Elastic properties of chemically modified baker's yeast cells studied by AFM

Chemical pretreatment is widely used to facilitate transformation of living cells when foreign components are introduced into a cell through the cell wall. The influence of appropriate chemicals on the wall properties and mechanism of transformation is still a matter of intensive studies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (also known as baker's yeast) were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cell walls were modified by lithium acetate and dithiothreitol. The AFM imaging was performed in liquid water‐based environment. The living cells were fixed by trapping into the holes of a polycarbonate membrane. Mechanical and morphological properties of initial intact cells and treated cells were investigated. The increased stiffness of the chemically treated cells was observed. As deduced from the applied theoretical Hertz‐Sneddon model, the treated cells show completely different response mechanism to applied mechanical pressure in comparison with the intact cells. Also, the increased roughness of the cell wall of the treated yeasts was observed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An adsorptive stripping voltammetry of nickel and cobalt at a solid lead electrode

For the first time, a solid lead electrode (PbE) was exploited for adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of Ni(II) and Co(II) in the presence of nioxime as a complexing agent. The calibration graphs for Ni(II) and Co(II) were linear from 0.059 to 0.59 µg L^?1 and from 0.029 to 0.29 µg L^?1 (accumulation time 120 s), respectively. The analytical parameters such as the detection limit and separation of analytical signals obtained at the solid lead electrode were comparable with those obtained using a lead film electrode while better in comparison to those reported before for the bismuth film or solid bismuth electrodes. Co(II) could be determined in the presence of a large excess of Ni(II) and Zn(II). The proposed electrode was applied to determine Co(II) and Ni(II) traces in certified reference material and a natural water sample with satisfactory results.     

修饰沙粒对Pb(Ⅱ)的吸附性及其在痕量Pb(Ⅱ)分离富集与测定中的应用

本文用不同浓度的氢氧化钠溶液修饰天然沙粒并通过扫描电镜、静态氮吸附和红外光谱法考察了修饰天然沙粒的表面结构、比表面积和功能基团,优化了修饰条件;以修饰天然沙粒为填料制备分离富集微柱,采用FAAS着重研究了修饰沙粒对Pb2+的动态吸附及其在痕量Pb2+分离富集和测定中的应用;结果表明:天然沙粒被修饰后其表面形貌、比表面积、表面孔体积和粒径分布发生变化,表面变得更粗糙,孔体积和比表面积增大,硅羟基红外吸收峰强度也明显增强;其比表面积为12.55m2/g,平均孔(坑)径为25.29nm,平均孔体积48.04mm3/g(D8.3 nm);在室温下,溶液pH为5.5,上样流速为1.50m L·min-1时,修饰天然沙粒对Pb2+的动态吸附量可达到32.6 mg·g-1,吸附率为93.6%,选用0.5mol·L-1的盐酸溶液以3.0m L·min-1流速进行洗脱,洗脱率为97%;适用于痕量Pb2+的分离富集和测定,结果令人满意。     

Water-vapor pressure and thermodynamics of the dehydration of manganese,nickel, cadmium,and lead perchlorate hydrates

The water-vapor pressure has been measured by a static method, the temperature limits for existence have been determined, and the parameters of the equation lgp [Torr]=b —a/T have been calculated for the following crystal hydrates: Mn(ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (90–130°C, a=3527.0,b=8.487), Ni(ClO₄)₂ · 4H₂O (60–100°C,a=3606.7,b=9.704), Ni(C1O₄)₂ · 2H₂O (110–160°C,a = 4261.7,b = 10.103), Cd(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O (25–58.2°C,a = 3143.7,b = 9.356), Cd(ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (90–144.8°C,a=3823.3,b = 9.472), Pb(ClO₄)₂ · 3H₂O (10–47°C,a = 2932.9,b = 9.391 and 47–81.5°C,a = 2448.1,b=7.877), Pb(ClO₄)₂ · H₂O (60–102.4°C,a=3610.2,b = 9.857). A hitherto unknown metastable hydrate Cd(ClO₄)₂ · 4H₂O with a phase transition at 30.9°C (20–30.9°C,a = 3669.5,b = 11.343 and 30.9–63.7°C,a=3058.6,b = 9.339) has been detected.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 466–470, March, 1993.     

