Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate-Modified Electrode for Amperometric Assay of Hydrazine

A graphite electrode modified with cobalt hexacyanoferrate by mechanical immobilization was used for amperometric determination of hydrazine. The modified electrode exhibits good catalytic activity for the oxidation of hydrazine at a reduced overpotential with remarkable sensitivity. The modified electrode showed a linear response for hydrazine in the concentration range of 2.0 × 10^–5 to 2.8 × 10^–4 M. The detection limit was 9.8 × 10^–6 M (S/N = 3). The proposed modified electrode was simple, sensitive, rapid, stable and promising.     

Determination of hydrogen peroxide based on a metal dispersed sol-gel derived ceramic-graphite composite electrode

A new copper dispersed ceramic-graphite composite electrode was fabricated by the initial mixing of copper nitrate and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxy silane (MPS) followed by stirring with graphite powder. The combination of the metal catalysis and the advantages of the ceramic composite favored the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at a reduced overpotential of -0.2 V with good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. The sensor showed a good linear response to H2O2 in the range from 8.3 x 10(-6) M to 2.0 x 10(-3) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9989 and the detection limit was 6.2 x 10(-6) M (S/N =3).     

Determination of H2 and D2 content in metals and alloys using hot vacuum extraction

A hot vacuum extraction technique for the determination of hydrogen in metal and alloy samples has been standardised. After measuring the total pressure of the evolved gases, individual hydrogen and deuterium intensities are measured using an on-line quadrupole mass spectrometer. Synthetic mixtures of H₂ and D₂, in known concentrations, have been analysed by QMS and an analytical expression correlating the measured [D₂]/[HD] intensity ratio with the mole fraction of deuterium in the synthetic mixture has been arrived at. The precision and accuracy in the measurement of hydrogen is about 10% at 50 ppmw level.     

Visual spatial memory is enhanced in female rats (but inhibited in males) by dietary soy phytoestrogens

Background  

In learning and memory tasks, requiring visual spatial memory (VSM), males exhibit superior performance to females (a difference attributed to the hormonal influence of estrogen). This study examined the influence of phytoestrogens (estrogen-like plant compounds) on VSM, utilizing radial arm-maze methods to examine varying aspects of memory. Additionally, brain phytoestrogen, calbindin (CALB), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were determined.     

Characterization and application of an electrode modified by mechanically immobilized copper hexacyanoferrate

A newly modified electrode was prepared by mechanical immobilization of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) on a graphite electrode. The modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetric experiments. The effect of different background electrolytes, pHs and scan rates on the electrochemical behaviour of the electrode has been evaluated. In NH₄Cl two reversible redox peaks were observed. The first redox peak corresponding to Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ is observed only in this medium. The second redox peak corresponds to the Fe(CN)₆ ^4–/Fe(CN)₆ ^3– couple. Both anodic peaks were used for catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid. As the anodic current for catalytic oxidation was proportional to the amount of ascorbic acid, an analytical method was developed for the determination of ascorbic acid in commercial samples. Received: 26 May 1998 / Revised: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 1999     

Fabrication of novel molecular recognition membranes by physical adsorption and self-assembly for surface plasmon resonance detection of TNT

Recent concern on international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction demands the development of novel analytical methods for identification and quantification of explosive molecules. In this article, we describe the development of high-performance immunosensors for detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), a prime component of the landmines and bombs used by terrorist and military forces. The immunosensors were constructed by physical adsorption and self-assembly methods, and their binding interactions with a monoclonal anti-TNT antibody were evaluated for TNT detection using the surface plasmon resonance technique. A home-made 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanine conjugate was used for physical adsorption. A poly(ethylene glycol) hydrazine hydrochloride thiolate was used in the construction of self-assembled monolayer surface and was immobilized with trinitrophenyl-β-alanine by the amide coupling method. The immunosensors were highly selective, regenerable, rapid, and exhibited remarkable sensitivity down to the parts-per-trillion level for TNT by the indirect competitive inhibition principle.     

The application of homotopy analysis method to solve nonlinear differential equation governing Jeffery–Hamel flow

In this paper Jeffery–Hamel flow has been studied and its nonlinear ordinary differential equation has been solved through homotopy analysis method (HAM). The obtained solution in comparison with the numerical ones represents a remarkable accuracy. The results also indicate that HAM can provide us with a convenient way to control and adjust the convergence region.     

A Convenient Route for the Preparation of Aromatic Aldehydes

Though a variety of methods^2–5 are available for the synthesis of aldehydes, this area continues to attract attention^6,7 since aldehydes are important intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry. In this communication we present a new route for the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes.