Comparison of microbial activity in some Brazilian soils by microcalorimetric and respirometric methods

The microbial activity in a Rhodic eutrudox (R), a Typic eutrudox (V) and a Quartzipsamment (Q) was monitored by respirometric and calorimetric methods. CO₂ evolution was monitored for 98 days by titrimetry and conductimetry for control amended samples (A) with 25% of cattle manure (E), municipal refuse compost (L), earthworm casts (H) or 1.25 kg ha⁻¹ of trifluralin (T). Average values of all treatments through respiration at the end of the incubation period were 5.24±0.34, 6.13±0.31 and 6.50±0.33, in mg CO₂ g⁻¹ soil, for R, V and Q, respectively, by titrimetry and 8.89±0.44, 10.41±0.54 and 10.41±0.52, in mg CO₂ g⁻¹ soil, for R, V and Q, respectively, for conductimetry. Excellent correlation (r=1.00) between titrimetry and conductimetry was observed. The decreasing order for respiration was E, H, L and T. After each incubation time, the conductimetric values were higher than those for titrimetry, for all treatments of these Brazilian soils. Average values of the exothermic thermal effect were: 0.58±0.02, 0.60±0.02 and 0.67±0.01 kJ g⁻¹ soil, for R, V and Q, respectively, for 103 days. A significant correlation coefficient of 0.91 and P<0.0001 between calorimetric and respirometric values over 98 days was observed. Based on the obtained calorimetric results, it can be proposed that this technique should be as a useful analytical method for determining the microbial activity in soils.     

Ultrasonic extraction of veterinary antibiotics from soils and pig slurry with SPE clean-up and LC-UV and fluorescence detection

A simple and rapid analytical method is presented in which the three veterinary antibiotics oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) and tylosin (TYL) are simultaneously extracted and determined in four different soils. Extractions were carried out by a combination of ultrasonic agitation and vortex mixing using a mixture of methanol, EDTA and McIlvaine buffer at pH 7 as the extractant solution. The extracts were then cleaned-up by a tandem solid phase extraction (SPE) method using an Isolute SAX anion exchange cartridge to remove natural organic matter and an Oasis HLB polymeric cartridge to retain the study compounds. Analysis was by HPLC-UV with additional fluorescence detection for SCP. Recoveries were in the range 68-85% for SCP in all soil types, 58-75% for OTC in sandy soils, 27-51% for OTC in clay containing soils, 74-105% for TYL and 47-61% in a clay soil. OTC and SCP were also extracted from liquid pig manure using a mixture of EDTA and McIlvaine buffer at pH 7 with ultrasonic agitation and vortex mixing with SPE clean-up and HPLC-UV analysis. Recoveries were greater than 77% and 58% for OTC and SCP, respectively. Limits of detection were 18 μg kg⁻¹ for OTC and SCP and 40 μg kg⁻¹ for TYL in soils and 70 μg L⁻¹ for OTC and 140 μg L⁻¹ for SCP in pig slurry.     

Determination of 15 isomers of chlorobenzoic acid in soil samples using accelerated sample extraction followed by liquid chromatography

A study was conducted to elaborate a fast, simple and efficient method for determination of 15 isomers chlorobenzoic acids (CBAs) in soil using HPLC-UV. Artificially contaminated soil samples were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) with 1% acetic acid in a mixture of hexane and acetone (1:1, V/V) under a pressure of 10.34 MPa and temperature of 150 °C. The recovery of the ASE method was above 82%. The extracts were concentrated; dimethyl sulfoxide was used to prevent CBA volatilization and the final analysis was performed with a C18 XBridge HPLC column employing a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoracetic acid in water. A HPLC procedure with gradient elution and UV detection was developed and validated. The method exhibited a linear range for 2-CBA; 2,6-CBA; 3-CBA; 4-CBA; 2,3-CBA; 2,3,6-CBA; 2,5-CBA; and 2,4-CBA from 5 to 120 μg/mL with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5 μg/mL, RSD from 2.42 to 9.42% and accuracy from 82 ± 2 to 103 ± 3%. The linear range of determination of 2,4,6-CBA, 3,4-CBA, 2,3,5,6-CBA, 3,5-CBA, 2,3,5-CBA, 2,3,4,5,6-CBA and 2,3,4,5-CBA was 10-120 μg/mL with LOQ 10 μg/mL, RSD from 0.74 to 5.84% and accuracy from 94 ± 1 to 114 ± 1%. The optimized analytical procedure was finally applied on two historically PCB contaminated soils and 9 CBAs were quantified in the samples.     

