Application of double-spike isotope dilution for the accurate determination of Cr(III), Cr(VI) and total Cr in yeast

A method is presented for the simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in yeast using species-specific double-spike isotope dilution (SSDSID) with anion-exchange liquid chromatography (LC) separation and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (SF-ICP-MS) detection. Total Cr is quantitated using ID SF-ICP-MS. Samples were digested on a hot plate at 95±2 °C for 6 h in an alkaline solution of 0.5 M NaOH and 0.28 M Na₂CO₃ for the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), whereas microwave-assisted decomposition with HNO₃ and H₂O₂ was used for the determination of total Cr. Concentrations of 2,014±16, 1,952±103 and 76±48 mg kg⁻¹ (one standard deviation, n=4, 3, 3), respectively were obtained for total Cr, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the yeast sample. Significant oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) (24.2±7.6% Cr(III) oxidized, n=3) and reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) (37.6±6.5% Cr(VI) reduced, n=3 ) occurred during alkaline extraction and subsequent chromatographic separation at pH 7. Despite this significant bidirectional redox transformation, quantitative recoveries for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were achieved using the SSDSID method. In addition, mass balance between total Cr and the sum of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentrations was achieved. Method detection limits of 0.3, 2 and 30 mg kg⁻¹ were obtained for total Cr, Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively, based on a 0.2-g sub-sample.     

Copolymerization of ethylene and 1-butene using a Cr—silica catalyst in a slurry reactor

A novel slurry reactor was used to investigate the copolymerization behavior of ethylene and 1-butene in the presence of 1 wt % Cr on Davison silica (Phillips-type) catalyst over the temperature range of 0–50°C, space velocity of about 0.0051 [m³ (STP)]/(g of catalyst) h, and a fixed ethylene to 1-butene feed mole ratio of 95 : 5. The effect of varying the ethylene to 1-butene feed ratios, 100 : 0, 96.5 : 3.5, 95 : 5, 93 : 7, 90 : 10, 80 : 20, and 0 : 100 mol/mol at 50°C was also studied. The addition of 1-butene to ethylene typically increased both copolymerization rates and yields relative to ethylene homopolymerization with the same catalyst, reaching a maximum yield for an ethylene: 1-butene feed ratio of 95 : 5 at 50°C. The incorporation of 1-butene within the copolymer in all cases was less than 5 mol %. The average activation energy for the apparent reaction rate constant, k_a, based on total comonomer mole fraction in the slurry liquid for the ethylene to 1-butene feed mole ratio of 95 : 5 in the temperature range of 50–30°C measured 54.2 kJ/mol. The behavior for temperatures between 30 to 0°C differed with an activation energy of 98.2 kJ/mol; thus, some diffusion limitation likely influences the copolymerization rates at temperatures above 30°C. A kinetics analysis of the experimental data at 50°C for different ethylene to 1-butene feed ratios gave the values of the reactivity ratios, r₁ = 27.3 ± 3.6 and r₂ ≅ 0, for ethylene and 1-butene, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Production of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural from Fructose in Ionic Liquid Efficiently Catalyzed by Cr(III)‐Al2O3 Catalyst

A series of metal‐Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared simply by the conventional impregnation with Al₂O₃ and metal chlorides, which were applied to the dehydration of fructose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). An agreeable HMF yield of 93.1% was achieved from fructose at mild conditions (100°C and 40 min) when employing Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ as catalyst in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl). The Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ catalyst was characterized via XRD, DRS and Raman spectra and the results clarified the interaction between the Cr(III) and the alumina support. Meanwhile, the reaction solvents ([Bmim]Cl) collected after 1^st reaction run and 5^th reaction run were analyzed by ICP‐OES and LC‐ITMS and the results confirmed that no Cr(III) ion was dropped off from the alumina support during the fructose dehydration. Notably, Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ catalyst had an excellent catalytic performance for glucose and sucrose and the HMF yields were reached to 73.7% and 84.1% at 120°C for 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, the system of Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ and [Bmim]Cl exhibited a constant stability and activity at 100°C for 40 min and a favorable HMF yield was maintained after ten recycles.     

