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Lithium as an essential element for human life is still a subject of controversy. However, it is accepted that it does have profound neurological effects and is a valuable treatment for bipolar disease. Generally, it occurs in barely trace amounts in groundwater with few major exceptions. One of these is the Northern area of Chile where all potable water and many of the food stuffs contain high levels of lithium; between 100 and 10,000 times higher than most rivers in North America. Inevitably, the local population has been exposed to these levels in their drinking water for as long as the region has been populated. The present report details lithium levels in all the surface water sources of Northern Chile with comparison to that elsewhere. The implications for the local population are discussed and their situation compared to those exposed to other sources of lithium pollution.

The capability of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom to accumulate lithium (Li) and the accessibility of this Li compared with lithium carbonate (Li(2)CO(3)), often used as psychiatric medicine, were investigated. Mushrooms were produced on a substrate-based on coffee husk, with different added concentrations of lithium chloride (LiCl). Biological efficiency (BE), the crude protein content, the concentration of Li and other elements present in mushrooms were determined. The sequential extraction and in vitro test were used to verify the accessibility and the degree of solubility of this element. Li concentration in mushrooms was directly influenced by increasing LiCl concentration in the substrate (P<0.05). The BE was not affected by different concentrations of LiCl. Li present in enriched mushrooms showed greater accessibility than in Li(2)CO(3). Therefore, P. ostreatus mushrooms, enriched with lithium can be an alternative source of Li, as well as being a food with high nutritional value., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this paper a novel calibration procedure for the parameter determination of ion-selective electrodes used in an array is described. Commonly used procedures require a large number of standards to determine the parameters based on the Nicolsky-Eisenman model. The elaborated procedure reduces the number of standards to a minimum by using a standard containing a mixture of ions instead of a couple of pure standards. This paper presents a complete calibration procedure, which consists of designing the composition of the standards, parameter determination and verification of the calibration results. Comparison of the results obtained by the procedure presented with results obtained by the Two-Point Calibration and Separate Solution methods proves that the accuracies of both procedures are comparable. The outlined procedure can be applied in multicomponent analysers., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work, the energy response functions of Si(Li), SDD and CdTe detectors were studied in the mammographic energy range through Monte Carlo simulation. The code was modified to take into account carrier transport effects and the finite detector energy resolution. The results obtained show that all detectors exhibit good energy response at low energies. The most important corrections for each detector were discussed, and the corrected mammographic x-ray spectra obtained with each one were compared. Results showed that all detectors provided similar corrected spectra, and, therefore, they could be used to accurate mammographic x-ray spectroscopy. Nevertheless, the SDD is particularly suitable for clinic mammographic x-ray spectroscopy due to the easier correction procedure and portability., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lithium carbonate is used in the treatment of both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum lithium, salivary lithium, and urinary lithium. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were collected from 50 patients, and estimation of serum, salivary, and urine lithium was done using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean serum lithium was 0.75 ± 0.25 mEq/L, mean salivary lithium was 1.91 ± 0.80 mEq/L, and mean urine lithium was 7.16 ± 4.84 mEq/L. A significant direct correlation was found between serum lithium and salivary lithium (r = 0.695, p < 0.001). This correlation was higher in females (r = 0.770, p < 0.001) when compared to males (r = 0.665, p < 0.001). Even though a significant correlation was found between serum and salivary lithium levels, more studies are needed in this domain to establish salivary therapeutic monitoring as a feasible option for patients on lithium carbonate therapy.

A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out to evaluate the concentrations of metallic elements in the hair of 44 children with diagnosis of autism and 61 age-balanced controls. Unadjusted comparisons showed higher concentrations of molybdenum, lithium and selenium in autistic children. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the role of risk factor for male gender and showed a slight association with molybdenum concentrations. Unconventional chelation and vitamin-mineral supplementation were ineffective on elemental hair concentrations. A meta-analysis including the present and previous similar studies excluded any association of autism with hair concentrations of mercury, cadmium, selenium, lithium and copper. A slight association was found for lead only, but it was very weak, as strictly dependent on the worst data from one study.

This study aims to assess whether or not incomplete filling of primary lithium heparin tubes may influence the activity of creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Blood was drawn from 20 healthy volunteer using an identical sequence of tubes. First, a 6 mL, 13 x 100 mm 14 unit/mL lithium heparin Vacuette was filled and discharged. Then, three identical lithium heparin Vacuette tubes were filled, one to the nominal volume (i.e., full-draw tube), another with half of the nominal volume (half-draw tube) and the last with one-third of the nominal volume (low-draw tube). The plasma was separated and tested for CK (non-activated by N-acetylcysteine), AST and ALT on a Beckman Coulter Unicel DxC 800. Tests for CK were performed with a different reagent on a Beckman Coulter AU5800 (activated by N-acetylcysteine). Although the concentrations of ASL and ALT measured on the Unicel DxC and that of CK measured on the AU5800 did not change significantly across the different specimens, those of CK and GGT measured on the Unicel DxC 800 were significantly increased in the half-draw and low-draw tubes. The percentage bias of CK on the Unicel DxC 800 (using Bland Altman plots) was 3.3% and 7.9% for the half-draw and low-draw tubes, respectively, whereas that of GGT was 10.3% and 16.6% for the half-draw and low-draw tubes, respectively. These results suggest that short-draw lithium heparin tubes might be unsuitable for testing GGT and CK using specific combinations of reagents and instrumentation.

