A new modified conducting carbon composite electrode as sensor for ascorbate and biosensor for glucose

A new carbon-based conducting composite has been developed as electrochemical sensor and biosensor for the amperometric detection of ascorbate and glucose. Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbate has been done successfully at unmodified cellulose acetate-graphite composite electrodes, the sensor being highly sensitive, selective and with a low detection limit at 0.0 V vs. SCE and was successfully applied for ascorbate determination in commercial fruit juice samples. An interference free glucose biosensor has also been developed, based on the immobilisation of glucose oxidase by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde on poly (neutral red) modified composite electrodes. The biosensor exhibits a higher sensitivity of 31.5 ± 1.7 µA cm^− 2 mM^− 1 than other carbon-composite-based glucose biosensors, a detection limit of 20.3 µM and a very short response time.     

Study on the interaction between antibacterial drug and bovine serum albumin: A spectroscopic approach

The binding of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by spectroscopic methods viz., fluorescence, FT-IR and UV–vis absorption techniques. The binding parameters have been evaluated by fluorescence quenching method. The thermodynamic parameters, ΔH°, ΔS°and ΔG° were observed to be −58.0 kJ mol⁻¹, −111 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and −24 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. These indicated that the hydrogen bonding and weak van der Waals forces played a major role in the interaction. Based on the Forster's theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding average distance, r, between the donor (BSA) and acceptor (SMZ) was evaluated and found to be 4.12 nm. Spectral results showed the binding of SMZ to BSA induced conformational changes in BSA. The effect of common ions and some of the polymers used in drug delivery for control release was also tested on the binding of SMZ to BSA. The effect of common ions revealed that there is adverse effect on the binding of SMZ to BSA.     

Development of an amperometric biosensor based on covalent immobilization of tyrosinase on a boron-doped diamond electrode

An amperometric enzyme electrode based on direct covalent immobilization of tyrosinase on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode has been developed for the detection of phenolic compounds. Combined chemical and electrochemical modifications of the BDD film with 4-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, an aminophenyl-modified BDD (AP–BDD) surface was produced, and then the tyrosinase was covalently immobilized on the BDD surface via carbodiimide coupling. The response dependences of the enzyme electrode (Tyr–AP–BDD electrode) on pH of solution, applied potential, oxygen level and phenolic compounds diffusion were studied. The Tyr–AP–BDD electrode shows a linear response range of 1–200, 1–200 and 1–250 μM and sensitivity of 232.5, 636.7 and 385.8 mA M⁻¹ cm⁻² for phenol, p-cresol and 4-chlorophenol, respectively. 90 percent of the enzyme activity of the Tyr–AP–BDD electrode is retained for 5 weeks storing in 0.1 M PBS (pH 6.5) at 4 °C.     

Preparation and electrical properties of new oxide ion conductors Ce6−xDyxMoO15−δ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.8)

Ce_6−xDy_xMoO_15−δ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.8) were synthesized by modified sol–gel method. Structural and electrical properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The XRD patterns showed that the materials were single phase with a cubic fluorite structure. Impedance spectroscopy measurement in the temperature range between 350 °C and 800 °C indicated a sharp increase in conductivity for the system containing small amount of Dy₂O₃. The Ce_5.6Dy_0.4MoO_15−δ detected to be the best conducting phase with the highest conductivity (σ_t = 8.93 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹) is higher than that of Ce_5.6Sm_0.4MoO_15−δ (σ_t = 2.93 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹) at 800 °C, and the corresponding activation energy of Ce_5.6Dy_0.4MoO_15−δ (0.994 eV) is lower than that of Ce_5.6Sm_0.4MoO_15−δ (1.002 eV).     

Dinitrogen and carbon monoxide hydrogen bonding in protonic zeolites: Studies from variable-temperature infrared spectroscopy

Adsorption (at a low temperature) of nitrogen on the protonic zeolite H-Y results in hydrogen bonding of the adsorbed N₂ molecules with the zeolite Si(OH)Al Brønsted-acid groups. This hydrogen-bonding interaction leads to activation, in the infrared, of the fundamental N–N stretching mode, which appears at 2334 cm⁻¹. From infrared spectra taken over a temperature range, the standard enthalpy of formation of the OH···N₂ complex was found to be ΔH⁰ = −15.7(±1) kJ mol⁻¹. Similarly, variable-temperature infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the standard enthalpy change involved in formation of H-bonded CO complexes for CO adsorbed on the zeolites H-ZSM-5 and H-FER; the corresponding values of ΔH⁰ were found to be −29.4(±1) and −28.4(±1) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The whole set of results was analysed in the context of other relevant data available in the literature.     

