Trace Detection of Mercury(II) Using Gold Ultra‐Microelectrode Arrays

The electroanalytical detection of trace mercury(II) at gold ultra‐microelectrode arrays is reported. The arrays consist of 256 gold microelectrodes of 5 μm in diameter in cubic arrangements which are separated from their nearest neighbor by 100 μm. The array was utilized in nitric acid using linear sweep voltammetry where a linear response from mercury additions over the range 10 μg L^?1?200 μg L^?1 (10^?8?10^?6 M) was observed with a sensitivity and detection limit of 0.11 nC/μg L^?1 and 3.2 μg L^?1 (16 nM) respectively from using a deposition time of 30 s at ?0.2 V (vs. SCE). This methodology was explored in 0.1 and 1 M chloride media over the mercury range 10 μg L^?1?200 μg L^?1 (5×10^?8?10^?6 M) where similar sensitivities of 0.087 nC/μg L^?1 and 0.078 nC/μg L^?1 were observed with an identical detection limit. The protocol is demonstrated to be useful for the determination of mercury for analysis of environmental water samples.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of aluminium based on chrome azurol S and cetylpyridinium chloride

Acidic aluminium solutions (120 μl) are injected into a buffered (pH 5.7) carrier stream and merge with a chrome azurol S/cetylpyridinium chloride stream; a 2.25-m reaction coil is used with a total flow rate of 4 ml min ^?1. Ethanol (30% v/v) in the reagent stream enhances the absorbance of the ternary complex; the molar absorptivity is then 1.34×10 ⁵ l mol ^?1 cm ^?1 at 625 nm. Calibration is linear over the range 0–400 ng ml^?1 aluminium; the limit of determination is 5 ng ml ^?1. Iron is masked in the usual way; fluoride is tolerated at ˇ1 mg l ^?1. The injection rate is about 45 h^?1. The procedure appears to be applicable to tap water.     

Colorimetric Determination of Propofol in Bulk form,Dosage Form and Biological Fluids

ABSTRACT

Propofol is coupled with 2, 6-dichloroquinone-4-chlorimide (DCQ) in a reaction buffered at pH 9.6 to give a colored product having an analytically useful maximum at 635 nm. The factors affecting the color generation were optimized and incorporated in the procedure. The reacted propofol has a molar absorptivity of 3.9 × 10^?4 L mol^?1 cm^?1, and Beer's law is obeyed for concentrations 1-5 μg ml^?1 with detection limit 0.25 μg ml^?1. The method was found applicable to biological fluids (plasma and urine) spiked with propofol at concentration levels 1-5 μg ml^?1 for plasma and 1-5 μg 0.5 ml^?1 urine (less sensitivity is obtained with urine volumes above 0.5 ml) with detection limits 0.28 μg ml^?1 for plasma and 0.4 μg 0.5 ml^?1 urine. The average recovery for the commercial preparation (1% w/v propofol emulsion intravenous injection for infusion) was 99.54% with an RSD of 1.05%. The method was validated by an adopted HPLC method. The results obtained by the HPLC method for the commercial preparation were statistically compared with the proposed method and evaluated at the 95% confidence limits.     

Spectrophotometric determination of chlorhexidine with bromocresol green by flow-injection and manual methods

A spectrophotometric study of the chlorhexidine/bromocresol green/Triton X-100 system is reported; at pH 5.3, both 2:1 and 1:1 bromocresol green/chlorhexidine complexes are formed. In the manual spectrophotometric method, Beer's law is obeyed for chlorhexidine concentrations of 2.9–32.2 μg ml^?1 (r.s.d. 0.4–1.3%); the molar absorptivity is 12 500 l mol^?1 cm^?1. In the flow-injection method, the calibration graph is linear for the chlorhexidine range 23.0–83.9 μg ml^?1 (r.s.d. 0.8%); the injection is ca. 60 h^?1. Benzocaine, acetylsalicylic acid, ascorbic acid and sucrose are tolerated at 10^?2?10^?3 M levels. Hibitane 5% was analyzed successfully.     