The high suicide rates in Japan and several reports of inverse associations of suicide rates with the levels of lithium (Li) in drinking water prompted determinations of Li along with other elements in samples of scalp hair of 100 male and 100 female residents of Tokyo Prefecture. In more than half of the samples of both genders, Li levels were below the instrumental detection limit or below or the lower limit of the laboratory reference ranges. Among other elements, the concentrations namely of cobalt were also frequently below the laboratory reference range, suggesting that low circulating levels of vitamin B(12) were common in this study population. As vitamin B(12) deficiency is associated with depression and other psychiatric conditions, and there is evidence of interactions between Li and vitamin B(12), Li deficiency as well as suboptimal vitamin B(12) status must be considered as potential suicide risk factors. In view of its established positive effects on mood and brain function, an adequate supply of selenium (Se) is important as well. Although the analytical results suggested that the Se status of the subjects was generally adequate, as seafood was a major dietary source of Se, much of it was actually sequestered by mercury and only a fraction was bio-available. In addition, the hair samples were found to contain not insignificant levels of As, Cd, Ni, and Pb, arising from the adventitious presence of these elements in foods and the environment. As these elements also interact with Se in vivo and are known to adversely affect mood and behavior, in investigational studies, subjects at risk need to be evaluated also with respect to these elements.

Lithium is found in trace amounts in all soils. It is also found in plants and in nearly all the organs of the human body. Low Li intake can cause behavioral defects. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the concentration and distribution of water-soluble Li in soils of the Jordan Valley and its concentration in citrus trees and some important food crops in view of the significant implications of Li for human health. The concentration of soluble Li was measured in 180 soil samples collected at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) whereas its content was determined in fully expanded leaves collected from citrus and different vegetable crops. Concentrations of soluble Li in soils vary from 0.95 to 1.04 mg l(-1) in topsoil and from 1.06 to 2.68 mg l(-1) in subsoil, while Li concentration in leaves ranged from 2 to 27 mg kg(-1) DM. Lithium concentrations in leaves of crops of the same family or different families vary with location in the valley; i.e., they decreased from north to south. It is concluded that soluble Li in soils and the plant family did not solely affect Li transfer in the food chain. In addition, soil EC, Ca, Mg, and Cl, which increased from north to south, might adversely affect plant Li uptake. The current study also showed that consuming 250-300 g FW of spinach day(-1) per person is recommended to provide consumers with their daily Li requirement necessary for significant health and societal benefits.

A method is shown for the determination of trace amounts of lithium by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) in natural mineral waters with various therapeutic effects originating in Poland. The method is an expansion of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry applications to the determination of a very light element. The direct determination of lithium by XRF is practically impossible due to the extremely low fluorescence yield and long-wavelength characteristic radiation of such a light element. The lithium is determined via iron after precipitation with stoichiometric potassium lithium periodatoferrate(III) complex. The solution obtained after dissolving the complex was pipetted onto Mylar foil for XRF analysis. As little as 1 μg Li may be determined with this method. Accurate lithium determinations can be obtained using simple calibration samples requiring only pipetting Fe solution in the range 8.0-28.0 μg onto the Mylar foil. The prepared samples are thin, which allows the errors resulting from self-absorption or matrix effects to be neglected. Our studies give essential information about the quality of the analyzed waters., (© 2011 Society for Applied Spectroscopy)

