Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes for solid-phase extraction of organophosphate pesticide

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was developed as a new sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of organophosphate (OP) pesticides. A combination of SPE with square-wave voltammetric (SWV) analysis resulted in a fast, sensitive, and selective electrochemical method for determination of OP pesticide using methyl parathion (MP) as a representative. Because of the strong affinity of MWCNT for phosphoric group, nitroaromatic OP compounds can strongly bind to the MWCNT surface. The macroporosity and heterogeneity of MWCNT allow extracting a large amount of MP less than 5 min. The stripping response was highly linear over the MP range of 0.05–2.0 μg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.005 μg/mL. The determination of MP in garlic samples showed acceptable accuracy. The fast extraction ability of MWCNT makes it promising sorbent for various solid-phase extractions.     

Stripping voltammetric analysis of organophosphate pesticides based on solid-phase extraction at zirconia nanoparticles modified electrode

A sensitive electrochemical stripping voltammetric method for analyzing organophosphate (OP) compounds was developed based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) at zirconia (ZrO₂) nanoparticles modified electrode. ZrO₂ nanoparticles were proved as a new sorbent for SPE of OP pesticides. Because of the strong affinity of ZrO₂ for the phosphoric group, nitroaromatic OPs can strongly bind to the ZrO₂ nanoparticle surface. The combination of SPE with square-wave voltammetry (SWV) provided a fast, sensitive, and selective electrochemical method for nitroaromatic OP compounds using methyl parathion (MP) as a model. The stripping response was highly linear over the MP range of 0.003–2.0 μg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.001 μg/mL. The fast extraction ability of ZrO₂ nanoparticles makes it promising sorbent for various solid-phase extractions.     

Empirical force-field and ab initio calculations on delocalized open chain cations

Force-field calculations are reported for large delocalized cations. The results for the geometries, heats of formation, and π-electron densities agree well with MP2(full)/6–31G^* ab initio calculations. Both methods give similar results for the distortion of the carbon skeletons of unsubstituted cations by hyperconjugating methyl groups. Because of the SCF treatment of π-interactions, the MMP2 force-field technique enables calculations of resonance energies in delocalized cations. The additional resonance stabilization produced by extending conjugation is directly related to the π-charge on the carbon at which a vinyl group is substituted. The good agreement of MMP2 results for nonbonded resonance effects in large delocalized cationic π-systems with ab initio data suggests that MMP2 can be used to study the influence of these interactions in cationic π-systems too large to be calculated by correlated ab initio methods. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

π-hole bonding: A new retention mechanism for the solid phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the hexane extracts of soil samples

In this work, the perfluorobenzene-bonded silica sorbent was tested to adsorb polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in hexane. In the comparison experiments, the perfluorobenzene-bonded sorbent's performance was better than octadecyl silica sorbent and phenyl-bonded silica sorbents, which indicated that the π-hole···π bonds between perfluorobenzene and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were stronger than π···π interactions and hydrophobic interactions in hexane. Then the perfluorobenzene-bonded silica sorbent was applied to solid-phase extraction of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the hexane extracts of soil samples directly without the solvent replacement, which simplified the soil pretreatment process. And the results showed that under the optimal conditions, the proposed method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment soil presented good recoveries and stabilities for the 10 heavier polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the recoveries ranging from 75.1% to 104.6% and the relative standard deviations being in the range of 1.4%–5.8%. The limits of detection of the method varied from 0.1 to 2 ng/g. This work reveals the great application potential of the π-hole bond as a new retention mechanism in the field of solid-phase extraction.     

