Monitoring nitrite with optical sensing films

A new, low-cost nitrite sensor was developed by immobilizing a direct indicator dye in an optical sensing film for food and environmental monitoring. This sensor was fabricated by binding Safranine O to a cellulose acetate film that had previously been subjected to an exhaustive base hydrolysis. The membrane has good durability (>12 months) and a short response time (<8 s). Nitrite can be determined for the range of 0.005-2.00 μg ml⁻¹ with 3δ detection limits of 0.001 μg ml⁻¹. The method is easy to perform and uses acetylcellulose as a carrier. The reagents used for the activity of the cellulose support are inexpensive, non-toxic and widely available.     

Optical nitrite sensor based on chemical modification of a polymer film

A new, low-cost nitrite sensor was developed by immobilizing a direct indicator dye in an optical sensing film for food and environmental monitoring. This sensor was fabricated by binding gallocyanine to a cellulose acetate film that had previously been subjected to an exhaustive base hydrolysis. The membrane has good durability (>6 months) and a short response time (<7 s). Nitrite can be determined for the range 0.008-1.50 microg/ml with 3delta detection limits of 1 ng/ml. The method is easy to perform and uses acetylcellulose as a carrier. The reagents used for activating the cellulose support are inexpensive, non-toxic and widely available.     

Adsorption-Bonded Azo Reagents in Chemical Tests Based on the Principles of Precipitation Paper Chromatography

The possibility of using three groups of azo compounds in chemical tests based on the principles of precipitation paper chromatography is considered. The first group consists of the reagents showing the highest affinity to cellulose (Congo Red, Brilliant Yellow, Stilbazo, Cadion IREA, Sulfarsazen, and Titan Yellow). These reagents are immobilized on paper and are not washed out of it in acidic, alkaline, and neutral solutions. The immobilization of the reagents results in a bathochromic shift of their absorption bands with respect to their solutions and enhances the acidic properties of the reagents. The second group comprises compounds that are immobilized on paper only in acidic solutions (mono- and bisazo derivatives of chromotropic acid: Arsenazo II, Arsenazo III, Orthanilic K, Sulfochlorophenol S, Chlorophosphonazo III, and Carboxyarsenazo). Their immobilization on paper does not lead to a shift in the absorption spectra and acidic properties. The third group consists of compounds that are immobilized on paper either in acidic or in alkaline solutions (Acid Chrome Dark Blue, Eriochrome Black T, Magneson KhS, and Eriochrome Blue Black R). They are absorbed by cellulose as free acids in acidic solutions and as sodium salts in alkaline solutions. Test procedures have been developed for the determination of acids; alkalis (0.1–100 mM); the total alkalinity of water (0.2–35 mM); the total acidity of water (0.2–20 mM); Cd, Al, and Pb (1–200 mg/L); Al, Th, U, and Zr (0.5–200 mg/L); and the total hardness of water (0.05–40 mM). The length of the colored zone in test strips laminated into a polymer film and contacting the test solution through a narrow edge is the analytical signal. The relative standard deviation does not exceed 30%; the analysis time is 10–15 min.     

An imaging pH optode for cell studies based on covalent attachment of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate to amino cellulose acetate films

The objective of this study was to create a thin film optode for fast pH measurements that meets the requirements for imaging pH-responses from cells as well as for a future hybrid design for detection of multiple analytes simultaneously. The sensor is based on the covalent attachment of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS) to a film forming cellulose acetate material through a sulfonamide linkage. The synthesis routes of the cellulose material and regio-specific covalent attachment of the dye are described in detail. The sensor was sterilized in two different ways and showed excellent biocompatibility with Chinese hamster ovary cells. Imprints from cells and μm thin cell extensions were visualized when altering pH of the surrounding solution. The sensor was tested together with time-dependent sigmoidal calibrations giving pH determinations with an exceptional precision and accuracy during measurement within pH 6-8. The precision of the optode, calculated as pooled S.D. (n = 8) according to IUPAC recommendations between pH 6.641 and 7.742 was 0.0029. The accuracy was significantly better than the electrode used as reference during the measurements. The response time (0-95%) was 100 s between pH 6.641 and 7.742 and the reverse response (95-0%) was 80 s. The sensor shows great potential for extra-cellular pH determination over time during cell growth and pharmacological exposure.     

Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Determination and On-line Preconcentration of Palladium

Palladium was determined in pharmaceuticals by direct graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) method. The detection limit was 0.1 μg/g in 5% solution; the recovery of 0.5–2.0 μg/g Pd spike was close to 100%. The flow injection GFAAS method was worked out using oxime and iminodiacetic acid ethyl cellulose (IDAEC) microcolumns for preconcentration of Pd in aqueous and 50% methanol solutions. The optimal pH range for preconcentration was 2–5. At 20-fold enrichment the detection limits for Pd were 0.39 μg/liter for oxime cellulose and 0.42 μg/liter for IDAEC.     

pH-sensing properties of PbO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin film electrodeposited on carbon ceramic electrode

In this paper, a new highly sensitive potentiometric pH electrode is proposed based on the solid-state PbO₂ film electrodeposited on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE). Two different crystal structures of PbO₂, α and β were examined and the similar results were obtained. Moreover, the experimental results obtained for the proposed pH sensor and a conventional glass pH electrode were in good agreement. The electromotive force (emf) signal between the pH-sensitive PbO₂-coated CCE and SCE reference electrode was linear over the pH range of 1.5–12.5. Near-Nernstian slopes of −64.82 and −57.85 mV/pH unit were obtained for α- and β-PbO₂ electrodes, respectively. The interferences of some mono-valence and multi-valence ions on potentiometric response of the sensor were studied. The proposed pH sensor displayed high ion selectivity with respect to K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Li⁺, with log values around −12 and has a working lifetime of about 30 days. Key parameters important for the pH sensor performance, including kind of PbO₂ film, selectivity, response time, stability, and reproducibility, have been characterized. The proposed electrode showed a good efficiency for direct pH-metry after calibration and pH-metric titrations without calibration step. The response time was about 1 s in acidic medium and less than 30 s in alkaline solutions. The pH values of complex matrix samples such as fruit juices measured by the proposed sensor and a conventional glass pH electrode were in good agreement.     

An electropolymerized Nile Blue sensing film-based nitrite sensor and application in food analysis

This paper reports a poly-Nile Blue (PNB) sensing film based electrochemical sensor and the application in food analysis as a possible alternative for electrochemical detection of nitrite. The PNB-modified electrode in the sensor was prepared by in situ electropolymerization of Nile Blue at a prepolarized glassy carbon (GC) electrode and then characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and pulse voltammetry in phosphate buffer (pH 7.1). Several key operational parameters affecting the electrochemical response of PNB sensing film were examined and optimized, such as polarization time, PNB film thickness and electrolyte pH values. As the electroactive PNB sensing film provides plenty of active sites for anodic oxidation of nitrite, the nitrite sensor exhibited high performance including high sensitivity, low detection limit, simple operation and good stability at the optimized conditions. The nitrite sensor revealed good linear behavior in the concentration range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ for the quantitative analysis of nitrite anion with a limit of detection of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. Finally, the application in food analysis using sausage as testing samples was investigated and the results were consistent with those obtained by standard spectrophotometric method.     

