Ultratrace Osmium,Ruthenium and Lead in Airborne Particulate Matter: Peak Area as Instrumental Datum to Improve Their Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination

Peak area as instrumental datum for determining the concentration of metals in solution instead of peak height is proposed for the simultaneous voltammetric determination in particulate matter of ultratrace Os(VIII), Ru(III) and Pb(II), species linked to vehicle emissions. In the case of species present at ultratrace concentration level or having low reversibility degree of the electrodic processes, the employment of peak area, instead of peak current, permits to achieve limits of detection lower even more of one order of magnitude. The method is based on the catalytic current of the Os(VIII)‐, Ru(III)‐ and Pb(II)‐bromate system by differential pulse voltammetry. 0.3 mol L^?1 acetate buffer pH 4.5+6.9×10^?2 mol L^?1 NaBrO₃+2.3×10^?4 mol L^?1 EDTA‐Na₂ was employed as the supporting electrolyte. For all the elements, the accuracy, expressed as relative error e%, and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation s_r%, were satisfactory being lower than 6 %. To better validate the analytical procedure, a comparison with spectroscopic (electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy, ET‐AAS) is also reported.     

Chemical Speciation of Antimony(III and V) in Water by Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry Using the 4‐(2‐Thiazolylazo) – Resorcinol

A simple adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry method has been developed for antimony (III and V) speciation using 4‐(2‐thiazolylazo) – resorcinol (TAR). The methodology involves controlled preconcentration at pH 5, during which antimony(III) – TAR complex is adsorbed onto a hanging mercury drop electrode followed by measuring the cathodic peak current (I_p,c) at ?0.39 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode. The plot of I_p,c versus antimony(III) concentration was linear in the range 1.35×10^?9–9.53×10^?8 mol L^?1.The LOD and LOQ for Sb(III) were found 4.06×10^?10 and 1.35×10^?9 mol L^?1, respectively. Antimony(V) species after reduction to antimony(III) with Na₂SO₃ were also determined. Analysis of antimony in environment water samples was applied satisfactorily.     

Kinetics and mechanism of Os(VIII)-catalyzed hexacyanoferrate(III) oxidation of α amino acids in alkaline medium

The kinetics of the Os(VIII)-catalyzed oxidation of glycine, alanine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, lycine, and glutamic acid by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) reveal that these reactions are zero order in hexacyanoferrate(III) and first order in Os(VIII). The order in amino acid as well as in alkali is 1 at [amino acid] ?2.5 × 10^?2M and [OH^?] ?1.3 × 10^?M, but less than unity at higher concentrations of amino acids or alkali. The active oxidizing species under the experimental conditions is OsO₄(H₂O) (OH)^?. The ferricyanide is merely used up to regenerate the Os(VIII) species from Os(VI) formed during the reaction. The structural influence of amino acids on the reactivity has been discussed. The amino acids during oxidation are shown to be degraded through intermediate keto acids. The kinetic data are accommodated by considering the interaction between the conjugate base of the amino acids and the active oxidizing species of Os(VIII) to form a transient complex in the primary rate-determining step. The catalytic effect of hexacyanoferrate(II) has been rationalized.     

Bioelectroanalytical Determination of Rutin Based on bi‐Enzymatic Sensor Containing Iridium Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Phase Supported in Clay

A matrix comprising iridium nanoparticles and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (Ir‐BMI.BF₄) supported in montmorillonite (MMT) was obtained through an efficient incorporation process. This modified clay matrix (Ir‐BMI.BF₄‐MMT) was used for the immobilization of the enzymes laccase (LAC) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and employed in the construction of a bi‐enzymatic biosensor for determination of rutin by square‐wave voltammetry. Under optimized conditions, the analytical curve showed a linear range for rutin concentrations from 9.17×10^?8 to 3.10×10^?6 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 3.09×10^?8 mol L^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of rutin content in pharmaceutical samples.     

