Potentiometric behaviour of the copper electrode in aqueous copper(II) perchlorate solutions containing sodium chloride

It is demonstrated that the copper metal electrode corrodes in the presence of copper(II) ions in solution. A model based on mass balance can properly describe the experimental results. In the presence of copper(II) ions the copper electrode responds to copper(I), indicating that the electrode potential corresponds to a mixed potential.     

Biosorption of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by Spirogyra species

Batch studies were conducted to investigate the kinetics and isotherms of Cu(II) biosorption on the biomass of green alga Spirogyra species. It is observed that the biosorption capacity of the biomass strongly depends on pH and algal dose. The maximum biosorption capacity of 133.3 mg Cu(II)/g of dry weight of biomass was observed at an optimum pH of 5 in 120 min with an algal dose of 20 g/L. Desorption studies were conducted with 133.3 mg/g of Cu(II) loaded biomass using different desorption agents including HCl, EDTA, H2SO4, NaCl, and H2O. The maximum desorption of 95.3% was obtained with HCl in 15 min. The results indicate that with the advantages of high metal biosorption capacity and satisfactory recovery of Cu(II), Spirogyra can be used as an efficient and economic biosorbent material for the removal and recovery of toxic heavy metals from polluted water.     

Oxidation of ferrocenes by copper(II) in aqueous acetonitrile: nitrate and chloride ion effects

The effect of nitrate and chloride ion on the rate of oxidation of ferrocene (Fc) and 1,1'-dimethylferrocene (DmFc) by Cu(II) has been studied in 95% and 80% acetonitrile/water solutions. The complex formation constants for Cu(II) with the same anions in the same media have been determined by spectrophotometry. Nitrate ion mildly inhibits the reaction, while chloride ion substantially increases the rate. The results have been analyzed in terms of the Marcus theory, and it is concluded that complexation increases the rate of self-exchange between the CuII(X)n and CuI(X)n species. In the case of nitrate, the latter effect is compensated for by a less favorable overall equilibrium constant, which results in mild inhibition.     

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.     

Extraction of copper(II) from ammonium chloride solutions with capric acid

Extraction of copper(II) with capric acid from ammonium chloride solutions was examined. The composition of the complex extracted was determined and it was found that the extraction process can be adequately described by the equation: 2Cu_(a)²⁺ + 3(HR)_2,(0) ⇌ (CuR₂·HR)_2,(0) + 4H_(a)⁺     

Structure of copper(II)-histidine based complexes in frozen aqueous solutions as determined from high-field pulsed electron nuclear double resonance

W-band (95 GHz) pulsed EPR and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the hyperfine couplings of different protons of Cu(II)-histidine complexes in frozen solutions. The results were then used to obtain the coordination mode of the tridentate histidine molecule and to serve as a reference for Cu(II)-histidine complexation in other, more complex systems. Cu(II) complexes with L-histidine and DL-histidine-alpha-d,beta-d2 were prepared in H2O and in D2O, and orientation-selective W-band 1H and 2H pulsed ENDOR spectra of these complexes were recorded at 4.5 K. These measurements lead to the unambiguous assignment of the signals of the H alpha, H beta, imidazole H epsilon, and the exchangeable amino, Ham, protons. The 14N superhyperfine splitting observed in the X-band EPR spectrum and the presence of only one type of H alpha and H beta protons in the W-band ENDOR spectra show that the complex is a symmetric bis complex. Its g parallel is along the molecular symmetry axis, perpendicular to the equatorial plane that consists of four coordinated nitrogens in histamine-like coordinations (NNNN). Simulations of orientation-selective ENDOR spectra provided the principal components of the protons' hyperfine interaction and the orientation of their principal axes with respect to g parallel. From the anisotropic part of the hyperfine interaction of H alpha and H beta and applying the point-dipole approximation, a structural model was derived. An unexpectedly large isotropic hyperfine coupling, 10.9 MHz, was found for H alpha. In contrast, H alpha of the Cu(II)-1-methyl-histidine complex where only the amino nitrogen is coordinated, showed a much smaller coupling. Thus, the hyperfine coupling of H alpha can serve as a signature for a histamine coordination where both the amino and imino nitrogens of the same molecule bind to the Cu(II), forming a six-membered chelating ring. Unlike H alpha the hyperfine coupling of H epsilon is not as sensitive to the presence of a coordinated amino nitrogen of the same histidine molecule.     

