Electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide using metal nanoparticles: a review

We are reviewing the state of electrochemical sensing of H₂O₂ based on the use of metal nanoparticles. The article is divided into subsections on sensors based on nanoparticles made from Ag, Pt, Pd, Cu, bimetallic nanoparticles and other metals. Some sensors display high sensitivity, fast response, and good stability. The review is subdivided into sections on sensors based on heme proteins and on nonenzymatic sensors. We also discussed the challenges of nanoscaled sensors and their future aspects.

DNAzyme based electrochemical sensors for trace uranium

We have developed a uranyl-specific DNAzyme that was immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode to give a highly sensitive and selective biosensor for uranyl ion. The typical DNAzyme system consisted of the RNA (rA) as the substrate (ADNA), and the other strand is the enzyme (TDNA) with a ferrocene (Fc). The presence of uranyl ion induces the cleavage of the DNA substrate strand at the rA position to form two fragments. The Fc unit thereby is released from the surface of the electrode, and this results in a decreased peak current. This electrochemical biosensor has a dynamic range from 2 nM to 14 nM of uranyl ion, with a detection limit at 1 nM. It exhibits high sensitivity and excellent selectivity over other metal ions, and thus represents a promising technique for simple, fast, on-site, and real-time electrochemical sensing of UO₂(II) ion. It also serves as a guide in choosing different methods for designing electrochemical sensors for other metal ions.

Asymmetric Synthesis XIV: TiCl(Oipr)3-Promoted Asymmetric Coupling Reaction of D-Camphor Ketimine Anion

Optically active 1, 2-Diphenylethylendiamine(9) is obtained by asymmetric oxidative coupling reaction of d-camphor ketimine anion (4). Among various oxidating agents, TiCl(Oipr)₃ is better than l₂, Br₂, CuCl₂, FeCl₃ and BrCH₂CH₂Br.     

Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes,Ketones and Aroyl Chlorides Induced by LVT Prepared from TiCl4/Al System

Aluminium powder has been used to reduce titanium tetrachloride to generate the low valent titanium (LVT)reagent which can induce the reductive coupling of aldehydes and ketones to form the corresponding pinacols or olefins. However, arylsulfonyl chlorides will give diaryldisulfides under the same condition.     

Synthesis,Structures, Luminescent and Magnetic Properties of Heterometallic 5p‐4f Compounds with Ethylenediaminetetra­acetate

A series of heterometallic Ln^III–Sb^III edta‐containing compounds with the formulas [Sb₂(edta)₂Ln]NO₃ · nH₂O [edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetate; Ln = Eu, n = 7 ( 1 ); Gd, n = 7.5 ( 2 ) and Tb, n = 8 ( 3 )] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses (EA), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXDP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Their fluorescence and magnetic properties were also studied. The thermal analysis demonstrates the compounds formation of the antimony, lanthanide ions, and edta^4– ligands. FT‐IR spectra reveal that the antimony and lanthanide ions are connected through the carboxylate bridges. The studies of luminescence properties show that compounds 1 and 3 exhibit typical luminescence in the visible region. Furthermore, magnetic properties reveal compounds 2 and 3 have weak ferromagnetic behavior.     

Phosphate Removal from Aqueous Solution by an Effective Clay Composite Material

Adsorption is an effective treatment process for removing phosphorus and thus controlling eutrophication. In this study, a clay composite material called Al–dolomite–montmorillonite (Al–DM) was prepared and characterized. Al–DM performed well with respect to phosphate removal, with its performance depending on the Al–DM loading, contact time, initial phosphorus concentration and initial solution pH. Adsorption mechanisms were investigated by conducting batch tests on phosphate adsorption using the Al–DM. The adsorption process fitted both the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the intra-particle diffusion model. The Langmuir, Freundlich and BET models all adequately described the adsorption isotherm data. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Al–DM is an effective adsorbent for phosphate removal mainly due to its hierarchical porous structures as shown by characterization with SEM and EDS. Chemical changes occurring before and after adsorption in a water environment indicated that Al–DM had little negative effect on water quality.     

