Determination of carbon-bonded sulfur in soils by hydriodic acid reduction and hydrogen peroxide oxidation

A sequential extraction method has been developed for the determination of carbon-bonded sulfur in soils. The soil sample has been sequentially reduced with HI and oxidized with hydrogen peroxide, and finally the residue has been digested with a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid. All inorganic sulfur components and ester sulfur has been reduced to H₂S by HI except the unreducible sulfur including pyritic sulfur, carbon-bonded sulfur and a previously unidentified sulfur fraction. Whereas a part of the carbon-bonded sulfur has been dissolved in the HI reducing solution another part of carbon-bonded sulfur was removed by hydrogen peroxide oxidation. The total carbon-bonded sulfur compose for oxic soils of the HI-dissolved sulfur and the H₂O₂-oxidized sulfur. However, because the pyritic sulfur can be completely decomposed by H₂O₂, this form of sulfur should be subtracted from the sum of the two sulfur fractions in case of anoxic soils. Unidentified sulfur components were also detected in the residue after the sequential extraction.     

渣油加氢处理过程中硫的分布与脱除规律研究

硫是石油中质量分数最多的杂原子,国内外对硫化合物的研究甚多,但大多数是对轻质馏分的研究[1].原油中70%以上的硫集中在渣油中[2],由于减压渣油分子量大,组成和结构复杂,硫化物的分离和鉴定困难[3].含硫化合物的危害主要表现在严重影响石油产品的使用性能和污染环境,在石油加工过程中腐蚀设备[4,5].随着中国中东高硫原油进口量的增加和环保法规对硫质量分数要求越来越严格,加氢处理成为渣油深加工的主要手段之一[6].脱硫受多种因素的影响[7],如催化剂性能、工艺条件等,而且硫在渣油中的存在类型和分布也严重影响到硫的脱除效果.……     

Photosensitized oxidation of methionine derivatives. Laser flash photolysis studies

The early events in the triplet 4-carboxybenzophenone (CB)-induced oxidation of N-acetyl-methionine methyl ester (N-Ac-Met-OCH₃) are investigated in aqueous solution. Upon electron transfer from the methionine residue of N-Ac-Met-OCH₃ to ³CB*, the resulting sulfur radical cation undergoes further reactions: (1) back electron transfer, (2) escape of the radical ions from the solvent cage, or (3) proton transfer and escape of the radicals. The yields and paths of these reactions are shown to depend strongly on the pH of the solution, and, similar to the previously reported results for dipeptides (Met-Gly and Gly-Met), on the structural nature of the methionine substituents. In the experiments performed in this work, low quencher concentrations were used to avoid formation of intermolecular transients (e.g., dimeric sulfur-centered radical cation (S∴S)⁺). Under these experimental conditions, the one-electron oxidized sulfur does not seem to become stabilized in an (S∴N)⁺ three-electron bonded intramolecular complex. The proposed mechanism is further supported by the stable products analysis. A detailed mechanism involving characterization of the transients is discussed and compared to that of methionine and methionine-containing dipeptides (Met-Gly and Gly-Met). Moreover, a newly installed transient absorption laser system is described in details.     

New type of fragmentation of organic cation-radicals in a strong electrical field

A new type of fragmentation of organic cation radicals of sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones, leading to the elimination of S⁺, SO⁺ and SO ₂ ⁺ ions, respectively, has been discovered, and the possible mechanisms of their formation have been proposed. The most probable is a mechanism by which a cleavage of two C-S bonds takes place in the cyclic transition complex and formation of one C-C bond due to the recombination of the radicals. The line of the ion with a mass of 32 amu present in the spectra of almost all the sulfoxides studied, was assigned to the sulfur ion, formed by a similar mechanism after the displacement of alkyl or aryl residue in the molecular ion from sulfur to oxygen. Signs of such a migration also appear in the mass spectra of certain sulfones.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimia, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 730–735, November–December, 1986.     

Synthetic porphyrins bearing a lateral peptide chain—V : On the lack of evidence from exafs for a short axial ZN-S bond in the case of cis-endo-3-propenamid-znTPP derivatives featuring a terminal S-alkyl cysteine residue

“Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure” (EXAFS) spectroscopy has been used for probing the environment of the Zn²⁺ cation in three 3-propenamid-Zn tetraphenyporphyrin complexes. The lack of evidence for a short axial bond of the zinc atom to the sulfur atom of the cysteine terminal residue of the lateral peptidic chain is discussed, together with the few indications which suggest that a Zn-S interaction, if any, can only be weak and probably long range (4.1 Å ?).     