Simultaneous removal of copper(II), lead(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used successfully for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Characterization techniques showed the carbon as nanotubes with an average diameter between 40 and 60 nm and a specific surface area of 61.5 m² g^?1. The effect of carbon nanotubes mass, contact time, metal ions concentration, solution pH, and ionic strength on the adsorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) by MWCNTs were studied and optimized. The adsorption of the heavy metals from aqueous solution by MWCNTs was studied kinetically using different kinetic models. A pseudo-second order model and the Elovich model were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The mechanism of adsorption was studied by the intra-particle diffusion model, and the results showed that intra-particle diffusion was not the slowest of the rate processes that determined the overall order. This model also revealed that the interaction of the metal ions with the MWCNTs surface might have been the most significant rate process. There was a competition among the metal ions for binding of the active sites present on the MWCNTs surface with affinity in the following order: Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II).     

Reactions of 2-pyridylphenylacetonitrile with copper(II) chloride,copper(II) bromide,cobalt(II) chloride and cobalt(II) bromide

Reaction of 2-pyridylphenylacetonitrile with copper(II) chloride and copper(II) bromide in dry ethanol gives the hitherto unreported compound 1,2-di(cyano,phenyl,2′-pyridyl)ethane. The cobalt halides react with 2-pyridylphenylacetonitrile to form 1:1 complexes containing O-ethyl-2-phenyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)acetimidate as ligand. Removal of the ligand by the action of dry liquid ammonia on the complexes provides a better route to the pure imidate than the well known Pinner method.     

Kinetics of the dissolution of copper metal in aqueous solutions containing unsaturated organic ligands and copper(II)

The kinetics of the dissolution of copper metal in an aqueous solution containing copper(II) and an unsaturated organic ligand was followed by using an automated flow-injection analysis technique to determine the concentration of copper(I) in solution as a function of time. The results suggest that the rate of dissolution of the copper metal is dependent on electron transfer between the copper(II) and copper atoms on the surface of the copper metal, and on the stabilization of copper(I) by the unsaturated organic ligand in solution.     

Adsorption of copper(II) ions from aqueous solutions on alumina industrial wastes

Equilibrium adsorption of copper(II) ions on red mud (alumina industrial wastes) modified by various methods was studied. The effect exerted by the nature the modifier (NaHSO₄, NaCl + HCl, and H₂SO₄) on the sorption activity of red mud was determined.     

Aliphatic carboncarbon bond activation of ketones by rhodium(II) porphyrin radical

Aliphatic carboncarbon bond activation of both enolizable and non-enolizable ketones occurred successfully with rhodium(II) porphyrin radical to give rhodium(III) porphyrin alkyls. Added Ph₃P promoted the yields of products.     

Combined standardless electrochemical method for determination of lead(II), copper(II), and cadmium(II) in aqueous solutions

A combined standardless method (no calibration of the device against standard solutions or use of the method of additives is required) for determination of lead, copper, and cadmium in aqueous solutions is suggested. The method operates on principles of inversion voltammetry and potentiostatic coulometry. It is convenient for automated analysis of technological solutions and wastewater from electroplating and hydrometallurgical shops.     

ESR studies of the spin-exchange interaction within parallel planar copper (II) dimers in frozen solutions

The temperature variations of the ESR spectral intensity of the triplet dimers over the range 1.6 to 4.2 K indicated that the spin-exchange interaction within the parallel planar dimers, which had been reported to be ferromagnetic in crystal, is antiferromagnetic (1.5–2.5 cm⁻¹) in frozen solutions.     

