Biosynthesis of Quantum Dots (CdTe) and its Effect on Eisenia fetida and Escherichia coli

Biosynthesis belongs to one of the new possibilities of nanoparticles preparation, whereas its main advantage is biocompatibility. In addition, the ability of obtaining the raw material for such synthesis from the soil environment is beneficial and could be useful for remediation. However, the knowledge of mechanisms that are necessary for the biosynthesis or effect on the bio-synthesizing organisms is still insufficient. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of quantum dots (QDs) not only on a model organism of collembolans, but also on another soil organism—earthworm Eisenia fetida—and in also one widespread microorganism such as Escherichia coli. Primarily, we determined 28EC₅₀ as 72.4 μmol L⁻¹ for CdTe QDs in collembolans. Further, we studied the effect of QDs biosynthesis in E. fetida and E. coli. Using determination of QDs, low-molecular thiols and antioxidant activities, we found differences between both organisms and also between ways how they behave in the presence of Cd and/or Cd and Te. The biosynthesis in earthworms can be considered as its own protective mechanism; however, in E. coli, it is probably a by-product of protective mechanisms.

     

Biosynthesis of Quantum Dots (CdTe) and its Effect on Eisenia fetida and Escherichia coli

Biosynthesis belongs to one of the new possibilities of nanoparticles preparation, whereas its main advantage is biocompatibility. In addition, the ability of obtaining the raw material for such synthesis from the soil environment is beneficial and could be useful for remediation. However, the knowledge of mechanisms that are necessary for the biosynthesis or effect on the bio-synthesizing organisms is still insufficient. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of quantum dots (QDs) not only on a model organism of collembolans, but also on another soil organism—earthworm Eisenia fetida—and in also one widespread microorganism such as Escherichia coli. Primarily, we determined 28EC₅₀ as 72.4 μmol L^?1 for CdTe QDs in collembolans. Further, we studied the effect of QDs biosynthesis in E. fetida and E. coli. Using determination of QDs, low-molecular thiols and antioxidant activities, we found differences between both organisms and also between ways how they behave in the presence of Cd and/or Cd and Te. The biosynthesis in earthworms can be considered as its own protective mechanism; however, in E. coli, it is probably a by-product of protective mechanisms.     

Polarographic study of the complexes of cadmium(II) and lead(II) with methoxyacetate ions

Reduction of the complexes of cadmium(II) and lead(II) atdme in aqueous and aqueous-methanol media at μ = 1.0 M(NaClO₄) at 15 ±0.1 and 25 ±0.1°C is reversible and diffusion-controlled. Four complex species are formed in either case. The overall stability constants of 1:1,1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 complexes have been determined. Lead(II) complexes are much stronger than the corresponding cadmium(II) complexes.     

Kinetics of the thermal decomposition of cadmium carbonate (CdCO3)

Cadmium carbonate used in the study was prepared from cadmium chloride, ammonium carbonate and ammonia. The X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectral and chemical analysis conducted on the product show that the sample is of analytically acceptable purity. The thermal decomposition kinetics of cadmium carbonate was then studied by using the isothermal thermogravimetric method under a flow of dry nitrogen gas. The decomposition kinetics is best described by a two-dimensional phase boundary reaction mechanism (R ₂). An activation energy (E _a) of 135.006 kJ·mol^?1 and natural logarithm of the frequency factor (lnZ) of 16.754 were obtained in the range of 9 temperatures (400, 390, 380, 370, 360, 350, 340, 330 and 320°C).     

Ternary complexes in the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of silver(I) and cadmium(II)

The reaction of silver(I) and cadmium(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline (PHEN) and Eosin (2,4,5,7-tetrabromofluorescein) gives coloured association complexes. The solution spectra of the mixed-ligand complexes are characterised by high intensity (∈ ≈ 10⁴) metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands at 540–555nm. The optimum conditions for the spectrophotometric determination of Ag(I) or Cd(II) have been established. A simple, sensitive and selective method was proposed for the determination of traces of the metal ions either in aqueous or organic media. In the presence of EDTA only aluminium and cyanide interfere.     

