Canavanine assay of some alfalfa varieties (Medicago sativa) by fluorescence: Practical procedure for canavanine preparation

Canavanine is extracted with 0.3 M H₂SO₄. Protein is removed by adding CHCl₃ and centrifugation. SO₄^t- is removed as BaSO₄. The canavanine is adsorbed to Dowex 50 (NH₄⁺ form) and eluted with 0.16 M NH₄OH. It is isolated by lyophilization and recrystallization from 90% ethanol. It is assayed, when present in high concentration, by weighing after lyophilization, and by the pentacyanoferrate reagent. For low concentrations, an improved fluorometric procedure is described. To 2 ml of an extract, 0.25 ml of 0.2 mM phenanthrenequinone in ethanol is added followed by 0.2 ml 0.5 M NaOH. After incubation at 37 °C for 1 hr, the cooled solution is acidified with 4 M HCl. The blank is minimized by extraction with 1 ml heptane. Excitation is at 305–308 nm, and emission is at 395–400 nm. Canavanine reduces with Pd-BaSO₄ to guanidine and homoserine. In the fluorometric procedure, guanidine has a sensitivity, 4.8 times that of canavanine on a molar basis, and 14.3 times per weight. Increase of fluorescence after reduction ascertains that canavanine is being assayed. The methods were applied to 7 varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seeds, leaves, and stems, 3 of clover seed (Trifolium repens and pratense), and the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). The values found for the seeds in grams/kilogram were 26 for the jack bean, from 8 to 15 for the alfalfa varieties, and from 4.1 to 4.25 for the clover. Alfalfa leaves contained 0.9-1.2 g/kg and stems 0.6-0.9 g/kg.     

Specific assay for homoserine and its lactone in Pisum sativum. Preparation of homoserine hydroxamic acid

The existence of homoserine lactone in Pisum sativum seedlings is demonstrated. L-Homoserine lactone reacts with hydroxylamine, at neutral or alkaline pH, to form homoserine hydroxamic acid. Procedures are described for preparing L-homoserine lactone and L-homoserine hydroxamic acid. The hydroxamic acid yields a color with maximum absorbance at 492 nm with Fe³⁺ in 0.25 N HCl. This reaction permitted assay for total homoserine and homoserine lactone. Six-day old Pisum sativum seedlings, with cotyledons removed, were extracted with 90% ethanol. Evaporation of the ethanol and addition of Na₂SO₄ solution and toluene and centrifugation removed protein lipids and esters. After clarification with activated charcoal, homoserine lactone content was estimated by reaction with NH₂OH and Fe³⁺ reagents. For total homoserine, protein precipitation was with 2 N HCl and toluene. Evaporation to dryness at 60 °C under vacuum converted all homoserine to the lactone. The values found for total homoserine (μmols/g, wet weight) and preformed lactone (%) with the various growth media used were as follows: nitrate 87.4 (14.7%), NH₂OH 75.2 (6.3%), water 70.5 (7.9%), urea 56.4 (18.9%). Acetic anhydride added to homoserine hydroxamic acid forms acetohydroxamic acid, which yields a color with maximum absorbance at 505 nm with Fe³⁺. This color reaction is seven times as sensitive as the reaction of Fe³⁺ with homoserine hydroxamic acid itself.     

The quantitative separation of calcium from magnesium,aluminium and other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in ethanol-hydrochloric acid

Magnesium can be separated from calcium by elution with 3.0 M hydrochloric acid containing 60% ethanol from a column of AG₅₀W-X8 cation-exchange resin. Calcium is retained and can be eluted with 3.0 M hydrochloric acid or 2.0 M nitric acid. The separation factor of (α_Mg^ca=5.6 is considerably higher than that in aqueous hydrochloric acid and comparable to those obtained with organic complexing reagents. Separations are sharp and quantitative; up to 10 mmol of magnesium can be separated from 0.01 mmol of calcium and vice versa on a 60-ml column. Al, Fe(III), Mn, Ni(II), Co(II), Zn, Cd, Cu(II), Pb(II), U(VI), Be, Ga, Ti(IV) in the presence of H₂O₂ and many other elements accompany magnesium and can be separated from calcium quantitatively. Sr, Ba, Zr, Hf, Th, Sc, La and the rare earths are retained together with Ca, but can be separated by other methods.     