Electrochemical Behaviors of Baicalin at an Electrochemically Activated Glassy Carbon Electrode and Its Determination in Human Blood Serum

Electrochemical behavior of baicalin (BA) at an electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) had been investigated in Britton‐Robinson (B‐R) buffer solution (pH = 2.87) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The experimental results suggested that the electrode exhibited an electrocatalytic activity toward the redox of BA. The electron transfer coefficient (α) and the standard rate constant (k_s) of BA at the electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode were calculated. The reaction mechanism was proposed and discussed in this work. Under the selected conditions, the reduction peak current was linearly dependent on the concentration of BA in the range of 5.0 × 10^?8 to 3.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 (r = 0.9990), with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10^?8 mol L^?1. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for five times successful determination of 1.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 baicalin were 2.9%. The proposed method was also successfully applied for the determination of BA in human blood serum.     

Voltammetry of Dissolved Iron(III)–Nitrilotriacetate–Hydroxide System in Water Solution

The investigation of the dissolved iron(III)–nitrilotriacetate–hydroxide system in the water solution (I=0.1 mol L^?1 in NaClO₄; pH 8.0±0.1) using differential pulse cathodic voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and sampled direct current (DC) polarography, was carried out on a static mercury drop electrode (SMDE). The dissolved iron(III) ion concentrations varied from 2.68×10^?6 to 6×10^?4 mol L^?1 and nitrilotriacetate concentrations were 1×10^?4 and 5×10^?4 mol L^?1. By deconvoluting of the overlapped reduction voltammetric peaks using Fourier transformation, four relatively stable, dissolved iron(III) complex species were characterized, as follows: [Fe(NTA)₂]^3?, mixed ligand complexes [FeOHNTA]^? and [Fe(OH)₂NTA]^2?, showing a one‐electron quasireversible reduction, and binuclear diiron(III) complex [NTAFeOFeNTA]^2?, detected above 4×10^?4 mol L^?1 of the added iron(III) ions, showing a one‐electron irreversible reduction character. The calculations with the constants from the literature were done and compared with the potential shifts of the voltammetric peaks. Fitting was obtained by changing the following literature constants: log β₂([Fe(NTA)₂]^3?) from 24 to 27.2, log β₁([FeNTA]^?) from 8.9 to 9.2, log β₂([Fe(NTA)₂]^4?) from 11.89 to 15.7 and log β₂([Fe(OH)₂NTA]^3?) from 15.63 to 19. The determination of the electrochemical parameters of the mixed ligand complex [FeOHNTA]^?, such as: transfer coefficient (α), rate constant (k_s) and formal potential (E°') was done using a sampled DC polarography, and found to be 0.46±0.05, 1.0±0.3×10^?3 cm s^?1, and ?0.154±0.010 V, respectively. Although known previously in the literature, these four species have now for the first time been recorded simultaneously, i.e. proved to exist simultaneously under the given conditions.     

Effect of Pulse Width of Square Potential to Remove Silver Interference in the Determination of Mercury(II)

A graphite electrode modified with silver (Ag‐CPE) has been applied to detect mercury(II) using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve is linear in the range from 5.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 to 1.0×10^?4 mol L^?1 of mercury(II). The detection limit was found to be 3.38×10^?8 mol L^?1 with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.25 % (n=8). The proposed method was successfully applied for the detection of mercury(II) in leachate samples. The Ag‐CP composites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), BET adsorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Procedure for Determination of Total Chromium in Environmental Materials

A sensitive catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure for determination of traces of total chromium in environmental samples is reported. The method is based on the preconcentration of a Cr(III)? H₂DTPA complex by adsorption at the HMDE from an acetate buffer solution at the potential ?1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Total chromium was determined as Cr(III) after reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by NaHSO₃. In order to stabilize the signal of Cr(III) the measurements were performed at 5 °C. The calibration graph for chromium for an accumulation time of 60 s was linear in the range from 5×10^?10 to 5×10^?8 mol L^?1. The relative standard deviation for a chromium concentration of 1×10^?8 mol L^?1 was 3.9% (n=5). The detection limit for accumulation time of 60 s was about 8×10^?11 mol L^?1. The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of the certified reference materials.     