Two‐fold Bioorthogonal Derivatization by Different Formylglycine‐Generating Enzymes

Formylglycine‐generating enzymes are of increasing interest in the field of bioconjugation chemistry. They catalyze the site‐specific oxidation of a cysteine residue to the aldehyde‐containing amino acid C^α‐formylglycine (FGly). This non‐canonical residue can be generated within any desired target protein and can subsequently be used for bioorthogonal conjugation reactions. The prototypic formylglycine‐generating enzyme (FGE) and the iron‐sulfur protein AtsB display slight variations in their recognition sequences. We designed specific tags in peptides and proteins that were selectively converted by the different enzymes. Combination of the different tag motifs within a single peptide or recombinant protein enabled the independent and consecutive introduction of two formylglycine residues and the generation of heterobifunctionalized protein conjugates.     

Reactions of platinum(II) complexes with sulfur- and histidine-containing peptides: a model for selective platination of peptides and proteins

The reactions between two monofunctional platinum complexes [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Me₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetramethyl-diethylenetriamine) and [Pt(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Et₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetraethyldiethylenetriamine) and the peptides, N-acetylated L-methionyl-L-histidine (MeCO–Met–His) and glutathione (GSH), have been investigated by ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and u.v.–vis. spectrophotometry. The reactions of the platinum(II) complexes with MeCO–Met–His were carried out at room temperature and at pH 3.0 and 7.0, whereas with GSH the reactions were studied only at pH 3.0. No binding of these two platinum complexes to the sulfur atom of methionine or to nitrogen atoms of histidine residue of MeCO–Met–His was observed during the first 24 h. When the reaction was followed further, after 24 h very slow binding of [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ to the N3 nitrogen atom of imidazole was observed. Both platinum complexes react with the sulfur atom of the cysteine residue in GSH. Kinetic data show that GSH reacts twice as fast with [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ than with [Pt(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺. Our findings indicate that sterically crowded platinum(II) complexes are only capable of reacting with the sulfhydryl group of the cysteine residue. This influences the design of new platinum(II) complexes for selective covalent modification of peptides and proteins.     

On the Importance of Anion–π Interactions in the Mechanism of Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase

Sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) is a flavin‐dependent enzyme that plays a physiological role in two important processes. First, it is responsible for sulfide detoxification by oxidizing sulfide ions (S^2? and HS^?) to elementary sulfur and the electrons are first transferred to flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which in turn passes them to the quinone pool in the membrane. Second, in sulfidotrophic bacteria, SQRs play a key role in the sulfide‐dependent respiration and anaerobic photosynthesis, deriving energy for their growth from reduced sulfur. Two mechanisms of action for SQR have been proposed: first, nucleophilic attack of a Cys residue on the C4 of FAD, and second, an alternate anionic radical mechanism by direct electron transfer from Cys to the isoalloxazine ring of FAD. Both mechanisms involve a common anionic intermediate that it is stabilized by a relevant anion–π interaction and its previous formation (from HS^? and Cys‐S‐S‐Cys) is also facilitated by reducing the transition‐state barrier, owing to an interaction that involves the π system of FAD. By analyzing the X‐ray structures of SQRs available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and using DFT calculations, we demonstrate the relevance of the anion–π interaction in the enzymatic mechanism.     

Die Molekulare Zusammensetzung von erstarrten Phosphor-Schwefel-Schmelzen und die Kristallstruktur von β-P4S6

The Molecular Composition of Solidified Phosphorus-Sulfur Melts and the Crystal Structure of β-P₄S₆ Phosphorus sulfur melts were annealed for one week at 673 K and then quenched in ice water. The solids were dissolved in CS₂ and the concentrations of phosphorus sulfides were determined by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Samples containing between 44 and 70 mol% sulfur dissolved completely in CS₂. Between 0 and 42 mol% remains an insoluble residue of red phosphorus. Above 72 mol% it consisted of sulfur chains linked by phosphorus atoms. The solutions contained mainly the congruently melting compounds P₄S₃, P₄S₇, and P₄S₁₀ having maximum concentrations at their stoichiometric compositions. Other compounds P₄S_n (n = 4–9) which decompose on heating, according to the phase diagram, were also found in surprisingly high concentrations. One of these was β-P₄S₆ which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with the lattice parameters a = 702.4(2), b = 1 205.6(2), c = 1 148.9(6) pm and β = 103.4(2)°. Reaction of white phosphorus with sulfur was also investigated. In contrast to the results of previous authors, who described the system P₄–S₈ below 373 K as eutectic, we found that the elements reacted below this temperature.     