In this study, two complementary approaches, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, have been employed for quantitative characterization and structure elucidation of the complex between hexaarylbenzene (HAB)-based receptor R and lithium ion Li(+) . First, by means of ACE, the apparent binding constant of LiR(+) complex (K LiR +) in methanol was determined from the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobilities of LiR(+) complex on the concentration of lithium ions in the 25 mM Tris/50 mM chloroacetate background electrolyte (BGE) using non-linear regression analysis. Prior to regression analysis, the effective electrophoretic mobilities of the LiR(+) complex were corrected to reference temperature 25 °C and constant ionic strength 25 mM. The apparent binding constant of the LiR(+) complex in the above methanolic BGE was evaluated as logK LiR + = 1.15±0.09. Second, the most probable structures of nonhydrated LiR(+) and hydrated LiR(+)·3H(2)O complexes were derived by DFT calculations. The optimized structure of the hydrated LiR(+)·3H(2)O complex was found to be more realistic than the nonhydrated LiR(+) complex because of the considerably higher binding energy of LiR(+)·3H(2)O complex (500.4 kJ/mol) as compared with LiR(+) complex (427.5 kJ/mol)., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The concentrations of heavy metals and organic carbon in sediment of the Homa Lagoon which is one of the most productive lagoons and commercial important active fish trap in the Eastern Aegean Sea, were investigated in order to describe the temporal and spatial distributions of metals. These results were used to evaluate possible ecological risks that could be a problem for the environment of the lagoon in the future. Sediments were enriched with Cr, Ni and considered as heavily polluted per the SQG. The C(f) of Ni and Cr were presented moderate level of contamination in this area. The C(d) levels indicated moderate degree of contamination at station B, C, D and E due to agricultural drainage water, industrial and domestic wastewater, are transported by the Gediz River. Sediments from Homa Lagoon were most toxic for Ni due to exceedances of the TEL and PEL values., (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Lithium is a nutritionally essential trace element predominantly contained in vegetables, plant-derived foods, and drinking water. Environmental lithium exposure and concurrent nutritional intake vary considerably in different regions. We here have analyzed the possibility that low-dose lithium exposure may affect mortality in both metazoans and mammals., Methods: Based on a large Japanese observational cohort, we have used weighted regression analysis to identify putative effects of tap water-derived lithium uptake on overall mortality. Independently, we have exposed Caenorhabditis elegans, a small roundworm commonly used for anti-aging studies, to comparable concentrations of lithium, and have quantified mortality during this intervention., Results: In humans, we find here an inverse correlation between drinking water lithium concentrations and all-cause mortality in 18 neighboring Japanese municipalities with a total of 1,206,174 individuals (β = -0.661, p = 0.003). Consistently, we find that exposure to a comparably low concentration of lithium chloride extends life span of C. elegans (p = 0.047)., Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicate that long-term low-dose exposure to lithium may exert anti-aging capabilities and unambiguously decreases mortality in evolutionary distinct species.

This study presents the life cycle assessment (LCA) of three batteries for plug-in hybrid and full performance battery electric vehicles. A transparent life cycle inventory (LCI) was compiled in a component-wise manner for nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cobalt manganese lithium-ion (NCM), and iron phosphate lithium-ion (LFP) batteries. The battery systems were investigated with a functional unit based on energy storage, and environmental impacts were analyzed using midpoint indicators. On a per-storage basis, the NiMH technology was found to have the highest environmental impact, followed by NCM and then LFP, for all categories considered except ozone depletion potential. We found higher life cycle global warming emissions than have been previously reported. Detailed contribution and structural path analyses allowed for the identification of the different processes and value-chains most directly responsible for these emissions. This article contributes a public and detailed inventory, which can be easily be adapted to any powertrain, along with readily usable environmental performance assessments.

Lithium can be found naturally in drinking water. In clinical practice, it is widely used in pharmacological doses for the treatment of bipolar disorder; and may also prevent suicidal behaviour in people with mood disorders. In two studies, lithium levels in tap water have been significantly and negatively correlated with suicide. We measured lithium levels in tap water in the 47 subdivisions of the East of England and correlated these with the respective suicide standardised mortality ratio in each subdivision. We found no association between lithium in drinking water and suicide rates across the East of England from 2006 to 2008.

Electromembrane extraction was used for simultaneous sample cleanup and preconcentration of lithium from untreated human body fluids. The sample of a body fluid was diluted 100 times with 0.5 mM Tris solution and lithium was extracted by electromigration through a supported liquid membrane composed of 1-octanol into 100 mM acetic acid acceptor solution. Matrix compounds, such as proteins, red blood cells, and other high-molecular-weight compounds were efficiently retained on the supported liquid membrane. The liquid membrane was anchored in pores of a short segment of a polypropylene hollow fiber, which represented a low cost, single use, disposable extraction unit and was discarded after each use. Acceptor solutions were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C(4) D) and baseline separation of lithium was achieved in a background electrolyte solution consisting of 18 mM L-histidine and 40 mM acetic acid at pH 4.6. Repeatability of the electromembrane extraction-CE-C(4) D method was evaluated for the determination of lithium in standard solutions and real samples and was better than 0.6 and 8.2% for migration times and peak areas, respectively. The concentration limit of detection of 9 nM was achieved. The developed method was applied to the determination of lithium in urine, blood serum, blood plasma, and whole blood at both endogenous and therapeutic concentration levels., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: There is some evidence that natural levels of lithium in drinking water may have a protective effect on suicide mortality., Aims: To evaluate the association between local lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality at district level in Austria., Method: A nationwide sample of 6460 lithium measurements was examined for association with suicide rates per 100,000 population and suicide standardised mortality ratios across all 99 Austrian districts. Multivariate regression models were adjusted for well-known socioeconomic factors known to influence suicide mortality in Austria (population density, per capita income, proportion of Roman Catholics, as well as the availability of mental health service providers). Sensitivity analyses and weighted least squares regression were used to challenge the robustness of the results., Results: The overall suicide rate (R(2) = 0.15, β = -0.39, t = -4.14, P = 0.000073) as well as the suicide mortality ratio (R(2) = 0.17, β = -0.41, t = -4.38, P = 0.000030) were inversely associated with lithium levels in drinking water and remained significant after sensitivity analyses and adjustment for socioeconomic factors., Conclusions: In replicating and extending previous results, this study provides strong evidence that geographic regions with higher natural lithium concentrations in drinking water are associated with lower suicide mortality rates.