Blood Levels of Hexavalent Chromium in Rats. “In Vitro” and “In Vivo” Experiments

Abstract

For the Cr(VI) selective separation from biological materials we have developed a highly rapid extraction-separation method with liquid anion exchanger as Amberlite LA-1 or LA-2. The analytical determination of Cr(VI) in organic phase was carried out using electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETA-AAS).

After i.v. administration of 0.5 and 2.5mg/kg b.w. of K₂Cr₂O₇ in male Wistar rats the biological samples, collected at different times, were immediately analyzed. Cr(VI) was not detected in whole blood one minute after administration of the lower dose. In blood of rats receiving higher dose an incomplete reduction of Cr(VI) was observed.

Such data demonstrate a highly rapid but limited metabolic capacity of hematic compartment to reduce Cr(VI) to trivalent status.

These results obtained with a new and specific analytical method, confirmed a trigger role of red cells in Cr(VI) metabolism.

“In vitro” incubation of K₂Cr₂O₇ (4 μM) with rat erythrocytes or plasma at 37°C showed a rapid reduction of Cr(VI) in red cells while plasma samples demonstrated a limited reductive power.     

Formation of active phases of Fe/C,Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalysts in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane into ethylene using CO₂ as an oxidant at temperatures of 650–750 °C was carried out over Fe/C, Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalysts deposited on a carbon support. Before and after the reaction the catalysts were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), in situ magnetometry and transmission electron microscopy methods. The correlation between activity of Fe/C, Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalytic systems and their phase composition was established.     

Removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution using magnetic biochar synthesized by a single step method

Magnetic biochar, as an adsorbent, was synthesized by a single step method, where iron salt was directly mixed with pinewood sawdust by chemical co-precipitation and subsequently pyrolyzed at 700°C for Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solution. The effects of some important parameters including adsorbent dosage (0.4–2.8?g/L), pH (1–10) of the solution, contact time (0–1440 minutes), initial concentration (30–120?mg/L), and temperature (20–40°C) were investigated in batch experiments. Both pre- and post-adsorbents were characterized by SEM-EDX and XPS to investigate the adsorption mechanism. The maximum adsorption capacity of the tested magnetic biochar under the certain experimental conditions determined as optimal was 42.7?mg/g for Cr (VI). The adsorption data were proved to be suitable for the pseudo-second order model for kinetics and the Langmuir model for isotherms with correlation R²?=?0.9996 andR²?>?0.9980, respectively, after fitting with four kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, W-M model, and Elovich) and three isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin). The characteristic analyses further verified that the efficient particle was a mixture of iron oxides in essence, and it had a strong effect on the spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process.     

Luminescence of Cr3+ in natural and calcined diaspore

The luminescence of Cr³⁺ in natural and calcined diaspore is applied to probe structural properties of the phases. Steady-state luminescence spectra of the natural diaspore [a-AlO(OH)] are typical of 2E→4A2 transitions of Cr³⁺ luminescence centers (R-lines) substituting for Al³⁺ in six-fold coordination. The dehydroxylated phase of the diaspore is characterized by a low degree of crystallinity. This phase is not detectable by XRD and Raman spectroscopy up to 900°C. The time-resolved luminescence spectra of the diaspore treated at 900°C showed two variations: the first is an R-line of Cr3+ luminescence in octahedral sites with a strong crystal field in a very disordered environment, and the second is a broad band of Cr³⁺ luminescence in weaker crystal field sites. The crystalline phase of corundum [a-Al₂O₃] is detected by XRD and Raman spectroscopy after treating the diaspore at 1000°C and above (up to 1300°C). The lines in the spectrum of the diaspore treated at this temperature are typical of Cr³⁺ luminescence centers (R-lines) in Cr-corundum (ruby) structure. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of chromium modification on the properties of MnOx-FeOx catalysts for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3

Catalytic properties of MnO_x-FeO_x complex oxide (hereafter denoted as Mn-Fe) catalysts modified with different loadings of chromium oxide were investigated by using the combination of physico-chemical techniques, such as N₂ physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (in situ FT-IR) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and their catalytic activities were evaluated with the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x by NH₃. It was found that with the addition of Cr, more NO could be removed in the low-temperature window (below 120 °C). Among the tested catalysts, Mn-Fe-Cr (2 : 2 : 1) catalyst exhibited the best catalytic performance at 80 °C with the NO conversion higher than 90%. The combination of the reaction and characterization results indicated that (1) the strong interaction among tertiary metal oxides existed in the catalysts when Cr was appropriately added, which made the active components better dispersed with less agglomeration and sintering and the largest BET specific surface area could be obtained; (2) Cr improved the low-temperature reducibility of the catalyst and promoted the formation of the active intermediate (–NH⁺₃), which favored the low-temperature SCR reaction.     

