Total reflection X-ray fluorescence trace mercury determination by trapping complexation: Application in advanced oxidation technologies

It is well known that Hg species cause high noxious effects on the health of living organisms even at very low levels (5 μg/L). Quantification of this element is an analytical challenge due to the peculiar physicochemical properties of all Hg species. The regulation of the maximal allowable Hg concentration led to search for sensitive methods for its determination. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence is a proved instrumental analytical tool for the determination of trace elements. In this work, the use of total reflection X-ray fluorescence for Hg quantification is investigated. However, experimental determination by total reflection X-ray fluorescence requires depositing a small volume of sample on the reflector and evaporation of the solvent until dryness to form a thin film. Because of volatilization of several Hg forms, a procedure to capture these volatile species in liquid samples by using complexing agents is proposed. Acetate, oxalic acid, ethylenediaminetetracetic acid and ammonium pyrrolidine–dithiocarbamate were assayed for trapping the analytes into the solution during the preparation of the sample and onto the reflector during total reflection X-ray fluorescence measurements. The proposed method was applied to evaluate Hg concentration during TiO₂-heterogeneous photocatalysis, one of the most known advanced oxidation technologies. Advanced oxidation technologies are processes for the treatment of effluents in waters and air that involve the generation of very active oxidative and reductive species. In heterogeneous photocatalysis, Hg is transformed to several species under ultraviolet illumination in the presence of titanium dioxide. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence was demonstrated to be applicable in following the extent of the heterogeneous photocatalysis reaction by determining non-transformed Hg in the remaining solution.     

Preparation and characterization of self-assembled nanoparticles based on glycol chitosan bearing adriamycin

An anthracycline drug, adriamycin, was chemically conjugated onto the backbone of glycol chitosan via an acid-labile cis-aconityl linkage. The physicochemical characteristics of the glycol chitosan–adriamycin (GC–ADR) conjugates were investigated by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The GC–ADR conjugates were capable of forming nano-sized self-aggregates in an aqueous medium, when the adriamycin content in the conjugate was in the range of 2.0–5.0 wt.%. The self-aggregates were spherical in shape, and had mean diameters of 238–304 nm, depending on the adriamycin content. The critical aggregation concentrations of the conjugates, estimated by the fluorescence quenching method, were as low as 1.0–2.5×10⁻² mg/ml. The size of self-aggregates was not affected by the polymer concentration in the range from 50 to 2,000 μg/ml, and was maintained up to 8 days in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), indicating high colloidal stability. The release of adriamycin from self-aggregates was significantly dependent on the pH of the medium due to the cis-aconityl linkage; e.g., the amount of adriamycin released for 4 days was 7.3±0.3% at pH 7, whereas it was 29.3±1.9% at pH 4. The cell viability results demonstrated that free adriamycin shows more potent cytotoxicity than the conjugates, primarily attributed to the sustained release of adriamycin from self-aggregates. In conclusion, the self-aggregates, formed by GC–ADR conjugates, might be useful for the site-specific delivery of adriamycin in a sustained manner.     

Improved enzyme immobilization for enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity of porous electrodes

Porous electrodes with increased surface area have been prepared using a template route via colloidal crystals. The ordered porous structure and the interconnections between the pores have been quantitatively characterized by Focused Ion Beam Tomography. The internal surfaces of the electrodes have been biofunctionalized with two enzymatic systems for glucose oxidation. In order to increase significantly the stability, the biocatalysts have been immobilized either by crosslinking or by incorporation in an electrodeposition paint. The modified porous electrodes show an increased overall signal and therefore a better detection limit and a higher sensitivity when used as sensors, and a potentially higher power output when employed in biofuel cells.     

Low temperature static magnetization of an organic ferromagnet, β-p-NPNN

A ³He refrigerator mountable to a commercial SQUID magnetometer has been developed, which enables us to measure static magnetizations of a sample at temperatures below 2 K conveniently. The design and usage of the system are outlined. We have applied this to study static magnetic properties of an organic ferromagnet, β-p-NPNN, and have confirmed that the saturation magnetization is 1 μ_B per molecule. No hysteretic behavior has been detected, when the field was applied along the easy axis. This indicates that β-p-NPNN is a very soft magnet, as expected for an isotropic Heisenberg magnet based on organic radicals.     