Spectroscopy studies on DNA binding of two ruthenium complexes [Ru(MeIm)4(L)]2+ (L = iip and tip)

Two ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(MeIm)₄(L)]²⁺ (L?=?2-(imidazo-4-group)-1H-imidazo-[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, 2-(thiophene-2-group)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, MeIm?=?1-methylimidazole) have been synthesized according to literature and structurally characterized. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA has been explored using electronic absorption titration, competitive binding experiment, circular dichroism, thermal denaturation, and viscosity measurements. The results show that both complexes could bind DNA in a intercalation mode and the DNA-binding affinity of [Ru(MeIm)₄(tip)]²⁺ (K _b?=?(7.2?±?0.3)?×?10⁵?(mol?L^?1)^?1) is greater than that of [Ru(MeIm)₄(iip)]²⁺ (K _b?=?(6.1?±?0.2)?×?10⁵?(mol?L^?1)^?1).     

Square‐Wave Voltammetric Determination of Paraquat at Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Hydroxyapatite

The voltammetric behavior of paraquat was investigated at hydroxyapatite‐modified carbon paste electrode HAP‐CPE in K₂SO₄. A method was developed for the detection of the trace of this herbicide, based on their redox reaction. The reduction peaks of paraquat were observed around ?0.70 V and ?1.00 V (vs. SCE) in square‐wave voltammetry. Experimental conditions were optimized by varying the accumulation time, apatite loading and measuring solution pH. Calibration plots were linear under the optimized parameters over the herbicide's concentration range 8–200×10^?7 mol L^?1, with a detection and quantification limits about 1.5×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 6.4 10^?8 mol L^?1, respectively.     

Graphene Oxide as a Platform for Copper Pentacyanonitrosylferrate Nanoparticles and their Behavior in the Electro‐oxidation of N‐Acetylcysteine

This work describes the preparation of graphene oxide by the Modified Hummers Method and the chemical modification of its surface with nanoparticles of copper pentacyanonitrosylferrate(III) (GOCuNP). The materials obtained were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The GOCuNP was characterized by cyclic voltammetry using a graphite paste electrode that presented electrocatalytic response for N‐acetylcysteine with detection limit of 2.97×10^?5 mol L^?1 at concentration range of 3.00×10^?5 to 6.00×10^?3 mol L^?1 of N‐acetylcysteine. By this way, the bimetallic complex formed is included in the list of materials obtained as potential candidates for the construction of electrochemical sensors for N‐acetylcysteine detection.     

Double Deposition and Stripping Steps for Trace Determination of Au(III) Using Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

A new way of decreasing the detection limit ‐ double deposition and stripping steps was proposed to determine trace amounts of gold(III) by anodic stripping voltammetry. Two carbon composite electrodes that differed drastically in their surface areas were used for the measurements. The calibration graph was linear from 1×10^?9 to 1×10^?8 mol L^?1 following deposition time of 300 s at the first and the second electrode. The detection limit was found to be 2.3×10^?10 and 1.4×10^?11 mol L^?1 for deposition time 600 and 2400 s, respectively. It is the lowest detection limit obtained so far for gold(III) determination in stripping voltammetry.     

