A new oxygen sensitivity and its potential application in photosynthetic H2 production

We have discovered a new competitive pathway for O₂ sensitivity in algal H₂ production that is distinct from the O₂ sensitivity of hydrogenase per se. This O₂ sensitivity is apparently linked to the photosynthetic H₂ production pathway that is coupled to proton translocation across the thylakoid membrane. Addition of the proton uncoupler carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone eliminates this mode of O₂ inhibition on H₂ photoevolution. This newly discovered inhibition is most likely owing to background O₂ that apparently serves as a terminal electron acceptor in competition with the H₂ production pathway for photosynthetically generated electrons from water splitting. This O₂-sensitive H₂ production electron transport pathway was inhibited by 3[3,4-dichlorophenyl]1,1-dimethylurea. Our experiments demonstrated that this new pathway is more sensitive to O₂ than the traditionally known O₂ sensitivity of hydrogenase. This discovery provides new insight into the mechanism of O₂ inactivation of hydrogenase and may contribute to the development of a more-efficient and robust system for photosynthetic H₂ production.     

Thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of sulfuric acid

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is popularly employed as a reaction reagent in cleaning processes for the chemical industry and semiconductor plants. By using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vent sizing package 2 (VSP2), this study focused on the thermal decomposition reaction of H₂O₂ mixed with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) with low (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 N), and high concentrations of 96 mass%, respectively. Thermokinetic data, such as exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), heat of decomposition (ΔH _d), pressure rise rate (dP/dt), and self-heating rate (dT/dt), were obtained and assessed by the DSC and VSP2 experiments. From the thermal decomposition reaction on various concentrations of H₂SO₄, the experimental data of T ₀, ΔH, dP/dt, and dT/dt were obtained. Comparisons of the reactivity for H₂O₂ and H₂O₂ mixed with H₂SO₄ (lower and higher concentrations) were evaluated to corroborate the decomposition reaction in these systems.     

Study of the vibrational spectra of SO2, H2O and D2O using the U(4) algebraic model

Using the U(4) algebraic model, in this work we report a study of the vibrational spectra of SO₂, H₂0¹⁸ and D₂O¹⁶. The inclusion of intermode couplings in algebraic models has been stated to give a deep insight into detailed spectroscopy for these bent XY₂ molecules. Improved set of algebraic parameters has been reported to provide improved RMS deviations for these molecules.     

Oxidation of thiols to disulfides using H2O2 catalyzed by recyclable chromic potassium sulphate at room temperature

Chromic potassium sulphate is found to be an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the selective oxidation of thiols to disulfides. The reaction was carried out in 60% methanol (v/v) using 30% H₂O₂ at room temperature. Cr(III) forms a complex with thiol which was then oxidized by H₂O₂ to produce disulfide in excellent yield after a simple workup procedure.     

A pseudopotential study of the hydrogen bond in H2O·H2S,H2S·H2S and H2O·H2Se systems

Intermolecular potential energy curves for the hydrogen bonded systems H₂O·H₂S, H₂O·H₂Se and H₂S·H₂S were calculated with nonempirical pseudopotentials using optimized-in-molecules basis sets augmented by polarization functions. The H₂O·H₂O interaction energy curve has been also considered as a test case. The present results for H₂O·H₂S and H₂S·H₂S indicate much weaker intermolecular interactions than those found in previous ab initio calculations. The H₂O·H₂Se interaction was found to be quite similar to H₂O·H₂S.This work was partly supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences within the Project PAN-09, 7.1.1.1On leave from Quantum Chemistry Laboratory, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093. Warsaw, Poland     

Rapid determination of telmisartan in pharmaceuticals and serum by the parallel catalytic hydrogen wave method

The polarographic characteristics of telmisartan have been investigated in 0.8 mol L^–1 NH₃.H₂O–NH₄Cl (pH 8.9)–0.01 mol L^–1 H₂O₂ as supporting electrolyte. The results demonstrate that the polarographic reduction wave at ca. –1.30 V in the absence of H₂O₂ is a catalytic hydrogen wave, and the reduction wave enhanced by H₂O₂ is a so-called parallel catalytic hydrogen wave. The analytical sensitivity of the parallel catalytic hydrogen wave is ca. 60 times higher than that of the corresponding catalytic hydrogen wave. Based on the parallel catalytic hydrogen wave a novel method has been developed for determination of telmisartan by linear sweep polarography. The calibration curve is linear in the range 2.0×10^–8–2.0×10^–6 mol L^–1 and the detection limit is 1.0×10^–8 mol L^–1. The precision is excellent with relative standard deviations of 2.6% at a concentration of 1.0×10^–7 mol L^–1 telmisartan. The proposed method has been applied to the direct determination of the telmisartan in capsule forms and biological samples. The proposed method has been proved to be advantageous over existing CZE and MEKC methods in simplicity, rapidity, and reproducibility.     

