Enzymatic Enantioselective Synthesis of （R）－2－Trimethylsilyl－2－hydroxyl－propionitrile by Defatted Apple Seed Meal

IntroductionOverthepastyears ,thesynthesisofchiralaldehyde cyanohydrinswaswellstudied .1Incontrasttochiralalde hyde cyanohydrins ,therewereonlyfewreportsaboutthepreparationofopticallyactiveketone cyanohydrins ,2 whichareusefulstartingmaterialsandintermediatesforthesyn thesisofmanychiralnaturalproducts .3Wethereforefo cusedonthepreparationofopticallyactivesiliconcontain ing (R ) ketone cyanohydrin ((R ) 2 trimethylsilyl 2 hy droxyl propionitrile)usingacetonecyanohydrinastran scyanationagen…     

Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Selenocystine Using Selenium‐gold Film Modified Electrode

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of selenocystine (SeC) using selenium‐gold film modified glassy carbon electrode ((Se‐Au)/GC) is presented. In 0.10 mol?L^?1 KNO₃ (pH 3.20) solution, SeC yields a sensitive reduction peak at ?740 mV on (Se‐Au)/GC electrode. The peak current has a linear relationship with the concentration of SeC in the range of 5.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?4 mol?L^?1, and a 3σ detection limit of SeC is 3.0×10^?8 mol?L^?1. The relative standard deviation of the reduction current at SeC concentration of 10^?6 mol?L^?1 is 3.88% (n=8) using the same electrode, and 4.19% when using three modified electrodes prepared at different times. The content of SeC in the selenium‐enriched yeast and selenium‐enriched tea is determined. The total selenium in ordinary or selenium‐enriched tea is determined by DAN fluorescence method. The results indicate that in selenium‐enriched yeast about 20% of total selenium is present as SeC and in selenium‐enriched tea SeC is the major form of selenoamino acids. The total selenium content in selenium‐enriched tea soup is 0.09 μgSe/g accounting by 7% compared with that in selenium‐enriched tea. Hence, only a little amount of selenium is utilized by drinking tea, and most selenium still stay in tealeaf. Uncertainty are 22.4% and 16.1% for determination of SeC in selenium‐enriched yeast and selenium‐enriched tea by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on (Se‐Au)/GC electrode, respectively.     

Use of Surfactant as Mobile Phase Additive in LC for Simultaneous Determination of Metal-Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Chelates

Reversed phase liquid chromatography using UV detection was developed for the simultaneous analysis of Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Fe(III) and V(V) ions after their complexation with pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamate (PDC). Optimum chromatographic conditions were a μ-Bondapak C₁₈ column and an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 40 mmol L^?1 SDS, 34 mmol L^?1 TBABr and 68% acetonitrile in 10 mmol L^?1 phosphate buffer pH 3.5. The separation of six PDC complexes was achieved within 8 min. Analytical performances and method validation were investigated. The detection limits ranged from 0.16 μg L^?1(Fe(III)) to 5.40 μg L^?1(Pb(II)). Recoveries obtained for all the studied samples including tap water, whole blood and vegetables were 72–98%. The results obtained from the proposed method were not significantly different compared to those obtained from atomic absorption spectrometry (P = 0.05).     

Environmentally friendly method for determination of ammonia nitrogen in fertilisers and wastewaters based on flow injection-spectrophotometric detection using natural reagent from orchid flower