Development and application of a capillary electrophoresis based method for the assessment of monosaccharide in soil using acid hydrolysis

An efficient methodology for the determination of carbohydrate content in soils, employing acid hydrolysis and subsequent capillary electrophoresis analysis (CE), is here described. Polysaccharides present in soil samples were hydrolyzed, at 100 °C during 4 h, to their monosaccharide form, by addition of 2 mol dm⁻³ trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) directly to soil. The resulting monosaccharides were then quantitatively derivatized with 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester, via reductive amination with sodium cyanoborohydride, and separated by CE, coupled to an UV-vis diode array set at 300 nm. Separation electrolyte consisted of 5.0 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³ sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 10.2) and 6 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ sodium dodecylsulphate. A 78 cm long capillary with an internal and external diameter of 75 and 375 μm, respectively, was used and separation performed at 16 °C, with an applied voltage of 30 kV. Quantification was undertaken using ribose as the internal standard. As an application example, carbohydrate composition (w/w) of a farmyard manure fertilized soil was found to vary between 0.0045 ± 0.0003% (glucose) and 0.0267 ± 0.0002% (arabinose) of the total soil content. Xylose, rhamnose, mannose, fucose and galactose content were also studied in the present work.     

An analytical method for determination of fullerenes and functionalized fullerenes in soils with high performance liquid chromatography and UV detection

Fullerenes are carbon-based nanomaterials expected to play a major role in emerging nanotechnology and produced at an increasing rate for industrial and household applications. In the last decade a number of novel compounds (i.e. fullerene derivatives) is being introduced into the market and specific analytical methods are needed for analytical purposes as well as environmental and safety issues. In the present work eight fullerenes (C60 and C70) and functionalized fullerenes (C60 and C70 exohedral-derivatives) were selected and a novel liquid chromatographic method was developed for their analysis with UV absorption as a method of detection. The resulting HPLC-UV method is the first one suitable for the analysis of all eight compounds. This method was applied for the analysis of fullerenes added to clayish, sandy and loess top-soils at concentrations of 20, 10 and 5 μg kg⁻¹ and extracted with a combination of sonication and shaking extraction. The analytical method limits of detection (LoD) and limits of quantification (LoQ) were in the range of 6–10 μg L⁻¹ and 15–24 μg L⁻¹ respectively for the analytical solutions. The extraction from soil was highly reproducible with recoveries ranging from 47 ± 5 to 71 ± 4% whereas LoD and LoQ for all soils tested were of 3 μg kg⁻¹ and 10 μg kg⁻¹ respectively. No significant difference in the extraction performance was observed depending of the different soil matrices and between the different concentrations. The developed method can be applied for the study of the fate and toxicity of fullerenes in complex matrices at relatively low concentrations and in principle it will be suitable for the analysis of other types of functionalized fullerenes that were not included in this work.     

