Influence of inherent iron and oxygen concentrations on selenite sorption process using bentonite

The oxygen concentration and inherent Fe in bentonite have a significant influence on the Se(IV) sorption process.In this study,the sorption of selenite on natural bentonite was investigated using a batch experiment method,and the distribution coefficient(K_d)values were obtained in the pH range from 2.0 to 10.0 under oxic/anoxic conditions.The K_d values always reached a maximum value at a pH of 4 under oxic conditions and at a pH of 8 under anoxic conditions;meanwhile,the K_d value under anoxic conditions was larger than the value under oxic conditions,especially in regard to the maximum K_d values.The oxygen conditions have a significant influence on the ratio of redox-sensitive Fe~(2+)/Fe~(3+),which was closely related to the difference in the K_d values under both oxic/anoxic conditions.Ferric selenite and green rust could be responsible for the maximum K_d values under oxic/anoxic conditions.In the leaching experiments,we found that the Fe~(2+) in bentonite could replace Mg~(2+) and Al~(3+) in the octahedral sheet.Spectroscopy methods,such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray diffraction(XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS) were used to characterize the surface properties of the samples after reaction.Overall,this study shows that the addition of Fe~(2+)-containing materials into backfill/buffer materials under anoxic condition could enhance the sorption of ~(79)Se(IV).     

Carbon surface chemical composition in para-nitrophenol adsorption determined under real oxic and anoxic conditions

A series of commercial unmodified and modified activated carbons was studied. The surface chemical composition was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Boehm titration methods. Data on p-nitrophenol (pnp) adsorption isotherms determined under real oxic and anoxic conditions (at 310 K) are presented and described using bimodal Langmuir and lattice density functional theory models. The applicability of the pnp molecule for determination of surface area using adsorption from solution data is discussed. It is shown that under anoxic conditions adsorption and relative enthalpy of this process depend on the value of BET apparent surface area and DA micropore volumes. The differences between adsorption levels under both conditions increase with rise in solute equilibrium concentration. Moreover, the average difference between adsorption values under both conditions increases and next decreases with rise in the concentration of surface acidic groups. Applying quantum chemical calculations, we show that under anoxic conditions the influence of surface oxygen groups on pnp adsorption is small, whereas under oxic conditions the reverse situation is observed. Obtained theoretical results show very good correspondence to the experimental data and the origin of the relationships observed experimentally is explained and discussed.     

TYPE I AND TYPE II MECHANISMS IN THE PHOTOSENSITIZED LYSIS OF PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE LIPOSOMES BY HEMATOPORPHYRIN

Abstract The lysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes was sensitized to visible light (>500nm) by hematoporphyrin (HP) incorporated in the liposomes (0.09-1.5%, wt/wt) or in the external buffer (1-15 μM). The lytic mechanism changed from the Type II pathway mediated by singlet oxygen (¹O₂) at low HP concentrations to the anoxic, Type I pathway at high HP concentrations. Spectral measurements of HP in aqueous and organic solvents indicate that the HP was not aggregated (monomers and/or dimers) for Type II sensitization and aggregated for Type I conditions. High concentrations of azide (>0.1 M) or DABCO (>0.5 M) were protective with high HP concentration under oxic and anoxic conditions, which cannot involve the scavenging of ¹O₂. Feasible protective mechanisms are quenching of the HP triplet state by high azide and repair of the damaged membrane by DABCO via an electron transfer process. There was significant protection against lysis under Type I conditions by low concentrations of ferricyanide (>1 mM), indicative of an electron transfer mechanism. The incorporation of 22 mol % cholesterol in PC liposomes with 1% HP had no effect on the lytic efficiency for oxic and anoxic conditions. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes incorporating 1% HP showed negligible photosensitized lysis at 50°C compared with PC liposomes with 1% HP at 25°C. The promotion of photosensitized lysis by hydrodynamic agitation observed in prior work with methylene blue (Grossweiner and Grossweiner, 1982) was significant with HP sensitization for both Type I and Type II conditions. Actinometry with PC liposomes incorporating 1% HP indicated that photosensitized lysis was very inefficient, requiring many absorbed quanta per lysed liposome. Preliminary experiments with crude hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) showed similar concentration effects on lytic efficiency, where PC liposomes incorporating 0.1% (wt/wt) Hpd were strongly sensitized by oxygen, whereas sensitization by oxygen was insignificant with 3.1% Hpd. The results with HP and crude Hpd indicate that lytic damage in a biomembrane does not necessarily require oxygenation.     

