Cyclic Voltammograms of Ferrocene on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐Modified Edge Plane Pyrolytic Graphite (EPPG) Electrode in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) of 1‐Ethyl‐3‐Methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate (EMIBF4)

In this work, the electrochemical behavior of ferrocene (Fc) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIBF₄) on glass carbon (GC), edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) and multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs)‐modified EPPG electrodes, respectively. The results demonstrated that on GC electrode, pairs of well‐defined reversible peaks were observed, while for the electrode of EPPG, the peak potential separation (ΔE_p) is obviously larger than the theoretical value of 59 mV, hinting that the electrode of EPPG is distinguished from the commonly used electrode, consistent with the previous proposition that EPPG has many “defects”. To obtain an improved electrochemical response, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified on the electrode of EPPG; the increased peak current and promoted peak potential separation not only proved the existence of “defects” in MWCNTs, but also supported that “creating active points” on an electrode is the main contribution of MWCNTs. Initiating the electrochemical research of Fc on the MWCNTs‐modified EPPG electrode in RTILs and verifying the presence of “defects” on both EPPG and MWCNTs using cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of Fc obtained in RTILs of EMIBF₄, is the main contribution of this preliminary work.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of 4‐Hexylresorcinol in Pharmaceutical Products Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Based Electrodes

A sensitive electroanalytical method is presented for the determination of 4‐hexylresorcinol using adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdsSV) at a multiwalled carbon nanotube modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (MWCNT‐BPPGE). This method is also extended to the use of a MWCNT modified screen‐printed electrode (MWCNT‐SPE), thereby demonstrating that this approach can easily be incorporated into a facile and inexpensive electrochemical sensor.     

Voltammetric Determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Ions in Well Water Using a Sputtered Bismuth Screen‐Printed Electrode

A method using commercially available sputtered bismuth screen‐printed electrodes (Bi_spSPE), as substitute to mercury electrodes, for the determination of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in drinking well water samples collected in a contaminated area in The Republic of El Salvador by means of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) has been proposed. The comparable detection and quantification limits obtained for both Bi_spSPE and hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), together with the similar results with a high reproducibility obtained in these water samples analyses recommend the applicability of Bi_spSPE for the determination of low level of metal concentrations in natural samples.     

Determination of Sb(V) Using Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry at an Unmodified Edge Plane Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode

Antimony(V) determination at an unmodified edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) electrode using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) by depositing beyond the hydrogen wave is shown in this paper. By depositing beyond the hydrogen wave, we report a sensitive method to determine pentavalent antimony at a carbon electrode in 0.25 M HCl. Using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), a bare EPPG electrode gave a detection limit of 5.8±0.02 nM without the need for surface modification. This level is greatly within the EU limit for drinking water of 40 nM.     

Catalytic Kinetic Determination of Trace Amounts of Iron(III) With Polarographic Detection

Abstract

This method is based on the catalytic effect of Fe³⁺ on the oxidation reaction between Acid Chrome Blue K and potassium bromate in sulfuric acid medium at 100deg;C, and in 0.08 mol/L NH₄OH - 0.01 mol/L (NH₄)₂ SO₄ supporting electrolyte, Acid Chrome Blue K exhibits a sensitive polarographic wave at -0.55V vs. SCE, and change of concentration is traced by a polarographic detection technique. The linear range of Fe³⁺ is 10–100ng/mL. This new catalytic method has been applied to the determination of iron in natural water and food with satisfactory results.     

Electrochemical Determination of Oxalate at Pyrolytic Graphite Electrodes

The electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalate at several carbon based electrodes including basal plane (BPPG) and edge plane (EPPG) pyrolytic graphite and glassy carbon (GC) electrode, was studied. The electrodes were examined for the sensing of oxalate ions in aqueous solutions and all three electrodes showed a response to oxalate additions. The peak of oxalate oxidation at BPPG electrode appeared at lower potential, +1.13 V vs. SCE, than at EPPG (+1.20 V vs. SCE) and GC electrode (+1.44 V vs. SCE). Oxalate oxidation at BPPG electrode was studied in more details for response characteristics (potential and current), effects of pH, temporal characteristics of response potential and current. The results indicated that oxalate oxidation proceeds as two‐electron process at the BPPG electrode with a transfer coefficient β and a diffusion coefficient D evaluated to be 0.45 and 1.03 (±0.04)×10^?5 cm² s^?1 respectively. The BPPG electrode was found to be suitable for oxalate determination in aqueous media showing linear response to oxalate concentration with a sensitivity of 0.039 AM^?1 and a limit of detection of 0.7 μM.     