Crude aqueous extract from the orchid ‘Dendrobium Sonia earsakul’ was utilised as a natural product reagent in flow injection analysis (FIA) incorporating a gas diffusion unit (GD) for the determination of ammonia nitrogen. Sample solution was injected into a NaOH donor stream to generate ammonia gas (NH₃). In the GD unit, NH₃ diffused across a PTFE gas-permeable membrane into the acceptor stream of the orchid extract. As the result, the aqueous orchid reagent became more alkaline and its colour changed from purple to green. The change in the colour of orchid acceptor correlated with the concentration of ammonia nitrogen in the sample and its absorbance monitored by a spectrophotometer at 600 nm. Ammonia nitrogen in chemical fertiliser samples and wastewater samples from agricultural fields were determined and reported as %N (w/w) and mg N L^?1, respectively. For chemical fertilisers which contained high content of ammonia nitrogen, a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 and injection volume of 100 µL were used with a linear range of 5–40 mmol L^?1 and detection limit of 2.12 mmol L^?1. However, a higher sensitivity was required for wastewater samples having low ammonia nitrogen content. The flow rate was reduced to 0.3 mL min^?1 and the injection volume increased to 1000 µL. As a result, detection limit of 0.76 mmol L^?1 was achieved with linear range of 1–5 mmol L^?1. The results of our method agreed well with that using the OPA method employing fluorescence detection.     

Spectral Studies on the Interaction between Mercuric Ion and ApoCopC

The interaction between mercuric ion and apoCopC in the absence or presence of cupric ion was investigated through difference UV spectra in Hepes buffer （10 mmol·L^-1） at pH 7.4. The results suggest that mercuric ion can bind to C- and N-terminal binding sites of apoCopC, and the conditional binding constants were calculated to be kN=（6.79± 1.12）× 10^6 mol^-1·L and kc=（3.06±0.05）× 10^5 mol^-1·L. Using urea as a chemical agent, the conformational stabilities of apoCopC and HgN^2＋ -CopC-Hgc^2＋ were monitored by fluorescence spectrum in Hepes buffer （50 mmol·L^-1） at pH 7.4. The free energy of stabilization is （14.69±0.85） and （16.66±0.55） kJ.mol^-1, respectively. HgN^2＋ -CopC-Hgc^2＋ is more stable than apoCopC.     

Simultaneous Determination of Quinoline and Pyridine Compounds in Gasoline and Diesel by Differential Pulse Voltammetry

The presence of trace basic organonitrogen compounds such as quinoline and pyridine in derivative petroleum fuels plays an important role in maintaining the engines of vehicles. However, these substances can contaminate the environment and so must be controlled because most of them are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. For these reasons, a reliable and sensitive method was developed for the determination of basic nitrogen compounds in fuel samples such as gasoline and diesel. This method utilizes preconcentration on an ion–exchange resin (Amberlyte IR–120 H) followed by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on a glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical behavior of quinoline and pyridine as studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggests that their reduction occurs via a reversible electron transfer followed by an irreversible chemical reaction. Very well resolved diffusion‐controlled voltammetric peaks were obtained in dimethylformamide (DMF) with tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBAF₄ 0.1 mol L^?1) for quinoline (?1.95 V) and pyridine (?2.52 V) vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl_sat reference electrode. The proposed DPV method displayed a good linear response from 0.10 to 300 mg L^?1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.05 and 0.25 μg L^?1 for quinoline and pyridine, respectively. Using the method of standard additions, the simultaneous determination of quinoline and pyridine in gasoline samples yielded 25.0±0.3 and 33.0±0.7 mg L^?1 and in diesel samples yielded 80.3±0.2 and 131±0.4 mg L^?1, respectively. Spike recoveries were 94.4±0.3% and 101±0.5% for quinoline and pyridine, respectively, in the fuel determinations. This proposed method was also compared with UV‐vis spectrophotometric measurements. Results obtained for the two methods agreed well based on F and t student's tests.     

Complex formation of curium(III) with amino acids of different functionalities: L-threonine and O -phospho-L-threonine

The speciation of curium(III) with L-threonine and O-phospho-L-threonine was determined by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) at trace Cm(III) concentrations (3?×?10^?7?M). Curium species of the type M_pH_qL_r were identified in the L-threonine- and O-phospho-L-threonine system. These complexes are characterized by their individual luminescence spectra and luminescence lifetimes. The following formation constants were determined (a) for L-threonine: log?β₁₀₁?=?6.72?±?0.07, log?β₁₀₂?=?10.22?±?0.09, and log?β_1–22?=?(7.22?±?0.19) at ionic strength I?=?0.5?M and (b) for O-phospho-L-threonine: log?β₁₂₁?=?18.03?±?0.13 and log?β₁₁₁?=?14.17?±?0.09 at ionic strength I?=?0.154?M. Possible structures of the identified curium species are discussed on the basis of the luminescence lifetime measurements and the magnitude of the formation constants.     

