In vacuo reduction of silver orthophosphate with graphite for high‐precision oxygen isotope analysis

The reduction of silver phosphate with graphite under vacuum conditions was studied at final reaction temperatures varying from 430 to 915°C to determine: (i) the CO₂ extraction yield, and (ii) the oxygen isotopic composition of CO₂. The CO₂ yield and oxygen isotopic composition were determined on a calibrated dual inlet and triple collector isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We observed the following three stages of the reduction process. (1) At temperatures below 590°C only CO₂ is formed, while silver orthophosphate decays to pyrophosphate. (2) At higher temperatures, 590–830°C, predominantly CO is formed from silver pyrophosphate which decays to metaphosphate; this CO was always converted into CO₂ by the glow discharge method. (3) At temperatures above 830°C the noticeable sublimation of silver orthophosphate occurs. This observation was accompanied by the oxygen isotope analysis of the obtained CO₂. The measured δ¹⁸O value varied from ?11.93‰ (at the lowest temperature) to ?20.32‰ (at the highest temperature). The optimum reduction temperature range was found to be 780–830°C. In this temperature range the oxygen isotopic composition of CO₂ is nearly constant and the reaction efficiency is relatively high. The determined difference between the δ¹⁸O value of oxygen in silver phosphate and that in CO₂ extracted from this phosphate is +0.70‰. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dosage gravimétrique rapide du béryllium dans les béryls

After attacking the beryl by fusing the powdered mineral with sodium peroxide and eliminating silica, beryllium is precipitated directly in the filtrate by mono-ammonium phosphate in the presence of complexon II or ethylene diamino-tetraacetic acid.Complexon II forms complexes and retains in the solution the other metals contained in beryl, but permits the quantitative precipitation of ammonium phosphate and beryllium which is calcined at 1000° and weighed out as beryllium pyrophosphate, Be2P2O7.     

Microwave-assisted reaction of peptide formation by amino acid with phosphate:Exploration of the most possible channels for the origin of life

The formation of peptides and then protein by small abiological molecules clusters such as amino acid is a key stage in the origin of life[1]. More and more ex- perimental results showed that phosphate plays an important role in the formation of biomolecules in prebiotic chemical evolution. The principal reservoirs of biochemical energy are phosphates (such as ATP). The peculiar role of phosphates in contemporary life might suggest its essential role in prebiotic energy conversion, syntheses …     

Conformations and complexation abilities of chemically modified cyclodextrins in aqueous solution

Circular dichroism spectral and fluorescence decay methods have been employed to determine the conformations of mono[6-(p-tolylseleno)-6-deoxy]-β-CD(1), mono(6-anilino-6-deoxy) −β -CD (2) and mono[6-(L-tryptophan)-6-deoxy]−β -CD (3) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2, 0.1 mol dm⁻³) at 298.15 K. The results indicate that compounds 2 and 3 formed self-inclusion complexes in aqueous buffer solution, while the substituent of compound 1 was not included into cyclodextrin cavity at all. Furthermore, the complex stability constant (logK _s) and Gibbs free en-ergy change (−ΔAG °) of these three cylcodextrin derivatives with several cycloalkanols have been determined by circular dichroism spectral titration in phosphate buffer solution at 298.15 K. It is found that the location of the substituent affects the stability of host-guest complex in aqueous solution.     

Indirect Determination of Sulfadiazine by Cloud Point Extraction/Flow Injection‐Flame Atomic Absorption (CPE/FI‐FAAS) Spectrometry

An indirect simple and rapid cloud point extraction is proposed for separation and preconcentration of sulfadiazine and its determination by flow injection‐flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FI‐FAAS). The sulfadiazine from 35 mL of solution was readily converted to silver sulfadiazine upon addition of silver nitrate (9.7 × 10^‐5 mol/L). Then, Triton X‐114 a non ionic surfactant was added and the solution was heated to 60 °C. At this stage, two separate phases was formed and silver sulfadiazine enters the surfactant rich phase of non‐ionic micelles of Triton X‐114. The surfactant‐rich phase (～50 μL) was then separated and diluted to 300 μL with acidic methanol. The concentration of silver in the surfactant‐rich phase which is proportional to the concentration of sulfadiazine in sample solution was determined by FI‐FAAS. The parameters affecting extraction and separation were optimized. Under the optimum conditions (i.e. pH 2‐10, silver concentration (9.7 × 10 ^‐5 mol/L), Triton X‐114 (0.075% v/v) and temperature 60 °C) a preconcentration factor of 117 and a relative standard deviation of 4.9% at 37 μg L^‐1 of sulfadiazine was obtained. The method was successfully applied to analysis of milk, urine and tablet samples and accuracy was determined by recovery experiments.     