A Study on Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Osmium(IV) at a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified In Situ with Cationic Surfactants

This article deals with the development of a method for the determination of osmium at a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium salt type; namely, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 1‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐pentadecyltrimethyl‐ammonium bromide (Septonex); both being added in situ and serving for preconcentration of osmium via its hexachloroosmate(IV) anion. The proper electrochemical detection was performed by cathodic scanning in the differential pulse voltammetric mode. Optimization studies concerning important experimental parameters also included a specially performed potentiometric titration, helping to define the actual stoichiometry for the ion‐pairing process, the main principle and driving force of the accumulation step. In a chloride/acetate buffer based supporting medium and with Septonex as the modifier of choice, the reduction signal for osmium was found to be proportional to the Os(IV) concentration in a range from 5×10^?9 to 5×10^?7 mol L^?1 with a limit of detection close to 5×10^?9 mol L^?1 (with preconcentration for 60 s). The method capable to determine Os(IV) in the presence of both Pt(IV) and Ir(III) was tested on model solutions as well as with real sample of industrial waste water (spiked with the analyte); both yielding the recovery rates within 88–99%.     

Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid Using the Nano‐Gold Self‐Assembled Glassy Carbon Electrode

Electrochemical behavior of dopamine (DA) was investigated at the gold nanoparticles self‐assembled glassy carbon electrode (GNP/LC/GCE), which was fabricated by self‐assembling gold nanoparticles on the surface of L ‐cysteine (LC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via successive cyclic voltammetry (CV). A pair of well‐defined redox peaks of DA on the GNP/LC/GCE was obtained at E_pa=0.197 V and E_pc=0.146 V, respectively. And the peak separation between DA and AA is about 0.2 V, which is enough for simultaneous determination of DA and AA. The peak currents of DA and AA were proportional with their concentrations in the range of 6.0×10^?8–8.5×10^?5 mol L^?1 and 1.0×10^?6–2.5×10^?3 mol L^?1, with the detection limit of 2.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 3.0×10^?7 mol L^?1 (S/N=3), respectively. The modified electrode exhibits an excellent reproducibility, sensibility and stability for simultaneous determination of DA and AA in human serum with satisfactory result.     

In Vivo Determination of Tetrahydrobiop- terin and Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Rat Brain by Liquid Chromatography with a Nano Crystalline Mn-Doped Lead Dioxide Film Modified Electrode

The fabrication and application of a novel electrochemical detector (ED) with nano crystalline Mn-doped lead dioxide film chemically modified electrode (CME) for liquid chromatography (LC) were described. The Mn-doped PbO₂ film was characterized by scanning tunnel microscope. The electrochemical behaviors of tetrahydrobiopterin, monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites at the CME were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. It was found that the CME exhibited efficiently electrocatalytic effect on the current response of the seven analytes and the linear ranges of them were over three orders of magnitude with the detection limits being 5.0 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 for tetrahydrobiopterin, 2.5 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 for dopamine, 2.0 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 for norepinephrine, 5.0 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 for serotonin, 4.0 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 for 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2.0 × 10^?9 mol L^?1 for homovanillic acid, 1.0 × 10^?9 mol L^?1 for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. For its stability, sensitivity, convenience in preparing and long-life of activity, the Mn-doped PbO₂ electrode is therefore suitable for determination of real samples. Coupled with microdialysis sampling, the application of this method for the analysis of tetrahydrobiopterin, monoamine neurotransmitters and their metablites in rat brain was satisfactory.     

The electrocatalytic activity of a supramolecular assembly of CoTsPc/FeT4MPyP on multi-walled carbon nanotubes towards L-glutathione, and its determination in human erythrocytes

The electrocatalytic activity of a supramolecular complex based on cobalt(II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate and iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin adsorbed on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the oxidation of L-glutathione (GSH) was investigated at pH 7.4. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry were used to characterize the morphologies and composition of the materials. The modified electrode displayed efficient electrocatalytic activity in terms of oxidation of GSH at an oxidation potential of 0 V (versus Ag/AgCl). Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry indicated that the oxidation involves 2-electrons, with a heterogeneous rate constant of 4.9?×?10⁵ mol^?1 L s^?1. The response is linear from 2 to 210 μmol ?L^-1, the sensitivity is 1570 μA L mmol^?1, the detection limit is 0.03 μmol L^?1, and the relative standard deviation of 110 μmol L^?1 GSH was 2.6% (n?=?10). The modified electrode was applied to the determination of GSH in erythrocytes and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a method reported in the literature.     