The quantitative separation and determination of tantalum and niobium using anion exchange chromatographY

A method is described for separating .and determining niobium and tantalum in mixtures of the two. A solution of the two elements in 3M hydrochloric.0.1M hydrofluoric acid is put on a column of Deacidite FF, the niobium is rapidly eluted with 3M hydrochloric.0.1M hydrofluoric acid and the tantalum is recovered by elution with 4M ammonium chloride-M ammonium fluoride. A complete separation is obtained and the two elements are recovered as their oxides after precipitation. The effecth of some other elements have been examined.     

Adsorption properties of charcoal impregnated with stannic chloride

Adsorption behaviour of the individual tracer ions:¹³⁴Cs(I),^85,89Sr(II),^131,133Ba (II),⁹⁰Y(III),¹⁴¹Ce(III),^152,154Eu(III),⁹⁵Zr(IV),^175,181Hf(IV),⁹⁵Nb(V),⁶⁰Co(II),¹¹⁵Cd(II),^99mTc(VII), and¹³¹I(-I) on charcoal impregnated with stannic chloride from Hcl solutions, was investigated. Batch equilibrium distribution coefficients of the respective ions indicated strong anion exchange properties towards impregnated charcoal. The column breakthrough sorption capacity was of the order of 0.62–0.66 meq·g^–1 of dry adsorbent. Small chromatographic columns of impregnated charcoal could achieve rapid and quantitative separation procedures in HCl medium. Strongly adsorbed anions such as TcO ₄ ^– and I^– ions could be eluted with NH₄SCN and NH₄NO₂ eluents, respectively.     

Catalytic effects of metal submonolayers formed by faradaic adsorption on the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid at a platinum electrode

The catalytic effects of metal ions on the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid on a Pt electrode in 1 M HClO₄ were studied by linear sweep voltammetry. The anodic peak due to a two-electron oxidation of ascorbic acid shifts to the negative potential side on the addition of Bi³⁺. This indicates the accelerating effect of Bi³⁺ on the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The presence of other metal ions, such as Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Tl⁺, Ag⁺ and Sb³⁺, also exerts similar effects. These metal ions were adsorbed on a Pt electrode at underpotentials and the adsorbed metals (denoted as M_ad) still remain on the electrode surface until the electrode potential goes up to and beyond the peak potential of the oxidation of ascorbic acid. On the other hand, metal ions forming no adsorbed layer on Pt, such as Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ni²⁺, exhibit no catalytic effect. These facts suggest that the presence of a M_ad on Pt is essential for the promotion of the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid. However, there is a difference in the catalytic action among the M_ad, for example, Cu_ad, Cd_ad, In_ad, Sn_ad and Mo_ad display no catalytic action.The catalytic activity depends on the degree of surface coverage by the M_ad. The maximal effect of the M_ad is attained in the submonolayer region. The effects of metal ions were discussed on the basis that the M_ad plays its major role in the removal of the adsorbed ascorbic acid occupying active sites on the electrode surface, and provides effective sites for the activation of adjacent water molecules. Furthermore, from the ¹³C NMR spectra for the oxidation products, the adsorbed water on the M_ad appears to function by promoting the subsequent hydration steps, following the electron-transfer step of ascorbic acid.     

Anion-exchange isolation of rare-earth elements from apatite minerals in methanol-nitric acid medium

Batch distribution coefficients, K_d, of rare-earth elements (REE) and other elements were determined radiochemically for a strongly basic nitrate anionexchange resin Dowex 1-X8 100–200 mesh, in nitric acid-methanol media of varying composition. This method was developed for the separate recovery of REE from apatite minerals. Calcium and other common elements of the apatite are eluted by a 5% (v/v) 7 M nitric acid-95% methanol mixture, while the REE are retained. The REE are recovered and separated into two fractions; the heavier REE by elution with a 45% nitric acid-55% methanol mixture, and a very clean fraction of La, Ce, Pr, Nd by elution with water.     

Aluminum phosphate-based solid acid catalysts: Facile synthesis,characterization and their application in the esterification of propanoic acid with n-butanol

Novel solid acid catalysts synthesized from aluminum phosphate were prepared via a precipitation method and a subsequent sulfating treatment. Their catalytic performances for the esterification of propanoic acid with n-butanol were investigated. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD), infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine, and other techniques. Experimental results of esterification reactions indicated that the calcination temperature can significantly affect the catalytic performances and the catalyst calcined at 500 °C (SO₄²⁻/AlPO₄-500) exhibited the highest activity. The effects of different reaction conditions including reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst amount and alcohol/acid molar ratio were studied in detail. The maximum propanoic acid conversion of 91% was achieved under optimum reaction conditions. Furthermore, the as-prepared SO₄²⁻/AlPO₄-500 catalysts were tested for their reusability in repeated reaction cycles and could be effectively regenerated by a simple reactivation method.     

