Characterization of the Surface Redox Process of Adsorbed Cercosporin (CER) at Glassy Carbon Electrodes by Anodic Stripping Square‐Wave Voltammetry

The adsorptive accumulation of cercosporin (CER) at glassy carbon electrodes is studied by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). The Freundlich adsorption isotherm resulted in being the best one to describe the specific interaction of CER with glassy carbon electrodes by using a fitting procedure of experimental fractional surface coverage vs. the CER bulk concentration (c*_CER). SWV was also used to generate Q vs. c*_CER and I_{p, n}. vs. c*_CER calibration plots from pure commercial reagent solutions. Theoretical detection limits of 1.8×10^?7 and 9.7×10^?8 M were calculated from Q. vs. c*_CER and I_{p, n} vs. c*_CER plots, respectively. The lowest concentration value measured experimentally from calibration plots performed at a f =40 Hz for a signal to noise ratio of 2 : 1 was 3.7×10^?8 M, being this value two orders of magnitude smaller than that obtained previously by us from the diffusion controlled CER reduction peak. I_{p, n}./f vs. f plots from SW voltammograms performed at different c*_CER as well as different accumulation times showed the so‐called “quasi‐reversible maxima”. A splitting of the voltammetric peak was also observed by increasing the SW amplitude at a given frequency. A value of (?0.260±0.011) V was determined for the formal potential of the adsorbed redox couple from the split voltammetric peak. A full characterization of the surface redox process was obtained by applying the methods of the “quasi‐reversible maximum” and the “split SW peak”. In 1 M HClO₄ aqueous solution, the formal rate constant and the anodic transfer coefficient were (3.5±0.5)×10² s^?1 and (0.50±0.03), respectively. Besides, the number of electrons exchanged during the redox reaction was calculated as n≈1.     

Square-wave voltammetry of 5-fluorouracil

The redox reaction of 5-fluorouracil (FU) at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is studied by means of square-wave voltammetry (SWV). It is demonstrated that the redox reaction proceeds according to the scheme: L²⁻(aq)L²⁻(ads)+Hg(l)HgL(s)+2e⁻, which involves both chemisorption of FU on the electrode surface and creation of a sparingly soluble compound with the electrode material. The overall response exhibits properties of a surface process in which both the reactant and the product of the redox reaction are immobilized on the electrode surface. The square-wave voltammetric response of FU possesses features typical of surface confined processes such as ‘split SW peaks’ and a ‘quasi-reversible maximum’. The proposed electrode mechanism is studied theoretically. The numerically calculated response under conditions of SWV is in qualitative agreement with the experimental data. Comparing the theoretical and the experimental data, the kinetic parameters of the redox reaction investigated are estimated. The standard rate constant appears to be within the interval 54≤k_s/s⁻¹≤108, the adsorption constant is K=10 cm⁻¹, and the transfer coefficient is α=0.54±0.01. The effect of the Cu(II) ions on the adsorptive SWV response of FU is discussed from an analytical point of view. It is demonstrated that SWV is a particularly appealing technique, which enables determination of FU at an ultra-trace concentration level. A linear calibration plot was established at 10⁻¹¹ mol l⁻¹ concentration level with a correlation coefficient of R²=0.992. The detection limit is 7.7×10⁻¹² mol l⁻¹. The reproducibility of the results in terms of the relative standard deviation ranges from 0.9 to 3.2%.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of the Molybdenum‐1,10 Phenanthroline‐Fulvic Acids Complex: Redox Kinetics Measurements

The reduction process of molybdenum in the presence of fulvic acids and phenanthroline was investigated by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The mixed-ligand complex of molybdenum exhibits a pronounced tendency to adsorb onto the mercury electrode surface. The electrode reaction proceeds as a surface process in which both components of the redox couple are firmly confined to the electrode surface. The kinetics of the electrode reaction is studied utilizing the properties of “split SW peaks” and “quasireversible maximum”. The kinetic parameters obtained with two different square-wave voltammetric methods are in good agreement. In 0.5 mol/L NaCl solution with pH 2.5 the kinetic parameters are: standard rate constant k_s=8±2 s⁻¹, cathodic electron transfer coefficient α=0.41±0.05, and number of exchanged electrons n=2. The SW kinetic measurements are confirmed by cyclic voltammetric method.     