Highly sensitive and fast responsive fiber-optic modal interferometric pH sensor based on polyelectrolyte complex and polyelectrolyte self-assembled nanocoating

A new fiber-optic pH sensor is demonstrated by coating negatively charged polyelectrolyte complex (PEC⁻) nanoparticles, made of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), and positively charged PDDA on the surface of a thin-core fiber modal interferometer (TCFMI) with a layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembly method. The fabricated TCFMI pH sensor has different transmission dip wavelengths under different pH values and shows high sensitivities of 0.6 nm/pH unit and −0.85 nm/pH unit for acidic and alkaline solutions, respectively, and short response time of 30–50 s. The LbL electrostatic self-assembly process of a PEC⁻/PDDA multilayer is traced by quartz crystal microbalance and shows a fast thickness growth. Atomic force microscopy shows the root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of electrostatic self-assembly nanocoating of polyelectrolyte complex/polyelectrolyte is much higher than that of polyelectrolyte/polyelectrolyte due to the larger size of PEC⁻ colloidal nanoparticles. The enhanced RMS surface roughness and thickness of the nanocoating can shorten the response time and raise the sensitivity of the TCFMI pH sensor, respectively. In addition, the TCFMI pH sensor has highly reversible performance and good durability.     

Studies on the kinetics of ascorbate oxidation at a ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate modified electrode towards the detection at microenvironments

The electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbate on a ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) glassy carbon (GC) modified electrode was investigated at pH 6.9 by using rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry. The influence of the systematic variation of rotation rate, film thickness, ascorbate concentration and the electrode potential indicated that the rate of cross-chemical reaction between Ru(III) centres immobilized into the film and ascorbate controls the overall process. The kinetic regime may be classified as a Sk″ mechanism and the second order rate constant for the surface electrocatalytic reaction was found to be 1.56 × 10⁻³ mol⁻¹ L¹ s⁻¹ cm. A carbon fibre microelectrode modified with the RuOHCF film was successfully used as an amperometric sensor to monitor the ascorbate diffusion in a simulated microenvironment experiment.     

Nypa fruticans Frond Waste for Pure Cellulose Utilizing Sulphur-Free and Totally Chlorine-Free Processes

The search for alternative methods for the production of new materials or fuel from renewable and sustainable biomass feedstocks has gained increasing attention. In this study, Nypa fruticans (nipa palm) fronds from agricultural residues were evaluated to produce pure cellulose by combining prehydrolysis for 1–3 h at 150 °C, sulfur-free soda cooking for 1–1.5 h at 160 °C with 13–25% active alkali (AA), 0.1% soluble anthraquinone (SAQ) catalyst, and three-stage totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching, namely oxygen, peroxymonosulfuric acid, and alkaline hydrogen peroxide stages. The optimal conditions were 3 h prehydrolysis and 1.5 h cooking with 20% AA. Soda cooking with SAQ was better than the kraft and soda process without SAQ. The method decreased the kappa number as a residual lignin content index of pulp from 13.4 to 9.9–10.2 and improved the yields by approximately 6%. The TCF bleaching application produced pure cellulose with a brightness of 92.2% ISO, 94.8% α-cellulose, viscosity of 7.9 cP, and 0.2% ash content. These findings show that nipa palm fronds can be used to produce pure cellulose, serving as a dissolving pulp grade for viscose rayon and cellulose derivatives.     

A solid-state pH transducer fabricated from a self-plasticized methacrylic-acrylic membrane for potentiometric acetylcholine chloride biosensor

A solid-state pH sensor based on a self-plasticizing film of methacrylic-acrylic copolymer was developed. The sensor was able to detect changes in pH after tridodecylamine ionophore was immobilized together with a lipophilic anionic salt. The pH sensor exhibited almost a Nemstian response (57.6 mV pH⁻¹) with a linear pH response range of 6–10. It demonstrated a fast response (<2 min) to changes in pH and good selectivity against other common cations such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, lithium, and calcium. The sensor has a shelf life of at least 30 days without an obvious deterioration in response. By depositing a layer of poly(hydroxylethymethacrylate) immobilized with enzyme acetylcholinesterase on top of the pH selective methacrylic-acrylic film, the pH sensor was able to detect acetylcholine chloride (AChCl). The linear response range of the potentiometric biosensor to AChCl was dependent on the buffer concentrations used, and for a buffer concentration less than 1 mM, the linear response range obtained was 3.98–31.62 μM. The text was submitted by the authors in English     