Direct electrochemistry of cytochrome P450 27B1 in surfactant films

We report the first direct electrochemistry of cytochrome P450 27B1 (CYP27B1) immobilized on an edge-plane pyrolytic graphite (EPG) electrode coated with a film of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a deoxygenated solution revealed excellent electrochemical reversibility with an average midpoint potential of −180 ± 5 mV vs. Ag/AgCl and an apparent surface coverage of (7.0 ± 2.5) × 10¹³ molecules per cm². The rate of heterogeneous electron transfer between CYP27B1 and the EPG electrode was determined to be 3.5 ± 0.6 s⁻¹. Upon addition of oxygen, a significant increase in cathodic current occurred, likely due to electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen to peroxide and/or water by CYP27B1. Characterization of the electrochemical properties of CYP27B1 is an important first step toward developing a bioelectrochemical method for measuring vitamin D in serum.     

Diffusion of Sr and Zr in BaTiO3 single crystals

The diffusion of strontium and zirconium in single crystal BaTiO₃ was investigated in air at temperatures between 1000 °C and 1250 °C. Thin films of SrTiO₃, deposited by spin coating a precursor solution and thin films of zirconium, deposited onto the sample surfaces by sputtering, were used as diffusion sources. The diffusion profiles were measured by SIMS depth profiling on a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (ToF-SIMS). The diffusion coefficients of strontium and zirconium were given by D_Sr = 3.6 × 10^2.0±4.4 exp[−(543 ± 117) kJ mol⁻¹/(RT)] cm² s⁻¹ and D_Zr = 1.1 × 10^1.0±2.1 exp[−(489 ± 56) kJ mol⁻¹/(RT)] cm² s⁻¹. The results are discussed in terms of different diffusion mechanisms in the perovskite structure of BaTiO₃.     

Conformational analysis and vibrational spectroscopic investigation of 3-phenylpropylamine

The possible stable forms of 3-phenylpropylamine (3-PPA) molecule were experimentally and theoretically studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. FT-IR and Raman spectra of 3-PPA were recorded in the regions of 4000–400 cm⁻¹ and 3700–60 cm⁻¹, respectively. The potential energy surface corresponding to the internal rotations of the molecule was investigated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical methods, and appropriate conformers defined with B3LYP hybrid density functional theory method along with the basis sets of different size and type. Results from experimental and theoretical data showed the trans–trans–gauche (TTG) to be the most stable form of a 3-PPA molecule.     

Recombination of KrD and XeD ions with electrons

Recombination rate coefficients of protonated and deuterated ions KrH⁺, KrD⁺, XeH⁺ and XeD⁺ were measured using Flowing Afterglow with Langmuir Probe (FALP). Helium at 1600 Pa and at temperature 250 K was used as a buffer gas in the experiments. Kr, Xe, H₂ and D₂ were introduced to a flow tube to form the desired ions. Because of small differences in proton affinities of Kr, D₂ and H₂ mixtures of ions, KrD⁺/D₃⁺ and KrH⁺/H₃⁺ are formed in the afterglow plasma, influencing the plasma decay. To obtain a recombination rate coefficient for a particular ion, the dependencies on partial pressures of gases used in the ion formation were measured. The obtained rate coefficients, α_KrD+(250 K) = (0.9 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeD+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ are compared with α_KrH+(250 K) = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeH+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹.     

