Nafion–graphene nanocomposite film as enhanced sensing platform for ultrasensitive determination of cadmium

In this work, an ultrasensitive platform for the detection of cadmium (Cd²⁺) combining the nafion–graphene nanocomposite film with differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) analysis was presented. It is found that this sensing platform exhibits enhanced response to the determination of the Cd²⁺ and has been used to determine the Cd²⁺ in real sample with good recovery.     

Solvent extraction—atomic absorption determination of chromium(VI) in soils

The extraction of chromium(VI) from aqueous saline solutions (NaNO₃) using a trioctylamine solution in toluene was studied in order to determine chromium(VI) in soil samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. It was found that the quantitative recovery of chromium(VI) was attained after extraction with the 0.1 M extractant solution (pH 1.5) for 15 min followed by-back extraction with 4 M HNO₃. Chromium(III) was not extracted under these conditions     

In-situ separation of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) and sequential ETV–ICP–AES determination using acetylacetone and PTFE as chemical modifiers

Electrothermal vaporization–inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ETV–ICP– ES) has been used for the sequential determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). The method is based on the difference between the chelate reactions of the two Cr species and acetylacetone. Cr(III) chelate was separated from Cr(VI) and determined with use of acetylacetone as chemical modifier. The retained Cr(VI) in graphite tube was analyzed subsequently, after addition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as chemical modifier. The different factors affecting the vaporization behavior of Cr(III) acetylacetonate were investigated in detail. The detection limits for Cr (III) and Cr(VI) were 0.56 and 1.4 ng mL^–1, respectively, and relative standard deviations for 0.1 μg mL^–1 Cr(III) and 0.1 μg mL^–1 Cr(VI) were 2.5% (n = 6) and 4.8% (n = 6), respectively. The linear ranges of the calibration curve for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) covered three orders of magnitude. The proposed method was used to analyze water samples with satisfactory results.     

Core-shell Ag–Pt nanoparticles: A versatile platform for the synthesis of heterogeneous nanostructures towards catalyzing electrochemical reactions

Heterogeneous nanostructures that are defined as a hybrid structure consisting of two or more nanoscale domains with distinct chemical compositions or physical characteristics have attracted intense efforts in recent years. In this review, we focus on the introduction of a number of heterogeneous nanostructures derived using core-shell Ag–Pt nanoparticles as starting materials, including hollow, dimeric and composite structures and also highlight their application in catalyzing electrochemical reactions, e.g., methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction. This review not only shows the capability of core-shell Ag–Pt nanoparticles in producing various heterogeneous nanostructures as starting templates, but also highlights the structural design or electronic interaction that endows the heterogeneous nanostructures with enhanced catalytic properties either in methanol oxidation or in oxygen reduction. Further, we also make some perspectives for more heterogeneous nanostructures that may be prepared by using core-shell Ag–Pt particles or their derivatives so as to offer the readers the opportunities and challenges in this field.     

A microelectrochemical sensing system for the determination of Epstein–Barr virus antibodies

An electrochemical method for the detection of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infections is described. The method relies on an immunoassay with electrochemical read-outs based on recombinant antigens. The antigens are immobilised on an Au electrode surface and used to complementarily bind antibodies from serum samples found during different stages of infection with EBV. Thiol chemistry under formation of self-assembled monolayers functions as a means to immobilise the antigens at the Au electrodes. A reporter system consisting of a secondary antibody labelled with alkaline phosphatase is used for electrochemical detection. The feasibility of the assay design is demonstrated and the assay performance is tested against the current gold standard in EBV detection. Close correlation is obtained for the results found for the developed electrochemical immunoassay and a standard line assay. Moreover, the electrochemical immunoassay is combined with a nanoporous electrode system allowing signal amplification by means of redox recycling. An amplification factor of 24 could be achieved.     

Geometrical structures of trimetallic Ag–Pd–Pt and Au–Pd–Pt clusters up to 147 atoms

Structural Chemistry - The core-shell morphologies of (PdPt)coreAgshell and (PdPt)coreAushell up to 147 atoms are investigated. The structural optimization of M–Pd–Pt (M = Ag or Au) is...     

