Automatic ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating Techniques Using Multicollector ARGUS VI Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer with Self-Made Peripheral Apparatus

A new fully automatic ^40Ar/^39Ar laboratory with a Thermo Scientific ARGUS VI mass spectrometer has been established in China University of Geosciences （Wuhan）. We designed and developed a mini efficient preparation system （80 mL）, a CO2 laser for heating samples, a crusher for extracting fluid inclusions within K-poor minerals and an air reservoir （31 L） and pipette （0.1 mL） system. The ARGUS VI mass spectrometer is operated by the Qtegra Noble Gas software, which can control the peripheral accessories, such as pneumatic valves, CO2 laser and crusher through a PeriCon （peripheral controller）. The experimental procedures of atmospheric argon ana- lyses, ^40Ar/^39Ar dating by laser stepwise heating and by progressive crushing in vacuo, can be fully automatically performed. The weighted mean of atmospheric ^40Ar/^36Ar ratios is 302.22＋0.03 （1σ, MSWD=0.74, n=200）, indicating that air reservoir and pipette system and the whole instrument sys- tem are very stable. This laboratory is a successful pioneer example in China to establish a new no- ble gas laboratory with self-made peripheral accessories expect for the mass spectrometer.

Method for rapid on-site identification of VOCs

Rapid on-site identification of volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in ambient air is an important first step in remediation efforts. This study describes modification of a commercially available, portable GC/MS system and development of an analysis protocol for rapid （〈 3 min） sampling and identification of VOCs typically found at contaminated sites at the low ppbv level.

Genotoxic Effects of PAH Containing Sludge Extracts in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Cultures

Objective Many studies have been conducted in order to evaluate the genotoxicity of chemicals and waste materials, which utilized in vivo test protocols. The use of animals for routine toxicity testing is now questioned by a growing segment of society. Methods Keeping the above fact in mind, we have conducted in the present study the genotoxicity evaluation of oily sludge samples generated from a petroleum refinery and petrochemical industry and ETP sludge from petroleum refinery using DNA damage, chromosomal aberration, p53 protein induction and apoptosis in short term in vitro mammalian Chinese Hamster Ovary cell cultures. Results It is evident from the results that the oily sludge compounds derived from petroleum refinery and petrochemical industry could cause DNA damage, chromosomal aberration, p53 protein accumulation and apoptotic cell death on exposure to oily sludge extracts in the presence of metabolic activation system (S-9 mix), however, ETP sludge extract could not cause significant genotoxicity in comparison to oily sludge extract and negative control. Conclusion The effect may be attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in the samples as evidenced from GC-MS.

Protective Effect of Distillate and Redistillate of Cow’s Urine in Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Challenged With Established Genotoxic Chemicals

Objective From the ancient period cow’urine has been used as a medicine. In Veda, cow’urine was compared to the nectar. In Susrut, several medicinal properties of cow’ urine have been mentioned and are known to cause weight loss, reversal of certain cardiac and kidney problems, indigestion, stomach ache, edema, etc. However, the literature and scripture did not mention the antigenotoxic properties of cow’urine. Methods In the present investigation, the antigenotoxic/ antioxidant properties of cow’ urine distillate and redistillate were studied in vitro. The antioxidant status and volatile fatty acid levels were determined. Actinomycin-D (0.1ol/L) and hydrogen peroxide (150 mol/L) were used for inducing DNA strand break with 0.1% DMSO as negative control. Dose for the antigenotoxic effect of cow’ urine was chosen from the dose response study carried out earlier. Results Both actinomycin-D and H2O2 caused statistically significant DNA unwinding of 80% & 75% respectively (P<0.001) as revealed by fluorimetric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU), and the damage could be protected with the redistilled cow urine distillate (1, 50 & 100 ) in simultaneous treatment with genotoxic chemicals. Conclusion The redistillate of cowurine was found to possess total antioxidant status of around 2.6 mmol, contributed mainly by volatile fatty acids (1500 mg/L) as revealed by the GC-MS studies. These fatty acids and other antioxidants might cause the observed protective effects.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in surface sediment and bivalve from the Changjiang Estuary, China

Surface sediments and bivalves were collected from the Changjiang Estuary in December 2003 and November 2004, respectively. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in these samples were measured with high-resolution chromatography (HRGC)/High Resolution Mass Spectrometer (HRMS). The concentrations of total PCDD/Fs and toxic equivalent (TEQ) were 169.83±119.63 and 0.81±0.36 pg/g dry weight (dw) in sediments, and 580.33±240.17 and 7.24±3.65 pg/g dw in bivalves. The homolog compositions of PCDD/Fs were similar among samples, the most abundant congener was octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and then octa-chlorinated dibenzofuran (OCDF) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-hepta-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD). The herbicide pentachlorophenol (PCP) and sodium pentachlorophenol (Na-PCP) were proved the main source of PCDD/Fs in this area.

Study on the Aromatic Components of Green Plum Wine by HS-SPME-GC-MS

In order to better blend green plum wine and study aromatic components of green plum wine,a qualitative analysis on aromatic components of soaked base liquor,green plum soaked wine,green plum juice,and fermented wine of green plum juice by Head Space Solid-phase Microextraction( HS-SPME) and Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer( GC-MS) was studied in this paper. Experiment results indicated that14,32,17,and 46 kinds of aromatic components were identified respectively from four samples. Different aromatic components determined the special flavor and taste of green plum wine. Unique aromatic components generated in soaking process include benzaldehyde,1-butanol,2-methyl-,S-(-),benzoic acid ethyl ester,and 5-( hydroxymethyl). Special aromatic components in green plum juice were furfural,phenylethyl alcohol,and benzyl alcohol. The aromatic components in fermented wine of green plum juice mainly included phenylethyl alcohol( 6. 941%,relative content of peak area,same below),1-butanol,3-methyl-( 6. 940%),octanoic acid,ethyl ester( 3. 734%),decanoic acid,ethyl ester( 2. 590%),hexanoic acid,ethyl ester( 2. 479%),ethyl 9-decenoate( 2. 080%),and 5-hydroxymethyl( 1. 756%). This study was expected to provide scientific basis and data reference for quality improvement of green plum wine.

Oxidation of Lingwu Coal Extraction Residue in Aqueous Sodium Hypochlorite under Mild Conditions

To investigate the structural features and provide an alternative method for high value-added utilization of coal, Lingwu coal was first extracted with organic solvent at room temperature. Then its extraction residue was oxidized in aqueous sodium hypochlorite(ASHC) under mild conditions. The effects of oxidation conditions, such as temperature, reaction time, the ratio of Lingwu coal extraction residue(LCER, g) to ASHC(m L) and p H value, on the product distributions and compositions were investigated. The results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS) suggested that 53 kinds of methyl esterified products were detected in total, and benzene carboxylic acids were the main oxidation products, while chloro-substituted benzene carboxylic acids were the main by-products. Higher yield and fewer kinds of organic acids could be obtained at lower p H value, especially for the main objective product, benzene carboxylic acids.

Application of GC/EIMS in Combination with Semi-Empirical Calculations for Identification and Investigation of Some Volatile Components in Basil Essential Oil

Volatile components in the extracts of basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum L.) were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron ionization (EI) mode. The major volatile components of basil under investigation are α-pinene, sabinene, β-pinene, d-limonene, eucalyptol, l-linalool and estragole. Electron ionization mass spectra of these compounds have been obtained and investigated. Furthermore, the semi-empirical MNDO [Modified Neglect of Diatomic Overlap] method was used to calculate the thermochemical data for the structural properties of these compounds.