Determination of toxic and trace elements in algae by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied in the determination of toxic and other trace elements in a set of three algae materials provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the aim of environmental preservation through enhanced applications of nuclear analytical techniques. The quality of the analysis method has been evaluated by analyzing a number of biological standard reference materials. By adding mineral nutrients, the cultivation of algae for metals is enhanced, in particular, selected toxic heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb. It is believed that the level of elemental concentration in algae samples are dependent on environmental conditions due to its biochemical properties. Therefore, algae materials may be useful as an indicator or controller of environmental water pollution.     

A study of the viscosity of hyaluronic acid solutions for the preparation of polyelectrolyte complexes with chitosan

The viscosity of hyaluronic acid solutions kept at different pH values was found to decrease in the following order of pH: 6.5 > 3.5 > 4.3, although acid hydrolysis occurred at a higher rate in the most acidic solution. The poorest stability of the solutions with pH 4.3 was attributed to the compaction of the macromolecules as a result of charge density redistribution along the polyacid chains.     

Neutron activation analysis of high purity nickel by solvent extraction using 2-benzylpyridin/benzene

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis using solvent extraction has been applied for the determination of trace impurities in high purity nickel. Because of the high activity of⁵⁸Co produced by the nuclear reaction,⁵⁸Ni(n,p)⁵⁸Co, cobalt should be separated from the impurities. Removal of cobalt from the other trace elements in the aqueous acidic solution containing 1M thiocyanate ion (KSCN) was achieved by extraction with 1M2-benzylpyridin (BPy) in benzene. From the result of tracer experiments, cobalt was completely separated from most other elements except Fe, Mo and Zn. To determine the experimental accuracy, NIST SRM 673 nickel oxide was analyzed and the results agreed well within 10% deviation. This established radiochemical method was applied to the analysis of high purity nickel samples.     

Mapping of stereoselective recognition sites on human serum transferrin by capillary electrophoresis and molecular modelling

Stereoselective recognition of chiral compounds can be used for mapping of surface interaction sites on proteins. Iron-free human serum transferrin is a suitable chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis used in native form in solution. Separation of optical isomers of tryptophan-methylester, tryptophan-ethylester and tryptophan-butylester and various drugs were studied in capillary zone electrophoresis applying a distinct transferrin zone prior to sample injection. Changes in the electrophoretic patterns (i.e., in the migration properties) of the molecules reflected the possible interactions with the protein. The tryptophan derivatives and eight drugs possessed stereoselective interactions, seven drugs showed interactions without appreciable chiral separation, and the others did not present any direct complexation with the protein molecules. Molecular modelling was performed to characterize the binding areas at the iron binding site of iron-free transferrin. The docking of tryptophan derivatives on transferrin showed that the R-enantiomers possess a stronger complexation with transferrin, whereas the S-enantiomers are bound by weaker interactions, which is in excellent agreement with the capillary electrophoresis results, where the R-enantiomers were always retarded stronger by transferrin. A ranking of drugs by the lipo score parameter of the docking shows an accordance with the stereoselective interactions by the protein.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two new discrete, neutral complexes of manganese and zinc using a rigid organic clip

Two discrete neutral dimanganese(II) and tetrazinc(II) complexes were synthesized from a rigid organic clip and the corresponding metal acetates. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The manganese species is a dinuclear discrete product with two disordered acetates bridging two manganese centers, while the zinc one consists of two octahedral and two tetrahedral Zn(II) centers with both bridging acetates and triply micro(3)-hydroxides. Variable temperature magnetic measurement reveals the existence of weak antiferromagnetic interaction (J = -1.6 cm(-)(1); H = -2JS(1).S(2)) within the manganese complex.     

Determination of rare-earth elements in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

For the separation of rare-earth elements from steel, with a cation exchange resin, separation experiments were performed on NIST reference materials of SRM-363 and SRM-364. Iron, Na, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, As, Mo, Sb and W were separated in 2M hydrochloric acid, five rare-earth elements, La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm and three other elements, Hf, Zr and Ba were separated using 8M nitric acid. Each element was determined by a single comparator method using two monitors, gold and cobalt.     

Calculation of the in-plane force constants and vibrational spectra of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives by the CNDO/2 force method

The in-plane vibrations of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives (4-d₁, 2,6-d₂, 3,5-d₂, and d₅) have been studied with the CNDO/2 force method. The calculated values of the force field scaled by five empirical parameters yield good agreement with the experimental spectra. The results seem to permit the reassignment of some bands.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic ordering of layered (2-D) V-based tris(oxalato)metalates

The reaction of K3[M(III)(ox)3].3H2O [M = V (1), Cr; ox = oxalate], Mn(II)/V(II), and [N(n-Bu)4]Br in water leads to the isolation of 2-D V-based coordination polymers, [[N(n-Bu)4][Mn(II)V(III)(ox)3]]n (2), [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)Cr(III)(ox)3]]n (3), [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)V(III)(ox)3]]n (4), and an intermediate in the formation of 4, [[N(n-Bu)4][V(II)V(III)(ox)3(H2O)2]]n.2.5H2O (4a), while 1-D [V(II)(ox)(H2O)2]n (5) is obtained by using Na2ox and [V(OH2)6]SO4 in water. The structures of 1-5 have been investigated by single crystal and/or powder X-ray crystallography. In 1, V(III) is coordinated with three oxalate dianions as an approximately D3 symmetric, trigonally distorted octahedron. 1 is paramagnetic [mu(eff) = 2.68 mu(B) at 300 K, D = 3.84 cm(-1) (D/k(B) = 5.53 K), theta = -1.11 K, and g = 1.895], indicating an S = 1 ground state. 2 exhibits intralayer ferromagnetic coupling below 20 K, but does not magnetically order above 2 K, and 3 shows a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between V(II), S = 3/2 and Cr(III), S = 3/2 ions (theta = -116 K) within the 2-D layers. 4 and 4a magnetically order as ferrimagnets at T(c)'s, taken as the onset of magnetization, of 11 and 30 K, respectively. The 2 K remanent magnetizations are 2440 and 2230 emu.Oe mol(-1) and the coercive fields are 1460 and 4060 Oe for 4 and 4a, respectively. Both 4 and 4a clearly show frequency dependence, indicative of spin-glass-like behavior. The glass transition temperatures were at 6.3 and 27 K, respectively, for 4 and 4a. 1-D 5 exhibits antiferromagnetic coupling of -4.94 cm(-1) (H = -2Jsigma(i=1)n.S(i-1) - gmu(B)sigma(i=0)(n)H.S(i)) between the V(II) ions.