Studies of the effects of copper, copper(II) oxide and copper(II) chloride on the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

Investigations of the pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in the presence of copper metal (Cu), copper(II) oxide (CuO) and copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) are of potential importance because of the likelihood of the formation of these copper compounds during the thermal degradation of PVC-coated copper wires, a step in the recovery of copper from waste. The presence of Cu, CuO and CuCl₂ (i) retards the thermal degradation of PVC in air and in nitrogen and (ii) decreases the percentages of volatile products produced at both stages of the decomposition. These effects are greatest for PVC-CuO. The presence of copper, CuO or CuCl₂ in PVC has a major effect on the nature of the gaseous emissions of the thermal decomposition in air and in nitrogen. The concentrations of total chlorine, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons and soot particulates are all affected relative to an equivalent amount of PVC. These changes are greatest for the PVC-CuO system for which total chlorine emissions in air and nitrogen are reduced by 40% in air and 20% in nitrogen, benzene emissions are reduced by greater than 90% in air and nitrogen, other aromatic and chloroaromatic emissions are reduced, and soot particulate emissions are reduced by more than 50% as the concentrations of aliphatic compounds are increased. These changes are consistent with the presence of copper or its compounds permitting more efficient combustion of the carbon content of the PVC and particularly in the case of PVC-CuO with the removal of chlorine during pyrolysis in the inorganic phase.     

Standard thermodynamic functions of complexation between copper(II) and glycine and L-histidine in aqueous solutions

The Cu²⁺–glycine–L-histidine system is studied calorimetrically at 298.15 K and an ionic strength of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 in aqueous solutions containing potassium nitrate. The standard thermodynamic parameters (Δ_rH°, Δ_rG°, Δ_rS°) of complexation processes are determined.     

Thermodynamics of the complex formation of copper(II) with L-phenylalanine in aqueous ethanol solutions

Constants of the acid dissociation and complexation of L-phenylalanine (HPhe) with copper(II) ions are determined by potentiometry in aqueous ethanol solutions containing 0 to 0.7 molar fraction of alcohol. Changes in the Gibbs energy for the transfer from water to a binary solvent of L-phenylalanine, Phe^? anion, and [CuPhe]⁺ complex are calculated. It is found that the weakening of solvation of the ligand donor groups in solvents with high ethanol contents is accompanied by an increase in the stability of [CuPhe]⁺ complex.     

Simulation of copper(II) cations sorption on goethite from aqueous solutions of complexons

Effect of complexons of polyaminopolycarboxylic acid series (IDA, NTA, EDTA, and DTPA) and polyphosphonic acid series (HEDP, NTP, and EDTP) on Cu(II) cations sorption on goethite (α-FeOOH) from aqueous solutions has been studied. Obtained results have been considered in the context of complexation reactions in bulk solution and on sorbent surface. It has been found that all complexons (except for EDTA), depending on nature, produce on goethite surface (≡FeOH) triple complexes of type A (surface–metal–complexon) of composition ≡FeOCuLH _i ^1+i?n and ≡FeOCuL(OH) _j ^1?j?n or type B (surface–complexon–metal) of composition ≡FeLH _i Cu^3+i-n and ≡FeLCu(OH) _j ^3?j?n . pH-Ranges for complex existence and stability constants for the surface complexes have been determined. Factors affecting the character of complexon effect (immobilization/remobilization) on the sorbed metal have been analyzed.     

EPR/Spin‐trapping study of free radical intermediates in the photolysis of trifluoromethyl ketones with initiators

Photolysis of trifluoromethyl ketones (TFMKs) 1a–1e versus the non‐fluorinated ketones 2a–2b in the presence of radical initiators by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy has been studied for the first time. The transient radicals generated after irradiation of the ketones were identified by trapping with 2‐methyl‐2‐nitrosopropane (MNP) and 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylnitrosobenzene (TTBNB) as spin traps. TTBNB is a powerful, particularly useful spin trap in these kinds of processes producing anilino and nitroxyl spin adducts due to the ambivalent reactivity on the N and O atoms. In the presence of t‐butylperoxide, short‐chain TFMKs, such as 1,1,1‐trifluoroacetone (1d) and hexafluoroacetone (1e), give rise to detection of the elusive trifluoromethyl radical. In contrast, long‐chain TFMKs did not provide clues to prove formation of the trifluoromethyl radical but instead to radicals derived by abstraction of one α‐methylene proton to the carbonyl. Although TFMKs are quite stable to photodegradation in the absence of initiator, methyl ketone 2b and phenyl ketone 3 produce radicals resulting from abstraction of a γ‐hydrogen to the carbonyl group. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.