Electrochemical Responses and Sensitivities of Films Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solutions

Novel films consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by means of chemical vapor deposition with decomposition of either acetonitrile (ACN) or benzene (BZ) using ferrocene as catalyst. The electrochemical responses of MWCNT-based films towards the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide, [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? redox couple were probed by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at 25.0?±?0.5?°C. Both MWCNT-based films exhibit Nernstian response towards [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? with some slight kinetic differences. Namely, heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants lying in ranges of 2.69?×?10^?2?C1.7?×?10^?3 and 9.0?×?10^?3?C2.6?×?10^?3?cm·s^?1 were obtained at v?=?0.05?V·s^?1 for MWCNT_ACN and MWCNT_BZ, respectively. The detection limit of MWCNT_ACN, estimated to be about 4.70?×?10^?7?mol·L^?1 at v?=?0.05?V·s^?1, tends to become slightly poorer with the increase of the scan rate, namely at v?=?0.10?V·s^?1 the detection limit of 1.70?×?10^?6?mol·L^?1 was determined. Slightly poorer response ability was exhibited by MWCNT_BZ; specifically the detection limits of 1.57?×?10^?6 and 4.35?×?10^?6?mol·L^?1 were determined at v?=?0.05 and v?=?0.10?V·s^?1, respectively. The sensitivities of MWCNT_ACN and MWCNT_BZ towards [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? were determined as 1.60?×?10^?7 and 1.51?×?10^?7?A·L·mol^?1·cm^?2, respectively. The excellent electrochemical performance of MWCNT_ACN is attributed to the presence of incorporated nitrogen in the nanotube??s structure.     

The electrochemistry of uric acid at a gold electrode modified with L-cysteine, and its application to sensing uric urine

The electrochemistry of uric acid at a gold electrode modified with a self-assembled film of L-cysteine was studied by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Compared to the bare gold electrode, uric acid showed better electrochemical response in that the anodic peak current is stronger and the peak potential is negatively shifted by about 100 mV. The effects of experimental conditions on the oxidation of uric acid were tested and a calibration plot was established. The differential pulse response to uric acid is linear in the concentration range from 1.0?×?10^?6 to ~?1.0?×?10^?4 mol?L^?1 (r?=?0.9995) and from 1.0?×?10^?4 to ~?5.0?×?10^?4 mol?L^?1 (r?=?0.9990), the detection limit being 1.0?×?10^?7 mol?L^?1 (at S/N?=?3). The high sensitivity and good selectivity of the electrode was demonstrated by its practical application to the determination of uric acid in urine samples.

Indirect A.C. Oscillopolarographic Determination of Total Monomeric and Acid-Reactive Aluminum in Natural Waters by Using Pyrocatechol Violet

ABSTRACT

Indirect determination of total monomelic and acid-reactive aluminum in natural waters by a.c. oscillopolarography in the presence of pyrocatechol violet (PCV) is presented in this paper. In 0.5 mol 1^?1 NH₄Ac buffer solution (pH 6.4) containing l×lO^?3 mol 1^?1 PCV, PCV yields two incisions on the a.c oscillogram at the potentials of - 0.80 and - 1.20 V, respectively. The incision depth declines when adding aluminum in the solution. The decreases of incision depth (Ep = -1.20 V) has a linear relationship with increasing Al concentrations (4×10^?7 - 4×10^?6 mol 1^?). It is the basis for indirect quantitative analysis. The relative standard deviation is 8.3% for 1×10^?6 mol 1^?1 Al (n = 10) and the detection limit is 2 × 10^?7 mol 1^?1. The proposed method has been applied to determine total and acid-reactive Al in natural waters and the results are compared with Driscoll's 8-HQ-MIBK-GF/AAS and PCV colorimetric methods.     

