Number of species in complexation equilibria of SNAZOXS or Naphtylazoxine 6S and Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+) ions by PCA of UV-vis spectra

A critical comparison of the various PCA methods on the absorbance matrix data concerning the complexation equilibria between SNAZOXS and Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ or Naphtylazoxine 6S and Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ at 25 °C is performed. The number of complex species in a complex-forming equilibria mixture is the first important step for further qualitative and quantitative analysis in all forms of spectral data treatment. Therefore, the accuracy of the nine selected index functions for the prediction of the number of light-absorbing components that contribute to a set of spectra is critically tested using the principal component PCA algorithm INDICES in S-Plus software. Four precise methods based upon a knowledge of the experimental error of the absorbance data and five approximate methods requiring no such knowledge are discussed. Precise methods always predict the correct number of components even a presence of the minor species in mixture. Due to the large variations in the index values and even at logarithmic scale they do not reach an obvious point where the slope changes. An improved identification with the second or third derivative and derivative ratio function for some indices is preferred. Behind the number of various complexes formed the stability constants of species ML, ML₂, (and ML₃, respectively) type log β₁₁, log β₁₂, (and log β₁₃, respectively) for the system of SNAZOXS (ligand L) with six metals (the standard deviation s(log β_pq) of the last valid digits are in brackets) Cd²⁺ (4.50(3), 8.36(7)), Co²⁺ (5.75(6), 9.79(9), 13.05(2)), Cu²⁺ (6.69(6), 11.40(7)), Ni²⁺ (6.44(8), 10.91(11), 15.07(10)), Pb²⁺ (5.63(5), 9.97(9)) and Zn²⁺ (5.11(3), 8.84(5)) and for system of Naphtylazoxine 6S with Cd²⁺ (6.08(4), 11.44(7), 16.06(11)), Cu²⁺ (7.80(8), 13.41(14)), Ni²⁺ (6.35(12), 11.43(19), 16.68(24)) and Zn²⁺ (7.01(8), 12.65(15)) at 25 °C are estimated with SQUAD(84) nonlinear regression of the mole-ratio spectrophotometric data. The proposed strategy of an efficient experimentation in a stability constants determination, followed by a computational strategy, is presented with goodness-of-fit tests and various regression diagnostics able to prove the reliability of the chemical model proposed.     

Out-cage metal ion coordination by novel benzoazacrown bisamides with carboxyl,pyridyl and picolinate pendant arms

A new series of macrocyclic diamides with carboxyl, pyridyl and picolinate pendant arms have been synthesized and the stability constants of their complexes with Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ in water were determined. Complexes with a stoichiometry of 1 : 1 (M: L) were found for all ligands with the exception of 15-membered crown ethers with one pendant carboxyl or pyridine group. The ligand containing two picolinate backbone groups exhibits the highest values of the stability constants for all studied cations (logβ_ML?=?12.5–15.7). X-ray study of free ligands showed that the introduction of benzene and amide fragments into the macrocyclic moiety provides a flatten open structure of the ligand. The crystallographic analysis of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ complexes revealed the external coordination of the metal atom by amine N atoms of the macrocycle and heteroatoms of the pendant groups.     

A direct fluorescence-on chemo-sensor for selective recognition of Zn(II) by a lower rim 1,3-di-derivative of calix[4]arene possessing bis-{N-(2-hydroxynaphthyl-1-methylimine)} pendants

The bis-{N-(2-hydroxynaphthyl-1-methylimine)} anchored 1,3-di-derivative of lower rim p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene possessing a N₂O₂, N₂O₄ or N₂O₆ binding core was found to be selective for Zn(II) ions even at ?60 ppb by eliciting fluorescence-on behaviour while the other ions, viz., Ti⁴⁺, VO²⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ caused no change in the fluorescence. The reaction between 1 and Zn²⁺ was found to be stoichiometric with the formation of a 1:1 complex; while H⁺ quenched the fluorescence of the complex, OH⁻ restored it. The studies of the 1:1 isolated complexes of Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ augmented the results.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of the new Zintl phases Eu11Zn6Sb12 and Eu11Cd6Sb12

