples from 28 bone samples from hip endoprosthesis carriers (Surface Replacement Arthroplasty, metal-on-metal bearing) with an implant lifetime of 17–1750 days were used. Results were compared to age- matched control specimens. The histological analysis identified areas of bone cell activity and assigned them for XRF measurements. Co-Cr wear particles were identified in the bone marrow. In addition, Co ions were highly enriched in the mineralized bone matrix. The cobalt deposits were not homogeneously distributed, and areas of high signal intensity were identified. Co was distinctly deposited in the newly formed osteoid layer, but also within deeper layers of the bone matrix, whereby the Co concentration increased with higher degrees of bone matrix mineralization. In the current study, we determined cobalt accumulations in the bone matrix and showed for the first time via synchrotron XRF with a high spatial resolution direct on histological slides, that cobalt deposits in the mineralized bone matrix in a mineral-specific way that is dependent upon the implant lifetime.
We present the optical sensing of phthalate Esters (PAEs), a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The sensing takes place as changes in the fluorescence emission intensity of aminopyrene covalently bound to the organic ligands of the metal−organic framework compound ZIF-8. In the presence of PAEs, a quenching of the fluorescence emission is observed. We evaluated strategies to engineer colloidal size distribution of the sensing particles to optimize the sensory response to PAEs. A thorough characterization of the modified ZIF-8 nanoparticles included powder X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and photophysical characterization. The presented capability of the fluorophore-functionalized ZIF-8 to sense PAEs complements established methods such as chromatography-based procedures, which cannot be used on-site and paves the way for future developments such as hand-held quick sensing devices.
The primary screening of hybridoma cells is a time-critical and laborious step during the development of monoclonal antibodies. Often critical errors occur in this phase, which supports the notion that the generation of monoclonal antibodies with hybridoma technology is difficult to control and hence a risky venture. We think that it is crucial to improve the screening process to eliminate most of the immanent deficits of the conventional approach. With this new microarray-based procedure, several advances could be achieved: Selectivity for excellent binders, high throughput, reproducible signals, avoidance of misleading avidity (multivalency) effects, and simultaneous performance of competition experiments. The latter can directly be used to select clones of desired cross-reactivity properties. In this paper, a model system with two excellent clones against carbamazepine, two weak clones and blank supernatant has been designed to examine the effectiveness of the new system. The excellent clones could be detected largely independent of the IgG concentration, which is unknown during the clone screening since the determination and subsequent adjustment of the antibody concentration is not possible in most cases. Furthermore, in this approach, the enrichment, isolation, and purification of IgG for characterization is not necessary. Raw cell culture supernatant can be used directly, even when fetal calf serum (FCS) or other complex media had been used. In addition, an improved method for the oriented antibody-immobilization on epoxy-silanized slides is presented. Based on the results of this model system, we conclude that this approach should be preferable to most other protocols leading to many of false positives, causing expensive and lengthy confirmation steps to weed out the poor clones.
Spatial heterodyne spectroscopy (SHS) is an optical setup that combines both dispersive and interference based methods to obtain spectroscopic information. It has the high light throughput characteristic for interference based methods, but at the same time it has the high resolution typical of grated spectrometers. The basic SHS optical setup is similar to that of the Michelson interferometer, with the mirrors replaced by diffraction gratings positioned at fixed, equal distances from the beamsplitter and are slightly tilted. The resulting interference pattern is recorded by a digital camera and the spectrum is recovered by using Fourier Transformation. Although initially SHS was developed for astronomical and satellite-based atmospheric measurements, where spectroscopy of faint but large light sources are investigated, but in recent years the application of SHS spectroscopy is gaining popularity.
Our research group is active both in Raman-SHS and LIBS-SHS, due to the fact that there are many overlapping challenges for the two spectroscopies in terms of optical and optoelectronic optimization. In the present study, we investigated the possibility of using SH detection for the qualitative and quantitative Raman spectroscopy of liquid samples. We constructed our own compact spatial heterodyne spectrometer using 300 mm-1 gratings (Newport), a 50:50 cube beamsplitter (Thorlabs), dischroic mirrors, bandpass and notch filters (Semrock), a Tamron telelens and a Retiga R1 CCD camera. A DPSS laser (532 nm, 20 ns) with variable energy and repetition rate (up to 100 µJ and 80 kHz) was used for excitation, with its beam driven through a 10x microscope objective (Thorlabs) to focus the laser light inside the liquid samples. The evaluation of the recorded interference patterns was carried out by self-developed software written in Octave.