Matrix solid phase dispersion-assisted BCR sequential extraction method for metal partitioning in surface estuarine sediments

The BCR (the Community Bureau of Reference) of the European Union sequential extraction scheme for metal partitioning in estuarine sediments has been accelerated by using a matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) approach. The MSPD assisted BCR procedure consists of passing the extractants proposed by conventional BCR protocol (0.11 M acetic acid, 0.1 M hydroxylammonium chloride and 8.8 M hydrogen peroxide plus 1 M ammonium acetate) through the dispersed sample packaged inside a disposable syringe. Different silica-, magnesium- and aluminium-based materials were tested as dispersing agents and sea sand was found to offer the best performances. Variables for assisting the three stages of the BCR protocol were optimized, and accurate results were obtained when assisting the first and the third stages (exchangeable and oxidizable fractions, respectively). However, lack of accuracy was observed when assisting the second step (reducible fraction) and this result agrees with most of the assisted BCR procedures for which extracting the reducible fraction is the most troublesome stage. The organic matter oxidation (third stage) was successfully assisted by passing hydrogen peroxide at 50 °C through the dispersed sample inside de syringe just before passing ammonium acetate. Therefore, the time-consuming and unsafe conventional organic matter oxidation processes, commonly performed even for microwave/ultrasounds assisted BCR procedures, are totally avoided. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used as a selective detector. The target elements were Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn (first stage), Cd, Co and Ni (second stage), and Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn (third stage). Repeatability of the method (n = 7) was good, and RSDs values of 9, 10, 10, 8, 8, 3 and 8% was obtained for Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn, respectively (first stage); 10, 9 and 9% for Cd, Co and Ni, respectively (second stage); and 6, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9% Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn, respectively (third stage). The procedure was also validated by analysing two certified reference materials (CRM 601 and CRM 701). Good accuracy was obtained for the target elements extracted at the first stage: Cd (4.0 ± 0.1 and 7.3 ± 0.09 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Cr (0.36 ± 0.008 and 2.21 ± 0.08 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Ni (8.0 ± 0.3 and 15.4 ± 0.3 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively) and Zn (262 ± 3 and 203 ± 3 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively). Also, good accuracy was observed for elements extracted at the third step: Cd (1.8 ± 0.09 and 0.29 ± 0.03 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively), Cr (145 ± 4 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 701), Ni (8.2 ± 0.7 and 15.1 ± 0.5 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 601 and CRM 701, respectively) and Zn (45 ± 0.7 μg g⁻¹ in CRM 701).     

Development and validation of a rapid multiresidue method for pesticide determination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: a realistic case in vineyard soils

A rapid and simultaneous method for residue identification and quantification for seven pesticides in agricultural soils has been developed to study a realistic situation in vineyard. The target compounds are two insecticides, two herbicides and three fungicides, from different chemical families. The procedure is based on a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with acetone, before a multiresidue GC-MS analysis. The recovery of PLE is between 53.8 ± 2.4 and 99.9 ± 4.4% according to pesticide. A limit of detection (LOD) between 1.4 and 4.6 μg kg⁻¹ of dry soil was obtained for five analytes. This procedure for testing soil contamination is sensitive and easy to perform.     

Affinity-based microdialysis sampling using heparin for in vitro collection of human cytokines

Microdialysis sampling is a widely used method to sample from complex biological matrices. Cytokines are important signaling proteins that are typically recovered with low relative recovery values during microdialysis sampling. Heparin was included in the microdialysis perfusion fluid as an affinity agent to increase in vitro recovery of different cytokines through polyethersulfone (PES) microdialysis membranes with 100 kDa molecular weight cutoff. No change in fluid volumes collected from the microdialysis probes occurred when heparin was included in the perfusion fluid up to concentrations of 10 μM. The loss of heparin (10 μM) across the dialysis membrane was minimal (2.7 ± 0.9%, n = 3). Additionally, heparin at these concentrations did not interfere with the cytokine immunoassays. The control and heparin-enhanced relative recoveries for five human cytokines using 0.1 μM heparin in the microdialysis perfusion fluid flowing at 0.5 μL min⁻¹ were (n = 3): interleukin-4 (IL-4), 4.2 ± 0.5% and 7.2 ± 3.1%; interleukin-6 (IL-6), 1.4 ± 0.8% and 3.6 ± 1.3%; interleukin-7 (IL-7), 1.3 ± 0.8% and 4.8 ± 1.8%; monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), 9.0 ± 1.6% and 19.5 ± 2.7%; and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), 7.4 ± 1.3% and 16.9 ± 1.6%, respectively. Heparin increased the microdialysis sampling relative recovery of several human cytokines in vitro.     