Ammonium hydroxide detoxification of spruce acid hydrolysates

When dilute-acid hydrolysates from spruce are fermented to produce ethanol, detoxification is required to make the hydrolysates fermentable at reasonable rates. Treatment with alkali, usually by overliming, is one of the most efficient approaches. Several nutrients, such as ammonium and phosphate, are added to the hydrolysates prior to fermentation. We investigated the use of NH₄OH for simultaneous detoxification and addition of nitrogen source. Treatment with NH₄OH compared favorably with Ca(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, and NaOH to improve fermentability using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Analysis of monosaccharides, furan aldehydes, phenols, and aliphatic acids was performed after the different treatments. The NH₄OH treatments, performed at pH 10.0, resulted in a substantial decrease in the concentrations of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. Under the conditions studied, NH₄OH treatments gave better results than Ca(OH)₂ treatments. The addition of an extra nitrogen source in the form of NH₄Cl at pH 5.5 did not result in any improvement in fermentability that was comparable to NH₄OH treatments at alkaline conditions. The addition of CaCl₂ or NH₄Cl at pH 5.5 after treatment with NH₄OH or Ca(OH)₂ resulted in poorer fermentability, and the negative effects were attributed to salt stress. The results strongly suggest that the highly positive effects of NH₄OH treatments are owing to chemical conversions rather than stimulation of the yeast cells by ammonium ions during the fermentation.     

Integration of Succinic Acid and Ethanol Production With Potential Application in a Corn or Barley Biorefinery

Production of succinic acid from glucose by Escherichia coli strain AFP184 was studied in a batch fermentor. The bases used for pH control included NaOH, KOH, NH₄OH, and Na₂CO₃. The yield of succinic acid without and with carbon dioxide supplied by an adjacent ethanol fermentor using either corn or barley as feedstock was examined. The carbon dioxide gas from the ethanol fermentor was sparged directly into the liquid media in the succinic acid fermentor without any pretreatment. Without the CO₂ supplement, the highest succinic acid yield was observed with Na₂CO₃, followed by NH₄OH, and lowest with the other two bases. When the CO₂ produced in the ethanol fermentation was sparged into the media in the succinic acid fermentor, no improvement of succinic acid yield was observed with Na₂CO₃. However, several-fold increases in succinic acid yield were observed with the other bases, with NH₄OH giving the highest yield increase. The yield of succinic acid with CO₂ supplement from the ethanol fermentor when NH₄OH was used for pH control was equal to that obtained when Na₂CO₃ was used, with or without CO₂ supplementation. The benefit of sparging CO₂ from ethanol fermentation on the yield of succinic acid demonstrated the feasibility of integration of succinic acid fermentation with ethanol fermentation in a biorefinery for production of fuels and industrial chemicals.     

Chromato-polarographic analysis of mononitroethyl-benzene mixtures

A method of partition and determination of o-, m- and p-nitroethylbenzenes with clathrates as fillers of the chromatographic column is described. The clathrate used was of composition Ni(γ-picoline)₄(SCN)₂γ-picoline. The degree of filling of clatlirate used was 0.4–0.7. The aqueous moving phase contained 2 M NH₄SCN, 0.3 M γ-picoline and 40–60 vol.% organic solvent. The applicability of the solvents: acetone, acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, formaimide and dimethylformtimide, was checked; acetone and dimethylformamide were found best. Quantitative partition and evaluation of all three isomers was achieved on a 2.5-cm column. The recovery of the eluted individuals was complete. The samples used weighed only 0.05–0.3 mg. The relative error of evaluated components was not greater than ±5%. The clathrate filler can be used many times.     

Kinetics of oxidation of organic compounds by silver(II) in aqueous perchloric acid solution. IV. Aliphatic alcohols

The kinetics and mechanism of the silver(II) oxidation of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-methyl- ethanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, D₄-methanol, and D₆-methanol have been investigated at 8.0 and 20.0°C in aqueous perchloric acid media (1.00 ≤ [HClO₄] ≤ 4.00M; μ = 4.0M). The kinetics were monitored by following the disappearance of Ag(II) with a spectrophotometric stopped-flow technique. The reactions are first order in each reactant and involve both Ag²⁺ and AgOH⁺ species. No kinetic or spectroscopic evidence for complex formation between reactants was obtained. The results are discussed with reference to electron density on the ? OH or αC-H substrate sites and to the isotopic hydrogen/deuterium rate quotients found for methanol and ethanol.     