The CaO?MgO?P2O5 System at 1000°C for P2O5 ⩽ 33.3 mole %

The quasi ternary phase diagram CaO-MgO-P₂O₅ at 1000°C for P₂O₅ ? 33.3 mole-% is determined by heating some 140 compositions prepared from the appropriate ones of 4 starting chemicals (reagent grade CaHPO₄, CaCO₃, MgO, and MgHPO₄ · 3 aq.). Products were investigated with X-ray diffraction and heating was continued until no more changes in phase composition and peak positions in the X-ray diffraction pattern were observed, leading occasionally to heating times of over 1000 hours. There are three major regions of solid solution: for the whitlockite phase, and for the ternary compounds on the pyro- and the ortho-phosphate join. The extent of solid solution of the ternary pyrophosphate compound was determined by the change in peak position in the X-ray diffraction pattern with composition and was found to be 15.9–27.5 mole-% MgO. Two and three phase areas were determined using the change in peak position data for the whitlockite and ternary pyrophosphate compound. The experiments were carried out in air. However additional experiments in a CO₂ atmosphere revealed no changes in the X-ray diffraction patterns, apart from those in which apatite was involved. The apatite phase did not incorporate detectable amounts of Mg, not on heating in air nor on heating in a carbondioxide atmosphere.     

Seed‐Mediated Growth of Silver Nanocubes in Aqueous Solution with Tunable Size and Their Conversion to Au Nanocages with Efficient Photothermal Property

Two seed‐mediated approaches for the growth of silver nanocubes in aqueous solution have been developed. Addition of a silver‐seed solution to a mixture of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), silver trifluoroacetate, and ascorbic acid and heating the solution at 60 °C for 1.5 h produces uniform Ag nanocubes with tunable sizes from 23 to 60 nm by simply adjusting the volume of silver‐seed solution introduced. Alternatively, the silver‐seed solution can be injected into a mixture of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), silver nitrate, copper sulfate, and ascorbic acid and heated to 80 °C for 2 h to generate 46 nm silver nanocubes. Plate‐like Ag nanocrystals exposing {111} surfaces can be synthesized by reducing Ag(NH₃)₂⁺ with ascorbic acid in a CTAC solution. Relatively large Ag nanocubes were converted to cuboctahedral Au/Ag and Au nanocages and nanoframes with empty {111} faces through a galvanic replacement reaction. The nanocages showed a progressive plasmonic band red‐shift with increasing Au content. The nanocages exhibited high and stable photothermal efficiency with solution temperatures quickly reaching beyond 100 °C when irradiated with an 808 nm laser for large heat and water vapor generation.     

Influence of Lithium on the Structure and Phase Composition Formation in the Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite

The influence of lithium substitution for calcium over a broad concentration range (0–20 mol %) on the crystal lattice parameters, coherent scattering regions, and phase composition was studied for hydroxyapatite synthesized by precipitation from solutions and heat treatment at 900, 1200, and 1400°C. The lithium substitution in a more than 10 mol % concentration and increase in the heat treatment temperature to 1400°C give rise to a complex phase composition, which includes not only the apatite phase, but also two tricalcium phosphate phases and calcium pyrophosphate. The results are useful for the development of hydroxyapatite-based materials for bone surgery.     

