Electrochemical Study of Iodide in the Presence of Barbituric Acid: Application to the Catalytic Determination of Barbituric Acid

Electrochemical oxidation of iodide has been studied in the presence of barbituric acid using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the barbituric acid participating in the halogenation reaction converts to an iodo derivative of the parent compound. Moreover, the results are indicative of the suitability of iodide as a mediator for the determination of barbituric acid in aqueous solutions. The quasicatalytic peak current is linearly dependent on the barbituric acid concentration. The calibration graph is parabolic, with two linear sections of 6.0 × 10^–5–1.0 × 10^–3and 1.0 × 10^–3–1.0 × 10^–2M. The relative standard deviation for ten determinations of 2.0 × 10^–4M barbituric acid is 2.1%, and the detection limit of the method is 3.97 × 10^–5M.     

An Easy Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Hypochlorite Using Thionin

A simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of hypochlorite using thionin. The method is based on the reaction of hypochlorite with potassium iodide in acidic medium to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the violet color of thionin, which is measured at 600 nm. The decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the concentration of hypochlorite. Beer’s law is obeyed in the range 0.2– 1.2 µg/mL of hypochlorite. The molar absorptivity, Sandell’s sensitivity, detection limit, and quantitation limit are found to be 1.489 × 10⁴ L/(mol cm), 3.25 × 10⁻³ µg cm⁻², 0.1026 µg/mL, and 0.3112 µg/mL, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of hypochlorite in various samples of natural water, tap water, milk, etc.__________From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 8, 2005, pp. 798–801.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Narayana, Mathew, Vipin, Sreekumar, Cherian.The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Ion Transfer in CdF<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based Iso- and Polyvalent Solid Solutions

The ionic conductivity of solid solution Cd_0.77Sr_0.23F₂ is 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 500 K. The conduction mechanism changes from a vacancy mechanism to an interstitial one at 523–553 K. In solid solutions Cd_0.9R_0.1F_2.1 (R = La-Lu, Y), the activation enthalpy of conduction decreases from 0.9 to 0.8 eV with decreasing ionic radius of R³⁺, raising the 500-K conductivity from 6 ×10⁻⁶ S/cm for La³⁺to 6 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm for Lu³⁺. For crystalline Cd_0.95In_0.05F_2.05, ionic and electronic conductivities at 313 K equal 5 × 10⁻⁴ and 5 − 10⁻⁶ S/cm.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 627–632.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sorokin, Buchinskaya, Sul’yanova, Sobolev.     

Application of a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Poly(Glutamic Acid) in Caffeic Acid Determination

Glassy carbon electrodes were coated with films of poly(glutamic acid) (PG), and the modified electrode proved to be very effective in the oxidation of caffeic acid. The performance of the film was also tested with ascorbic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid and chlorogenic acid. At pH 5.6, all the hydroxycinnamic acids yield a higher peak current intensity when oxidized after incorporation in the PG-modified electrode, and only the oxidation of ascorbic acid exhibits overpotential reduction. At pH 3.5 only caffeic and chlorogenic acid are incorporated in the modified electrode and exhibit a well-defined oxidation wave at +0.51 V and +0.48 V, which is the base for their determination. Linear calibration graphs were obtained from 9 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 4 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ caffeic acid by linear voltammetric scan and from 4 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ to 3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ by square wave voltammetric scan. The method was successfully applied to the determination of caffeic acid in red wine samples without interference from other hydroxycinnamic acids or ascorbic acid.     