Methyl Parathion Degrading Enzyme‐based Nano‐hybrid Biosensor for Enhanced Methyl Parathion Recognition

Enzyme‐based electrochemical biosensors with sufficient sensing specificity are useful analytical tools for detection of biologically important substances in complicated systems. Here, we present the design of a nano‐hybrid biosensor for the specific and sensitive detection of methyl parathion (MP). The nano‐hybrid sensing film was prepared via the formation of Au nanoparticals (AuNPs) on silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), mixing with multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNTs) and subsequent immobilization of methyl parathion degrading enzyme (MPD). The fabrication procedure was characterized by scanning electron images, linear scan voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The combined MPD exhibited high affinity to it substrate and thus a selective, sensitive, fast and cheap method for determination of MP, quantitatively was proposed. A significant synergistic effect of nano‐hybrid on the biosensor performance was observed in biosensing MP. The square wave voltammetric responses displayed well defined peaks, linearly proportional to the concentration of MP in the range from 0.001 to 5.0 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL. The proposed biosensor also showed good precision and reproducibility, acceptable stability and accuracy in garlic samples analysis. It provided a platform for the simple and fast construction of biosensors with good performance for the determination of enzyme‐specific electroactive species.     

Empirical force field and ab initio calculations on allyl cations

Allyl cation geometries optimized using an extended version of MMP2, newly parameterized for localized and delocalized classical cations, compare favorably with those obtained at the MP2(full) /6–31G^* level. Hence, the force field should provide good starting structures for ab initio calculations. The π-electron densities obtained by these two very different methods are quite similar. The relative energies of various isomers at MP4/6–31G^*//MP2(full)/6–31G^* are reproduced well by the force-field calculations. The heats of formation calculated by MMP2, as well as those predicted from the ab initio data, agree with experimentally determined values. The force-field method provides interpretive capabilities. Energy differences between isomers can be separated into electronic and steric contributions, reasonable estimates of resonance energies are given, and nonbonded resonance energies in delocalized cations can be evaluated. The stabilizing 1–3 π-interactions in allyl cations are quite significant, but are reduced by alkyl groups hyperconjugatively and sterically. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A new method for empirical force field calculations on localized and delocalized carbocations

A new empirical force field method for localized and delocalized carbocations is described. Additional geometry parameters for carbocations were added to Allinger's MMP2 molecular mechanics program, which can treat delocalized π-systems. The effect of hyperconjugation in carbocations is introduced via a quantum chemical term into force field calculations for the first time. The calculated heats of formation are in excellent agreement with a wide range of experimental data; the largest deviations are about 3.5 kcal/mol. The calculated structures agree very well with those computed at correlated ab initio levels (MP2(full)/6-31G*). The relative energies and geometries of different conformations of representative carbocations also were in good agreement with MP4/6-31G*//MP2(full)/6-31G* results. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rapid and efficient one‐step purification of a serralysin family protease by using a p‐aminobenzamidine‐modified affinity medium

The metalloproteinase MP belongs to the serralysin family, which is involved in important functions such as nutrient acquisition and infection pathogenesis. Serralysin proteases in highly purified form are commonly used at the industrial level with several purposes. In this study, we set up an efficient and rapid purification protocol for MP using a p‐aminobenzamidine‐modified affinity chromatography. The affinity medium was synthesized by using p‐aminobenzamidine as affinity ligand immobilized via cyanuric chloride spacer to Sepharose 6B sorbent carrier. According to the adsorption analysis, the dissociation constant K _d and theoretical maximum adsorption Q _max of this medium were 24.2 μg/mL and 24.1 mg/g wet sorbent, respectively. The purity of MP was assessed by a high‐performance liquid chromatography on a TSK3000SW column and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealing values of 98.7 and ∼98%, respectively. The specific activity of purified MP was 95.6 U/mg, which is similar to values obtained through traditional purification protocols. In conclusion, our protocol could be easily employed for the rapid isolation of MP with high purity, and could be implemented for other serralysin family proteases.     

Ionic liquid–graphene hybrid nanosheets-based electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of methyl parathion

In this work, ionic liquid–graphene nanosheets (IL–GNs) were synthesised and used as an enhanced material for sensitive detection of methyl parathion (MP) by electrochemical method. IL–GNs were characterised by UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed that IL was successfully covered on the surface of GNs. Significantly, due to the coupling of excellent properties of GNs and IL, the IL–GNs-modified glassy carbon electrode (IL–GNs/GCE) showed higher signals for MP response than the GNs/GCE and bare GCE. At the IL–GNs/GCE, the peak currents increase linearly with the concentration of MP in the range of 5.3 ng/mL to 2.6 μg/mL with the detection limit of 1.1 ng/mL, which was better than other enzyme-based and enzymeless sensors. The IL–GNs-based electrochemical sensor was also successfully demonstrated for the detection of water sample with satisfactory results. Furthermore, the proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited satisfied stability and reproducibility. The simple sensing platform can be extended to detect other organophosphate pesticide.     

