Amperometric determination of metals forming normal selenites

Summary A new procedure for the quantitative determination of Ag, Hg and Pb has been described. This is based on the precipitation, under appropriate conditions of their normal selenites and titrating amperometrically the excess Se^IV against NaOBr after filtering the precipitate. In this respect the method is almost analogous to the volumetric determination of the above metals after precipitating their pyridine thiocyanate complexes.Sincere thanks of the authors are due to Prof. S. S. Joshi for kind interest in the work, and to the National Institute of Sciences of India for an award of a fellowship to one of them (M. G. B.).     

Effect of cationic and anionic surfactants on the addition–elimination-type interaction between o-toluidine and d-glucose

The kinetics of the o-toluidine–d-glucose reaction has been studied as a function of [o-toluidine], [d-glucose], [acetic acid], and temperature by UV–visible spectrophotometry at 630 nm in the absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The reaction follows second-order kinetics, being unity in each of the reactants in both media. The effect of added surfactants has also been investigated. The model of micellar catalysis, such as the Menger–Portony model modified by Bunton, is applied to explain the catalytic role of CTAB and SDS micelles. The association/incorporation constants (K _s and K _n), the rate constant in micellar media (k _m), and the activation parameters of this system have been calculated and discussed. The value of the rate constant is found to be higher in SDS than in CTAB. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are responsible for higher reaction rates in SDS. From all observed facts, a reaction mechanism involving a nucleophilic addition–elimination path has been suggested.     

Iodine monochloride end point in the oxidation of thiocyanate by permanganate. Determination of cerium

Summary A new volumetric method for cerium determination based on the quantitative reduction of Ce(SO₄)₂ by excess potassium thiocyanate and titration of the excess with standard KMnO₄ to the ICl end point has been described.Sincere thanks of the authors are due to Professor S. S. Joshi for facilities and kind interest in the work. The award of a U. P. Scientific Research Committee Scholarship to one of us (M.K.J.) is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Contribution a l'etude du dosage par radioactivation du sourfre et du phosphore en tres faibles concentrations dans les metaux de tres haute purete (Aluminium,magnesium, cuivre,fer, nickel)

The chemical separation of sulphur and phosphorus from pure iron and nickel, is described. Sulphur has been determined first by irradiation in fast neutrons, then by irradiation in mixed fast and thermal neutrons. The two methods gave two different results; so, we were led to point out the same phenomenon asJ. Le Hericy had already pointed out for the determination of sulphur in copper. We found that the abnormal amounts of sulphur came from external contamination with chlorine since sulphur is then produced by the³⁵Cl(n, p)³⁵S reaction. The diffusion of³⁵S atoms (produced on the edge of the samples) explains that the concentration of sulphur decreases from the edge to the middle of the sample. We prepared samples of iron and nickel, artificially covered with ammonium chloride, and we studied the apparent concentration of sulphur as a function of the depth in these samples. Our experiences pointed out that the contamination in sulphur yielded by the (n, p) reaction, reaches very quickly the middle of the samples. This phenomenon limits the determination of sulphur by the³⁴S(n, γ)³⁵S reaction, in nickel and iron.      

Kinetics of the oxidative degradation of d-xylose in the presence and absence of cationic and anionic surfactants

The oxidative degradation of d-xylose by cerium(IV) has been found to be slow in acidic aqueous solution with the evidence of autocatalysis. The reaction is accelerated in the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar medium but sodium dodecyl sulfate (an anionic surfactant) has no effect. The pseudo first-order rate constants have been determined at different [reductant], [oxidant], [H₂SO₄], temperature, and [CTAB]. The reaction rate increased with increasing [d-xylose] and decreased with increase in [H₂SO₄]. The CTAB-micelle-catalyzed kinetic results can be interpreted by the pseudophase model. The kinetic parameters such as association constant (K _s), micellar medium rate constant (k _m), and activation parameters (E _a, ΔH ^# and ΔS ^#) are evaluated and the reaction mechanism is proposed. The reaction rate is inhibited by electrolytes and the results provide an evidence for the exclusion of the reactive species from the reaction site.     

Determination of ascorbic acid by potassium iodate

Summary Results are given for a two stage oxidation in the ascorbic acid-KIO₃ reaction under controlled conditions of acidity. The first step corresponds to the Landolt reaction and the second end point is obtained by the classical Andrews method. The reproducibility and accuracy of the results calculated on the basis of the two successive end points constitute an interesting new feature of this redox reaction involving the use of KIO₃ as a primary standard for the determination of ascorbic acid.Our sincere thanks are due to Professor S. S. Joshi for kind interest in the work and to the National Institute of Sciences of India for award of a Research Fellowship to one of us (G. S. D.).     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of l-lactate with a soluble enzyme preparation

Summary An electrochemical method for the determination of l-lactic acid using the specific reaction of lactate oxidase, has been studied and applied to lactic acid beverage and yoghurt. The technique is reasonably rapid and simple to perform. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range from 1.0 to 20 mol/l, the reproducibility (R.S.D.) at 10 mol/l l-lactic acid is 1.34% (n=6) and the detection limit is 0.29 mol/l (k=2). The method can possibly be used for monitoring l-lactate or l-lactic acid in food industries and clinical laboratories.     

