NIR spectroscopy of selected iron(II) and iron(III) sulphates

A problem exists when closely related minerals are found in paragenetic relationships. The identification of such minerals cannot be undertaken by normal techniques such as X-ray diffraction. Vibrational spectroscopic techniques may be applicable especially when microtechniques or fibre-optic techniques are used. NIR spectroscopy is one technique, which can be used for the identification of these paragenetically related minerals and has been applied to the study of selected iron(II) and iron(III) sulphates. The near-IR spectral regions may be conveniently divided into four regions: (a) the high wavenumber region>7500 cm(-1), (b) the high wavenumber region between 6400 and 7400 cm(-1) attributed to the first overtone of the fundamental hydroxyl stretching mode, (c) the 5500-6300 cm(-1) region attributed to water combination modes of the hydroxyl fundamentals of water, and (d) the 4000-5500 cm(-1) region attributed to the combination of the stretching and deformation modes of the iron(II) and iron(III) sulphates. The minerals containing iron(II) show a strong, broad band with splitting, around 11,000-8000 cm(-1) attributed to (5)T(2g)-->(5)E(g) transition. This shows the ferrous ion has distorted octahedral coordination in some of these sulphate minerals. For each of these regions, the minerals show distinctive spectra, which enable their identification and characterisation. NIR spectroscopy is a less used technique, which has great application for the study of minerals, particularly minerals that have hydrogen in the structure either as hydroxyl units or as water bonded to the cation as is the case for iron(II) and iron(III) sulphates. The study of minerals on planets is topical and NIR spectroscopy provides a rapid technique for the distinction and identification of iron(II) and iron(III) sulphates minerals.     

Determination of boron by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Biodistribution of 10B in tumor-bearing mice

Russian Chemical Bulletin - The determination of boron in animal organ tissues using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP AES) has been optimized for analytical support of...     

The application of NIR Raman spectroscopy in the assessment of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone in rats

Serum blood samples of euthyroid and thyroidectomized rats treated with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were analyzed on aluminum substrates using the near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (830 nm). Spectra of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), TRH and prolactin standards were obtained. Differences between Raman spectra profiles of control and Tx + TRH samples groups were found. These differences were confirmed by the linear discriminant analysis (LDA), which presents a good classification between groups. It is supposed that these differences are produced by the increment of TSH in the thyroidectomized rats.     

Biodistribution of tritiated benzoporphyrin derivative (3H-BPD-MA), a new potent photosensitizer, in normal and tumor-bearing mice

The biodistribution of a new and very potent photosensitizer, benzoporphyrin derivative-monoacid, ring A (BPD-MA), was determined in normal and P815 (mastocytoma) or M1 (rhabdomyosarcoma) tumor-bearing DBA/2J mice. A dose of 80 micrograms of 3H-BPD-MA was determined at 3, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h post injection. The following tissues were tested: blood, brain, heart, intestine, kidney, lung, liver, muscle, skin, stomach, spleen, thymus and tumor. The biodistribution of 3H-BPD-MA in normal and tumor-bearing mice was comparable overall. 3H-BPD-MA localized in tumors better than in other tissues except kidney, liver and spleen. The tumor to tissue ratios were in the range 1.5-3 at 24 h post injection and increased further during the next 72 h. The highest levels of 3H-BPD-MA were observed in all tissues at 3 h post injection and decreased rapidly during the first 24 h. After 24 h the clearance from tissues was rather slow. The preliminary clearance data obtained in a group of five normal mice indicated that the majority of the injected dose (60%) cleared from the body via the bile and feces, while only about 4% cleared via kidneys and urine. Studies in which 3H-BPD-MA was extracted from tumor, kidney and liver 3 and 24 h after injection showed that, at 3 h, all the photosensitizing activity in tumor was retained. At 24 h only 39% of the activity was retained and considerably less active material was present in liver and kidney.     

Rheo-optical Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of polymers

Rheo-optical FTIR spectroscopy has been applied to monitor the onset, progress and decay of strain-induced crystallization in loading-unloading cycles of sulfur-crosslinked natural rubber at 300 K and 343 K. From the short-time spectroscopic data conclusions were also drawn with respect to the orientation of the average polymer and the polymer chains in the strain-induced crystal phase.     

Non-destructive analysis of pigments and other organic compounds in lichens using Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy: a study of Antarctic epilithic lichens

Lichens in Antarctic habitats are subjected to environmental extremes, including UVB radiation, desiccation and low temperatures, as well as to rapid fluctuations in these. Lichens synthesise a variety of chemical compounds in response to their environmental conditions which contribute towards their colour, and which act as protectants against physiological stresses. The fluorescence generated by the lichens at 532 nm can be used in epifluorescence microscopy to identify their presence on substrata but this can severely affect the Raman spectra using visible excitation. The advantage of the near infrared excitation used in FT-Raman spectroscopy in minimising fluorescence emission facilitates the molecular characterisation of lichen encrustations without having to remove the thallus from its substrate or remove or otherwise damage any part of the thallus. Spectroscopic biomarkers are proposed which allow the lichens to be characterised by the identification of characteristic lichen substances; the use of these biomarkers for the preliminary taxonomic identification of Antarctic lichens is examined and some potential pitfalls are described.     

Sparkle/AM1 structure modeling of lanthanum (III) and lutetium (III) complexes

The sparkle/AM1 model for the quantum chemical prediction of coordination polyhedron crystallographic geometries from isolated lanthanide complex ion calculations, defined recently for Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III) (Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 3299) is now extended to La(III) and Lu(III). Thus, for each of the metal ions we chose a training set of 15 complexes that possess various representative ligands of high crystallographic quality (R factor < 0.05 Angstroms) and oxygen and/or nitrogen as coordinating atoms. In the validation procedure we used a set of 60 more La(III) coordination compound structures, as well as 15 more Lu(III) coordination compound structures, all of high crystallographic quality. For both the 75 La(III) compounds and the 30 Lu(III) compounds, the Sparkle/AM1 unsigned mean error, for all interatomic distances between the metal ions and the ligand atoms of the first sphere of coordination, is 0.08 Angstroms, thus comparable to the accuracy normally achievable by present day ab initio/ECP calculations, while being hundreds of times faster.     

Cloud point extraction equilibrium of lanthanum(III), europium(III) and lutetium(III) using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and Triton X-100

The cloud point extraction behaviors of lanthanoids(III) (Ln(III) = La(III), Eu(III) and Lu(III)) with and without di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) using Triton X-100 were investigated. It was suggested that the extraction of Ln(III) into the surfactant-rich phase without added chelating agent was caused by the impurities contained in Triton X-100. The extraction percentage more than 91% for all Ln(III) metals was obtained using 3.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³ HDEHP and 2.0% (v/v) Triton X-100. From the equilibrium analysis, it was clarified that Ln(III) was extracted as Ln(DEHP)₃ into the surfactant-rich phase. The extraction constant of Ln(III) with HDEHP and 2.0% (v/v) Triton X-100 were also obtained.     

Initial growth of lutetium(III) bis-phthalocyanine on Ag(111) surface

The adsorption of lutetium(III) bis-phthalocyanine (LuPc(2)) on Ag(111) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS). A comprehensive study was carried out toward understanding the driving mechanism responsible for the formation of the first and second monolayers (MLs). In both MLs, the adsorbed molecules are found to exhibit different in-plane orientations arranged according to a "chess-board" like pattern. Highly resolved STM images allowed an exact determination of the corresponding angle mismatch, which differs for the first and second MLs. The tunneling transport through individual molecules reveals a negative differential resistance (NDR) effect detectable within the current-voltage curves. The corresponding density of states (DOS) representation is consistent with a resonant tunneling mechanism sustained by the valence band (VB) states close to the Fermi energy (E(F)) recorded via highly resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS).     

Non-destructive rapid analysis discriminating between chromium(VI) and chromium(III) oxides in electrical and electronic equipment using Raman spectroscopy.