Synthesis and DNA-binding properties of apoptosis-inducing cytotoxic half-sandwich rhodium(III) complexes with methyl-substituted polypyridyl ligands

Half-sandwich organorhodium(III) complexes of the type [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(pp)] (CF₃SO₃) containing polypyridyl ligands (pp) represent a promising class of cytostatic agents. Replacement of the polypyridyl ligands of complexes 1 (pp = phen) and 6 (pp = dppz) by methyl-substituted derivatives in 2-5 (pp = 4-Mephen, 5-Mephen, 4,7-Me₂phen, 5,6-Me₂phen) and 7 (pp = Me₂dppz) leads to a significant improvement in their antiproliferative activity towards human MCF-7 and HT-29 cancer cells. For instance, the IC₅₀ value towards HT-29 cells decreases from 4.3 ± 0.2 μM for 6 to 0.98 ± 0.49 μM for complex 7. In contrast, no activity (IC₅₀ > 100 μM) was observed for the HOOC and n-BuNHCO substituted dppz complexes 8 and 9. UV/vis, CD and NMR spectra for mixtures of complexes 7-9 with CT DNA were in accordance with intercalation of the substituted dppz ligands between the base pairs of the double helix and direct evidence for this binding mode was also provided by a 2D NOESY study for complex 7 with the hexanucleotide d(5′-CGTCGG-3′). Each of the methyl-substituted phen complexes 2-5 is significantly more active towards immortalized HEK-293 cells (IC₅₀ values 0.40 ± 0.02 to 0.94 ± 0.02 μM) than towards the cancer cells. Flow cytometric measurements of DNA fragmentation in BJAB cells following an incubation period of 72 h with 1, 5 and 6 indicate that the complexes induce specific apoptotic cell death in the non-adherent lymphoma cells.     

Synthesis, structure, and bridge-terminal alkyl exchange kinetics of pyrazolate-bridged dialuminum complexes containing bridging n-alkyl groups

Treatment of triethylaluminum with 3,5-diphenylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the ethyl-bridged complex Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ (79%) as a colorless crystalline solid. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the n-propyl-bridged complex (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ (63%) and the dimeric complex [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (3%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum (1 equiv.) or triisobutylaluminum (1 or 2 equiv.) with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole afforded exclusively the dimeric complexes [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (68%) or [(iBu)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (96%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. The solid state structures of Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ consist of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolato ligands with a di-n-alkylalumino group bonded to each nitrogen atom. An ethyl or n-propyl group acts as a bridge between the two aluminum atoms. The kinetics of the bridge-terminal exchange was determined for the bridging n-alkyl complexes by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and afforded ΔH^‡ = 1.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.8 ± 39.0 cal/K mol, and for Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and ΔH^‡ = 1.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.6 ± 43.4 cal/K mol, and for (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂. The negative values of ΔS^‡ imply ordered transition states relative to the ground states, and rotation along the N-AlR₃ vector without aluminum-nitrogen bond cleavage is proposed.     

Syntheses and characterization of mono and dinuclear complexes of platinum group metals bearing benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands

Reaction of the benzene-linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands, 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene (L1) and 1,4-bis{bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)methyl}benzene (L2), with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium and iridium complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (M = Rh and Ir) in the presence of NH₄PF₆ results under stoichiometric control in both, mono and dinuclear complexes, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (1); L2 (2)}, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L)]⁺ {L = L1 (3); L2 (4)} and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (5); L2 (6)}, [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (7); L2 (8)}. In contrast, reaction of arene ruthenium complexes [(η⁶­arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = C₆H₆, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me and C₆Me₆) with the same ligands (L1 or L2) gives only the dinuclear complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (9); L2 (10)}, [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (11); L2 (12)} and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(μ-L)]²⁺ {L = L1 (13); L2 (14)}. All complexes were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. The single-crystal X-ray crystal structure analyses of [7](PF₆)₂, [9](PF₆)₂ and [11](PF₆)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centers with six-membered metallo-cycle in which the 1,4-bis{bis(pyrazolyl)-methyl}benzene acts as a bis-bidentate chelating ligand.     