Thermochemistry of the mixed calcium phosphate Ca8P2O7(PO4)4

The calcium mixed phosphate Ca₈P₂O₇(PO₄)₄ has been synthesized by thermal decomposition of octacalcium phosphate previously prepared by precipitation in ammoniacal phosphate solution. The enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K referenced to β-tricalcium phosphate and calcium pyrophosphate is determined. β-Tricalcium phosphate was prepared by two methods: precipitation in ammoniacal aqueous medium and high temperature solid-state reaction. Calcium pyrophosphate was prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction. All the compounds are characterized by chemical analysis, X-rays diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The enthalpy of formation +10.83 ± 0.63 kJ mol⁻¹ is obtained by solution calorimetry at 298.15 K in nitric acid.     

Complex nanoscale cage clusters built from uranyl polyhedra and phosphate tetrahedra

Five cage clusters that self-assemble in alkaline aqueous solution have been isolated and characterized. Each is built from uranyl hexagonal bipyramids with two or three equatorial edges occupied by peroxide, and three also contain phosphate tetrahedra. These clusters contain 30 uranyl polyhedra; 30 uranyl polyhedra and six pyrophosphate groups; 30 uranyl polyhedra, 12 pyrophosphate groups, and one phosphate tetrahedron; 42 uranyl polyhedra; and 40 uranyl polyhedra and three pyrophosphate groups. These clusters present complex topologies as well as a range of compositions, sizes, and charges. Two adopt fullerene topologies, and the others contain combinations of topological squares, pentagons, and hexagons. An analysis of possible topologies further indicates that higher-symmetry topologies are favored.     

Annealing of silver nanolayers sputtered on polytetrafluoroethylene

Silver nanolayers sputtered on polytetrafluoroethylene and their changes induced by post‐deposition annealing at 100–300 °C are studied. Changes in surface morphology and roughness are examined by atomic force microscopy and by measurement of electrical sheet resistance by two‐point technique. Chemical composition was determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrokinetic analysis in dependence on the gold layer thickness. The annealing at 300 °C leads to significant rearrangement of the silver layer, and the transition threshold increases to 35 nm. The presence of oxidized structures on silver‐coated samples is observed in XPS spectra and by electrokinetic analysis, too. Annealing of pristine and silver‐coated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) at 300 °C results in significant change of the sample surface morphology and chemistry. There is observed formation of isolated silver islands on the surface, which could be connected with silver melting. Later, the silver agglomeration takes place. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular recognition studies on supramolecular systems (XXIV)

Circular dichroism spectral and fluorescence decay methods have been employed to determine the conformations of mono[6-(p-tolylseleno)-6-deoxy]-β-CD(1), mono(6-anilino-6-deoxy) ?β -CD (2) and mono[6-(L-tryptophan)-6-deoxy]?β -CD (3) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2, 0.1 mol dm^?3) at 298.15 K. The results indicate that compounds 2 and 3 formed self-inclusion complexes in aqueous buffer solution, while the substituent of compound 1 was not included into cyclodextrin cavity at all. Furthermore, the complex stability constant (logK _s) and Gibbs free en-ergy change (?ΔAG °) of these three cylcodextrin derivatives with several cycloalkanols have been determined by circular dichroism spectral titration in phosphate buffer solution at 298.15 K. It is found that the location of the substituent affects the stability of host-guest complex in aqueous solution.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Hydrosols in the Presence of Carboxyalkylated Amine Complexones

The specifics of formation of silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution in the presence of carboxyalkylated amine complexones (NTA and DTPA) have been studied for the first time. Sols with these ligands are found to be formed in alkali solutions at рН ≥ 10.0 and 80°С. Their optical spectra and the particle sizes and morphologies are determined by synthesis conditions: рН, the ratio Ag⁺/L, and the order of mixing components. A scheme has been suggested for silver nanoparticle formation in the presence of NTA and DTPA, consistent with the experimental results. The efficacy of the prepared silver sols in SERS measurements is shown.     

Determination of silver in biological materials by high-frequency plasma-torch emission spectrometry

Nanogram amounts or silver in small samples of biological materials can be determined by high-frequency plasma-torch emission spectrometry. Samples are digested with perchloric and nitric acids, silver is collected with a bismuth iodide carrier, and the precipitate is decomposed with concentrated nitric acid before dilution. Bismuth shows an enhancing effect on the silver emission at 328.06 nm, and the sensitivity is further improved by elimination of moisture in the aerosol with a second condenser at -3 to -5°C. The detection limit is 0.5 ng per 0.2 ml of sample solution. Condensed milk and whole blood were analyzed satisfactorily.     