The European Union has banned chromium(VI) compounds in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), such as chromate conversion coating films. Chromium(III) compounds are not banned. Using Raman spectroscopy without any preparation, we distinguished chromium(VI) oxide from chromium(III) oxide and chromium(III) hydroxide in chromate conversion coating films. Raman bands of chromium(VI) oxide were detected in films at around 1000 and 500 cm(-1), while chromium(III) compounds generated no bands in the region between 2000 and 200 cm(-1). The analysis took about 1 min, whereas the usual diphenylcarbazide-colorimetric method for analyzing chromium(VI) compounds takes about 10 h.     

Dearomatization and functionalization of terpyridine by lutetium(III) alkyl complexes

Lutetium(III)-bis(alkyl) and -tris(alkyl) fragments supported by either 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine or 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine are not stable and undergo facile 1,3-alkyl migration under ambient conditions resulting in dearomatization and ortho (2' or 6') functionalization of the terpyridyl ligand, clearly demonstrating that the terpyridyl ligand framework is not as innocent as previously thought.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopy of proflavin (II)

To understand molecular structure for a complex of a dye molecule of DNA receptor, the depolarization ratios and band widths of the Raman spectra of proflavin in different DNA media were analyzed. According to these experimental analyses, it is possible that the proflavin molecule lies near the phosphate group, having a strong interaction with the phosphate group to restrict tumbling motion and inplane motion. Refinement of the bandshape, the improvement of the vibrational bandshape theory and modifications of the reorientational theory should allow a detailed picture of the intercalation of proflavin to DNA.     

Direct measurement of S-branch N(2)-H(2) Raman linewidths using time-resolved pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

S-branch N(2)-H(2) Raman linewidths have been measured in the temperature region 294-1466 K using time-resolved dual-broadband picosecond pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (RCARS). Data are extracted by mapping the dephasing rates of the CARS signal temporal decay. The J-dependent coherence decays are detected in the time domain by following the individual spectral lines as a function of probe delay. The linewidth data set was employed in spectral fits of N(2) RCARS spectra recorded in binary mixtures of N(2) and H(2) at calibrated temperature conditions up to 661 K using a standard nanosecond RCARS setup. In this region, the set shows a deviation of less than 2% in comparison with thermocouples. The results provide useful knowledge for the applicability of N(2) CARS thermometry on the fuel-side of H(2) diffusion flames.     

Probing the binding of Tb(III) and Eu(III) to the hammerhead ribozyme using luminescence spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: Divalent metal ions serve as structural as well as catalytic cofactors in the hammerhead ribozyme reaction. The natural cofactor in these reactions is Mg(II), but its spectroscopic silence makes it difficult to study. We previously showed that a single Tb(III) ion inhibits the hammerhead ribozyme by site-specific competition for a Mg(II) ion and therefore can be used as a spectroscopic probe for the Mg(II) it replaces. RESULTS: Lanthanide luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the coordination environment around Tb(III) and Eu(III) ions bound to the structurally well-characterized site on the hammerhead ribozyme. Sensitized emission and direct excitation experiments show that a single lanthanide ion binds to the ribozyme under these conditions and that three waters of hydration are displaced from the Tb(III) upon binding the RNA. Furthermore, we show that these techniques allow the comparison of binding affinities for a series of ions to this site. The binding affinities for ions at the G5 site correlates linearly with the function Z(2)/r of the aqua ion (where Z is the charge and r is the radius of the ion). CONCLUSIONS: This study compares the crystallographic nature of the G5 metal-binding site with solution measurements and gives a clearer picture of the coordination environment of this ion. These results provide one of the best characterized metal-binding sites from a ribozyme, so we use this information to compare the RNA site with that of typical metalloproteins.     

Acid base interactions of octaphenyltetrapyrazinoporphyrazine and its complex with lutetium(III) in proton-donor media

Acid base interactions of octaphenyltetrapyrazinoporphyrazine and its complex with lutetium(III) in acetic and trifluoroacetic acid media were studied, and parameters characterizing equilibria between the acid and base forms were determined. Acid-base interactions of octaphenyltetrapyrazinoporphyrazine involve primarily nitrogen atoms in the pyrazine fragments, while its lutetium(III) complex undergoes protonation at the meso-nitrogen atoms.     

