Introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry: a tutorial review. Part I. Theoretical considerations.

Due to their outstanding analytical performances, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are widely used for multi-elemental measurements and also for isotopic characterization in the case of ICP-MS. While most studies are carried out in aqueous matrices, applications involving organic/hydro-organic matrices become increasingly widespread. This kind of matrices is introduced in ICP based instruments when classical "matrix removal" approaches such as acid digestion or extraction procedures cannot be implemented. Due to the physico-chemical properties of organic/hydro-organic matrices and their associated effects on instrumentation and analytical performances, their introduction into ICP sources is particularly challenging and has become a full topic. In this framework, numerous theoretical and phenomenological studies of these effects have been performed in the past, mainly by ICP-OES, while recent literature is more focused on applications and associated instrumental developments. This tutorial review, divided in two parts, explores the rich literature related to the introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The present Part I, provides theoretical considerations in connection with the physico-chemical properties of organic/hydro-organic matrices, in order to better understand the induced phenomena. This focal point is divided in four chapters highlighting: (i) the impact of organic/hydro-organic matrices from aerosol generation to atomization/excitation/ionization processes; (ii) the production of carbon molecular constituents and their spatial distribution in the plasma with respect to analytes repartition; (iii) the subsequent modifications of plasma fundamental properties; and (iv) the resulting spectroscopic and non spectroscopic interferences. This first part of this tutorial review is addressed either to beginners or to more experienced scientists who are interested in the analysis of organic/hydro-organic matrices by ICP sources and would like to consider the theoretical background of effects induced by such matrices. The second part of this tutorial review will be dedicated to more practical consideration on instrumentation, such as adapted introductions devices, as well as instrumental and operating parameters optimization. The analytical strategies for elemental quantification in such matrices will also be addressed.

Introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry: a tutorial review. Part II. Practical considerations.

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are increasingly used to carry out analyses in organic/hydro-organic matrices. The introduction of such matrices into ICP sources is particularly challenging and can be the cause of numerous drawbacks. This tutorial review, divided in two parts, explores the rich literature related to the introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in ICP sources. Part I provided theoretical considerations associated with the physico-chemical properties of such matrices, in an attempt to understand the induced phenomena. Part II of this tutorial review is dedicated to more practical considerations on instrumentation, instrumental and operating parameters, as well as analytical strategies for elemental quantification in such matrices. Two important issues are addressed in this part: the first concerns the instrumentation and optimization of instrumental and operating parameters, pointing out (i) the description, benefits and drawbacks of different kinds of nebulization and desolvation devices and the impact of more specific instrumental parameters such as the injector characteristics and the material used for the cone; and, (ii) the optimization of operating parameters, for both ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Even if it is at the margin of this tutorial review, Electrothermal Vaporization and Laser Ablation will also be shortly described. The second issue is devoted to the analytical strategies for elemental quantification in such matrices, with particular insight into the isotope dilution technique, particularly used in speciation analysis by ICP-coupled separation techniques.

X-ray accelerated photo-oxidation of As(III) in solution.

We performed near edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES) measurements on the arsenic K-edge of As(III) in solution under acidic and basic conditions, after exposure of the solutions to air. Spectra were recorded for increasing exposure times to the X-rays used to perform absorption spectroscopy measurements. We did not find changes for the solution under acidic conditions, whereas we observed significant changes in the case of solution under alkaline conditions. To interpret these changes, we compared the obtained spectra with XANES spectra of As(III) and As(V) solutions under alkaline conditions, not exposed to air, and used as standards. Principal component fits using these standards indicate an accelerated conversion of As(III) to As(V) due to the exposure to X-rays.

Effects of 5-azacytidine on natural killer cell activating receptor expression in patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts.

Epigenetic drugs modify DNA methylation and are used in refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB). These drugs may reactivate anti-oncogene expression and restore a normal phenotype instead of inducing antitumor toxicity, although they also have immunosuppressive effects on T-lymphocytes [1] In RAEB and acute myeloid leukemia, a defect in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity has been shown, which relies on abnormal expression of activating receptors. Previous study has shown that 5-azacytidine impaired mRNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in NK cells [2]. In this study we investigated the effect of the demethylating drug 5-azacytidine (Vidaza(®)) on NK receptors with the hypothesis that demethylation of the promoters of activating NK receptor genes induces gene reactivation and thus may increase their expression.

Interpretation of X-ray absorption spectra of As(III) in solution using Monte Carlo simulations.

We performed X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements on the arsenic K-edge of As(III) in solution under acidic conditions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray near edge structure (XANES) spectra were compared with theoretical calculations which use local atomic structure configurations, either derived from density functional theory (DFT) energy minimization (EM) calculations or based on classical Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, for a As(OH)3 cluster surrounded by water molecules. The nearest arsenic-oxygen distances obtained from the fit of the XAFS spectra are consistent with the distances present in configurations derived from Monte Carlo simulations but not with those obtained from DFT-EM calculations. Calculations of XANES using either DFT-EM or the average configuration obtained from MC simulations do not reproduce the XANES spectra in the vicinity of the absorption edge. However, specific local atomic structural configurations of the As(OH)3 and water molecules, obtained from MC simulations, which show some ordering of water molecules up to 5 Å from the arsenic, reproduce qualitatively the experimental spectra. These results highlight the capability of XANES to yield information about hydration of ions in solution.

Chlorination of bisphenol A: kinetics and by-products formation.

The kinetics of initial chlorination of bisphenol A (BPA) was studied between pH 2 and 11 at room temperature (20 +/- 2 degrees C). pH Profile of the apparent second-order rate constant of the reaction of BPA with chlorine were modeled considering the elementary reactions of HOCl with BPA species and an acid-catalyzed reaction. The predominant reactions at near neutral pH were the reactions of HOCl with the two phenolate species of BPA (k = 3.10 x 10(4) M(-1)s(-1) for BPA- and 6.62 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for BPA(2-)). At near neutral pH, half-life times of BPA were calculated to be less than 1.5 h for chlorine residual higher than 0.2 mg l(-1). Chlorination of synthetic treated waters spiked with BPA showed that BPA disappeared within 4 h and that chlorinated bisphenol A congeners were rapidly formed and remained in solution for up to 10-20 h when low chlorine dosages are applied (0.5-1 mg l(-1)). To limit their presence in drinking water networks, it is then necessary to maintain high chlorine residuals that rapidly produce and decompose chlorinated bisphenol A congeners.

Trapping of benzene oxide-oxepin and methyl-substituted derivatives with 4-phenyl- and 4-pentafluorophenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione.

4-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione and its pentafluoro analogue are efficient reagents for trapping arene oxides, e.g. benzene oxide-oxepin, affording crystalline adducts that can be quantitatively analysed by HPLC and MS techniques.