Determination of Atrazine in Natural Water Samples by Differential Pulse Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry Using a Bismuth Film Electrode

A new method using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry for the determination of atrazine (ATZ) in natural water samples using a bismuth film electrode (BiFE) is proposed. The calibration curve was linear in the atrazine concentration range from 6.7×10^?7 to 2.0×10^?5 mol L^?1, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.4×10^?7 mol L^?1. The proposed electrode was applied for atrazine determination with satisfactory results compared with a high‐performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC).     

Electrochemiluminescence of SDBS‐Ru(bpy)32+‐CPM System and Its Application

When the concentration of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (SDBS) is 0.7 mmol·L^?1, the electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺‐chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) system at the Au electrode were studied. The results showed that compared with the absence of SDBS, enhancement of the ECL intensity was 14‐fold at Au electrode. Base on this, an ECL method was established for efficient and simple determination of CPM at Au electrode. Under the optimum experimental condition, the enhanced ECL intensities had good linear relationship with the concentration of CPM in the range of 1.0×10^?4–1.0×10^?7 mol·L^?1, and a linear regression equation was obtained as follows: I (counts)=48.805×10⁶c+394.03 (r=0.9975), the detection limit for CPM was 1.4×10^?8 mol·L^?1. The RSD for 5 times determinations of 1.0×10^?5 mol·L^?1 CPM was 3.2%. The results of recovery test were between 96.3%–102.5%, and the RSD of recovery test (n=5) was 2.7%. In addition, eleven kinds of tertiary amines‐Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ systems were investigated in the absence and presence of SDBS. The results showed that the enhancement of SDBS on ECL intensity of tertiary amines‐Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ systems was universal.     

Voltammetric Determination of Cymoxanil and Famoxadone at Different Types of Carbon Electrodes

Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a carbon fibre rod electrode (CFRE) and a capillary carbon paste electrode (CPE) have been used for the determination of pesticides cymoxanil and famoxadone, respectively. In the cathodic potential range, optimum conditions were found for the determination of cymoxanil by DPV at CFRE at pH 4 with limit of quantification (L_Q) of 5.9×10^?7 mol L^?1. In the anodic area, determination of famoxadone by DPV at CPE was performed at optimum pH 2 with L_Q=1.4×10^?7 mol L^?1. Practical applicability of the newly developed methods was verified on spiked samples of river water and soil.     

Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Selenocystine Using Selenium‐gold Film Modified Electrode

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of selenocystine (SeC) using selenium‐gold film modified glassy carbon electrode ((Se‐Au)/GC) is presented. In 0.10 mol?L^?1 KNO₃ (pH 3.20) solution, SeC yields a sensitive reduction peak at ?740 mV on (Se‐Au)/GC electrode. The peak current has a linear relationship with the concentration of SeC in the range of 5.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?4 mol?L^?1, and a 3σ detection limit of SeC is 3.0×10^?8 mol?L^?1. The relative standard deviation of the reduction current at SeC concentration of 10^?6 mol?L^?1 is 3.88% (n=8) using the same electrode, and 4.19% when using three modified electrodes prepared at different times. The content of SeC in the selenium‐enriched yeast and selenium‐enriched tea is determined. The total selenium in ordinary or selenium‐enriched tea is determined by DAN fluorescence method. The results indicate that in selenium‐enriched yeast about 20% of total selenium is present as SeC and in selenium‐enriched tea SeC is the major form of selenoamino acids. The total selenium content in selenium‐enriched tea soup is 0.09 μgSe/g accounting by 7% compared with that in selenium‐enriched tea. Hence, only a little amount of selenium is utilized by drinking tea, and most selenium still stay in tealeaf. Uncertainty are 22.4% and 16.1% for determination of SeC in selenium‐enriched yeast and selenium‐enriched tea by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on (Se‐Au)/GC electrode, respectively.