This work summarises the results of a series of experiences made on Panasonic UD-802AS, a multi-element dosemeter that is currently used in Caorso Nuclear Power Plant for personnel external monitoring. Two main topics have been considered: energy response and the influence of working place dose rate on relative readings of the elements at the end of the monitoring period. The presence of four elements of different materials and filtrations gives the possibility of evaluating radiation energy by a simple algorithm, so that an accurate estimate of the personal dose equivalent can be provided; the good results of the participation of Caorso Individual Monitoring Service (IMS) to 'EURADOS 2008 intercomparison on whole-body dosemeters' account for the reliability of the method. A study on the response in low-dose rate fields is also reported, giving in practice interesting information about operational conditions.

The intrinsic thermoluminescence (TL) efficiency of a TL detector relates the absorbed dose in the detector material to the light yield observed upon evaluation. Knowledge of the TL efficiency is of interest when performing numerical simulations of detector response, where only absorbed dose can be predicted. Here, the experimental determination of TL efficiency for calcium sulphate (CaSO(4):Tm) and lithium borate (Li(2)B(4)O(7):Cu) is reported. These materials are widely used in Panasonic dosemeter badges. The results of the study are in agreement with predictions from track structure theory and microdosimetry, relating an enhanced light yield at low X-ray energies to supralinear behaviour of the TL phosphor.

New radiophotoluminescence (RPL) phosphate glass containing (6)Li was successfully made from the powder of NaPO(3), Al(PO(3))(3), LiOH, HPO(3) and AgCl. The ternary diagram of NaPO(3)-Al(PO(3))(3)-LiPO(3) has clarified the region where satisfactory RPL characteristics of the glass are kept up. The synthesised phosphate glass indicated good RPL characteristics on the condition that the content of LiPO(3) was below 10 wt%. Gamma-ray irradiation experiments showed that the newly synthesised phosphate glass had satisfactory linearity and wide dynamic range in dose measurement and low variation in sensitivity. It was confirmed from thermal neutron irradiation experiments that a pair of the newly synthesised phosphate glass containing enriched (6)Li and (7)Li, or (n)Li and enriched (7)Li could be effectively used for the evaluation of thermal neutron dosimetry.

The objective of this work was the development and validation of atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) methods for the determination of residual active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in rinse samples for cleaning validation. AAS as an indirect method for the determination of API in rinse samples can be applied when it is in the form of salt with metal ions or when the metal ion is a part of the API's structure. The electrothermal AAS methods (aqueous and ethanol medium) for the determination of magnesium in esomeprazole magnesium and the flame AAS method for the determination of lithium in lithium carbonate in rinse samples were developed. Various combinations of solvents were tested and a combination of 1% aqueous or ethanol solution of nitric acid for esomeprazole magnesium and 0.1% aqueous solution of nitric acid for lithium carbonate were found to be the most suitable. The atomization conditions in the graphite furnace and in the flame were carefully studied to avoid losses of analyte and to achieve suitable sensitivity. The cleaning verification methods were validated with respect to accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection, and quantification. In all the cases, the limits of detection were at the microgram level. The methods were successfully applied for the determination of esomeprazole magnesium and lithium carbonate in rinse samples from cleaning procedures.

Present investigation was carried out to estimate mineral elements in Rheum emodi Wallr. by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The samples of R. emodi Wallr., both wild and cultivate populations, were collected from different localities at different altitudes of Uttarakhand, India. The concentration of micro- and macroelements was different in roots and leaves. The concentration of mineral elements was found in both the leaves and roots in the order of K > Ca > Fe > Mn > Na > Zn > Co > Li > Cu.

Introduction: A significant part of the secondary particle spectrum from antiproton annihilation consists of fast neutrons, which may contribute to a significant dose background found outside the primary beam., Materials and Methods: Using a polystyrene phantom as a moderator, we have performed absolute fluence measurements of the thermalized part of the fast neutron spectrum using Lithium-6 and -7 Fluoride TLD pairs. The results were compared with the Monte Carlo particle transport code FLUKA., Results: The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with simulations. The thermal neutron kerma resulting from the measured thermal neutron fluence is insignificant compared to the contribution from fast neutrons., Discussion: The secondary neutron fluences encountered in antiproton therapy are found to be similar to values calculated for pion treatment, however exact modeling under more realistic treatment scenarios is still required to quantitatively compare these treatment modalities.

