New method for speciation analysis of aluminium fluoride complexes by HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique.

Speciation analysis of aluminium in the presented system of HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique lasts 4min. Using the bifunctional column in model analysis and using the calculation methods for modelling using the Mineql program enabled the authors to presume that particular forms will be subjected to elution in the following order: (1) AlF(2)(+) and AlF(4)(-), (2) AlF(2+) and AlF(3)(0) and (3) Al(3+). Based on the obtained results for model solutions, the presented method enables the determination of aluminium fluoride complexes and Al(3+) speciation form. The study compares the tendency of occurrence variability of aluminium fluoride complexes and Al(3+) form, determined based on the results obtained using the HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique with the trend defined based on the Mineql program calculation method. The method was successfully applied to soil samples.

Vertical distribution of heavy metals in grain size fractions in sedimentary rocks: Mosina-Krajkowo water well field, Poland.

The paper presents the results of heavy metals determination in samples of sedimentary rocks from the Mosina-Krajkowo water well field (Poland). The concentration of heavy metals was analysed by type of rock (sand, gravel, warp, silt, till, and clay). Variation of heavy metal concentrations with depth was studied taking into account the age series of the rocks (fluvial sediments of the modern Warta River valley, sediments of the Baltic Glaciation, tills of the Middle-Polish Glaciation, sediments of the Masovian Interglacial (Holstein), tills of the Poznan series) and granulometric fractions. The grain sizes considered included: >2.0, 2.0-1.0, 1.0-0.5, 0.5-0.25, 0.25-0.1, 0.1-0.063, and <0.063 mm. The concentrations of the heavy metals studied were found to change with the type of rock, age series, and granulometric fraction. The levels of the metals were determined by the technique of atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomisation (F-AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

Application of multivariate statistical techniques to evaluation of water quality in the Mala Welna River (Western Poland).

The paper presents the results of determinations of physico-chemical parameters of the Mala Welna waters, a river situated in Wielkopolska voivodeship (Western Poland). Samples for the physico-chemical analysis were taken in eight gauging cross-sections once a month between May and November 2006. To assess the physico-chemical composition of surface water, use was made of multivariate statistical methods of data analysis, viz. cluster analysis (CA), factor analysis (FA), principal components analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis (DA). They made it possible to observe similarities and differences in the physico-chemical composition of water in the gauging cross-sections, to identify water quality indicators suitable for characterising its temporal and spatial variability, to uncover hidden factors accounting for the structure of the data, and to assess the impact of man-made sources of water pollution.

[Drinking water quality standards and methods of its enforcement in Poland]. / Wymagania jakosciowe stawiane wodzie do picia w Polsce i sposoby ich egzekwowania.

In the paper quality requirements towards drinking water according to the Directive of the European Community and according to the Polish rules currently in force were compared. It was pointed at excessive enlargement of the Polish regulations in the field of physico-chemical index norming as well as objective difficulties in executing of these regulations, caused by lack of adequate methods of analytical control. Necessity of requirement rationalization within the novelization being carried out now was also emphasized.

Research on the variability of physico-chemical parameters characterising acid precipitation at the Jeziory Ecological Station in the Wielkopolski National Park (Poland).

Here the water quality of precipitation at the Adam Mickiewicz University Ecological station is presented for the period 1992-1997 to examine one of the main factors causing the degradation of the natural environment of the Weilkopolski National Park. In the course of daily observations the amount of rainfall, its electrical conductivity and pH were measured. As much as 61% of the tested precipitation had a pH < 4.6, and 92% had a pH < 5.6; some very low pH values, even below 3.0, were occasionally observed. The annual volume-weighted average pH during the full period was 4.28 and the lowest yearly average was 3.92 (1994). The chemical composition of precipitation showed the dominance of sulphate and calcium ions. Fluoride ions also contributed significantly to the anion charge. There were also small amounts of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A chemical analysis of throughfall showed a considerably increased concentration of some ions, in particular potassium.

Terbium chelate labels for fluorescence immunoassays.

Bovine serum albumin was labelled with a terbium complex by means of a reagent prepared from diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or diethylenetriaminepentaphosphonic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid. The ternary mixed ligand complexes showed strong fluorescence and were stable in very dilute solution (10(-10)M). The fluorescence of the conjugated products was compared with regard to their application in the fluoroimmunoassay of bovine serum albumin.