Efficient chemiluminescence by aptamer – reactant platform combination with activated Ag–Au alloy nanoparticles for cobalt detection

This article deals with the detection of Co(II) in real water sample using aptamer – reactant platform combination with activated Ag–Au alloy nanoparticles (NPs) by chemiluminescence (CL) method. CL is attributed to a catalytically enhanced decomposition of H₂O₂ by aptamer conjugated Ag–Au alloy NPs to produce reactive oxygen species. The Ag–Au alloy NPs were prepared by chemical method using double reducing agent (i.e. trisodium citrate and polyethylenimine) and used for detection of Co(II) from water by CL method. CL experiments were carried out with the variation of different parameters such as pH, concentration of luminol, concentration of H₂O₂ and Ag–Au alloy NPs. We found that Ag–Au alloy NPs have very good efficiency towards Co(II) detection. Analytical parameters and kinetics were studied in detail to know the nature and mechanism of CL in presence of aptamer conjugated Ag–Au alloy NPs. The linear range of the CL sensor of Co(II) is covered concentration from 0.01 to 10 µg/L with detection limit of 0.001 µg/L. The relative standard deviation for determination of Co(II) was 6.65 in 10 replicated measurements. CL method is first time applied to detect the Co(II) in real water samples at very low level using aptamer conjugated Ag–Au NPs as a catalyst.     

An “off–on” fluorescence probe for chromium(III) ion determination in aqueous solution

An “off–on” rhodamine-based fluorescence probe for the selective signaling of Cr(III) has been designed by exploiting the guest-induced structure transform mechanism. This system shows a sharp Cr(III)-selective fluorescence enhancement response in 100% aqueous system under physiological pH value and possesses high selectivity against the background of environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions including Cr(VI), Al(III), Fe(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Mg(II), Ba(II), Pb(II), Na(I), and K(I). Under optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity enhancement of this system is linearly proportional to Cr(III) concentration from 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 7.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹.     

The effect of complexing agents on the DMF–chromium(VI) reaction. A kinetic study

The kinetics of the reduction of chromium(VI) by dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 2,2-bipyridyl (bpy) was investigated in aqueous HClO₄ acid solutions spectrophotometrically. The experimental findings, that the reaction has an induction period followed by autoacceleration, is explained. After the reduction, chromium(III) is present as the EDTA- and bpy-complexes, although such complexes form very slowly under the same experimental conditions from chromium(III) and the EDTA and bpy, respectively. Increases in the reaction rate with increasing [EDTA] were observed, while added bpy had negligible effect on the reaction rate. The reaction is first-order each in [Cr^VI] and [H⁺]. The first-order kinetics with respect to EDTA at low concentrations shift to zero-order at higher concentrations. The reaction is considered to proceed through the formation of a very stable chromium(VI)–DMF–EDTA complex. The suggested mechanism refers only to the induction period of the reaction. The net rate of oxidation of DMF, as measured by the consumption of chromium (VI), is given by: –d[Cr^VI]/dt = kK ₁ K _b[H⁺][DMF]_T[EDTA][Cr^VI]_T/(1 + K ₁[EDTA])(1 + K _b[H⁺])     

In-syringe magnetic-stirring-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction for the spectrophotometric determination of Cr(VI) in waters

A fully automated method for the determination of chromate is described. It is based on the selective reaction of Cr(VI) with diphenylcarbazide in acidic media to form a colored complex of Cr(III) with the oxidation product diphenylcarbazone. The reaction was performed within the syringe of an automatic burette containing a magnetic stirrer for homogenization of the sample and the required reagents. In-syringe stirring was made possible using a specially designed driving device placed around the syringe barrel to achieve a rotating magnetic field in the syringe, forcing the stirrer to spin. In a second step, the reaction mixture in the syringe was neutralized to allow in-syringe magnetic-stirring-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of the complex into 125 μL of n-hexanol. After phase separation by droplet flotation over 30 s, the organic phase was propelled into a coupled spectrophotometric detection cell. The entire multistep procedure including in-system standard preparation was done within 270 s. The method was used for the analysis of natural waters, achieving average analyte recovery of 103 %, a limit of detection of 0.26 μg L^-1, and a repeatability of less than 4 % relative standard deviation.     

