Calorimetric determination of enthalpies of lysozyme folding at a liquid-solid interface

Summary Two hydrated and aged cement pastes from India (NCB), w/c=0.4, of a similar chemical composition but of a different specific surface and different strength (OPC, C-33 and C-43), hydrated at w/c=0.4 for 1 month, were studied by XRD after 1 year and 5-6 year ageing on contact with air. They were tested by static heating (SH) in fresh state, and by DTA/DTG/TG, IR and mass spectrometry (MS), after ageing, presented elsewhere. The main XRD peaks of (i) portlandite were decreasing with T and disappearing about 450°C, (ii) calcite peak at room T was small and broad, it increased gradually, especially after portlandite disappearance; above 600°C it was lowered and it was lost above 700°C. Important variation in the d(001) of portlandite with ageing was observed, exceeding the standard value of d(001)=4.895 Å (72-0156). It was higher in the paste C-33 (4.925-4.936 Å), containing more carbonates, than in the paste C-43 (4.916-4.927 Å). Small variations only were found in the value of d(101), i.e. 2.627-2.635 Å (nominally 2.622 Å), whereas the d(104) of calcite could be used as internal standard and other calcium carbonates (vaterite and aragonite) showed a small variation only. The increase ind(hkl) with temperature was straight linear (in portlandite d(001)=0.095 Å, at 30-400°C) and the thermal expansion coefficient estimated thereform was high (4.75-4.95·10^-5 K^-1). Close to the T of decomposition the d/T became steeper. The thermal variation of d(104)=3.035 Å of calcite (d=0.015 Å at 30-400°C) was smaller than that ofd(101) of portlandite (d=0.025 Å at 30-400°C) and was similar in C-33 and C-43. The thermal expansion coefficient was 1.54 10^-5 K^-1, thus higher than the reported _a=0.65·10^-5 K^-1.     

Surface energy and mechanical behaviour of hardened cement paste

The Bangham equation indicates a direct proportionality between the length change of a porous body and a change of surface energy. In our experiments surface energy of hardened cement paste has been modified by desorbing or adsorbing water molecules. The internal pressure created by surface energy could be directly determined with the help of Mössbauer experiments. Based on these results it is possible to determine to what extent shrinkage or swelling is caused by a change of surface energy. Using Griffith's criterion our findings can explain quantitatively the decrease of stength as a function of increasing water content. Results are in good agreement with other methods of studying surface energy such as experiments to determine van der Waals forces.     

Methylthiouracil‐modified Carbon Paste Electrode as a New Voltammetric Sensor Based on a 1,4‐Michael Addition Reaction for Detection of Dopamine

A sensitive dopamine sensor was constructed based on the modified carbon paste electrode with methylthiouracil as a nucleophile in the 1,4‐Michael addition reaction. An ECE mechanism was suggested for dopamine oxidation at the modified electrode. Design of experiments was used in the optimization of variables. Under the optimum conditions, calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.20–15.0 µM with a detection limit of 73 nM. The relative standard deviations (n=5) for 0.50 µM of dopamine was 3.83 %. The selectivity of the sensor was also studied. The developed sensor was applied for analysis of pharmaceutical and biological samples.     

“金属的电化学腐蚀”教学设计创新

以学科理解为基础,注重创设真实的教学情境,创新实验设计,使学生在探究暖贴发热原理和钢铁腐蚀原理的过程中获得金属电化学腐蚀的知识,拓展认知结构,学习科学方法,发展科学探究能力。     

Application of Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Carbon Nanofibres/Polyaniline/Platinum Nanoparticles as an Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Bezafibrate