The development of highly selective approaches to sandwich-type heteroleptic double- and triple-decker lutetium(III) and europium(III) phthalocyanine complexes

The selective synthesis of heteroleptic (heteronuclear) sandwich-type lanthanide phthalocyanines has been accomplished. Double-decker complexes ^BuPcLnPc, and ^BuPcLnPc^Cl (Ln = Lu, Eu; ^BuPc = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octabutylphthalocyaninate; Pc = phthalocyaninate, ^ClPc = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octachlorophthalocyaninate) were obtained in good yields by a direct interaction of metal-free ligand ^BuPcH₂ with the monophthalocyanines PcLnOAc or ^ClPcLnOAc. Heteronuclear triple-decker phthalocyanines PcEu^RPcLu^RPc, ^ClPcEu^RPcLu^RPc and ^BuPcEu^RPcLu^RPc (^RPc = ^BuPc, ^tBuPc; ^tBuPc = 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninate) were obtained from the corresponding mono-(PcEuOAc, ^ClPcEuOAc, ^BuPcEuOAc) and bisphthalocyanines (^RPc₂Lu) under similar conditions.     

Raman spectroscopy of the system iron(III)-sulfuric acid-water: an approach to Tinto River's (Spain) hydrogeochemistry

Acid mine drainage is formed when pyrite (FeS(2)) is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. Tinto River (Huelva, Spain) is an example of this phenomenon. In this study, Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the speciation of the system iron(III)-sulfuric acid-water as an approach to Tinto River's aqueous solutions. The molalities of sulfuric acid (0.09 mol/kg) and iron(III) (0.01-1.5 mol/kg) were chosen to mimic the concentration of the species in Tinto River waters. Raman spectra of the solutions reveal a strong iron(III)-sulfate inner-sphere interaction through the nu(1) sulfate band at 981 cm(-1) and its shoulder at 1005 cm(-1). Iron(III)-sulfate interaction may also be facilitated by hydrogen bonds and monitored in the Raman spectra through the symmetric stretching band of bisulfate at 1052 cm(-1) and a shoulder at 1040 cm(-1). Other bands in the low-frequency region of the Raman spectra are attributed to the hydrogen-bonded complexes formation as well.     

Monitoring cell culture media degradation using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy

The quality of the cell culture media used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing is a crucial factor affecting bioprocess performance and the quality of the final product. Due to their complex composition these media are inherently unstable, and significant compositional variations can occur particularly when in the prepared liquid state. For example photo-degradation of cell culture media can have adverse effects on cell viability and thus process performance. There is therefore, from quality control, quality assurance and process management view points, an urgent demand for the development of rapid and inexpensive tools for the stability monitoring of these complex mixtures. Spectroscopic methods, based on fluorescence or Raman measurements, have now become viable alternatives to more time-consuming and expensive (on a unit analysis cost) chromatographic and/or mass spectrometry based methods for routine analysis of media. Here we demonstrate the application of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy for the simple, fast, analysis of cell culture media degradation. Once stringent reproducibility controls are implemented, chemometric data analysis methods can then be used to rapidly monitor the compositional changes in chemically defined media. SERS shows clearly that even when media are stored at low temperature (2–8 °C) and in the dark, significant chemical changes occur, particularly with regard to cysteine/cystine concentration.     

Immunoassay for P38 MAPK using surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS)

A micro-bead sandwich assay for P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase using surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) detection is reported. Monoclonal capture antibodies were immobilised on a solid phase of magnetic micro-beads with secondary detection using a rhodamine-labelled antibody. Quantitative SERRS detection of the secondary antibody was possible with a limit of detection of 9.5 x 10(-12) mol dm(-3). The sandwich assay was quantitative and sensitive to 6 ng ml(-1). The mechanism of the SERRS detection in the immunoassay was investigated. The addition of SERRS aggregating agents causes the dissociation of the immuno-complex from the magnetic beads. Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the colloidal suspension rather than adsorbed silver nanoparticles on the beads provide the SERRS signals, that the aggregate size is partially controlled and that there is some inhomogeneity in the distribution of organic matter on the nanoscale.