Seeded growth core-shell (Ag–Au–Pd) ternary nanostructure at room temperature for potential water treatment

Seed-mediated growth is a promising technique for preparation of multi-metallic nanostructures, in which reduction of metal ions takes a place over the surface of another one. Herein, a seed growth mechanism was investigated for synthesis of core-shell Ag–Au–Pd ternary nanostructures through a facile method at room temperature. Ascorbic acid and sodium alginate were used as nano-generator and stabilizing agent, respectively. Spherical shaped monocular Ag nanostructure with size of 13.6 nm grew to 24.4 nm of Ag–Au binary and to 58.8 nm of Ag–Au–Pd ternary core-shell nanostructures. The crystalline shape of nanostructures was approved by X-Ray diffraction analyses. While, FT-IR data approved the redox mechanism for synthesis the as-required nanostructures. The catalytic reactivity of the prepared nanostructures in reductive degradation of methylene blue dye was studied. The results approved the role of Pd in perfection of catalytic degradation of the as-tested dye. The rate constant of dye degradation was considerably enlarged from 62.1 × 10⁻³ m⁻¹ for Ag monocular nanostructures to 403.3 × 10⁻³ m⁻¹ for Ag–Pd binary and to 852.4 × 10⁻³ m⁻¹ for Ag–Au–Pd ternary core-shell nanostructures. The obtained results offer an energy saving method to fabricate core-shell catalytically active ternary nanostructures with promising applicability in water treatment.     

Solid-phase extraction–spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) in natural waters

A method for the extraction and determination of uranyl ion in natural waters using octadecyl bonded silica membrane disks modified with piroxicam and spectrophotometry with arsenazo(III) is proposed. The perconcentration step was studied with regard to experimental parameters such as amount of extractant, type and amount of eluent, pH, flow rates and tolerance limit of diverse ions on the recovery of uranyl ion. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 0.4 micro g L(-1) of uranyl. The method was applied to the recovery of uranyl from different water samples.     

Preconcentration using diethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid-functionalized polysiloxane (DETAP) for determination of molybdenum(VI) in seawater by ICP–OES

This paper reports a new method for preconcentration and separation of trace amounts of molybdenum in seawater samples prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). Diethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid-functionalized polysiloxane (DETAP) was synthesized by carboxymethylation of amino groups on triamine immobilized polymer, which was prepared by modification of 3-chloropropylpolysiloxane with diethylenetriamine. The resulting polysiloxane is highly selective and efficient in chelating Mo(VI) at trace levels. It can be used as a column packing material. The polysiloxane column can be reused over ten times without losing its original properties, so it is suitable for preconcentration of molybdenum species in seawater samples before determination. The parameters governing the characteristics of polysiloxane for adsorption of Mo(VI) were investigated. These include the effect of pH, amount of polysiloxane, equilibrium time, adsorption isotherm, maximum adsorption capacity, interfering ions, flow rate, capacity for reuse, and desorption. The precision of the preconcentration method, calculated as the relative standard deviation of seawater samples, was 3%. The preconcentration factor was 100. The detection limit, defined as 3 times the standard deviation of five replicate measurements of the blank sample at pH 3, was 0.17 g L^–1. Measurement results for standard reference materials were in good agreement with the certified values [(CRMs), NASS-2 Seawater (Open Ocean) and CASS-2 Seawater (Coastal)].     

Ag(Ⅰ)、Au(Ⅲ)、Pt(Ⅳ)离子与DNA相互作用的光谱研究

本文用中药小檗碱作为探针分子,在0.01mol·L^-1醋酸-醋酸钠缓冲体系中,用荧光和紫外-可见吸收光谱研究了贵金属离子Ag(Ⅰ)、Au(Ⅲ)、Pt(Ⅳ)与DNA的相互作用。在三种贵金属离子中,Au(Ⅲ)、Pt(Ⅳ)离子对小檗碱-DNA体系均具有明显的荧光猝灭作用,而Ag(Ⅰ)离子对该体系有强烈的荧光敏化作用。分别求出了三种贵金属离子与DNA的结合常数。三种贵金属离子与DNA结合能力的强弱顺序依次为:Au(Ⅲ) >Ag(Ⅰ) >Pt(Ⅳ)。探讨了三种贵金属离子与DNA的作用机理及导致结合力不同的原因。     

A Silver(I)–Gold(II) Hexanuclear Guanidinate–Benzoate Cluster with Short Au–Au Bonds