A Catalytic Method for Determining Cadmium(II), Nickel(II), and Zinc(II) Inhibitor Metals

The inhibitory effect of Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) on the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′ -tetramethylbenzidine with periodate was detected. The optimum reaction conditions were found, and the procedures were developed for determining 1 × 10⁻² to 10 μg/mL Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in solution. The indicator reaction was performed on a number of supports. The maximum inhibitory effect was observed on silica gel-based plates for TLC. Procedures for determining 6 × 10⁻³ to 0.4 μg of these metals were developed. Silica gel plates with the immobilized reagent for cadmium (bromobenzothiazo) were used to preconcentrate cadmium. A selective test procedure was developed for determining 1 × 10⁻⁴ −3 × 10⁻³ μg/mL cadmium with the visual detection of the process rate. Upon the introduction of dimethylglyoxime into the indicator reaction, the inhibitory effect of nickel changed to its promoting effect and the detection limit for nickel was lowered. A procedure was developed for determining 3 × 10⁻⁴ −3 × 10⁻³ μg/mL nickel in solution and 7 × 10⁻³−4 × 10⁻¹ μg nickel on the surface of Sorbfil plates. An assumption was made about the reasons for the inhibitory effect of metal ions on the oxidation of aryl diamines with periodate.__________Translated from Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 6, 2005, pp. 662–669.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Beklemishev, Kiryushchenkov, Stoyan, Dolmanova.     

Effect of Electron Scavengers on the Chain Reaction of Sulfo-Group Substitution for Bromine in 1-Bromo-2-hydroxynaphthalene Photosensitized with Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)

The effect of electron scavengers (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and chloranil) on the chain radical-ion reaction of sulfo-group substitution for bromine in 1-bromo-2-hydroxynaphthalene photosensitized with a tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complex was studied in an aqueous solution of sodium sulfite. It was found that “ sacrificial” electron scavengers enhanced the quantum yield of the photosensitized substitution reaction. Using the flash photolysis technique, it was shown that the electron scavengers reacted with the ruthenium(I) complex formed as a result of dissociation of a radical-ion pair in the initiation step. The rates constants for the reaction of chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and chloranil with the ruthenium(I) complex are 1.5 × 10⁴, 1.2 × 10⁷, and 1.5 × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The chain length of the substitution reaction in aqueous solution in the presence of carbon tetrachloride is 220 ± 20.__________Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 5, 2005, pp. 353–357.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ivanov Lyashkevich.     

Kinetic Determination of Mercury(II) at Trace Level from Its Catalytic Effect on a Ligand Substitution Process

A catalytic kinetic method (CKM) is presented for the determination of mercury(II) based on its catalytic effect on the rate of substitution of N-methylpyrazinium ion (Mpz⁺) onto hexacyanoferrate(II). The progress of the reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically at 655 nm by registering the increase in absorbance of the product [Fe(CN)₅(Mpz]²⁻ under the reaction conditions: 5 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻), 5 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ [Mpz⁺], T = 25.0 ± 0.1°C, pH 5.00 ± 0.02 and ionic strength, I = 0.1 mol L⁻¹ (KNO₃). Quantitative rate data at specified experimental conditions showed a linear dependence of the absorbance after fixed time A _t on the concentration of mercury(II) catalyst in the range 20.06–702.1 ng mL⁻¹. The maximum relative standard deviations and percentage errors for the determination of mercury(II) in the range of 20.06–200.6 ng mL⁻¹ were calculated to be 1.7 and 2.7% respectively. The detection limit was found to be 7.2 ng mL⁻¹ of mercury(II). Accuracy (expressed in terms of recoveries) was in the range of 98–103%. Figures of merit and interference due to many cations and anions was investigated and discussed. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by determining the mercury(II) in different synthetic samples and confirming the results using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The proposed method allowed determination of mercury(II) in the range 20.06–702.1 ng mL⁻¹ with very good selectivity and an output of 30 samples h⁻¹.__________From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 6, 2005, pp. 654–661.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Surendra Prasad.This article was submitted by the author in English.     

Study on the interaction between nucleic acid and Eu3+-oxolinic acid and the determination of nucleic acid using the resonance light scattering technique

At pH 9.75, the resonance light scattering (RLS) intensity of OA–Eu³⁺ system is greatly enhanced by nucleic acid. Based on this phenomenon, a new quantitative method for nucleic acid in aqueous solution has been developed. Under the optimum condition, the enhanced RLS is proportional to the concentration of nucleic acid in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g/ml for herring sperm DNA, 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g/ml for calf thymus DNA and 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g/ml for yeast RNA, and their detection limits are 0.020, 0.011 and 0.010 ng/ml, respectively. Synthetic samples and actual samples were satisfactorily determined. In addition, the interaction mechanism between nucleic acid and OA–Eu³⁺ is also investigated.     