Elevated concentrations of arsenic in drinking water are common worldwide, however, little is known about the presence of other potentially toxic elements. We analyzed 31 different elements in drinking water collected in San Antonio de los Cobres and five surrounding Andean villages in Argentina, and in urine of the inhabitants, using ICP-MS. Besides confirmation of elevated arsenic concentrations in the drinking water (up to 210 microg/L), we found remarkably high concentrations of lithium (highest 1000 microg/L), cesium (320 microg/L), rubidium (47 microg/L), and boron (5950 microg/L). Similarly elevated concentrations of arsenic, lithium, cesium, and boron were found in urine of the studied women (N=198): village median values ranged from 26 to 266 microg/L of arsenic, 340 to 4550 microg/L of lithium, 34 to 531 microg/L of cesium, and 2980 to 16,560 microg/L of boron. There is an apparent risk of toxic effects of long-term exposure to several of the elements, and studies on associations with adverse human health effects are warranted, particularly considering the combined, life-long exposure. Because of the observed wide range of concentrations, all water sources used for drinking water should be screened for a large number of elements; obviously, this applies to all drinking water sources globally.

Physiological level of trace lithium in human serum was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). 3.5% HNO3 (v/v) was employed as a protein precipitant for sample treatment and at the same time verified as a very effective chemical modifier to eliminate the interference of chloride. The analytical conditions for lithium determination in serum were investigated and the optimal pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 800 degrees C and 2700 degrees C. The accuracy and precision of the method were tested by determining lithium in a RANDOX HN1530 assayed human multi-sera and a pooled human serum. The result was in good agreement with the target value and CV of the pooled human serum was 4.74% (n=10). The characteristic mass, the limit of detection (LOD) of the proposed method were 0.8 pg and 0.01 micromol/L, respectively. Median+/-S.E.M. of serum lithium in 220 Chinese people was 0.25+/-0.02 micromol/L.

In this paper a novel micromachined contactless conductivity CE device produced in low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) is introduced. The application of LTCC multilayer technology provides a promising method for the contactless detection of conductive compounds because of its increased dielectric constant compared with glass or plastics. The capacitive coupling of the excitation signal into the microchannel across the LTCC substrate is improved, resulting in better detection sensitivity. Two silver electrodes located externally at opposite sides at the end of the separation channel act as detector. Impedance variations in the channel are measured without galvanic contact between electrodes and fluid. Inorganic ions are separated in less than 1 min with this novel ceramic device. The limit of detection is 10 microM for potassium.

Objective: Remineralization is an indispensable phenomenon during the natural healing process of enamel decay. The incorporation of zinc (Zn) into enamel crystal could accelerate this remineralization. The present study was designed to investigate the concentration and distribution of Zn in remineralized enamel after gum chewing., Methods: The experiment was performed at the Photon Factory. Synchrotron radiation was monochromatized and X-rays were focused into a small beam spot. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from the sample was detected with a silicon (Si) (lithium (Li)) detector. X-ray beam energy was tuned to detect Zn. The examined samples were small enamel fragments remineralized after chewing calcium phosphate-containing gum in situ. The incorporation of Zn atom into hydroxyapatite (OHAP), the main component of enamel, was measured using Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) with fluorescence mode at the SPring-8., Results: A high concentration of Zn was detected in a superficial area 10-microm deep of the sectioned enamel after gum chewing. This concentration increased over that in the intact enamel. The atomic distance between Zn and O in the enamel was calculated using the EXAFS data. The analyzed atomic distances between Zn and O in two sections were 0.237 and 0.240 nm., Conclusion: The present experiments suggest that Zn is effectively incorporated into remineralized enamel through the physiological processes of mineral deposition in the oral cavity through gum-chewing and that Zn substitution probably occurred at the calcium position in enamel hydroxyapatite.

Although lithium is known to prevent suicide in people with mood disorders, it is uncertain whether lithium in drinking water could also help lower the risk in the general population. To investigate this, we examined lithium levels in tap water in the 18 municipalities of Oita prefecture in Japan in relation to the suicide standardised mortality ratio (SMR) in each municipality. We found that lithium levels were significantly and negatively associated with SMR averages for 2002-2006. These findings suggest that even very low levels of lithium in drinking water may play a role in reducing suicide risk within the general population.

Fluorescent dihydroxypyridine ligands were prepared by attaching pyrene-, dansyl-, and methoxycoumarin-fluorophores via dimethyleneamine linkers. The reaction of these ligands with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) or [(C(6)H(5)CH(2)NMe(2)H)RuCl(2)](2)Cl(2) resulted in the formation of 12-metallacrown-3 complexes, which possess strong affinity for lithium ions. By a judicious choice of the fluorophore and the arene pi-ligand, a macrocycle was obtained that could be used in aqueous solution to selectively and quantitatively detect lithium ions by fluorescence spectroscopy.

A digital image-based flame emission spectrometric (DIB-FES) method for the quantitative chemical analysis is proposed here for the first time. The DIB-FES method employs a webcam to capture the digital images which are associated to a radiation emitted by the analyte into an air-butane flame. Since the detection by webcam is based on the RGB (red-green-blue) colour system, a novel mathematical model was developed in order to build DIB-FES analytical curves and estimate figures of merit for the proposed method. In this approach, each image is retrieved in the three R, G and B individual components and their values were used to define a position vector in RGB three-dimensional space. The norm of this vector is then adopted as the RGB-based value (analytical response) and it has revealed to be linearly related to the analyte concentration. The feasibility of the DIB-FES method is illustrated in three applications involving the determination of lithium, sodium and calcium in anti-depressive drug, physiological serum and water, respectively. In comparison with the traditional flame emission spectrometry (trad-FES), no statistic difference has been observed between the results by applying the paired t-test at the 95% confidence level. However, the DIB-FES method has offered the largest sensitivities and precision, as well as the smallest limits of detection and quantification for the three analytes. These advantageous characteristics are attributed to the trivariate nature of the detection by webcam.

