Reading Zolotov: a source of knowledge, inspiration and pleasure--thoughts and emotions on the eve of the 80th jubilee of Academician Yuri Aleksandrovich Zolotov.

Academician Yuri Aleksandrovich Zolotov is a world-wide recognized man in analytical science and chemical analysis. This paper is an appreciation by the author for the long term influence of Professor Zolotov scientific ideas and creative publications on his raising up as scientist during his early studies at Moscow State University and generally on his professional life. The article is a hybrid of personal tribute, historical reminiscence, and a brief tutorial mostly aimed at juniors in science.

Solid-phase extraction in the determination of gold, palladium, and platinum.

A simple classification of various sorbents and solid-phase extraction procedures used for preconcentration of trace levels of Au, Pd, and Pt from different sample types is proposed in this review article. The large variety of available sorbents/procedures has been organized according to expected mechanisms of sorption process (complex formation; ion exchange; adsorption; ion-imprinted or molecularly imprinted polymers); according to the kind of monomeric units of the polymer matrix as well as on the basis of the kind of functional group responsible for main performance characteristics (selectivity, capacity) of the sorbent. Advantages of chemically modified sorbents, sulfur-containing sorbent extractants, and ion-imprinted polymers, together with rational pretreatment by means of microwave treatments, scaling down of enrichment, and quantification by means of flow and flow injection approaches are given.

Trace metal speciation and bioavailability in surface waters of the Black Sea coastal area evaluated by HF-PLM and DGT.

Trace metal speciation in seawater from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast was studied in situ by hollow fiber permeation liquid membrane (HF-PLM) and by diffusion gradients in thin-film gels (DGT). The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb determined by HF-PLM were lower than those measured by DGT, in agreement with their analytical windows, e.g.

Flow injection hydride generation electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of toxicologically relevant arsenic in urine.

Analytical procedure for the determination of toxicologically relevant arsenic (the sum of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate) in urine by flow injection hydride generation and collection of generated inorganic and methylated hydrides on an integrated platform of a transverse-heated graphite atomizer for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination (ETAAS) is elaborated. Platforms are pre-treated with 2.7 micromol of zirconium and then with 0.

Validation of reducing-difference procedure for the interpretation of non-polarized infrared spectra of n-component solid mixtures.

Validation of reducing-difference procedure based on subtracting of non-polarized infrared (IR) spectra of n-component solid mixtures is presented. The accuracy and precision are established. The limits of detection are 3.