Determination of phosphate in freshwater samples by flow-injection with lucigenin chemiluminescence

Lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL) in conjunction with flow-injection analysis (FIA) is used for the determination of phosphate in freshwater samples. The procedure is based on the formation of molybdophosphoric heteropoly acid (MoP–HPA) by the reaction of phosphate and ammonium molybdate under acidic conditions. CL emission was observed as a result of oxidation of lucigenin in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in the presence of MoP–HPA. Calibration was linear up to 500?µg?L^?1 (r ^2?=?0.9998; n?=?8), with a detection limit (S/N?=?3) of 0.95?µg?L^?1. An injection throughput of 120 h^?1, and relative standard deviation (RSD; n?=?4) of 1.3–3.2% were achieved in the concentration range studied. An on-line chelating column was used to remove interfering cations. The method was applied to freshwater samples, and the results (51?±?1.0 – 107?±?2.0?µg?L^?1) did not differ significantly from results obtained using a spectrophotometric method (52.5?±?1.0 – 102?±?2.0?µg?L^?1) at 95% confidence level (t-test).     

Hydration and Ion Pairing in Aqueous Sodium Oxalate Solutions

Dielectric spectra have been measured for aqueous sodium oxalate solutions up to the saturation concentration (0.04≤c [mmol L^?1]≤0.25) at 25 °C over the approximate frequency range 0.2≤ν [GHz]≤20. The spectra exhibit a process at about 1 GHz associated with the presence of ion pairs, in addition to the dominant solvent relaxation process at about 18 GHz. Detailed analysis of the solvent dispersion amplitude indicates that the oxalate ion is highly hydrated but that its solvation sheath is “fragile”, decreasing quickly with increasing solute concentration. The NaOx(aq)^? ion pair is shown to be of the double‐solvent‐separated (2SIP) type, with an infinite dilution association constant K_A=1.04±0.02. Analysis of the ion‐pair relaxation time as a function of solute concentration gave rate constants for the formation (k₁₂=(7.3±0.4)10⁹ L mol^?1 s^?1) and dissociation (k₂₁=(6.7±0.5)10⁸ s^?1) of the ion pair. These values are reasonably close to the diffusion‐controlled values predicted by the Eigen theory, consistent with a 2SIP structure for the ion pair.     

Thermokinetic Study on the Reversible Competitive Inhibition of Bovine Liver Arginase

Introduction Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) is a widespread and very im-portant enzyme in mammals, which specifically cata-lyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine to urea and the non-protein amino acid L-ornithine, a key step in the urea cycle.1 Urea is the principal metabolite for disposal of nitrogen as a neutral and nontoxic waste product formed during amino acid metabolism in mammals. L-ornithine serves as a biosynthetic precursor to L-proline and the polyamines such as putrescine, sper-mine (in eucar…     

Study of a Novel Bisnaphthalimidopropyl Polyamine as Electroactive Material for Perchlorate‐selective Potentiometric Sensors

