Isolation of a suite of radionuclides from large volumes of seawater

A suite of radio-nuclides is isolated with favorable yields from seawater by precipitating with ammonium hydroxide only a fraction of the magnesium inherent in the medium. A large sample volume apparatus was assembled which provides for the separation of the precipitate from 3000 liters of sample in less than 15 min.     

Adsorption of metal anions of vanadium(V) and chromium(VI) on Zr(IV)-impregnated collagen fiber

The metal anions of vanadium (V) and chromium (VI) in aqueous solution can be effectively adsorbed by Zr(IV)-impregnated collagen fiber (ZrICF). The maximum adsorption capacity of V(V) takes place within the pH range of 5.0 to 8.0, while that of Cr(VI) is within the pH range of 6.0 to 9.0. When the initial concentration of metal ions was 2.00 mmol L⁻¹ and the temperature was 303 K, the adsorption capacity of V(V) on Zr-ICF was 1.92 mmol g⁻¹ at pH 5.0, and the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) was 0.53 mmol g⁻¹ at pH 7.0. As temperature increased, the adsorption capacity of V(V) increased, while that of Cr(VI) was almost unchanged. The adsorption isotherms of the anionic species of V(V) and Cr(VI) can be fit by the Langmuir equation. The adsorption rate of V(V) follows the pseudo-first-order rate model, while the adsorption rate of Cr(VI) follows the pseudo-second-order rate model. Furthermore, ZrICF shows high adsorption selectivity to V(V) in the mixture solution of V(V) and Cr(VI). Practical applications of ZrICF could be expected in consideration of its performance in adsorption of V(V) and Cr(VI).     

Intracellular glutathione detection using MnO(2)-nanosheet-modified upconversion nanoparticles

We report a novel design, based on a combination of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles and manganese dioxide nanosheets, for rapid, selective detection of glutathione in aqueous solutions and living cells. In this approach, manganese dioxide (MnO(2)) nanosheets formed on the surface of nanoparticles serve as an efficient quencher for upconverted luminescence. The luminescence can be turned on by introducing glutathione that reduces MnO(2) into Mn(2+). The ability to monitor the glutathione concentration intracellularly may enable rational design of a convenient platform for targeted drug and gene delivery.     

A new method for stable lead isotope extraction from seawater

A new technique for stable lead (Pb) isotope extraction from seawater is established using Toyopearl AF-Chelate 650 M^® resin (Tosoh Bioscience LLC). This new method is advantageous because it is semi-automated and relatively fast; in addition it introduces a relatively low blank by minimizing the volume of chemicals used in the extraction. Subsequent analyses by HR ICP-MS have a good relative external precision (2σ) of 3.5‰ for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, while analyses by MC-ICP-MS have a better relative external precision of 0.6‰. However, Pb sample concentrations limit MC-ICP-MS analyses to ²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb. The method was validated by processing the common Pb isotope reference material NIST SRM-981 and several GEOTRACES intercalibration samples, followed by analyses by HR ICP-MS, all of which showed good agreement with previously reported values.     

A resonance light scattering method for determination of DNA using Ru(bpy)2PIP(V)2+

A novel method for DNA detection is proposed that is based on the enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) of Ru(bpy)₂PIP(V)²⁺ at pH 2.7. Under optimum conditions, good linear relationships were obtained in the wide concentration range of 16–5120 ng mL⁻¹. The linear equation is I _RLS = 13.15 + 171.4 c (μg mL⁻¹), the correlation coefficient (r) is 0.9999. The detection limit of calf thymus DNA is 5.02 ng mL⁻¹. Plasmid DNA extracted from bacillus subtilis was determined by the method with satisfactory results.     

A Modified Procedure for the Preparation of Cp2Zr(H)Cl (Schwartz's Reagent)

A convenient method for the preparation of 65–85 g quantities of Cp₂Zr(H)Cl, Schwartz's reagent has been developed. The reagent prepared by this method is of high purity and has several advantages over the reagent prepared by previously reported methods.     

