Two-Dimensional Photoluminescence Behavior of Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayers and Multilayers Composed of Decatungstoeuropate

Decatungstoeuropate/dimethyldioctadecylammonium (EuW₁₀/DODA) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers and multilayers (7 layers) were fabricated by using aqueous solution of EuW₁₀ with different concentration (1.0–3.0 μmol dm⁻³). The results of specular X-ray reflectivity (SXR) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) measurements for the EuW₁₀/DODA LB films indicated an increase in the interlayer distance and in-plane molecular ordering for the film fabricated with the concentrated EuW₁₀ solution, reflecting the dense packing of DODA and EuW₁₀ molecules. Their photoluminescence property also depended on the concentration of the EuW₁₀ solution. With an increase in the EuW₁₀ concentration in the subphase, both the relative intensity of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transition and the emission lifetime increased. The lifetime of emission of the EuW₁₀ LB monolayers changed from 0.8±0.1 ms (1.0 μmol dm⁻³) to 1.0±0.1 ms (2.1 μmol dm⁻³) and 1.3±0.1 ms (3.0 μmol dm⁻³), which became closer to that (2.6 ms) of the solid, and EuW₁₀/DODA LB multilayers had the same tendency. The elongation of the emission lifetime was due to a decrease in the number of aqua molecules within the Eu³⁺-coordination sphere, which will be caused by the dense and regular packing of EuW₁₀ molecules.     

Differential pulse polarographic study of thiamine (vitamin B1) in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions

The differential pulse (dp) polarograms of thiamine in neutral aqueous solutions exhibited six peaks at low depolarizer concentration (⋦10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³) and only three peaks at concentrations ≥10⁻³ mol dm⁻³. Only one of these was found to correspond to the diffusion-controlled reduction of this compound at the dme and this was shown to be an irreversible two-electron process. The kinetic parameters derived from the dp polarograms were found to be in good agreement with those calculated from classical polarograms and were:E _1/2=−1·261 Vvs SCE,an _a=0·54 andD≈3·5×10⁻⁶ cm² sec⁻¹ for 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ thiamine in 0·1 mol dm⁻³ acetate buffer (pH 6·5). The reduction product has been identified as dihydrothiamine. The effect of pH on the dpp of thiamine was studied in the pH range 0–7. In the pH region 5·5 to 7·0 only one peak attributable to the B₁ ⁺ form of thiamine is present. In the pH region 3·5–5·5 another dpp peak attributable to the protonated form (B₁H²⁺) of thiamine was also observed. At pHs less than 3 only one peak was observed which could be attributed to the doubly protonated form (B₁ H₂ ³⁺) of thiamine. Surfactants like triton-X-100 and CTABr were found to inhibit the electroreduction of thiamine due to the strong adsorption of these compounds on the dme. Thiamine itself was found to have an inhibitory effect on its own electroreduction, although to a smaller extent.     

Electrochemical behavior of electrodeposited film derived from rhein and its activity towards myoglobin reduction

The stable electroactive thin film of rhein has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the electrodeposited film derived from rhein indicated the electrode reaction was kinetically controlled in the region of higher frequency, the charge transfer resistance was 2.6×10³ Ω cm² and capacitance value was 13.2 μF cm² . The electrodeposited film derived from rhein exhibited a good electrocatalytic activity for myoglobin (Mb) reduction. In 0.30 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄solution, the catalysis currents were proportional to the concentrations of Mb over the range of 1.5×10⁻⁷–1.3×10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³. The detection limit is 1.0×10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³ (S/N=3). The relative standard deviation is 4.8% for eight successive determinations of 5.0×10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³ Mb.     

Adsorption behavior of rice husk for the decontamination of chromium from industrial effluents