Amperometric nitrite sensor based on hemoglobin/colloidal gold nanoparticles immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode by a titania sol-gel film

A novel amperometric nitrite sensor was developed based on the immobilization of hemoglobin/colloidal gold nanoparticles on a glassy carbon electrode by a titania sol-gel film. The sensor shows a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammogram peaks for Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II) with a formal potential (E°) of –0.370 V, and the peak-to-peak separation at 100 mV s^–1 was 66 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 M KCl) in a pH 6.9 phosphate buffer solution. The formal potential of the Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple shifted linearly with pH with a slope of –50.0 mV/pH, indicating that electron transfer accompanies single-proton transportation. The sensor exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic response to the reduction of nitrite. The reduction overpotential was 0.45 V below that obtained at a colloidal gold nanoparticles/TiO₂ sol-gel film-modified GCE. The linear range for nitrite determination for the sensor was 4.0×10^–6 to 3.5×10^–4 M, with a detection limit of 1.2×10^–6 M. The stability, repeatability and selectivity of the sensor were also evaluated.     

Surface-enhanced oxidation and detection of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine using multi-walled carbon nanotubes film-modified electrode

The insoluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) was successfully dispersed into water in the presence of hydrophobic surfactant. After that, MWNT film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was achieved via dip-coating and evaporating water. Owing to huge surface area, high sorption capacity and subtle electronic properties, MWNT film exhibits highly efficient accumulation efficiency as well as considerable surface enhancement effects to Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine. As a result, the oxidation peak currents of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine remarkably increase at the MWNT film-modified GCE. Based on this, a novel electrochemical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine. The limits of detection are 10.0 ng mL⁻¹ (2.2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹) and 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ (1.88 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹) for Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine. Finally, the proposed method was successfully used to detect Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine in soft drinks.     

A New pH Sensor Based on a Glassy Carbon Electrode Coated with a Co/Al Layered Double Hydroxide

A glassy carbon electrode has been coated by electrodeposition with a thin film of cobalt based layered double hydroxide (LDH) and used as a pH sensor. The developed electrode displays a linear super‐Nernstian response (?76.2±0.6 mV/pH) in the pH range between 2 and 14 and it is particularly suitable to operate in strongly alkaline solution. The reproducibility of the sensor construction is good with a relative standard deviation of the calibration curve slopes of±2.5 % (n=4). The electrode has a response time comparable to that exhibited by commercial glass electrodes in the pH range examined and is not affected by interference from the most common anions and cations.     

Electrodeposition of cobalt oxide films from carbonate solutions containing Co(II)–tartrate complexes

An electrochemical procedure of anodic deposition of cobalt oxyhydroxide film on a glassy carbon substrate in an alkaline medium (i.e. pH 11.6) is described. The electrodeposited film was obtained either by voltage cycling or by potentiostatic conditions using non-deaerated 0.1 M Na₂CO₃ solutions containing 40 mM tartrate ions and 4 mM CoCl₂. The effects on the film formation and growth, such as tartrate–cobalt ratio, pH, applied potential, etc. were widely evaluated. The electrodeposition process, under anodic conditions and moderately alkaline solutions, most likely involves a redox transition Co(II)→Co(III)/Co(IV) with destruction of the tartrate complex and formation of insoluble oxide/hydroxide cobalt species on the glassy carbon surface. The resulting cobalt oxyhydroxide films were characterised by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 M NaOH solutions and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis after different strategies of preparation and various electrochemical treatments. The electrochemical activity of the deposited films was checked using various organic molecules as model compounds.     

Acylation of acetylcellulose with pyromellitic dianhydride

The cross-linking reactions of acetylcelluloses having different levels of acetyl groups with pyromellitic dianhydride in homogeneous media have been investigated. A relationship has been established between the static exchange capacity (SEC) and the content of hydroxy groups in the acetylcellulose and the exterification conditions (homogeneous or heterogeneous-solid phase). It has been shown that on the interaction of acetylcellulose with pyromellitic dianhydride under homogenous conditions there is a uniform distribution of cross-linkages over the whole length of the acetylcellulose macromolecule, which enables products with high SEC values to be obtained.Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 515–520, July–August, 1999.     

A wireless pH sensor using magnetoelasticity for measurement of body fluid acidity.

The determination of body fluid acidity using a wireless magnetoelastic pH-sensitive sensor is described. The sensor was fabricated by casting a layer of pH-sensitive polymer on a magnetoelastic ribbon. In response to an externally applied time-varying magnetic field, the magnetoelastic sensor mechanically vibrates at a characteristic frequency that is inversely dependent upon the mass of the pH polymer film, which varies as the film swells and shrinks in response to pH. As the magnetoelastic sensor is magnetostrictive, the mechanical vibrations of the sensor launch magnetic flux that can be detected remotely using a pickup coil. The sensor can be used for direct measurements of body fluid acidity without a pretreatment of the sample by using a filtration membrane. A reversible and linear response was obtained between pH 5.0 and 8.0 with a measurement resolution of pH 0.1 and a slope of 0.2 kHz pH(-1). Since there are no physical connections between the sensor and the instrument, the sensor can be applied to in vivo and in situ monitoring of the physiological pH and its fluctuations.     

Disposable Electrochemical Sensor for Food Colorants Detection by Reduced Graphene Oxide and Methionine Film Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

A facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and methionine film modified screen printed carbon electrode (rGO-methionine/SPCE) was proposed as a disposable sensor for determination of food colorants including amaranth, tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carminic acid. The fabrication process can be achieved in only 2 steps including drop-casting of rGO and electropolymerization of poly(L-methionine) film on SPCE. Surface morphology of modified electrode was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This work showed a successfully developed novel disposable sensor for detection of all 4 dyes as food colorants. The electrochemical behavior of all 4 food colorants were investigated on modified electrodes. The rGO-methionine/SPCE significantly enhanced catalytic activity of all 4 dyes. The pH value and accumulation time were optimized to obtain optimal condition of each colorant. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for determination, and two linear detection ranges were observed for each dye. Linear detection ranges were found from 1 to 10 and 10 to 100 µM for amaranth, 1 to 10 and 10 to 85 µM for tartrazine, 1 to 10 and 10 to 50 µM for sunset yellow, and 1 to 20 and 20 to 60 µM for carminic acid. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated at 57, 41, 48, and 36 nM for amaranth, tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carminic acid, respectively. In addition, the modified sensor also demonstrated high tolerance to interference substances, good repeatability, and high performance for real sample analysis.     

Cellulose Paper with Chemically Immobilized 1-Naphthylamine for the Rapid Determination of Nitrites, Nitrates, and Aromatic Amines

A method was proposed for the chemical immobilization of 1-naphthylamine on cellulose paper. Indicator paper was used for the test determination of nitrates, nitrites, anesthesine, novocaine, aniline, sulfadimesine, and 1-naphthylamine in liquid media. Three techniques for determining the analyte concentration were described: (1) by the length of the colored zone on a strip (3 × 80 mm) of test paper sealed into a polymer film and contacting with the test solution by one end; (2) by the diameter of the colored elliptic zone on a paper strip (10 × 80 mm) sealed into a polymer film and contacting with a test solution through a 0.3–0.5-mm perforation in the film; and (3) by the color intensity of indicator paper treated with 20 mL of a test solution using a test. The analytical ranges were 0.001–100 mg/L for nitrites, 0.05–1000 mg/L for nitrates, and 0.5–1000 mg/L for aromatic amines; the relative standard deviation was no worse than 30%.