Simultaneous Determination of Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Using Edge Plane Pyrolytic Graphite Electrodes

Edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes have been applied for the determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid. The separate determination of uric acid was found to produce three linear ranges from 100 nM to 3400 μM with a detection limit of 30 nM found to be possible. Uric acid detection was also explored in the presence of 200 μM ascorbic acid where a detection limit of 52 nM was found to be possible. The detection of ascorbic acid in the presence of uric acid was also explored over three linear ranges of ascorbic acid with a limit of detection of 80 nM. Last the simultaneous determination of both uric acid and ascorbic acid is investigated over the range 100 nM to 1000 μM where detection limits of 50 nM and 120 nM were obtained respectively. Analysis of uric acid in a growth tissue medium was found to be successful, confirming the applicability of the methodology to real matrices. This protocol is shown to provide low detection limits, easy handling (no electrode modification), good voltammetric peak separation of uric acid and ascorbic acid and a wide linear dynamic range.     

Determination of trace arsenic(III) by differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with in-situ plated bismuth-film electrode

Abstract

A systematic survey of the quality status of the main aquifers in rural areas of Catalonia (Spain) regarding pesticide pollution has been carried out. A total number of 139 wells, distributed among 13 different hydrogeological units have been sampled and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-ECD, during the period 1997—98. Pesticides monitored were selected among triazine herbicides, organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides. A positive presence of pesticides has been detected in 84.2% of the samples analyzed, 23.7% of them exceeding the requirements of the EU drinking water Directive (98/83/CE). Organochlorine insecticides were present in 62.6% of the samples, triazines in 49% and organophosphorus insecticides in 28.8%. The results obtained have been interpreted by Principal Component Analysis.     

Iron(II) and iron(III) complexes containing ethynyl thiophene fragments

The synthesis of the new complexes Cp*(dppe)FeCC2,5-C₄H₂SR (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; 2a, R = CCH; 2b, R = CCSi(CH₃)₃; 2c, R = CCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃; 3a, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCH; 3c, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃) is described. The ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic data indicate that the π-back donation from the metal to the carbon rich ligand increases with the size of the organic π-electron systems. The new complexes were also analyzed by CV and the chemical oxidation of 2a and 3c was carried out using 1 equiv of [Cp₂Fe][PF₆]. The corresponding complexes 2a[PF₆] and 3c[PF₆] are thermally stable, but 2a[PF₆] was too reactive to be isolated as a pure compound. The spectroscopic data revealed that the coordination of large organic π-electron systems to the iron nucleus produces only a weak increase of the carbon character of the SOMO for these new organoiron(III) derivatives.     

Simultaneous Polarographic Determination of Iron (II) and Iron (III) in Coal Mine Waste Water

Abstract

Polarography with a sodium carbonate-oxalic acid supporting electrolyte was used to determine both Fe(II) and Fe(III) simultaneously in actual coal mine water samples. The average relative percent error was 2.2% for Fe(II) and 2.1% for Fe(III) over a range of 10 to 500 ppm. In actual mine water the Fe(II) content was highest where the mine water emerged. As the water moved down stream from the source of pollution Fe(II) decreased and Fe(III) concentration increased as Fe(II) was oxidized to Fe(III) by oxygen. This was accompanied by a decrease in pH. Further down the stream Fe(III) started to precipitate and then its concentration steadily decreased.     