Spektrochemische Analyse der Mischpentoxide Nb2O5 + Ta2O5

Zusammenfassung Zur spektrochemischen Analyse der Mischpentoxide von Niob und Tantal wurde ein Verfahren ausgearbeitet, das die Anregung im Gleichstrom-Kohlebogen nach Addink u. Mitarb. benutzt. Für die Niobbestimmung werden die bekannten K-Werte verwendet, während die K-Werte für Ta 2681,87, Ta 2684,28 sowie einige schwächere Nb- und Ta-Linien erst gefunden werden mußten. Die Reproduzierbarkeit des Verfahrens beträgt 10–11%; es erlaubt eine bequeme und rasche Analyse, besonders in Verbindung mit einer chemischen Isolierung von (Nb, Ta)₂O₅.

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Summary A spectrochemical method utilizing the Addink's Constant Temperature D.C. Arc Method has been worked out for the determination of Nb₂O₅ and Ta₂O₅ in combined pentoxides. For the determination of niobium the known K-values are employed, while the K-values for Ta 2681.87, Ta 2684.28 and for some weaker niobium and tantalum lines had to be found. The reproducibility being 10–11%, the method has proved to be convenient for a rapid and simple niobium and tantalum analysis, especially in combination with a chemical isolation of (Nb,Ta)₂O₅.

     

Synthesis and some properties of phosphorus-substituted azomethines

A series of phosphorus(iii)-substituted azomethines and enamines were synthesized by the reaction of lithium salts of aldimines and ketimines with derivatives of phosphorus(iii) acids. Some properties of the compounds synthesized were studied. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 339–346, February, 1998.     

Inhibition Kinetics of Cabbage Butterfly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pieris rapae</Emphasis> L.) Larvae Phenoloxidase Activity by 3-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone

Phenoloxidase (PO) is a key enzyme in insect development, responsible for catalyzing the hydroxylation of tyrosine into o-diphenols and the oxidation of o-diphenols into o-quinones. In the present study, the kinetic assay in air-saturated solutions and the kinetic behavior of PO from Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera) larvae in the oxidation of l-tyrosine (a monophenol) and l-DOPA (l-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) (a diphenol) was studied. The inhibitory effects of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-H-4-MBT) on the monophenolase and diphenolase activities of PO were also studied. The results show that 3-H-4-MBT can inhibit both the monophenolase and diphenolase activities of PO. The lag period of l-tyrosine oxidation catalyzed by the enzyme was obviously lengthened and the steady-state activities of the enzyme sharply decreased. The inhibitor was found to be noncompetitively reversible with a K _I (K _I = K _IS) of 0.30 μmol/L and an estimated IC₅₀ of 0.14 ± 0.02 μmol/L for monophenolase and 0.26 ± 0.04 μmol/L for diphenolase. In the time course of the oxidation of l-DOPA catalyzed by the enzyme in the presence of different concentrations of 3-H-4-MBT, the rate decreased with increasing time until a straight line was approached. The microscopic rate constants for the reaction of 3-H-4-MBT with the enzyme were determined.     

Bioconversion of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucose into <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucosone by Glucose 2-oxidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriolus versicolor</Emphasis> at Moderate Pressures

Glucose 2-oxidase (pyranose oxidase, pyranose:oxygen-2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.10) from Coriolus versicolor catalyses the oxidation of d-glucose at carbon 2 in the presence of molecular O₂ producing d-glucosone (2-keto-glucose and d-arabino-2-hexosulose) and H₂O₂. It was used to convert d-glucose into d-glucosone at moderate pressures (i.e. up to 150 bar) with compressed air in a modified commercial batch reactor. Several parameters affecting biocatalysis at moderate pressures were investigated as follows: pressure, [enzyme], [glucose], pH, temperature, nature of fluid and the presence of catalase. Glucose 2-oxidase was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B-IDA-Cu(II) column at pH 6.0. The rate of bioconversion of d-glucose increased with the pressure since an increase in the pressure with compressed air resulted in higher rates of conversion. On the other hand, the presence of catalase increased the rate of reaction which strongly suggests that H₂O₂ acted as inhibitor for this reaction. The rate of bioconversion of d-glucose by glucose 2-oxidase in the presence of either nitrogen or supercritical CO₂ at 110 bar was very low compared with the use of compressed air at the same pressure. The optimum temperature (55°C) and pH (5.0) of d-glucose bioconversion as well as kinetic parameters for this enzyme were determined under moderate pressure. The activation energy (E _a) was 32.08 kJ mol⁻¹ and kinetic parameters (V _max, K _m, K _cat and K _cat/K _m) for this bioconversion were 8.8 U mg⁻¹ protein, 2.95 mM, 30.81 s⁻¹ and 10,444.06 s⁻¹ M⁻¹, respectively. The biomass of C. versicolor as well as the cell-free extract containing glucose 2-oxidase activity were also useful for bioconversion of d-glucose at moderate pressures. The enzyme was apparently stable at moderate pressures since such pressures did not affect significantly the enzyme activity.     