Abstract  Attempts to remove the halide atoms from [Au₂(hpp)₂Cl₂], 1, Hhpp = 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, with Ag(I) benzoate lead to the formation of the Au(I)–Ag(I) product, [(PhCOO)₂Au₄(hpp)₄Ag₂(PhCOO)₄], 2. This material is stable to air and light at room temperature and shows a UV–vis spectrum in THF with absorbances at 575, 440, 345, and 273 nm. The mixed metal product crystallizes as green crystals in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. The Au–Au distances of 2.4473(19) ? are the shortest gold–gold distances reported to date. The gold···silver distance is 3.344(3) ? and the silver···silver distance is 2.771(6) ?. This latter distance is short compared with the Ag···Ag distance of 2.902(3) ? in the eight-membered silver benzoate dimer starting material. The Au(II) hpp and Ag(I) benzoate components are linked by carboxylate groups and two gold-silver interactions. This result stands in structural contrast to terminal carboxylate products observed with Au(II) ylides and amidinates wherein the carboxylate is not bridging to another metal atom. Index Abstract  Three equivalents of silver benzoate react with [Au₂(hpp)₂Cl₂], 1, Hhpp = 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, to form the gold(II)-silver(I) product, 2, [(PhCOO)₂Au₄(hpp)₄Ag₂(PhCOO)₄]. The gold–gold distance of 2.4473(19) ? is the shortest gold–gold distance reported to date. The gold–silver distance is 3.344(3) ? and the silver–silver distance is 2.771(6) ?. Dedicated to the memory of F. Albert Cotton (1930–2007).     

Interrupted heating DTA for liquidus temperature determination of Ag–Cd–In alloys

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - An Ag–Cd–In alloy is used as the control rod material in most pressurized water reactors. Despite this important application, the phase...     

Solid phase extraction method for the separation and determination of chromium(III) in the presence of chromium(VI) using silica gel modified by N,N'-bis-(α-methylsalicylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediimine

N,N'-bis-(α-methylsalicylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediimine (SBTD) modified silica gel was prepared and used as sorbent for solid phase extraction of Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution. This sorbent showed a high sorption affinity for Cr(III) while recovery of Cr(VI) was very low. The analyte ion retained on the column was eluted with 1 mol L(-1) HNO(3). The chromium ion in the eluent was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of different parameters such as pH, eluent type and volume, Schiff's base concentration, sample and eluent flow rate, interfering ions and adsorbent amount were investigated.     

A simple and sensitive fluorescent sensing platform for Hg²+ ions assay based on G-quenching

In this work, a novel fluorescence biosensor was demonstrated for detection of Hg(2+) ions with relatively high selectivity and sensitivity. The sensing scheme was based on G-quenching induced by Hg(2+) ions. In the presence of Hg(2+) ions, the single-stranded signal probe which has carboxylfluorescein (FAM) and guanine segment at its 5' and 3' ends, respectively, folded into duplex-like structure via the Hg(2+)-mediated coordination of T-Hg(2+)-T base pairs. It brought guannine segment close to the dye and caused a remarkable decrease of fluorescence signal. The sensor showed a sensitive response to Hg(2+) ions in a concentration range from 0.5 to 10 μM, and a detection limit of 0.5 nM was given. This homogeneous system required only a single-labeled oligonucleotide, operated by concise procedures, and possessed comparable sensitivity as previous approaches. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits a great perspective for future practical applications.     

A convenient C–H functionalization platform for pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloid synthesis

Pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids represent a structurally intriguing class of natural products that display an array of useful biological properties. Here, we present a versatile and scalable platform for the synthesis of this diverse family – and in particular the antitumor discorhabdins – built upon sequential selective C–H functionalization of tryptamine. The utility of this strategy is showcased through short formal syntheses of damirones A–C, makaluvamines D and I, and discorhadbin E. Additionally, we describe efforts to develop the first catalytic asymmetric entry to the discorhabdin subclass.     

Z-scheme structure SnS2–Au–CdS with excellent photocatalytic performance for simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and methyl orange

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A highly efficient Z-scheme photocatalyst SnS2–Au–CdS was fabricated by photoreduction and thiourea medium deposition methods. It was found that Au...