Thermolyse de mélanges de chromates et d'oxalates de métaux alcalino-terreux II. Composés du magnésium

The thermolysis of mixtures of chromates and oxalates of magnesium has been studied combining thermal analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance. It is found that both the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and that of Cr(VI) to Cr(V) are spontaneous and occur at about 600 and 250°C, respectively, under vacuum. Highly dispersed Cr(V) species are present after activation below 400°C while dispersed Cr(II) species, either as Cr₂O₃ or as Cr(III) in solid solution in the MgO lattice, are observed above 350 and 550°C, respectively. CO evolved during the decomposition of the oxalate is found to play a major role in the reduction of Cr(V) in Cr(III). Contrarily to the observation on the Ba and Sr homologues, no effect of the carbonate has been found.     

Preparation of FeS/iron oxide composite and flax stem‐based porous carbon and its Cr(VI) removal ability

Using flax stem and ferrous sulfate, a composite porous carbon material was prepared by means of high‐temperature roasting and a one‐step process in a muffle furnace. The samples were characterized using X‐Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effects of ferrous sulfate concentration, carbonization temperature, and pH values of Cr(VI) aqueous solution on the removal performance of Cr(VI) were studied. XRD and SEM analysis showed that the prepared samples were amorphous porous carbon loaded with FeS/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄. High FeSO₄ impregnation concentration, high carbonization temperature, and a low pH value of Cr(VI) aqueous solution were beneficial for Cr(VI) removal. When pH = 2, the amount of Cr(VI) removal was 99.93 mg/g by the sample obtained from 1 g flax powder impregnated in 4.5 mmol FeSO₄/40 mL H₂O solution and calcined for 2 hr at 800°C.     

Stability of chromate electrolytes containing ions of Cr(III)

The reason for the unstable influence of Cr(III) on the maximum rate of incomplete reduction of chromic acid is studied by a method of cyclic voltammetry and analytical investigations of the electrolyte composition. It is established that the decrease in the maximum rate of electrochemical reaction Cr(VI) → Cr(III) is due to the drop of concentration of free sulfate ions in the electrolyte. The drop of the concentration of free sulfate ions increases with the content of electrochemically synthesized ions of Cr(III) in the solution. The decrease in the concentration of sulfate ions is assumed to stem from the formation of unstable complexes of Cr(III) with sulfate ions. Sulfate ions regain their initial concentration with time and upon heating solution to 50–70°C, which facilitates dissociation of unstable sulfate complexes of Cr(III). It is shown that the concentration of sulfate ions in the solution remains invariant during chemical reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which points to the formation of inert complexes of Cr(III) that make no impact on the rate of incomplete reduction of chromic acid.     

Reaction and surface characterization study of Zn/Cr-based higher-alcohol synthesis catalysts X: Effects of excess promoter loading on surface chemistry

Promoter loading level significantly affects the catalytic behavior of Zn/Cr spinel higher alcohol synthesis (HAS) catalysts. In this study a 5.9 wt.% Pd-promoted Zn/Cr spinel with a 5 and 7 wt.% K promoter have been tested and compared. At 1500 psig and 400°C, the catalyst containing 5 wt.% K results in the production of slightly more butanol, less methanol and more hydrocarbons. Using ion scattering spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, differences are found between the two catalyst surfaces which must be responsible for the differences in catalytic behavior.     

Chemical modification of expanded glass aggregate with N-Benzoyl-N′-(4-methylphenyl) thiourea (TTU) for the adsorptive removal of Cr(III) ion

In this study, the silylant agent 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTES) was anchored on expanded glass aggregate (GA) to prepare a new adsorbent. N-Benzoyl-N′-(4-methylphenyl) thiourea (TTU) bonded to amino-functionalized GA adsorbent with reflux. Developed adsorbent (GA-APTES-TTU) was characterized using thermal analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TGA and SEM studies indicated that modification of the glass aggregate (GA) surfaces was successfully performed. The adsorption studies exhibited that the GA-APTES-TTU could be efficiently used for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, ion concentration, time, and temperature were investigated as adsorption parameters. The maximum removal of Cr(III) was observed at pH 4. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 120 min and adsorption of Cr(III) followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(III) was 0.4305 mmol/g with GA-APTES-TTU. Thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy (ΔG^o), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated in order to explain the mechanism of adsorption process. The thermodynamic data showed that Cr(III) adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic, and a physisorption reaction. In addition, the adsorption kinetic data fitted to the pseudo-second order model.     