UV-ozone dry-cleaning process for indium oxide electrodes for protein electrochemistry

The present study reports, for the first time, on electrochemical responses of cytochrome c at a UV-ozone treated indium oxide electrode. Results from surface tension measurements indicate that UV-ozone treatment is an efficient cleaning procedure to remove organic species contamination on surfaces. Well-defined redox responses for cytochrome c were observed at a UV-ozone treated fully hydrophilic indium oxide electrode. Electrochemical parameters, including the diffusion coefficient, the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant and the redox potential, were in good agreement with those previously reported. However, decrease in peak current for cytochrome c and [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ were observed at a UV-ozone treated electrode. From XPS results, this behavior would be understood to indicate a decrease in homogeneous active electrode surface area by a decrease in conductivity of the indium oxide surface by UV-ozone treatment. Simple and effective UV-ozone treatment methods are useful for surface contamination sensitive electrochemistry.     

Solution Properties of Azidokojatoiron(III) Complexes

The formation of iron(III) complexes with chelating azidokojate anions L⁻ was investigated in aqueous solutions as a function of the pH and the c(Fe³⁺):c(HL) molar ratio. Based on the stability constants, the distribution among the above complexes, [Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺, and [Fe(H₂O)₅(OH)]²⁺ were calculated in solutions of various compositions. The complexes are redox stable in aqueous solutions both in the dark and in visible laboratory light. Properties of the investigated azidokojic acid and its iron(III) complexes are compared with those required for therapeutic applications as alternative iron chelators.     

Differential Pulse Polarography for a First‐Order EC Process and Its Diagnostic Parameters

Theoretical expressions for differential pulse polarography (DPP) for a reversible electron transfer coupled with an irreversible follow‐up first‐order chemical reaction (E_rC_i) is derived approximately. The peaks as given by the current expressions are analyzed in terms of several parameters such as a ratio of anodic‐to‐cathodic peak‐currents (i_p^a/i_p^c), a separation of peak‐potentials (E_p^c?E_p^a), and a ratio of anodic‐to‐cathodic half‐peak‐widths (W_1/2^a/W_1/2^c) in order to characterize the E_rC_i process and distinguish it from other types of electrode processes. The anodic peak is found to be more susceptible to the post kinetics than the cathodic peak. The new parameter of W_1/2^a/W_1/2^c ratio is much more sensitive to the post kinetics than the peak separation (E_p^c?E_p^a). The peak current ratio (i_p^a/i_p^c) and the peak‐width ratio (W_1/2^a/W_1/2^c) have comparable sensitivities to the kinetics. Hence, W_1/2^a/W_1/2^c ratio is a better diagnostic parameters than (E_p^c?E_p^a) which has a poor sensitivity. This phenomenon is different from cyclic voltammetry (CV) in which E_p^c?E_p^a is as sensitive as i_p^a/i_p^c. The new criteria for EC with DPV is tested and successfully applied to several Co(III) complex systems, including coenzyme B₁₂. The homogeneous rate constant (k) for the follow‐up step is estimated from the measurements of the experimental values of the parameters. The present treatment is valid quantitatively at lower values of k, yielding relatively larger errors for higher k values (k>10 s^?1).     

Current-potential curves for facilitated ion transfer across oil/water interfaces in the presence of successive complex formation

A theoretical analysis of the current-potential curves for facilitated ion transfer across an oil/water interface is presented for the case where two complex species having an ion-to-ligand ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 are allowed to exist in the oil phase. Cyclic voltammograms are calculated numerically by using a finite difference method assuming that the ion transfer is reversible and the complex formation equilibria are maintained throughout the oil phase. When the ligand concentration in the oil phase is much smaller than the ion concentration in the aqueous phase and the former limits the ion-transfer current, two well separated peaks may develop even under the assumption of equilibrium conditions for the complex formation. The shape of the voltammogram is determined primarily by the ratio of the two reduced stability constants: b₁ = K₁^bc_L^O and b₂ = K₁K₂(^bc^O_L)², where K₁ and K₂ are the stability constants for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes in the oil phase and ^bc^O_L the ligand concentration in the bulk of the oil phase. The degree of peak separation thus depends not only on K₂/K₁ but also on ^bc^O_L. A method for estimating the two stability constants from the voltammograms is proposed.     

Multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate). II. Thermal analysis of isothermal crystallization and melting process

The multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Three different PBSu resins, with molecular weights (MWs) of 1.1 × 10⁵, 1.8 × 10⁵, and 2.5 × 10⁵, were isothermally crystallized at various crystallization temperatures (T_c) ranging from 70 to 97.5 °C. The T_c dependence of crystallization half‐time (τ) was obtained. DSC melting curves for the isothermally crystallized samples were obtained at a heating rate of 10 K min⁻¹. Three endothermic peaks, an annealing peak, a low‐temperature peak L, and a high‐temperature peak H, and an exothermic peak located between peaks L and H clearly appeared in the DSC curve. In addition, an endothermic small peak S appeared at a lower temperature of peak H. Peak L increased with increasing T_c, whereas peak H decreased. The T_c dependence of the peak melting temperatures [T_m(L) and T_m(H)], recrystallization temperature (T_re), and heat of fusion (ΔH) was obtained. Their fitting curves were obtained as functions of T_c. T_m(L), T_re, and ΔH increased almost linearly with T_c, whereas T_m(H) was almost constant. The maximum rate of recrystallization occurred immediately after the melting. The mechanism of the multiple melting behavior is explained by the melt‐recrystallization model. The high MW samples showed similar T_c dependence of τ, and τ for the lowest MW sample was longer than that for the others. Peak L increased with MW, whereas peak H decreased. In spite of the difference of MW, T_m(L), T_m(H), and T_re almost coincided with each other at the same T_c. The ΔH values, that is crystallinity, for the highest MW sample were smaller than those for the other samples at the same T_c. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2039–2047, 2005     

Electrochemical Behavior and Detection of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid at an Iron(II)tetrasulfophthalocyanine Modified Carbon Paste Microelectrode

In this article the electrocatalytic behavior of an iron(II)tetrasulfophthalocyanine modified carbon paste microelectrode for the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) is described. Although the oxidation potential of ascorbic acid is shifted by over 100 mV to more positive potentials, no peak separation could be obtained. This can be explained by the immediate homogeneous reduction of the oxidation product of dopamine by ascorbic acid in solution. However, this reaction induces a shift of the half‐wave potential as a function of ratio of concentration of dopamine to ascorbic acid (c_DA/c_AA). Therefore it was possible to determine the c_AA and c_DA from this potential shift and the experimental peak current. Detection limits of 4.5±0.2×10^?7 and 7.5±0.5×10^?7 mol L^?1 were obtained respectively for dopamine and ascorbic acid for c_DA/c_AA>0.01.     

The chloroform extraction of nickel with oxine from perchlorate and sulfate solutions

Nickel-oxine complexes extracted from perchlorate and sulfate solutions with chloroform were isolated and their compositions were determined. They were Ni₂(Ox)₃(HOx)₃ClO₄ from perchlorate solution at low pH and Ni₂(Ox)₄(HOx)₂ from perchlorate solution at high pH or from sulfate solution. The extraction equilibria, 2Ni²⁺+6HOx(o)+ClO^-₄?Ni₂(Ox)₃(HOx)₃ClO₄(o)+3H⁺, 2Ni²⁺+ 6HOx(o)?Ni₂(Ox)₄(HOx)₂(o)+4H⁺ and Ni₂(Ox)₃(HOx)₃ClO₄(o)?Ni₂(Ox)₄ (HOx)₂(o)+H⁺+ClO^-₄, were proposed and the equilibrium constants were determined to be 10^7.58,10^-0.82 and 10^-8.75, respectively, at ionic strength 0.1 and 20°.     

Theoretical Aspects of a Surface Electrode Reaction Coupled with Preceding and Regenerative Chemical Steps: Square‐wave Voltammetry of a Surface CEC’ Mechanism

Large number of lipophilic substances, whose electrochemical transformation takes place from adsorbed state, belong to the class of so‐called “surface‐redox reactions”. Of these, especially important are the enzymatic redox reactions. With the technique named “protein‐film voltammetry” we can get insight into the chemical features of many lipophilic redox enzymes. Electrochemical processes of many redox adsorbates, occurring at a surface of working electrode, are very often coupled with chemical reactions. In this work, we focus on the application of square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) to study the theoretical features of a surface electrode reaction coupled with two chemical steps. The starting electroactive form Ox_(ads) in this mechanism gets initially generated via preceding chemical reaction. After undergoing redox transformation at the working electrode, Ox_(ads) species got additionally regenerated via chemical reaction of electrochemically generated product Red_(ads) with a given substrate Y. The theory of this so‐called surface CEC’ mechanism is presented for the first time under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry. While we present plenty of calculated voltammograms of this complex electrode mechanism, we focus on the effect of rate of regenerative (catalytic) step to simulated voltammograms. We consider both, electrochemical reactions featuring moderate and fast electron transfer. The obtained voltammetric patterns are very specific, having sometime hybrid‐like features of voltammograms as typical for CE, EC and EC’ mechanisms. We give diagnostic criteria to recognize this complex mechanism in SWV, but we also present hints to access the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters relevant to both chemical steps, and the electrochemical reaction, too. Indeed, the results presented in this work can help experimentalists to design proper experiments to study chemical features of important lipophilic systems.     