Enthalpies of combustion and formation of 2-acetylpyrrole, 2-acetylfuran and 2-acetylthiophene

The combustion energies for 2-acetylpyrrole (cr) and 2-acetylfuran (cr) were determined using a static bomb calorimeter, whereas the combustion energy of 2-acetylthiophene (l) was determined with a rotating bomb calorimeter; both calorimeters have been recently described. The molar combustion energies obtained were: −(3196.1 ± 0.6) kJ mol⁻¹ for 2-acetylpyrrole, −(2933.8 ± 0.7) kJ mol⁻¹ for 2-acetylfuran, and −(3690.4 ± 0.8) kJ mol⁻¹ for 2-acetylthiophene. From these combustion energy values, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the condensate phase were obtained as: −(163.51 ± 0.97) kJ mol⁻¹, −(283.50 ± 1.06) kJ mol⁻¹ and −(123.93 ± 1.15) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The obtained values of combustion and formation enthalpies of 2-acetylthiophene are in concordance with the reported previously. For the two last compounds, polyethene bags were used as an auxiliary material in the combustion experiments. The heat capacities and purities of the compounds were determined using a differential scanning calorimeter.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of the arsenate mineral strashimirite Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4·5H2O—Relationship to other basic copper arsenates

The basic copper arsenate mineral strashimirite Cu₈(AsO₄)₄(OH)₄·5H₂O from two different localities has been studied by Raman spectroscopy and complemented by infrared spectroscopy. Two strashimirite mineral samples were obtained from the Czech (sample A) and Slovak (sample B) Republics. Two Raman bands for sample A are identified at 839 and 856 cm⁻¹ and for sample B at 843 and 891 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the ν₁ (AsO₄³⁻) symmetric and the ν₃ (AsO₄³⁻) antisymmetric stretching modes, respectively. The broad band for sample A centred upon 500 cm⁻¹, resolved into component bands at 467, 497, 526 and 554 cm⁻¹ and for sample B at 507 and 560 cm⁻¹ include bands which are attributable to the ν₄ (AsO₄³⁻) bending mode. In the Raman spectra, two bands (sample A) at 337 and 393 cm⁻¹ and at 343 and 374 cm⁻¹ for sample B are attributed to the ν₂ (AsO₄³⁻) bending mode. The Raman spectrum of strashimirite sample A shows three resolved bands at 3450, 3488 and 3585 cm⁻¹. The first two bands are attributed to water stretching vibrations whereas the band at 3585 cm⁻¹ to OH stretching vibrations of the hydroxyl units. Two bands (3497 and 3444 cm⁻¹) are observed in the Raman spectrum of B. A comparison is made of the Raman spectrum of strashimirite with the Raman spectra of other selected basic copper arsenates including olivenite, cornwallite, cornubite and clinoclase.     

Crystal Structure and Thermal Decomposition of 5-Aminotetrazole Trinitrophloroglucinolate

5-Aminotetrazole trinitrophloroglucinolate ((ATZ)TNPG) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and it belonged to orthorhombic system and Pbca space group with a=0.6624(2) nm, b=1.7933(4) nm, c=2.3117(5) nm, V=2.7458(9) nm³, Z=4, and D_c=1.849 g·cm⁻³. The molecular formula was confirmed to be (ATZ)TNPG·2H₂O. 5-Aminotetrazole cation (ATZ⁺) and trinitrophloroglucinol anion (TNPG⁻) were linked into 2-D layers along b-axis and c-axis by hydrogen bonds. Then the layers were linked along a-axis by hydrogen bonds between the water molecules belonging to different layers. The thermal decomposition mechanism of the compound was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry-thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques. Under nitrogen atmosphere with a heating rate of 10 °C·min⁻¹, the compound experienced one endothermic process with peak temperature of 76 °C and one exothermal process with peak temperature of 203 °C. The former was confirmed to be a dehydrate process. The latter was the decomposition of TNPG⁻ and ATZ⁺ in the compound. The exothermic enthalpy change of this process was −212.10 kJ·mol⁻¹. The kinetic parameter calculation from Kissinger's method were, E=132.1 kJ·mol⁻¹, ln(A/s⁻¹)=12.54 with r=0.9990, and the calculation results from Ozawa-Doyle's method were, E=133.1 kJ·mol⁻¹ with r=0.9992.     

Improvement in performance of a direct ethanol fuel cell: Effect of sulfuric acid and Ni-mesh

A direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) is developed with low catalyst loading at anode and cathode compared to that reported in the literature. Pt/Ru (40%:20% by wt.)/C and Pt-black were used as anode and cathode catalyst with loadings in the range of 0.5–1.2 mg/cm². The temperatures of anode and cathode were varied from 34 °C to 110 °C, and the pressure was maintained at 1 bar. Although low catalyst loading was used, the cell performance is enhanced by 40–50% with the use of low concentration of sulfuric acid in ethanol and Ni-mesh as current collector at the anode. The power density 15 mW/cm² at 32 mA/cm² of current density is obtained from the single cell with 0.5 mg/cm² loading of Pt–Ru/C at anode (90 °C) and Pt-black at cathode (110 °C). The performance of DEFC increases with the increase in ethanol and sulfuric acid concentrations, electrocatalyst loadings up to 1 mg cm⁻² at anode and cathode. However, the performance of DEFC decreases with further increase in electrocatalyst loading.     