One‐Electron Oxidation and Sensitivity of Uric Acid in On‐Line Electrochemistry and in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The sensitivity of detection of uric acid (H₂U) in positive ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) was enhanced by uric acid oxidation during electrospray ionization. With a carrier solution of pH 6.3>pK_a1=5.4 of H₂U, protonated unoxidized uric acid [H₂U+H]⁺ (m/z 169) was detected together with the protonated uric acid dimer [2H₂U+H]⁺ (m/z 337). The dimer likely forms by 1e^? oxidation of urate (HU^?) followed by rapid radical dimerization. A covalent structure of the dimer was verified by H/D exchange experiments. Efficiency of 2e^?, 2H⁺ oxidation of uric acid is low during ESI in pH 6.3 carrier solution and improves when a low on‐line electrochemical cell voltage is floated on the high voltage of the ES in on‐line electrochemistry ESI MS (EC/ESI MS). The intensity of the uric acid dimer decreases with an increase in the low applied voltage. In a carrier solution with 0.1 M KOH, pH 12.7>pK_a2=9.8 of H₂U, allantoin (Allnt) (MW 158.04), the final 2e^?, 2H⁺ oxidation product of uric acid, was detected as a potassium complex [K(Allnt)+K]⁺ (m/z 235) and the [2H₂U+H]⁺ dimer was not detected. In direct ESI MS analysis of 1000‐fold diluted urine [NaHU+H]⁺ (pK_sp NaHU=4.6) was detected in 40/60 (vol%) water/methanol, 1 mM NH₄Ac, pH ca. 6.3 carrier solution. A new configuration of the ESI MS instrument with a cone‐shaped capillary inlet significantly enhanced sensitivity in ESI and EC/ESI MS measurements of uric acid.     

Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@ionic liquid-β-cyclodextrin polymer magnetic solid phase extraction coupled with HPLC for the separation/analysis of congo red

Fe₃O₄@ionic liquids β-cyclodextrin polymer(Fe₃O₄@mono-6-deoxy-6-(1-ethyl-imidazolium)-β-cyclodextrin iodide polymer, Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP) was prepared. Magnetic solid phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the separation/analysis of congo red (CR) in water and drysaltery was established. Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP showed a higher adsorption capacity toward CR. CR was adsorbed rapidly by Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP (adsorption efficiency: 95%) and eluted by ethanol (elution efficiency: 96%) at room temperature. Under the optimal conditions, preconcentration factor of the proposed method was 20-fold. The linear range, correlation coefficient (R ²), detection limit (DL) and relative standard deviation were found to be 0.005–100.00 µg mL^?1, 0.9910, 1.8 g L^?1 and 0.61% (n = 3, c = 5.00 µg mL^?1), respectively. The adsorption mechanism of CR on Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP was studied through the FTIR analysis. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by spiking city water, lake water, pond water and drysaltery. Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP can be used repeatedly for 10 times. This proposed method had been successfully applied to the determination of CR in real samples.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the First Ammonium Indium(III) Phosphate NH4In(OH)PO4 with Spiral Chains of InO4(OH)2

An ammonium indium hydrogen phosphate, NH₄In(OH)PO₄, was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions, and the crystal structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The compound crystallizes with the RbIn(OH)PO₄ type with the following data: M_r=244.84, tetragonal, tP104, P4₃2₁2 (No.96), a=9.416(2) Å, c=11.159(3) Å, V=989.9(3) ų, Z=8, D_x=3.288 g cm⁻³, λ=0.71073 Å, μ=50.34 cm⁻¹, F(000)=928, T=293 K, R1=0.0606, wR2=0.1472 for 91 variables and 1813 contributing unique reflections. The structure is characterized by chiral InO₄(OH)₂ chains along the c axis formed by sharing OH corners. The chains are isolated by PO₄ tetrahedra leading to a three-dimensional framework structure with channels occupied by NH₄⁺ ions. The framework structure is similar to that of KIn(OH)PO₄ and γ-NaTiOPO₄. The hydrogen bonds formed by NH₄⁺ with the polyhedral oxygen atoms play an important role in the anisotropic changes of the lattice with respect to its alkali metal analogues. The topological construction of the title structure can be considered as an augmented 4,6-net with larger porosity.     