Development of an Electroanalytical Method for the Quantification of Zearalenone (ZEA) in Maize Samples

The application of electroanalytical techniques to detect and quantify zearalenone (ZEA) mycotoxin that frequently contaminates maize and foodstuff is studied in this work. Rice and maize grains were inoculated with Fusarium fungus to obtain ZEA in artificially infected samples. The electro‐oxidation of ZEA adsorbed on the surface of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes in 20% acetonitrile (ACN)+80% 1 M HClO₄ (aqueous solution) reaction medium was studied by using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Studies were conducted to find the most favorable accumulation potential (E_acc) and accumulation time (t_acc) to perform the ZEA preconcentration on the electrode surface. It was found that E_acc was any value in the range from 0.00–0.90 V and the best t_acc was 120 s, respectively, for ZEA separated from extracting solution by TLC (ZEA_TLC) while E_acc=0.90 V corresponded to ZEA in non separated matrix solution (ZEA_matrix). The ZEA quantitative determination was performed by SWV combined with the standard addition method. Linear plots were obtained from the net peak current (I_{p, n}) vs c*_ZEA in the concentration range from 20 to 3184 ppb. Detection limit of 30 ppb at a signal to noise ratio of 3 : 1 was obtained. On the other hand, recovery experiments were performed on uncontaminated maize samples spiked with ZEA.     

Studies on extraction of In(III) with 8-hydroxyquinoline

The equilibrium molalities of In³⁺ in extraction reaction: In³⁺(aq)+3HOx(org) = In(Ox)₃(org) + 3H⁺(aq) were measured at ionic strengths from 0.13 to 2.54 mol·kg^?1 in the aqueous phase containing Na₂SO₄ as the supporting electrolyte and at constant initial molality of extractant, HOx, in the organic phase at temperatures from 278.15 to 308.15 K, where HOx and Ox mean 8-hydroxy-quinoline and its anion, respectively. The standard extraction constants K at various temperatures were obtained by two methods proposed in our previous paper.     

Voltammetry of resazurin at a mercury electrode

Electrochemical behavior of resazurin on HMDE in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffers (pH 2.0–10.0) was studied using the square-wave voltammetry (SWV), square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. The voltammogram of resazurin in B-R buffer at pH < 4.0 exhibited two cathodic reduction peaks. The voltammetric peaks were obtained at −0.144 V (reversible) and −1.250 V (irreversible) at pH 3.2, and correspond to the reduction of resorufin to dihydroresorufin and to the catalytic hydrogen wave, respectively. At pH > 4.0, a new irreversible cathodic reduction peak, assigned to the protonation of N-oxide on the phenoxazin ring, was observed. Electrochemical parameters (I _p/E _p, I _p/v, I _p/pH, I _p/t _acc) of the compound were determined. From the voltammetric data, electrochemical reduction mechanisms for all peaks have been suggested. Maximum peak current for the reversible peak was obtained at pH 4.1. A linear relationship between the current and concentration was determined, and also the lowest detection limit was found as 3.25 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ and 1.98 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ for SWV and SWAdSV, respectively.     

Square-wave voltammetry and square-wave voltacoulommetry applied to the study of the electrocatalytic behaviour of surface confined myoglobin

Analytical previous results corresponding to square-wave voltammetry (SWV) and square-wave voltacoulommetry (SWVC) have been applied to the electrochemical characterization of myoglobin immobilized at a self-assembled monolayer of l-cystine on a gold electrode and its electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of sodium ascorbate. The obtained results have been compared with those previously reported in Langmuir (2011) 27:2052–2057 by using cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that double layer effects can be easily removed in SWV and SWVC techniques. Accurate values for the thermodynamic and electrochemical kinetic parameters have been obtained by assuming dispersion in the formal potential of the redox center, and a value k _c ′?=?1.37?×?10⁵?M^?1?s^?1 has been found for the catalytic constant.     

Voltammetric,spectroscopic and thermal investigations of the interaction of levofloxacin with cysteine at physiological pH

In this study, levofloxacin (LEVOF) hemihydrate interaction with L-cysteine (RSH) was investigated by using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) in Britton–Robinson (B–R) buffer pH 7.4. Addition of the LEVOF to RSH solution resulted in dropping of the main reduction peak current of RSH (the current of mercurous cysteine thiolate Hg₂(RS)₂). The vary in the peak current of Hg₂(RS)₂, after the adding of the LEVOF is indicated an interaction between RSH and LEVOF molecules. Moreover, the interaction between two molecules also confirmed with UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopic measurements and thermal analysis data. Binding constant of LEVOF with RSH was calculated by both voltammetric and UV-Vis spectroscopic data.     