Quenching of nucleotide-derived radicals by bis benzimidazole derivative Hoechst-33258 in aqueous solution

The pulse radiolysis technique has been employed to investigate the reaction of DNA-minor-groove ligand bisbenzimidazole Hoechst 33258 with pyrimidine and purine nucleotide-derived radicals. Formation of an N-centred Hoechst-33258 radical is observed. Bimolecular rate constants and the yields of Hoechst-33258 radical have been evaluated. While the rate constant for the reaction of pyrimidine-derived radicals with Hoechst-33258 remained the same (1–2) × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, the yields of the Hoechst-33258 radical varied from 25% (5′-cytidine monophosphate) to 75% (5′-guanosine monophosphate) under anoxic conditions. The rate constant values for the reaction of purine-derived radicals with Hoechst-33258, under oxic and anoxic conditions, remained the same whereas with pyrimidine-derived radicals, the rate constant value under oxic conditions was about two orders of magnitude lower than under anoxic conditions. The difference in the yields of Hoechst-33258 radical with various nucleotide-derived radicals suggest the formation of different types of radicals and that the reaction mainly occurs by electron transfer from Hoechst-33258 to the nucleotide radicals.     

Granitic groundwater colloids sampling and characterisation: the strategy for artefact elimination

Colloids were separated by submicro-filtration of granitic groundwater samples collected at-line under in-situ thermodynamic conditions after down-hole groundwater sampling and transfer at the well head. The methodology avoids the generation of artefacts produced by pH changes due to CO(2) exchange, yielding potential carbonate precipitation, or by O(2) contamination yielding oxidized insoluble phases. The enhanced pressure and the anoxic conditions are also maintained through the filtering procedure. This procedure was carried out after a period of regular sampling of groundwater pumped to the ground surface and continuous on-line long-term measurements (weeks, months) of chemical and physical parameters in the unbroken sample water both at the ground surface and at depth down-hole. Colloid samples were characterized on the submicro-filtration membrane by scanning electron microscopy. Under deep granite groundwater conditions, natural colloids occur sparsely. The colloid concentration was determined C(col) approximately 1 and approximately 50 microg L(-1) for sizes ranging from 50 to 200 nm or n(col) approximately 3.9 x 10(9) and 47 x 10(9) L(-1) for sizes larger than 50 nm for KFM11A, Forsmark, and KLX17A, Laxemar, Oskarshamn, respectively, Sweden. These colloids are expected to be clay particles with an average size smaller than 200 nm for the Na-Ca-Cl and Na-Cl groundwaters (pH 7.6 and 8.00, ionic strength approximately 10(-1) and approximately 10(-2) mol L(-1), respectively, for KFM11A and KLX17A), the colloid concentrations were comparable with values previously reported in the literature.     

A sensitive chemiluminescence method for the determination of H2O2 in exhaled breath condensate

In this paper, a novel flow injection chemiluminescence (FI-CL) method is proposed for the determination of picomolar L(-1) levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This method is based on the oxidation of a low concentration of luminol (10(-7) M) by H(2)O(2) at a low concentration level (< 10(-8) M) in an alkaline medium catalyzed by a complex, K(5)[Cu(HIO(6))(2)] (DPC), which is not interfered by other metal ions or horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Under the optimum conditions, H(2)O(2) was determined over the range of 1.0 x 10(-10) to 1.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of (3sigma) of 4.1 x 10(-11) mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.2% for 5 nmol L(-1) H(2)O(2) (n = 7). The proposed method offers the advantages of ultra-sensitivity, selectivity, simplicity and rapidity for H(2)O(2) determination. It was successfully applied to directly determine trace amounts of H(2)O(2) (nmol L(-1)) in human's EBC of both rheum and healthy volunteers. A statistically significant difference was found between patients with rheum (n = 11) and control subjects without rheum (n = 11).     