Removal of Cr(VI) from water by cork waste

The biosorption by cork powder is considered as a promising method for heavy metal removal from industrial waste waters such as chromium tanning factories. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency extent of this method using cork powder as a biosorbent for Cr(VI). The Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis permits to distinguish the type of functional groups likely to participate in metal binding. A linear form of BET isotherms for all the three used temperatures (i.e., 25, 35 and 45 °C) and a pseudo-second-order equation of adsorption kinetics are obtained. Other experimental results highlight the meaningful influence of parameters such as contact time, pH, concentration of Cr(VI) and the adsorbent particle size on Cr(VI) adsorption. 97% of Cr(VI) has been removed under definite conditions particularly a particle size of diameter d < 0.08 mm and pH of 2–3 values.     

Adsorption Characteristics of Pb(II) and Cr(III) onto C‐4‐Methoxyphenylcalix[4]Resorcinarene in Batch and Fixed Bed Column Systems

A study on the adsorption characteristics of Pb(II) and Cr(III) cations onto C‐4‐methoxyphenylcalix‐[4]resorcinarene (CMPCR) in batch and fixed bed column systems has been conducted. CMPCR was produced by one step synthesis from resorcinol, 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde, and HCl. The synthesis was carried out at 78 °C for 24 hours and afforded the adsorbent in 85.7% as a 3:2 mixture of C_4ν:C_2ν isomer. Most parameters in batch and fixed bed column systems confirm that CMPCR is a good adsorbent for Pb(II) and Cr(III), though Pb(II) adsorption was more favorable than that of Cr(III). The adsorption kinetic of Pb(II) and Cr(III) adsorptions in batch and fixed bed column systems followed a pseudo 2ⁿ order kinetics model. The rate constant of Pb(II) was higher than that of Cr(III) in the batch system, but this result was contrary to the result obtained in a fixed bed column system. Desorption studies to recover the adsorbed Pb(II) and Cr(III) were performed sequentially with distilled water and HCl, and the results showed that the adsorption was dominated by chemisorption.     

AES and LEED investigation of Al segregation and oxidation of the (100) face of Fe85Al15 single crystals

The surface segregation and oxidation behavior of Fe₈₅Al₁₅(100) were investigated by means of AES and LEED. Sputter cleaning of the surface causes preferential Al removal and leads to an Al depleted surface layer. The segregation of Al to the Fe₈₅Al₁₅(100) surface was studied in the temperature range from 300 to 800°C. At 375 to 400°C a weak c(2 × 2) LEED pattern is found. At temperatures in excess of 600°C thermodynamic equilibrium is approached very rapidly. At such temperatures Al segregation leads to a well-ordered (1 × 1) LEED structure with bright and sharp spots at a low background intensity. Oxidation at room temperature leads to disordered oxygen adsorption, whereas at 700°C a (6 × 6) superstructure is observed in addition to the matrix spots. This superstructure is attributed to the formation of a thin Al₂O₃ overlayer on the Fe₈₅Al₁₅(100) surface.     

Monosubstituted Trinuclear and Tetranuclear VIB Metal Carbonyl Complexes: Syntheses of [{M(CO)5}3(Pf-Pf-Pf)] [Pf-Pf-Pf = PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2] and [{M(CO)5}4(P-Pf3)] [P-Pf3 = P(CH2CH2PPh2)3] (M = Cr,Mo) and Crystal Structures of the Latter Three