This paper describes a quantitative measurement of trace elements (Na, Li) in high purity zirconium dioxide powder using liquid electrode plasma optical emission spectrometry (LEP-OES). Conventionally, for such type of measurements, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is frequently employed. The detection limits of elements in zirconium by ICP-OES are degraded due to the spectra interference between the trace elements and zirconium of the matrix, because zirconium is a line rich element in spectra obtained by ICP-OES. LEP-OES is an elemental analysis method developed by the authors. The measurement principle is simple, as follows. Sample solution is put into a narrow channel on a small cuvette and voltage pulse is applied from both ends of the channel. At the center of the channel which is made narrower, the voltage and current are concentrated there, and plasma is generated. From the emission of the plasma, the quantitative analysis of the elements in the solution is achieved. The LEP-OES has the property that the emission of zirconium is relatively weak, so that highly sensitive measurement of trace elements in zirconium matrix can be conducted without interference. Sample solution is prepared by dissolving high purity zirconium dioxide powder and trace amounts of Na or Li with sulfuric acid. The voltage dependence and the pulse width dependence of optical emission spectra are also investigated. With increase of the voltage or the pulse width, the ratio of emission intensities of Na to those of hydrogen increases. This suggests that the ratio of sensitivity of two elements is variable, that means the element selectivity is controllable to some extent by the measurement conditions in LEP-OES. In the case of Na and H, the ratio can be controlled from 7.4 to 21.6%. Finally, the detection limits (3S.D.) of the trace elements, Na and Li, in 4000 microg g(-1) zirconium dioxide aqueous solution are found to be 0.02 and 0.133 microg g(-1), respectively. These values correspond to 5 microg g(-1) for Na, 33.25 microg g(-1) for Li in original high purity zirconium dioxide powder. The correlation coefficient of calibration curve was 0.995 for Na, 0.985 for Li. Those are comparable to the literature values of detection limits using ICP-OES.

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was applied to the determination of micro amount of lithium in the oil field water of certain area. In order to determine which method is more appropriate for the determination of lithium content in the oil field water, standard curve method and standard addition method were compared. The effects of dilution, coexistent ions, and deionizers on the determination were studied. For the determination of lithium content in the same diluted oil field water samples, there exist obvious differences between the results obtained from standard addition method and standard curve method. Standard addition method gives results with a larger error, whereas standard curve method gives more accurate results. It is difficult to eliminate the interferences when the standard addition method is used. The standard curve method is found to be more suitable for the determination of micro amount of lithium in the oil field water for its accuracy, simplicity, and feasibility. When the standard curve method is used, both the determined lithium concentration and the recovery change with the dilution extent of the oil field water. In order to get an accurate result, the oil field water sample should be diluted to 1/200 or less. In this case, the recovery by standard addition method ranges from 94.3% to 96.9%. When sodium phosphate or sodium chloride is used as the deionizer, the recovery by standard addition method ranges from 94.6% to 98.6%, or from 94.2% to 96.3%. In the determination of lithium content in oil field water, there are larger experimental errors without the addition of any deionizer. When the concentration of coexistent ions is within an allowed range, the addition of sodium phosphate as a deionizer can eliminate the interferences of the coexistent ions with the determination of the lithium content. If sodium chloride is used as a deionizer, a more accurate result can be obtained when the sodium content in the samples is near the sodium content in the standard solutions. In general, under suitable experimental conditions, sodium chloride can be used as the deionizer for the determination of lithium content in the oil field water.

At present positron emission tomography (PET) is the only feasible method of an in situ and non-invasive monitoring of patient irradiation with ions. At the experimental carbon ion treatment facility of the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) Darmstadt an in-beam PET scanner has been integrated into the treatment site and lead to a considerable quality improvement of the therapy. Since ions other than carbon are expected to come into operation in future patient treatment facilities, it is highly desirable to extend in-beam PET also to other therapeutic relevant ions, e.g. (7)Li. Therefore, by means of the in-beam PET scanner at GSI the beta(+)-activity induced by (7)Li(3+) ions has been investigated for the first time. Targets of PMMA, water, graphite and polyethylene were irradiated with monoenergetic, pencil-like beams of (7)Li(3+) with energies between 129.1 A MeV and 205.3 A MeV and intensities ranging from 3.0 x 10(7) to 1.9 x 10(8) ions s(-1). This paper presents the measured beta(+)-activity profiles as well as depth dependent thick target yields which have been deduced from the experimental data. The beta(+)-activity induced by (7)Li ions was found to be a factor of 1.76 higher than the one induced by (12)C ions at the same physical dose and particle range.