Removal of nickel (II) ions from aqueous solutions using modified activated carbon: A kinetic and equilibrium study

Removal nickel from the aquatic environment is a serious environmental problem in view of public health. The present article studies the applicability of activated carbon, obtained from graphite, as a source of adsorbents to remove nickel from the aqueous polluted water. Activated carbon was obtained by steam activation of graphite and then was oxidized by nitric acid followed by modification with Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). The applicability of graphite activated carbon (GAC), and modified activated carbon by Tetraethylenepentamine (GACA) to remove nickel ions Ni(II) from aqueous media was studied. The effect of pH, initial concentration, contact time, and the temperature was evaluated during Ni(II) removal operating in a batch process. Experimental results show that the studied activated carbon have a good adsorption capacity for Ni(II) ions and could reduce the concentrations of it in the groundwater. A maximum removal efficient of Ni(II) was observed at 55°C. The experimental data showed an endothermic and spontaneous process, which was fitted to Langmuir isotherm. Based on our results, we can conclude that it is possible to use GAC and GACA for removing Ni(II) effectively from groundwater.     

Simultaneous determination of lead,copper, and mercury at a modified carbon paste eletrode containing humic acid

The modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) responding simultaneously to lead(II), copper(II), and mercury(II) ions has been constructed by incorporating humic acid (HA) into the graphite powder with Nujol oil. Simple immerging of the electrode into the measuring solution containing these metal ions led to the chemical deposition of the ions onto the electrode through the complexation of the ions with HA. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) characterized the modified electrode's surfaces. Several cyclings of the potential regenerated the electrode (from more positive than the stripping potential of reduced Hg to more negative than the reduction of Pb(II)ion), which was then used for another deposition. After five deposition/measurement/regeneration cycles, the peak current of voltammograns of the analyte decreased slightly. The response reproduced with a 5.1% relative standard deviation. We also applied ihe differential pulse technique to the previously mentioned system. Here, the detection limit tor Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) ions were 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M 8.0 × 10⁻⁹ M, and 8.0 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively, for 20 minutes of deposition time. After pretreatment of silver(I) ion with KC1, we could not observe any interference by other metal ions on the determination of the test ions in aqueous solution. Satisfactory results were acquired for the determination of the test metal ions in certified standard urine reference material SRM's 2670 (trace elements in urine).     

Preparation of ferric nitrate–graphene nanocomposite and its adsorption of arsenic(V) from simulated arsenic‐containing wastewater

Ferric nitrate–graphene (FG) nanocomposites synthesized via the equivalent‐volume impregnation method were used for the removal of As(V) species from simulated arsenic‐containing wastewater. Effects of various factors were assessed, such as the reaction temperature, solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and reaction time. The results indicated that the As(V) removal efficiency was as high as 99%, and the concentration of arsenic‐containing wastewater after FG treatment was as low as 9.4 μg L^–1 as a result of the optimal absorption capacity and maximum specific surface area (171.766 m²/g) of this material. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of FG for As(V) was achieved in approximately 20 min, and the maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 112.4 mg g^–1 by Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which was higher than that of other adsorbents such as manganese‐incorporated iron(III) oxide–graphene (14.42 mg g^–1). Moreover, the removal efficiency of As(V) can be maintained above 95% under acidic and alkaline conditions. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis showed that the modified FG pore structure was regular. Based on the characterizations by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared, the products on the surface of the used FG were Fe(OH)₃, FeAsO₄, and other compounds, and As(V) was mainly removed by the formation of insoluble compounds and coprecipitation.     

Accumulation of cadmium,lead, and nickel by fungal and wood biosorbents

Native fungal biomass of fungiAbsidia orchidis, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus nigricans, and modified spruce sawdust (Picea engelmanii) sequestered metals in the following decreasing preference pb>Cd>Ni. The highest metal uptake was q_max = 351 mg Pb/gA. orchidis biomass. P.chrysogenum biomass could accumulate cadmium best at 56 mg Cd/g. The sorption of nickel was the weakest always at < 5 mg Ni/g. The spruce sawdust was modified by crosslinking, oxidation to acidic oxoforms, and by substitution. The highest metal uptake was observed in phosphorylated sawdust reaching q_max = 224 mg Pb/g, 56 mg Cd/g, and 26 mg Ni/g. The latter value is comparable to the value of nickel sorption by wet commercial resin Duolite GT-73. Some improvement in metal uptake was also observed after reinforcement of fungal biomass.     