The triligate trimetallic complexes, [{M(CO)₅}₃(Pf-Pf-Pf)] and tetraligate tetrametallic complexes, [{M(CO)₅}₄(P-Pf₃)] (M = Cr and Mo), were prepared from [M(CO) ₆] and the corresponding ligands in MeCN/CH₂Cl₂ promoted by Me₃NO at 0 °C. Crystals of trimer lb are monoclinic, space group P 2₁/n, with a = 13.407(3), b = 15.002(5), c = 26.52(1) Å, β = 90.65(2)°, Z = 4, and R = 0.060 for 2760 observed reflections. Crystals of tetramer 2a are monoclinic, space group P 2₁/c, with a – 14.183(8), b = 29.880(4), c = 16.103(2) Å, β = 94.98(3)°, Z = 4, and R = 0.039 for 5014 observed reflections. Crystals of 2b are monoclinic, space group C 2/c, with a = 42.120(8), b = 13.679(1), c = 23.486(2) Å, β = 92.14(1)°, Z = 8, and R = 0.032 for 6897 observed reflections. Each phosphorus atom of the ligands is coordinated to the M(CO)₅ moiety in each title compounds. The geometry of the four metals is a distorted tetrahedron for the tetramers.     

Formation of Cr(II) Species in the H2/CrO3 System. Parameter control

The thermal behaviour of CrO₃ on heating up to 600°C in dynamic atmospheres of air, N₂ and H₂ was examined by thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), IR spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results revealed three major thermal events, depending to different extents on the surrounding atmosphere: (i) melting of CrO₃ near 215°C (independent of the atmosphere), (ii) decomposition into Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ at 340–360°C (insignificantly dependent), and (iii) decomposition of the chromate into Cr₂O₃ at 415–490°C (significantly dependent). The decomposition CrO₃ → Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ is largely thermal and involves exothermic deoxygenation and polymerization reactions, whereas the decomposition Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ → Cr₂O₃ involves endothermic reductive deoxygenation reactions in air (or N₂) which are greatly accelerated and rendered exothermic in the presence of H₂. TG measurements as a function of heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) demonstrated the acceleratory role of H₂, which extended to the formation of Cr(II) species. This could sustain a mechanism whereby H₂ molecules are considered to chemisorb dissociatively, and then spillover to induce the reduction. DTA measurements as a function of the heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) helped in the derivation of non-isothermal kinetic parameters strongly supportive of the mechanism envisaged. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis,Characterization of Cr Doped TeO2 Nanostructures and its Application as EGFET pH Sensor

In the present work, Cr doped tellurium dioxide nanostructures (CTO NS)(1 wt %, 6 wt %, 8 wt % and 12 wt %) synthesized by co precipitation method and characterized by CV, UV-Visible, SEM, XRD, XPS spectroscopic analysis. Electron beam deposited thin film of CTO NS having 12 wt % of Cr exhibited EGFET-pH sensitivity of 62.03 mV/pH at 250 °C in buffer solutions of pH 6–12, linearity 0.9345, drift rate of 1.12 mV/h and deviation of 0.01145 as compared with 1 wt %, 6 wt % and 8 wt % of CTO NS.     

Surface chemistry and diffusion of trace and alloying elements during in vacuum thermal deoxidation of stainless steel

Removal of the native surface oxide from steel is an important initial step during vacuum brazing. Trace and alloying elements in steel, such as Mn, Si, and Ni, can diffuse to the surface and influence the deoxidation process. The detailed surface chemical composition and grain morphology of the common stainless-steel grade 316L is imaged and spectroscopically analyzed at several stages of in-vacuum annealing from room temperature up to 850°C. Measurements are performed using synchrotron-based X-ray photoemission and low-energy electron microscopy (XPEEM/LEEM). The initial native Cr surface oxide is amorphous and unaffected by the underlying Fe grain morphology. After annealing to ~700°C, the grain morphology is seen at the surface, persisting also after the complete oxygen removal at 850°C. The surface concentration of first Mn and then Si increases significantly when annealing to 500°C and 700°C, respectively, while Ni and Cr concentrations do not change. Mn and Si are not located only in grain boundaries or clusters but are distributed across over the surface. Both Mn and Si appear as oxides, while Cr oxide becomes metallic Cr. Annealing from 500°C up to 850°C leads to the removal of first the Mn and then Si oxides from the surface, while Cr and Fe are completely reduced to metals. Deoxidation of Cr occurs faster at the grain boundaries, and the final Cr metal surface content varies between the grains. The findings are summarized in a general qualitative model, relevant for austenite steels.