Numerical fractionation technique

In the following sections some of the numerous fraction techniques that have been used for biochemical separation will be examined with particular reference to modification that could occur to the distribution of trace element-containing species. 

Teymour E, Campbell JD. Analysis of the dynamics of gelation in polymerization reactors using the numerical fractionation technique. Macromolecules 1994 27 2460-2469. 

Most problems with this procedure have involved tracer impurities and the separation of bound and free labeled fractions. Several separation techniques have been used, including equilibrium dialysis, membrane ultrafiltration, and steady-state gel filtration. Their deficiencies include a requirement for a large sample volume, the need for complicated correction of sample volume changes that occur during the separation, and difficulties of collecting and measuring radioactivity in numerous fractions of each sample. Equilibrium dialysis has been used most often in the past, but serious errors often arise from the sample dilution required by this method. Symmetrical dialysis of undiluted samples is reported to be less susceptible to tracer contamination and dilution effects. Ultrafiltration also appears to overcome these problems and to obviate errors caused by dilution. 

The applicability of these equations could be expanded by keeping more terms inside the integral and carrying out the integration numerically. Another technique for the unimolar diffusion case is to express liquid and vapor flow rates on a solute-free basis, so they could be assumed constant over broader operating conditions. Compositions in this case would be expressed as mole ratios instead of mole fractions, and the phase equilibrium data would be converted accordingly. 

In coupled LC-GC, specific components or classes of components of complex mixtures are pre-fractionated by LC and are then transferred on-line to a GC system for analytical separation. Because of the ease of collecting and handling liquids, off-line LC-GC techniques are very popular, but they do present several disadvantages, e.g. the numerous steps involved, long analysis times, possibility of contamination, etc. The on-line coupled LC-GC techniques avoid all of these disadvantages, thus allowing us to solve difficult analytical problems in a fully automated way. 

In an acetone extract from a neoprene/SBR hose compound, Lattimer et al. [92] distinguished dioctylph-thalate (m/z 390), di(r-octyl)diphenylamine (m/z 393), 1,3,5-tris(3,5-di-f-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-isocyanurate m/z 783), hydrocarbon oil and a paraffin wax (numerous molecular ions in the m/z range of 200-500) by means of FD-MS. Since cross-linked rubbers are insoluble, more complex extraction procedures must be carried out (Chapter 2). The method of Dinsmore and Smith [257], or a modification thereof, is normally used. Mass spectrometry (and other analytical techniques) is then used to characterise the various rubber fractions. The mass-spectral identification of numerous antioxidants (hindered phenols and aromatic amines, e.g. phenyl-/ -naphthyl-amine, 6-dodecyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-l,2-dihydroquinoline, butylated bisphenol-A, HPPD, poly-TMDQ, di-(t-octyl)diphenylamine) in rubber extracts by means of direct probe EI-MS with programmed heating, has been reported [252]. The main problem reported consisted of the numerous ions arising from hydrocarbon oil in the recipe. In older work, mass spectrometry has been used to qualitatively identify volatile AOs in sheet samples of SBR and rubber-type vulcanisates after extraction of the polymer with acetone [51,246]. 

There are numerous other problems associated with the technique. Such systems need very careful setting up to ensure that the fractions park accurately in the flow cell so as to maximise concentration and hence signal to noise. Other minor irritants can include various plumbing problems, blockages causing capillaries to burst off, wet carpets etc. 

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