A review of recent trends in electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry for the analysis of metal-organic ligand complexes

Background

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) formation inhibitor, has emerged as a promising biomarker of NO-associated endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases as well in chronic renal failure. The interest in potentially fundamental role of this metabolite, in basic and clinical research, led to the development of numerous analytical methods for the quantitative determination of ADMA and dimethylarginines in biological systems, notably plasma, serum and urine.

Objectives

The aim of this work was to present a simple, fast and accurate UPLC-tandem-MS-based method for the simultaneous determination and quantification of arginine, ADMA, SDMA, NMMA, homo-arginine and citrulline. This method is designed for high sample throughput of only 10 μL of human plasma, serum or urine.

Methods

The analysis time is reduced to 1.9 min by an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography run coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) in the positive mode tandem mass spectrometry detection.

Results

The method was validated in plasma, serum and urine. Correlation coefficients (r²) of the calibration curves in all matrices considered ranged from 0.9810 to 0.9993. Inter- and intra-assay precision, accuracy, recovery and carry-over were evaluated for validation. The LOD was 0.01 μM for all compounds in water, plasma and serum and 0.1 μM in urine. The LOQ was 0.05 μM for ADMA, SDMA, NMMA and H-Arg and 0.5 μM for Arg and Cit in water, plasma and serum; while in urine was 0.1 μM for ADMA, SDMA, NMMA and H-Arg and 0.5 μM for Arg and Cit.The precision was ranged from 1% to 15% expressed as CV% and the accuracy (bias %) was <±7% for all added concentrations with the exception of NMMA (−10%).ADMA mean plasma levels, measured in healthy adults and newborns, were in accord with literature data published: (M ± SD) 0.56 ± 0.10 μM and 0.84 ± 0.21 μM, respectively, showing that ADMA levels in plasma decreased with age. In serum we have similar data (0.54 ± 0.18 μM and 1.14 ± 0.36 μM), while in neonatal urine ADMA was 11.98 ± 7.13 μmol mmol⁻¹ creatinine.

Conclusions

Data from calibration curves and method validation reveal that the method is accurate and precise. The fast run time, the feasibility of high sample throughput and the small amount of sample required make this method very suitable for routine analysis in the clinical setting.     

Enzyme-assisted extraction and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for the determination of arsenic species in chicken meat

Chicken is the most consumed meat in North America. Concentrations of arsenic in chicken range from μg kg⁻¹ to mg kg⁻¹. However, little is known about the speciation of arsenic in chicken meat. The objective of this research was to develop a method enabling determination of arsenic species in chicken breast muscle. We report here enzyme-enhanced extraction of arsenic species from chicken meat, separation using anion exchange chromatography (HPLC), and simultaneous detection with both inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESIMS). We compared the extraction of arsenic species using several proteolytic enzymes: bromelain, papain, pepsin, proteinase K, and trypsin. With the use of papain-assisted extraction, 10 arsenic species were extracted and detected, as compared to 8 detectable arsenic species in the water/methanol extract. The overall extraction efficiency was also improved using a combination of ultrasonication and papain digestion, as compared to the conventional water/methanol extraction. Detection limits were in the range of 1.0–1.8 μg arsenic per kg chicken breast meat (dry weight) for seven arsenic species: arsenobetaine (AsB), inorganic arsenite (As^III), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), inorganic arsenate (As^V), 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid (Roxarsone), and N-acetyl-4-hydroxy-m-arsanilic acid (NAHAA). Analysis of breast meat samples from six chickens receiving feed containing Roxarsone showed the presence of (mean ± standard deviation μg kg⁻¹) AsB (107 ± 4), As^III (113 ± 7), As^V (7 ± 2), MMA (51 ± 5), DMA (64 ± 6), Roxarsone (18 ± 1), and four unidentified arsenic species (approximate concentration 1–10 μg kg⁻¹).     