Efficacy of Precocene I from Desmosstachya bipinnata as an Effective Bioactive Molecules against the Spodoptera litura Fab. and Its Impact on Eisenia fetida Savigny

The sustainability of agroecosystems are maintained with agro-chemicals. However, after more than 80 years of intensive use, many pests and pathogens have developed resistance to the currently used chemistries. Thus, we explored the isolation and bioactivity of a chemical compound, Precocene I, isolated from the perennial grass, Desmosstachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf. Fractions produced from chloroform extractions showed suppressive activity on larvae of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the Oriental armyworm. Column chromatography analyses identified Precocene I confirmed using FTIR, HPLC and NMR techniques. The bioactivity of the plant-extracted Dp-Precocene I was compared to a commercially produced Precocene I standard. The percentage of mortality observed in insects fed on plant tissue treated with 60 ppm Db-Precocene I was 97, 87 and 81, respectively, for the second, third and fourth instar larvae. The LC₅₀ value of third instars was 23.2 ppm. The percentages of survival, pupation, fecundity and egg hatch were altered at sub-lethal concentrations of Db-Precocene I (2, 4, 6 and 8 ppm, sprays on castor leaves). The observed effects were negatively correlated with concentration, with a decrease in effects as concentrations increased. Distinct changes in feeding activity and damage to gut tissues were observed upon histological examination of S. litura larvae after the ingestion of Db-Precocene I treatments. Comparative analyses of mortality on a non-target organism, the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, at equal concentrations of Precocene I and two chemical pesticides (cypermethrin and monocrotophos) produced mortality only with the chemical pesticide treatments. These results of Db-Precocene I as a highly active bioactive compound support further research to develop production from the grass D. bipinnata as an affordable resource for Precocene-I-based insecticides.     

Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts: Their properties,hazards and toxicities

Abstract

Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC) and sulfate (THPS) are of importance in the textile industry as flame retardants, in the oil industry as scale-removers, as biocides for water systems, in the leather industry as tanning agents, in nanochemistry as reductants and stabilizers of nanoparticles, and as oxygen-scavengers in medical uses. In the majority of cases, THPC and THPS themselves are not chemically active and solely play a role of reservoirs for the more reactive species tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) and/or formaldehyde. The contents of THPC/THPS solutions greatly depend on pH, which is now recognized as a key factor, for example, in metal hydrosol preparations, biocidal activity, and ecotoxicity. This review is intended to reveal and explain the complex behavior of THP and (HOCH₂)₄P⁺ salts in aqueous solutions, conditions that might lead to potential hazardous compounds such as formaldehyde, hydrogen gas, phosphine PH₃, and bis(chloromethyl)ether. Literature data on their toxicities are reviewed.     

Coprecipitation of lead and cadmium using copper(II) mercaptobenzothiazole prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination

A coprecipitation method using a combination of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) as a chelating reagent and copper as the coprecipitate carrier is described for the determination of trace lead and cadmium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The coprecipitation conditions, such as the effect of pH, the amount of carrier element and reagent, standing time, sample volume and matrix effects were examined in detail. It was found that lead and cadmium are coprecipitated quantitatively (≥95%) with Cu(II)-MBT at pH 9 and that the relative standard deviations (n = 7) were ≤1.6%. When using the enrichment factors of 150-fold for lead and cadmium, the detection limits (3s/b) obtained are 1.08 for lead and 0.04 μg L⁻¹ for cadmium. The method was validated with spiked sea water, stream water, well water, and vegetable samples.     

Spectrophotometric and first-derivative spectrophotometric determination of cadmium witho-hydroxybenzenediazoaminoazobenzene (HDAA)

The synthesis ofo-hydroxybenzenediazoaminoazobenzene (HDAA) is described. Cadmium forms with HDAA in the presence of Triton X-100 a 13 complex, which gives a maximum absorption at 520nm with an apparent molar absorptivity of 1.97 × 10⁵1 · mol^–1 · cm^–1 in pH 10 borax buffer solution and 1.52 × 10⁵1 · mol^–1 · cm^–1 in ammoniacal medium. In both media, Beer's law is followed in the range of 0 –10 g of cadmium in 25ml of solution and the coefficients of variation do not exceed 1.5%. A derivative method has been employed to determine cadmium in certain waste water samples without separation.     

Multidentate bis(pyrazolylmethyl)pyridine ligands: coordination chemistry and binding properties with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) cations

The coordination chemistry and cationic binding properties of 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1), 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L2), and 2,6-bis(3,5-ditertbutylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L3) with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) have been investigated. Reactions of L2 with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) nitrate or chloride salts produced monometallic complexes [Zn(NO₃)₂(L2)] (1), [ZnCl₂(L2)] (2), [Cd(NO₃)₂(L2)] (3), and [CdCl₂(L2)] (4). Solid state structures of 1 and 3 confirmed that L2 binds in a tridentate mode. While the nitrates in the zinc complex (1) adopt monodentate binding fashion, in cadmium complex (3), they exhibit bidentate mode. L1–L3 show binding efficiencies of 99% for zinc(II), 60% for lead(II), and 30% for cadmium(II) cations from aqueous solutions of the metal ions. Theoretical studies using Density Functional Theory were consistent with the observed extraction results.     

Effect of nano cadmium sulfide on combustion and thermal decomposition of polystryene and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Cadmium sulfide nano particles, both hollow spheres (CdS‐HS) and rods (CdS‐NR), were synthesized by ultrasonic and solvothermal processes, respectively, and characterized by XRD and SEM. The effect of the two kinds of nano particles on flammability was investigated using the cone calorimeter and microscale combustion calorimeter. The incorporation of small amount of CdS nano particles (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%) leads to a reduction in the peak heat release rate (PHRR) compared to pristine PS; CdS‐NR is more efficient in reducing the PHRR. CdS nano particles are less effective in reducing the PHRR of PMMA. Thermal stability of PS/CdS and PMMA/CdS nanocomposites was studied by TGA. The TGA results show that the addition of the nano particles mainly increases thermal stability of PS and PMMA at high temperatures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of niobium pentachloride with bis(triethylgermyl)cadmium

The reaction of niobium pentachloride with Cd(GeEt₃)₂ (1 1) in THFin vacuo has been studied. The reaction affords Et₃GeNbCl₄ · THF, which was characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. To refine the composition of the compound, the thermolysis of Et₃GeNbCl₄ · THF at 85 and 180 °C was studied.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1812–1813, October, 1994.     

Determination of selected polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and earthworm (Eisenia fetida) using a QuEChERS‐based method and gas chromatography with tandem MS

Soil and earthworms are important objects in soil pollution assessment and environmental behavior and toxicity study for polychlorinated biphenyls. Accelerated solvent extraction and solid‐phase extraction are generally required for the extraction and clean‐up of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and earthworm, which are tedious and time‐consuming. In this work, a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) procedure combined with gas chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of 20 selected polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in soil and earthworm. Different extraction times, solvents, and clean‐up adsorbents were compared and optimized. The average recoveries from spiked soils ranged between 70 and 120% with satisfactory relative standard deviations for all the polychlorinated biphenyls. In earthworm, the recoveries of polychlorinated biphenyls 180, 183, and 189 were relatively low (< 70% in some spiking levels) compared to that of the other polychlorinated biphenyls. The limits of quantification were in the range of 0.01–0.05 ng/g. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of 66 agricultural soils. To our knowledge, a combined method based on QuEChERS for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and earthworms has not been published before. The procedure proved to be simple, sensitive, efficient, and environmentally friendly.     

An enzyme biosensor based on beta-galactosidase inhibition for electrochemical detection of cadmium (II) and chromium (VI)

The focus of this article is the development and optimisation of a simple, sensitive, selective biosensor for the detection of heavy metals, through inhibition of β-galactosidase (β-gal) from Aspergillus oryzae after its immobilisation on an electrochemical transducer by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The inhibition of β-gal by Cd(II) and Cr(VI) was demonstrated by the decrease of β-gal activity monitored by the conductometric signal. Under optimal conditions, the developed voltammetric and impedimetric biosensor, based on the specific interaction of metallic ions with beta-galactosidase that increases the electron transfer of the redox probe, presented a wide range of linearity. Detection limits of 3.12 × 10^–10 M (91.7 ng/L) were obtained, using both techniques, for Cr(VI). For Cd(II) detection limits were 2.85 × 10^–8 M (6.95 µg/L) using EIS and 3.22 × 10^–11 M (7.61 ng/L) using square wave voltammetry (SWV).     

Bioaccumulation of metals and induction of metallo‐ thioneins in selected tissues of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) co‐exposed to cadmium,mercury and lead

The concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) at various exposure periods were determined in the gill, kidney, liver and muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) co‐exposed to 1.0 µg ml^?1 each of Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ for up to 10 days. Metallothionein fractions (MTs) in these organs were characterized using the hyphenated technique of size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). After 10 days of exposure, maximum toxic metal concentrations of Hg, Cd and Pb were 10.7 (gill), 0.145 (kidney) and 0.112 µg g^?1_dryweight (gill), respectively. The pattern of accumulation of Hg and Pb was in the order gill > kidney > liver > muscle. In the case of Cd, accumulation was in the order kidney > gill > liver > muscle. Cd and Hg binding MTs were significantly induced in the gill, kidney and liver of all the exposure groups in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05), and the amounts of them increased with the longer exposure time. Despite the higher intracellular Hg concentration and the stronger Hg? SH binding affinity, the amount of Cd‐binding MTs was much higher than that of Hg‐binding MTs. The results indicate that MT synthesis in these organs was clearly metal‐specific. MTs in gill may be used as a bio‐marker to detect the metal pollution caused by Hg and Cd. Zinc and copper binding MTs in the organs of the exposed fish were also increased. This may be due to the MTs' important role in the homeostatic regulation of essential metals and their protective role against the acute toxicity of non‐essential metals. Even though there was considerable accumulation of lead in the organs of the exposed fish, Pb‐binding MT synthesis was non‐significant. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Indirect complexometric determination of cadmium(II) using 1,10-phenanthroline as selective masking agent

An indirect complexometric method is described for the determination of cadmium(II), 1,10-phenanthroline being used as masking agent. Cadmium(II) in a given sample solution is initially complexed with an excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is titrated with lead nitrate solution at pH 5.0–6.0 (hexamine), using xylenol orange as indicator. An excess of 1,10-phenanthroline is then added and the EDTA released from the Cd-EDTA complex is titrated with standard lead nitrate solution. Results are obtained for 1.5–57 mg of Cd with relative errors 0.90% and standard deviations 0.06 mg. Cu(II), Co(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Tl(III), Au(III) and Sn(IV) interfere, but can be easily masked. The method is applied for the determination of cadmium in synthetic alloy solutions.     

Structures and fluorescent properties of picolinato zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes based on tridentate and tetradentate benzimidazole ligands

Five picolinato zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes, [Zn(ntb)(pic)]ClO₄·CH₃OH·2H₂O (1), [Zn(bbma)(pic)]NO₃·2CH₃OH (2), [Cd(ntb)(pic)]ClO₄·0.75CH₃OH·H₂O (3), [Cd₂(bbma)₂(pic)₂](ClO₄)₂ (4), and [Cd₂(bbp)(bbp_-H)(pic)₂(C₂H₅OH)]ClO₄ (5), have been synthesized, where pic is the anion of picolinic acid, ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, bbma is bis(benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)amine, and bbp is 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine. All the complexes were characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. 1–3 are mononuclear complexes in which picolinate adopts a N,O-chelating mode. 4 is a symmetrical dinuclear complex bridged by two anti-parallel picolinates in a N,O,O-coordination mode. 5 is also a dinuclear complex in which only one picolinate is a bridge. A 1-D double chain is formed by extensive H-bonds and π–π stacking in 1, while single zigzag chains are formed in 5. Complexes 2–4 all exhibit 6³-hcb 2-D frameworks. They extend to form four-connected 6⁶-dia 3-D topological nets for 2 and 4 and five-connected 4⁶·6⁴-bnn 3-D topological nets for 3. The five complexes show emission maxima in the blue region in the solid state.     

