A lead(II) ion selective electrode via a metal complex of poly(hydroxamic acid)

A new lead(II) electrode has been constructed with poly(hydroxamic acid) (PHXA) as the active material and silicone rubber as the supporting material. The electrode gave near Nerstian response over the concentration range 4 × 10⁻⁵−1 × 10⁻²M lead(II). The detection limit of the electrode is approximately 4 × 10⁻⁶M and the electrode works well in the pH range 4.5–6.0. The response time was 50–120 sec over the whole concentration range and the electrode has a working life of at least 4 weeks. Iron(III) severely poisoned the electrode membrane. Nickel(II) and mercury(II) gave very strong interference compared to copper(II), silver(I), cobalt(II), sodium(I), potassium(I), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) which gave some or little interference. Values determined with atomic absorption (AAS) and a commercial lead(II) electrode were in good agreement with those measured with the lead(II) electrode reported here.     

The effect of trace levels of cyanide on the formation of mercury-iodide complexes

The interference of trace levels of cyanide with the formation of iodo-mercury complexes is made the basis of a method of trace analysis for cyanide. The decrease in absorbance of the iodo-mercury complexes is a linear function of total cyanide concentration up to about 5 × 10⁻⁵M in 0.1M sodium hydroxide medium when the iodide and mercury total concentrations are 0.05M and 3 × 10⁻⁵M respectively. Several cyano-mercury complexes are formed simultaneously, and quite a large fraction of the cyanide remains uncomplexed.     

Applications of enzyme-catalysed reactions in trace analysis-II Determination of cyanide, sulphide, and iodine with invertase

Methods are described for the determination of cyanide (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁵M and sulphide (10⁻⁷–10⁻⁵ M) based on the de-inhibitory effect of these ions on invertase inhibited by mercury(II) or by silver. Iodine (0.1–3 μg) may be determined by its inhibition of invertase.     

Potentiometric titration of sulphate, sulphite and dithionate mixtures, with use of a lead ion-selective electrode

Simple methods are described for the analysis of sulphate, sulphite and dithionate mixtures by potentiometric titration with lead perchlorate (and use of a lead ion-selective electrode). The error and precision are both about 2–5% for the sulphate concentration range 3 × 10⁻³ −6 × 10⁻⁴M. The sulphur content in fuels derived from refuse was determined by potentiometric titration after bomb-combustion and the results compared favourably with those from the standard BaSO₄ gravimetric method.     

Indirect determination of chloride and carbonate by reversed flow-injection analysis coupled with atomic-absorption spectrometry and in-line preconcentration by precipitation

Chloride and carbonate are determined indirectly by reversed flow-injection analysis with preconcentration by precipitation. The anions are precipitated in a Tygon tube containing glass beads and connected to an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer, and are then dissolved by suitable reagents. Chloride is precipitated as silver chloride, which is then dissolved with ammonia, sodium thiosulphate or potassium cyanide solution. Carbonate is precipitated as calcium carbonate, which is dissolved with hydrochloric acid. The response of the system has been optimized with respect to concentration, precipitation time, solution flow-rate and other AAS variables. Detection limits are 3 × 10⁻⁷ and 5 × 10⁻⁷M for chloride and carbonate, respectively, with thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid as the dissolution agents.     

New aspects of the reaction of silver(I) cations with the ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion

The highly neutralized ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) titrant (95–99% as Y⁴⁻ anion) precipitates with Ag⁺ cations to form the Ag₄Y species, in aqueous medium, which is well characterized from conductometric titration, thermal analysis and potentiometric titration of the silver content of the solid. The precipitate dissolves in excess Y⁴⁻ to form a complex, AgY³⁻. Equilibrium studies at 25°C and ionic strength 0.50 M (NaNO₃) have shown from solubility and potentiometric measurements that the formation constant (95% confidence level) β₁ = (1.93 ± 0.07) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ and the solubility products are K_S0 = [Ag +]⁴[Y⁴⁻] = (9.0 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁸ M⁵ and K_S1 = [Ag +]³[AgY³⁻] = (1.74 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹² M⁴. The presence of Na⁺, rather than ionic strength, markedly affects the equilibrium; the data at ionic strength 0.10 M are: β₁ = (1.19 ± 0.03) × 10⁶ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁹ M⁵ and K_S1 = (1.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹³ M⁴; at ionic strength tending to zero; β₁ = (1.82 ± 0.05) × 10⁷ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (2.6 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²² M⁵ and K_S1 = (5 ± 1) × 10⁻¹⁵ M⁴. The intrinsic solubility is 2.03 mM silver (I) in 0.50 M NaNO₃. Well-defined potentiometric titration curves can be taken in the range 1–2 mM with the Ag indicator electrode. Thermal analysis revealed from differential scanning calorimetry a sharp exothermic peak at 142°C; thermal gravimetry/differential thermal gravimetry has shown mass loss due to silver formation and a brown residue, a water-soluble polymeric acid (decomposition range 135–157°C), tending to pure silver at 600°C, consistent with the original Ag₄Y salt.     

Determination of germanium by potentiometric stripping analysis and adsorption potentiometric stripping analysis

Potentiometric stripping analysis was applied to determination of germanium(IV) in 0.2M NH₃-NH₄Cl (pH 8.4) buffer solution at −1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), with dissolved oxygen or Hg(II) as oxidant. The sensitivity was 8.5 × 10⁻⁹M in the presence of 2.0 × 10⁻⁵M Hg(II) with plating for 15 min after deaeration for 20 min. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that GE(IV) å Ge at the surface of the mercury-film electrode in a one-step irreversible reduction reaction, and the Ge at the electrode was oxidized by dissolved oxygen in the solution. The presence of complexing agents such as Alizarin Red (ARS), which forms a Ge(IV) complex adsorbed at the electrode, improved the sensitivity by one order of magnitude. The presence of adsorption was revealed by the temperature coefficient, the electrocapillary curve and cyclic voltammetry. Ge-containing samples were analysed by the proposed methods and agreement with the results obtained by other methods was excellent.     

Simultaneous determination of selenium and lead in whole blood samples by differential pulse polarography

The polarographic reduction of lead in the presence of selenite gives rise to an additional peak corresponding to the reduction of lead (Pb) on adsorbed selenium (Se) on mercury at −0.33 V. The selenium and lead content can be determined using this peak by the addition of a known amount of one of these ions first and then the second ion. The linear domain range of lead is 5.0×10⁻⁷–2.0×10⁻⁵ M and for selenium 5.0×10⁻⁷–1.0×10⁻⁵ M. Using this method 4.90×10⁻⁷ M Se(IV) and 1.47×10⁻⁶ M Pb(II) in a synthetic sample could be determined with a relative error of +2.0% and 1.8%, respectively (n=4). A recovery test after acid digestion for a synthetic sample was 97% for selenium and 96.5% for lead. The method was applied to 1 ml of digested blood, and 328±23 μg l⁻¹ Se(IV) and 850±62 μg l⁻¹ Pb(II) could be determined with a 90% (n=5) confidence interval.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the redox reaction of hexaaquotitanium(III) and the ethylenediamine tetraacetato titanium(III) complex by aqueous solutions of bromine

At 25°C, I = 1.0 M (CF₃SO₃⁻Li⁺+CF₃SO₃H), [H⁺] = 0.034–0.274 M and λ = 453 nm, the rate equation for the oxidation of Ti(H₂O), ₆³⁺ by bromine was found to be: −d/[Br₂]T/dt=kK/[Br₂][Ti^III]/[H⁺]+K+kK/[Br₃⁻][Ti^III]/[H⁺+K, where k = 9.2 × 10⁻³ M ⁻¹ s ⁻¹ and K = 4.5 × 10⁻³ M. At [H⁺] = 1.0 M, [Br⁻] = 0.05–0.4 M, the apparent second-order rate constant decreases as [Br⁻] increases.