The influence of electron correlation on reaction energies. The dimerization energies of BH3 and LiH

Results of rigorous computations employing extended Gaussian-type basis sets are reported for BH₃, B₂H₆, LiH, and Li₂H₂ in their respective equilibrium geometries. The dimerization energy of BH₃ is calculated as −20.7 kcal/mol within the Hartree-Fock approximation and as −36.6 kcal/mol if electron correlation is included. The corresponding results for the dimerization of LiH are −47.3 kcal/mol and −48.3 kcal/mol. Partitioning of the correlation energy contributions allows to attribute the effect of electron correlation to the increase of next neighbour bond interactions on the dimerization of BH₃ and LiH. The difficulties of accurate computations of reaction energies are discussed in detail.     

Reactivity investigations of some chosen peroxo-vanadium(V), manganese(III) and chromium(VI) compounds

An interpretative account of the results of reactions in aqueous medium of a highly peroxygenated vanadium(V) complex, K [V(O_{2 3}]·3H₂O, with different organic and inorganic substrates is presented. The reactions were monitored by solution EPR spectroscopy and isolation of products at different stages of the reactions. Redox reactions between diperoxide, K[VO(O₂)₂(H₂O)] and VOSO₄ were conducted. The results of the investigation suggest that secondary oxygen exchange-reaction occurs which not only depends on but also utilises the intermediates in the primary reaction during diperoxovanadate-dependent oxidation of VOSO₄. In an interesting reactiontris(acetylacetonato)-manganese(III), Mn(acac)₃, on being reacted with a hydrogen peroxide adduct, KF·H₂O₂, and bpy and phen afforded crystalline [Mn(acac)₂(bpy)] and [Mn(acac)₂(phen)], respectively. The X-ray structural analysis of [Mn(acac)₂(phen)] showed that the compound crystallised in orthorhombic space groupPbcn. The structure consists of a pseudooctahedral Mn(II) ion being bound to two acac⁻(C₅H₅O ₂ ⁻ ) and a phen ligand with the molecule lying on two-fold axis. Reactivity profiles of two new chromium(VI) reagents viz., pyridinium fluorochromate, C₅H₅NH[CrO₃F] (PFC), and quinolinium fluorochromate C₉H₇NH [CrO₃F] (QFC), have been presented. The compounds are capable of acting as both electron-transfer and oxygen-atom-transfer agents. The X-ray analysis of PFC crystals reveals that the compound crystallises in the orthorhombic space group CmcZ₁. The structure consists of discrete pyridinium cations and CrO₃ F anions with no significant hydrogen bonding. This results in total disorder of the pyridinium cation. The tetrahedral [CrO₃ F]⁻ ion lies on a crystallographic mirror plane.     

Mononuclear oxidodiperoxido vanadium(V) complex: synthesis,structure, VHPO mimicking oxidative bromination,and potential detection of hydrogen peroxide

An oxidodiperoxidovanadium(V) complex, (NH₄)[VO(O₂)₂(phen)](H₂O)₂, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The complex crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group. The vanadium center is seven-coordinate with pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The compound was designed in order to develop a VHPO mimic, so it was tested for VHPO activity through the single pot bromination of phenol red to bromophenol blue whereby, it afforded positive response to establish that the complex is indeed a VHPO mimic. In addition, the compound is capable of detection of H₂O₂.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of C.I. Reactive Red 198 in H2O2-based Systems

This study elucidated the effects of pH on the decolorization of C.I. Reactive Red 198 (RR198) in US, UV/H₂O₂, US/H₂O₂ and UV/US/H₂O₂ systems. The synergistic effects in US/H₂O₂ and UV/US/H₂O₂ systems were also evaluated. At pH 4, 7 and 10, the decolorization rates of RR198 followed the order UV/US/H₂O₂ > UV/H₂O₂ > US > US/H₂O₂.     