Spirobicyclic diamines. Part 2: Synthesis of homochiral diastereoisomeric proline derived [4.4]-spirolactams

l-Proline derived diastereoisomeric [4.4]-spirolactams have been prepared by a reductive-amination reaction of (R)- or (S)-alanine methyl ester, followed by thermal cyclisation of the resulting amine onto the proline ester group in refluxing toluene. Under similar conditions (R)- or (S)-phenylalanine methyl ester gave no cyclisation products, while R- or S-α-methylbenzylamine required treatment with NaNH₂ in refluxing toluene to induce cyclisation giving diastereoisomeric [4.4]-spirolactams.     

Chiral Ti(IV) complexes of hexadentate Schiff bases as precatalysts for the asymmetric addition of TMSCN to aldehydes and the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide

Chiral dinuclear titanium(IV) complexes (generated in situ from hexadentate Schiff bases and titanium tetra-isopropoxide) have been found to be more effective catalysts for the asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes and the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide than their mononuclear analogues. The best results were obtained for benzaldehyde (86% enantiomeric excess) and cyclohexene oxide (89% enantiomeric excess).     

Photocatalysis of sprayed nitrogen-containing Fe2O3–ZnO and WO3–ZnO composite powders in gas-phase acetaldehyde decomposition

Two series of nano-sized N-containing MO_x–ZnO (M: Fe, W) composite powders were synthesized by spray pyrolysis. The nitrogen content was controlled from 500 to 2100 ppm by changing the powder ingredients and spray pyrolysis temperature. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra indicated that the N-containing MO_x–ZnO powders absorbed not only ultraviolet light (λ<387 nm) like pure ZnO powder, but also part of visible light (λ<650 nm). Acetaldehyde decomposition was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalysis of these composite powders. The photocatalytic activity of the N-containing ZnO powder was pronouncedly enhanced by the WO₃ addition under both UV and visible-light irradiation. However, that of the N-containing ZnO powder was suppressed by the Fe₂O₃ addition. A model of the semiconductor energy-band structure is proposed to explain the enhancement and suppression of photocatalytic activity.     

A novel boron-rich quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc3.67−xB41.4−y−zC0.67+zSi0.33−w

A novel quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc_3.67−xB_41.4−y−zC_0.67+zSi_0.33−w was found. Single crystallites were obtained as an intergrowth phase in the float-zoned single crystal of Sc_0.83−xB_10.0−yC_0.17+ySi_0.083−z that has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Single crystal structure analysis revealed that the compound has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants a = b = 1.43055(8) nm and c = 2.37477(13) nm and space group (No. 187). The crystal composition calculated from the structure analysis for the crystal with x = 0.52, y = 1.42, z = 1.17, and w = 0.02 was ScB_12.3C_0.58Si_0.10 and that agreed rather well with the composition of ScB_11.5C_0.61Si_0.04 measured by EPMA. In the crystal structure that is a new structure type of boron-rich borides, there are 79 structurally independent atomic sites, 69 boron and/or carbon sites, two silicon sites and eight scandium sites. Boron and carbon form seven structurally independent B₁₂ icosahedra, one B₉ polyhedron, one B₁₀ polyhedron, one irregularly shaped B₁₆ polyhedron in which only 10.7 boron atoms are available because of partial occupancies and 10 bridging sites. All polyhedron units and bridging site atoms interconnect each other forming a three-dimensional boron framework structure. Sc atoms reside in the open spaces in the boron framework structure.     

Diffusion coefficients of positronium in polycarbonate at low temperatures

Diffusion coefficients of positronium (Ps) in polycarbonate (PC) have been determined at temperatures between 20 and 300 K by means of positron lifetime spectroscopy. 2,2-dinitrobiphenyl (DNB) was added to the polymer as a Ps quencher and the diffusion coefficients were determined from measured Ps quenching rate constants, assuming that the reaction between Ps and DNB is completely diffusion-controlled.     

Insulating tubular BN sheathing on semiconducting nanowires

An effective method was developed for generation of insulating tubular boron nitride (BN)-sheathed nanostructures. ZnS nanowires and multilayered Si-SiO2 nanowires were successfully sheathed with insulating tubular BN-forming nanocables. Both the semiconductor nanowire cores and the BN sheaths are crystalline with well-uniform morphologies.