Rice husk, an agricultural waste product, was studied as a potential decontaminant for chromium in the effluents of leather tanning industries. Physico-chemical parameters such as selection of appropriate electrolyte, shaking time, concentration of adsorbent and adsorbate were studied to optimize the best conditions in which this material can be utilized on commercial scale for the decontamination of effluents. The radiotracer technique was used to determine the distribution of chromium. In certain cases atomic absorption spectrophotometry was also employed. Maximum adsorption was observed at 0.01 mol·dm⁻³ acid solutions (HNO₃, HCl, H₂SO₄ and HClO₄) using 3.0 g of adsorbent for 2.73·10⁻³ mol·dm⁻³ chromium concentration in five minutes equilibration time. Studies show that the adsorption decreases with the increase in the concentrations of all the acids. The adsorption data follows the Freundlich isotherm over the range of 2.73·10⁻³ to 2.73·10⁻² mol·dm⁻³ chromium concentration. The characteristic Freundlich constants, i.e., 1/n=0.86±0.06 andA=2.35±0.06 mmol·g⁻¹ have been computed for the sorption system. Thermodynamic parameters, i.e., ΔG ⁰, ΔS ⁰ and ΔH ⁰ have also been calculated for the system. Application of the method to a test case of a medium size industry showed that 21 kg of rice husk was sufficient to maintain the NEQS limits of chromium for industrial effluents.     

Radiotracer technique in adsorption studies Part XVIII: Uptake of Ce(III) from aqueous solutions by hydrous manganese and stannic oxides

The removal of Ce(III) from aqueous solutions by hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) and hydrous stannic oxide (HSO) was studied as a function of concentrations (10⁻²−10⁻⁷ mol·dm⁻³) and pH (1.2–10.0) by using the radiotracer technique. The effects of co-ions and irradiation of HMO and HSO were also studied. The uptake of Ce(III) fitted well with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. No significant desorption of pre-adsorbed Ce(III) in the studied temperature range (303–333 K) indicates that both the solids may be good adsorbents for the removal of Ce(III).     

Protonation of Chloro-, Bromo- and Iodo-pentacyanocobaltate(III) Complexes

The reactions between Fe(Phen)₃²⁺[phen = tris-(1,10) phenanthroline] and Co(CN)₅X³⁻ (X = Cl, Br or I) have been studied in aqueous acidic solutions at 25 °C and ionic strength in the range I = 0.001–0.02 mol dm⁻³ (NaCl/HCl). Plots of k₂ versus √I, applying Debye–Huckel Theory, gave the values −1.79 ± 0.18, −1.65 ± 0.18 and 1.81 ± 0.10 as the product of charges (Z_AZ_B) for the reactions of Fe(Phen)₃²⁺ with the chloro-, bromo- and iodo- complexes respectively. Z_AZ_B of ≈ −2 suggests that the charge on these Co^III complexes cannot be −3 but is −1. This suggests the possibility of protonation of these Co^III complexes. Protonation was investigated over the range [H⁺] = 0.0001 −0.06 mol dm⁻³ and the protonation constants K_a obtained are 1.22 × 10³, 7.31 × 10³ and 9.90 × 10² dm⁶ mol⁻³ for X = Cl, Br and I, respectively.     

A comparative spectroelectrochemical study of the redox electrochemistry of nitroanilines

The oxidative and reductive electrochemistry of the three isomeric nitroanilines has been studied in neutral (0.1 mol L⁻¹ KClO₄) and acidic (0.1 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄) aqueous electrolyte solutions by cyclic voltammetry and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The cyclic voltammograms recorded for o- and p-nitroanilines with a gold electrode in acidic solution, scanning toward negative potentials, revealed formation of phenylenediamine not observed in neutral solution. Similar behavior of nitroanilines and phenylenediamines was observed on gold and platinum electrodes. An oxygen–gold adsorbate stretching mode was detected between 400 and 430 cm⁻¹ in the SER-spectra of the three isomeric nitroanilines in both electrolyte solutions at positive electrode potentials, implying perpendicular adsorption via the nitro group.     

Ionic strength dependence of formation constants, complexation of nitrilotriacetic acid with tungsten(VI) ion

The dependence on ionic strength of protonation of nitrilotriacetic acid and its complexation with W(VI) is reported in sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and sodium chloride solutions as background salts. The measurements have been performed at 25°C and various ionic strengths in the range 0.1–1.0 mol dm⁻³, using a combination of potentiometric and spectrophotometric techniques. The overall analysis of the present and the previous data dealing with the determination of stability constants at different ionic strengths allowed us to obtain a general equation, by which a formation constant determined at a fixed ionic strength can be calculated, with a good approximation, at another ionic strength, if 0.1 ≤ ionic strength ≤ 1.0 mol dm⁻³ sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate or sodium chloride.     