A method of regiospecific analysis of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in vegetable oils and animal fats is reported here using the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS(3)) of TAG-lithiated adducts. The fragment ions of the MS(3) from the loss of fatty acids at the sn-2 position as alpha,beta-unsaturated fatty acids were used for regiospecific identification and quantification. The ratio of the regiospecific TAGs, ABA and AAB, in an oil sample usually fraction collected by high-performance liquid chromatography can be determined by the abundance of the fragment ions of [ABA + Li-ACOOH-B'CH=CHCOOH]+ and [AAB + Li-ACOOH-A'CH=CHCOOH]+. The method was used to analyze regiospecific TAGs in extra virgin olive oil. The results showed that the saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, were mostly located at the sn-1,3 positions and unsaturated fatty acids, oleic and linoleic acids, were mostly located at the sn-2 position.

A systematic measurement of ions and 2H/1H, 7Li/6Li, 11B/10B, 18O/ 16O, and 87Sr/86Sr isotopes in feed-waters, permeates, and brines from commercial reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants in Israel (Ashkelon, Eilat, and Nitzana) and Cyprus (Larnaca) reveals distinctive geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of fresh water generated from desalination of seawater (SWRO) and brackish water (BWRO). The degree of isotope fractionation during the passage of water and solutes through the RO membranes depends on the medium (solvent-water vs. solutes), chemical speciation of the solutes, their charge, and their mass difference. O, H, and Sr isotopes are not fractionated during the RO process. 7Li is preferentially rejected in low pH RO, and B isotope fractionation depends on the pH conditions. Under low pH conditions, B isotopes are not significantly fractionated, whereas at high pH, RO permeates are enriched by 20 per thousand in 11B due to selective rejection of borate ion and preferential permeation of 11B-enriched boric acid through the membrane. The specific geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of SWRO provide a unique tool for tracing "man-made" fresh water as an emerging recharge component of natural water resources.

The therapeutic mechanism of action of lithium (Li) in bipolar disorder is unknown. While Li is presumed to work intracellularly in the brain, the fraction of intracellular Li in the brain in vivo is not known. It has not yet been possible to determine, directly and noninvasively, the intra- to extracellular distribution of Li in human brain in vivo. Lithium-7 ((7)Li) MR is the only technique available for measuring noninvasively the concentration of Li in the brain in vivo. Here the individual components of biexponential (7)Li transverse (T(2)) relaxation in rat brain in vivo are identified with intra- and extracellular Li, and used to estimate its compartmental distribution. Intracellular T(2) was 14.6 +/- 6.9 ms, while extracellular T(2) was 160 +/- 52 ms in nine rats. The fraction of intracellular brain Li ranged from 37% to 75% (mean: 63 +/- 11%). Further, the biexponential T(2) results provided the basis for estimating Li compartmental distribution from monoexponential T(2) decays using a simple linear approximation. The fraction of intracellular Li estimated from monoexponential T(2) decays agreed with the corresponding biexponential estimates in most cases., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Lithium disilicate (Li2O-2SiO2) glass was immersed in a static solution of deionized water and heated by a microwave or by conventional means for various times. The resulting Li+ and Si migration was compared by solution analysis and the corroded glass surfaces were compared by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results show no substantial differences in migration or glass corrosion under the test conditions using 7.00 GHz microwave radiation, but leave open the possibility of very slightly altered kinetics using 5.86 GHz radiation. More testing at 2.45 GHz is suggested.

The authors give a method of determination of the content of lithium in biological objects (liver, kidney) by the method of flame photometry. It is possible to use this method in forensic medicine in cases of acute intoxication.

Guiyu, China is infamous for its involvement in primitive e-waste processing and recycling activities. Freshwater samples were collected in and outside of Guiyu for dissolved metal analysis. It was found that dissolved metal concentrations were higher in Lianjiang and Nanyang River within Guiyu than the reservoir outside of Guiyu. Lianjiang was enriched with dissolved As, Cr, Li, Mo, Sb and Se, while Nanyang River had elevated dissolved Ag, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Temporal distributions of the metals suggested recent discharges of metals attributable to a strong acid leaching operation of e-waste, where dissolved Ag, Cd, Cu and Ni (0.344+/-0.014, 0.547+/-0.074, 87.6+/-3.0 and 93.0+/-1.4 microg/L, respectively) were significantly elevated. Pb isotopic composition of dissolved Pb confirmed that more than one non-indigenous Pb were present in Lianjiang and Nanyang River. In summary, it was evident that the riverine environment of Guiyu was heavily impacted by e-waste related activities.