In the qualitative experiments, we investigated several oils and additives and employed principal component analysis (PCA) for their classification. It was found that the recorded spectra could be separated well in the subspace of just two principal components. The quantitative experiments were conducted with two sets of binary solvent mixtures (isopropanol-cyclohexane, glycerol-water). The simple univariate method based on the net intensity of one spectral peak did not give good results, but principal component regression (PCR) gave rise to fairly good and robust calibrations.
Our results therefore show that a relatively simple and robust SHS setup can be advantageously used for both quantitative and qualitative Raman spectroscopy.
High purity halides of III-VI group elements, especially chloride and fluorides, are used in gas phase technologies for obtaining high purity materials and coatings. The reduction of halides in hydrogen-halide mixtures can be achieved in various discharge plasmas, e.g. inductively coupled, ark, and even laser-induced plasmas. Existing models of such plasmas are not sufficiently accurate to predict a yield of the targeted compounds and to describe the plasma processes involved in formation of these compounds. Besides, a construction of costly plasma-chemical reactors can be alleviated by the prior modeling of plasma processes that may occur in such reactors.
A goal of this work is to extend the model, which was initially developed for laser induced Plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge Plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates.
It is found that the desired components B and B2 appear at appreciable concentrations of >0.1% and ~0.01% respectively only at temperatures above 3000 K. It is also established that the effect of charged species on the reaction products is miniscule for temperatures below 5000 K. The expected yield of boron as a function of the original mole fraction H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 is calculated. The mole fractions are varied in the range 0.1-1000 and the temperature in the range 1000-10000 K. It is shown that the yield of boron increases with increasing the molar ratio H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 up to ~100 in the temperature range 2000-5000 K. At higher temperatures, T>5000 K, the boron concentration reaches its maximum and does not depend on the concentration of hydrogen; all molecules dissociate and chemical reactions proceed only between charged particles (mostly elemental ions) and electrons. The calculated plasma parameters and composition are compared with experimental data obtained by optical emission spectroscopy. The calculated plasma temperature and electron density are shown to be in good agreement with the measured ones.
A goal of this work is to extend the model, which was initially developed for laser induced plasmas, to plasmas used in chemical reactors, in particular, the inductively-coupled-RF discharge plasma. The model predicts equilibrium chemical compositions of reaction mixtures as functions of plasma temperature and stoichiometry of reactants. The mixtures investigated are BCl3/H2/Ar and BF3/H2/Ar where Ar serves as the plasma-forming gas and H2 as a binding agent which binds the active species Cl and F and Cl- and F-containing intermediates to produce gaseous B and its condensate. An additional goal is to obtain information about intermediate reaction products for different ratios of BCl3/H2 and BF3/H2 and at different temperatures and different Ar flow rates.
It is found that the desired components B and B2 appear at appreciable concentrations of >0.1% and ~0.01% respectively only at temperatures above 3000 K. It is also established that the effect of charged species on the reaction products is miniscule for temperatures below 5000 K. The expected yield of boron as a function of the original mole fraction H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 is calculated. The mole fractions are varied in the range 0.1-1000 and the temperature in the range 1000-10000 K. It is shown that the yield of boron increases with increasing the molar ratio H2/BCl3 and H2/BF3 up to ~100 in the temperature range 2000-5000 K. At higher temperatures, T>5000 K, the boron concentration reaches its maximum and does not depend on the concentration of hydrogen; all molecules dissociate and chemical reactions proceed only between charged particles (mostly elemental ions) and electrons. The calculated plasma parameters and composition are compared with experimental data obtained by optical emission spectroscopy. The calculated plasma temperature and electron density are shown to be in good agreement with the measured ones.