Spectrofluorimetric determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparation using silver nanoparticles

A novel sensitive fluorimetric method was investigated for the assay of fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX) using silver nanoparticles (NPs) as a fluorescence probe. The NPs, which were prepared by chemical reduction of silver nitrate with sodium borohydride (reducing agent) in aqueous solution (without organic stabilizers) were water soluble, stable and had narrow emission band. The addition of drug to NPs solution caused considerable quenching of the emission band of silver NPs, which was likely due to the complexation of the drug to silver NPs. Under the optimum conditions, the quenched fluorescence (FL) intensity was linear with the concentration of FEX in the range of 1 × 10^?7 to 2.5 × 10^?5 mol L^?1 (0.9985) with a detection limit of 1.2 × 10^?8 mol L^?1. The quenching mechanism of the studied drug on the emission band of silver NPs was explained by Stern–Volmer law. The developed method was applied to FEX determination in a pharmaceutical formulation (allegra tablets) and biological fluids (human serum and urine).     

High performance electrochemical sensor based on modified screen-printed electrodes with cost-effective dispersion of nanostructured carbon black

A novel sensor based on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with a stable dispersion of commercially available carbon black (CB) N220 was developed. This probe showed significantly enhanced electrochemical activity relative to a bare SPE when tested with ferricyanide, epinephrine, norepinephrine, benzoquinone and NADH. When challenged in amperometric batch mode with NADH, the response was stable and revealed a linear dependence up to 2·10^?4 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 3·10^?7 mol L^?1. The analytical performance, coupled with the low cost of the CB nanomaterial, suggests that this sensor holds promise for electrochemical applications.     

Enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate

The enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O) was measured with respect to crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO), glacial acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and liquid water by room temperature solution calorimetry. The enthalpy of formation was verified by utilizing two independent thermodynamic cycles, using enthalpy of solution measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and in 5 mol · L^?1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions. The enthalpy of the reaction ZnO (cr) + 2CH₃COOH (l) + H₂O (l) to form Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O (cr) is –(65.78 ± 0.36) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 NaOH and –(66.25 ± 0.17) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 HCl. The standard enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O from the elements is –(1669.35 ± 1.30) kJ · mol^?1. This work provides the first calorimetric measurement of the enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O.     

Measuring and validation for isothermal solubility data of solid 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetramethoxychromen-4-one (nobiletin) in supercritical carbon dioxide

Isothermal solubility of 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetramethoxychromen-4-one (nobiletin) in supercritical carbon dioxide at temperatures of (313, 323 and 333) K and pressures from (18 to 31) MPa was measured using an analytic-recirculation methodology, with direct determination of the molar composition of the carbon dioxide-rich phase by using high performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated that the range of the measured solubility of nobiletin was from 107 · 10⁻⁶ mol · mol⁻¹ at T = 333 K and 18.35 MPa to 182 · 10⁻⁶ mol · mol⁻¹ at T = 333 K and 31.40 MPa, with a temperature crossover around 18 MPa. The validation of the experimental solubility data was carried out by using three approaches, namely, estimation of combined expanded uncertainty for each solubility data point from experimental parameters values (⩽77 · 10⁻⁶ mol · mol⁻¹); thermodynamic consistency, verified utilizing a test adapted from tools based on Gibbs–Duhem equation and solubility modelling results; and, self-consistency, proved by correlating the solubility data with a semi-empirical model as a function of temperature, pressure and pure CO₂ density.     