Electronic structure and magnetism at the active site in ferredoxin: Ab initio approach to (Fe2S2)2+ complex with the 1st peptide shell

We have studied the iron–sulfur cluster systems which model an active site of ferredoxin proteins by using the first-principles electronic structure calculation. The modeled molecule is a complex between the (Fe₂S₂)²⁺ core and the amino acid residues which surround the core. The electronic structure of oxidized state for the molecules is presented. The antiferromagentic arrangement for Fe atomic magnetizations was obtained as the ground state. The spin polarized state of the half-filled Fe 3d orbitals is consistent with the formal valence of Fe³⁺. The induced spin density on the cysteine S atoms was found to be parallel to the direction of magnetization on the nearest Fe atom. The hybridized states consisting of N 2p and C 2p orbitals at the side chain of Arg residue appeared just above the highest occupied molecular orbital level for the free standing peptide.     

Partial least squares modeling of combined infrared, H NMR and C NMR spectra to predict long residue properties of crude oils

Research has been carried out to determine the potential of partial least squares (PLS) modeling of mid-infrared (IR) spectra of crude oils combined with the corresponding ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, to predict the long residue (LR) properties of these substances. The study elaborates further on a recently developed and patented method to predict this type of information from only IR spectra. In the present study, PLS modeling was carried out for 7 different LR properties, i.e., yield long-on-crude (YLC), density (D_LR), viscosity (V_LR), sulfur content (S), pour point (PP), asphaltenes (Asph) and carbon residue (CR). Research was based on the spectra of 48 crude oil samples of which 28 were used to build the PLS models and the remaining 20 for validation. For each property, PLS modeling was carried out on single type IR, ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR spectra and on 3 sets of merged spectra, i.e., IR + ¹H NMR, IR + ¹³C NMR and IR + ¹H NMR + ¹³C NMR. The merged spectra were created by considering the NMR data as a scaled extension of the IR spectral region. In addition, PLS modeling of coupled spectra was performed after a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the IR, ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR calibration sets. For these models, the 10 most relevant PCA scores of each set were concatenated and scaled prior to PLS modeling. The validation results of the individual IR models, expressed as root-mean-square-error-of-prediction (RMSEP) values, turned out to be slightly better than those obtained for the models using single input ¹³C NMR or ¹H NMR data. For the models based on IR spectra combined with NMR data, a significant improvement of the RMSEP values was not observed neither for the models based on merged spectra nor for those based on the PCA scores. It implies, that the commonly accepted complementary character of NMR and IR is, at least for the crude oil and bitumen samples under study, not reflected in the results of PLS modeling. Regarding these results, the absence of sample preparation and the straightforward way of data acquisition, IR spectroscopy is preferred over NMR for the prediction of LR properties of crude oils at site.     

A comparison of sulfur loading method on the electrochemical performance of porous carbon/sulfur cathode material for lithium–sulfur battery

To get a high sulfur loaded porous carbon/sulfur cathode material with an excellent performance, we investigated four different sulfur loading treatments. The samples were analyzed by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We proved that it is more effective to introduce the sulfur into the pores of porous carbon at 300 °C than at 155 °C. Especially, the porous carbon/sulfur composite heated in a sealed reactor at 300 °C for 8 h presents a fine sulfur load with sulfur content of 78 wt.% and exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance. The discharge capacity is 760, 727, 744, 713, and 575 mAh g^?1 of sulfur at a current density of 80, 160, 320, 800, and 1,600 mA g^?1 based on the sulfur/carbon composite, respectively. What is more, there is almost no decay at the current density of 800 mA g^?1 for 50 cycles and coulombic efficiency remains over 95 %.     