The pH-dependence of the oxidation of Ti^III-edta by bromine is interpreted in terms of the change in identity of the Ti^III-edta species as the pH of the reaction medium changes. The second-order rate constants were fitted using a non-linear least-square computer program with (1/k₀^edta)² weighting into an equation of the form: k₀^edta =k₁+k₂K₁[H⁺]⁻¹+k₃K₁K₂[H⁺]^−2/1+K₁[H⁺[H⁺⁻¹+K₁K₂[H⁺]⁻², with K₁ and K₂ fixed as earlier determined at 9.55 × 10⁻³ and 2.29 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively, for the oxidation of bromine. k₁=k₂=(3.1±0.32)×10³M⁻¹s⁻¹ k₃=(2.3±0.45)×10⁶N⁻¹s⁻¹.

It is proposed that these electron transfer reactions proceed by univalent changes with the production of Br₂^.− as a transient intermediate. An outer-sphere mechanism is proposed for these reactions. The homonuclear exchange rate for Ti^III-edta+Ti^IV-edta is estimated at 32 M⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with CH3CN, C2H5CN AND CH2=CH-CN in the temperature range 298–424 K

Rate constants for the reactions of OH with CH₃CN, CH₃CH₂CN and CH₂=CH-CN have been measured to be 5.86 × 10⁻¹³ exp(−1500 ± 250 cal mole⁻¹/RT), 2.69 × 10⁻¹³ exp(−1590 ± 350 cal mole⁻¹/RT and 4.04 × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively in the temperature range 298–424 K. These results are discussed in terms of the atmospheric lifetimes of nitrfles.     

Analytical applications of ternary complexes-IV Titration of macro- and micro-amounts of cyanide

The use of a 1,10-phenanthroline/Bromopyrogallol Red indicator system is proposed for the visual and photometric titration of cyanide with silver nitrate in the range 10⁻¹–10⁻⁴M and 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵M respectively. Sharp, well-defined end-points are observed and the titration succeeds at low concentrations where the Liebig-Dénigès method is inapplicable. The results obtained agree well with those of the conventional method. EDTA may be used as a mass-masking agent for most cations.     

Polarographic determination of proguanil and chlorhexidine

The method is based on the cathodic wave obtained for chlorhexidine and proguanil in buffered aqueous dimethylformamide media. Concentrations up to 8 × 10⁻⁵ and 6 × 10⁻⁴M, respectively, can be determined. The difference in behaviour at various pH values or in the presence of surface-active agents, is useful for characterization of both biguanides.     

Determination of pK(a)'s for thymol blue in aqueous medium: evidence of dimer formation

Formation constants for recrystallized thymol blue were determined in water, using the SQUAD and SUPERQUAD programs. The best model correlating spectrophotometric, potentiometric and conductimetric data was fitted with the dissociation of HL⁻=L²⁻+H⁺−log K=8.918±0.070 and H₃L₂⁻=2L²⁻+3H⁺−log K=29.806±0.133 with the SUPERQUAD program at variable low ionic strength (1.5×10⁻⁴–3.0×10⁻⁴ M); and HL=L²⁻+H⁺−log K=8.9±0.000, H₃L₂⁻ =2L²⁻+3H⁺−log K=30.730±0.032, H₄L₂=2L²⁻+4H⁺−log K=32.106±0.033 with SQUAD at 1.1 M ionic strength.     

Acidity constants of benzidine in aqueous solutions

The acidity constants of benzidine (Bz) in aqueous solutions determined potentiometrically at 25° were K_a1 = (1.11 ± 0.08) × 10⁻⁵, K_a2 = (1.45 ± 0.12) × 10⁻⁴. The apparent mixed constants in 0.1M sodium nitrate are K_a1 = (5.37 ± 0.28) × 10⁻⁶ and K_a2 = (1.14 ± 0.09) × 10⁻⁴. The ultraviolet spectra were recorded as a function of pH and analysed with these constants to obtain the absorption spectra of H₂Bz²⁺, HBz⁺ and Bz; the corresponding wavelengths of maximal absorption are 247, 273 and 278 nm, and molar absorptivities 1.63 × 10⁴, 1.76 × 10⁴ and 2.26 × 10⁴ 1.mole⁻¹.cm⁻¹.     