Temperature and sodium chloride effects on the solubility of anthracene in water

The solubility of anthracene was measured in pure water and in sodium chloride aqueous solution (salt concentration, m/mol · kg^?1 = 0.1006, 0.5056, and 0.6082) at temperatures between (278 and 333) K. Solubility of anthracene in pure water agrees fairly well with values reported in earlier similar studies. Solubility of anthracene in sodium chloride aqueous solutions ranged from (6 · 10^?8 to 143 · 10^?8) mol · kg^?1. Sodium chloride had a salting-out effect on the solubility of anthracene. The salting-out coefficients did not vary significantly with temperature over the range studied. The average salting-out coefficient for anthracene was 0.256 kg · mol^?1.The standard molar Gibbs free energies, Δ_trG°, enthalpies, Δ_trH°, and entropies, Δ_trS°, for the transfer of anthracene from pure water to sodium chloride aqueous solutions were also estimated. Most of the estimated Δ_trG° values were positive [(20 to 1230) J · mol^?1]. The analysis of the thermodynamic parameters shows that the transfer of anthracene from pure water to sodium chloride aqueous solution is thermodynamically unfavorable, and that this unfavorable condition is caused by a decrease in entropy.     

Destabilization in the isomeric nitrobenzonitriles: an experimental thermochemical study

The enthalpies of combustion and of sublimation, respectively, of the three isomeric nitrobenzonitriles have been measured: o-, {(−3456.3±2.9), (88.1±1.4)} kJ·mol⁻¹; m-, {(−3442.8±3.3), (92.8±0.3)} kJ·mol⁻¹; p-, {(−3448.2±3.6), (91.1±1.3)} kJ·mol⁻¹. In turn, from these values, the standard molar enthalpies of formation for the condensed and gaseous state, respectively, have been derived: o-, {(130.1±3.1), (218.2±3.4)} kJ·mol⁻¹; m-, {(116.5±3.5), (209.3±3.5)} kJ·mol⁻¹; p-, {(122.0±3.8), (213.1±4.0)} kJ·mol⁻¹. Destabilization energies associated with the presence of the two electron-withdrawing groups have been determined, for o-, m-, and p-nitrobenzonitrile, {(17.6±4.1), (8.7±4.2), and (12.5±4.6)} kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively, and are consistent with those obtained for the corresponding sets of isomeric methyl benzenedicarboxylates, dicyanobenzenes, dinitrobenzenes, and (neutral and ionized) nitrobenzoic acids.     

The molar enthalpies of solution and vapour pressures of saturated aqueous solutions of some cesium salts

Vapour pressures of water over saturated solutions of cesium chloride, cesium bromide, cesium nitrate, cesium sulfate, cesium formate, and cesium oxalate were determined as a function of temperature. These vapour pressures were used to evaluate the water activities, osmotic coefficients and molar enthalpies of vapourization. Molar enthalpies of solution of cesium chloride, Δ_solH_m(T = 295.73 K; m = 0.0622 mol · kg⁻¹) = (17.83 ± 0.50) kJ · mol⁻¹; cesium bromide, Δ_solH_m(T = 293.99 K; m = 0.0238 mol · kg⁻¹) = (26.91 ± 0.59) kJ · mol⁻¹; cesium nitrate, Δ_solH_m(T = 294.68 K; m = 0.0258 mol · kg⁻¹) = (37.1 ± 2.3) kJ · mol⁻¹; cesium sulfate, Δ_solH_m(T = 296.43 K; m = 0.0284 mol · kg⁻¹) = (16.94 ± 0.43) kJ · mol⁻¹; cesium formate, Δ_solH_m(T = 295.64 K; m = 0.0283 mol · kg⁻¹) = (11.10 ± 0.26) kJ · mol⁻¹ and Δ_solH_m(T = 292.64 K; m = 0.0577 mol · kg⁻¹) = (11.56 ± 0.56) kJ · mol⁻¹; and cesium oxalate, Δ_solH_m(T = 291.34 K; m = 0.0143 mol · kg⁻¹) = (22.07 ± 0.16) kJ · mol⁻¹ were determined calorimetrically. The purity of the chemicals was generally greater than 0.99 mass fraction, except for HCOOCs and (COOCs)₂ where purities were approximately 0.95 and 0.97 mass fraction, respectively. The uncertainties are one standard deviations.     