Assay of metyrapone, metyrapol and the isomeric mono-N-oxides of metyrapone in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the analysis of metyrapone [2-methyl-1,2-di-(3-pyridyl)-1-propanone], its reduced metabolite metyrapol and metyrapone mono-N-oxide metabolites in biological fluids is reported. These components were extracted into dichloromethane (2 x 5 ml) from alkalinised microsomal incubates, urine and blood (final pH about 12.5), or from cytosolic incubates at pH 7.4 (final aqueous volume 2-4 ml). Recoveries were in the range 70-100% under these conditions. The intact drug and metabolites were separated by reversed-phase HPLC with ultraviolet detection at 261 nm. All calibration curves were linear (correlation coefficient greater than 0.997). For the analysis of hepatic microsomal or cytosolic incubates, the coefficient of variation was less than 10% for samples over the range 2.5-250 nmol/ml N-oxides and 10-250 nmol/ml metyrapol. Measurement of metyrapone and metyrapol in rat blood (0.25-ml sample volume) was linear in the ranges 4.4-265 and 26-263 nmol/ml, respectively, the lower concentration being the limit of detection. The coefficient of variation was less than 20% for samples over the ranges tested for both these compounds. The N-oxide metabolites were not detectable in blood using this assay, their concentrations being below the limit of detection.     

Reductive immobilization and long-term remobilization of radioactive pertechnetate using bio-macromolecules stabilized zero valent iron nanoparticles

Carboxymethyl cellulose-and starch-stabilized nZVI nanoparticles were prepared and showed high efficiency for reductive immobilization of ⁹⁹TcO₄^- in simulated groundwater.     

Effects of humidity and temperature on laser-assisted dip-pen nanolithography array using molecular dynamics simulations

Reactions of As(III) and As(V) with pyrite were investigated using pristine pyrite (produced and reacted in a rigorously anoxic environment with P_O2 < 10⁻⁸ atm) and using surface-oxidized pyrite (produced under anoxic conditions, exposed to air, then stored and reacted under rigorously anoxic conditions). Results with surface-oxidized pyrite were similar to previously reported arsenic-pyrite results. However As(III) adsorbed over a broader pH range on pristine pyrite than on surface-oxidized pyrite, As(V) adsorbed over a narrower pH range on pristine pyrite than on surface-oxidized pyrite, and adsorbed As(V) on pristine pyrite was reduced to As(III) but adsorbed As(V) was not reduced with surface-oxidized pyrite. Reduction of As(V) with pristine pyrite was first-order in total As(V), Fe(II) was released, and sulfur was oxidized. The proposed mechanism for pyrite oxidation by As(V) was similar to the published mechanism for oxidation by O₂ and rates were compared. The results can be used to predict the removals of As(V) and As(III) on pyrite in continuously anoxic environments or on pyrite in intermittently oxic/anoxic environments. Rigorous cleanup and continuous maintenance of strictly anoxic conditions are required if commercial or produced pyrites are to be used as surrogates for pristine pyrite.     