The present study deals with the development of an electrochemical sensor for quantitative determination of Bezafibrate (BZF) based on carbon nanofibers/polyaniline/platinum nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (CNF/PANI/Pt/CPE). BZF is a fibric acid derivative and is used largely in the treatment of lipid disorders. The nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline using ammonium persulphate and platinum nanoparticles were uniformly decorated on the CNF/PANI surface by reducing hexachloroplatinic acid using sodium borohydride. The electrochemical response of BZF at CNF/PANI/Pt/CPE was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The above study resulted into significant improvement of the electrochemical signal towards the oxidation of BZF, revealing that the oxidation process is highly favorable at the surface of modified electrode. The anodic peak current I_p (μA) is found to be linearly dependent on BZF concentration in the range of 0.025 μM to 100 μM with a detection limit of 2.46 nM. The practical analytical utilities of the sensor were investigated by performing the experiments on synthetic pharmaceutical formulations, human blood serum and urine samples which offered good recovery, suggesting the high efficacy and authenticity of CNF/PANI/Pt/CPE sensor for BZF determination.     

Investigation of Methanol Behavior at the Designed Electrochemical Sensor based on Ni(II) Complex and Graphene Nanosheets

In this work, the electrochemical oxidation of methanol was investigated by different electrochemical methods at a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with (N‐5‐methoxysalicylaldehyde, N´‐2‐hydroxyacetophenon‐1, 2 phenylenediimino nickel(II) complex (Ni(II)–MHP) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), which is named Ni(II)‐MHP/RGO/CPE, in an alkaline solution. This modified electrode was found to be efficient for the oxidation of methanol. It was found that methanol was oxidized by the NiOOH groups generated by further electrochemical oxidation of nickel(II) hydroxide on the surface of the modified electrode. Under optimum conditions, some parameters of the analyte (MeOH), such as the electron transfer coefficient (α), the electron transfer rate constant) k_s), and the diffusion coefficient of species in a 0.1 M solution (pH = 13), were determined. The designed sensor showed a linear dynamic range of 2.0–100.0 and 100.0–1000.0 μM and a detection limit of 0.68 μM for MeOH determination. The Ni(II)‐MHP/RGO/CPE sensor was used in the determination of MeOH in a real sample.     

Electrochemical determination of naproxen in the presence of acetaminophen using a carbon paste electrode modified with activated carbon nanoparticles

In this study, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were used to determine the electrochemical properties and concentration of naproxen in pharmaceutical formulation and human serum samples by using a carbon paste electrode modified with activated carbon nanoparticles. Optimum conditions were obtained at an electrode with 0.005 g activated carbon nanoparticles in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 6 as a supporting electrolyte. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.1–120 μM, and the detection limit of naproxen determined was 0.0234 μM. The modified electrode shows good selectivity for naproxen in the presence of some organic and inorganic interferences and very good precision in real samples. Finally, naproxen was measured in the presence of acetaminophen.     

Reactivity of fly ash in cement paste studied by means of thermogravimetry and isothermal calorimetry

Four paste mixtures with varying replacement level of the cement content by fly ash have been studied. Due to fly ash, the acceleration period decreased and a third hydration peak was noticed with isothermal calorimetry. The total heat after 7 days increased with increasing fly ash content. From 1 to 7 days, thermogravimetry showed a higher chemically bound water and Ca(OH)₂-content for the pastes with fly ash. Between 7 and 14 days the calcium hydroxide started to be depleted due to the pozzolanic reaction. A unique relation was found between calcium hydroxide and total heat development.     

Electrocatalytic activity of hemoglobin in sodium alginate/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticle/ionic liquid BMIMPF<Subscript>6</Subscript> composite film

A novel biocompatible composite film containing sodium alginate (SA), room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆), SiO₂ nanoparticle, and hemoglobin (Hb) was fabricated and covered on the surface of a traditional carbon paste elecrode (CPE). The immobilized Hb on the electrode surface showed good direct electrochemical behaviors, and a pair of quasi-reversible redox peaks of Hb was obtained, which indicated that the direct electron transfer of Hb with the electrode surface had been achieved. The SA/nano-SiO₂/BMIMPF₆/Hb/CPE showed dramatically electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of trichloroacetic acid, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and oxygen (O₂). The kinetic parameters for the electrocatalytic reactions were evaluated. The composite film showed the potential to the biosensor and biocatalysis.