Graphene oxide-based two-dimensional molecular brush for efficient removal of lead and copper ions from water media

In this study, graphene oxide (GO)-based two-dimensional molecular brush was fabricated by grafting polyacrylamide onto GO nanosheets for efficient removal of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ from water media. Owing to the rich oxygen and nitrogen functional groups in the composites, the synthetic GO two-dimensional molecular brush can get the maximum adsorption capacity of 268.4 mg/g for Pb²⁺ and 127.2 mg/g for Cu²⁺, respectively. Moreover, the interspaces between the stacked two-dimensional molecular brushes provide fast pathways for the diffusion of heavy metal ions. As a result, GO-based two-dimensional molecular brush can reach the adsorption equilibrium within 60 min. These results indicated that the synthetic GO-based two-dimensional molecular brush is a promising adsorbent to separate heavy metal ions from water media.     

Bakers' yeast: an environment benign catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of indolyl chromenes and bisindolyl alkanes

A green protocol for one-pot synthesis of pharmacologically important indolyl chromenes and bis(indolyl)alkanes was achieved using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (commonly known as bakers' yeast) as catalyst under room temperature stirring condition. This method is relatively simple, efficient, inexpensive, and environment-friendly.     

半密闭酸溶-电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS)）法测定化探样品中的铬镍铜锌镉铅6种重金属

采用半密闭酸溶消解法处理样品,选择离线校正的方式校正了Sn对Cd的同量异位素的干扰,增加积分时间和读数次数提高了Cd的准确度和精密度,建立了电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）测定化探样品中Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb六种重金属元素的方法。对前处理方法和仪器的参数条件进行了优化,结果表明,半密闭体系可达到回流的目的,样品分解完全且无污染现象,在最优的实验条件下,标准曲线的相关系数均不小于0.9997,检出限为0.019~1.65 μg/g ,测定下限为0.057~4.95 μg/g 。按照实验方法对岩石、水系沉积物和土壤国家标准物质中Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb平行测定12次,各元素的测定结果与认定值基本一致,相对偏差均不大于3.55%,相对误差均不大于 10.34% 。采用实验方法对土壤样品进行分析,测定结果与四酸溶解-ICP-OES测定Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb,火焰-石墨炉原子吸收法测定Cd的结果基本吻合。     

On-line solid-phase extraction using alizarin violet functionalized silica gel for determination of trace lead in environmental samples and wastewater by sequential injection spectrophotometry

Trace of Pb(Ⅱ) has been on-line separated and enriched from environmental samples and wastewater by using the self-made alizarin violet functionalized silica gel micro-column coupling with a sequential injection sampling technology. The determination is based on the color reaction of Pb(Ⅱ) with iodide and crystal violet to form an ionic association complex in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol and hydrochloric acid. The use of the microcolumn can prevent the interference of most familiar metal ions, and ther...     

Negishi cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by an aminophosphine-based nickel system: a reliable and general applicable reaction protocol for the high-yielding synthesis of biaryls

Treatment of NMP solutions of NiCl(2) with 1,1',1'-(phosphanetriyl)tripiperidine (≈2.05 equiv), dissolved in THF, in air at 25 °C forms a highly active catalytic system for the cross-coupling of a large variety of electronically activated, non-activated, deactivated, and ortho-substituted, heterocyclic, and functionalized aryl bromides and aryl chlorides with diarylzinc reagents. Very high levels of conversion and yields were obtained within 2 h at 60 °C in the presence of only 0.1 mol% of catalyst (based on nickel) and thus at catalyst loadings far lower than typically reported for nickel-catalyzed versions of the Negishi reaction. Various aryl halides-which may contain trifluoromethyl groups, fluorides, or other functional groups such as acetals, ketones, ethers, esters, lactones, amides, imines, anilines, alkenes, pyridines, quinolines, and pyrimidines-were successfully converted into the corresponding biaryls. Electronic and steric variations are tolerated in both reaction partners. Experimental observations indicate that a molecular (Ni(I)/Ni(III)) mechanism is operative.     

