Immunofiltration as sample cleanup for the immunochemical detection of beta-agonists in urine

Despite the ban of the European Union on use of drugs to improve animal growth, occasionally beta-agonist drugs are still found in samples from cattle. Over time, the specified limits for the detection of these illegal drugs have been lowered. To improve the immunochemical screening of urine samples to detect lower levels of several beta-agonists, immunofiltration (IF) was applied for sample cleanup in combination with a beta-agonist-ELISA. In the applied IF format, free (non-immobilised) anti-salbutamol polyclonal antibodies were mixed with the urine sample in an ultra-filtration device (cut off 30 kDa) and the sample was removed by centrifugation. The antibody bound beta-agonists were freed from the antibodies by the addition of a mixture of methanol and 0.1 M acetic acid (1:1; v/v) and centrifugation. The filtrate, containing the free beta-agonists, was evaporated to dryness and the residue dissolved in buffer, an aliquot of which was analysed with the beta-agonist ELISA. Compared with the direct beta-agonist ELISA, this IF cleanup procedure resulted in a 30-times lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.14 ng ml(-1) (salbutamol equivalents). The anti-salbutamol antibodies recognised several beta-agonists and the combination of IF with the beta-agonist ELISA was found suitable for the detection of at least ten beta-agonists in urine with comparable LODs.     

A fast immunoassay for the screening of beta-agonists in hair.

Hair has been shown to be an excellent site for the accumulation of clenbuterol residues. Compared with other matrices, hair sampling is very easy and this might result in large numbers of samples. In this study, a simple digestion-extraction procedure was combined with a sensitive clenbuterol ELISA, which resulted in an easy screening procedure suitable for the detection of at least four beta-agonists. Hair from untreated cows (n = 40) resulted in low blank levels (0.9 +/- 0.7 and 0.5 +/- 0.2 ng g-1 for black and white hair, respectively). The detection limits for clenbuterol, bromobuterol, mapenterol and mabuterol were determined as 1-1.5 ng g-1 for white and 3-4 ng g-1 for black hair. The accumulation of mabuterol and mapenterol in black and white hair from treated calves was demonstrated by GC-MS. The screening assay is not suitable for the detection of cimbuterol (owing to the low extraction efficiency) and for salbutamol and terbutaline (owing to the low cross-reactivity of the antibodies used for the ELISA and the low extraction efficiency). Black hair samples from cows treated with clenbuterol were still found to be positive (> 5 ng g-1) at 23 weeks after treatment. The fast screening procedure is a powerful means to detect and track the illegal use of clenbuterol, bromobuterol, mabuterol and mapenterol in animal production.     

Potentiometric studies of indium(III) azide complexes in aqueous medium

The stability constants of indium-azide complexes were determined by the potentiometric method (glass electrode). The effect monitored was the change in pH of a solution of azide and hydrazoic acid (N(-)(3)/HN(3)) when indium(III) cations were added. The azide concentration was varied from close to zero to 90mM, the ionic strength being kept at 2.000 M with sodium perchlorate and the temperature at 25.0 degrees . Evaluation of experimental data showed only mononuclear species, and the global constants found were beta(1) = (2.0 +/- 0.1) x 10(3), beta(2) = (7 +/- 2) x 10(5), beta(3) = (5 +/- 1) x 10(7) and beta(4) = (7 +/- 3) x 10(8).     

Complex formation constants for the aqueous copper(I)-acetonitrile system by a simple general method

A simple spectrophotometric method for the evaluation of formation constants for aqueous copper(I) has been developed, based on the kinetics of reduction of Co(III)(NH(3))(5)X complexes. The method has been applied to the aqueous copper(I)-acetonitrile system to determine the successive formation constants beta(1), beta(2), and beta(3) as 4.3 x 10(2) M(-)(1), 1.0 x 10(4) M(-)(2), and 2.0 x 10(4) M(-)(3), respectively, in 0.14 M NaClO(4)/HClO(4) at 21 +/- 1 degrees C.     