Determination of Hydroxamic Acids by Thermal-Lens Spectrometry

Conditions are determined for the determination of salicylhydroxamic and acetylhydroxamic acids by thermal-lens spectrometry using iron(III) in an aqueous medium. The detection limits are 6 × 10^–8 and 3 × 10^–8 M, respectively. The sensitivity can be enhanced 3–6 times with the use of aqueous–organic media.     

Eutectic Composition Systems NaF-DyF3, NaF-HoF3, and MgF2-ScF3 as Ionic Conductors

Electrophysical properties of eutectic composites formed in the NaF-DyF₃, NaF-HoF₃, and MgF₂-ScF₃ systems are studied at 18–528°C. The conductivity of 25NaF-75DyF₃, 25NaF-75HoF₃, and 55MgF₂-45ScF₃ at 20°C (9 × 10⁻⁸, 3 × 10⁻⁷, and 2 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm) exceed that of the initial materials by 2–4 orders of magnitude.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2005, pp. 1010–1013.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sorokin, Buchinskaya, Bystrova, Konovalova, Sobolev.     

Thermodynamic Parameters of Interconversions of Isopolyanions in Solutions of Tungsten(VI)

Interactions in the WO ₂ ²⁻ -H⁺-H₂O system was studied by pH-potentiometric titration at 25 ± 0.1°C for c _w ⁰ = 8 × 10⁻³ to 2 × 10⁻² mol/l. An accurate mathematical model for polycondensation of tungsten(VI) anions in aqueous solution was proposed. The concentration constants of formation were calculated and the diagrams of distribution of isopolyanions of tungsten(VI) were plotted for pH from 1 to 8 with nitrate ions as a supporting electrolyte at different ionic strengths of the solution (I = 0.10 to 0.50). The dependences of the concentration equilibrium constants in solutions on the ionic strength were approximated by Pitzer’s method. The thermodynamic constants of formation and standard Gibbs energies of formation of isopolytungstates from WO ₄ ²⁻ were calculated. The most probable scheme of interconversions of isopolyanions in solution at different pH values was proposed.__________Translated from Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 8, 2005, pp. 583–589.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Rozantsev, Sazonova.     

Spectrofluorimetric Assay of Cationic Surfactants by Fluorescence Quenching of 9-Anthracenecarboxylic Acid

A new simple, selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching method was developed to determine cationic surfactants with the 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (ACA). The fluorescence intensity of ACA was decreased by addition of trace amounts of cationic surfactants. Under optimum conditions, the ratio of fluorescence intensity in the absence and presence of cationic surfactants was proportional to the concentration of cationic surfactants over the range of 0.3–4.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 0.4–6.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for cetyl trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB). The detection limits are 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for CPC and 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for CTAB, respectively. Based on this approach, this paper presents a new quantitative method for cationic surfactants assay.     

Oxidation of ascorbic acid in the presence of phthalocyanine metal complexes. Chemical aspects of catalytic therapy of cancer 2. Catalysis by cobalt octacarboxyphthalocyanine. Reaction products

The products of ascorbic acid oxidation in the presence of cobalt octa-4,5-carboxy-phthalocyanine sodium salt (TPH) were identified. These include the ascorbate radical (A^·), hydroxyl radical (OH^·), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The kinetics of accumulation and consumption of the reaction products was studied. For the concentration ranges of ascorbic acid = 0–2.5 ⋅ 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ and the catalyst C _TPH = 0–3.5 ⋅ 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, the the highest possible concentration of the ascorbate radical is ∼10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, the concentration of H₂O₂ is 7 ⋅ 10⁻⁴ (30% of the starting concentration of ascorbic acid) and the concentration of the hydroxyl radical is at most 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2224–2228, October, 2004.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of Alkanes and Alkenes with Peroxynitrous Acid in Aqueous Solution-Gas Phase Systems