The kinetics of oxidative alcoholysis of zinc phosphide in the presence of oxygen and the FeCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-I<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixed catalyst in solution in butanol

The oxidative alkoxylation of zinc phosphide to tributyl phosphate occurred at a high rate and with high selectivity in a solution of FeCl₃-I₂ in butanol at 50–70°C. The kinetic characteristics and optimum conditions of the process were determined. The experimental and literature data were used to identify key stages of the formation of tributyl phosphate in the presence of the mixed catalytic system.     

Sur la thermogravimétrie des précipités analytiques : Dosage du Glucinium (Béryllium)

The authors have studied, by means of the chevenard thermobalance, the pyrolysis of the hydroxide, crystalline sulphate, amorphous sulphate and ammoniacal phosphate of beryllium. They recommend the apparatus for carrying out the automatic determination of beryllia after heating to 951° only, instead of 1200° C. They give reasons why weighing as anhydrous sulphate is far from being satisfactory and indicate their preference for the pyrophosphate.     

Complexation of neptunium(V) by salicylate,phthalate and citrate ligands in a pH 7.5 phosphate buffered system

Conditional stability constants, enthalpies and entropies of complexation at pH 7.5 and ionic strength 0.1 have been determined for neptunium(V) complexes of phosphate, salicylate, phthalate and citrate. Phosphate forms a complex with log β = 2.36 ± 0.42 at 25°C, ΔH°_c = ? 69.9 kJ/mole and ΔS°_c = ? 188 J/mole-K. At pH 7.5 salicylate does not form a complex with neptunium(V) due to the low charge density of the NpO₂⁺ ion and incomplete ionization of the salicylate ion. Phthalate forms a complex with log β = 3.43 ± 0.33 at 25°C, ΔH°_c = 33.5 kJ/mole and ΔS°_c = 182 J/mole-K. Citrate forms a complex with log β = 4.84 ± 0.72 at 25°C, ΔH°_c = 14.0 kJ/mole and ΔS°_c = 140 J/mole-K. In all cases, only 1:1 complexes were identified.     

Determination of the performance of glass electrodes in aqueous solutions in the physiological ph range and at the physiological sodium ion concentration

A method for testing glass electrodes in the physiological pH range (6.4–7.6) and at the physiological sodium ion concentration (0.15 mol l^-1), based on indirect comparison of potentials with the hydrogen gas electrode, is developed according to a scheme described earlier. The hydrogen ion sensitivity and the sodium ion error of a glass electrode can be determined with three different aqueous solutions of amine buffers and their hydrochlorides; two of these have different pH values and one also contains a sodium salt (at the higher pH value). A cell without a liquid/liquid junction, containing silver/silver chloride reference electrodes, is used at 37° C. The accuracy of both determinations is ±0.2 mV (±0.003 pH). The results for some commercial glass electrodes tested with this method are presented.     

Silver nanoparticles plasmon resonance-based method for the determination of uric acid in human plasma and urine samples

We have developed a simple and sensitive colorimetric procedure for the quantification of trace amounts of uric acid. It is based on the finding that uric acid in a medium containing ammonia and sodium hydroxide at 65?°C can reduce silver ions to form yellow silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). These are stabilized in solution by using poly(vinyl alcohol) as a capping agent. The yellow color of the solution that results from the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag NPs can be observed by the bare eye. The absorbance at 415?nm is proportional to the concentration of uric acid which therefore can be determined quantitatively. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range from 10 to 200?nM, with a limit of detection of 3.3?nM. The method was successfully applied to the determination of uric acid in human plasma and urine samples.

Redox reactions of cytochrome c facilitated by silver-imidazole complex

An imidazole modified silver electrode is prepared by immersing the substrate silver electrode in a 2% imidazole solution of ethanol at 50℃ for 10 min. The modified electrode is then swept in a cytochrome c solution and the modified layer takes off because the modified electrode is very unstable. Although the amount of the silver-imidazole complex is very small compared with the amount of cytochrome c in the protein solution, it greatly facilitates redox reactions involving the biomacromolecules.