Immobilization of catalase on membranes of poly(ethylene)-g-co-acrylic acid and poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-g-co-acrylic acid and their application in hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensors

The immobilization of catalase on grafted membranes of poly(ethylene)-g-co-acrylic acid and poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-g-co-acrylic acid and their application in hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensors is described. The introduction of carboxylic acid groups onto a hydrophobic support provides a good environment for subsequent enzyme immobilization. This single membrane, hydrogen peroxide sensor showed significant improvement with respect to the double membrane versions. The response is very rapid, the linear range being from 10 μM up to 6 mM, with a detection limit of 4.7 μM, and a lifetime of more than 4 months.     

Economical and Environmentally Friendly Organic hydrazone Derivatives Characterized by a Heteroaromatic Core as Potential Hole Transporting Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells

A series of organic electron-rich π-bridged symmetric hydrazones, composed of two donor moieties connected through a thiophene- or a pyrrole-based π-spacer, has been synthesized as a suitable alternative to 2,2’,7,7’-tetrakis[N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-9,9’-spirobifluorene ( Spiro-OMeTAD ), considered the benchmark hole transporting material (HTM) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The cheap synthetic protocol is suitable for potential large-scale production. All the compounds were characterized, showing good energy levels alignments with the perovskite and very close energy levels to the Spiro-OMeTAD . Furthermore, computational analysis confirmed the electrochemical trend observed. The costs of synthesis were estimated, as well as the produced waste to synthesise the final HTMs, underlining the low impact of these compounds on the environment with the respect to Spiro-OMeTAD . Overall, the relevant electrochemical properties and the low cost of the synthetic approaches allow these compounds to be a greener and easy-to-synthesize alternative to the Spiro-OMeTAD for industrial development of PSCs.     

Screen-printed electrochemical sensors for label-free potentiometric and impedimetric detection of human serum albumin

Herein, two electrochemical methods based on potentiometric and impedimetric transductions were presented for albumin targeting, employing screen-printed platforms (SPEs) to make easy and cost-effective sensors with good detection merits. The SPEs incorporated ion-to-electron multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) transducer. Sensors were constructed using either tridodecyl methyl-ammonium chloride (TDMACl) (sensor I) or aliquate 336S (sensor II) in plasticized polymeric matrices of carboxylated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-COOH). Analytical performances of the sensors were evaluated using the above-mentioned electrochemical techniques. For potentiometric assay, constructed sensors responded to albumin with −81.7 ± 1.7 (r² = 0.9986) and −146.2 ± 2.3 mV/decade (r² = 0.9991) slopes over the linearity range 1.5 μM–1.5 mM with 0.8 and 1.0 μM detection limits for respective TDMAC- and aliquate-based sensors. Interference study showed apparent selectivity for both sensors. Impedimetric assays were performed at pH = 7.5 in 10 mM PBS buffer solution with a 0.02 M [Fe(CN)₆]^−3/−4 redox-active electrolyte. Sensors achieved detection limits of 4.3 × 10⁻⁸ and 1.8 × 10⁻⁷ M over the linear ranges of 5.2×10⁻⁸–1.0×10⁻⁴ M and 1.4×10⁻⁶–1.4×10⁻³ M, with 0.09 ± 0.004 and 0.168 ± 0.009 log Ω/decade slopes for sensors based on TDMAC and aliquate, respectively. These sensors are characterized with simple construction, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response time, single-use, and cost-effectiveness. The methods were successfully applied to albumin assessment in different biological fluids.     