Reported are the syntheses, crystal structure determinations from single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and magnetic properties of two new ternary compounds, Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ and Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂. Both crystallize with the complex Sr₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ structure type—monoclinic, space group C2/m (no. 12), Z=2, with unit cell parameters a=31.979(4) Å, b=4.5981(5) Å, c=12.3499(14) Å, β=109.675(1)° for Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂, and a=32.507(2) Å, b=4.7294(3) Å, c=12.4158(8) Å, β=109.972(1)° for Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂. Their crystal structures are best described as made up of polyanionic and ribbons of corner-shared ZnSb₄ and CdSb₄ tetrahedra and Eu²⁺ cations. A notable characteristic of these structures is the presence of Sb-Sb interactions, which exist between two tetrahedra from adjacent layers, giving rise to unique channels. Detailed structure analyses shows that similar bonding arrangements are seen in much simpler structure types, such as Ca₃AlAs₃ and Ca₅Ga₂As₆ and the structure can be rationalized as their intergrowth. Temperature-dependent magnetization measurements indicate that Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ orders anti-ferromagnetically below 7.5 K, while Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂ does not order down to 5 K. Resistivity measurements confirm that Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ is poorly metallic, as expected for a Zintl phase.     

Quantitative parameters for the sequestering capacity of polyacrylates towards alkaline earth metal ions

The complex formation constants of polyacrylic (PAA) ligands (1.4≤log N≤2.4, N=number of monomer units) with calcium and magnesium ions were determined in different ionic media at different ionic strengths, 0≤I≤1 mol l⁻¹, at t=25 °C. Experimental pH-metric data in the presence of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ were firstly analysed in terms of apparent protonation constants, log K^H*, using the “three parameter model” proposed by Högfeldt; differences in log K^H*, determined in different ionic media, were interpreted in terms of complex species formation. The only species present in the system M-PAA (M=Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺) is ML₂: attempts to find species of different stoichiometry were unsuccessful. The stability dependence of this species on ionic strength, on the degree of neutralisation (α) and on PAA molecular weight is discussed using empirical equations. The formation constant, log β₂, is significantly higher for Ca²⁺ than for Mg²⁺: at I=0.1 mol l⁻¹ (NaCl), log N=1.8 and α=0.5, log β₂^Ca=4.43 and log β₂^Mg=4.24. The formation of polyacrylate-alkaline earth metal complexes is discussed in the light of sequestering effects in natural waters.     

Preparation and metal binding behavior of poly(4-vinylbenzyl 2-hydroxyethyl) sulfoxide and sulfone

In order to explore the reuse properties of oxidized chelating resin containing sulfur after adsorption, two kinds of novel chelating resins, poly[4-vinylbenzyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)] sulfoxide (PVBSO) and poly[4-vinylbenzyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)] sulfone (PVBSO₂), were synthesized using poly[4-vinylbenzyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)] sulfide (PVBS) as material. Their structures were confirmed by FTIR and XPS. The adsorption properties and mechanism for metal ions such as Au³⁺, Pt⁴⁺, Pd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ were investigated. Experimental results showed that PVBSO had good adsorption and selective properties for Au³⁺, Pd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ when the coexisting ion was Pt⁴⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ or Cd²⁺. In the aqueous system containing Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ or Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺, PVBSO₂ only adsorbed Cu²⁺. The selective coefficients of PVBSO and PVBSO₂ were α_Au/Pt = 4.8, α_Au/Pd = 11.8, α_Pd/Pt = 10.9, α_Cu/Ni = 2.5, α_Cu/Cd = 41.2, α_Cu/Pb = ∞, α_Cu/Ni = 3.0, α_Cu/Cd = ∞, α_Cu/Pb = ∞, respectively.     