Adsorption and precipitation of an aminoalkylphosphonate onto calcite

The mechanism of nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (H6NTMP)/calcite reaction was studied with a large number of batch experiments where phosphonic acid was neutralized with 0 to 5 equivalents of NaOH per phosphonic acid and the concentration ranged from about 10 nmol/L to 1 mol/L. It is proposed that the phosphonate/calcite reactions are characterized in three steps. At low phosphonate concentration (<1 micromol/L NTMP concentration), the phosphonate/calcite reaction can be characterized as a Langmuir isotherm. At saturation, only approximately 7% of the calcite surface is covered with phosphonate; presumably these are the kinks, step edges, or other imperfect sites. At higher phosphonate concentrations, the attachment is characterized by calcium phosphonate crystal growth to a maximum of four to five surface layer thick, with solid phase stoichiometry of Ca(2.5)HNTMP and a constant solubility product of 10(-24.11). After multiple layers of phosphonate are formed on the calcite surface, the solution is no longer at equilibrium with calcite. Further phosphonate retention is probably due to mixed calcium phosphonate solid phase formation at lower pH and depleted solution phase Ca conditions. The proposed mechanism is consistent with phosphate/calcite reaction and can be used to explain the fate of phosphonate in brines from oil producing wells and the results are compared with two oil wells.     

Behavior of uranium under various redox conditions in a shallow brackish lake

The behavior of uranium under various redox conditions was investigated in the brackish Obuchi lake surrounded by an uranium enrichment plant and facilities currently under construction for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in Rokkasho Village in northern Japan. Our investigation showed that uranium in water under oxic conditions can be explained by the simple mixing of freshwater and seawater, and the source of uranium in the lake is mainly seawater. The ratios of ²³⁸U/salinity under oxic conditions were approximately 0.09-0.12 g^.l^-1.psu^-1. However, the ratios of ²³⁸U/salinity in bottom layer water under anoxic condition in summer were lower (0.07-0.09 g^.l^-1.psu^-1) than those in seawater. ²³⁸U concentrations in pore water sampled under anoxic conditions were very low (0.05-0.06 g^.l^-1.psu^-1). Moreover, the relationships between the ²³⁸U/Al ratios and the Fe/Al ratios of particle substances were strongly correlated. This suggests that uranium in the bottom-layer water may be precipitated to an insoluble form in the anoxic state, and Fe is the major carrier of insoluble uranium.     

Simultaneous determination of nefiracetam and its metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed to simultaneously quantitate nefiracetam (NEF), a novel nootropic agent, and its three known oxidized metabolites (N-[(2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)methyl]succinamic acid (5-COOH-NEF), 4-hydroxy-NEF and 5-hydroxy-NEF) in human serum and urine. The quantitative procedure was based on solid-phase extraction with Sep-Pak C18 and ultraviolet detection at 210 nm. The calibration curves of NEF and the metabolites were linear over a wide range of concentrations (0.5-21.5 nmol/ml for NEF and 0.4-9.5 nmol/ml for metabolites in serum and 4-86 nmol/ml for NEF and 8-190 nmol/ml for metabolites in urine). Intra- and inter-day assay coefficients of variation for the compounds were less than 10%. The limit of detection was 0.1 nmol/ml for NEF, 5-COOH-NEF and 4-hydroxy-NEF, and 0.2 nmol/ml for 5-hydroxy-NEF in both serum and urine. This method is applicable for the determination of NEF and its metabolites in human serum and urine with satisfactory accuracy and precision.     

镍纳米粒子-离子液体修饰碳糊电极的制备及其对多巴胺的测定

制备了镍纳米粒子-离子液体修饰电极,在0.1 mol/L磷酸缓冲溶液(pH 6.0)中研究了多巴胺(DA)在修饰电极上的电化学行为.与裸电极相比,DA在该修饰电极上的氧化还原电位明显降低,氧化还原反应的峰电流明显增大,DA的峰电流与其浓度在2.0×10~(-8) ～1.0×10~(-4) mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为6.5×10~(-9) mol/L.该修饰电极对抗坏血酸具有明显的抗干扰能力.     