Excess molar volumes of binary mixtures of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with water,or acetone,or 1,4-difluorobenzene,or 4-fluorotoluene,or α,α,α, trifluorotoluene or 1-alcohols at a temperature of 298.15 K and pressure of 101 kPa

Excess molar volumes V_m^E of binary mixtures of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with water, or acetone, or methanol, or ethanol, or 1-alcholos, or 1,4-difluorobenzene, or 4-fluorotoluene or α,α,α-trifluorotoluene were measured in a vibrating tube densimeter at temperature 298.15 K and pressure of 101 kPa. The V_m^E extrema are: 1.540 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + 1-heptanol); 1.452 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + 1-hexanol); 1.238 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + 1-butanol); 0.821 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + 4-fluorotoluene); 0.817 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + ethanol); 0.647 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + methanol); 0.618 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + acetone); 0.605 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + α,α,α-trifluorotoluene); 0.485 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + 1,4-difluorobenzene); and −0.656 cm³ · mol⁻¹ for (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol + water). The limiting excess partial molar volumes are estimated.     

Determination of the energies of combustion and enthalpies of formation of nitrobenzenesulfonamides by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry

The energies of combustion for 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), 3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr) were determined using a recently described rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter. The condensed phase molar energies of combustion obtained were ?(3479.2 ± 1.0) kJ · mol^?1 for 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), ?(3454.2 ± 1.1) kJ · mol^-1 for 3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), and ?(3450.1 ± 1.9) kJ · mol^-1 for 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr). From these combustion energy values, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase were obtained as: ?(341.3 ± 1.3) kJ · mol^?1, ?(366.3 ± 1.3) kJ · mol^?1, and ?(370.4 ± 2.1) kJ · mol^?1, respectively. 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.     

Determination of nitrite with the electrocatalytic property to the oxidation of nitrite on thionine modified aligned carbon nanotubes

A thionine modified aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) electrode was fabricated and was used to electrochemically determine nitrite. The thionine modified ACNTs electrode exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic behavior to the oxidation of nitrite. The electrochemical mechanism of the thionine/ACNTs electrode towards the oxidation of nitrite was discussed. The thionine modified ACNTs electrode exhibited fast response towards nitrite with a detection limit of 1.12 × 10⁻⁶ mol  L⁻¹ and a linear range of 3 × 10⁻⁶ – 5 × 10⁻⁴ mol  L⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied in the detection of nitrite in real samples.     

Thermodynamic characterization of NiAl

Thermodynamic properties of the high-stability intermetallic compound nickel aluminide, NiAl, have been determined from mass-spectrometric, weight-loss effusion, and calorimetric measurements, using samples from a single preparation with a composition determined to be Ni_0.986Al_1.014. Per mole of NiAl molecules, the specific heat capacity at room temperature of 298 K is 48.54 J · K^?1 · mol^?1, with a linear temperature dependence of +0.0104 J · K^?2 · mol^?1. At the same temperature, the enthalpy of formation is ?133.7 kJ · mol^?1, the entropy is about 53.8 J · K^?1 · mol^?1 and the enthalpy difference between room temperature and absolute zero is 7.97 kJ · mol^?1. The Gibbs free-energy is ?130.2 kJ · mol^?1 at T = 298 K, with a linear temperature dependence of +5.04 J · K^?1 · mol^?1. The Debye temperature is 452 K, while the electronic density-of-states at the Fermi-level is about 0.29 states per eV-atom. The NiAl⁺ ions were observed in the high-temperature mass spectra. Pressures for the gas at these temperatures were estimated and used with the results of quantum-mechanical calculations of total energy, specific heat, and entropy to calculate free-energy functions for the gas. These and additional results are compared with other measurements and discussed in terms of current theories of the electronic and structural properties of the compound.     

