Abstract  A toxic dose of methanol can induce visual dysfunction and metabolic acidosis in humans. However, the methanol dose range capable of inducing such toxicities and the mechanism(s) of visual dysfunction are not clearly understood. Nonprimate laboratory animals do not develop the characteristic human methanol toxicities even after a lethal dose. In the present study, we investigated whether visual dysfunction can be induced by methanol in a folate-reduced (FR) rat model which accumulates formate. Methanol was administered to rats by either the oral or inhalation route. The latencies of P1 and N1 peaks of flash-evoked potentials were significantly increased in methanol-challenged FR rats (3.5 g/kg, po), indicating that methanol administration caused an adverse effect in the retinogeniculocortical visual pathway. Effects on retinal function were then assessed by evaluating the electroretinogram (ERG). A dose-related reduction in b-wave amplitude of the ERG was manifested following oral methanol administration (1.5 to 2.5 g/kg). The b-wave amplitude reduction was also manifested in FR rats exposed to methanol vapors (2000 ppm, a concentration which was nontoxic in monkeys). These observations were consistent with reported human methanol toxicity cases. Thus, our data suggest that the FR rat model could serve as a valuable human surrogate for studying mechanisms of methanol-induced visual dysfunction and providing reliable toxicity data on the visual system under various exposure scenarios.

Abstract  #A spark ignition engine was used to study the impact of fuel composition and of the air/fuel equivalence ("lambda") ratio on exhaust emissions of alcohols and aldehydes/ketones. Fuel blends contained eight hydrocarbons (n-hexane, 1-hexene, cyclohexane, n-octane, isooctane, toluene, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene (ETB)) and four oxygenated compounds (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE)). Exhaust methanol is principally produced from fuel methanol and MTBE but also from ethanol, 2-propanol, isooctane, and hexane. Exhaust ethanol and 2-propanol are produced only from the respective fuel compounds. Exhaust formaldehyde is mainly produced from fuel methanol, acetaldehyde from fuel ethanol, and propionaldehyde from straight-chain hydrocarbons. Exhaust acroleine comes from fuel 1-hexene, acetone from 2-propanol, n-hexane, n-octane, isooctane, and MTBE. Exhaust crotonaldehyde comes from fuel 1-hexene, cyclohexane, n-hexane, and n-octane, methacroleine from fuel isooctane, and benzaldehyde from fuel aromatics. Light pollutants (C1-C2) are most likely formed from intermediate species which are quite independent of the fuel composition. An increase in "lambda" increases the exhaust concentration of acroleine, crotonaldehyde, methacroleine, and decreases these of the three alcohols for the alcohol-blended fuels. The concentration of methanol, formaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and benzaldehyde is a maximum at stoichiometry. The exhaust concentration of acetaldehyde and acetone presents a complex behavior: it increases in some cases, decreases in others, or presents a maximum at stoichiometry. The concentration of four aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and benzaldehyde) is also linked with the exhaust temperature and fuel H/C ratio.

Abstract  This study was designed to investigate subclinical irritating effects of methanol on functional and immunologic parameters in human respiratory epithelia. Twelve healthy, nonsmoking individuals were exposed to concentrations of 20 and 200 ppm of methanol in an exposure chamber. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8. IL-1"Beta", IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were monitored. The saccharin transport time test was used to evaluate mucociliary transport. Video interference contrast microscopy was used to determine the ciliary beat frequency of nasal epithelial cells. Subjective symptoms were assessed wit a questionnaire. The median concentrations of IL-8 and IL-1"Beta" were significantly elevated after exposure to 200 ppm of methanol as compared to exposure to 20 ppm (IL-1"Beta", 21.4 versus 8.3 pg/mL, p = .001; IL-8. 424 versus 356 pg/mL, p = .02). The release of IL-6 and PGE2 did not change significantly (IL-6,10.3 versus 6.5 pg/mL, p = .13; PGE2, 13.6 versus 13.4 pg/mL), nor did the ciliary beat frequency or the saccharin transport time. Both IL-8 and IL-1"Beta" proved to be sensitive indicators for subclinical irritating effects of methanol in vivo. The German threshold limit of 200 ppm of methanol does not pre vent subclinical inflammatory reactions of the nasal respiratory mucosa.