Electrochemical studies and square wave stripping voltammetry of five common pesticides on poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene modified wall-jet electrode

The cyclic voltammetric behavior of five common pesticides such as dicofol (DCF), cypermethrin (CYP), monocrotophos (MCP), chlorpyrifos (CPF) and phosalone (PAS) was investigated at a poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene modified glassy carbon electrode (PEDOT/GCE). A method was developed for the detection and determination of these pesticides in trace level flowing stream, based on their redox behavior. The square wave stripping voltammetric principle was used to analyze the selected pesticides on PEDOT/GCE. Varying the accumulation potential and accumulation time, the best accumulation conditions were found out. Effects of initial scan potential, square wave pulse amplitude, step potential and frequency were examined for the optimization of stripping conditions. The peak current responses of analyte under optimum conditions were correlated over flow rate by using wall-jet PEDOT/GCE assembly. The calibration plots were linear over the pesticide's concentration range 0.10-72.60 μg l⁻¹ for DCF, 0.41-198.24 μg l⁻¹ for CYP, 0.22-220.95 μg l⁻¹ for MCP, 0.35-259.69 μg l⁻¹ for CPF and 1.07-141.46 μg l⁻¹ for PAS. The limit of detection was obtained between <0.09 and <1.0 μg l⁻¹ for five pesticides. It is low enough for trace pesticide determination in real samples. This method is applied for the determination of the five pesticides in soil samples. The recovery values obtained in spiked soil samples are 95.4 ± 5.4% for DCF, 93.7 ± 4.2% for CYP, 85.3 ± 8.4% for MCP, 94.6 ± 6.6% for CPF and 93.5 ± 4.9% for PAS.     

Cobalt as internal standard for arsenic and selenium determination in urine by simultaneous atomic absorption spectrometry

The effectiveness of internal standardization for simultaneous atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) was investigated for As and Se determination in urine. Co and Sn were selected as internal standard (IS) candidates based on the evaluation of some physico-chemical parameters related to the atomization. Correlation graphs, plotted from the normalized absorbance signals (n = 20) of internal standard (axis y) versus analyte (axis x), precision, and accuracy of the analytical results were the supportive parameters to choose Co as the most appropriate IS. The urine samples were diluted 1 + 2 to 1.0% (v/v) HNO₃ + 80 μg L⁻¹ Co²⁺. The mixture 20 μg Pd + 3 μg Mg was used as chemical modifier and the optimized temperatures for pyrolysis and atomization steps were 1400 and 2300 °C, respectively. The characteristic masses for As (47 ± 1 pg) and Se (72 ± 2 pg) were estimated from the analytical curves. The detection limits (n = 20, 3δ) were 1.8 ± 0.1 and 2.6 ± 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for As and Se, respectively. The reliability of the entire procedure was checked with the analysis of certified reference material from Sero AS(Seronorm™ Trace Elements in Urine). The obtained results showed the matrix interference disallowed the instrument calibration with aqueous standards. The best analytical condition was achieved when matrix-matched standards were used in combination with Co as IS, which improved the recoveries obtained for As. Under this experimental condition, eight urine samples were analysed and spiked with 10 and 25 μg L⁻¹ As and Se. The mean recoveries were 96 ± 6% (10 μg L⁻¹ As), 95 ± 6% (25 μg L⁻¹ As), 101 ± 7% (10 μg L⁻¹ Se), and 97 ± 4% (25 μg L⁻¹ Se).     