Monitoring formation of poly(neutral red) film by EQCM

An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) is employed for monitoring the growth of poly(neutral red) films on platinum in the electrolytic solution containing 5.0 mmol dm⁻³ neutral red, 0.3 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄, and 0.5 mol dm⁻³ Na₂SO₄. The in situ measurement of the frequency changes of the EQCM reveals that both the adsorption/desorption of neutral red and the formation of poly(neutral red) film can be observed together with anion sorption/desorption during the redox transformation of the polymer, and that the polymerization rate of neutral red increases slowly before the 11th cycle and then increases quickly with increasing number of potential cycles. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 284–289. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Indirect radiotracer study of the adsorption of corrosion inhibitors on hematite

The specific adsorption of corrosion inhibitors (inorganic and organic compounds) was studied at a metal oxide (hematite) in 0.5 mol dm^–3 NaClO₄ solution by an indirect radiotracer technique. This indirect radiotracer technique is based upon the application of labeled indicator species, which were sulfate species at a concentration of 2×10^–4 mol dm^–3. The displacement of sulfate species was found in all the cases studied. The order of the inhibition efficiency of the corrosion inhibitor molecules is in good agreement with the order of their adsorbabilities. Electronic Publication     

The effect of the oxidative properties of [Mg(H2O)6] in the triplet and singlet states on the energetics of adenosine triphosphate cleavage

The interaction of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule (the ATP subsystem) with the magnesium complex [Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ (the Mg subsystem) in the singlet (S) and triplet (T) states in an aqueous medium mimicked by 78 water molecules was studied by the molecular dynamics (density functional theory) method MD DFT:B3LYP with the 6–31G** basis set at T = 310 K. Potential energy surfaces for the S (lowest-lying) and T (highest-lying) states are significantly separated in space. The Mg complex moves along these surfaces to approach either oxygen atoms of the γ-β phosphate groups (O1–O2) (S PES) or oxygen atoms of β-α phosphate groups (O2–O3) (T PES). Chelation of the γ-β β-α and phosphates yields, respectively, a stable low-energy complex ([Mg(H₂O)₄-(O1–O2)ATP]²⁻) and a metastable high-energy complex ([Mg(H₂O)₂-(O2–O3)ATP]²⁻), which differ in the number of water molecules surrounding the Mg atom. Crossing of two triplet PESs is accompanied by the formation of an unstable state characterized by redistribution of spins between the Mg and ATP subsystems. This state, sensitive to interaction with the ²⁵Mg nuclear spin, induces an unpaired electron spin, which initiates the ATP cleavage by the ion-radical mechanism, yielding a reactive radical ion of adenosine monophosphate (•AMP⁻), which was earlier found experimentally by the of chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) method. Biological aspects of the results obtained are discussed. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Tulub, V.E. Stefanov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 7, pp. 1188–1195.     

Electroreduction and Quantification of Furazolidone and Furaltadone in Different Media

 Adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry was used for the determination of furazolidone (FZ) and furaltadone (FD) in borax and phosphate buffers, respectively, using HMDE as working electrode. The influence of different factors upon the peak current response such as accumulation potential, scan rate, preconcentration time, pH and other variables was studied. Furazolidone and furaltadone showed an adsorption character on HMDE in presence of borax and phosphate buffers, respectively. A single cathodic peak at −0.36 V in borax (pH = 9.5) was observed for FZ, while FD gave a cathodic peak at −0.32 V in phosphate buffer (pH = 8.5). The calibration graph showed a linear behavior over the range 3×10⁻⁹–9×10⁻⁸ mol dm⁻³ for furazolidone. In the case of FD, concentrations from 3×10⁻⁹ to 2×10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³ gave a linear relationship with the peak current. A detection limit of 2×10⁻⁹ mol dm⁻³ and 1×10⁻⁹ mol dm⁻³ was obtained for furazolidone and furaltadone, respectively. This method was applied to determine these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations, urine and serum samples. Received December 15, 1998. Revision February 4, 2000.     