The stabilization of managese(III) by azide ions in aqueous solution

The evidences of spontaneous oxidation of Mn(II) by the dissolved oxygen in azide buffer medium, which is dependent on the N (-)(3)HN (3) concentration, suggested a formation of stable Mn(III) complexes due to marked colour changes. Spectrophotometric studies combined with coulometric generation of Mn(III), in presence of large excess of Mn(II), showed a maximum absorbance peak at 432 nm. The molar absorptivity increases with azide concentration (0.44-3.9 mol 1(-1)) from 3100 to 6300 mol(-1) 1 cm(-1), showing a stepwise complex formation. Potential measurements of the Mn(III) Mn(II) system in several azide aqueous buffers solutions: 1.0 x 10(-2) mol 1(-1) HN(3), (0.50-2.0 mol 1(-1)) N(-)(3) and 5.0 x 10(-2) mol 1(-1) Mn(II) and constant ionic strength 2.0 mol 1(-1), kept with sodium perchlorate, leads to the conditional potential, E(0')x, in several azide concentrations at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Considering the overall formation constants of Mn(II) N (-)(3), from former studies, and the potential, E(0')s = 1.063 V versus SCE, for Mn(III) Mn(II) system in non-complexing media, it was possible to calculate the Fronaeus function, F(0)(L), and the following overall formation constants: beta(1) = 1.2 x 10(5) M(-1), beta(2) = 6.0 x 10(8) M(-2), beta(3) = (2.4 +/- 0.7) x 10(11) M(-3), beta(4) = (1.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(11) M(-4) and beta(5) = (9.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(11) M(-5) for the Mn(III) N (-)(3) complexes. These data give important support to understand the importance of Mn(II) and Mn(III) synergistic effect on the analytical method of S(IV) determination based on the Co(II) autoxidation.     

Spectrophotometric study of the equilibria in aqueous copper(II) azide solutions

The reaction between copper (II) and azide has been studied spectrophotometrically at four wavelengths, at 25 degrees , and ionic strength 4.00M (sodium perchlorate). The formation constants beta(2) and beta(3) found are 2.90 +/- 0.08 x 10(4) and 3.02 +/- 0.07 x 10(6) respectively. The results obtained from potentiometric measurements with a solid-state electrode disagree with those calculated from the spectrophotometric data. Causes of the discrepancy are discussed.     

Formation constants of copper(I)-olefin complexes in aqueous solution

A simple kinetic method has been applied to measure the formation constants of aqueous copper(I) with fumaronitrile, dimethyl fumarate, and fumaric and maleic acids. At 0.14 M ionic strength, the values of beta(1) are (0.85 +/- 0.02) x 10(3), (6.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(3), (7.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(3), and (2.2 +/- 0.4) x 10(3) M(-1), respectively. The values for the last two olefins are compared to previous results. Values of beta(1) for hydrogen maleate and beta(2) for fumaronitrile also have been determined. A reanalysis of much earlier work has been done, and all the results are discussed in terms of the effect of substituents on the olefin on the beta(1) values. The structure of bis(fumaronitrile)copper(I) nitrate also is reported. The nitrile is N-coordinated to copper(I), which has a distorted tetrahedral geometry, while the overall structure consists of macrocyclic Cu(6)(fumaronitrile)(6) rings which extend in three dimensions.     

Equilibria occurring between beryllium (II) and salicylate ions

The complexation equilibria between Be2+ and the hydrogen salicylate (HL-) ions have been studied, at 25 degrees C, by potentiometric measurements with a glass electrode in 3 M NaClO4. The concentrations of metal (CM) and ligand (CL) were varied between 10(-3) and 0.03 M and 2 x 10(-3) and 0.03 M, respectively, while 1 < or = CL/CM < or = 3. The hydrogen ion concentration ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-5.3) M when basic salts start to precipitate. The equilibria can be written in the general form as: pBe2+ + rHL- <==> Be(p)H(-q) (HL)r(2p-r-q) + qH+, log beta(pqr). The experimental data have been explained with the formation of BeHL+ (log beta101 = 1.46 +/- 0.05), BeL (log beta111 = -0.897 +/- 0.018), BeL2(2-) (log beta122 = -3.746 +/- 0.021), Be2(OH)L2- (log beta232 = -5.23 +/- 0.09), Be3(OH)3L3(3-) (log beta363 = -14.39 +/- 0.12). The uncertainties represent 3sigma. The predominant complex in the whole concentration range studied is the uncharged mononuclear species BeL.     

Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin enhanced fluorimetric method for the determination of melatonin and 5-methoxytryptamine

The effects of native cyclodextrins (alpha, beta or gamma), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin solubilized in urea, soluble starch and glucose in water solution on the fluorescence behaviour of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) (M) and 5-methoxytryptamine [5-methoxy-3-(2-aminoethyl)indole] (5M) were determined. In addition, the effect of methanol and propanol with and without beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was assessed. From the fluorescence changes with pH, the values of the pKa for the ground (9.9 +/- 0.2) and the excited state (7.7 +/- 0.2) for 5M were determined. From the fluorescence changes with beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, the association constants of M, 5MH [5-methoxy-3-(2-ammoniumethyl)indole] and 5M with the two hosts were determined. The values with beta-cyclodextrin were KAssoc5MH = (1.4 +/- 0.4) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, KAssoc5M = (1.6 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3 and KAssocM = (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, and with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin KAssoc5MH = (1.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3, KAssoc5M = (2.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3 and KAssocM = (1.51 +/- 0.07) x 10(2) mol-1 dm3. The ratios of the fluorescence quantum yields for the bound and free substrate (phi b/phi f) were in the range 1.15-1.48. The detection limits under the optimum conditions were 0.381 +/- 0.001 ng cm-3 for the complex 5MH-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in water and 0.290 +/- 0.001 ng cm-3 for the complex M-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in water with 5% of methanol. The recovery of melatonin from pharmaceutical preparations was 98-103% with an RSD of 2%. The recovery from rat pineals was also good. The method is direct, simple and accurate.     

Structural characterization and formation kinetics of sitting-atop (SAT) complexes of some porphyrins with copper(II) ion in aqueous acetonitrile relevant to porphyrin metalation mechanism. Structures of aquacopper(II) and cu(II)-SAT complexes as determined by XAFS spectroscopy

The formation of the sitting-atop (SAT) complexes of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (H(2)tpp), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin (H(2)t(4-Clp)p), 5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin (H(2)tmp), and 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin (H(2)oep) with the Cu(II) ion was spectrophotometrically confirmed in aqueous acetonitrile (AN), and the formation rates were determined as a function of the water concentration (C(W)). The decrease in the conditional first-order rate constants with the increasing C(W) was reproduced by taking into consideration the contribution of [Cu(H(2)O)(an)(5)](2+) in addition to [Cu(an)(6)](2+) to form the Cu(II)-SAT complexes. The second-order rate constants for the reaction of [Cu(an)(6)](2+) and [Cu(H(2)O)(an)(5)](2+) at 298 K were respectively determined as follows: (4.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) and (3.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for H(2)tpp, (1.15 +/- 0.06) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and negligible for H(2)t(4-Clp)p, and (4.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(3) and (1.3 +/- 0.3) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) for H(2)tmp. Since the reaction of H(2)oep was too fast to observe the reaction trace due to the dead time of 2 ms for the present stopped-flow technique, the rate constant was estimated to be greater than 1.5 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). According to the structure of the Cu(II)-SAT complexes determined by the fluorescent XAFS measurements, two pyrrolenine nitrogens of the meso-substituted porphyrins (H(2)tpp and H(2)tmp) bind to the Cu(II) ion with a Cu-N(pyr) distance of ca. 2.04 A, while those of the beta-pyrrole-substituted porphyrin (H(2)oep) coordinate with the corresponding bond distance of 1.97 A. The shorter distance of H(2)oep is ascribed to the flexibility of the porphyrin ring, and the much greater rate for the formation of the Cu(II)-SAT complex of H(2)oep than those for the meso-substituted porphyrins is interpreted as due to a small energetic loss at the porphyrin deformation step during the formation of the Cu(II)-SAT complex. The overall formation constants, beta(n), of [Cu(H(2)O)(n)()(an)(6)(-)(n)](2+) for the water addition in aqueous AN were spectrophotometrically determined at 298 K as follows: log(beta(1)/M(-1)) = 1.19 +/- 0.18, log(beta(2)/M(-2)) = 1.86 +/- 0.35, and log(beta(3)/M(-3)) = 2.12 +/- 0.57. The structure parameters around the Cu(II) ion in [Cu(H(2)O)(n)(an)(6-n)](2+) were determined using XAFS spectroscopy.     