The reactions of alkane and alkene oxidation with peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) in aqueous solution-gas phase systems were studied using a modified kinetic distribution method. The rate constants of oxidation of hydrocarbons (RH) were found to be unusual bell-shaped functions of the volume ratio between liquid and gas phases in a reactor. This result, as well as the previously found proportionality of the rate constants of the gas-phase RH + HOONO and RH + OH^· reactions for alkanes, alkenes, and alkylbenzenes, was quantitatively interpreted assuming the rapid equilibrium distribution of HOONO and RH between a gas and a solution, the formation of OH^· radicals in the two phases, and the interaction of these radicals with RH. The rate constant of peroxynitrous acid decomposition in the gas phase and the distribution coefficient of this acid between the gas phase and solution α = (0.4–2) × 10⁻⁶ were estimated. The capacity of HOONO for partition between different phases and for generation of OH^· radicals in either of these phases can be of paramount importance for understanding the mechanism of lipid membrane oxidation initiated by peroxynitrous acid.__________Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 3, 2005, pp. 370–379.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lobachev, Rudakov.     

Electrochemical Behavior and Determination of Uric Acid at Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Gold Electrodes

The voltammetric behavior of uric acid was studied at a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) modified gold electrode. Uric acid can effectively accumulate at this electrode and produce an anodic peak at about 0.45 V (vs. SCE) in pH 5.0 sodium acetate buffer solutions (HAc-NaAc). The experimental parameters, such as solution pH, accumulation time, and amount of SWNT, were optimized for determination. Under the optimum conditions, the anodic peak current is linear to the uric acid concentration over the range of 1.0×10⁻⁷ M to 2.5×10⁻⁵ M with a correlation coefficient of 0.998. The detection limit was 5.0×10⁻⁸ M for 60 s accumulation. The electrode could be easily regenerated and exhibited good stability. A 5.0×10⁻⁶ M uric acid solution was measured ten times using the same electrode, and the relative standard deviation of the peak current was 1.3%. This method was successfully applied to the determination of uric acid in human urine samples, and the recovery was 97–99%. The feasibility for simultaneous determination of xanthine, ascorbic acid and uric acid was discussed. These species did not interfere with each other in a certain concentration range. The influence of some surfactants on the anodic peak was also examined.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Some Substituted Benzhydrols by <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Bromosuccinimide

N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) oxidation of some substituted benzhydrols (4-Cl-, 4-Me-, 4-OMe-, 4-NO²⁻, 4,4′-dimethyl-, 4,4′-dichloro-, 4,4′-dimethoxy-, and 4-methyl-2-nitro-) yields corresponding benzophenones in the presence of Hg(OAc)₂. The reaction is first-order in [NBS], [substrate], and [H⁺]. A study on the primary kinetic hydrogen isotope effect and solvent isotope effect suggest that C-H and O-H stretching frequencies are affected in the transition state. Activation parameters for the rate-determining step have been evaluated. The results are in accord with the linear free energy relationship (LFER). The linear plot of log(k _obs/k ₀) vs. σ⁺ (ρ = −0.69)and Bunnett plots support the existence of proton-transfer in the rate-determining step. Rate behavior in different solvent compositions suggests dipolar-dipolar interaction in the absence of acid and ion-dipolar interaction in the presence of acid. Two different mechanisms have been suggested: cyclic transition state with unprotonated N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the absence of acid and noncyclic transition state with protonated NBS in the presence of acid.__________From Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 3, 2005, pp. 360–365.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Hiran, Malkani, Rathore.This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

The wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene by aqueous solution of cetylpyridinium bromide and propanol mixtures