Ozone reduction at Nafion modified Au electrode and the measurement of ozone concentration in highly resistive solutions

The mass transport and charge transfer kinetics of ozone reduction at Nafion coated Au electrodes were studied in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 and highly resistive solutions such as distilled water and tap water. The diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient of ozone in Nafion coating are 1.78×10-6 cm2·s-1 and 2.75 at 25℃ (based on dry state thickness), respectively. The heterogeneous rate constants and Tafel slopes for ozone reduction at bare Au are 4.1×10-6 cm·s-1, 1.0×10-6 cm·s-1 and 181 mV, 207 mV in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 and distilled water respectively and the corresponding values for Nafion coated Au are 5.5×10-6 cm·s-1, 1.1×10-6 cm·s-1 and 182 mV, 168 mV respectively. The Au microelectrode with 3 μm Nafion coating shows good linearity over the range 0-10 mmol/L ozone in distilled water with sensitivity 61 μA·ppm-1 ·cm-2, detection limit 10 ppb and 95% response time below 5 s at 25℃. The temperature coefficient in range of 11-30℃ is 1.3%.     

Comparison of four chromogenic reagents for the flow-injection determination of aluminum in water

Pyrocatechol violet (PCV), aluminon, eriochrome cyanine R (ECR) and eriochrome cyanine R with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (ECR/CTA) are compared as chromogenic reagents for the flow-injection determination of aluminium in water. The detection limit of the ECR/CTA method is 1 μg Al 1^?1. The detection limits of the PCV and ECR methods are 5 μg Al 1^?1. The aluminon method is the least sensitive, with a detection limit of 50 μg Al l^?1. Interference from iron, fluoride, phosphate and the acidity of the sample were investigated. The interference from iron is suppressed by hydroxylammonium chloride/1,10-phenanthroline in the PCV and ECR/CTA methods at concentrations less than 5 mg Fe l^?1. In the ECR and aluminon methods, iron <5 mg l^?1) is masked by ascorbic acid. Fluoride at <0.2 mg l^?1 can be tolerated in all methods. The aluminon method can tolerate up to about 500 mg l^?1 in the three other methods. All methods are sensitive to changes in acidity of the samples; the acidity should be 0.08–0.12 M HCl.     

Simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin by use of covalent modification of 5-hydroxytryptophan on glassy carbon electrode

An electrochemical biosensor was fabricated by covalent modification of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrode, denoted as 5-HTP/GCE, was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. For comparison, tryptophan modified GCE (TRP/GCE) and serotonin modified GCE (5-HT/GCE) were prepared by the same method. It was found that electrocatalytic ability of these electrodes was in the order of 5-HTP/GCE?>?TRP/GCE?>?5-HT/GCE for the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and 5-HT. The sensor was effective to simultaneously determine DA and 5-HT in a mixture. It can resolve the overlapping anodic peaks into two well-defined voltammetric peaks at 0.24 and 0.39 V (versus SCE). The linear response is in the range of 5.0?×?10^?7–3.5?×?10^?5 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 3.1?×?10^?7 mol L^?1 for DA, and in the range of 5.0?×?10^?6–3.5?×?10^?5 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 1.7?×?10^?6 mol L^?1 for 5-HT (s/n?=?3), respectively.     

Sucrose assisted hydrothermal synthesis of SnO2/graphene nanocomposites with improved lithium storage properties

SnO₂/graphene nanocomposites are synthesized by a new hydrothermal treatment strategy under the assistance of sucrose. From the images of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), it can be observed that SnO₂ nanoparticles with the size of 4~5 nm uniformly distribute on the graphene nanosheets. The result demonstrates that sucrose can effectively prevent graphene nanosheets from restacking during hydrothermal treatment and subsequently treatment. The charging/discharging test result indicates that the SnO₂/graphene nanocomposites exhibit high specific capacity and excellent cycleability. The first reversible specific capacity is 729 mAh.g^?1 at the current density of 50 mA.g^?1, and remains 646 mAh.g^?1 after 30 cycles at the current density of 100 mA.g^?1, 30 cycles at the current density of 200 mA.g^?1, 30 cycles at the current density of 400 mA.g^?1, 30 cycles at the current density of 800 mA.g^?1, and 30 cycles at the current density of 50 mA.g^?1.     