Determination of Ag(I) with chemically modified carbon paste electrode based on 2,3-dicyano 1,4-naphthoquinone

The utility of carbon paste modified with 2,3-dicyano 1,4-naphthoquinone (CYNQ) for the voltammetric determination of Ag(I) is demonstrated. The method is based on the formation of Ag(I) complex with CYNQ by accumulation from the aqueous solution to the electrode surface without an applied potential. Using the medium exchange technique, the electrode was transferred to another media followed by linear-scan voltammetric measurements. The reduction peak of the Ag(I)-CYNQ complex was observed at +0.22 V (vs. SCE). The silver response is studied with respect to paste composition, pH of the measurement solution, reproducibility, interference and other variables. A detection limit of 5 × 10⁻⁸M was obtained and the calibration curve was linear over the range 1 × 10⁻⁶−8 × 10⁻⁵M.     

Fluorescence reaction and complexation equilibria between norfloxacin and aluminium (III) ion in chloride medium

Norfloxacin, 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinoline carboxylic acid (NORH), reacts with aluminium(III) ion forming the strongly fluorescent complex [Al(HNOR)]³⁺, in slightly acidic medium. The complex shows maximum emission at 440 nm with excitation at 320 nm. The fluorescence intensity is enhanced upon addition of 0.5% sodium dodecylsulphate. Fluorescence properties of the Al-NOR complex were used for the direct determination of trace amounts of NOR in serum. The linear dependence of fluorescence intensity on NOR concentration, at a NOR to Al concentration ratio of 1:10, was found in the concentration range 0.001–2 μg/ml NOR with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml. The ability of aluminium (III) ion to form complexes with NOR was investigated by titrations in 0.1 M LiCl medium, using a glass electrode, at 298 K, in the concentration range: 2 × 10⁻⁴ ≤ [Al] ≤ 8 × 10⁻⁴; 5 × 10⁻⁴ ≤ [NOR] ≤ 9 × 10⁻⁴ mol/dm³; 2.8 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3. The experimental data were explained by the following complexes and their respective stability constants, log(β ± σ): [Al(HNOR)], (14.60 ± 0.05); [Al(NOR)], (8.83 ± 0.08); [A1(OH)₃(NOR)], (−14.9 ± 0.1), as well as several pure hydrolytic complexes of A1³⁺. The structure of the [Al(HNOR)] complex is discussed, with respect to its fluorescence properties.     

PVC membrane based potentiometric sensors for uranium determination

Two novel uranyl PVC matrix membrane sensors responsive to uranyl ion are described. The first sensor incorporates tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) as both electroactive material and plasticizer and sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as an ion discriminator. The sensor displays a rapid and linear response for UO₂²⁺ ions over the concentration range 1×10⁻¹–2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ UO₂²⁺ with a cationic slope of 25.0±0.2 mV decade⁻¹. The working pH range is 2.8–3.6 and the life span is 4 weeks. The second sensor contains O-(1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-1-pyridyl)-N,N,N′,N′-bis(tetra-methylene)uronium hexafluorophosphate (TPTU) as a sensing material, sodium tetraphenylborate as an ion discriminator and dioctyl phenylphosphonate (DOPP) as a plasticizer. Linear and stable response for 1×10⁻¹–5×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ UO₂²⁺ with near-Nernstian slope of 27.5±0.2 mV decade⁻¹ are obtained. The working pH range is 2.5–3.5 and the life span of the sensor is 6 weeks. Interference from many inorganic cations is negligible for both sensors. However, interference caused by some ions (e.g. Th⁴⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺) is eliminated by a prior ion exchange or solvent extraction step. Direct potentiometric determination of as little as 5 μg ml⁻¹ uranium in aqueous solutions shows an average recovery of 97.2±1.3%. Application for the determination of uranium at levels of 0.01–1 wt.% in naturally occurring and certified ores gives results with good correlation with data obtained by X-ray fluorescence.     