Abstract  OBJECTIVES: We investigated U.S. methanol-poisoning exposures since little recent information is available about the frequency, sources of methanol, or outcomes of individuals who consume methanol.

METHODS: We reviewed human methanol exposures reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System 1993-1998.

RESULTS: The mean number of cases per year was 2254. Each year 167 cases had an outcome of moderate effect, major effect, or death. One death occurred in every 183 exposures to methanol. Symptomatic cases increased abruptly from 1.8 to 2.5% for infants and children, from 14.1 to 12.3% for adolescents and adults, while the intentional exposures increased from < 1 to 21% for adolescents, and 11% for adults. Cases occurred in every decade of life but toddlers had the highest number of exposures. In 68 methanol fatalities, confusion developedfollowed by coma, hypotension, respiratory depression, and cerebral edema. Blood methanol levels were above 100mg/dL (70%), metabolic acidoses (62%), and anion gaps > 25 (100%). Methanol products were recorded, showing windshield wiper fluids to be 60.8% of exposures. Other automotive sources were 23.7%. Commercial nonautomotive products were 12.2% and pure methanol products were 2.3%. Unintentional exposures were reported in 90.3% of all cases, while 8.3% were due to intentional exposures, and 1.4% wasfor unknown or mixed reasons. Intentional exposures resulted from suspected suicides (51.2%) and from abuse and misuse (38.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: Methanol poisonings continue to occur in the United States with toddlers at the highest risk for exposure, but adolescents and adults at the highest risk for life-threatening intoxications. Over half of product-identified cases were due to consumption of windshield wiperfluid. Efforts should be undertaken to minimize methanol exposures.

Abstract  Extracts of airborne particulate matter were demonstrated to be mutagenic in the Salmonella/microsome test. Urban airborne particulate was collected with high-volume samplers in an Italian town mainly polluted by traffic exhaust fumes. After being weighted for determination of total dust, the particulate was extracted with CH2Cl2/methanol and assayed by Salmonella/microsome assay on strains TA98, TA100 and TA98NR. All samples were mutagenic on strain TA98, with a mutagenic potency of 50 +/- 14 (-S9), 128 +/- 63 (+S9) and 104 +/- 51 (-S9), 211 +/- 97 (+S9) revertants/mg of particulate for summer (n = 23) and winter (n = 22) determinations, respectively. The mutagenic activity on strain TA98NR was about one-half that on strain TA98, indicating a large contribution of nitroaromatic mutagenic compounds. Mutagens from airborne particulate were less active on strain TA100. The summer and winter mean values of urban total dust were 0.15 +/- 0.07 and 0.35 +/- 0.18 mg/m3 respectively, and the mutagenicity of urban air on strain TA98 was 8 +/- 5 (-S9), 22 +/- 17 (+S9) and 30 +/- 11 (-S9), 61 +/- 21 (+S9) revertants/m3 in the two seasons, respectively. In winter, besides an increase in urban air mutagenicity, there also was a change in direct particulate activity per milligram, which was double that of summer.

Abstract  The California Air Resources Board recently adopted regulations for light-and medium-duty vehicles that require reductions in the ozone-forming potential or reactivity, rather than the mass, of nonmethane organic gas (NMOG) emissions. The regulations allow sale of all alternatively fueled vehicles (AFVs) that meet NMOG exhaust emission standards equivalent in reactivity to those set for vehicles fueled with conventional gasoline. Reactivity adjustment factors (RAFs), the ratio of the reactivity (per gram) of the AFV exhaust to that of the conventionally fueled vehicle (CFV), are used to correct the stringent exhaust emission standards. Complete chemical speciation of the exhaust and conversion of each NMOG species to an appropriate mass of ozone using the maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) scale of Carter1 determines the RAF. The MIR approach defines reactivity where NMOG control is the most effective strategy in reducing ozone concentrations, and assumes it is not important to define reactivity at other conditions, i.e., where NO(x) is the limiting precursor.