Notiz zur polarographischen Bestimmung von Nickelspuren in Kobalt und Reinstkobaltsalzen

Zusammenfassung Die Stabilitätskonstante des Molybdän(V)-oxinatkomplexes wurde spektralphotometrisch und durch Austauschmessungen zu K=1,39 · 10^–12 ± 0,02 bestimmt. Beide Verfahren zeigen eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung. Der Komplex ist in 50%igem Aceton-Wasser über 3 Std stabil und kann analytisch zur Spurenbestimmung nach der Methode von Busev u. Fan verwendet werden.

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Summary The stability constant of Mo₂O₃(C₉H₆NO)₄ was determined spectrophotometrically and by displacement reactions as K=1.39 · 10^–12 ± 0.02. Both methods gave the same results. The complex is stable over three hours in 50% acetone and at pH 4.0 and can be employed for the determination of traces of molybdenum by the method of Busev and Fan.

     

Sodium alizarin-3-sulphonate as a chromophoric reagent

Summary A method for the colorimetric determination of hexavalent tungsten with Alizarin Red S has been described. The composition of the coloured chelate is MKe₂ and the wave length of maximum absorption is 470 nm. The colour reaction is almost instantaneous. The coloured complex conforms to Beer's Law over tungsten concentration of 0.37 to 13.3 ppm. The suitable p_H for the measurement is 3.5 to 5.8 and temperature has no effect on the intensity of the colour. The sensitivity is 0.037 g/cm² (Sandell) and 0.37 g/cm² (practical) based on an absorption of 0.01 unit. The interference of added foreign ions has also been investigated and most of the common ions are found to interfere and should, therefore, be removed before determination of tungsten is made.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur colorimetrischen Bestimmung von Wolfram(VI) mit Alizarinrot S beschrieben. Die Zusammensetzung des Farbkomplexes ist MeAliz₂, das Absorptionsmaximum liegt bei 470 nm. Die Farbreaktion verläuft fast augenblicklich und gehorcht dem Beer'schen Gesetz im Bereich von 0,37–13,3 ppm Wolfram. Der günstigste p_H-Bereich liegt zwischen 3,5 und 5,8. Die Temperatur ist ohne Einfluß auf die Farbintensität. Die Empfindlichkeit beträgt 0,037 g/cm² (Sandell) bzw. praktisch 0,37 g/cm² (Absorption 0,01 Einheiten). Da die meisten Fremdionen stören, müssen sie vor der Bestimmung abgetrennt werden.

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Part I: Banerji, S. K., and A. K. Dey: Z. analyt. Chem. 179, 30 (1961).     

Computer estimation of dissociation constants. Part IV. Precision and accuracy of potentiometric determinations

The protonation constants logK _Hj of the acidH _J are determined by regression analysis of potentiometric titration data whencommon parameters (logK _Hj,j = 1,...,J) andgroup parameters (E ⁰,L ₀,H _T ) are refined. Two kinds of systematic error have been investigated: the error from an uncertainty of group parameters and the error from a computational strategy of the minimization algorithm used. An analysis of variance of logK _Hj matrix was made for 6 reproduced titrations and 7 computational strategies of 6 various regression programs. It was concluded that the influence of the program used is negligible. From two ways of calibration of the glass electrode cell,the internal calibration (performed during titration) was slightly more accurate thanthe external calibration (done separately). Of programs tested, the ESAB and ACBA are most powerful because they permit refinement of group parameters and internal calibration. D-tartaric acid was chosen as model substance.Previous Part III.: Iraqi J. Sci.1981,22, 67.     