Kinetic study of gas-phase Lu(D3/2) with O2, N2O and CO2

The second-order rate constants of gas-phase Lu(²D_3/2) with O₂, N₂O and CO₂ from 348 to 573 K are reported. In all cases, the reactions are relatively fast with small barriers. The disappearance rates are independent of total pressure indicating bimolecular abstraction processes. The bimolecular rate constants (in molecule⁻¹ cm³ s⁻¹) are described in Arrhenius form by k(O₂)=(2.3±0.4)×10⁻¹⁰exp(−3.1±0.7 kJmol⁻¹/RT), k(N₂O)=(2.2±0.4)×10⁻¹⁰exp(−7.1±0.8 kJmol⁻¹/RT), k(CO₂)=(2.0±0.6)×10⁻¹⁰exp(−7.6±1.3 kJmol⁻¹/RT), where the uncertainties are ±2σ.     

Collisional quenching of electronically excited germanium atoms, Ge[4p(S0)], by small molecules investigated by time-resolved atomic resonance absorption spectroscopy

The collisional quenching of electronically excited germanium atoms, Ge[4p²(¹S₀)], 2.029 eV above the 4p²(³P₀) ground state, has been investigated by time-resolved atomic resonance absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet at λ = 274.04 nm [4d(¹P₁⁰) ← 4p²(¹S₀)]. In contrast to previous investigations using the ‘single-shot mode’ at high energy, Ge(¹S₀) has been generated by the repetitive pulsed irradiation of Ge(CH₃)₄ in the presence of excess helium gas and added gases in a slow flow system, kinetically equivalent to a static system. This technique was originally developed for the study of Ge[4p²(¹D₂)] which had eluded direct quantitative kinetic study until recently. Absolute second-order rate constants obtained using signal averaging techniques from data capture of total digitised atomic decay profiles are reported for the removal of Ge(¹S₀) with the following gases (k_R in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 300 K): Xe, 7.1 ± 0.4 × 10⁻¹³; N₂, 4.7 ± 0.6 × 10⁻¹²; O₂, 3.6 ± 0.9 × 10⁻¹¹; NO, 1.5 ± 0.3 × 10⁻¹¹; CO, 3.4 ± 0.5 × 10⁻¹²; N₂O, 4.5 ± 0.5 × 10⁻¹²; CO₂, 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10⁻¹¹; CH₄, 1.7 ± 0.2 × 10⁻¹¹; CF₄, 4.8 ± 0.3 × 10⁻¹²; SF₆, 9.5 ± 1.0 × 10⁻¹³; C₂H₄, 3.3 ± 0.1 × 10⁻¹⁰; C₂H₂, 2.9 ± 0.2 × 10⁻¹⁰; Ge(CH₃)₄, 5.4 ± 0.2 × 10⁻¹¹. The results are compared with previous data for Ge(¹S₀) derived in the single-shot mode where there is general agreement though with some exceptions which are discussed. The present data are also compared with analogous quenching rate data for the collisional removal of the lower lying Ge[4p²(¹D₂)] state (0.883 eV), also characterized by signal averaging methods similar to that described here.     

Time-resolved vibrational cemiluminescence: Rate constants for the reaction F + HC1 → HF + Cl and for the relaxtion of HF(v = 3) by HCl, CO2, N2O, CO, N2 and O2

The reaction: F + HCl→ HF (v 3) + Cl (1), has been initiated by photolysing F₂ using the fourth-harmonic output at 266 nm from a repetitively pulsed Nd: YAG laser By analysing the time-dependence of the HF(3,0) vibrational chemiluminescence, rate constants have been determined at (296 ± 5) K for reaction (1), k₁ = (7.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and for the relaxation of HF(v = 3) by HCl, CO₂, N₂O, CO, N₂ and O₂: k_HCl = (1.18 ±0.14) × 10⁻¹¹ k_CO2 = (1.04 ± 0. 13) × 10⁻¹², k_N2O = (1.41 ± 0.13) × 10⁻¹¹ k_CO = (2.9 ± 0.3) × (10⁻¹², k_N2 = (7.1 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹⁴ and k_O2 = (1.9 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹.