Redox Reactions of Quercetin and Quercetin-5'-sulfonic Acid with Fe3 + and Cu2 + Ions and with H2O2

Redox reactions of quercetin and quercetin-5'-sulfonic acid with Fe^{3 +} and Cu^{2 +} ions and with H₂O₂ were studied spectrophotometrically. Oxidation of the flavonoids occurs at the 3-OH and 4-OH groups. The redox reactions are largely influenced by pH. With Fe^{3 +} ions, oxidation occurs in strongly acidic (pH 1-2), and with Cu^{2 +} ions, in weakly acidic (pH 4-5) solutions. Oxidation of quercetin and quercetin-5'-sulfonic acid with Fe^{3 +} and Cu^{2 +} ions is accompanied by complexation. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the flavonoids at pH 1-3.5, and at pH > 4 oxidation is insignificant.     

Cacotheline as a reagent for the detection of ferrous and ferric iron

1. Cacotheline has previously been employed as a colorimetric reagent for the detection of Sn⁺² and V⁺³ ions. The present investigation covers its use as a reagent for the detection of Fe⁺² and Fe⁺³ ions. 2. Fe⁺² ions give a pink colour with a solution of cacotheline at a pH lying between 1.48 and 4.58 in the presence of a sufficient concentration of sodium oxalate, which serves to bind the Fe⁺³ ions by complex formation. At a pH below 1.24, only a very light pink colour is produced and this develops slowly. When the pH of the solution is about 5.2, a blue colour is obtained. The limit of identification is 1.5 γ and the concentration limit is 1 : 40,000 of Fe⁺². While testing for Fe⁺² at very low concentration, it is necessary to employ a very dilute solution of cacotheline (0.025%), while for solutions of higher concentrations saturated cacotheline solution (about 0.25%) is recommended. A detailed investigation has been made concerning the conditions determining the stability of the pink colour. 3. It has also been observed that sodium malonate, sodium citrate, sodium malate, sodium tartrate and sodium lactate are effective as complexing agents for binding Fe⁺³ ions. 4. Orthophosphate has not been found effective as a complexing agent under the conditions adopted, while pyrophosphate and metaphosphate have been found effective. 5. Fe⁺³ ions are reduced to Fe⁺² by exposure to sunlight or the light from a Philip's Repro lamp in the presence of the appropriate buffer solution and sodium oxalate.     

Transport of Na+, K+ ions in a bubbling pseudo-emulsion liquid membrane system with p-tert-butylcalixarenes as carriers

The liquid membrane transport of Na⁺ ions by p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene and that of K⁺ ions by p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene were investigated by means of a bubbling pseudo-emulsion liquid membrane system. This system represents a proton-coupled transport with a flow of protons in the opposite direction. The driving force for the transport is the pH gradient between the source and receiving phases. When the pH difference between the two phases is sufficient, the carriers calix[6]arene(or calix[8]arene) can successfully transport Na⁺ (or K⁺) ions from the source phase with a lower Na⁺ (or K⁺) concentration into the receiving phase with a higher Na⁺ (or K⁺) concentration, like a Na⁺ (or K⁺) ion pump.     

Factors affecting the sorption behavior of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript> using biosorbent material

In this study, saw dust has been used as precursor for production of low cost activated carbon using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and steam activation technique. The activated carbon was used to remove Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions by batch operation, and the extent of adsorption was investigated as a function of solution pH, temperature, shaking time, and initial concentration. The influence of interfering ions was also investigated. The removal of metal ions was pH dependent and the adsorption capacity reaches its maximum 43% and 61.5% at pH 5.0 and 6.0 for Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions, respectively. Thermodynamic studies showed different behaviours where an endothermic, non-spontaneous process was shown for Cs⁺ while an exothermic, spontaneous process was obtained for Sr²⁺. The kinetic data of both ions was described well by pseudo-second order rate equation. The two equilibrium models (Langmuir and Freundlich) have been also applied. Desorption studies indicated that HCl was the most effective desorbing eluent. The investigated adsorbent showed good results towards cesium and strontium removal from aqueous media that could be a promising method due to its low-cost and good efficiency.     

Reduction of Hydrogen Ions on a Platinum Electrode from a Nonbuffered Solution under the Concentration and Activation Polarization

The reduction of hydrogen ions from a nonbuffered solution (0.5 M NaClO₄) on a smooth platinum electrode is studied by recording polarization curves and making numerical calculations. Under a concentration and activation polarization H₃O⁺ undergoes reduction at pH 2–4. At pH < 2, no limiting current of the H₃O⁺ reduction is reached due to the mass transfer intensification caused by gas evolution. At pH > 4, ions H₃O⁺ are spent for the reduction of molecular oxygen.     

Switchable Bifunctional Stimuli‐Triggered Poly‐N‐Isopropylacrylamide/DNA Hydrogels

DNA‐tethered poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide copolymer chains, pNIPAM, that include nucleic acid tethers have been synthesized. They are capable of inducing pH‐stimulated crosslinking of the chains by i‐motif structures or to be bridged by Ag⁺ ions to form duplexes. The solutions of pNIPAM chains undergo crosslinking at pH 5.2 or in the presence of Ag⁺ ions to form hydrogels. The hydrogels reveal switchable hydrogel‐to‐solution transitions by the reversible crosslinking of the chains at pH 5.2 and the separation of the crosslinking units at pH 7.5, or by the Ag⁺ ion‐stimulated crosslinking of the chains and the reverse dissolution of the hydrogel by the cysteamine‐induced elimination of the Ag⁺ ions. The DNA‐crosslinked hydrogels are thermosensitive and undergo reversible temperature‐controlled hydrogel‐to‐solid transitions. The solid pNIPAM matrices are protected against the OH^? or cysteamine‐stimulated dissociation to the respective polymer solutions.     

Polyaniline pH Electrodes

Polyaniline-coated Pt, Pd, and graphite electrodes have been studied. Their potential relationship to pH follows the same principle as the pH glass electrode. They are solid state involving no redox reactions. The potential is derived from the surface charge density caused by protonation or deprotonation. They act as capacitors. The nonprotonated form of polyaniline was used for pH 6.8 to 1.2 and the protonated form of polyaniline was used for pH 6.8 to 13.0. Three regions of curves (acid, neutral, and alkaline) were obtained. The polyaniline-coated graphite electrode is recommended. It offers the advantage of sturdiness and may be used in microscale in HF solution, at high pressure. At pH 2.2, approximately 4,200 H⁺ions were adsorbed by polyaniline per nm². An insignificant number of H⁺ions were adsorbed by polyaniline at pH 6.2; this is close to its isoelectric point.     

Orthogonal Dual‐Triggered Shape‐Memory DNA‐Based Hydrogels

DNA‐based shape‐memory hydrogels revealing switchable shape recovery in the presence of two orthogonal triggers are described. In one system, a shaped DNA/acrylamide hydrogel is stabilized by duplex nucleic acids and pH‐responsive cytosine‐rich, i‐motif, bridges. Separation of the i‐motif bridges at pH 7.4 transforms the hydrogel into a quasi‐liquid, shapeless state, that includes the duplex bridges as permanent shape‐memory elements. Subjecting the quasi‐liquid state to pH 5.0 or Ag⁺ ions recovers the hydrogel shape, due to the stabilization of the hydrogel by i‐motif or C‐Ag⁺‐C bridged i‐motif. The cysteamine‐induced transformation of the duplex/C‐Ag⁺‐C bridged i‐motif hydrogel into a quasi‐liquid shapeless state results in the recovery of the shaped hydrogel in the presence of H⁺ or Ag⁺ ions as triggers. In a second system, a shaped DNA/acrylamide hydrogel is generated by DNA duplexes and bridging Pb²⁺ or Sr²⁺ ions‐stabilized G‐quadruplex subunits. Subjecting the shaped hydrogel to the DOTA or KP ligands eliminates the Pb²⁺ or Sr²⁺ ions from the respective hydrogels, leading to shapeless, memory‐containing, quasi‐liquid states that restore the original shapes with Pb²⁺ or Sr²⁺ ions.     

Influence of Dispersing Agents on the Solubility of Perovskites in Water

In this study, solubility behavior of lead magnesium niobate (PMN) powders in water was investigated in the presence of pure polyacrylic acid and polyacrylic acid/polyethylene oxide comb polymers. Experiments were performed by measuring the solubility of PMN in terms of the concentration of Pb⁺² and Mg⁺² ions in supernatant as a function of pH and dispersing agent dosage. The concentrations of the metal ions in supernatant were found to be affected by the dispersant concentration, stirring time and the suspension pH. Results revealed that both dispersing agents enhance the cation dissolution from PMN surface at pH 9 due to weak (reversible) adsorption and complexation of Pb⁺² and Mg⁺² by carboxylate groups. On the other hand, under acidic conditions cation dissolution from PMN is inhibited and this was attributed to the strong adsorption of dispersing agents onto the powder surface and formation of a dense polymer layer.     

Calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds as the neutral carrier in silver ion-selective electrode

The performance of calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds used as neutral carriers for silver selective polymeric membrane electrode was investigated. The silver ion-selective electrode based on calix[2]furano[2]pyrroles gave a good Nernstian response of 57.1 mV per decade for silver ion in the activity range 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻² M. The present silver ion-selective electrode displayed very good selectivity for Ag⁺ ion against alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, NH₄⁺, and H⁺. In particular, the present Ag⁺-selective electrode exhibited very low responses towards Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of the silver ion-selective electrode exhibited a strong dependence on the solution pH. In particular, the response of the electrode to the Hg²⁺ activity was greatly diminished at pH 2.5 compared to that at pH 5.0. Overall, the performance of the present silver ion-selective electrode based on the ionophore, calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole, is very comparable to that of the electrode prepared with the commercially available neutral carrier in terms of slope, linear range, and detection limits.     

Novel Ca-selective merocyanine-type chromoionophore derived from calix[4]arene-diamide

The synthesis and calcium-selective chromogenic ion binding properties of benzothiazolium derivative of calix[4]arene are described. The merocyanine-type ionophore derived from calix[4]arene-diamide showed selective chromogenic properties toward Ca²⁺ ions in aqueous methanol. The compound showed significant Ca²⁺ ion dependent changes in UV-vis spectral properties in the presence of other physiologically important metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺). The pH sensitive chromogenic behavior also suggests that the compound can be used as a sensitive pH indicator around pH 6.5.     

Ion-selective sensors based on molybdenum bronzes

New pH- and sodium ion-sensitive metal-oxide-type sensors have been developed and tested with a direct solid state contact method. Performance was demonstrated at ambient temperature with single crystals of several molybdenum bronzes (i.e. Na_0.9Mo₆O₁₇, Li_0.9Mo₆O₁₇, Li_0.33MoO₃ and K_0.3MoO₃). The pH sensors with Na-molybdenum-oxide bronzes show near ideal Nernstian behavior in the pH range 3–9. The response is not affected by the direction of the pH change. The response time of most molybdenum bronze pH sensors is less than 5 s for 90% response. The sodium molybdenum bronze sensor responded reproducibly and fast to changes of Na⁺ concentration in the range 1–10^–4 mol dm^–3. Cross sensitivity tests to other ions such as H⁺ or K⁺ have shown that the new sodium ion sensor may be used when the concentration of other ions is an order of magnitude smaller than the Na⁺ concentration. pH sensors with single crystals of molybdenum oxide bronzes can be used to follow pH titrations. Electronic Publication     

Label-free sensing of pH and silver nanoparticles using an “OR” logic gate

Many natural phenomena are associated with the presence of two or more separate variables. We report here an “OR” DNA logic gate based on a luminescent platinum(II) switch-on probe for silver nanoparticles and pH, both of which may be considered putative indicators of pollution. The modulation of metal complex/double-stranded DNA complex phosphorescence by Ag⁺ and H⁺ was used to construct a simple, rapid and label-free method for the label-free detection of pH and nanomolar Ag⁺ ions and nanoparticles in aqueous solutions with high selectivity.     

Synthesis and ion-exchange properties of zirconium antimonate

Samples of zirconium antimonate have been prepared under varying conditions of precipitation. Their properties, composition, and ion-exchange behaviour are reported. The 1g K_d vs. pH curves are given for Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Tl³⁺ ions. The distribution coefficients of 26 metal ions have been measured and several separations of analytical and radiochemical importance achieved.     

Adsorption of 137Cs on titanate nanostructures

Various types of sodium and potassium titanate nanostructures (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoribbons, nanwires) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM, as well BET and BJH methods. Adsorption of radiotracer ¹³⁷Cs⁺ ions from aqueous solutions on synthesized titanate nanostructures was investigated in batch technique as a function of contact time, concentration of sodium ions and pH of the solutions. It was found that among the studied nanostructures nanotubes shows the highest selectivity for ¹³⁷Cs, which is related to a zeolitic character of Cs⁺ adsorption. The efficient adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs was obtained in Na⁺ solutions with concentration below 10^?2 M, at pH 7–9 and in contact time above 2 h. Moreover, nanotubes have the higher specific surface area than other nanostructures, which results in better availability of ion exchange groups and high ion exchange capacity. These properties of nanotubes indicate that they may be used for adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs from various types of nuclear wastes.     

