Novel analytical procedures for screening of drug residues in water, waste water, sediment and sludge

Traces of pharmaceuticals are continuously introduced into the aquatic environment mainly by sewage treatment plant effluents. Final data about their impact on the ecosystem are still partly missing. Progress in instrumental analytical chemistry has resulted in the availability of methods that allow a monitoring of these pollutants at ng L⁻¹ levels. In this review the state-of-the-art of residue analysis of pharmaceuticals by chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques is summarized. Improvements in detection limits over the past years have mainly been due to sophisticated mass spectrometric detection techniques. Furthermore, robust sample preparation and preconcentration protocols based on solid-phase extraction and related procedures have contributed significantly to the achievements observed so far. This review also covers several immunochemical approaches which may serve as an inexpensive alternative for quick screening of samples.     

Effect of dimensions of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on its enrichment efficiency of metal ions from environmental waters

The effect of dimensions (length and external diameter) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on its preconcentration efficiency towards some metal ions (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and MnO₄⁻) from environmental waters prior to their analysis by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) was investigated. MWCNTs (as-received from the manufacturer) of various external diameters and lengths were involved. Other variables optimized included effects of pH of water sample, composition and volume of eluent, mass of the MWCNTs, breakthrough volume and coexisting ions. Maximum recovery of metal ions was obtained at pH 9 where it was thought that precipitation of metals as their hydroxides played the major factor in metals uptake by MWCNT. It was suggested that the use of appropriate dimensions of MWCNTs may support the trapping process of the precipitated metal hydroxides by MWCNTs. It was found that long MWCNT of length 5-15 μm and external diameter 10-30 nm gave the highest enrichment efficiency towards almost all the targeted metal ions. It could be used for preconcentration of MnO₄⁻, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ with almost full recovery; but not for Cd²⁺ due to its low recovery. The optimized solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure was capable of determining metal ions in the linear range 20-100 ng mL⁻¹ (except for Zn²⁺ from 20 to 150 ng mL⁻¹). Detection limits were 0.709 ng mL⁻¹ for MnO₄⁻, 0.278 ng mL⁻¹ for Pb²⁺, 0.465 ng mL⁻¹ for Cu²⁺, 0.867 ng mL⁻¹ for Zn²⁺. Application of the optimized SPE procedure to environmental waters (tap water, reservoir water and stream water) gave spike recoveries of the metals in the range of 81-100%.     

Structure and stability of a clathrate of bis(dibenzoylmethanato)-dipyridine-nickel(II) with acetone (1:2)

An inclusion compound of constant composition [Ni(DBM)₂Py₂]·2(CH₃COCH₃) is synthesized, Ni = Ni(II), DBM is dibenzoylmethanate-anion (C₆H₅CO)₂CH^?, Py is pyridine. The compound and its dissociation products are examined by structural and thermal analysis, as well as vapor pressure measurements. The crystal structure of the clathrate is solved in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (temperature 173 K, a = 11.8617(9) Å, b = 10.0096(6) Å, c = 17.2895(9) Å, β = 96.72(1)°, V = 2038.7(2) ų, Z = 2, final R ₁ = 0.032). The host molecule [Ni(DBM)₂Py₂] is an uncharged octahedral complex, the central Ni(II) atom being surrounded by two DBM-anions in the equatorial plane and two terminal pyridines in the axial positions. Pairs of guest molecules are located in the voids of the molecular crystal. Calculated packing coefficients of the clathrate and the stable form of the host complex are 0.685(2) and 0.668(1) at 173 K, respectively. Isochoric melting of the clathrate has incongruent nature and occurs at 58–60°C to yield the solid phase of the host complex, while in air the complex decomposes in gaseous acetone and a metastable form of the host (apohost). The collapse of the metastable form of [Ni(DBM)₂Py₂] to the stable one takes place at 131°C with the release of 11 kJ/mol. The equilibrium vapor pressure of acetone over the clathrate is measured with the spoon gauge technique in a temperature interval from 292 K to 310 K (at 298 K the pressure is 0.48P ₀, P ₀ is the saturated vapor pressure of liquid acetone at this temperature). The experimental dependence logP ? 1/T is used to derive thermodynamic parameters of the process of clathrate dissociation 1/2[Ni(DBM)₂Py₂]· 2(CH₃COCH₃)(s) = 1/2[Ni(DBM)₂Py₂](s) + CH₃COCH₃(gas): ΔH _av ⁰ = 53±3 kJ/mol, ΔS _av ⁰ = 160±10 J/(mol·K), ΔG ₂₉₈ ⁰ = 4.74±0.07 kJ/mol.     

