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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: pumpkin77 on January 21, 2013, 12:03:24 PM

Title: "multi-point range"
Post by: pumpkin77 on January 21, 2013, 12:03:24 PM

Hi everyone,

I have a question about terminology... I am trying to translate a method about the detection and assay of some/certain phthalates in alcoholic beverages, in French...

There is a paragraph that reads something like this:

Preparing the samples

Samples with an ABV of 40 % vol. or which have been returned to 40% vol. (+/- 5% vol) are extracted.
Extraction: in a glass extension tube
- 25 ml of sample or 40% alcohol
- 50 µl of internal standard
- 2 ml of non-polar solvent (such as toluene)
Reference solution:
100 µl of 50 mg/L surrogate solution in 25 ml of alcohol with 40 % vol. or prepare a multi-point range.
The one or more reference solutions are extracted in duplicate.
Extract by vortexing for 3 minutes.
Recover the organic phase in the automatic injector vials.
Prepare a blank in the same way without adding the sample.

Does the phrase "multi-point range" here make sense to anyone?

I would be really grateful for any ideas! Thanks :)

Title: Re: "multi-point range"
Post by: Borek on January 21, 2013, 01:55:02 PM

Can't you post the French original?

Title: Re: "multi-point range"
Post by: Arkcon on January 21, 2013, 03:08:04 PM

Seems likely they expect you to create a set of standards, by mixing various levels of the pthalates in question with alcohol solutions of the sort your analyzing.  then, you will submit your unknowns and your built standards to the same extraction process, then analyze those extracted samples, to determine you unknown concentration.  However, the original French could be helpful.

Title: Re: "multi-point range"
Post by: pumpkin77 on January 21, 2013, 05:32:29 PM

Yes, Arkcon, I wondered if they were perhaps referring to a calibration standard, but the wording is confusing. The French term in question is "gamme multipoints", does that help?

Title: Re: "multi-point range"
Post by: Arkcon on January 21, 2013, 07:25:53 PM

Not really, I would just plug it into Google Translate. ;D  However, I did take French in high school, and I do occasionally browse French technical documents.  They're easier to follow than you think, technical documents tend to follow rigid diction, which makes the context easier to figure out.  Maybe you could look for an English language version of the same analysis, and the context will be clearer by comparison.