This study used the Carnegie/California Institute of Technology airshed model to evaluate whether the RAF-adjusted AFV emissions result in ozone impacts equivalent to those of CFV emissions. A matrix of two ozone episodes in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) of California, two base emission inventories, and exhaust emissions from three alternative fuels that meet the first level of the low emission vehicle standards bounds the expected range of conditions. Although very good agreement was found previously for individual NMOG species,2 this study noted deviations of up to +/-15 percent from the equal ozone impacts for any vehicle/fuel combination required by the California regulations. These deviations appear to be attributable to differences in spatial and temporal patterns of emissions between vehicle fleets, rather than a problem with the MIR approach, The first formally adopted RAF, a value of 0.41 for 85 percent methanol/15 percent gasoline-fueled vehicles, includes a 1 0 percent increase based on the airshed modeling. The correction to the RAF is different for other fuels and may be different for air basins other than the SoCAB.

Abstract  Methanol-powered vehicles are being introduced in the United States as a solution to air pollution. This study assessed whether acute exposure to methanol vapor at the current industrial threshold limit value of 200 ppm for 4 hr has adverse effects on human neurobehavioral performance. Twenty-six healthy subjects (15 men, 11 women; ages 26-51 years) were exposed to methanol or water vapor for 4 hr while seated in a chamber. The subjects served as their own controls in a randomized, double-blind study design. The variables assessed were serum and urine methanol and formate levels; visual performance (color discrimination and contrast sensitivity); and neurophysiological (auditory evoked potentials) and neurobehavioral performances. Exposure to methanol increased serum concentrations and urinary excretions of methanol, but did not affect formate levels. Overall visual, neurophysiological, and neurobehavioral test outcomes were not significantly affected, unless certain between-subject variables are considered. Slight effects on P-300 amplitude and Symbol Digit testing were noted. We conclude that acute exposure of healthy people to low concentrations of methanol had little effect on these measures of neurobehavioral performance.

Abstract  Transesterifications of 6 vegetable oil samples in supercritical methanol (SC MeOH) were studied without using any catalyst. Methyl esters of vegetable oils have several outstanding advantages among other new-renewable and clean engine fuel alternatives. The variables affecting the methyl ester yielded during the transesteri.cation reaction, such as the molar ratio of alcohol to vegetable oil and reaction temperature, were investigated. Compared to No. 2 diesel fuel, all of the vegetable oils are much more viscous, while methyl esters of vegetable oils are the slightly more viscous. The methyl esters are more volatile than those of the vegetable oils. The soaps obtained from the vegetable oils can be pyrolyzed into hydrocarbon-rich products.