Thermodynamic properties of the ternary system {yNH4Cl + (1 − y)MgCl2} (aq) at 298.15 K

The mixture {yNH₄Cl + (1 − y)MgCl₂} (aq) has been studied using the hygrometric method at the temperature 298.15 K. The water activities are measured at total molalities from 0.30 mol kg⁻¹ up to saturation for different ionic strength fractions y of NH₄Cl with y = 0.20, 0.50 and 0.80. The obtained data allow the deduction of osmotic coefficients. Experimental results are compared with the calculations using the models of Zdanovskii–Stokes–Robinson, Kusik and Meissner, Robinson and Stokes, Lietzke and Stoughton, Reilly–Wood and Robinson and Pitzer. Thermodynamic properties have been modeled using the Pitzer ion-interaction model with inclusion of an ionic strength dependence of the third virial coefficient for the binary systems. From these measurements and the obtained binary parameters β⁽⁰⁾, β⁽¹⁾, C⁽⁰⁾ and C⁽¹⁾, the mixing ionic parameters θNH₄Mg${\theta }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{Mg}}$ and ψNH₄MgCl${\psi }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{MgCl}}$ are determined by the standard Pitzer model. The results show that a good accuracy is obtained with the standard Pitzer model using extended binary parameters. The parameters θNH₄Mg${\theta }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{Mg}}$ and ψNH₄MgCl${\psi }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{MgCl}}$ were used for evaluation of activity coefficients in the mixture. The excess Gibbs energy is also determined.     

Effect of paclobutrazol on water stress amelioration through antioxidants and free radical scavenging enzymes in Arachis hypogaea L

An investigation was carried out to find out the extent of changes occurred in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars in response to paclobutrazol (PBZ) treatment under water deficit stress. Two groundnut cultivars namely ICG 221 and ICG 476 were used for the study. Individual treatment with PBZ and drought stress showed an increase in ascorbic acid, -tocopherol and reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activities. PBZ with drought stressed plants maintained higher levels of antioxidant and scavenging enzymes. Significant differences were observed between cultivars and treatments. These results suggests that the adverse effects of water stress can be minimized by the application of PBZ by increasing the antioxidant levels and activities of scavenging enzymes such as SOD, APX and CAT. The Cv. ICG 221 appears to be more tolerant to water stress than the ICG 476.     

Growth, biochemical modifications and proline metabolism in Helianthus annuus L. as induced by drought stress

In the present investigation, two watering treatments, viz., 100% and 60% field capacity (FC) were used to understand the effects of water deficit on early growth, biomass allocation, pigment and biochemical constituents and proline metabolism of five varieties of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants. We found that there was a significant difference in early growth, dry matter accumulation, pigment, biochemical constituents and proline metabolism among the five varieties. The root length, shoot length, total leaf area, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid were significantly reduced under water stress treatments. Water stress increased the proline, free amino acid and glycinebetaine contents along with increased activity of γ-glutamyl kinase but the activity of proline oxidase reduced as a consequence of water stress.     

Alterations in osmoregulation, antioxidant enzymes and indole alkaloid levels in Catharanthus roseus exposed to water deficit

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don plants were grown in different water regimes in order to study the drought induced osmotic stress and proline (PRO) metabolism, antioxidative enzyme activities and indole alkaloid accumulation. The plants under pot culture were subjected to 10, 15 and 20 days interval drought (DID) stress from 30 days after sowing (DAS) and regular irrigation was kept as control. The plants were uprooted on 41 DAS (10 DID), 46 DAS (15 DID) and 51 DAS (20 DID). The drought stressed plants showed increased aminoacid (AA), glycine betaine (GB) and PRO contents and decreased proline oxidase (PROX) and increased γ-glutamyl kinase (γ-GK) activities when compared to control. The antioxidative enzymes like peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) increased to a significant level in drought stressed plants when compared to control. The drought stressed C. roseus plants showed an increase in total indole alkaloid content in shoots and roots when compared to well-watered control plants. Our results suggest that the cultivation of medicinal plants like C. roseus in water deficit areas would increase its PRO metabolism, osmoregulation, defense system and the level of active principles.     

为什么水在金属表面的吸附构型是倾斜的——水在铜、铝表面吸附的量子化学计算

用量子化学从头算方法,分别以原子簇Ｃｕ５、Ａｌ４、Ａｌ１０模拟Ｃｕ（１００）和Ａｌ（１１１）表面,在不同基组水平上,计算了水在两种金属表面上倾斜吸附的热能面,结果表明：当计算基组中不含氧原子的ｄ轨道时,得到水分子在金属垂直吸附的构型,这与实验结果不符;当水中氧原子加极化函数时,水分子倾斜吸附时能量较低,得到与实验相符的吸附构型。这说明水中氧原子ｄ轨道在计算中起着关键作用,在成键过程中有着重要影响。     

C(10)取代苯磺酸盐的胆绿素类似物的合成

报道了C(10)位苯磺酸盐取代的胆绿素类似物的合成方法,并用光谱研究了该化合物及其与锌离子形成的配合物。     

毛细管柱、电子捕获检测器-气相色谱法测定水和废水中多氯联苯(PCBs)

本文用毛细管柱,电子捕获检测器（ＥＣＤ）－气相色谱法测定水和废水中多氯联苯,具有灵敏度高,准确度高,适用性强等优点,适用于不同类型的环境水样分析。