Topography Measurements Using High Mass Resolution Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: Application to Banknotes.

An unconventional approach using the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) technique to determine the height topography at the microscale is detailed in this work with an application to cotton paper banknotes. The study was conducted by determining the effect of all related factors and parameters on the height measurement by taking the simplest model made from two Post-it sheets. For each sample, the difference in the TOF of the same secondary ion coming from two different heights was successfully attributed to the step height of the studied areas' topography, which was measured using classic methods.

A Mineralogical Context for the Organic Matter in the Paris Meteorite Determined by A Multi-Technique Analysis.

This study is a multi-technique investigation of the Paris carbonaceous chondrite directly applied on two selected 500 × 500 µm² areas of a millimetric fragment, without any chemical extraction. By mapping the partial hydration of the amorphous silicate phase dominating the meteorite sample matrix, infrared spectroscopy gave an interesting glimpse into the way the fluid may have circulated into the sample and partially altered it. The TOF-SIMS in-situ analysis allowed the studying and mapping of the wide diversity of chemical moieties composing the meteorite organic content.

Surface initiated supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-SARA-ATRP) of 4-vinylpyridine on poly(ethylene terephthalate).

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates were modified by means of surface-initiated supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-SARA-ATRP) of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP). Substrates were pretreated in order to graft chloromethylbenzene (CMB) units capable of initiating the radical polymerization reaction of 4VP units. Surface characterization techniques, including Water Contact Angle (WCA), Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) showed a successful grafting of a stable, smooth and homogenous layer of p4VP.

Ion beam analysis and PD-MS as new analytical tools for quality control of pharmaceuticals: comparative study from fluphenazine in solid dosage forms.

In order to evaluate the potential of accelerator based analytical techniques ((particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), particle induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE), and particle desorption mass spectrometry (PD-MS)) for the analysis of commercial pharmaceutical products in their solid dosage form, the fluphenazine drug has been taken as a representative example. It is demonstrated that PIXE and PIGE are by far the best choice for quantification of the active ingredient (AI) (certification with 7% precision) from the reactions induced on its specific heteroatoms fluorine and sulfur using pellets made from original tablets. Since heteroatoms cannot be present in all types of drugs, the PD-MS technique, which makes easily the distinction between AI(s) and excipients, has been evaluated for the same material.

Formation of lipid oxidation and isomerization products during processing of nuts and sesame seeds.

The aim of the present study was to quantify some nutritional and safety quality parameter changes that take place in nuts (roasting) and sesame seeds (dehulling, roasting, milling, and sterilization) during processing. Such evaluation was based on chemical analysis of various indicators of lipid alteration in raw and processed pistachios, almonds, peanuts, and tahina. Lipid oxidation was assessed by the evolution of lipid oxidation products including hydroperoxides, p-anisidine, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, as well as carboxymethyllysine (CML) and trans fatty acids (tFAs).