Ion-pair formation in the outer-sphere electron transfer reactions between tris-(1, 10) phenanthroline iron(II) and the halopentacyanocobaltate(III) complexes in aqueous acidic solutions

The kinetics of the reactions between Fe(phen) ₃ ²⁺ [phen = tris–(1,10) phenanthroline] and Co(CN)₅X³⁻ (X = Cl, Br or I) have been investigated in aqueous acidic solutions at I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (NaCl/HCl). The reactions were carried out at a fixed acid concentration ([H⁺] = 0.01 mol dm⁻³) and the second-order rate constants for the reactions at 25 °C were within the range of (0.151–1.117) dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. Ion-pair constants K _ip for these reactions, taking into consideration the protonation of the cobalt complexes, were 5.19 × 10⁴, 3.00 × 10² and 4.02 × 10⁴ mol⁻¹ dm⁻³ for X = Cl, Br and I, respectively. Activation parameters measured for these systems were as follows: ΔH* (kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹) = 94.3 ± 0.6, 97.3 ± 1.0 and 109.1 ± 0.4; ΔS* (J K⁻¹) = 69.1 ± 1.9, 74.9 ± 3.2 and 112.3 ± 1.3; ΔG* (kJ) = 73.7 ± 0.6, 75.0 ± 1.0 and 75.7 ± 0.4; E _a (kJ) = 96.9 ± 0.3, 99.8 ± 0.4, and 122.9 ± 0.3; A (dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) = (7.079 ± 0.035) × 10¹⁶, (1.413 ± 0.011) × 10¹⁷, and (9.772 ± 0.027) × 10²⁰ for X = Cl, Br, and I respectively. An outer – sphere mechanism is proposed for all the reactions.     

Sorption behaviour of rubidium,thallium and silver on chromium ferricyanide gel binary separations of Rb+ and Tl+

Sorption behaviour of monovalent Rb⁺, Tl⁺ and Ag⁺ is studied on chromium fericyanide gel. Log K_d vs log concentration plots show that Rb⁺ and Tl⁺ are sorbed through ion exchange mechanism in a higher concentration range of ammonium nitrate or nitric acid, whereas the adsorption of Ag⁺ is irreversible. It was found possible to elute Rb⁺ and Tl⁺ on the columns of this gel by 4 mol dm⁻³ NH₄NO₃ and 10 mol dm⁻³ HNO₃, respectively. Binary separations of Rb⁺ and Tl⁺ from a number of other metal ions were achieved as other ions were found practically unadsorbed on these columns and were eluted with water of pH 2–3. Achieved separations are of radioanalytical and analytical importance.     

Outer-Sphere electron-transfer and the effect of linkage isomerism in the titanium(III) reduction of nitro-pentacyanocobaltate(III) and nitro-, and nitrito-pentaamminecobalt(III) complexes in aqueous acidic media

The reductions of [Co(CN)₅NO₂]³⁻, [Co(NH₃)₅NO₂]²⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₅ONO]²⁺, by Ti^III in aqueous acidic solution have been studied spectrophotometrically. Kinetic studies were carried out using conventional techniques at an ionic strength of 1.0 mol dm⁻³ (LiCl/HCl) at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C and acid concentrations between 0.015 and 0.100 mol dm⁻³. The second-order rate constant is inverse—acid dependent and is described by the limiting rate law:- k₂ ≈ k₀ + k[H⁺]⁻¹,where k=k′K_a and K_a is the hydrolytic equilibrium constant for [Ti(H₂O)₆]³⁺. Values of k₀ obtained for [Co(CN)₅NO₂]³⁻, [Co(NH₃)₅NO₂]²⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₅ONO]²⁺ are (1.31 ± 0.05) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, (4.53 ± 0.08) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and (1.7 ± 0.08) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively, while the corresponding k′ values from reductions by TiOH²⁺ are 10.27 ± 0.45 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, 14.99 ± 0.70 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 17.93 ± 0.78 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively. Values of K _a obtained for the three complexes lie in the range (1–2) × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ which suggest an outer-sphere mechanism.     

Adsorption studies of cesium on a new inorganic exchanger ammonium molybdophosphate-alumina (AMP-Al2O3)

The applicability of ammonium molybdophosphate-alumina (AMP-Al₂O₃) for the efficient removal of Cs from aqueous solution by adsorption has been investigated. The kinetics of adsorption of cesium ions has been studied by using radioanalytical procedure over a concentration range of 10⁻⁴−10⁻² mol.dm⁻³ and in the temperature range of 303–318 K. The results showed that the uptake follows the first order rate law with respect to cesium concentration and obeys Langmuir and modified Freundlich adsorption isotherm in the concentration range studied. Equilibrium adsorption values at different temperatures have been utilised to evaluate change in standard thermodynamic parameters (ΔH ⁰, ΔG ⁰ and ΔS ⁰). From the thermodynamic parameters it is found that the process is exothermic in nature.     