Selective turn-on fluorescence for Zn and Zn + Cd metal ions by single Schiff base chemosensor

Chemosensor based on Schiff base molecules (1, 2) were synthesized and demonstrated the selective fluoro/colorimetric sensing of multiple metal ions (Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺) in acetonitrile–aqueous solution. Both 1 and 2 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable colorimetric change for Mn²⁺ ions at 10⁻⁷ M. Fluorescence sensing studies of 1 and 2 exhibited a strong fluorescence enhancement (36 fold) selectively upon addition of Zn²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M, λ_max = 488 nm). Fluorescence titration and single crystal X-ray analysis confirmed the formation of 1:1 molecular coordination complex between 1 and Zn²⁺. Interestingly, a rare phenomenon of strong second turn-on fluorescence (190 fold, λ_max = 466 nm) was observed by the addition of Cd²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M) into 1 + Zn²⁺ or Zn²⁺ (10⁻⁷ M) into 1 + Cd²⁺. Importantly both 1 and 2 exhibited different fluorescence λ_max with clearly distinguishable color for both Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺.     

Synthesis of a novel crosslinked superabsorbent copolymer with diazacyclooctadecane crown ether and its sorption capability

A novel crosslinked poly(acrylic acid-copolymer-Kryptofix-22-DM) superabsorbent copolymer, poly(AA-co-Kry22-DM), was synthesised by the reaction of 4,13-dimethylacryloyl-1,7,10,16-tetraoxa-4,13-diazacyclooctadecane (Kyrptofix-22-DM) and acrylic acid (AA). Characterisation of the polymers was achieved by FTIR and ¹H NMR techniques. Sorption capacity of the crosslinked poly(AA-co-Kry22-DM) superabsorbent copolymer was investigated for Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ni²⁺ heavy metal ions at different pH values using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Swelling ratio, q_v, and distribution ratio, log D, values of the crosslinked poly(AA-co-Kry22-DM) superabsorbent copolymer were calculated at various pH values.     

A calixarene-based ion-selective electrode for thallium(I) detection

Three new calixarene Tl⁺ ionophores have been utilized in Tl⁺ ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) yielding Nernstian response in the concentration range of 10⁻²–10⁻⁶ M TlNO₃ with a non-optimized filling solution in a conventional liquid contact ISE configuration. The complex formation constants (log β_IL) for two of the calixarene derivatives with thallium(I) (i.e. 6.44 and 5.85) were measured using the sandwich membrane technique, with the other ionophore immeasurable due to eventual precipitation of the ionophore during these long-term experiments. Furthermore, the unbiased selectivity coefficients for these ionophores displayed excellent selectivity against Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Al³⁺ with moderate selectivity against Pb²⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, H⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺ and Cs⁺, noting that silver was the only significant interferent with these calixarene-based ionophores. When optimizing the filling solution in a liquid contact ISE, it was possible to achieve a lower limit of detection of approximately 8 nM according to the IUPAC definition. Last, the new ionophores were also evaluated in four solid-contact (SC) designs leading to Nernstian response, with the best response noted with a SC electrode utilizing a gold substrate, a poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT) ion-to-electron transducer and a poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(decyl methacrylate) (PMMA–PDMA) co-polymer membrane. This electrode exhibited a slope of 58.4 mV decade⁻¹ and a lower detection limit of 30.2 nM. Due to the presence of an undesirable water layer and/or leaching of redox mediator from the graphite redox buffered SC, a coated wire electrode on gold and graphite redox buffered SC yielded grossly inferior detection limits against the polypyrrole/PVC SC and POT/PMMA–PDMA SC ISEs that did not display signs of a water layer or leaching of SC ingredients into the membrane.     