The Electrochemistry of Tetraphenyl Porphyrin Iron(III) Within Immobilized Droplets Supported on Platinum Electrodes

For the first time, the voltammetry of an ensemble of immobilized benzonitrile microdroplets containing 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphine iron (III) chloride, TPPFeCl immobilized at platinum electrodes immersed in various aqueous electrolytes has been explored. The reduction of TPPFeCl was observed with the voltammetric response seen to be highly dependent on the nature of ions in the surrounding aqueous phase. Unlike voltammetry in purely homogeneous solution the nature of the aqueous electrolyte can influence the voltammetry in the droplet phase. The electrochemical reduction of TPPFeCl contained within tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) supported benzonitrile (PhCN) microdroplets immersed into an aqueous solution of TBACl was first studied. During TPPFeCl reduction the resulting [TPPFeCl]^? species is stabilized due to the excess of chloride anions inside the oil droplet. Voltammograms of homogeneous solutions of PhCN supported with TBACl show similar chemically reversible process which is also attributed to the stable [TPPFeCl]^? species. This anion stabilization was not observed when the oil droplets were supported with tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) or when the PhCN solution bathing the microdroplet ensemble was supported with TBAP resulting in a chemically irreversible process. The voltammetry of unsupported droplets immobilized on a platinum electrode immersed in different aqueous electrolytes was also explored and the fate of the [TPPFeCl]^? species formed considered during the reduction sweep. Similarities and difference to voltammetry in purely homogeneous media are noted and the use of droplet voltammetry provides complimentary information.     

Iron(III) chloride and its coordination chemistry

Abstract

The coordination chemistry of FeCl₃ is distinctly different to that of the other 3d metal halides. It has a distinct preference for O-donor ligands. Although it primarily forms six-coordinate complexes, it has some distinctive features that set it apart from metals like Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II), such as the self-ionized complexes [FeL₄Cl₂]⁺ [FeCl₄]^?. There are a number of examples where very small changes in the coordination sphere tilt the balance between isomeric structures. Chloride has a significant steric effect in the coordination sphere as well as a greater trans-influence than water.     

Iron(III) tosylate-catalyzed deprotection of aromatic acetals in water

The deprotection of aromatic as well as conjugated acetals and ketals in water is catalyzed by iron(III) tosylate (1.0-5.0 mol %). Iron(III) tosylate is an inexpensive and readily available catalyst. The use of water, the most environmentally benign solvent, makes this procedure especially attractive for acetal deprotection.     

Gold Nanoparticle Modified Screen Printed Electrodes for the Trace Sensing of Arsenic(III) in the Presence of Copper(II)

Gold ensembles for the trace level sensing of arsenic(III) in the presence of copper(II) are reported. The gold ensembles are fabricated using citrate capped gold nanoparticles which are chemically synthesised in an aqueous solution with an aliquot of this simply cast onto an economical and disposable screen printed electrode. After drying at room temperature, the gold ensembles are ready for use. The gold ensembles are explored towards the sensing of arsenic(III) in the presence of copper(II) using anodic stripping voltammetry where the corresponding stripping peaks are well resolved and using this protocol it is possible to readily detect 3 µg L^?1 (3 ppb) with a detection limit of 0.4 µg L^?1 (0.4 ppb). Proof‐of‐concept is also shown for the sensing of arsenic(III) in a canal water sample. Given the low cost of the sensor and ease of fabrication, the gold ensembles hold promise for the sensing of arsenic(III) in water samples where copper(II) may be present.     

Carbon Electrodes Modified by Nanoscopic Iron(III) Oxides to Assemble Chemical Sensors for the Hydrogen Peroxide Amperometric Detection

In this study we show that nanoparticles of various ferric oxides (hematite, maghemite, amorphous Fe₂O₃, β‐Fe₂O₃ and ferrihydrite) incorporated into carbon paste exhibit electro‐catalytic properties towards hydrogen peroxide reduction. The modified paste electrode performances were evaluated and compared with those obtained with Prussian Blue‐modified carbon paste electrode, which represents an excellent chemical mediator towards the H₂O₂ redox reaction (as widely described in literature). The best catalytic activity was found for carbon paste modified by amorphous ferric oxide with 2–4 nm particle size, which was further tested for possible application as hydrogen peroxide sensor. At pH 7, the limit of detection was 2×10^?5 M H₂O₂ (S/N=3), the calibration curves were linear upto 8.5 mM H₂O₂ (R²=0.998), the measurement reproducibility (RSD=97%, n=4), the interelectrode reproducibility (RSD=16%, n_electrodes=5) and <3 s response time.     