Combination of integrated expanded bed adsorption chromatography and countercurrent chromatography for the direct extraction and purification of pseudohypericin and hypericin from St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

St. John's wort has attracted particular attention because of its beneficial effects as an antidepressant, antiviral, and anticancer agent. A method for the combination of integrated expanded bed adsorption chromatography and countercurrent chromatography for the simultaneous extraction and purification of pseudohypericin and hypericin from the herb is presented in this paper. Firstly, the constituents were extracted and directly adsorbed by expanded bed adsorption chromatography under optimal conditions. The stepwise elution was then performed by expanded bed adsorption chromatography that enriched the targets with higher purities and recoveries compared to other methods. Secondly, the eluent fractions from expanded bed adsorption chromatography were further separated by two‐step high‐speed countercurrent chromatography. A two‐step high‐speed countercurrent chromatography method with a biphasic solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water with a volume ratio of 1:2:1:2 was performed by stepwise changing the flow rate of the mobile phase. Consequently, 5.6 mg of pseudohypericin and 2.2 mg of hypericin with purities of 95.5 and 95.0%, respectively, were successfully obtained from 40 mg of crude sample.     

Green one‐pot preparation of α‐Fe2O3@carboxyl‐functionalized yeast composite with high adsorption and catalysis properties for removal of methylene blue

Herein, the α‐Fe₂O₃@carboxyl‐functionalized yeast composite (α‐F@CFYC) was synthesized by direct oxidation of yeast with K₂FeO₄ and used as a novel adsorbent/heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for removal of methylene blue (MB). The obtained α‐F@CFYC was fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, EDX, X‐ray diffraction analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared, thermogravimetry, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively, and the corresponding results showed that α‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully obtained and deposited on yeast surface, as well as more functional groups were introduced/exposed on yeast surface. Furthermore, various influence parameters (eg, contact time, initial pH, and MB concentration) on the adsorption/catalysis ability of α‐F@CFYC for MB have been investigated in detail under ambient conditions. As a result, owing to the synergetic effect of the loaded α‐Fe₂O₃ and the introduced/exposed functional groups on yeast surface, the as‐obtained α‐F@CFYC exhibited high adsorption capacities and good catalysis degradation properties for MB.     

Physicochemical evaluation of new tetrahydroacridine and iodobenzoic acid hybrids as the next step in the design of potential drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease

Tacrine derivatives containing iodobenzoic acid were developed as a novel multitarget-directed ligand and find potential application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study is to perform a physicochemical profile of this series. Experimental log P and pK_a values were determined and compared with those already calculated. The results indicated better values of the tested compounds than the values predicted using computer software. The stability report was obtained using the developed HPLC method. The stability assay in different environment conditions provided information about the photosensitivity of these compounds and a proper method for the storage of this series of compounds.     

Polymer complexes: supramolecular modeling for determination and identification of the bond lengths in novel polymer complexes from their infrared spectra

Synthesis and characterization of allyl propenyl‐2‐(4‐derivatives phenylazo)butan‐3‐one (HL_n) are described. The monomers obtained contain N?N and carbonyl functional groups in different positions with respect to the allyl group. This structural difference affects the stereochemical structure of the uranyl polymer complexes prepared by the direct reaction of uranyl acetate with the monomers. The polymer complexes are characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, electronic and vibrational spectroscopy and other theoretical methods. The bonding sites of the hydrazone are deduced from IR and NMR spectra and each of the ligands were found to bond to the UO₂²⁺ ion in a bidentate fashion. The monomers obtained contain N?N and carbonyl functional groups in different positions with respect to the allyl group. IR spectra show that the allyl azo homopolymer (HL_n) acts as a neutral bidentate ligand by coordinating via the two oxygen atom of the carbonyl group, thereby forming a six‐membered chelating ring. The υ₃ frequency of UO₂²⁺ has been shown to be a good molecular probe for studying the coordinating power of the ligands. The υ₃‐values of UO₂²⁺ from IR spectra have been used to calculate the force constant, F_UO (in 10^?8 N/Å) and the bond length R_UO (in Å) of the U? O bond. We adopted a strategy based upon both theoretical and experimental investigations. The theoretical aspects are described in terms of the well‐known theory of 5d–4f transitions. The necessary structural data (coordination geometries and electronic structures) are determined from a framework for the modeling of novel polymer complexes. The Wilson, G. F. matrix method, Badger's formula and the Jones and El‐Sonbati equations were used to determine the stretching and interaction force constants from which the U? O bond distances were calculated. The bond distances of these complexes were also investigated. The effect of Hamett's constant is also discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.