Equilibrium and Kinetics of Bromine Hydrolysis

Equilibrium constants for bromine hydrolysis, K(1) = [HOBr][H(+)][Br(-)]/[Br(2)(aq)], are determined as a function of ionic strength (&mgr;) at 25.0 degrees C and as a function of temperature at &mgr; approximately 0 M. At &mgr; approximately 0 M and 25.0 degrees C, K(1) = (3.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(-)(9) M(2) and DeltaH degrees = 62 +/- 1 kJ mol(-)(1). At &mgr; = 0.50 M and 25.0 degrees C, K(1) = (6.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(-)(9) M(2) and the rate constant (k(-)(1)) for the reverse reaction of HOBr + H(+) + Br(-) equals (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(10) M(-)(2) s(-)(1). This reaction is general-acid-assisted with a Br?nsted alpha value of 0.2. The corresponding Br(2)(aq) hydrolysis rate constant, k(1), equals 97 s(-)(1), and the reaction is general-base-assisted (beta = 0.8).     

Estimation of phospholipophilicity of 1-[3-(arylpiperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives on immobilized artificial membrane stationary phase and its correlation with biological data

A molecule library containing 42 1-[3-(arylpiperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives has been designed and synthesized. The phospholipophilicity of the obtained compounds has been determined using immobilized artificial membrane high-performance liquid chromatography (IAM-HPLC). The performed analysis allowed the calculation of log k(we) values for each of the tested compounds. Experimental phospholipophilicity data (log k(we)) has been compared with the affinity of the tested compounds to alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. Performed quantitative structure-activity relationship studies indicated that, for the tested compounds, there are dependences between affinity for alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and their log k(we) values. The obtained results confirmed that the applied chromatographic IAM-HPLC method could be useful in fast characterization of the phosholipophilicity of structurally closely related compounds as well as for larger series of compounds, such as drug candidates. It could also be used as a tool for further research into this group of compounds.     

Free-radical destruction of beta-lactam antibiotics in aqueous solution

Many pharmaceutical compounds and metabolites are being found in surface and ground waters, indicating their ineffective removal by conventional wastewater treatment technologies. Advanced oxidation/reduction processes (AO/RPs), which utilize free-radical reactions to directly degrade chemical contaminants, are alternatives to traditional water treatment. This study reports the absolute rate constants for reaction of three beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin G, penicillin V, amoxicillin) and a model compound (+)-6-aminopenicillanic acid with the two major AO/RP reactive species: hydroxyl radical ((*)OH) and hydrated electron (e(-)aq). The bimolecular reaction rate constants (M(-1) s(-1)) for penicillin G, penicillin V, amoxicillin, and (+)-6-aminopenicillanic acid for (*)OH were (7.97 +/- 0.11) x 10(9), (8.76 +/- 0.28) x 10(9), (6.94 +/- 0.44) x 10(9), and (2.40 +/- 0.05) x 10(9) and for e(-)aq were (3.92 +/- 0.10) x 10(9), (5.76 +/- 0.24) x 10(9), (3.47 +/- 0.07) x 10(9), and (3.35 +/- 0.06) x 10(9), respectively. To provide a better understanding of the decomposition of the intermediate radicals produced by hydroxyl radical reactions, transient absorption spectra were observed from 1 to 100 micros. In addition, preliminary degradation mechanisms and major products were elucidated using (137)Cs gamma irradiation and LC-MS. These data are required for both evaluating the potential use of AO/RPs for the destruction of these compounds and studies of their fate and transport in surface waters where radical chemistry may be important in assessing their lifetime.     

Hydroxo sulfate complexes of iron (III) in solution

The ternary Fe (III)-OH(-)-SO4(2-) complexes have been investigated at 25 degrees C in 3 M NaClO4 by potentiometric titration with glass electrode. The metal and sulfate concentrations ranged from 2.5 x 10(-3) to 0.03 M and from 5.10(-3) to 0.060 M, respectively. [H+] was decreased from 0.05 M to incipient precipitation of basic sulfate which occured at log[H+] between -2.3 and -2.5 depending on the concentration of the metal. For the interpretation of the data stability constants of HSO4(-), of binary hydroxo complexes (FeOH2+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe2(OH)2(4+), Fe3(OH)4(5+), Fe3(OH)5(4+)) and of sulfate complexes (FeSO4+, FeHSO4(2+), Fe(SO4)2-) were assumed from independent sources. The data are consistent with the presence of FeOHSO4, log beta 1-11 = -0.49 +/- 0.03. Equilibrium constants are defined as beta pqr for pFe3+ +qH+ +rSO4(2-) [symbol: see text] FepHq(SO4)r3p+q-2r. No substantial better fit could be found by adding a second mixed complex. Only a slightly smaller agreement factor resulted introducing as minor ternary complex Fe3(OH)6(SO4)3(3-) with log beta 3-63 = -5.8 +/- 0.5. Its evidence, however, cannot be considered conclusive.     