Determination of D-fagomine in buckwheat and mulberry by cation exchange HPLC/ESI-Q-MS

d-Fagomine is an iminosugar first found in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) which if used as a dietary supplement or functional food component may reduce the risks of developing insulin resistance, becoming overweight and suffering from an excess of potentially pathogenic bacteria. As d-fagomine may become increasingly important to the food industry, a reliable analytical method for its determination in natural plant sources and foodstuffs is desirable. We have devised a method to separate d-fagomine from its diastereomers 3-epi-fagomine and 3,4-di-epi-fagomine in a single run by cation exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection and quantification by mass spectrometry using electrospray ionisation and a simple quadrupole analyser (ESI–Q-MS). The method is validated and applied to the determination of d-fagomine in buckwheat groats (6.7–44 mg kg⁻¹), leaves, bran and flour. We show that buckwheat contains 3,4-di-epi-fagomine (1.0–43 mg kg⁻¹), which has not previously been reported in this source. The procedure is also applied to mulberry (Morus alba) leaves, which contain d-fagomine and 3-epi-fagomine as minor components. The new method provides a means for convenient and accurate determination of d-fagomine in plant samples and foodstuffs.     

Estimation of binding constants of receptors and ligands by affinity capillary electrophoresis

An estimation method for determination of binding constants of receptors to ligands by affinity capillary electrophoresis was evaluated. On the basis of the theories of pseudostationary phase or so-called dynamic stationary phase, the retention factor (k) was used to represent the interaction between the receptor and ligand. k could be easily deduced from the migration times of the ligand and the receptor. Then, with the linear relationship of k versus the concentration of ligand in the running buffer, the binding constant K _b was calculated from the slope and intercept. In order to test its feasibility, the calculation method was demonstrated using three model systems: the interactions between vancomycin and N-acetyl-d-Ala-d-Ala, ristocetin and N-acetyl-d-Ala-d-Ala, and carbonic anhydrase B and an arylsulfonamide. Estimated binding constants were compared with those determined by other techniques. The results showed that this estimation method was reliable. This calculation method offers a simple and easy approach to estimating binding constants of ligands to receptors.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of selenomethionine from antarctic krill by RP-HPLC/ICP-MS using chiral derivatization agents

A fast and sensitive method was developed for the determination of the absolute configuration of selenomethionine. The enantiomers of selenomethionine were converted into diastereomeric isoindole derivatives by reaction with o-phthaldialdehyde and N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine. This easy-to-handle reaction proceeds quantitatively in a few minutes at room temperature. Separation and detection of the diastereomers was achieved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ICP-MS) using a conventional C18 reversed-phase column. Detection limits of about 4 µg L^–1 were obtained. The method was applied to the determination of the configuration of selenomethionine extracted from antarctic krill, which turned out to possess the l-configuration.     

Oxidation of thiocyanate by alkaline ferricyanide

Summary Oxidation of KSCN by alkaline K₃Fe(CN)₆ in presence of osmic acid has been studied quantitatively. The reaction proceeds at a measurable rate at ordinary temperature but is accelerated on refluxing the system on a water bath for a short time. The stoichiometry of the redox process suggests the formation of cyanate and sulphate as the products of oxidation. The quantity of thiocyanate is calculated by estimating the ferrocyanide formed and the ferricyanide consumed in terms of Ce(SO₄)₂ and Na₂S₂O₃ respectively. A kinetic study of the above reaction is under investigation.Sincere thanks of the author are due to Prof. S. S. Joshi for facilities and kind interest in the work. The award of a Scientific Man Power Committee Research Scholarship is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Optical enzyme sensor for determining <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysine content using <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysine oxidase from the rockfish <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Sebastes schlegeli</Emphasis>

l-Lysine (l-Lys) in living bodies is critical for metabolism; therefore, determination of its levels in food is important. Most enzymatic methods for l-Lys analysis are performed using l-lysine oxidase (LyOx), but commercially manufactured LyOx is generally not highly selective for l-Lys among amino acids. We previously isolated LyOx as an antibacterial protein secreted from the skin of the rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. In the present study, we developed an optical enzyme sensor system for rapid and continuous determination of l-Lys using this LyOx. The system comprised an immobilized LyOx membrane, an optical oxygen probe, a flow system, and a personal computer. The amount of l-Lys was detected as a decrease in the oxygen concentration due to the LyOx reaction. The specificity of the sensor was examined against various amino acids. The sensor response was specific for l-Lys. Good reproducibility was obtained in 58 assays. The response of the sensor using commercially prepared LyOx was unstable compared with the response using LyOx isolated in our laboratory. Our sensor system could be used for 5 weeks without our having to change the enzyme membrane. The calibration curve for a standard l-Lys solution was linear from 0.1 to 3.0 mmol L⁻¹. One assay could be completed within 2 min. The sensor was applied to determine the l-Lys content in food samples such as bonito cooking water and scallop hepatopancreas. The values obtained using the sensor and conventional high-performance liquid chromatography methods were well correlated.