Conversion of NO in NO/N2, NO/O2/N2, NO/C2H4/N2 and NO/C2H4/O2/N2 Systems by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasmas

An experimental study on the conversion of NO in the NO/N₂, NO/O₂/N₂, NO/C₂H₄/N₂ and NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ systems has been carried out using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas at atmospheric pressure. In the NO/N₂ system, NO decomposition to N₂ and O₂ is the dominating reaction; NO conversion to NO₂ is less significant. O₂ produced from NO decomposition was detected by an on-line mass spectrometer. With the increase of NO initial concentration, the concentration of O₂ produced decreases at 298 K, but slightly increases at 523 K. In the NO/O₂/N₂ system, NO is mainly oxidized to NO₂, but NO conversion becomes very low at 523 K and over 1.6% of O₂. In the NO/C₂H₄/N₂ system, NO is reduced to N₂ with about the same NO conversion as that in the NO/N₂ system but without NO₂ formation. In the NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ system, the oxidation of NO to NO₂ is dramatically promoted. At 523 K, with the increase of the energy density, NO conversion increases rapidly first, and then almost stabilizes at 93–91% of NO conversion with 61–55% of NO₂ selectivity in the energy density range of 317–550 J L⁻¹. It finally decreases gradually at high energy density. A negligible amount of N₂O is formed in the above four systems. Of the four systems studied, NO conversion and NO₂ selectivity of the NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ system are the highest, and NO/O₂/C₂H₄/N₂ system has the lowest electrical energy consumption per NO molecule converted.     

Etude de la deshydratation de Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O et de sa reaction avec CaSO4 par ATD-ATG couplees

The dehydration of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O was examined with simultaneous DTA and TG. This dehydration permitted clearly the apparation of the following phases: Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·0.5H₂O, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, Ca₃(HP₂O₇)₂, Ca₂HP₃O₁₀ et Ca(PO₃)₂. The reaction of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O and CaSO₄ was also examined with the same technics. It was found that the decomposition of CaSO₄ takes place for relatively low temperature (between 600°C and 800°C).     

Effect of intercalation of metal ions on the colloidal and solid properties of vanadium pentaoxide hydrate,V2O5 nH2O

The colloidal stability of V₂O₅ nH₂O was studied on the basis of the measurements of critical flocculation concentration (CFC) by metal ions, amount of ions exchanged (or intercalated), and -potential. In total, the CFC values obeyed the Schulze Hardy law and strong Hofmeister's series was found in the systems including alkaline ions. The sequence of colloidal stability of V₂O₅ nH₂O in the electrolyte solutions was related to the intercalation of metal ions in the interlayer spaces of the solid. The largest CFC value for Li⁺ (87 mmol dm^–3) was explained by smaller affinity of Li⁺ to be intercalated in V₂O₅ nH₂O as well as smaller Hamaker constant of the intercalated solid compared to the other systems.Effect of intercalation of metal ions on the crystalline properties of the materials was measured by use of XRD and electron microscope. Under highly dehydrated condition the ions whose radii are smaller than 0.1 nm are captured in the structure of V₂O₅ nH₂O without changing interlayer distances, while those larger than 0.1 nm increase the interlayer distance. In a saturated H₂O vapor interlayer distances increased with increasing charge of intercalated ions. However, when intercalated with ions carrying the same valency the interlayer distances of the sample decreased with decrease in the hydration property of ions. Hydrolyzable Cr³⁺ gave exceptionally larger interlayer distances, both in a vacuum and in H₂O vapor.     

外偶极电场作用下H_2O,D_2O和T_2O的可逆分解电压

采用密度泛函B3P86方法和6-311++G(3df,3pf)基组,计算了在-0.05～0.05a.u.外偶极电场作用下,H2O,D2O,T2O,H2,D2,T2,O2的电子能量、核运动能量和熵值,在此基础上通过计算H2O(g)→H2(g)+O2(g)、D2O(g)→D2(g)+O2(g)、T2O(g)→T2(g)+O2(g)的焓变ΔH、熵变ΔS、Gibbs函数变化ΔG,最后得到了H2O,D2O,T2O的可逆分解电压Er.计算结果表明,外偶极电场存在时,H2O,D2O,T2O的Gibbs自由能变ΔG和可逆分解电压Er都有明显的变化,当外偶极电场正方向增加时,其Gibbs自由能变ΔG和可逆分解电压Er均趋于线性增加;当外偶极电场负方向增加时,其Gibbs自由能变ΔG和可逆分解电压Er均趋于线性减小;在相同外偶极电场作用下,Gibbs自由能变ΔG和可逆分解电压Er随H2O,D2O,T2O依次增加.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of Ca2[B2O4(OH)2]·0.5H2O

A pure calcium borate Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TG as well as by chemical analysis. The molar enthalpy of solution of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O in HC1·54.582H₂O was determined. From a combination of this result with measured enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in HC1·54.561H₂O and of CaO in (HCl + H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CaO(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(3172.5 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹ of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O was obtained.     