Voltammetric determination of tert-butylhydroquinone in biodiesel using a carbon paste electrode in the presence of surfactant

This paper reports an electroanalytical method developed for determining the antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in biodiesel, based on the enhancement effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). In pH 6.5 Britton–Robinson buffer, a poorly defined oxidation peak was observed for TBHQ at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). In the presence of low concentrations of CTAB, however, the oxidation peak current was markedly increased. Several parameters were studied and optimized for the development of this methodology, and under optimal conditions the oxidation peak current was proportional to TBHQ concentration in the range of (1.05–10.15) × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹, with limits of detection and quantification of 7.11 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ and 2.37 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, respectively, by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The method was applied to TBHQ determination in soybean biodiesel samples. The results were satisfactory in comparison with those obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

(Solid + liquid) equilibria for the ternary system (CsBr + LnBr3 + H2O) (Ln = Pr,Nd, Sm) at T = 298.2 K and atmospheric pressure,thermal and fluorescent properties of Cs2LnBr5·10H2O

The (solid + liquid) phase equilibria of the ternary systems (CsBr + LnBr₃ + H₂O) (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm) at T = 298.2 K were studied by the isothermal solubility method. The solid phases formed in the systems were determined by the Schreinemakers wet residues technique, and the corresponding phase diagrams were constructed based on the measured data. Each of the phase diagrams, with two invariant points, three univariant curves, and three crystallization regions corresponding to CsBr, Cs₂LnBr₅·10H₂O and LnBr₃·nH₂O (n = 6, 7), respectively, belongs to the same category. The new solid phase compounds Cs₂LnBr₅·10H₂O are incongruently soluble in water, and they were characterized by chemical analysis, XRD and TG-DTG techniques. The standard molar enthalpies of solution of Cs₂PrBr₅·10H₂O, Cs₂NdBr₅·10H₂O and Cs₂SmBr₅·10H₂O in water were measured to be (52.49 ± 0.48) kJ · mol⁻¹, (49.64 ± 0.49) kJ · mol⁻¹ and (50.17 ± 0.48) kJ · mol⁻¹ by microcalorimetry under the condition of infinite dilution, respectively, and their standard molar enthalpies of formation were determined as being −(4739.7 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹, −(4728.4 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹ and −(4724.4 ± 1.4) kJ · mol⁻¹, respectively. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of Cs₂PrBr₅·10H₂O, Cs₂NdBr₅·10H₂O and Cs₂SmBr₅·10H₂O were measured. The results show that the upconversion spectra of the three new solid phase compounds all exhibit a peak at 524 nm when excited at 785 nm.     

A simple fluorescence quenching method for berberine determination using water-soluble CdTe quantum dots as probes

A novel method for the determination of berberine has been developed based on quenching of the fluorescence of thioglycolic acid-capped CdTe quantum dots (TGA-CdTe QDs) by berberine in aqueous solutions. Under optimum conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity was linearly proportional to the concentration of berberine between 2.5 × 10^?8 and 8.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10^?9 mol L^?1. The method has been applied to the determination of berberine in real samples, and satisfactory results were obtained. The mechanism of the proposed reaction was also discussed.     

Silver particle-decorated carbon paste electrode based on ionic liquid for improved determination of nitrite

A simple silver particle-modified carbon paste electrode is proposed for the determination of low concentration levels of nitrite ions. The electrode consists of a carbon powder decorated with silver sub-micrometre particles (AgPs) and a hydrophobic ionic liquid trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride as a binder. It has been shown that AgPs exhibit a strong electrocatalytic effect on the nitrite oxidation. For optimal electroanalytical performance the electrode was conditioned via silver oxidation/reduction cycle. The electrode revealed a linear square-wave voltammetric response in a wide examined concentration range of 0.05 to 1.0 mmol L^− 1, limit of detection (LOD) of 3 μmol L^− 1 and excellent repeatability with RSD of 0.3%.     

Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of germanium disulfide at temperatures from T = (2 to 1240) K

The heat capacity of polycrystalline germanium disulfide α-GeS₂ has been measured by relaxation calorimetry, adiabatic calorimetry, DSC and heat flux calorimetry from T = (2 to 1240) K. Values of the molar heat capacity, standard molar entropy and standard molar enthalpy are 66.191 J · K^?1 · mol^?1, 87.935 J · K^?1 · mol^?1 and 12.642 kJ · mol^?1. The temperature of fusion and its enthalpy change are 1116 K and 23 kJ · mol^?1, respectively. The thermodynamic functions of α-GeS₂ were calculated over the range (0 ? T/K ? 1250).     