Abstract  A number of transportation fuels can be produced from renewable resources. The major fractions of lignocellulosic biomass, cellulose and hemicellulose, can be broken down into sugars that can be fermented into ethanol. Biomass can also be gasified to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen for catalytic conversion into methanol. Algae could consume carbon dioxide from power plants and other sources to produce lipid oil that can be converted into a diesel fuel substitute, Through anaerobic digestion, a consortium of bacteria can break down lignocellulosic biomass to generate a medium-energy-content gas that can be cleaned up for pipeline-quality methane. Catalytic processing of pyrolytic oils from biomass produces a mixture of olefins that can be reacted with alcohols to form ethers, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), for use in reformulated gasoline to reduce emissions. Each of these technologies is briefly described. The costs have been reduced significantly for biofuels, and the potential exists for them to be competitive with conventional fuels. An analysis of energy flows is presented for ethanol production as an example of these technologies, and a carbon dioxide balance is provided for the fossil fuels used. This analysis includes consideration of fuel utilization performance and assignment of carbon dioxide to coproduct. Biofuels technologies are shown to require little, if any, fossil fuel inputs. As a result, most or all of the carbon is recycled through their use, reducing substantially the net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Abstract  Due to their transient nature, short-term exposures can be difficult to detect and quantify using conventional monitoring techniques. Biological monitoring may be capable of registering such exposures and may also be used to estimate important toxicological parameters. This paper investigates relationships between methanol concentrations in the blood, urine, and breath of volunteers exposed to methanol vapor at 800 ppm for periods of 0.5, 1, 2, and 8 h. The results indicate factors that must be considered for interpretation of the results of biological monitoring. For methanol, concentrations are not proportional to the exposure duration due to metabolic and other elimination processes that occur concurrently with the exposure. First-order clearance models can be used with blood, breath, or urine concentrations to estimate exposures if the time that has elapsed since the exposure and the model parameters are known. The 0.5 to 2-h periods of exposure were used to estimate the half-life of methanol. Blood data gave a half-life of 1.44 +/- 0.33 h. Comparable but slightly more variable results were obtained using urine data corrected for voiding time (1.55 +/- 0.67h) and breath data corrected for mucous membrane desorption (1.40 +/- 0.38 h). Methanol concentrations in blood lagged some 15-30 min behind the termination of exposure, and concentrations in urine were further delayed. Although breath sampling may be convenient, breath concentrations reflect end-expired or alveolar air only if subjects are in a methanol-free environment for 30 min or more after the exposure. At earlier times, breath concentrations included contributions from airway desorption or diffusion processes. As based on multicompartmental models, the desorption processes have half-lives ranging between 0.6 and 5 min. Preliminary estimates of the mucous membrane reservoir indicate contributions of under 10% for a 0.5-h exposure and smaller effects for longer periods of exposure.

Abstract  Use of methanol as a solvent in a toxicological screening procedure with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry may be associated with artifact formation. Artifacts with a molecular ion of [M + 12]+ are formed from various drugs, such as amphetamine, propafenone, flecainide, beta-blockers and prilocaine. The mechanism of artifact formation was studied by mass spectral techniques, labelling and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It was shown that the artifacts were generated by the addition of formaldehyde and subsequent loss of water. Formaldehyde is probably formed by thermal dehydrogenation of methanol in the injection port of the gas chromatograph.

Abstract  An alumina multilayer grafted on the surface of MCM-41 produced a mesoporous material with the surface chemical functionality of alumina. The starting MCM-41 material (WPMCM) with a wide pore size distribution, a surface area of 858 m(2)/g, an average pore diameter of 9.2 nm and a pore volume of 1.75 cm(3)/g was synthesized by expanding the cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) surfactant micelles with mesitylene at a high solubilizant/CTAC ratio of 10. Successive grafting consisting of aluminum butoxide anchoring followed by hydrolysis and calcination steps yielded a gradual increase of the aluminum content in WPMCM. Tetrahedral At in the silica pore walls and clusters of a separate octahedral At alumina phase were identified. Four grafting cycles produced a material with a surface area of 542 m(2)/g and a mean pore diameter of 4 nm containing 38 wt.%. Al(2)O(3) that displayed chemical surface functionality of pure alumina. The activity of this material in the alkylation of phenol with methanol was 2.3 times higher than the activity of a reference alumina (460 m(2)/g). The highest activity of grafted alumina in cumene cracking and isopropanol dehydration was achieved at 21 wt.% Al(2)O(3). Independent measurements of surface: charging in aqueous solution, of [Mo(7)O(24)](6-) anions adsorption and of surface acidity indicated that the material grafted with alumina and the reference alumina display similar chemical functionality. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract  We report cuboctahedral Pd nanoparticles on WC synthesized by the polyol process using ethylene glycol with NO(3)(-) and Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) ions. The cuboctahedral Pd/WC shows much improved electrocatalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline solution.