Preparation,spectroscopic characterization and X-ray crystal and molecular structures of nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of the Schiff base formed from isatin and S-methyldithiocarbazate (Hisa-sme)

Complexes of general formula, [M(isa-sme)₂] · n(solvate) [M = Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺; isa-sme = monoanionic form of the Schiff base formed by condensation of isatin with S-methyldithiocarbazate; n = 1 or 1.5; solvate = MeCN, DMSO, MeOH or H₂O] have been synthesized and characterized by a variety of physicochemical techniques. An X-ray crystallographic structure determination of the [Ni(isa-sme)₂] · MeCN complex reveals a six-coordinate, distorted octahedral geometry. The two uninegatively charged, tridentate, Schiff base ligands are coordinated to the nickel(II) ion meridionally via the amide O-atoms, the azomethine N-atoms and the thiolate S-atoms. By contrast, the crystal structure of [Zn(isa-sme)₂] · MeOH shows a four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral geometry. The two dithiocarbazate ligands are coordinated as N, S bidentate chelates with the amide O-atom not coordinated. The structure of the copper(II) complex [Cu(isa-sme)₂] · DMSO is complicated and comprises two different complexes in the asymmetric unit, one four- and the other five-coordinate. The four-coordinate copper(II) has a distorted (flattened) tetrahedral geometry as seen in the Zn(II) analogue whereas the five-coordinate copper(II) has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with one ligand coordinated to the copper(II) ion as a tridentate (N, S, O) ligand and the other coordinated as a bidentate N, S chelate. EPR spectroscopy indicates that in solution only one form is present, that being a distorted tetrahedral complex.     

On the different coordination of Ni, Zn and Cd cations in their model Schiff base complexes - Single crystal X-ray and solid state NMR studies

Three model metal complexes: Ni(NCS)L, Zn₂(NCS)₂L₂ and Cd₂(NCS)₂L₂, consisting of the SCN⁻ anion(s) and L = 2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)-methyl]-phenolate, have been studied by X-ray diffraction and solid state NMR spectroscopy. The metal cations in these complexes have different coordination modes: Ni²⁺ is almost square-planar, the Zn²⁺ cation in Zn₂(NCS)₂L₂ is pentacoordinated, whereas Cd²⁺ is penta- and hexacoordinated in [Cd₂(NCS)₂L₂]. The different coordination of the metal cations influences the chemical shifts of the metal cations and also the nitrogen atoms. These chemical shifts can be correlated with the M-N and M-O bond lengths (M = Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺).     

The stability constants of some bivalent metal complexes of α-hydroxyisobutyrate and lactate

The stability constants of the lactate and α-hydroxyisobutyrate complexes of Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and UO₂²⁺ were determined by potentiometric titration. The average ligand number exceeds 2, indicating the formation of ML⁺, ML₂ and ML₃^- complexes. The existence of ML₃^- complexes was confirmed by electrophoretic experiments; no polynuclear complexes were formed. α-Hydroxyisobutyrate forms stronger complexes than lactate.     

Heavy metal-induced inhibition of Aspergillus niger nitrate reductase: applications for rapid contaminant detection in aqueous samples

Enzyme inhibition assays have the potential to rapidly screen and identify heavy metals in environmental samples. Inhibition of nitrate reductase (NR) was examined as a method for detecting toxic metals. The activity of NR (EC 1.6.6.2) from Aspergillus niger was assayed as a function of metal concentration in the presence of Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺. NR exhibited sensitivity to these metals at concentrations below 10 μM. Various buffers were screened for their ability to protect NR activity from metal inhibition, and 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid (MOPS) was selected as the buffering system for the NR assays as it exhibited the least interference with metal inhibition, thus providing increased assay sensitivity. The hypothesis that chelating agents could prevent the inhibition of NR activity by metal ions was also tested. Results indicated that 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) could protect NR activity from inhibition by Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺ at concentrations below 100 μM, but that the EDTA had no effect on NR inhibition by Cr⁶⁺. An amount of 10 mM nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) prevented NR inhibition by Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ at metal concentrations below 100 μM. However, 10 mM NTA was unable to protect the enzyme from inhibition by either Cr³⁺ or Cr⁶⁺. These results indicated that through specific metal chelation, a NR-based method for individually quantifying Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ species in aqueous solutions could be developed. The ability to restore activity to NR which been previously inhibited by exposure to 100 μM Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cr³⁺ was explored to determine whether NR activity could be recovered by EDTA additions for use in consecutive metal inhibition assays. The results showed NR activity could not be regained after exposure to Cr³⁺ or Cu²⁺, but did partially recover activity after Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ exposure.     