In this work, the new polyamine bisnaphthalimidopropyl‐4,4’‐diaminodiphenylmethane is proposed as a new ionophore for perchlorate potentiometric sensors. The optimal formulation for the membrane comprised of 12 mmol kg^?1 of the ionophore, and 68 % (w/w) of 2‐nitrophenyl phenyl ether as plasticizer and 31 % (w/w) of high molecular weight PVC. The sensors were soaked in water for a week to allow leakage of anionic impurities and for one day in a perchlorate solution (10^?4 mol L^?1) to improve reproducibility due to its first usage. The stability constant for the ionophore‐perchlorate association in the membrane, log β_IL1=3.18±0.04, ensured a performance characterized by the slope of 54.1 (±0.7) mV dec^?1 to perchlorate solutions with concentrations between 1.24×10^?7 and 1.00×10^?3 mol L^?1. The sensors are insensitive to pH between 3.5 to 11.0, they have a practical detection limit of 7.66 (±0.42) ×10^?8 mol L^?1 and a response time below 60 s for solutions with perchlorate concentrations above 5×10^?6 mol L^?1. The accuracy of the results was confirmed by the analysis of the contaminant in a certified reference water sample.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and ionic compositions of atmospheric bulk deposition samples at a national park under the influence of intense barbecue smoke

The main aim of this study was to present the effects of barbecue smoke on a small-scale environment, a national park under the influence of intense barbecue smoke, and to scientifically support the sustainable usage of the park. Twelve-weekly bulk deposition samples were collected directly at the barbecuing area, and the samples were analysed for 16 US EPA’s priority PAH compounds and major ions. The mean concentrations of the individual PAHs in the bulk deposition samples ranged from 11.8 ng L^?1 (Ane) to 1085 ± 581 ng L^?1 (IcdP). The most frequently observed PAH compounds in the bulk deposition samples were Np, Anp, Flr, Phe, An, Flu, BkF, BaP and IcdP. The mean total PAH deposition fluxes were determined as 3.6 ± 5.6 µg m^?2 day^?1. The chloride, potassium and the sulphate fluxes were determined as 145.2 ± 267.8 µg m^?2 day^?1, 182.9 ± 291.9 µg m^?2 day^?1, and 111.9 ± 65.9 µg m^?2 day^?1, respectively. Dominant ions in the bulk deposition samples were potassium ion, chloride and sulphate which addressed as the fingerprint of barbecue grilling.     

Cuprous complexes and dioxygen,VII. Competition between one- and two-electron reduction of O2 in the autoxidation of Cu(1-methyl-2-hydroxymethyl-imidazole)2+

The complexation of 1-methyl-2-hydroxymethyl-imidazole (L) with Cu(I) and Cu(II) has been studied in aqueous acetonitrile (AN). Cu(I) forms three complexes, Cu(AN)L⁺, CuL₂⁺, and Cu(AN)H_?1L, with stability constants logK(Cu(AN)⁺ + L ? Cu(AN)L⁺) = 4.60 ± 0.02, logβ₂ = 11.31 ± 0.04, and logK(Cu(AN)H_?1L+H⁺ ? Cu(AN)L⁺) = 10.43 ± 0.08 in 0.15M AN. The main species for Cu(II) are CuL²⁺, CuH_?1L⁺, CuH_?1L₂⁺, and CuH_?2L₂. The autoxidation of CuL₂⁺ was followed with an oxygen sensor and spectrophotometrically. Competition between the formation of superoxide in a one-electron reduction of O₂ and a path leading to H₂O₂ via binuclear (CuL₂)₂O was inferred from the rate law with k_a = (2.31 ± 0.12) · 10⁴M ^?2S ^?1, k_b = (1.0 ± 0.2) · 10³M ^?1, k_c = (2.85 ± 0.07) · 10²M ^?2S ^?1, k_d = 3.89 ± 0.14M ^?1S ^?1, k_e = 0.112 ± 0.004, k_f = (2.06 ± 0.24) · 10^?10M S ^?1, k_g = (1.35 ± 0.07) · 10^?7 S ^?1, and k_h = (6.8 ± 1.4) · 10^?7M ^?1 S ^?1.     