Kinetics and salt effects of the reduction of octacyanomolybdate(V) and octacyanotungstate(V) by sulphite ions

The kinetics of the reduction of octacyanomolybdate(V) and octacyanotungstate(V) by sulphite ions has been studied over a wide pH range. The reaction is catalysed by alkali metal ions. The rate law is found to be of the form:

The third order rate constants at [OH^?] = 0.05 mol dm^?3 for the reduction of Mo(CN)₈^3? and W(CN)^3?₈ were determined as 6.2 x 10³dm⁶mol^?2 s^?1 and 22.3 dm⁶mol^?2s^?1 respectively at 298 K for A⁺ = Na⁺ while K_a for the hydrogen sulphite ion was determined as 2.4 x 10^?8 mol dm^?3. It was established that the reaction proceeds via an outer-sphere mechanism. An explanation for the alkali metal ion catalysis is proposed.     

Electron transfer,equilibrium, and protonation in the system of cis- and trans-stilbene in 2-propanol

Spectrophotometric pulse radiolysis experiments with cis- and trans-stilbene (S_c and S_t) in 2-propanol show that both isomers react with the solvated electron with a rate constant of 4.5 × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1. The absorption spectra of the two anion radicals have maxima at 496 and 486 nm, respectively. The absorbances at 400–550 nm disappear exponentially corresponding to a pseudo first order protonation of the anion radicals. The rate constants for the protonation of the cis isomer is 6.4 × 10⁵ and of the trans isomer 0.7 × 10⁵ s^?1. In mixtures of cis- and trans-stilbene the electron transfer

has a forward rate constant of 9 × 10⁷ M^?1 s^?1 while the back reaction has a rate constant of 2.15 × 10⁷ M^?1 s^?1. An equilibrium constant K = 4.2 is calculated.     

The very-low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP) of n-propyl nitrate,tert-butyl nitrite,and methyl nitrite. Rate constants for some alkoxy radical reactions

The pyrolysis of n-propyl nitrate and tert-butyl nitrite at very low pressures (VLPP technique) is reported. For the reaction the high-pressure rate expression at 300°K, log k₁ (sec^?1) = 16.5 ? 40.0 kcal/mole/2.3 RT, is derived. The reaction was studied and the high-pressure parameters at 300°K are log k₂(sec^?1) = 15.8 ? 39.3 kcal/mole/2.3 RT. From ΔS_1,?1⁰ and ΔS_2,?2⁰ and the assumption E_?1 and E_?2 ? 0, we derive log k_?1(M^?1·sec^?1) (300°K) = 9.5 and log k_?2 (M^?1·sec^?1) (300°K) = 9.8. In contrast, the pyrolysis of methyl nitrite and methyl d₃ nitrite afford NO and HNO and DNO, respectively, in what appears to be a heterogeneous process. The values of k_?1 and k_?2 in conjunction with independent measurements imply a value at 300°K for of 3.5 × 10⁵ M^?1·sec^?1, which is two orders of magnitude greater than currently accepted values. In the high-pressure static pyrolysis of dimethyl peroxide in the presence of NO₂, the yield of methyl nitrate indicates that the combination of methoxy radicals with NO₂ is in the high-pressure limit at atmospheric pressure.     

Voltammetric behavior and quantitative determination of ambazone concentrations in urine and in a pharmaceutical formulation

The use of square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) in conjunction with a cyclic renewable silver amalgam film electrode (Hg(Ag)FE) for the analytical determination of ambazone in urine samples and pharmaceutical formulations is described. A single reduction peak in Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 4.0 was detected at about ?1.4 V versus Ag/AgCl. Mechanistic studies have shown that the compound can act as an electrocatalyst. The method was validated. The analytical curve was linear in the concentration range from 1.0×10^?9 to 1.0×10^?7 mol L^?1. The detection and quantification limits were found to be 3.0×10^?10 mol L^?1 and 1.0×10^?9 mol L^?1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to ambazone determination in real samples.      

Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid Using the Nano‐Gold Self‐Assembled Glassy Carbon Electrode

Electrochemical behavior of dopamine (DA) was investigated at the gold nanoparticles self‐assembled glassy carbon electrode (GNP/LC/GCE), which was fabricated by self‐assembling gold nanoparticles on the surface of L ‐cysteine (LC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via successive cyclic voltammetry (CV). A pair of well‐defined redox peaks of DA on the GNP/LC/GCE was obtained at E_pa=0.197 V and E_pc=0.146 V, respectively. And the peak separation between DA and AA is about 0.2 V, which is enough for simultaneous determination of DA and AA. The peak currents of DA and AA were proportional with their concentrations in the range of 6.0×10^?8–8.5×10^?5 mol L^?1 and 1.0×10^?6–2.5×10^?3 mol L^?1, with the detection limit of 2.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 3.0×10^?7 mol L^?1 (S/N=3), respectively. The modified electrode exhibits an excellent reproducibility, sensibility and stability for simultaneous determination of DA and AA in human serum with satisfactory result.     

Kinetic Studies on the Reaction of Sodium Hexacyanoferrate（ll） Complex with Peroxydisulfate Anion

The oxidation of Na₄Fe(CN)₆ complex by S₂O anion was found to follow an outer‐sphere electron transfer mechanism. We firstly carried out the reaction at pH=1. The specific rate constants of the reaction, k_ox, are (8.1±0.07)×10^?2 and (4.3±0.1)×10^?2 mol^?1·L·s^?1 at μ=1.0 mol·L^?1 NaClO₄, T=298 K for pH=1 (0.1 mol·L^?1 HCl0₄) and 8, respectively. The activation parameters, obtained by measuring the rate constants of oxidation 283–303 K, were ΔH^≠=(69.0±5.6) kJ·mol^?1, ΔS^≠=(?0.34±0.041)×10² J·mol^?1·K^?1 at pH=l and ΔH^≠=(41.3±5.5) kJ·mol^?1, ΔS^≠=(?1.27±0.33)×10² J·mol^?1·K^?1 at pH=8, respectively. The cyclic voltammetry of Fe(CN) shows that the oxidation is a one‐electron reversible redox process with E_1/2 values of 0.55 and 0.46 V vs. normal hydrogen electrode at μ=1.0 mol·L^?1 LiClO₄, for pH=1 and pH=8 (Tris). respectively. The kinetic results were discussed on the basis of Marcus theory.     

Conductivity of crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) gel film containing surfactant as electrolyte salt

New polymeric solid electrolyte films, consisting of crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPD) as matrix, and surfactant, sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), lithium deoxycholate (LiDC), sodium laulylsulfate (R₁₂OSO₃Na), or sodium palmitate (R₁₅COONa) as electrolyte salt, are prepared; their basic structure and conductivity dependence on temperature are reported. The structure of the electrolytes is amorphous. Their conductivity is 3.1 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 (containing NaDC), 8.42 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 (LiDC), 2.18 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 (R₁₂OSO₃Na), and 7.27 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 (R₁₅COONa) at 20°C. Their temperature dependence of the conductivity is similar to that of liquid electrolyte rather than that of usual polymeric solid electrolyte, i.e., the WLF-type dependence. The values of activation energy of conductivity (E_a) were PVPD, 25.5 kJ mol^?1; PVPD/NaDC, 21.4 kJ mol^?1; PVPD/LiDC, 25.3 kJ mol^?1; PVPD/R₁₂OSO₃Na, 17.2 kJ mol^?1; PVPD/R₁₅COONa, 18.7 kJ mol^?1. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.