The use of a zeolite (clinoptilolite) to protect poplar plants from lithium-contaminated soil has been studied using magnetic resonance imaging. Lithium was used as a model contaminant as it could be tracked directly using specific nuclear magnetic resonance probes, rather than relying on relaxation time effects on protons due to paramagnetic solutes. The sorption of lithium to the zeolite was investigated both in static and dynamic systems; lithium was found to sorb readily to the zeolite over time. Poplar plants were grown in soil microcosms consisting of either sand or sand and zeolite with nutrients provided through the use of Hoagland's solution as the pore fluid. Both one-dimensional profiles of lithium concentration along poplar stems and direct lithium imaging of stem cross-sections were employed to reveal the uptake of the contaminant into the plant structure, showing significantly less lithium present in plants grown in sand and zeolite than those grown in sand alone. Evidence of structural features involved in the uptake of lithium was also obtained.

Since lithium salts are used as pharmaceutically active compounds against manic-depressive psychosis, there is a demand to monitor the lithium concentration in blood in the narrow range of 0.6-1.2 mM effectively and safely. Here we report on an optical sensor approach for the determination of Li+, based on the design and synthesis of a novel lithium fluoroionophore KLI-1 and its polymer immobilizable derivative KLI-2, and the application to an optode. The novel lithium fluoroionophores rely on a tetramethyl "blocking subunit" bearing 14-crown-4 as a Li+-selective binding site and 4-methylcoumarin as a fluorophore, intramolecularly connected to show ICT-type wavelength shift for ratiometric fluorescence measurements. The fluoroionophores showed high selectivity for Li+ with binding-induced blue shift in the fluorescence spectra, no response to major biological interfering cations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), a selectivity of log kLi+,Na+ = -2.4 over Na+ in solution, and no response to pH in the range of pH 3-10. A hydrophilic optode membrane with KLI-2 immobilized also showed good selectivity for Li+, pH independence in the physiological range (pH 6-8), and fully reversible signal changes. KLI-1 and KLI-2 are excellent Li+ fluorescent chemosensors that can be applied to quantitative measurements of lithium in clinical samples, although possible interference from Na+ has to be considered at the lower therapeutic level of Li+.

A method for monitoring of the concentration of lithium, zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper in drinking water is suggested. Monitoring can be performed within the range of 1.5(10(-8) - 2.0(10(-6) mg/dm3. A new design of the electrochemical cell is suggested. Analysis is performed against the background of 0.02 M dimethylformamide solution of (C4H9)4NCIO4. The time and potential of electrolysis are determined experimentally. The method can be used in medical research.

Determination of impurities in ionic liquids (ILs) remains a difficult task. In this work, the hyphenation of isotachophoretic (ITP) preconcentration to zone electrophoresis (ZE) has been explored for the trace analysis of the cationic impurities Na(+), Li(+), and methylimidazolium (MI(+)) in butylmethylimidazolium (BMI(+))-based ILs. Simultaneous detection of UV-transparent and UV-absorbing impurities was ensured by a BGE composed of creatinine-acetate buffer. To induce ITP, three different strategies were evaluated: (i) Sample self-stacking ensured by the addition of ammonium acetate (NH(4)Ac) to 25-50-fold diluted IL solution (transient ITP). (ii) Complete ITP-ZE separation performed in a single capillary: ITP was realized in discontinuous electrolytes comprising an 80 mM NH(4)Ac, 40 mM acetic acid, 30 mM alpha-CD, pH 5.05, leading electrolyte (LE) and a 10 mM creatinine, 10 mM acetic acid, pH 4.9, terminating electrolyte (TE). To create the ZE stage, the ITP stack of analytes was moved back toward the capillary inlet by pressure and simultaneously the capillary was filled with the BGE. This protocol made it possible to accommodate a 2.5-times diluted IL sample. (iii) Complete counterflow ITP-ZE with continuous electrokinetic sample supply: the ITP stage was performed in a capillary filled with a 150 mM NH(4)Ac, 75 mM acetic acid, 30 mM alpha-CD, pH 5.0 LE, with 40-times diluted IL at the capillary inlet. BMI(+) from IL acts as the terminating ion. The LODs reached in this latter case were at the 10 and 1 ppb levels for MI(+) and Li(+) in diluted IL matrix, respectively.

The lithium ions concentration in human serum and saliva was determined using dry-slide technology Vitros 250 Analyser (Ortho Clinical Diagnostic) and atomic absorption spectrometry Perkin Elmer 403 (AAS). We analyzed lithium ions in 100 serum and saliva specimens of patients after oral administration of lithium carbonate (3 x 300 mg) Jadran, Galen Laboratory Rijeka. Saliva and blood were taken 2 and 12 hours after the last dose. At the same time lithium ions at samples of blood and saliva were determined with both methods which showed high level of correlation. The mean difference of lithium ions between saliva and serum was statistically significant for p<0.05 using t student test. At saliva we got constant of elimination Kel = 0.02(-1)h and elimination half life (t(1/2)) was t(1/2)=34.6 h. For serum was t(1/2)= 24 h what means that lithium ions elimination is slower from saliva then from serum. That is the reason why probably concentration at saliva is higher then at serum. Lithium elimination is two compartment pharmacokinetic model where important part of compartment are saliva and salivary glands. At a certain point in medical treatment it could be expected to use controlled determination of lithium ions in saliva with serum as control.