Ultrafiltration behavior of selected pharmaceuticals on natural and synthetic membranes in the presence of humic-rich hydrocolloids

The separation behavior of the frequently administered pharmaceuticals sulfamethoxazol (Sulfa), carbamazepine (Carba), diclofenac (Diclo), and ibuprofen (Ibu) on different natural and synthetic ultrafiltration membranes was studied. Commercially available cattle intestine natural membranes (NM), polyethersulfone (PES), and regenerated cellulose-based (RC) flat membranes (nominal cut-off 1 kDa) have been investigated as ultrafiltration membranes in a small tangential-flow ultrafiltration unit (TF-UF). First, the nominal cut-off of the NM membranes under study was assessed at approximately 5 kDa, by using polystyrenesulfonate standards for pore-size classification at low TF-UF pressure (0.25×10⁵ Pa). Working pressures of >1.5×10⁵ Pa strongly increased the cut-off of NM, in contrast with that of PES and RC membranes. Sulfa, Carba, Diclo and Ibu (1 mg L^–1 each) in colloid-free aqueous solutions (400 mg L^–1 NaCl) completely permeated through NM membranes, but less through PES and RC, which had particular sorption capability towards Diclo. The drugs were routinely determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detailed TF-UF investigation of drug retention on NM in the presence of humic hydrocolloids revealed strong interactions between aquatic humic substances (HS) and Diclo and Ibu (but not with Sulfa and Carba) causing retention of up to 80% of Diclo and Ibu, probably because of their binding to macromolecular HS. The standard deviation (SD) of both drug and HS permeation through a single NM was between 2.5 (Sulfa) and 4.0% (Diclo), in contrast with the SD of permeation through separate membranes taken from different lots [SD up to 14.0% (Diclo)], presumably caused by natural variation of the studied NM. Accordingly, membrane filtration of drug-containing water samples on cattle intestines enables both analyte/matrix separations for Carba and Sulfa in the presence of humic colloids and analytical discrimination between free and colloid-bound Diclo and Ibu fractions.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

An effective real-time colorimeteric sensor for sensitive and selective detection of cysteine under physiological conditions

In this contribution, a new, real-time and sensitive colorimetric sensor, di-N-methyl-N-hydroxyethylaniline squaraine (SQ), has been identified and synthesized for cysteine analysis based on its ΔA in neutral aqueous medium (pH ≈ 7.5). The proposed method was applied to analyse synthetic amino acid samples and human serum samples. The results show that the linear range of cysteine detection in aqueous medium at pH ≈ 7.5 is 10~700 nmol L(-1) with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9984 and a limit of detection (3σ, n = 20) of 3.9 nmol L(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for cysteine detection was lower than 4.1% (n = 5). The proposed method possesses the advantages of simplicity, rapidity, high selectivity and sensitivity. This makes it possible, for the first time, the real-time detection of cysteine under normal physiological conditions.     

Determination of hydroxy metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by fully automated solid-phase microextraction derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A fully automated sample pretreatment method was developed for the detection of mono and dihydroxy metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Direct immersion solid-phase microextraction for the extraction of target compounds and the headspace on-fiber silylation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide were performed automatically by a multipurpose autosampler (MPS2). The operating conditions including extraction time, derivatization time, ionic strength, pH, and incubation temperature were optimized. Calibration responses of nine metabolites of PAHs over a concentration range of 0.1-100 microg L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 were obtained. The detection limits of the nine metabolites in mini pore water, minimal salts medium and soil extract culture medium were in the range of 0.001-0.013, 0.002-0.024 and 0.002-0.134 microg L(-1), respectively, while the respective quantification limits were 0.003-0.044, 0.005-0.081 and 0.008-0.447 microg L(-1). The reliability was confirmed by the traditional solid-phase extraction method. The proposed method could be used to analyze the metabolites of PAHs degraded by microorganisms such as algae and to determine the biodegradation pathways of PAHs.     