Removal of Lead(II), Cadmium(II), and Arsenic(III) from Aqueous Solution Using Magnetite Nanoparticles Prepared by Green Synthesis with Box–Behnken Design

Two types of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were investigated as adsorbents for the simultaneous removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III) metal ions from aqueous solution. Magnetite nanoparticles were prepared by two synthesis procedures, both using water as solvent, and are referred to as conventional Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and green Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The latter used Citrus limon (lemon) aqueous peel extract as the surfactant. Box–Behnken experimental design was used to investigate the effects of parameters such as initial concentration (20–150?mg?L^?1), pH (2–9), and biomass dosage (1–5?g?L^?1) on the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III) ions. The optimum parameters for removal of the studied metal ions from aqueous solutions, including the initial ion concentration (20?mg?L^?1), pH (5.5) and adsorbent dose (5?g?L^?1), were determined. The pseudosecond-order model exhibited the best fit for the kinetic studies, while adsorption equilibrium isotherms were best described by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The optimum conditions were applied for the treatment wastewater. The removal efficiencies of Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III) using the conventional and green synthesized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were 59.4?±?4.3, 18.7?±?1.9 and 17.5?±?1.6, and 98.8?±?5.6, 46.0?±?1.3, and 48.2?±?2.6%, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized using C. limon peel extract as highly efficient adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III) ions from aqueous solution.     

Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for Kinetic Investigation and Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic and Uric Acids

The present work explores, for the first time, the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid (AscH₂) and its determination in the presence of uric acid (UA) on the in situ activated 4‐nitrophthalonitrile modified carbon paste electrode. The kinetic constant κ for the catalytic reaction for the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid, evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and RDE voltammetry provided values around 10⁶ L mol^?1 s^?1. The sensor provided a linear response range for AscH₂ and UA from 5.0 up to 120.0 μmol L^?1 with detection limits of 1.6 μmol L^?1and 1.3 μmol L^?1, respectively. The sensor was applied for the simultaneous determination of AscH₂ and UA in urine samples and the average recoveries for these samples were 99.8 (±3.1)% and 99.9 (±2.1)%, respectively .     

Preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt (II) ions in water and agricultural products samples using of 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanin modified SBA-15 sorbent prior to FAAS determination

In the present study, the ?5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanin-modified SBA-15? was applied as stable solid sorbent for the separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of cobalt ions in aqueous solution. SBA-15 was modified by ?5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanin reagent. The sorption of Co²⁺ ions was done onto modified sorbent in the pH range of 6.8–7.9 and desorption occurred in 5.0 mL of 3.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃. The results exhibit a linear dynamic range from 0.01 to 6.0 mg L^?1 for cobalt. Intra-day (repeatability) and inter-day (reproducibility) for 10 replicated determination of 0.06 mg L^?1 of cobalt was ±1.82% and ?±1.97%?. Detection limit was 4.2 µg L^?1 (3S_b, n = 5) and preconcentration factor was 80. The effects of the experimental parameters, including the sample pH, flow rates of sample and eluent solution, eluent type and interference ions were studied for the preconcentration of Co²⁺. The proposed method was applied for the determination of cobalt in standard samples, water samples and agricultural products.     

Custom-Made C18 Column for Simultaneous Determination of Endocrine Disrupting Substances in Water by Diode-Array and Fluorescence Detectors

A C₁₈ stationary phase was synthesized for a custom-made HPLC column. When compared to a commercial C₁₈ column, better chromatographic performances were obtained. This column was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene in waters by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with dual detectors (diode array and fluorescence detectors) combined with solid phase extraction. Low method detection limits were obtained, i.e., p,p′-DDT: 0.5 µg L^?1, o,p′-DDT: 1 µg L^?1, benzo(a)anthracene: 2.5 ng L^?1, benzo(b)fluoranthene: 5 ng L^?1, and benzo(a)pyrene: 2.5 ng L^?1. High recoveries that ranged from 82 to 94% were obtained for all compounds.     