Sorption of plutonium from low level liquid waste using nano MnO2

Nano-crystalline MnO₂ has been synthesized by the method of alcoholic hydrolysis of KMnO₄ and its potential as a sorbent for plutonium present in the low level liquid waste (LLW) solutions was investigated. The kinetic studies on the sorption of Pu by MnO₂ reveal the attainment of equilibrium sorption in 15 h, however 90 % of sorption could be achieved within an hour. In the studies on optimization of the solution conditions for sorption, it was observed that the sorption increases with the pH of the aqueous solution, attains the maximum value of 100 % at pH = 3 and remains constant thereafter. The sorption was found to be nearly independent of the ionic strength (0.01–1.0 M) of the aqueous solutions maintained using NaClO₄, indicating the inner sphere complexation between the Pu⁴⁺ ions and the surface sites on MnO₂. Interference studies with different fission products, viz., Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ and Nd³⁺, revealed decrease in the percentage sorption with increasing pH of the suspension indicating the competition between the metal ions. However, at the metal ion concentrations prevalent in the low level liquid waste solutions, the decrease in the Pu sorption was only marginally decreased to 90 % at pH = 3, the decrease being more in the case of Nd³⁺ than that in the case of Cs⁺. This study, therefore, shows nano-crystalline MnO₂ can be used as a sorbent for separation of Pu from LLW solutions.     

Extraction of domoic acid from seawater and urine using a resin based on 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid

A new solid-phase extraction (SPE) matrix with high affinity for the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) was designed and tested. A computational modelling study led to the selection of 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (TFMAA) as a functional monomer capable of imparting affinity towards domoic acid. Polymeric adsorbents containing TFMAA were synthesised and tested in high ionic strength solutions such as urine and seawater. The TFMAA-based polymers demonstrated excellent performance in solid-phase extraction of domoic acid, retaining the toxin while salts and other interfering compounds such as aspartic and glutamic acids were removed by washing and selective elution. It was shown that the TFMAA-based polymer provided the level of purification of domoic acid from urine and seawater acceptable for its quantification by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) without any additional pre-concentration and purification steps.     

A practical method for building linear and cyclic triamines from (2-trimethylsilyl)ethanesulfonamides (SES-amides)

SES-chloride has been obtained in higher yield and purity by improving Weinreb's original procedure, allowing efficient access to the primary SES-amide. Linear triamines can be built conveniently from the SES-amide in high yields, with the potential for orthogonal protection. The modified Richman-Atkins cyclisation of SES-amides allows access to novel biologically interesting triazamacrocycles with combinations of three-, four-, five- and six-carbon bridges within the ring. Purification of the free macrocyclic amines by distillation greatly simplifies the workup, increasing the practicability of multi-gram scale synthesis. Although CsF sometimes provided undesirably low yields in the deprotection step, alternative fluoride sources were found to be unsuitable for the deprotection of SES-triazamacrocycles.     

Synthesis and efficiency of poly(acrylamidrazonehydrazide) chelating fiber for preconcentrating and separating trace gold and palladium from solution

A new poly(acrylamidrazone-hydrazide) chelating fiber has been synthesized using polyacrylonitrile fiber as a starting material. An ICP-OES method for applying the fiber to preconcentrate and separate trace Au(III) and Pd(IV) ions in solution has been established. The experiments show that 8 ng/ml Au(III) and 6 ng/ml Pd(IV) in 1000 ml of solution can be enriched quantitatively by the fiber column at a flow rate of 12 ml/min at pH 2. These ions can be desorbed quantitatively with 10 ml of 2.5% CS(NH₂)₂ + 6% H₂SO₄ containing 0.2% Fe(II) from the column at an elution rate of 6 ml/min. A fiber treated with 12M HCl or 15M HNO₃ can be re-used 10 times with above 95% recoveries of Au(III) and Pd(IV), and 120–800-fold excesses of Cu(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Al(III), Ni(II), Mg(II) and Ca(II) ions cause little interference. The RSDs are 2.0% for 8 ng/ml Au and 3.5% for 6 ng/ml Pd. The recovery of added standard in a solution sample from a metal smelter is 96.2% for Au and 100% for Pd, and the content of each ion in the sample determined by the method is in agreement with the analysed value from the smelter laboratory.     