秋水仙碱与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的电化学研究

以电化学方法对秋水仙碱与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用进行了研究。在0.3 mol/L H2SO4底液中,秋水仙碱在玻碳电极上产生一不可逆的氧化峰,峰电位为1.18 V(vs.SCE),加入表面活性剂四丁基氯化铵后,秋水仙碱的峰信号得到明显提高。在上述条件下,加入BSA后秋水仙碱的氧化峰电位正移,峰电流下降,峰电流下降值与BSA加入的浓度在1.5×10-7～2×10-6mol/L(r=0.9978)范围内有良好的线性关系,检出限达4.0×10-8mol/L。进一步探讨了秋水仙碱与BSA的结合数和结合常数,得到结合数为1,结合常数为2.40×105L/mol。     

Investigation of isomerization of dexibuprofen in a ball mill using chiral capillary electrophoresis

Besides the racemate, the S-enantiomer of ibuprofen (Ibu) is used for the treatment of inflammation and pain. Since the configurational stability of S-Ibu in solid state is of interest, it was studied by means of ball milling experiments. For the evaluation of the enantiomeric composition, a chiral CE method was developed and validated according to the ICH guideline Q2(R1). The addition of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Zn²⁺ ions to the background electrolyte (BGE) was found to improve Ibu enantioresolution. Chiral separation of Ibu enantiomers was achieved on a 60.2 cm (50.0 cm effective length) x 75 μm fused-silica capillary using a background electrolyte (BGE) composed of 50 mM sodium acetate, 10 mM magnesium acetate tetrahydrate, and 35 mM heptakis-(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TM-β-CD) as chiral selector. The quantification of R-Ibu in the mixture was performed using the normalization procedure. Linearity was evaluated in the range of 0.68–5.49% R-Ibu (R² = 0.999), recovery was found to range between 97 and 103%, the RSD of intra- and interday precision below 2.5%, and the limit of quantification for R- in S-Ibu was calculated to be 0.21% (extrapolated) and 0.15% (dilution of racemic ibuprofen), respectively. Isomerization of S-Ibu was observed under basic conditions by applying long milling times and high milling frequencies.     

Effect of di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate reversed micelles on the iron-tetrasulfonatophthalocyanine-catalyzed fluorogenic oxidation reaction of L-tyrosine with hydrogen peroxide.

The catalytic behavior of iron tetrasulfonatophthalocyanine (FeTSPc) for the oxidation reaction of L-tyrosine with H2O2 in a di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) reversed-micellar system (AOT/cyclohexane) was studied. It was indicated that the reversed micelles could not only enhance the catalytic activity of FeTSPc, but could also increase the fluorescence intensity of the product. Factors that may influence the catalytic reaction, including the concentration of AOT, the cosolubilized water, temperature and pH, were further examined. The possibility of its analytical application was also tested. Experimental results show that the calibration graphs for the determinations of FeTSPc and H2O2 under optimum conditions are linear over the range of 1.0 x 10-8 - 1.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) and 0.0 - 3.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), respectively, with detection limits of 1.1 x 10(-9) mol L(-1) and 3.1 x 10(-9) mol L(-1) for FeTSPc and H2O2, respectively.     

Combined biologic (anaerobic-aerobic) and chemical treatment of starch industry wastewater

A combined biologic and chemical treatment of high-strength (total chemical oxygen demand [CODtot] up to 20 g/L), strong nitrogenous (total N up to 1 g/L), and phosphoric (total P up to 0.4 g/L) starch industry wastewater was investigated at laboratory-scale level. As a principal step for COD elimination, upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor performance was investigated at 30 degrees C. Under hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of about 1 d, when the organic loading rates were higher than 15 g of COD/(L.d), the CODtot removal varied between 77 and 93%, giving effluents with a COD/N ratio of 4-5:1, approaching the requirements of subsequent denitrification. The activated sludge reactor operating in aerobic-anoxic regime (HRT of about 4 d, duration of aerobic and anoxic phases of 30 min each) was able to remove up to 90% of total nitrogen and up to 64% of COD tot from the anaerobic effluents under 17-20 degrees C. The coagulation experiments with Fe(III) showed that 1.4 mg of resting hardly biodegradable COD and 0.5 mg of phosphate (as P) could be removed from the aerobic effluents by each milligram of iron added.