Extraction and Determination of β-Sitosterol from Salicornia herbacea L. Using Monolithic Cartridge

A short ionic liquids-based monolithic cartridge was prepared and used as the selective extraction sorbent. Characteristic and evaluation are investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and a new approach was developed for the extraction and determination of β-sitosterol from Salicornia herbacea L. using the ionic liquids-based monolithic cartridge. Chromatographic analysis was conducted on a C₁₈ column with UV detection at 210 nm, and an eluting solution consisting of acetonitrile–water (60/40, v/v) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹. The linearity was confirmed in the concentration range of 0.50–100.00 μg mL⁻¹, with RSDs within 4.20%, and a recovery of β-sitosterol ranging from 97.20 to 102.93%. This method effectively removed the impurities without any tedious pretreatment, and it provided a fast, economic and effective way to assay trace drugs from natural plants.

     

Applications of ionic liquids in electrochemical sensors

Ionic liquids (ILs) are molten salts with the melting point close to or below room temperature. They are composed of two asymmetrical ions of opposite charges that only loosely fit together (usually bulky organic cations and smaller anions). The good solvating properties, high conductivity, non-volatility, low toxicity, large electrochemical window (i.e. the electrochemical potential range over which the electrolyte is neither reduced nor oxidized on electrodes) and good electrochemical stability, make ILs suitable for many applications. Recently, novel ion selective sensors, gas sensors and biosensors based on ILs have been developed. IL gels were found to have good biocompatibility with enzymes, proteins and even living cells. Besides a brief discussion of the properties of ILs and their general applications based on these properties, this review focuses on the application of ILs in electroanalytical sensors.     

Electrochemical Motion Tracking of Microorganisms Using a Large‐Scale‐Integration‐Based Amperometric Device

Motion tracking of microorganisms is useful to investigate the effects of chemical or physical stimulation on their biological functions. Herein, we describe a novel electrochemical imaging method for motion tracking of microorganisms using a large‐scale integration (LSI)‐based amperometric device. The device consists of 400 electrochemical sensors with a pitch of 250 μm. A convection flow caused by the motion of microorganisms supplies redox species to the sensors and increases their electrochemical responses. Thus, the flow is converted to electrochemical signals, enabling the electrochemical motion tracking of the microorganisms. As a proof of concept, capillary vibration was monitored. Finally, the method was applied to monitoring the motion of Daphnia magna . The motions of these microorganisms were clearly tracked based on the electrochemical oxidation of [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ and reduction of O₂.     

Nitrite Oxidation with Copper–Cobalt Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes Doped Conducting Polymer PEDOT Composite

Copper–cobalt bimetal nanoparticles (Cu?Co) have been electrochemically prepared on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs), which were electrodeposited with conducting polymer nanocomposites of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Owing to their good conductivity, high mechanical strength, and large surface area, the PEDOT/CNTs composites offered excellent substrates for the electrochemical deposition of Cu?Co nanoparticles. As a result of their nanostructure and the synergic effect between Cu and Co, the Cu?Co/PEDOT/CNTs composites exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity towards the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite. Under optimized conditions, the nanocomposite‐modified electrodes had a fast response time within 2 s and a linear range from 0.5 to 430 μm for the detection of nitrite, with a detection limit of 60 nm . Moreover, the Cu?Co/PEDOT/CNTs composites were highly stable, and the prepared nitrite sensors could retain more than 96 % of their initial response after 30 days.     

Some remarks on the core resonance integral as used in the semi-empirical π-electron calculations

A simple semi-theoretical expression for β, the core resonance integral as used in the semi-empirical π-èlectron calculations has been proposed. β's for some standard C ? C and C ? 0 lengths have been evaluated with the proposed formula and the calculated values are compared with those obtained by other semi-theoretical and empirical methods. Electronic spectra of ethylene, formaldehyde, trans-butadiene and benzene have been calculated by a Pariser-Parr-like semi-empirical method with the values of β thus obtained. The calculated spectra are found to be in good agreement with the observed ones.     