Electrochemical catalysis of styrene epoxidation with films of MnO(2) nanoparticles and H(2)O(2)

Films of polyions and octahedral layered manganese oxide (OL-1) nanoparticles on carbon electrodes made by layer-by-layer alternate electrostatic adsorption were active for electrochemical catalysis of styrene epoxidation in solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. The highest catalytic turnover was obtained by using applied voltage -0.6 V vs SCE, O(2), and 100 mM H(2)O(2). (18)O isotope labeling experiments suggested oxygen incorporation from three different sources: molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and/or lattice oxygen from OL-1 depending on the potential applied and the oxygen and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Oxygen and hydrogen peroxide activate the OL-1 catalyst for the epoxidation. The pathway for styrene epoxidation in the highest yields required oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and a reducing voltage and may involve an activated oxygen species in the OL-1 matrix.     

Highly selective preconcentration of Cu(II) from seawater and water samples using amidoamidoxime silica

Chemically modified silica containing amidoamidoxime group was studied as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) and preconcentration of Cu(II) prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The sorbent showed an extremely high selectivity towards Cu(II) in the pH range of 4-6, while the extraction of Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) was low. The adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir model and the maximum sorption capacity of 0.0163 mmol Cu(II) g⁻¹ was achieved. In the flow system, Cu(II) was completely retained on a column containing 40 mg of the modified silica at the flow rate of 4.0 mL min⁻¹ and quantitatively eluted by 5 mL of 1% (v/v) HNO₃. No interference from Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ at 10, 100 and 1000 mg L⁻¹ was observed. When applied for preconcentration and determination of Cu(II) in tap water, pond water, and seawater, the recoveries were 96, 101, and 95%, respectively, with high precision (% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) < 4) and low method detection limit (9 μg L⁻¹).     

Kinetic study of Cr(VI) sorption on MnO2

The kinetics of adsorption of chromate ions has been investigated radiometrically over a wide range of concentration of chromate ions (10^–6–10^–2M) and temperature (303–323 K). The kinetics of the process follows essentially a first order rate law with respect to adsorptive concentration and obeys the Freundlich adsorption isotherm in the concentration range studied. In addition, the kinetics of desorption of the preadsorbed species also follows a first order rate law and the activation energy for desorption is greater than that of the adsorption process. On the basis of an adsorption kinetic study, the thermodynamic parameters have been calculated. Infrared spectroscopy has shown the chemical interaction of chromate ions on the surface of MnO₂.     

Preparation of CeO(2)-ZrO(2) ceramic fibers by electrospinning

Electrospinning was employed to fabricate polymer-ceramic composite fibers from solutions containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), Ce(NO(3))(3) x 6H(2)O and ZrOCl(2) x 8H(2)O. Upon firing the composite fibers at 1000 degrees C, Ce(0.67)Zr(0.33)O(2) fibers with diameters ranging from 0.4 to 2 microm were synthesized. These fibers exhibit strong resistance to sintering. They still have specific surface area around 11.8 m(2)/g after being heated at 1000 degrees C for 6 h.     