Measurements of advancing contact angles (θ) were carried out for aqueous solutions of cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr) and propanol mixtures at constant CPBr concentration equal to 1 × 10⁻⁵, 1 × 10⁻⁴, 6 × 10⁻⁴, 1 × 10⁻³ M, respectively, on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The obtained results indicate that the wettability of PTFE by aqueous solutions of these mixtures depends on their composition and concentration. In contrast to Zisman, there is no linear dependence between the cos θ and surface tension of aqueous solutions of CPBr and propanol mixtures (γ_LV), but a linear relationship exists between the adhesion tension and the surface tension of aqueous solutions of CPBr and propanol mixtures which have a slope equal to −1, and between cos θ and the reciprocal of the surface tension of solution. The slope equal to −1 and the intercept on the cos θ axis close to −1 suggest that adsorption of CPBr and propanol mixtures and the orientation of their molecules at aqueous solution–air and PTFE–aqueous solution interfaces are the same. This also suggests that the work of solution adhesion to the PTFE surface does not depend on the concentration of propanol and CPBr. Extrapolation of the straight line to the point corresponding to the surface tension of solution, which completely spreads over the PTFE surface, gives the value of the critical surface tension of PTFE wetting equal to 24.84 mN/m. This value is higher than PTFE surface tension (20.24 mN/m) and the values of the critical surface tension of PTFE wetting determined by other investigators from the contact angle of nonpolar liquids (e.g. n-alkanes). The differences between the value of the critical surface tension obtained here and those which can be found in the literature were discussed on the basis of the simple thermodynamic rules. Using the measured values of the contact angles and Young equation the PTFE–aqueous solution interfacial tension was determined. The values of PTFE–aqueous solution interfacial tension were also calculated from Miller and co-workers equation in which the correction coefficient of nonideality of the surface monolayer was introduced. From comparison of the obtained values it appears that good agreement exists between the values of PTFE–solution interfacial tension calculated on the basis of Young and Miller and co-workers equations in the whole range of propanol concentration.     

Preparation of an iodide ion-selective electrode by chemical treatment of a silver wire

The preparation and application of an iodide ion-selective electrode, prepared by chemical treatment of a silver wire with Hg²⁺ is described. The electrode is suitable for the direct potentiometric measurement of iodide in aqueous solutions with concentrations down to 1 × 10^–6 mol/L. It can be used for potentiometric measurements of various compounds (vitamin C, glutathione).     

Caffeic Acid Decyl Ester: An Antioxidant Principle from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phleum pratense</Emphasis>

The isolation, comprehensive structure elucidation, and assessment of the free radical scavenging activity of caffeic acid decyl ester (1) from the seeds of Phleum pratense have been described. The RC₅₀ value of this compound in the DPPH assay was found to be 3.60 × 10⁻³ mg/mL, whereas that of positive control, trolox, was 3.07 × 10⁻³ mg/mL.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 237–239, May–June, 2005.     

Solid Phase Extraction and Spectrophotometric Determination of Silver with 2-(2-Quinolylazo)-5-Dimethylaminophenol

A new chromogenic reagent, 2-(2-quinolylazo)-5-Dimethylaminophenol (QADMAP) was synthesized, and a sensitive, selective, and rapid method was developed for the determination of the μg/L level of silver ions. The method is based on the rapid reaction of silver(I) with QADMAP and the solid phase extraction of the colored chelate using a C₁₈ cartridge. The QADMAP reacts with Ag(I) in the presence of a citric acid-sodium hydroxide buffer solution (pH 5.0) and a sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) medium to form a violet chelate of molar ratio 1 : 2 (silver to QADMAP). This chelate was enriched by solid phase extraction with C₁₈ cartridge, and the retained chelate was eluted from the cartridge using ethanol (with 1% acetic acid). In the ethanol medium (with 1% acetic acid), the molar absorptivity of the chelate was 1.25 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 584 nm. Beer’s law was obeyed in the range 0.01–0.6 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation for eleven replicate samples of 0.01 μg/mL was 1.86%. The detection limit is 0.02 μg/L in the original samples. The method was applied to the determination of μg/L levels of silver ions in water with good results.__________From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 6, 2005, pp. 566–570.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Huang, Yang, Hu, Yin.This article was submitted by the authors in English.