Chromatographic behavior of cadmium in an ion-pair reversed-phase micro HPLC system and its application to the determination of bio-available cadmium in soil samples

A novel reversed phase ion-pair micro HPLC system with on-line fluorescence detection has been developed systematically and studied for the determination of cadmium in its bio-available fractions of soil samples. In this system, a micro ODS column of 1.0 mm i.d.×150 mm length and a mobile phase containing 6 mmol L^-1 8-hydroxyquinoline 5-sulphonic acid (HQS), 3 mmol L^-1 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABr), 10 mmol L^-1 acetic acid-acetate buffer (pH 5.1) as well as 50% acetonitrile at 50 L min^-1 flow rate were employed to determine cadmium with a 2 L flow cell through its fluorescence at 518 nm under 338 nm excitation. Furthermore, the composition of Cd-HQS chelate formed on the column was confirmed to be [Cd(HQS)₂]^2- through a log–log plot method, and then combined with the ion-pair reagent by the electrostatic force under the chromatographic condition proposed. With such a method, the detection limit of cadmium was 8.48 ng mL^-1 (3) with 1 L sample injection, and the linear range for the determination of cadmium was 30–800 ng mL^-1 (R²=0.992). This method has been successfully applied to determination of cadmium in its bio-available fractions of BCR-483 and soil samples without interference from other coexistent metal ions. The RSD (n=6) was less than 7.3%. The results were in agreement with the indicative value for BCR-483 and those for the soil samples obtained by ICP-MS with a pretreatment of bis(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phosphinic acid extraction.     

二维配位聚合物[K2(5-nbdc)2Cd(Ⅱ)·imH·H2O]∞的合成和晶体结构(英)

The crystal structure of the title complex, [K₂(5-nbdc)₂Cd(Ⅱ)·imH·H₂O]_∞ (5-nbdc=5-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarbonate, imH=imidazole) has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal data are: tetragonal, space group P4₁, M_r=694.93 for CdC₁₉H₁₂N₄O₁₃K₂, a=1.018 6(10) nm, b=1.018 6(10) nm, c=2.436 7(5) nm; Z=4, V=2.528 2(6) nm³, F(000)=1 376, D_c=1.826 Mg·m^-3, μ=1.267 mm^-1. The title polymeric complex exhibits a two-dimensional framework, in which adjacent Cd(Ⅱ) ions are bridged by μ-O₄-5-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarbonate groups forming one-dimensional chains that are further linked by μ-O₃-5-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarbonate groups into two-dimensional anion rectangle sheets with large 32-membered rings. The strong π-π stacks of the benzene rings link these adjacent sheets into a three-dimensional van der Waals network. CCDC: 245527.     

A new amino alcohol NpyNimineNamineOalcohol-donor ligand: coordination toward zinc(II) and cadmium(II) halides and enantioselective products

In the present work a new ligand, 2-(2-(phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methyleneamino)ethylamino)ethanol (L), and its Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes, [Zn(L)Br₂] (1), [Cd(L)Br₂] (2) and [Cd(L)I₂] (3), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, Raman and ¹H NMR spectroscopies as well as X-ray crystallography. All complexes are isostructural and their metal ions have distorted square pyramidal geometry with an MN₃X₂ (X: Br, I) environment. During the complexation process, the amine group of the ligand becomes a chiral center. In the solid-state, an R-configuration was observed in all three complexes. Furthermore, the molecules form intermolecular C–H?O, C–H?X and O–H?X (X: Br, I) hydrogen bonds in the solid-state.