Preparation of ethyl levulinate from wheat stalk over Zr(SO4)2/SiO2

A series of Zr(SO₄)₂/SiO₂ solid acid catalysts with different Zr(SO₄)₂ loadings were prepared by water-soluble-impregnation method at room temperature. Then, the prepared catalysts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum, X-ray diffraction, adsorption/desorption of N₂, and temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃. The results showed that the active component Zr(SO₄)₂ was successfully adhered to the mesoporous SiO₂, and the acid amount of Zr(SO₄)₂/SiO₂ increased with the increasing of the Zr(SO₄)₂ loadings. Finally, the wheat stalk was used as raw material and depolymerized over Zr(SO₄)₂/SiO₂ to produce ethyl levulinate (EL). The reaction mixture was separated and purified by filtration and vacuum distillation. The kinetic characteristics and the reaction pathway were also studied. A comparative study showed that 20 wt.% Zr(SO₄)₂/SiO₂ exhibited higher catalytic activity. When reaction temperature, time, catalyst dosage and Zr(SO₄)₂ loadings were 190 °C, 50 min, 20 wt.% and 30 wt.%, the EL yield reached a maximum of 17.14%. The relative content of EL exceeded 90% after three steps of distillation.     

A New Type of Methacrylate-Substituted Oxozirconium Clusters: [Zr3O(OR)5(OMc)5]2 and [Zr3O(OR)3(OMc)7]2

Summary.  The new clusters Zr₆O₂(OBu)₁₀(OMc)₁₀ and Zr₆O₂(OMe)₄(OBu)₂(OMc)₁₄ were prepared from Zr(OBu)₄ and methacrylic acid. For the preparation of Zr₆O₂(OMe)₄(OBu)₂(OMc)₁₄, partial exchange of the butoxy groups is necessary. The clusters consist of two Zr₃ subunits that dimerize via alkoxide bridges. The structures are of the same type, except that four terminal butoxy ligands in Zr₆O₂(OBu)₁₀(OMc)₁₀ are exchanged for chelating methacrylate ligands in Zr₆O₂(OMe)₄(OBu)₂(OMc)₁₄. Received March 26, 2001. Accepted April 17, 2001     

A novel method for tosyloxylation of anilides using phenyliodine bistrifluoroacetate (PIFA)

The direct tosyloxylation of anilides was described in this Letter. In the presence of phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) and BF₃·Et₂O, the reaction of anilides with TsOH provided para-tosyloxylated products with high regioselectivity under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of arene-soluble mixed-metal Zr/Ce,Zr/Y,and related [[Zr2(OiPr)9]LnX2]n complexes using the dizirconium nonaisopropoxide ligand

The utility of polydentate monoanionic [Zr2(OiPr)9]- in generating arene-soluble, unsolvated, mixed-metal Zr/Ce and Zr/Y complexes is described. The synthesis of other mixed-metal zirconium lanthanide complexes was also studied to explore the relationship of metal size to structure. Lanthanide trihalides react in THF with KZr2(OiPr)9 to form unsolvated dimers, [[Zr2(OiPr)9]LnCl2]2, with the larger metals, Ln = Ce (1), Ho (2), Y (3), and unsolvated monomers, [Zr2(OiPr)9]LnCl2, with the smaller elements, Ln = Er (4), Yb (5). The synthesis of a monomeric iodide analogue, [Zr2(OiPr)9]TmI2, 6, by reduction of Zr2(OiPr)8(iPrOH)2 with TmI2(DME)3 is also reported. In all of these complexes, the [Zr2(OiPr)9]- subunit is tetradentate. 1-6 are compared with related cyclopentadienyl halide complexes to evaluate the special features of the dizirconium nonaisopropoxide ligand versus cyclopentadienide.     

Influence of cation (NH 4 + ) on electrochemical characteristics of MnO2 nanowire synthesized by hydrothermal method

Nanowires of MnO₂ were prepared by a simple method in which the commercial granular -MnO₂ powders were hydrothermally treated in water or ammonia solution at 150 °C. These 1D nanostructured manganese oxides were characterized physically by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy tests. Cyclic voltammetry and constant current discharge experiments were employed to explore the diversity of electrochemical performances; and the reasons for the difference are discussed. The experimental results indicate that the existence of NH₄⁺ in the preparation solution has depressed the electrochemical performances of the final product; This is further confirmed by the electrochemical impedance spectra of the electrodes.