Modulating the redox properties of an osmium-containing metallopolymer through the supporting electrolyte and cross-linking

Thin films of the perchlorate salt of an [Os(N,N'-alkylated-2,2'-biimidazole3)2+/3+-containing polymer have been formed on planar platinum microelectrodes. The electrochemical response associated with the Os2+/3+ couple occurs at -0.19 V. In aqueous perchlorate media at near-neutral pH the voltammetric response is close to that expected for an electrochemically reversible reaction involving a surface-confined reactant. Chronoamperometry conducted on a microsecond time scale indicates that the film and solution resistances are comparable for low concentrations of supporting electrolyte. However, for LiClO4 concentrations greater than 0.4 M, RFilm contributes less than 25% of the overall cell resistance. These results suggest that when the film is dehydrated and the density of redox centers is increased, electron or hole hopping dominates the rate of homogeneous charge transport through the film. The rate of homogeneous charge transport, characterized by D(CT)1/2Ceff, where DCT is the homogeneous charge transport diffusion coefficient and Ceff is the effective concentration of osmium centers within the film, depends weakly on the concentration of LiClO4 as supporting electrolyte decreasing from (8.1 +/- 0.16) x 10(-9) to (4.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(-9) mol cm(-2) s(-1/2) as the perchlorate concentration increases from 0.1 to 1.0 M. These values are about 2 orders of magnitude lower than those of the chemically cross-linked chloride salt of the polymer. The rate of heterogeneous electron transfer is unusually rapid in this system and increases from (5.2 +/- 0.4) x 10(-3) to (7.8 +/- 0.4) x 10(-3) cm s(-1) on going from 0.1 to 0.4 M LiClO4 before becoming independent of the supporting electrolyte concentration at (9.2 +/- 0.6) x 10(-3) cm s(-1) for [LiClO4] > or = 0.6 M.     

A CE assay for the detection of agonist-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity

A CE assay was developed for the detection of adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity stimulated at the AC and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) level. In the assay, cell membranes overexpressing GPCR and/or AC were incubated with modulators and substrate ATP to produce cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. In both the CE-UV and a radiochemical assay, the addition of forskolin (FSK) resulted in a two- to three-fold maximum increase in AC activity with EC50s of 4.2 +/- 0.7 and 2.4 +/- 0.7 microM, respectively, demonstrating that similar results were obtained by both assays. GPCR activation was also detected using cell membranes overexpressing AC and the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) fused to the stimulatory G protein. Terbutaline (beta2AR agonist) increased the basal rate of cAMP formation 1.7 +/- 0.1-fold resulting in an EC50 of 62 +/- 10 nM. The assay's ability to detect antagonists is demonstrated by the expected right-shifted EC50 of terbutaline by the beta2AR antagonist propranolol. The CE-UV assay offers advantages over the traditional radioactivity assay in terms of safety and labor.     

New rare earth metal complexes with nitrogen-rich ligands: 5,5'-bitetrazolate and 1,3-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)triazenate-on the borderline between coordination and the formation of salt-like compounds

From the two nitrogen-rich ligands BT(2-) (BT=5,5'-bitetrazole) and BTT(3-) (BTT=1,3-bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)triazene), a series of novel rare earth metal complexes were synthesised. For the BT ligand, a vast number of these complexes could be structurally characterised by single-crystal XRD, revealing structures ranging from discrete molecular aggregates to salt-like compounds. The isomorphous complexes [La2(BT)3]14 H2O (1) and [Ce2(BT)3]14 H2O (2) reveal discrete molecules in which one BT(2-) acts as a bridging ligand and two BT groups as chelating ligands. The complexes, [M(BT)(H2O)7]2[BT] x (x) H2O (3-5), (M=Nd (3), Sm (4), and Eu (5)), are also isomorphous and consist of [M(BT)(H2O)7]+ ions in which only one BT(2-) acts as a chelate ligand for each metal centre. [Tb(H2O)8]2[BT]3 x H2O (6) and [Er(H2O)8](2)[BT](3)x H2O (7) are salt-like compounds that do not exhibit any significant metal-nitrogen contacts. In the BTT-samarium compound 9, discrete molecules were found in which BTT(3-) acts as a tridentate ligand with three Sm--N bonds.     