Chromatographic study of metal ammines

Summary The movement of metal ammines through filter paper strips has been studied. Mixtures of solutions of the metal salts with NH₄Cl and NH₄OH were prepared and spotted on strips. 50% ethanol was used as the solvent. It was noted that excess of NH₄Cl when present, gave better chromatograms. Increase of NH₃ concentration resulted in a change of R_f values. In the case of Cu^II and Ni^II the R_f value decreases, while in the case of Ag^I, Cd^II and Co^II it increases with increasing concentrations of NH₄OH added. With progressive increase in the concentration of NH₄OH the R_f values finally tend to become constant.     

Spektrofotometrische bestimmung von calciumspuren nach ihrer abtrennung aus konzentrierten Lithiumchlorid-Lösungen mittels kationenaustausch

Calcium was separated from 1–2 M solutions of lithium chloride by means of Wofatit CP cation exchanger. Calcium was quantitatively separated from lithium by elution with 1 M ammonium chloride. Calcium, was eluted with hydrochloric acid and, eventually, measured spectrophotometrically at 567 mμ after addition of buffer and cresolphthalexone. The sensitivity was found to be 0.002 μg Ca/cm2 and Beer's law was obeved up to 15 μg Ca. With l g of lithium, the limit of determination was 10^-4% Ca.     

Anion-exchange separation of iron,cobalt and nickel

From 90% acetone-10% 6 M hydrochloric acid medium, cobalt and nickel are strongly adsorbed on the anion-exchange resin Dowex I-X8; iron is not adsorbed and can thus be separated from cobalt and nickel. Cobalt and nickel are then separated by elution with 70% acetone-30% 2 M hydrochloric acid; nickel is eluted before cobalt. The method can be applied to the determination of nickel and cobalt in materials with high iron content such as steels ; compleximetric titrations are used for the final step.     

Spectrometry: Speciation of Parts PER Billion of Metal Ions Using Silica and C18-Bonded Silica Columns and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

It is demonstrated that silica gel columns will quantitatively adsorb free Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions at pH > 8. These are eluted with 0.1 M HNO₃ but not with methanol. Negatively charged EDTA chelates are not adsorbed. Neutral APDC chelates are partially adsorbed on silica columns, but are quantitatively adsorbed on C18-bonded columns, and are eluted with methanol. The metal ions are partially adsorbed on C18-bonded columns, due to residual silanol groups. A microcolumn (1 mm i.d., 5 cm length) manifold system is described for automatic delivery of eluant (0.12 ml) to a heated atomic absorption graphite atomizer, using either methanol or 0.1 M HNO₃ in methanol eluant, allowing speciation and measurement of parts per billion of metals. These studies demonstrate that by using a mixed column or sequential columns of silica gel and C18-bonded silica, cationic and neutral metal species could be adsorbed, followed by sequential elution and measurement using methanol and then 0.1 M HNO. Negatively charged species could be measured directly in the sample eluant or obtained by difference from a total metal measurement.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of a new ammonium gallium hydroxyphosphate (NH4)Ga(OH)PO4

A new ammonium gallium hydroxyphosphate (NH₄)Ga(OH)PO₄ was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions (200°C, τ = 168 h). The equimolar content of Ga and P was determined by chemical analysis and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The presence of NH₄ and OH groups was demonstrated by IR and Raman spectroscopy. An ab initio model of the crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method (space group P2₁/m, Z = 2): a = 4.4832(1) Å, b = 6.0430(1) Å, c = 8.5674(1) Å, β = 98.019(1)°, R _p = 0.0552, R _wp = 0.0723. A zero SHG signal (T = 300 K) confirmed a centrosymmetric structure of the compound. The structure contains layers composed of GaO₄(OH)₂ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra. The interlayer space accommodates ammonium cations. The layer is based on linear chains of edge-sharing GaO₄(OH)₂ octahedra with a zigzag trans-arranged-Ga-(OH)-Ga-(OH)-backbone. The construction of the layer in (NH₄)Ga(OH)PO₄ was found to be topologically related to that in (En)_0.5Fe(OH)PO₄. The effect of the gradual F^? → OH^? substitution in the quasi-morphotropic series (NH₄)GaF_1-δ(OH)_δPO₄ (δ = 0, 0.5, 1.0) on the degree of polarization of the mixed anionic radical was considered. (NH₄)Ga(OH)PO₄ is thermally unstable: removal of NH₃ and H₂O molecules in the range 170–450°C is accompanied by the formation of two polymorphs of GaPO₄.