In the present study, a simple and sensitive methodology based on dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography with quadrupole mass detection (GC-qMSD), was developed and optimized for the determination of volatile (VOCs) and semi-volatile (SVOCs) compounds from different alcoholic beverages: wine, beer and whisky. Key experimental fa...

A dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-(IT)MS) method was developed and applied for the qualitative determination of the volatile compounds present in commercial whisky samples which alcoholic content was previously adjusted to 13% (v/v). Headspace SPME experimental conditions, such as fibre coating, extraction ...

A low-capacity cation-exchange column was newly developed for the separation of amino acids. A highly cross-linked macro-porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene co-polymer was functionalized by a sulfoacylation reaction. The exchange capacity was controllable at the acylation step. The capacity between 55 and 60 micromol/column was adequate for the practical separations in acceptable retention times....

The apparent distribution coefficients, Kapp, of some sugar alcohols to cation-exchange resins in the sodium-ion form and with divinylbenzene (DVB) contents 2, 4, 6, 8% were measured at 25ºC. Assuming that binding constant, B, ribitol sodium ion was zero, swelling pressures, Π, DVB 8％ estimated be 3.2, 9.4, 12.3, 25.7 MPa, respectively. From these Π values Kapp values, B each alcohol calculated...

A method for the analysis of perchlorate in plants was developed, based on dry weight, and applied to the analysis of plant organs, foodstuffs, and plant products. The method reduced greatly the ionic interferences in water extracts of plant materials. The high background conductivity, due to the plant matrix, was reduced sufficiently to allow quantitation of perchlorate with little or no matri...

Pattern generation of well-controlled block copolymers (BCPs) with a high Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ) is important for applications in sub-20 nm nanolithography. We used mixed solvents of dimethylformamide (DMF) and toluene to control the morphology as well as the time to achieve the targeted morphology via self-assembly of BCPs. By precisely controlling the volume ratio of DMF and ...

Porous polydivinyl benzene (PDVB) microspheres of narrow size distribution were formed by a single-step swelling process of template uniform polystyrene microspheres with divinyl benzene (DVB), followed by polymerization of the DVB within the swollen template microspheres. The PDVB porous particles were then formed by dissolution of the template polystyrene polymer. Unique "cauliflower-like" Zn...

A self-cleaning effect developed through the use of a superhydrophobic and water-repellent surface was demonstrated for solar cell applications. A perfectly ordered microshell array was fabricated on a transparent and flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer surface. This microshell PDMS showed an excellent water-repellent property with a contact angle (CA) higher than 150 and a hysteresi...

The block copolymers (BCs), as structure-directing agents, co-assembling with nanoscale inorganic additives is an important route to fabricate nanostructured hybrid materials. In this work, we present a facile approach to fabricate hybrid micelles composed of BCs and polyoxometalates (POMs), in which the POM clusters are premodified with the groups that can specifically interact with a certain ...