Solubility of Omeprazole Sulfide in Different Solvents at the Range of 280.35–319.65 K

Solubility data were measured for omeprazole sulfide in ethanol, 95 mass-% ethanol, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, methanol, acetone, n-butanol and n-propanol in the temperature range from 280.35 to 319.65 K by employing the gravimetric method. The solubilities increase with temperature and they are in good agreement with the calculated solubility of the modified Apelblat equation and the λh equation. The experimental solubility and correlation equation in this work can be used as essential data and model in the purification process of omeprazole sulfide. The thermodynamic properties of the solution process, including the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated using the van’t Hoff equation.     

Measurements of the Solid–Liquid Equilibria in the Quaternary System NaCl–NaBr–Na2SO4–H2O at 323 K

Phase equilibria of the quaternary NaCl–NaBr–Na₂SO₄–H₂O system at 323 K were studied by the isothermal dissolution equilibrium method. The solubilities of salts and densities of saturated solutions were determined. Solid solutions [Na(Cl, Br)] were found in the experiments. The phase diagram of the quaternary system has no invariant point, but has one univariant curve at the boundary of Na(Cl, Br) and Na₂SO₄ crystallization fields. The experimental results show that an increase of the NaBr concentration is accompanied by an obvious increase of the solution density and the decrease of the solubilities of NaCl and Na₂SO₄.     

Unsaturated polyester resins modified with phosphorus-containing groups: Effects on thermal properties and flammability

A novel reactive phosphorus-containing monomer [1-oxo-2,6,7-trioxa-1- phosphabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane-methyl diallyl phosphate, PDAP] was synthesized, and various amounts of PDAP were combined with unsaturated polyester by radical bulk polymerization. The resulting flame-retardant unsaturated polyester resin (FR-UPR) samples were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC), and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests. Due to the relatively high phosphorus content of PDAP (18.2 wt%), incorporation of this monomer into unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) led to a marked decrease in the heat release capacity (HRC), the total heat release (THR), an increase in the LOI and the char yield upon combustion. In order to elaborate the interactions between the UPR and PDAP in degradation, differences between the experimental and theoretical mass losses of a FR-UPR sample were evaluated. Furthermore, thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) and real-time Fourier transform infrared (RTIR) spectroscopy were employed to investigate the degradation behavior of UPRs, providing insight into the degradation mechanism.     

Microbial desulfurization of waste latex rubber with Alicyclobacillus sp.

A microbe with desulfurizing capability, Alicyclobacillus sp., was selected to recycle waste latex rubber (WLR). The growth characteristics of the microorganism and the technical conditions in the co-culture desulfurization process were studied. The desulfurization effect of Alicyclobacillus sp. on the WLR was characterized, and the mechanism for the microbial desulfurization of WLR was tentatively explored. The results showed that adding 5% (w/v) WLR into medium had little effect on the growth of Alicyclobacillus sp. The surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) had a toxic effect on Alicyclobacillus sp., but the growth of the microbe was vigorous if the proper technique was used: the mixing of WLR with Tween 80, followed by the addition of the mixture into the culture media. With the increase of desulfurization time, the swelling value of desulfurizated waste latex rubber (DWLR) increased, but the crosslink density decreased. After co-culture desulfurization for 8–10 days, a DWLR with good desulfurization effect was obtained. The mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR)/DWLR composite improved significantly over those of NR/WLR composite. XPS and FTIR results revealed that Alicyclobacillus sp. could break the crosslinked sulfur bonds and oxidize them to sulfones groups. The increase of O element content on the surface of DWLR was confirmed by water contact angle measurements. The relationship between the crosslink density and sol fraction of DWLR with different desulfurization times agreed with the Horikx equation, an indication that the microorganisms could break the crosslinked sulfur bonds on the surface of WLR, but leaving the main chains intact.