Adsorption, electrophysical, and optical studies of the surface of solid solutions and the binary components of the InSb-ZnTe system

Piezoquartz microweighing, surface electroconductivity measurements, and IR and Raman spectroscopies were used to study the mechanism and regularities of the interaction of carbon monoxide, ammonia, and oxygen, gases of different electronic natures encountered in the environment and various technological processes, with the surface of solid solutions and the binary compounds of the InSb-ZnTe system. An analysis of the results with the use of the acid-base and other physicochemical characteristics of the adsorbents and of the electronic properties of the adsorbate molecules showed that the values of adsorption of the gases lie within α = 10⁻⁵−10⁻³ mol/m². It was demonstrated that, at temperatures above 293 K, the adsorption of CO and NH₃ occurs by the donor-acceptor mechanism, whereas oxygen is adsorbed through the ion-radical mechanism, with the predominant participation of coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms and vacancy defects, respectively. It was revealed that the acid-base, adsorption, electrophysical, and optical properties vary similarly with changing composition of the system, a behavior that suggests the same origin of adsorption sites and inherent surface states and makes it possible to predict the adsorption activity of a surface on the basis of its acid-base properties and the properties of the binary compounds and constituent elements. Similarities and distinctions in the behavior of (InSb) _x (ZnTe)_{1 − x} solid solutions and the binary compounds (InSb and ZnTe) were identified. Specific features of solid solutions, as multicomponent systems, are that adsorption on them is energetically more favorable, especially well pronounced in the acid-base characteristic-composition and adsorption characteristic-composition diagrams. Such diagrams made it possible to determine the solid solution most active with respect to ammonia, (InSb)_0.95(ZnTe)_0.05, which was used to make a selective high-sensitivity gas sensor.     

Hydrogenation of nitrate in water over bimetallic Pd-Ag/Al2O3 catalysts

Hydrogenation of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) in water was studied with 0.8 ×10⁻³–3.2 ×10⁻³ mol/dm³ of reactant in the temperature range of 293–313 K over palladium promoted Ag catalysts. Pd-Ag catalysts with a low ratio of Ag/Pd were characterized by high efficiency in the reduction of nitrates. The degradation of nitrates followed approximately first order decay and the estimated apparent activation energy was about 4 kJ/mol.     

Profile distribution of As(III) and As(V) species in soil and groundwater in Bozanta area

The profile distribution of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) species in soil and groundwater was investigated in the samples collected in 2005 from a hand-drilled well, in the Bozanta area, Baia Mare region, Romania. The total content of arsenic in the soil was in the range of 525–672 mg kg⁻¹ exceeding 21–27 times the action trigger level for sensitive soil. 0.9–11.3 % of the total content was soluble in water, 83.0–92.6 % in 10 mol dm⁻³ HCl and 2.6–13.3 % was the residual fraction. Arsenic(V) was the dominant arsenic species in the soil in the range of 405–580 mg kg⁻¹. The distribution and mobility of arsenic species was governed by soil pH and contents of Al, Fe, and Mn. The mobility of arsenic(V) decreased with depth, while that of arsenic(III) was high at the surface and in the proximity of groundwater. The total concentration of arsenic in groundwater was (43.40 ± 1.70) μg dm⁻³, which exceeded the maximum contaminant level of 10 μg dm⁻³. Presented at the 33rd International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 22–26 May 2006.     

Determination of bioavailable iron in noncontaminated Slovak soils by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the extraction of bioavailable iron from soils from various parts of Slovakia using a buffered diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) solution was utilized. The extractant consists of 0.005 mol dm⁻³ DTPA, 0.1 mol dm⁻³ CaCl₂, and 0.1 mol dm⁻³ triethanolamine with pH of 7.3. DTPA was selected as the chelating agent because it can effectively extract micronutrient metal, iron. Distribution of iron in the horizons of various types of soils with respect to bioavailable iron was evaluated. The bioavailable iron in the extracts was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The calibration standards were prepared in the same surroundings as the extracts. Comparing to the average of 2.7–3.7 % total iron contents in Slovak soils, the available amounts of iron represent in average only very small amounts, approximately 0.3 % in comparison to total amounts.