The standard partial molar entropy of the aqueous tetra-n-butylammonium cation

The standard partial molar entropy of the aqueous tetrabutylammonium cation, not known previously, has now been obtained, based on the molar entropy of two of its crystalline salts, the iodide and the tetraphenylborate, recently determined experimentally for this purpose. The calculation required also published molar enthalpies of solution and solubilities of these two salts as well as of the perchlorate. The choice of the anions depended mainly on the limited solubilities of the examined salts in water, facilitating the estimation of the relevant activity coefficients. The result is S^∞(Bu₄N⁺, aq) = (380 ± 20) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ at T = 298.15 K, on the mol · dm⁻³ scale and based on S^∞(H⁺, aq) = (−22.2 ± 1.2) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ (yielding the ‘absolute’ value). The molar entropy of this cation in the ideal gas standard state, S(Bu₄N⁺, g) = (798 ± 8) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ then yielded the molar entropy of hydration Δ_hydS^∞ (Bu₄N⁺) = (−418 ± 23) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹.     

Column Preconcentration of Aluminum and Copper(II) in Alloys, Biological Samples, and Environmental Samples with Alizarin Red S and Cetyltrimethylammonium-Perchlorate Adsorbent Supported on Naphthalene Using Spectrometry

A column method has been established for the preconcentration of aluminum and copper(II) with Alizarin Red S and a cetyltrimethylammonium-perchlorate ion pair supported on naphthalene, using a simple glass-tipped tube. Aluminum and copper(II) react with Alizarin Red S to form water-soluble colored chelate anions. These chelate anions form water-insoluble ternary complexes with the adsorbent on the inactive surface of naphthalene packed into a column. They are quantitatively retained in the pH ranges of 4.7-5.2 for aluminum and 5.0-10.0 for copper. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) for aluminum and 5 ml of ethanol for copper and the absorbance was measured with a spectrometer at 525 nm for aluminum and at 529 nm for copper. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 0.25-5.0 μg of aluminum in 5 ml of DMF solution and 0.50-12.0 μg of copper in 5 ml of ethanol solution. The molar absorptivities and Sandell′s sensitivities were respectively calculated to be 2.8 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 9.62 × 10⁻⁴ μg · cm⁻² for aluminum and 2.5 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 2.5 × 10⁻³ μg · cm⁻² for copper. Seven replicate determinations of sample solutions containing 2.5 μg of aluminum and 6.0 μg of copper gave mean absorbances of 0.520 and 0.480 with relative standard deviations of 1.67 and 0.33%, respectively. Interference due to various foreign ions has been studied and the method has been applied to the determination of aluminum in standard alloys, tea leaves, vehicle particulates, copper in coal fly ash, and commercial salt samples.     

Thermochemical data for n-alkylmonoamine intercalation into crystalline lamellar zirconium phenylphosphonate

Layered crystalline zirconium phenylphosphonate, Zr(O₃PC₆H₅)₂, changed its interlamellar distance of 1481 pm after intercalation of n-alkylmonoamines, CH₃---(CH₂)_n---NH₂ (n=0–6). The infrared spectra of the precursor host and the corresponding intercalated compounds presented vibrations associated with PO₃ groups in the 1163–1039 cm⁻¹ range and additional bands related to C---H stretching bands in the 2950–2850 cm⁻¹ interval were observed after amine insertion. The thermogravimetric curves showed a mass loss assigned to the phenyl group; however, the amine intercalated fraction was not quantitatively determined. A peak in the ³¹P NMR spectrum centered at −6 ppm for the host was observed. The surface area was 42.0±0.2 m² g⁻¹ and the scanning electron micrograph gave images consistent with lamellar structural features. The layered compound was calorimetrically titrated with amine in ethanol, requiring three independent operations: (i) titration of matrix with amine, (ii) matrix salvation, and (iii) dilution of the amine solution. From those thermal effects the variation in enthalpy was calculated as: −41±1.00,−33.28±0.50,−34.40±0.80,−10.40±0.40,−12.40±0.42,−16.10±0.08 and −7.0±0.04 kJ mol⁻¹, for n=0–6, respectively. The exothermic enthalpic values reflected a favorable energetic process of amine–host intercalation in ethanol. The negative Gibbs free energy results supported the spontaneity of all these intercalation reactions. The positive favorable entropic values, as carbon chain size increased, are in agreement with the free solvent molecules in the medium, as the amines are progressively bonded to the crystalline lamellar inorganic matrix at the solid/liquid interface.     