Zn selective luminescent ‘off-on’ probes derived from diaryl oxadiazole and aza-15-crown-5

New photo-induced electron transfer (PET) probes OMOX and OBOX, carrying an additional binding site in the form of ‘oxadiazole nitrogen’ have been designed to evaluate binding interactions with biologically significant Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺ including environmentally toxic Ba²⁺ and Cd²⁺ using optical spectral techniques. While Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ did not appreciably perturb either the absorption or emission spectra, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ induced slight red shifts (2-8 nm) in the UV-visible spectra as well as pronounced chelation induced enhanced fluorescence (CHEF). Both OMOX and OBOX exhibited the highest CHEF in contact with the zinc ion, whereas Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cd²⁺ induced relatively less emission enhancements. OBOX, which is a poorer emitter (Φ_f=0.0062) than OMOX (Φ_f=0.015), showed highly promising 160-fold emission enhancement in the presence of Zn²⁺. Potential, therefore is available in OBOX to function as a selective luminescent ‘off-on’ sensor for Zn²⁺ in the presence of coordinatively competing Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cd²⁺ ions.     

Revision of iron(III)–citrate speciation in aqueous solution. Voltammetric and spectrophotometric studies

A detailed study of iron (III)–citrate speciation in aqueous solution (θ = 25 °C, I_c = 0.7 mol L⁻¹) was carried out by voltammetric and UV–vis spectrophotometric measurements and the obtained data were used for reconciled characterization of iron (III)–citrate complexes. Four different redox processes were registered in the voltammograms: at 0.1 V (pH = 5.5) which corresponded to the reduction of iron(III)–monocitrate species (Fe:cit = 1:1), at about −0.1 V (pH = 5.5) that was related to the reduction of FeL₂⁵⁻, FeL₂H⁴⁻ and FeL₂H₂³⁻ complexes, at −0.28 V (pH = 5.5) which corresponded to the reduction of polynuclear iron(III)–citrate complex(es), and at −0.4 V (pH = 7.5) which was probably a consequence of Fe(cit)₂(OH)_x species reduction. Reversible redox process at −0.1 V allowed for the determination of iron(III)–citrate species and their stability constants by analyzing E_p vs. pH and E_p vs. [L⁴⁻] dependence. The UV–vis spectra recorded at varied pH revealed four different spectrally active species: FeLH (log β = 25.69), FeL₂H₂³⁻ (log β = 48.06), FeL₂H⁴⁻ (log β = 44.60), and FeL₂⁵⁻ (log β = 38.85). The stability constants obtained by spectrophotometry were in agreement with those determined electrochemically. The UV–vis spectra recorded at various citrate concentrations (pH = 2.0) supported the results of spectrophotometric–potentiometric titration.     

An acyclic,dansyl based colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II) via twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT)

An efficient fluorescent chemosensor for Hg²⁺ ion, based on 5-(dimethylamino)-N-(2-mercaptophenyl)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide, has been developed. It exhibits Hg²⁺-selective on–off fluorescence quenching behavior via twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) mechanism, which is rationalized by time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The system exhibits visible color change from colorless to gray upon Hg²⁺ binding with very high selectivity and sensitivity (as low as 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹) over other metal ions such as K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Sn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺. The present sensing system is also successfully applied for the detection of Hg²⁺ ion in real samples.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and spectroscopic studies of 10-(1-phthalazinylazo)-9-phenanthrol (HL). Complexation of cadmium and zinc chlorides with HL