Abstract  On reaction of different copper(II) salts with 3 4-bis(2 pyridylmethylthio)toluene (L) having neutral tetradentate NSSN donor set in different chemical environments two mononuclear copper(II) one dinuclear copper(I) and one dinuclear copper(II) complexes formulated as [Cu-II(L)(H2O)(2)](NO3)(2) (1) [Cu-II(pic)(2)] (2) [Cu-2(I)(L)(2)](ClO4)(2) (3) and [Cu-2(II)(L)(2)Cl-2](ClO4)(2) (4) respectively were isolated in pure form [where pic = picolinate] All the complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods The product of the reactions are dependent on the counter anion of copper(II) salts used as reactant and on the reaction medium Complexes 1 and 4 were obtained with nitrate and perchlorate copper(II) salts respectively On the other hand C-S bond cleavage was observed in the reaction of L with copper(II) chloride to form in situ picolinic acid and complex 2 Dinuclear complexes 3 and 4 were separated out when copper(II) perchlorate was allowed to react with L in methanol and in acetonitrile respectively under aerobic condition The X ray diffraction analysis of the dinuclear complex 3 shows a highly distorted tetrahedral geometry about each copper ion Complex 4 is converted to 3 in acetonitrile in presence of catechol The spectral study of complex 4 with call thymus DNA is indicative of a groove binding mode interaction (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Abstract  Highly dispersed and active palladium/carbon nanofiber (Pd/CNF) catalyst is synthesized by NaBH4 reduction with trisodium citrate as the stabilizing agent. The obtained Pd/CNF catalyst is characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the Pd nanoparticles with an average particle size of ca. 3.8 nm are highly dispersed on the CNF support even with a small ratio of citrate to Pd precursor, which is believed to be due to the pH adjustment of citrate stabilized colloidal Pd nanoparticles. The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques show that the obtained Pd/CNF catalyst exhibits good catalytic activity and stability for the electrooxidation of formic acid. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract  A method has been developed for the separation and determination of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The baseline separation of phthalates was achieved by using a buffer of 100 mM sodium cholate, 50 mM borate and 15% methanol (pH 8.5). The optimized MEKC method was used to quantify the concentrations of phthalates in 11 soil samples from different regions of China. The contents of DEP, DBP and DEHP in soils were ranged 0-0.42, 0-1.43, and 0.24-2.35 mg/kg, respectively, and no DMP and DnOP was detected. The limits of detection for DMP, DEP, DBP, DEHP, and DnOP were found to be 0.050, 0.051, 0.052, 0.054, and 0.063 mg/kg, respectively. The results obtained by the MEKC method were compared with those obtained by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), and a good agreement was achieved.

Abstract  The whole plant of Phyllanthus wightianus (PW) was investigated for the antioxidant effects of three successive extracts: hexane (PWHE), chloroform (PWCE) and methanol (PWME), using standard in vitro models. The PWME exhibited a strong scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and nitric oxide radical inhibition activity, due to possessing the highest content of tannins. The free radical scavenging effect of PWME was comparable with that of reference antioxidants. The extracts were subjected to isolation of their compounds: isomeric sterol mixture (1) [stigmasterol (1a), compesterol (1b) and β-sitosterol (1c)], fredilin (2), lupeol (3), gallic acid (4), bergenin (5), geraniin (6), corilagin (7) and ellagic acid (8) were established through the use of column chromatographic methods and spectral data. The percentage of tannins was also determined and estimated using the HPLC method. The data suggest that tannins are the active antioxidant compounds of P. wightianus. This study provides proof for the ethnomedical claims and reported biological activities of this plant. The plant therefore has very good therapeutic potential.

Abstract  A long-term performance of a packed-bed bioreactor containing sulfur and limestone was evaluated for the denitrification of drinking water. Autotrophic denitrification rate was limited by the slow dissolution rate of sulfur and limestone. Dissolution of limestone for alkalinity supplementation increased hardness due to release of Ca(2+). Sulfate production is the main disadvantage of the sulfur autotrophic denitrification process. The effluent sulfate concentration was reduced to values below drinking water guidelines by stimulating the simultaneous heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification with methanol supplementation. Complete removal of 75 mg/L NO(3)-N with effluent sulfate concentration of around 225 mg/L was achieved when methanol was supplemented at methanol/NO(3)-N ratio of 1.67 (mg/mg), which was much lower than the theoretical value of 2.47 for heterotrophic denitrification. Batch studies showed that sulfur-based autotrophic NO(2)-N reduction rate was around three times lower than the reduction rate of NO(3)-N, which led to NO(2)-N accumulation at high loadings.