Electrochemical behaviour and determination of rimsulfuron herbicide by square wave voltammetry

The voltammeric behaviour of rimsulfuron herbicide has been studied by square wave stripping voltammetry on static hanging mercury drop electrode. It exhibited a well-defined peak within the pH range of 1.0–6.0, having a maximum peak response at ?600 mV (vs.Ag/AgCl) at pH 3.0. The factors such as accumulation potential (E_acc), accumulation time (t_acc), frequency (f), pulse amplitude (ΔE) and step potential (ΔE_s) have been optimised. The calibration plot was a straight line in the range of 4.4–134.4 μg L^?1 with a detection limit of 1.3 μg L^?1. The validity of the method was assessed from the recoveries of spiked lake water, tomato juice and agrochemical formulation of Doncep^®. The results of the experiments conducted for five recoveries were 48.8 ± 1.7 and 49.7 ± 1.0 μg L^?1, which are very close to the rimsulfuron spiked to lake water and tomato juice (50 μg L^?1), with a relative error of –2.4% and ?0.6%, respectively. The electrode reaction mechanism was also postulated.     

Speciation Analysis of Thallium by Reversed‐phase Liquid Chromatography ‐ Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP‐MS) was used as a liquid chromatographic detector for the speciation analysis of thallium in environmental samples. In this study, ionic thallium species, namely Tl(I) and Tl(III) were well separated by reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) with a C8‐HPLC column as the stationary phase and 1 mmol L^?1 tetrabutylammonium phosphate (TBAP), 2 mmol L^?1 diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in 1% v/v methanol solution (pH 6) as the mobile phase. Effluent from the HPLC column was delivered to the nebulizer of the ICP‐MS for the determination of thallium. The separation was complete in less than 3 min. Detection limit was 0.002 μg L^?1 for both Tl(I) and Tl(III) compounds based on peak height. The relative standard deviation of the peak areas for five injections of a mixture containing 1 μg Tl L^?1 was better than 3.4%. The concentrations of Tl compounds were determined in standard reference materials, including NIST SRM 1643e Trace Elements in Water and NRCC NASS‐5 Open Ocean Seawater and water samples collected in Kaohsiung area, Taiwan. The HPLC‐ICP‐MS results of the reference samples agreed with the reference values. This method has also been applied to determine Tl(I) and Tl(III) compounds in custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaves collected from Chai‐shan Mountain, Kaohsiung and Taitung City, Taiwan. The thallium species were quantitatively leached from the leaves with a 5 mmol L^?1 DTPA in 100 mmol L^?1 ammonium acetate solution in an ultrasonic bath during a period of 30 min. The HPLC‐ICP‐MS result that was obtained after the analysis of leaves sample showed a satisfactory agreement with the total thallium concentration obtained by ICP‐MS analysis of completely dissolved sample.     

Dynamic proton magnetic resonance studies on complex spin systems. Non-mutual three-spin exchange in N-(trideuteriomethyl)-2-cyanoaziridine

At room temperature and below, the proton NMR spectrum of N-(trideuteriomethyl)-2-cyanoaziridine consists of two superimposed ABC patterns assignable to two N-invertomers; a single time-averaged ABC pattern is observed at 158.9°C. The static parameters extracted from the spectra in the temperature range from –40.3 to 23.2°C and from the high-temperature spectrum permit the calculation of the thermodynamic quantities ΔH⁰ = ?475±20 cal mol^?1 (?1.987 ± 0.084 kJ mol^?1) and ΔS⁰ = 0.43±0.08 cal mol^?1 K^?1 (1.80±0.33 J mol^?1 K^?1) for the cis ? trans equilibrium. Bandshape analysis of the spectra broadened by non-mutual three-spin exchange in the temperature range from 39.4–137.8°C yields the activation parameters ΔH_tc^≠ = 17.52±0.18 kcal mol^?1 (73.30±0.75 kJ mol^?1), ΔS_tc^≠ = ?2.08±0.50 cal mol^?1 K^?1 (?8.70±2.09 J mol^?1 K^?1) and ΔG_tc^≠ (300 K) = 18.14±0.03 kcal mol^?1 (75.90±0.13 kJ mol^?1) for the trans → cis isomerization. An attempt is made to rationalize the observed entropy data in terms of the principles of statistical thermodynamics.