Novel coated-graphite membrane sensor based on N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-crown-6 for the determination of ultra-trace amounts of lead

A novel selective membrane electrode for determination of ultra-trace amount of lead was prepared. The PVC membrane containing N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-cown-6 (DMCDA18C6) directly coated on a graphite electrode, exhibits a Nernstian response for Pb²⁺ ions over a very wide concentration range (from 1.0×10⁻² to 1.0×10⁻⁷ M) with a limit of detection of 7.0×10⁻⁸ M (∼14.5 ppb). It has a fast response time of ∼10 s and can be used for at least 2 months without any major deviation in potential. The electrode revealed very good selectivity with respect to all common alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The proposed sensor was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of lead ions and in determination of lead in edible oil, human hair and water samples. The proposed sensor was found to be superior to the best Pb²⁺-selective electrodes reported in terms of detection limit and selectivity coefficient.     

Configuration of MFI-type zeolite interacting with the probe molecule P(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> – a theoretical study

With P(CH₃)₃ as the probe molecule adsorbed on titanium silicalite (TS-1) zeolite, the special and important role of T12 site in MFI-type zeolite was clearly elucidated. There are altogether three active sites present in TS-1 zeolite with Ti at the T12 site. Owing to the preferential adsorption of probe molecules on the first Brönsted acidic site, the Ti12 center will probably fail to show Lewis acidity. The ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species can be stabilized by the first or second Brönsted acidic site, with the former energetically favored. The latter was formed through the transfer of the ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species from the first to the second Brönsted acidic site.     

Seasonal variation and activity size distribution of <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be in ambient air

The seasonal variation of the ⁷Be activities in air and the size distribution of the ⁷Be aerosols were studied by using a continuous air sampler and a five stage cascade impactor. The mean monthly activity level of ⁷Be at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) site varied from 0.5 to 4.8 Bq·m⁻³ and revealed a seasonal variation, in which the ⁷Be activity levels were high in winter and low in summer. The mass size distribution showed a bi-modal distribution with a higher peak around 0.49 μm and a smaller peak between 3 μm and 7.2 μm. The activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) decreased with increasing ambient ⁷Be concentrations. The mean residence times by using a mean growth rate of 0.004 μm·h⁻¹ were estimated to be 2.5–6.4 days. The AMAD has an increasing tendency with higher relative humidity. It seemed that the high humidity condition facilitated the growth of the aerosol, resulting in increased deposition rates of the aerosols and the low ⁷Be content in the surface air. The AMAD of the ⁷Be aerosols increased with an increasing temperature, but the temperature dependency of AMAD should be explained with geological and meteorological conditions.     

A Novel Uranyl Complex with Dimeric Lacunary Polyoxoanion: [(A-α-SiW<Subscript>9</Subscript>O<Subscript>33</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>K{UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>11−</Superscript>

A novel uranyl complex with dimeric lacunary polyoxoanion like open-mouthed clam, Na₅[(A-α-SiW₉O₃₃H₃)₂K{UO₂(H₂O)}₂], was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the anion, two A-α-SiW₉O₃₄¹⁰⁻ groups share two terminal oxygen atoms O_d′ derived from removal of three corner-shared W atoms from saturated α-Keggin anion, forming a dimeric anion with an open mouth in which potassium ion and uranyl ions are coordinated. Uranium atom adopts a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The coordinating anions are linked by sodium ions via coordination of terminal or bridging oxygen atoms, forming two-dimensional layer arrangement. Between the layers are the hydrogen bonds from which a supramolecular architecture is created. UV–VIS spectrum gives W–O and U–O charge transfer transitions at 230–265 and 432 nm, showing the change of geometry of the polyanion and weakening of the U–O bonds of the uranyl cation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Study of a fluorescence quenching mechanism of enoxacin and its determination in human serum and urine samples

The maximum emission wavelength of dopamine is 317 nm with excitation at 290 nm. The relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine decreased in the presence of enoxacin, which showed that fluorescence quenching occurred. The Stern-Volmer (S-V) plot showed a nonlinear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine and the concentration of enoxain. The quenching mechanism was studied and the results suggested that both dynamic and static quenching processes were responsible for the observed positive deviation in the S-V plot. When the S-V plot was modified by logarithm, the linear relationship was obtained between logF ₀/F and C in the range of 0.10 to 13.0 μg/mL (where F ₀ is the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine, F is the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine in the presence of enoxacin, and C is the concentration of enoxacin). The fluorescence quenching method for the determination of enoxacin was developed. The linear regression equation of the calibration graph of enoxacin was C = 13.70 (logF ₀/F) − 0.5836, with the correlation coefficient 0.9984. The detection limit was 2.0 ng/mL and the relative standard deviation was 2.52%. The effects of pH, the stability of dopamine in the presence of enoxacin, and foreign ions on the determination of enoxacin have been examined. The recovery of enoxacin was from 94.9 to 103.0% in a human serum sample and from 94.9 to 108.0% in a urine sample. The method is simple, rapid, and can be used for the determination of enoxacin in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

High-temperature thermal behaviour of Cr-Doped LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> spinels synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion method

Chromium doped spinels LiCr_YMn_2−YO₄ (0.2≤Y≤0.8) has been synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion procedure. The thermal behaviour, phase homogeneity and structural characteristics of the samples were studied by thermal analysis, coupled mass spectrometry, and room-and high-temperature X-ray diffraction methods. It was found that the ‘as prepared’ samples contained residual organic impurities undetectable for X-ray diffraction, that burn out completely at 400°C. Samples treated between 400 and 750°C are single phase spinels, whose crystallites size increase from 10 to 50 nm on increasing the temperature. Cr-doping enhances the thermal stability of the spinels, which augments on increasing the Cr content Y. The enhanced thermal stability of the spinels has been accounted for based on the high excess stabilization energy of Cr³⁺ in octahedral ligand field.     

Theoretical analysis of the performance of a model supercapacitor consisting of metal oxide nano-particles

The factors influencing the electrochemical behaviour of a supercapacitor have been partly examined in this work. The effects of so-called intrinsic parameters, i.e. exchange current density, unit cell length and double layer (DL) capacitance; as well as the so-called application parameters, i.e. cell current, on the cell potential discharge time have been considered. The contributions of each type of capacitors, DL capacitor and faradaic supercapacitor under various states of operation and material have been analyzed, and the competing (compensating) effects of the two types of capacitors as regards to the discharge and power characteristics manifested by current–potential and energy–power (Ragone plots) are elucidated.     

Capillary electrophoresis with wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) enables rapid separations with high separation efficiency and compatibility with small sample volumes. Laser-induced fluorescence detection can result in extremely low limits of detection in CE. Single-channel fluorescence detection, however, furnishes little qualitative information about a species being detected, except for its CE migration time. Use of multidimensional information often enables unambiguous identification of analytes. Combination of CE with information-rich wavelength-resolved fluorescence detection is analogous with ultraviolet-visible diode-array detection and furnishes both qualitative and quantitative chemical information about target species. This review discusses recent advances in wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence detection coupled with CE, with an emphasis on instrument design.     

Preparation and characterization of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxides

A type of high visible-light active titanium oxinitride(TiO2-xNx) powder was prepared by a simple proc-ess:the calcination of the hydrated titanium dioxide at the atmosphere of ammonia-argon using a tu-bular electric furnace at high temperatures. The hydrated titanium dioxide was synthesized as the precursor of TiO2-xNx using titanic acid as raw material,which came from sulfate technique of produc-ing titanium white. The effects of temperature and reaction time on the nitrogen content,grain size and crystal structure were studied. The visible-light activity and photocatalysis capability of the powder were also investigated.