10-(1-Phthalazinylazo)-9-phenanthrol (HL, I) was synthesized by the reaction between 1-hydrazinophthalazine and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. The crystal and molecular structures of compound I were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to XRD, EAS, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, a HL molecule in solutions and in crystals exists in the form of quinohydrazone tautomer (b) (s-trans, cis) stabilized by intramolecular N(3)H...O(1) hydrogen bond. The “mobile” H atom is localized at the N(3) atom of the azo group. The phthalazine (A) and phenanthrenequinone (B) moieties of the HL molecule are nearly coplanar. The HL basicity and acidity constants (pK_a = 1.90 and pK_a = 11.65, respectively) and the formation constants of HL complexes with Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ and their compositions in solutions were determined. ML₂ · DMFA complexes, where M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, were synthesized. The coordination mode of the L^? ligand with metal atoms was suggested.     

Electrodes with extremely high hydrogen overvoltages as substrate electrodes for stripping analysis based on bismuth-coated electrodes

Hydrogen evolution bothers stripping analysis significantly. Dioctyl phthalate-based carbon paste electrode exhibits extremely wide cathodic potential window. It is explored as a powerful substrate electrode to solve the problem of hydrogen evolution and further improve reproducibility for stripping analysis using bismuth-coated electrodes for the first time. It was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺. Linear responses are obtained for Zn²⁺ in the range of 10–100 μg L⁻¹ and for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in the range of 5–100 μg L⁻¹. The detection limits for Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ are 0.1 μg L⁻¹, 0.22 μg L⁻¹ and 0.44 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ in waste water samples. The detection strategy based on the combination of dioctyl phthalate-based carbon paste electrode and bismuth-coated electrodes holds great promise for stripping analysis.     

On-line preconcentration and simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

A flow injection analysis system for on-line preconcentration and simultaneous determination of Bi³⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in aqueous samples by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-atomic emission spectrometry with a charge coupled detector is described. The preconcentration of analytes is accomplished by retention of their chelates with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in aqueous solution on a solid phase containing octadecyl silica in a minicolumn. Methanol, as eluent, is introduced into the conventional nebulizer of the ICP instrument. The effects of different parameters, including preconcentration flow rate (equal to sample flow rate (SR)), eluent flow rate (ER), weight of solid phase (W) and eluent loop volume (EV), were optimized by the super-modified simplex method. The optimum conditions were evaluated to be SR 7.2 ml min⁻¹, ER 3.5 ml min⁻¹, W of 100 mg and EV of 0.8 ml. An enrichment factor of 312.5 for each analyte was obtained. The detection limits of the proposed method for Bi³⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were evaluated as 1.3, 1.0, 0.8, 0.3, 14.7, 0.5, 5.5 and 0.1 ng l⁻¹, respectively. The effect of several metal ions on percent recovery was also studied. The method was applied to the recovery of these heavy metals from real matrices and to the simultaneous determination of these cations in different water samples.     

Flow injection fluorimetric determination of chromium(VI) in electroplating baths by luminescence quenching of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II)

A sensitive and selective luminescence quenching method is developed and used for manual and flow injection analysis (FIA) of chromium(VI) by reaction with [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺. The emission peak of ruthenium(II) at 595 nm is linearly decreased as a function of Cr(VI) concentration. This permits determination of chromium(VI) ion over the concentration range 0.1-20 μg ml⁻¹ with a detection limit of 33 ng ml⁻¹. The quenching process is due to an electron transfer from the luminescent [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ complex ion to Cr(VI) resulting in the formation of the non-luminescent [Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺ complex ion. Selectivity for Cr(VI) over many anions and transition, alkali and alkaline earth metal cations is demonstrated. High concentration levels of sulphate, chloride, borate, acetate, phosphate, nitrate, cyanide, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions are tolerated. The effects of solution pH and [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ reagent concentration are examined and the reaction conditions are optimized. Validation of the method according to the quality assurance standards show suitability of the proposed method for use in the quality control assessment of Cr(VI) in complex matrices without prior treatment. The method is successfully applied to determine chromium(VI) in electroplating baths using flow injection analysis. Results with a mean standard deviation of ±0.6% are obtained which compare fairly well with data obtained using atomic absorption spectrometry.