Polarographic study of the coordinated system Zn(II)-glycine-glycinate ion

A polarographic method has been applied to the study of the mixed-ligand system Zn(II)-glycine-glycinate, in aqueous medium, at I= 1.0 M (NaClO(4)) and 25 +/- 0.05 degrees C. The study of the quasi-reversible waves characteristic of Zn(II) has been carried out by means of a new method of analysis proposed by the authors, which is faster and more accurate than the traditional methods. The stabilization of the coordinated species [ZnG](2+) (beta(10) = 2.0), [ZnG(2)](2+) (beta(20) = 0.71), (Zn(G(-))](+) (beta(01) = 7.6 x 10(4)). [Zn(G(-))(2)] (beta(02)= 4.0 x 10(9)) and [ZnG(G(-))](+) (beta(11) = 1.7 x 10(5)) has been established.     

New plastic membrane and carbon paste ion selective electrodes for the determination of triprolidine.

Triprolidine (Trip) ion selective electrodes of three types: the conventional polymer membrane (I), graphite coated electrode (II) and carbon paste electrode (III), have been prepared, based on the ion pair of triprolidine hydrochloride with sodium tetraphenylborate. The electrodes exhibit a linear response with a mean calibration graph slope of 56.12, 55.00 and 54.32 mV decade(-1) at 25 degrees C for I, II and III, respectively, within the concentration ranges 1.96 x 10(-5) - 1.00 x 10(-2) M for I and 3.84 x 10(-5) - 1.00 x 10(-2) M for II and III. The detection limits are 1.13+/-0.13 x 10(-5), 1.70+/-0.06 x 10(-5) and 1.78+/-0.05 x 10(-5) M for the three electrodes, respectively. The change of pH within the ranges 4.85 - 8.75 and 4.70 - 8.50 for I and III, respectively, did not affect the electrode performance. The standard electrode potentials were determined at different temperatures and were used to calculate the isothermal coefficient of the electrode. The electrodes showed a very good selectivity for Trip with respect to a large number of inorganic cations and compounds. The standard addition method was applied to the determination of TripCl in pure solution, pharmaceutical preparations, and urine samples.     

On the formation of iron(III) hydroxo acetate complexes

The formation of hydroxo acetate complexes of iron (III) ion has been studied at 25 degrees C in 3 M (Na)ClO4 ionic medium by measuring with a glass electrode the hydrogen ion concentration in Fe(ClO4)3-HClO4-NaAc mixtures (Ac = acetate ion). The acetate/metal ratio ranged from 0 to 6, the metal concentration varied from 0.005 to 0.06 M, whereas [H+] was stepwise decreased from 0.1 M to initial precipitation of hydroxo-acetates. This occurred, depending on the acetate/metal ratio, in the -log[H+] range 1.85-2.7. The potentiometric data are consistent with the presence of Fe3(OH)3Ac3(3+), Fe2(OH)2(4+), Fe3(OH)4(5+), Fe3(OH)5(4+) and, as minor species, of Fe3(OH)2Ac6+, FeAc2+, FeAc2+, FeOH2+ and Fe(OH)2+. Previously published EMF measurements with redox and glass half-cells were recalculated to refine the stability constants of FeAc2+, FeAc2+ and Fe3(OH)2Ac6+. Formation constants *beta pqr for pFe(3+)+(q-r)H2O + rHAc reversible Fep(OH)(q-r)(Ac)r3p-q + qH+ (in parenthesis the infinite dilution value): log*beta 111 = -1.85 +/- 0.02 (-0.67 +/- 0.15), log*beta 122 = -3.43 +/- 0.02 (-1.45 +/- 0.15); log*beta 363 = -5.66 +/- 0.03 (-2.85 +/- 0.40), log*beta 386 = -8.016 +/- 0.006 (-4.06 +/- 0.15), log*beta 220 = -2.88 +/- 0.02 (-2.84 +/- 0.05), log*beta 340 = -6.14 +/- 0.18 (-6.9 +/- 0.4), log*beta 350 = -8.44 +/- 0.09 (-7.65 +/- 0.15).