X‐ray Absorption Near‐Edge Structure and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of the Lithium–Sulfur Battery and its Components

Understanding the mechanism(s) of polysulfide formation and knowledge about the interactions of sulfur and polysulfides with a host matrix and electrolyte are essential for the development of long‐cycle‐life lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. To achieve this goal, new analytical tools need to be developed. Herein, sulfur K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) and ^6,7Li magic‐angle spinning (MAS) NMR studies on a Li–S battery and its sulfur components are reported. The characterization of different stoichiometric mixtures of sulfur and lithium compounds (polysulfides), synthesized through a chemical route with all‐sulfur‐based components in the Li–S battery (sulfur and electrolyte), enables the understanding of changes in the batteries measured in postmortem mode and in operando mode. A detailed XANES analysis is performed on different battery components (cathode composite and separator). The relative amounts of each sulfur compound in the cathode and separator are determined precisely, according to the linear combination fit of the XANES spectra, by using reference compounds. Complementary information about the lithium species within the cathode are obtained by using ⁷Li MAS NMR spectroscopy. The setup for the in operando XANES measurements can be viewed as a valuable analytical tool that can aid the understanding of the sulfur environment in Li–S batteries.     

Synthesis and structure of the mixed-ligand cobalt(III) complex [Co(DH)(Hthsc)2][SiF6] · 2.3H2O

The compound [Co(DH)(Hthsc)₂][SiF₆] · 2.3H₂O, where DH^? is a dimethylglyoxime residue and Hthsc is a thiosemicarbazide molecule, was synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction. The coordination polyhedron of the central metal ion (distorted octahedron) is formed by two sulfur atoms, two nitrogen atoms of two Hthsc molecules coordinated in the bidentate mode, and two nitrogen atoms of the DH^? ligand. The positions of three metal rings are fixed by two intramolecular hydrogen bonds (N-H…O). A bifurcated system of intermolecular hydrogen bonds forms a framework structure in the crystal.     

Development of a species-specific isotope dilution GC-ICP-MS method for the determination of thiophene derivates in petroleum products

A species-specific isotope dilution technique for accurate determination of sulfur species in low- and high-boiling petroleum products was developed by coupling capillary gas chromatography with quadrupole ICP-MS (GC-ICP-IDMS). For the isotope dilution step ³⁴S-labeled thiophene, dibenzothiophene, and mixed dibenzothiophene/4-methyldibenzothiophene spike compounds were synthesized on the milligram scale from elemental ³⁴S-enriched sulfur. Thiophene was determined in gasoline, ‘sulfur-free’ gasoline, and naphtha. By analyzing reference material NIST SRM 2296, the accuracy of species-specific GC-ICP-IDMS was demonstrated by an excellent agreement with the certified value. The detection limit is always limited by the background noise of the isotope chromatograms and was determined for thiophene to be 7 pg absolute, which corresponds to 7 ng sulfur/g sample under the experimental conditions used. Dibenzothiophene and 4-methyldibenzothiophene were determined in different high-boiling petroleum products like gas oil, diesel fuel, and heating oil. In this case a large concentration range from about < 0.04 to more than 2,000 μg g⁻¹ was covered for both sulfur species. By parallel GC-ICP-MS and GC-EI-MS experiments (EI-MS electron impact ionization mass spectrometry) the substantial influence of co-eluting hydrocarbons on the ICP-MS sulfur signal was demonstrated, which can significantly affect results obtained by external calibration but not those by the isotope dilution technique.     

Determination of elemental sulfur in coal by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of S⁰ in coal based on the extraction with cyclohexane with subsequent quantitative analysis of elemental sulfur in the extract by GC/MS is described. The quantity of elemental sulfur was determined in four coal samples with different distribution of sulfur forms. The effect of solvent and extraction time on the efficiency of sulfur removal was studied. The elemental sulfur extracted from coal occurred in the form of S₆, S₇ and S₈. Calibration solutions were prepared from freshly recrystalized elemental sulfur. It was found that the injection temperature has a crucial influence on the m/z 64 ion chromatogram.     

Chemical characterisation of biosludge from a wastewater treatment plant in a neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulp mill by single and sequential extraction of heavy metals and micro-/macronutrients — a case study

The main impetus for utilising the biosludge from the neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulping process is the Finnish legislation which from 1st January 2016 prohibits the deposition of this residue in landfills in Finland. The dry matter content of the biosludge in this case study was low (12.1 mass %), meaning that incineration of this residue is uneconomical. The biosludge was rich in P (6260 mg kg^?1). This, together with the high total organic carbon value of 459 g kg^?1 and the metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) lower than the Finnish permissible limits for land application, supports wide and various end-uses for this residue. Except for S (27600 mg kg^?1) and Cd (1.4 mg kg^?1), the other heavy metal concentrations in the biosludge were lower than the maximum values for heavy metal concentrations in a non-contaminated soil referred to the literature. From the utilisation perspective, and in view of the high levels of S and Na, this residue could efficiently be used, for example, to landscape landfills.     