Ionophores in Rubidium Ion‐Selective Membrane Electrodes

Binaphthyl‐based crown ethers incorporating anthraquinone, benzoquinone, and 1,4‐dimethoxybezene have been synthesized and tested for Rb⁺ selective ionophores in the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The membrane containing NPOE gave a better Rb⁺ selectivity than those containing either DOA or BPPA as a plasticizer. The response was linear within the concentration range of 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?1 M and the slope was 54.7±0.5 mV/dec. The detection limit was determined to be 9.0×10^?6 M and the optimum pH range of the membrane was 6.0–9.0. The ISE membrane exhibits good selectivity for Rb⁺ over ammonium, alkali metal, and alkaline earth metal ions. Selectivity coefficients for the other metal ions, log K^Pot were ?2.5 for Li⁺, ?2.4 for Na⁺, ?2.0 for H⁺, ?1.0 for K⁺, ?1.2 for Cs⁺, ?1.6 for NH₄⁺, ?4.5 for Mg²⁺, ?5.0 for Ca²⁺,?4.9 for Ba²⁺. The lifetime of the membrane was about one month.     

Extraktion von alkali- und erdalkalimetallionen mit (sym-dibenzo-14-krone-4-oxy)- und (sym-dibenzo-16-krone-5-oxy)-carbonsäuren

(Extraction of alkali on alkaline earth metal ions with (sym-dibenzo-14-crown-4-oxy)- and (sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-carboxylic acids.)The extraction of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium and some other metal ions with dibenzo-4-crown-4-oxy- and dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxycarboxylic acids containing the groups -CH₂COOH, -(CH₂)₂COOH, -(CH₂)₃COOH, -CH(C₂H₅)COOH and -CH(C₄H₉)COOH was studied. The extraction increases as a function of the lipophilic character of the carboxylic acid group. Calcium, barium and strontium ions are better extracted than Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺; there are only small differences among the alkaline earth metal ions. Evaluated from the extraction data, the composition of the extracted species was 1:1 (metal/ligand) for Li⁺, and 1:2 for CaCa²⁺; Na⁺ and K⁺ favour the formation of 1:2 complexes with dibenzo-14-crown-4-derivatives bbut 1:1 complexes with dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy-carboxylic acids. The dependence of the distribution ratio on pH does not provide unequivocal evidence for the composition of the extracted compounds.     

Three-dimensional printed knotted reactors enabling highly sensitive differentiation of silver nanoparticles and ions in aqueous environmental samples

Whether silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) persist or release silver ions (Ag⁺) when discharged into a natural environment has remained an unresolved issue. In this study, we employed a low-cost stereolithographic three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology to fabricate the angle-defined knotted reactors (KRs) to construct a simple differentiation scheme for quantitative assessment of Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs in municipal wastewater samples. We chose xanthan/phosphate-buffered saline as a dispersion medium for in situ stabilization of the two silver species, while also facilitating their extraction from complicated wastewater matrices. After method optimization, we measured extraction efficiencies of 54.5 and 32.3% for retaining Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs, respectively, in the printed KR (768-turn), with detection limits (DLs) of 0.86 and 0.52 ng L⁻¹ when determining Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs, respectively (sample run at pH 11 without a rinse solution), and 0.86 ng L⁻¹ when determining Ag⁺ ions alone (sample run at pH 12 with a 1.5-mL rinse solution). The proposed scheme is tolerant of the wastewater matrix and provides more reliable differentiation between Ag⁺/AgNPs than does a conventional filtration method. The concept and applicability of adopting 3DP technology to renew traditional KR devices were evidently proven by means of these significantly improved analytical performance. Our analytical data suggested that the concentrations of Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs in the tested industrial wastewater sample were both higher than those in domestic wastewater, implying that industrial activity might be a main source of environmental silver species, rather than domestic discharge from AgNP-containing products.     

Electro-chromatography in the separation of ions : Part III. Separation of silver group metals

The migration sequences of silver group ions Ag⁺, Hg₂⁺², Pb⁺²and Ti⁺ have been studied in a number of complex-forming electrolytes. Based on the migration sequences, the ions in a mixture can be separated into distinct zones using a decinormal solution of sodium chloride, potassium chloride or potassium cyanide as the electrolyte. The sequence is Hg — Ag— Pb—Ti, while in KCN at pH 7.0 the sequence becomes Ag—Hg—Pb—Ti.