Comparison of synchronous and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy applied to the Eu(III)-fulvate complexation

The complexation of europium ion (Eu(III)) with a soil fulvic acid (FA) has been studied at pH 5 in 0.01 M NaClO₄ by different experimental methods, i.e. synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SyFS) and time resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). A series of SyFS quenching spectra was obtained by increasing the Eu(III) concentration and keeping the FA concentration constant. The emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes of the Eu(III) bound to the FA were also measured by a TRLFS system using the same solution used in the SyFS spectral measurement. From the analysis of the fluorescence data obtained by the SyFS and the TRLFS using a non-linear least-squares method, the concentration of the binding sites (C_L) of the FA accessible for the Eu(III) and the corresponding conditional stability constants (log K) were estimated. The two different methods gave rise to constants being comparable with one another. The log K and C_L values (mean ± standard deviation of three determinations) determined by the SyFS were 6.4 ± 0.2 (6.7 ± 0.1 μmol L⁻¹: by the TRLFS) and 10 ± 1 μmol L⁻¹ (7 ± 1 μmol L⁻¹: by the TRLFS), respectively. The applicability of the FA fluorescence quenching techniques for estimating the europium binding parameters was proved by the direct monitoring of the Eu(III) bound to the FA using the TRLFS system.     

Spectrophotometric determination of the soil fumigant: dazomet with copper(II)-neocuproine reagent

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the assay of dazomet, a soil fumigant effective for the control of nematodes, germinating weeds and soil fungi, using the copper(II)-neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) oxidizing reagent. A highly colored copper(I)-neocuproine chelate formed immediately in ammonium acetate-buffered solution a result of the redox reaction with dazomet, and its concentration measured from the absorbance at 453 nm using a molar absorptivity of (3.35±0.15)×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for dazomet, the LOD for soil being 1-2 ppm. Dazomet in commercial formulations (such as Basamit, BASF) and soil extract could be measured by the developed method which was rapid (color development took 5 min), and cost-effective. The developed method was as precise as the CIPAC HPLC method (at 95% confidence level) using a nucleosil 100-5 C₁₈ column with UV detection. The degradation of dazomet in different types of forestry soil, i.e. sandy, loamy and clay soils to which moisture and Basamit in recommended doses were applied, was followed kinetically using the developed procedure. The proposed method is much simpler than the US-EPA and CIPAC methods of dazomet assay, and is applicable to on-site colorimetry for field use (via retention of the colored copper(I)-neocuproine cation on an acidic cation exchanger) where rapid detection of dazomet residues and breakdown products is required. The method was not interfered with common soil ions and 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), a fumigant used in combination with dazomet.     

Cluster expansion reactions of group 6 and 8 metallaboranes using transition metal carbonyl compounds of groups 7-9

The reinvestigation of an early synthesis of heterometallic cubane-type clusters has led to the isolation of a number of new clusters which have been characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques. The thermolysis of [(Cp*Mo)(2)B(4)H(4)E(2)] (1: E = S; 2: E = Se; Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5)) in presence of [Fe(2)(CO)(9)] yielded cubane-type clusters [(Cp*Mo)(2)(μ(3)-E)(2)B(2)H(μ-H){Fe(CO)(2)}(2)Fe(CO)(3)], 4 and 5 (4: E = S; 5: E = Se) together with fused clusters [(Cp*Mo)(2)B(4)H(4)E(2)Fe(CO)(2)Fe(CO)(3)] (8: E = S; 9: E = Se). In a similar fashion, reaction of [(Cp*RuCO)(2)B(2)H(6)], 3, with [Fe(2)(CO)(9)] yielded [(Cp*Ru)(2)(μ(3)-CO)(2)B(2)H(μ-H){Fe(CO)(2)}(2)Fe(CO)(3)], 6, and an incomplete cubane cluster [(μ(3)-BH)(3)(Cp*Ru)(2){Fe(CO)(3)}(2)], 7. Clusters 4-6 can be described as heterometallic cubane clusters containing a Fe(CO)(3) moiety exo-bonded to the cubane, while 7 has an incomplete cubane [Ru(2)Fe(2)B(3)] core. The geometry of both compounds 8 and 9 consist of a bicapped octahedron [Mo(2)Fe(2)B(3)E] and a trigonal bipyramidal [Mo(2)B(2)E] core, fused through a common three vertex [Mo(2)B] triangular face. In addition, thermolysis of 3 with [Mn(2)(CO)(10)] permits the isolation of arachno-[(Cp*RuCO)(2)B(3)H(7)], 10. Cluster 10 constitutes a diruthenaborane analogue of 8-sep pentaborane(11) and has a structural isomeric relationship to 1,2-[{Cp*Ru}(2)(CO)(2)B(3)H(7)].     

