NEW Capillary Chromatography with Polar Bonded Phases SGE ( . « H I Aft» CMnOMAIOOHUW DPKtnnw: HINT·-
SGE introduces two new polar bonded silicone phases and a stabilized Carbowax on Vitreous silica capillary columns. BP 20—Stabilized Carbowax 20M BP 15—OV-225*, Cyanopropylmethylphenylmethyl silicone BP 75—OV-275*, Dicyanoallyl silicone These columns are available in both narrow and wide bore internal diameter in 12, 25 and 50 meter lengths and with several film thicknesses. McReynolds constants as listed in current literature indicate the OV-275 as being the most polar silicone phase currently available for GC. "Ohio Valley
SGE Head Office: Scientific Glass Engineering Pty. Ltd., 7 Argent Place, Ringwood, Victoria, 3134 Australia. Tel: (03) 874-6333 UK Sales Office: Scientific Glass Engineering, (U.K.) Ltd. Potters Lane, Kiln Farm Milton Keynes MK11 3LA Tel: (0908) 568844 U.S.A. Sales Office: Scientific Glass Engineering Inc., 2007 Kramer Lane, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78758, U.S.A. Tel: (512) 837-7190 German (BUD) Sales Office: Scientific Glass Engineering GmbH., Fichtenweg 15, D-6108 Weiterstadt 1. Tel: (06150) 40662
Letters
Oxidizing Acid Baths—without Chromate Hazards Sir: Chemically clean glassware for analytical toxicology is tenths of a microgram clean for heavy metals, picogram clean for chlorinated pesticides, nanogram clean for organophosphates and carbamates, and nanogram clean for mycotoxins and drugs. Of course, we always want the utmost cleanliness and to achieve this we use an annealing process to clean glassware of organic residues and cleaning solutions for nonvolatile residues. Oxidizing acid baths (very often chromic acid baths) are used to produce chemically clean glassware. They are potentially hazardous. Chromate ion has been described (1 ) as a carcinogen, and chromium effluents from oxidizing acid bath residues have resulted in offending labs being fined by environmental regulatory agencies. Chromic acid sludge from trivalent chromium interferes with the use of chromic acid baths. Baths made with persulfate have been used successfully in our laboratory for two to three years. These baths eliminate the chromium environmental hazard. A small amount of transition metal Fe, Cr, and Mn may be added as a tracer to aid in determining when glassware is free of the primary acid solution. The baths should be vented to avoid exposing the user to fumes produced by oxidation of residues. To curtail thé production of fumes, it is very important to remove most of the residues by other preparatory measures before glassware is placed in the bath. Protective clothing should be used when handling the corrosive chemicals. Removing the chromium prevents one environmental hazard from occurring and extends the life of the bath. In addition, a substantial cost saving has resulted from the use of these baths. Preparation of Baths. Twelve gallon bottles of commercial sulfuric acid and 430 g of ammonium persulfate (NH 4 )2S 4 0 8 , ACS reagent, both obtained from Fisher Chemical Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., are combined to form an oxidizing acid bath for cleaning of glassware. Every two to three Weeks, acid is added to replenish bath levels, and (NH4) 2 S 4 08 is added to replenish the oxidant. Seventy-five
CIRCLE 195 ON READER SERVICE CARD
1456 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 54, NO. 14, DECEMBER 1982
grams of (NH 4 ) 2 S 4 0 8 and two gallon bottles of H2S0 4 are added approximately every three weeks.
Reference (1) Fed. Regist. 4510-26, Vol. 192, October 1977. H. M. Stahr, W. Hyde, and L. Sigler College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Iowa State University of Science and Technology Ames, Iowa 50011
To "Quantify" or "Quantitate" Sir: I would like to urge my colleagues who are involved in measuring quantities of things in the scientific world to use the terms quantify and quantification rather than quantitate and quantitation. Years ago while working on my doctoral thesis, my advisor, Jennings Jones, now professor emeritus of chemistry and chemical engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, taught me to use "quantify" when I meant to measure the quantity of, and I've used it ever since. Recently, I examined the validity of this usage, and it has withstood all tests. The sequence of word derivation could be thought of in the following manner: The noun "quantity" (from Latin, quantus) means an amount. To determine an amount one uses the verb "quantify" (from Latin, quantus + -ficare, to make or to do). The process of determining an amount would require using "quantification." When queried about the Latin roots for these words, John Adams, a professor of classics at The Pennsylvania State University, immediately said that the use of quantitate is unnecessary jargon—jargon because it is a special usage for a special purpose and unnecessary since we already have perfectly good words for the expression or meaning. All of us as scientists feel we are doing special things for the world, but our works would be more acceptable to the public and to ourselves if we used fewer special-meaning words. The word "quantitate" does appear in "Webster's Third International Dictionary," but it is of only recent usage as evidenced by its absence in "Webster's Original International