Theoretical studies on the diazacyclopentadienylidenes: An analysis of aromatic versus nonaromatic systems and singlet versus triplet reactivity

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been carried out on the various electronic states of 2,3- ( 6 ), 2,4- ( 7 ), 2,5- ( 8 ), and 3,4-diazacyclopentadienylidene ( 9 ) at the fully geometry optimized 6–31G* level, with single point calculations being carried out at the MP2/6–31G* level. The calculated geometries are interpreted in terms of the degree of occupancy and the nature of the π and σ-nonbonded MO's. At the 6–31G* level the five π-electron, π,σ-triplet states were calculated to be considerably lower in energy. At the MP2/6–31G* level, however, with 7 the six π-electron singlet state is calculated to lie only slightly above the five π-electron triplet (0.4 kcal mole⁻¹), whereas with 8 and 9 the aromatic six π-electron singlet states are calculated to be lower in energy (9.0 and 8.1 kcal mole⁻¹). With 3 and 9 the aromatic six π-electron σ-triplet states lie only 3.6 and 5.5 kcal mole⁻¹ above the lowest energy states. It is concluded that, in general, the energy gained by having an electron in a lower energy σ-type MO instead of a higher energy π MO effectively offsets the energy gained by having an aromatic π system. The results are discussed in terms of the observed chemistry of 6–9 and their substituted systems.     

Reduced Graphene Oxide Impregnated Antimony Nanoparticle Sensor for Electroanalysis of Platinum Group Metals

A very sensitive electrochemical sensor based on a reduced graphene oxide film impregnated with antimony nanoparticles was prepared and applied to the electroanalysis of platinum group metal ions of Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III). The electrochemical behavior of platinum group metals at the modified electrode was studied by adsorptive differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of dimethylglyoxime as chelating agent. Several operational parameters were optimised to enhance the electroanalytical performance of the modified glassy carbon electrode sensor. The results showed sharp stripping peaks and a relatively constant peak potential with a good linear behaviour in the examined concentration range from 40 to 400 pg L^?1 for all metal ions investigated. The detection limit was found to be 0.45, 0.49 and 0.49 pg L^?1 (S/N=3) for Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III), respectively. The developed electrochemical sensor also exhibited good precision with a relative standard deviation of 4.2 %, 2.55 % and 2.67 % for 5 successive measurements for Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III), respectively. The proposed nanostructure showed good sensitivity and stability, which has promising potential applications in electrochemical sensors.     

Two π-Electrons Make the Difference: From BODIPY to BODIIM Switchable Fluorescent Dyes

(aza-)BODIPY dyes (boron dipyrromethene dyes) are well-established fluorophores due to their large quantum yields, stability, and diversity, which led to promising applications including imaging techniques, sensors, organic (opto)electronic materials, or biomedical applications. Although the control of the optical properties in (aza-)BODIPY dyes by peripheral functional groups is well studied, we herein present a novel approach to modify the 12 π-electron core of the dipyrromethene scaffold. The replacement of two carbon atoms in the β-position of a BODIPY dye by two nitrogen atoms afforded a 14 π-electron system, which was termed BODIIM (boron diimidazolylmethene) in systematic analogy to the BODIPY dyes. Remarkably, the BODIIM dye was obtained with a BH₂-rigidifying entity, which is currently elusive and highly sought after for the BODIPY dye class. DFT-Calculations confirm the [12+2] π-electron relationship between BODIPY and BODIIM and reveal a strong shape correlation between LUMO in the BODIPY and the HOMO of the BODIIM. The modification of the π-system leads to a dramatic shift of the optical properties, of which the fluorescent emission is most noteworthy and occurs at much larger Stokes shift, that is, ≈500 cm⁻¹ in BODIPY versus >4170 cm⁻¹ in BODIIM system in all solvents investigated. Nucleophilic reactivity was found at the meso-carbon atom in the formation of stable borane adducts with a significant shift of the fluorescent emission, and this behavior contrasts the reactivity of conventional BODIPY systems. In addition, the reverse decomplexation of the borane adducts was demonstrated in reactions with a representative N-heterocyclic carbene to retain the strongly fluorescent BODIIM compound, which suggests applications as fully reversible fluorescent switch.