Analytical technology

Future development of SAM-based analytical technology requires expansion of the size and shape selectivity of template stmctures, as well as introduction of advanced chemical and optical gating mechanisms. An important contribution of SAMs is in miniaturization of analytical instmmentation. This use may in turn have considerable importance in the biomedical analytical area, where miniature analytical probes will be introduced into the body and target-specific organs or even cell clusters. Advances in high resolution spatial patterning of SAMs open the way for such technologies (268,352). 

Analytical Technology Center Air Products and Chemicals. Inc., Allentown. Pennsylvania 1819S... 

There is a discrepancy between the cyanide criteria for both aquatic and drinking water standards and the current analytical technology. The criteria are stated for free cyanide (which Includes hydrocyanic acid and the cyanide ion), but the EPA approved analytical methodology for total cyanide measures the free and combined forms (11). This test probably overestimates the potential toxicity. An alternative method (cyanides amenable to chlorination) measures those cyanide complexes which are readily dissociated, but does not measure the iron cyanide complexes which dissociate in sunlight. This method probably tends to underestimate the potential toxicity. Other methods have been proposed, but similar problems exist (12). The Department of Ecology used the EPA-approved APHA procedure which includes a distillation step for the quantification of total cyanide (13,14). A modification of the procedure which omits the distillation step was used for estimation of free cyanide. Later in the study, the Company used a microdiffusion method for free cyanide (15). 

The key characteristic of a RM is that the properties of interest are measured and certified on the basis of accuracy. The means of attaining the true value are varied, and several different philosophies have been utilized in the quest for the best estimate of the true value. The goal of all approaches is arrival at the best possible estimate of the true value a reliable and unassailable numerical value of the concentration of the chemical constituent, under constraints of economics, state-of-the-art analytical technologies, availability of (new and old) methods, analyst competence, availability of analysts and RM end-use requirement. The basic requirement for producing reliable data is appropriate methodology, adequately calibrated and properly used. 

In the following sections, the nature of chloroacetanilide residues in plants, animal products, water, and soil and the rationale for the analytical methodology that is presented are briefly summarized. Procedures for representative methods are included in detail. The methods presented in this article are among the best available at this time, but analytical technology continues to improve. Future directions for acetanilide residue methodology for environmental monitoring are discussed at the end of the article. 

Recent advances in analytical technology, immunoassay and other nonchromatographic methods... 

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