Raman Spectroscopy of Oxides of GaAs Formed in Solution

Electrochemical treatment of crystalline GaAs in 1 M HCl results in the formationof porous GaAs. As a by-product of the electrochemical dissolution process,small transparent crystals may grow on the porous GaAs skeleton under certainchemical conditions. These surface crystalline deposits have been investigatedby Raman scattering spectroscopy. From surface chemical analysis and byreference to the Raman spectra of appropriate chemical compounds, it was determinedthat the crystallites comprise As₂O₃ and Ga₂O₃.Their Raman spectra and that of As₂O₅ · xH₂Oare presented here for the first time in detail.     

Amperometric biosensor with HRP immobilized on a sandwiched nano-Au / polymerized m-phenylenediamine film and ferrocene mediator

An amperometric biosensor has been developed for the determination of H₂O₂ in plant samples. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is immobilized on a sandwiched nano-Au particle / m-phenylenediamine polymer film by glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The film is formulated on the carbon paste electrode (CPE) blended with ferrocene as an electron transfer mediator. On the low concentration range, the current response is related to the H₂O₂ concentration linearly from 0 to 8×10^-6 M with a detection limit of 1.3×10^-7 M. On a wider concentration range of 8×10^-6 to 1.4×10^-4 M, the reciprocal of current response is linearly related to the reciprocal of H₂O₂ concentration. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m^app) was calculated to be 0.0334 mM. The sensor has been tested by determining H₂O₂ concentration in plant leaf samples.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from CdS nanotubes and its sensing application in aqueous solution

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of CdS nanotubes in aqueous solution and its sensing application were studied by entrapping the CdS nanotubes in carbon paste electrode. Two ECL peaks were observed at −0.9 V (ECL-1) and −1.2 V (ECL-2), respectively, when the potential was cycled between 0 and −1.6 V. The electrochemically reduced nanocrystal species of CdS nanotubes could collide with the oxidized species in an annihilation process to produce the peak of ECL-1. The electron-transfer reaction between the reduced CdS nanocrystal species and oxidant coreactants such as S₂O₈²⁻, H₂O₂, and reduced dissolved oxygen led to the appearance of the ECL-2 peak. Based on the enhancing effect of H₂O₂ on ECL-2 intensity, a novel CdS ECL sensor was developed for H₂O₂ detection. The sensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.1 μM and a linear range from 0.5 μM to 0.01 mM. The relative standard deviations of five replicate determinations of 5 μM H₂O₂ was 2.6%. In addition, the ECL spectrum in aqueous solution also exhibited two peaks at 500 and 640 nm, respectively.     

Theoretical study on H2 elimination pathways of silylenoid H2SiLiF with CH4, NH3, H2O, HF, SiH4, PH3, H2S, and HCl

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to explore the reaction potential energy surfaces of silylenoid H₂SiLiF with XH _n hydrides, where XH _n = CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, HF, SiH₄, PH₃, H₂S, and HCl. We have identified a previously unreported reaction pathway on each reaction surface, H₂SiLiF + H-XH _{n − 1} → H _n XSiLiF + H₂, which involves H₂ elimination following the initial formation of an association complex via a four-membered ring transition state to form the substituted three-membered ring silylenoid H _n XSiLiF and a H₂ molecule. This theoretical calculations suggest that (i) for H₂ eliminations there is a very clear trend toward lower activation barriers and more exothermic interactions on going from left to right along a given row in periodic table, and (ii) for the second-row hydrides, the H₂ elimination reactions are less exothermic than for the first-row hydrides and the reaction barriers are lower for X–S and Cl. Compared to the insertions of H₂SiLiF into XH _n , the H₂ elimination pathways should be unfavorable with higher barrier and lower exothermic.