The solubility measurements of sodium dicarboxylate salts; sodium oxalate,malonate, succinate,glutarate, and adipate in water from T = (279.15 to 358.15) K

The solubility measurements of sodium dicarboxylate salts; sodium oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, and adipate in water at temperatures from (278.15 to 358.15 K) were determined. The molar enthalpies of solution at T = 298.15 K were derived: Δ_solH_m (m = 2.11 mol · kg^?1) = 13.86 kJ · mol^?1 for sodium oxalate; Δ_solH_m (m = 3.99 mol · kg^?1) = 14.83 kJ · mol^?1 for sodium malonate; Δ_solH_m (m = 2.45 mol · kg^?1) = 14.83 kJ · mol^?1 for sodium succinate; Δ_solH_m (m = 4.53 mol · kg^?1) = 16.55 kJ · mol^?1 for sodium glutarate, and Δ_solH_m (m = 3.52 mol · kg^?1) = 15.70 kJ · mol^?1 for sodium adipate. The solubility value exhibits a prominent odd–even effect with respect to terms with odd number of sodium dicarboxylate carbon numbers showing much higher solubility. This odd–even effect may have implications for the relative abundance of these compounds in industrial applications and also in the atmospheric aerosols.     

New methodology for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of methylmercury

A novel procedure for trace methylmercury determinations by anodic stripping voltammetry at a gold film electrode is presented. Measurements were performed in a flow system. For selective determination of methylmercury, the Hg²⁺ ions were masked by complexation with DTPA. Hg-DTPA complex is not reduced at the gold film electrode at the potential of methylmercury reduction to the metallic state. The calibration graph was linear from 5 × 10⁻⁹ to 1 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for an accumulation time 600 s. A detection limit (based on 3σ criterion) for methylmercury was 2.3 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The validation of the proposed procedure was made by analyses of human hair certified reference material.     

Salt effect on the (polyethylene glycol 8000 + sodium sulfate) aqueous two-phase system: Relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases

The relative hydrophobicity of the phases of several {polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 + sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄)} aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), all containing 0.01 mol · L^?1 sodium phosphate buffer (NaPB, pH 7.4) and increasing concentration of a salt additive, NaCl or KCl, up to 1.0 mol · L^?1, was measured by the free energy of transfer of a methylene group between the phases, ΔG(CH₂). The ΔG(CH₂) of the systems was determined by partitioning of a homologous series of five sodium salts of dinitrophenylated (DNP) – amino acids with aliphatic side chains in three different tie-lines of each biphasic system. The relative hydrophobicity of the phases ranged from ?0.125 to ?0.183 kcal · mol^?1, being the NaCl salt the one to provide the more effective changes. The results show that, within each system, there is a linear relationship between the ΔG(CH₂) and the tie-line length (TLL), and biphasic systems with high salt additive concentration present the most negative ΔG(CH₂) values. Therefore, the feasibility of establishing a relationship between the relative hydrophobicity of the phases in a given TLL and the ionic strength of the salt additive was investigated and a satisfactory correlation was found for each salt.     

Noncovalently functionalized water-soluble multiwall-nanotubes through azocarmine B and their application in nitric oxide sensor

A new noncovalent approach for the dissolution of MWNTs in water by azocarmine B (ACB) is reported. Through a simple electro-polymerization procedure, a novel electrochemical NO sensor based on water-soluble MWNTs and polyazocarmine B (PACB) nanofilm electrode was prepared, which showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO). The oxidation current linearly increased with the nitric oxide concentration in the range of 2.2 × 10⁻⁷–1.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with a low detection limit of 2.8 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The sensor has the merit of good stability, reproducibility, high sensitivity and selectivity, and it can be used to monitor NO released from rat liver cells effectively.