Measurements of sulfur in oil using a pressurised wet digestion technique in open vessels and isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Graz University of Technology has developed a new technique for digesting samples using the well-established high-pressure asher (HPA) from Anton Paar GmbH (Graz, Austria). The digestion is performed in semi-open vessels inside a pressurised autoclave. The new HPA equipment consists of a liner for the autoclave, special sample racks and 30-mL digestion vessels made of quartz, covered with PTFE stoppers. The Laboratory for Isotope Dilution and Nuclear Analysis of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM, Berlin) tested this new equipment in order to assess its usability for the decomposition of larger sample amounts of gas oils for the measurement of sulfur. Several experiments were carried out using the new sample decomposition technique. In order to test the recovery of the new digestion method, a gas oil material with known sulfur content was chosen, quantified by the validated conventional closed vessel HPA digestion in combination with thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. Isotope dilution mass spectrometry has been applied as analytical method in this investigation. The gas oil was spiked with an isotopic spike material, which is enriched in ³⁴S, and was then wet digested in the HPA. The oxidized sulfur of the dried samples was reduced to H₂S and precipitated as As₂S₃. The sulfur was measured as arsenic monosulfide (AsS⁺). The mass content of sulfur in the gas oil tested is 453.5 mg kg^–1. Recovery tests for increasing masses of gas oils indicate that the recovery using the new measurement technique decreases with increasing mass of gas oil. Results were obtained for approximately 0.3 g sample weight and had less overlap with the result of the old HPA method within the stated uncertainties. At approximately 0.5 g sample weight the yield decreases to about 97% and at approximately 1.0 g sample weight to about 87%. In comparison with the conventional closed vessel HPA digestion, the new technique shows no clear advantages for the certification of the sulfur content in gas oil other than a more convenient handling. The total uncertainty of the sulfur mass fractions (k=2) is about 1.5%. Repeated determination of the oil samples show a relative standard deviation of about 0.8% and indicate that the analytical procedure is robust and reproducible. The demonstrated reproducibility allows the establishment of correction factors for the yield, which in turn enables higher sample masses for routine work. The blank level (0.26×10^-6 g) was within the range of the conventional closed HPA digestion procedure·(0.28×10^-6 g). Cross contamination could not be detected. In terms of trace metal analysis a good applicability and more advantages over the conventional closed vessel HPA digestion can be assumed.     

锂硫电池正极用硫/介孔碳复合材料的制备及电化学性能

制备了以十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)为模板的介孔碳,并将介孔碳和单质硫采用熔融渗透法复合制得硫/介孔碳复合材料。SEM、TEM和BET结果显示介孔碳成直径约为500 nm的大小均一的球体,存在孔径为2 nm的微孔;单质硫充分填充在介孔碳的微孔中。以硫/介孔碳复合物作为锂硫电池正极材料时显示出高的电化学性能。初始放电容量高达1519 mAh·g^-1,在200 mA·g^-1的电流密度下充放电200个循环后依然能保持在835 mAh·g^-1。硫/介孔碳复合材料的高倍率性能和优异的循环稳定性,源于介孔碳良好的导电性及其孔结构的固硫作用。     

Trace element analysis of sediments by HR-ICP-MS using low and medium resolution and different acid digestions

For the multielement analysis of sediments (Li, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, lanthanides, Hf, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U) a dissolution with a hydrofluoric - sulfuric - nitric acid mixture, subsequent evaporation of the acids, dissolution of the residue by HCl, evaporation of the acid and redissolution of the residue by HNO₃ is a useful procedure which allows the dissolution of a wide range of mineral mixtures. An ICP-MS was used for the determination of the elements. For Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn the analysis may be complicated by the interferences of sulfur or chlorine species, which remain in the solution during dissolution. The best analytical results for these elements can be achieved in the medium resolution mode of a HR-ICP-MS. In the low resolution mode (quadrupole instrument characteristics) the determination of these elements should be performed by the isotopes of ⁵²Cr, ⁶²Ni, ⁶³Cu, ⁶⁸Zn as it was found that interferences from remaining acids are of minor importance. Received: 2 January 1997 / Revised: 17 March 1997 / Accepted: 25 March 1997