Spectrophotometric Investigation of Iron(III)-N-Phenylcin-namohydroxamic Acid System

Abstract

N-Phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid, PCHA, was found to react with iron (III) to form complex species of different colour depending upon the reaction environment. The reaction conditions for the formation of the complex species were studied in aqueous-ethanolic medium. The general spectral properties of the species were investigated. The absorption curves were found to have two isobestic points. The number and composition of the complexes were determined and found to have composition 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 (Fe: PCHA). The wavelengths of the maximum absorbances were figured out to be 535, 495, and 445 nm for the I, II, and III complex species, respectively. It was verified that the Beer's law holds for these complexes at all wavelengths, and for the mixtures at the wavelengths of the isobestic points in a wide range of pH. The stepwise stability constants have been determined by the method of isobestic point and found to be log K₁ = 11.55, log K₂ = 10.11, and log Kg₃ = 7.44 for the I, II, and III complex species, respectively. The distribution diagrams (nomograms) of the complex species as a function of pH were constructed and the molar extinction coefficients of the three consecutive complexes have also been determined.     

Microflow Vessel Improving Reproducibility and Sensitivity of Electrochemical Measurements

A new microflow system was designed and developed for electrochemical measurements. The electrochemical electrodes prepared using thick film technology were used in this arrangement. Results of various measurements such as simple amperometric measurement on the example of H₂O₂ detection, measurement with glucose oxidase (GOx) biosensor, soluble enzyme activity measurement etc. carried out using this system are reported. It was observed that the sensitivity and reproducibility of the electrochemical measurements is improved significantly. The new device performance was proved on H₂O₂ detection, activity of GOx measurement and heavy metals detection (measured concentration range: H₂O₂ 10^?9 to 10^?1 M, glucose 10^?6 to 10^?2 M, activity of GOx 10^?1 to 10² IU, heavy metals (Cu, Pb) 10^?4 to 10^?3 M). The microflow insert greatly reduces the overall size of the electrolyte vessel and measurements with sample quantity as low as 2 mL can be accomplished.     

Iron(III)‐Complexes Engaged in the Biochemical Processes in Seawater. II. Voltammetry of Fe(III)‐Malate Complexes in Model Aqueous Solution

Characteristics of iron(III) complexes with malic acid in 0.55 mol L^?1 NaCl were investigated by voltammetric techniques. Three iron(III)‐malate redox processes were detected in the pH range from 4.5 to 11: first one at ?0.11 V, second at ?0.35 V and third at ?0.60 V. First process was reversible, so stability constants of iron(III) and iron(II) complexes were calculated: log K₁(Fe^III(mal))=12.66±0.33, log β₂(Fe^III(mal)₂)=15.21±0.25, log K₁(Fe^II(mal))=2.25±0.36, and log β₂(Fe^II(mal)₂)=3.18±0.32. In the case of second and third reduction process, conditional cumulative stability constants of the involved complexes were determined using the competition method: log β(Fe(mal)₂(OH)_x)=15.28±0.10 and log β(Fe(mal)₂(OH)_y)=27.20±0.09.     

Solution Characteristics for Adsorption of Copper Ion with Iron(III) Hydroxide from Aqueous Ammonia Solution

The distribution of copper ion species in aqueous ammonia solution is evaluated as a function of pH by a numerical approach. Adsorption of copper on colloidal iron(III) hydroxide in solutions of total ammonia (0.14-1.2 M) are performed at various values of pH. The maximum efficiency of adsorption occurs when the sum of the fractions of the species Cu(NH₃)²⁺, Cu(NH₃)₂²⁺ and Cu(NH₃)₃²⁺ in the solution reaches its maximum. With varied solution pH, the distribution of copper species is the determining factor for maximum adsorption, whereas the surface properties of the adsorbing particles show smaller effects under the test conditions.     

Voltammetric determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations using a copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) modified carbon paste electrode

The electroanalytical determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations of a homemade carbon paste electrode modified with copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) (CuHCF) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Several parameters were studied for the optimization of the sensor such as electrode composition, electrolytic solution, pH effect, potential scan rate and interferences in potential. The optimum conditions were found in an electrode composition (in mass) of 15% CuHCF, 60% graphite and 25% mineral oil in 0.5 mol l⁻¹ acetate buffer solution at pH 6.0. The analytical curve for isoprenaline was linear in the concentration range from 1.96×10⁻⁴ to 1.07×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 1.2% for 1.96×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ isoprenaline solution (n=5). The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of isoprenaline in pharmaceutical preparations; the CuHCF modified carbon paste electrode gave comparable results to those results obtained using a UV spectrophotometric method.