Electrochemical Study on Reactive Red 15 and its Interaction with Cyclodextrins

In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of the interaction of Reactive Brilliant Red K-2G (C.I. Reactive Red 15) with cyclodextrins in 0.1 mol · l⁻¹ NaCl (pH 6.9) has been studied by polarography and voltammetry. In a supporting electrolyte of NaCl (pH 6.9), a sensitive second derivative reduction peak (i _p ″) of Reactive Red 15 was found by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The peak potential is about −0.78 V (versus SCE). On the addition of CDs into the Reactive Red 15 solution, the reduction peak current (i _p ″) of Reactive Red 15 decreases and the peak potential (E _p ) shifts to a more positive potential. The study shows that Reactive Red 15 can form 1:1 inclusion complexes with nine CDs. The inclusion constants were calculated by “electric current method”. Furthermore, the inclusion ability of different kinds of cyclodextrins was compared, which provided some elemental data for application of Reactive Red 15 and cyclodextrins.     

Multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate). I. Thermal analysis of melt‐crystallized samples

The multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Three different PBSu resins, with molecular weights of 1.1 × 10⁵, 1.8 × 10⁵, and 2.5 × 10⁵, were cooled from the melt (150 °C) at various cooling rates (CRs) ranging from 0.2 to 50 K min^?1. The peak crystallization temperature (T_c) of the DSC curve in the cooling process decreased almost linearly with the logarithm of the CR. DSC melting curves for the melt‐crystallized samples were obtained at 10 K min^?1. Double endothermic peaks, a high‐temperature peak H and a low‐temperature peak L, and an exothermic peak located between them appeared. Peak L decreased with increasing CR, whereas peak H increased. An endothermic shoulder peak appeared at the lower temperature of peak H. The CR dependence of the peak melting temperatures [T_m(L) and T_m(H)], recrystallization temperature (T_re), and heat of fusion (ΔH) was obtained. Their fitting curves were obtained as functions of log(CR). T_m(L), T_re, and ΔH decreased almost linearly with log(CR), whereas T_m(H) was almost constant. Peak H decreased with the molecular weight, whereas peak L increased. It was suggested that the rate of the recrystallization decreased with the molecular weight. T_m(L), T_m(H), T_re, and T_c for the lowest molecular weight sample were lower than those for the others. In contrast, ΔH for the highest molecular weight sample was lower than that for the others. If the molecular weight dependence of the melting temperature for PBSu is similar to that for polyethylene, the results for the molecular weight dependence of PBSu can be explained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2411–2420, 2002     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of a new 2D metal-organic framework: [Gd(Oba)(Ox)0.5(H2O)2]n (H2Oba = 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid); H2Ox = oxalic acid)

A new coordination polymer [Gd(Oba)(Ox)_0.5(H₂O)₂] _n (I) (H₂Oba = 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid), H₂Ox = oxalic acid) has been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In I, two Gd³⁺ ions are bridged by Oba ligands to form 1D ribbon chains, which are further connected by Ox ligands, generating a 2D layer structure.     

The decomposition kinetics of disilane and the heat of formation of silylene

The static system decomposition kinetics of disilane (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm Si}_{\rm 2} {\rm H}_{\rm 6} \mathop {\longrightarrow}\limits^1 {\rm SiH}_{\rm 2} + {\rm SiH}_{\rm 4}$\end{document}, 538–587 K and 10–500 Torr), are reported. Reaction rate constants are weakly pressure dependent, and best fits of the data are realized with RRKM fall-off calculations using logA_1,∞ = 15.75 and E_1,∞ = 52,200 cal. These parameters yield AH_f⁰(SiH₂)₂₉₈ = (63.5 ? E_{b, c}) kcal mol,^?1 where E_{b, c} is the activation energy for the back reaction at 550 K, M = 1 std state. Five other silylene heat-of-formation values (ranging from 63.9 – E_{b, c} to 66.0 - E_{b, c} kcal mol^?1) are deduced from the reported decomposition kinetics of trisilane and methyldisilane, and from the reported absolute and relative rate constants for silylene insertions into H₂ and SiH₄. Assuming E_{b, c} = 0, an average value of ΔH_f⁰(SiH₂) = 64.3 ± 0.3 kcal mol^?1 is obtained. Also, a recalculation of the activation energy for silylene insertion into H₂, based in part on the new disilane decomposition Arrhenius parameters, gives (0.6 + E_{b, c}) kcal mol^?1, in good agreement with theoretical calculations.