Atomic / Ezine
Atomic cyst assistance
Date: Mar 15, 2009
Author: David Bradley
Researchers in Turkey are using atomic absorption spectroscopy to analyse the levels metal ions and phosphorus in samples of fluid from breast cyst. They have observed a marked difference between the ratios of ions in the two main types of cyst one of which is more closely associated with the development of breast cancer.
Read MoreBronze Age volcanic event recorded in stalagmites by combined isotope and trace element studies
Date: Mar 2, 2009
Author:
Stable H, C and O isotope analyses on carbonate and inclusion water have been combined with multicollector ICP-MS age dating and laser-ablation ICP-MS trace element analyses on a stalagmite from southern Hungary to reveal traces of volcanic dust from a Bronze Age eruption several thousand kilometers away.
Read MoreMagnetic drug delivery for Alzheimer's disease
Date: Feb 15, 2009
Author: David Bradley
Atomic absorption spectroscopy has been used to characterise the magnetite incorporated into chitosan microparticles that can act as delivery agents for the Alzheimer's drug tacrine. Tacrine has notoriously low oral bioavailability and unclear efficacy but this delivery approach boosts uptake.
Read MoreMercury speciation by CE: An update
Date: Feb 2, 2009
Author:
The speciation of mercury by CE has been reviewed, including hyphenation to element specific detectors (electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry).
Read MoreWine, rum and lead
Date: Jan 15, 2009
Author: David Bradley
Sailors and wine buffs beware. A novel method for the direct determination of lead in rum and wine could reveal their favourite tipple to be contaminated with potentially harmful quantities of the toxic heavy metal. The technique uses a flow injection hydride generation system coupled to an atomic absorption spectrometer with flame-quartz atomizer (FI-HG-AAS).
Read MoreSide effects of a non-peroxide-based home bleaching agent on dental enamel
Date: Jan 5, 2009
Author:
Changes in the chemistry and structure of enamel due to a commercial non-peroxide-based home bleaching product were studied in vitro using several techniques including electron probe microanalysis, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and total reflection X-ray fluorescence.
Read MoreBatteries are included
Date: Dec 15, 2008
Author: David Bradley
Atomic absorption spectroscopy reveals the chemical cocktail of gaseous emissions produced by the incineration of spent alkaline batteries.
Read MoreTotal and extractable heavy metals in indoor, outdoor and street dust from Aswan City, Egypt
Date: Dec 1, 2008
Author:
The level of heavy metal contamination in indoor room dust is evaluated and its relationship to the external environment examined. Samples of outdoor fallen dust, indoor room dust and street dust were collected from two different environmental locations in Aswan city, Egypt.
Read MoreRecycled oil
Date: Nov 15, 2008
Author: David Bradley
Recycled engine oil has high levels of organic impurities, heavy metals, and carcinogenic compounds, according to work carried out by researchers in Jordan. They have used atomic absorption (AA), inductive couple plasma (ICP) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses to spot the differences between virgin and recycled engine oil.
Read MoreLeaves of orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) as indicators of airborne heavy metal in Bangkok, Thailand
Date: Nov 3, 2008
Author:
Orange jasmine leaves were collected from three different sites in the area of Bangkok and the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Zn were quantified by ICP-AES. All three Bangkok sites were polluted with heavy metals compared with a background site.
Read More