Half-sandwich binuclear carbaborane compounds: Closo-carbaboranes as good σ-donar ligands

The synthesis of half-sandwich binuclear transition-metal complexes containing the Cab^C,C chelate ligands (Cab^C,C = C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (1)) is described. 1Li₂ was reacted with chloride-bridged dimers [Cp∗RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ (Cp∗ = η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅), [Cp′RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ (Cp′ = η⁵-1,3-^tBu₂C₅H₃), [Cp∗IrCl(μ-Cl)]₂ and [(p-cymene)RuCl(μ-Cl)]₂ to give half-sandwich binuclear complexes [Cp∗Rh(μ-Cl)]₂(Cab^C,C) (2), [Cp′Rh(μ-Cl)]₂(Cab^C,C) [3),[Cp∗Ir(μ-Cl)]₂(Cab^C,C) (4) and [(p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)]₂(Cab^C,C) (5), respectively. Addition reactions of the ruthenium complex 5 with air gave [(p-cymene)₂Ru₂(μ-OH)(μ-Cl)](Cab^C,C) (6), rhodium complex 2 with LiSPh gave [Cp∗Rh(μ-SPh)]₂(Cab^C,C) (7). The complexes were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. In addition, X-ray structure analysis were performed on complexes 2-7 where the potential C,C-chelate ligand was found to coordinate in a bidentate mode as a bridge.     

Models of the iron-only hydrogenase: Reactions of [Fe2(CO)6(μ-pdt)] with small bite-angle diphosphines yielding bridge and chelate diphosphine complexes [Fe2(CO)4(diphosphine)(μ-pdt)]

Reactions of [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-pdt)] (1) (pdt = SCH₂CH₂CH₂S) and small bite-angle diphosphines have been studied. A range of products can be formed being dependent upon the nature of the diphosphine and reaction conditions. With bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), thermolysis in toluene leads to the formation of a mixture of bridge and chelate isomers [Fe₂(CO)₄(μ-dppm)(μ-pdt)] (2) and [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-dppm)(μ-pdt)] (3), respectively. Both have been crystallographically characterised, 3 being a rare example of a chelating dppm ligand in a first row binuclear system. At room temperature in MeCN with added Me₃NO · 2H₂O, the monodentate complex [Fe₂(CO)₅(κ¹-dppm)(μ-pdt)] (4) is initially formed. Warming 4 to 100 °C leads the slow conversion to 2, while oxidation (on alumina) gives [Fe₂(CO)₅(κ¹-dppmO)(μ-pdt)] (5). With bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane (dcpm), heating in toluene cleanly affords [Fe₂(CO)₄(μ-dcpm)(μ-pdt)] (6). With Me₃NO · 2H₂O in MeCN the reaction is not clean as the phosphine is oxidised but monodentate [Fe₂(CO)₅(κ¹-dcpm)(μ-pdt)] (7) can be seen spectroscopically. With 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dppb) and cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene (dppv) the chelate complexes [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-dppb)(μ-pdt)] (8) and [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-dppv)(μ-pdt)] (9), respectively are the final products under all conditions, although a small amount of [Fe₂(CO)₅(κ²-dppvO)(μ-pdt)] (10) was also isolated. Protonation of 2 with HBF₄ affords a cation with poor stability while with the more basic diiron centre in 6 readily forms the stable bridging-hydride complex [(μ-H)Fe₂(CO)₄(μ-dcpm)(μ-pdt)][BF₄] (11) which has been crystallographically characterised.