Hollow fiber membrane of yttrium-stabilized zirconia and strontium-doped lanthanum manganite dual-phase composite for oxygen separation

The hollow fiber composite membrane involving Zr_0.84Y_0.16O_1.92 (YSZ) as an oxygen ionic conductor and La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO_3−δ (LSM) as an electronic conductor was explored for oxygen separation application. The hollow fiber precursor was prepared by the phase-inversion process, and transformed to a gas-tight ceramic by sintering at 1350 °C. The as-prepared fiber exhibited a thermal expansion coefficient of 11.1 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and a three-point bending strength of 152 ± 12 MPa. An oxygen permeation flux of 2.1 × 10⁻⁷ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ was obtained under air/He gradient at 950 °C for a hollow fiber of length 57.00 mm and wall thickness 0.16 mm. The oxygen permeation flux remained unchanged when the sweeping gas was changed from helium to high concentration of CO₂. Considering the satisfactory trade-off between the permeability and stability, the YSZ–LSM hollow fiber is promising for oxygen production applications.     

EPR and optical absorption studies of Cr ions in d-gluconic acid monohydrate

EPR studies are carried out on Cr³⁺ ions doped in d-gluconic acid monohydrate (C₆H₁₂O₇·H₂O) single crystals at 77 K. From the observed EPR spectra, the spin Hamiltonian parameters g, |D| and |E| are measured to be 1.9919, 349 (×10⁻⁴) cm⁻¹ and 113 (×10⁻⁴) cm⁻¹, respectively. The optical absorption of the crystal is also studied at room temperature. From the observed band positions, the cubic crystal field splitting parameter Dq (2052 cm⁻¹) and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameter B (653 cm⁻¹) are evaluated. From the correlation of EPR and optical data the nature of bonding of Cr³⁺ ion with its ligands is discussed.     

Ternary blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and acrylate-based copolymers: Crystallinity, miscibility, interactions and proton conductivity

In the present work, blends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (PANMA) and poly(4-vinylphenol-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PVPh-HEM) were studied by DSC, FTIR and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). PEO/PANMA blends were found to be immiscible, while PEO/PVPh-HEM blends are miscible and PVPh-HEM/PANMA exhibits partial miscibility behaviour. The ternary PEO/PANMA/PVPh-HEM blends exhibited miscible compositions for PVPh-HEM and PEO-rich systems. The miscibility observed is a direct consequence of the hydrogen bond interactions among the polymer chains, in which the phenol groups in PVPh-HEM interact with both PEO and PANMA chains. The proton conductivity of a selected membrane based on the ternary blend containing 60% PEO and doped with H₃PO₄ aqueous solution reached 8 × 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 3 × 10⁻² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 80 °C.     

壳聚糖修饰PLGA阳离子型纳米微球的制备与表征

采用单乳化-溶剂(O/W)挥发技术制备表面带正电荷的壳聚糖(CHS)修饰聚乙/丙交酯(PLGA)纳米微球(PLGA/CHS), 通过正交试验优化了纳米微球的制备条件. 结果表明, 微球粒径可控制在150～200 nm内, 在pH=4时, 纳米微球表面电位最高为55 mV. 影响微球粒径的主要因素是聚合物的浓度, CHS的分子量和浓度以及介质的pH值对微球表面电位也有明显影响. 制备粒径较小而表面电位较高的PLGA/CHS纳米微球条件为: ρ(CHS)=3 mg/mL, ρ(PLGA)=10 mg/mL, Vo/Va=1/4. SEM图像显示经CHS修饰的PLGA的纳米微球形状规整, 荧光显微观察和XPS分析结果证实CHS包覆于微球表面.