Abstract  We present a rational and simple methodology to fabricate highly conductive nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon with a graphitic wall structure by the simple adjustment of the carbonization temperature of mesoporous carbon nitride without the addition of any external nitrogen sources. By simply controlling the heat-treatment temperature, the structural order and intrinsic properties such as surface area, conductivity, and pore volume, and the nitrogen content of ordered graphitic mesoporous carbon can be controlled. Among the materials studied, the sample heat-treated at 1000  °C shows the highest conductivity, which is 32 times higher than that for the samples treated at 800  °C and retains the well-ordered mesoporous structure of the parent mesoporous carbon nitride and a reasonable amount of nitrogen in the graphitic framework. Since these materials exhibit high conductivity with the nitrogen atoms in the graphitic framework, we further demonstrate their use as a support for nanoparticle fabrication without the addition of any external stabilizing or size-controlling agent, as well as the anode electrode catalysts. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles with a size similar to that of the pore diameter of the support can be fabricated since the nitrogen atoms and the well-ordered porous structure in the mesoporous graphitic carbon framework act as a stabilizing and size-controlling agent, respectively. Furthermore the Pt-loaded, nitrogen-doped mesoporous graphitic carbon sample with a high conductivity shows much higher anodic electrocatalytic activity than the other materials used in the study.

Abstract  A novel microextraction technique based on membrane-protected multiwalled carbon nanotubes coated with molecularly imprinted polymer (MWCNTs-MIP) was developed. In this technique, MWCNTs-MIP were packed inside a polypropylene membrane envelope, which was then clamped onto a paper clip. For extraction, the packed membrane envelope was first impregnated with toluene and then placed in sample solutions. Target analytes in the solutions were first extracted into toluene in the membrane envelope, and were then extracted specifically onto the MWCNTs-MIP. After the extraction, target analytes were desorbed in methanol for liquid chromatography analysis. MWCNTs-MIP of prometryn were used as a model to demonstrate the feasibility of this novel microextraction technique. Factors affecting the extraction including organic solvent, stirring rate, extraction time, salt concentration, and pH were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) for the selected triazine herbicides were 0.08-0.38 μg/L. The prepared membrane envelope could be used at least 50 times. The developed method was used for the analysis of the triazines spiked in river water, wastewater, and liquid milk, with recoveries ranging from 79.3-97.4, 58.9-110.3 and 76.2-104.9%, respectively.

Abstract  Genetic algorithms are widely used to solve and optimize combinatorial problems and are more often applied for library design in combinatorial chemistry. Because of their flexibility, however, their implementation can be challenging. In this study, the influence of the representation of solid catalysts on the performance of genetic algorithms was systematically investigated on the basis of a new, constrained, multiobjective, combinatorial test problem with properties common to problems in combinatorial materials science. Constraints were satisfied by penalty functions, repair algorithms, or special representations. The tests were performed using three state-of-the-art evolutionary multiobjective algorithms by performing 100 optimization runs for each algorithm and test case. Experimental data obtained during the optimization of a noble metal-free solid catalyst system active in the selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide with propene was used to build up a predictive model to validate the results of the theoretical test problem. A significant influence of the representation on the optimization performance was observed. Binary encodings were found to be the preferred encoding in most of the cases, and depending on the experimental test unit, repair algorithms or penalty functions performed best.

Abstract  A separation of 25 o-phthalaldehyde-mercaptoethanol derivatives of primary amino acids in plasma prepared from human blood has been developed for Waters 10 cm x 0.8 cm I.D., 4-microns Nova-Pak C18 Radial-Pak cartridges. A binary gradient system with solvent-switching capability for the A pump is required. Computer methodologies have been utilized to develop mobile phase mixtures of phosphate buffer (pH 6.9), water, methanol and tetrahydrofuran. Advantages of the method include simple sample preparation, fast turnover time (67 min including the pre-column Autotag derivatization procedure) and exceptional column durability (several hundred analyses).