Palladium metal electrode and its analytical application to precipitation and acid–base analysis in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Electrochemical characterization of palladium electrode has been reported. The investigated electrode showed a linear dynamic response for p-toluensulfonic acid and iodide ions in the concentrations range between 5?×?10^?1 and 1?×?10^?5 mol L^?1 with a Nernstian slope of 55 mV for p-toluensulfonic acid and 63 mV per decade for iodide ions in water, as well as 53 mV for p-toluensulfonic acid and 51 mV per decade for iodide ions in dioxane. The response time of the electrodes was less than 10 s in the used solvents. Some potential analytical applications of the sensors have been pointed. Palladium electrode for the potentiometric titrations of acids (citric, barbituric, and p-toluensulfonic acid), bases (N,N’-diphenylguanidine, tributylamine, and 2,2'–bipyridine), halides, and some real samples in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions were studied. Тetrabutylammonium hydroxide, perchloric acid, and silver nitrate proved to be very suitable titrating agents for these titrations. The standard deviation of the determination of the investigated compounds was less than 0.9 % from those obtained with a glass electrode, i.e., silver electrode.     

Development,optimization and application of an analytical methodology by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for determination of amanitins in urine and liver samples

Amanitins, highly toxic cyclopeptides isolated from various Amanita species, are the most potent poisons accounting for the hazardous effects on intestinal epithelium cells and hepatocytes, and probably the sole cause of fatal human poisoning.     

The fluorescence enhancement effect of the Tb-Gd-guanosine-5′-triphosphate-phen system and its analytical application

The simplified generalized standard additions method (GSAM) was investigated as an alternative method for the ICP-OES analysis of solid materials, introduced into the plasma in the form of slurries. The method is an expansion of the conventional standard additions method. It is based on the principle of varying both the sample mass and the amount of standard solution added. The relationship between the sample mass, standard solution added and signal intensity is assumed to be linear. Concentration of the analyte can be found either geometrically from the slope of the two-dimensional response plane in a three-dimensional space or mathematically from the ratio of the parameters estimated by multiple linear regression. The analysis of a series of certified reference materials (CRMs) (cement CRM-BCS No 353, gypsum CRM-Gyp A and basic slag CRM No 382/I) introduced into the plasma in the form of slurry is described. The slurries contained glycerol and hydrochloric acid and were placed in an ultrasonic bath to ensure good dispersion. Table curve 3D software was used to fit the data. Results obtained showed that the method could be successfully applied to the analysis of cement, gypsum and slag samples, without the need to dissolve them. In this way, we could avoid the use of hazardous chemicals (concentrated acids), incomplete dissolution and loss of some volatiles. The application of the simplified GSAM for the analysis did not require a CRM with similar chemical and mineralogical properties for the calibration of the instrument.     

Bulk and surface properties of ZnTe–ZnS system semiconductors

Physicochemical studies of a new ZnTe–ZnS semiconductor system are conducted. It is found that at certain ratios of binary components, substitutional solid solutions with a cubic sphalerite structure are formed in this system. Interrelated laws governing changes in the bulk (crystal chemical, structural) and surface (acid–base) properties with varying system composition are identified. It is assumed they can be attributed to the nature of the active (acid–base) sites. The presented data, observed patterns, and an interpretation of them are used not only to confirm earlier proposed mechanisms of atomic–molecular interaction on diamond-like semiconductors, but to search for promising materials for use in highly sensitive selective sensors for environmental and medical purposes as well.     

Synthesis and some properties of a new compound in the Al–Sb–V–O system

A new compound in the Al?CSb?CV?CO system of the composition AlSbVO₆ was successfully synthesized by a solid-state reaction and characterized by powder XRD diffraction. The structural and thermal properties of AlSbVO₆ were investigated. The infra-red spectrum of the new phase is presented.     

Complex formation of light and heavy lanthanides with DGA and DOODA,and its application to mutual separation in DGA–DOODA extraction system

We studied the stepwise formation constants (β) of water-soluble diglycolamide (DGA) and dioxaoctanediamide (DOODA) for the mutual separation of Ln in a solvent extraction system. TODGA (N,N,N?,N?-tetraoctyl-diglycolamide) and DOODA(C8) (N,N,N?,N?-tetraoctyl-dioxaoctanediamide) exhibit opposite behaviors in extracting both light and heavy Ln through Ln-patterns. Metal complexes of two- and three-folding with water-soluble DOODA and DGA, respectively, were found, and each β value was calculated using distribution ratios. Taking β, their distribution ratio, D, and separation factor, SF, values into consideration, the suitable separation conditions (aqueous phase: 30 mM DOODA(C2) in 1 M HNO₃; organic phase: 0.1 M TODGA in n-dodecane) of multistage extraction (10?×?10 extraction using aqueous and organic phases, including one sample solution) were determined. In this study, La, Pr, and Nd were mainly present in the aqueous phase, whereas Sm–Dy existed in the organic phase. Although these two groups can be easily separated into two phases, the resolution, Rs, values provide for little mutual separation between La–Nd and Sm–Dy under the present conditions.

     

Physicochemical and dissolution properties of ezetimibe–aspirin binary system in development of fixed-dose combinations

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The objective of this work was to investigate binary pharmaceutical mixtures of ezetimibe (EZT) and aspirin (ASA) in order to identify whether the...     

Study on the resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra and resonance non-linear spectra of congo red-amikacin system and its analytical application

The interaction between congo red (CR) and amikacin (AMK) was studied by resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), frequency doubling scattering (FDS) and second-order scattering (SOS) combining with absorption spectrum. In a weak acidic medium, CR combined with AMK to form an ion association complex with the composition ratio of 1∶1 by electrostatic interaction, hydrophobicity and charge transferring effect. As a result, the new spectra of RRS, FDS, and SOS appeared and their intensities were enhanced greatly. The maximum wavelengths of RRS, FDS and SOS were located at 563 nm, 475 nm and 940 nm, and the scattering intensities were proportional to the concentration of AMK. These three methods have very high sensitivities, and the detection limits were 4.0 ng·mL?1 for RRS, 3.6 ng·mL?1 for FDS and 1.9 ng·mL?1 for SOS, respectively. At the same time, the methods have better selectivity. A new method for the determination of trace amounts of AMK with congo red by resonance scattering technique has been developed. The recovery for the determination of AMK in blood serum and urine sample was between 95.5% and 105.5%. In this study, the properties, such as enthalpy of formation, charge distribution and mean polarizability, were calculated by AM1 quantum chemistry method. In addition, the reaction mechanism and the reasons for the enhancement of scattering spectra were discussed.     

Characterization of metal glycinate complexes by electrospray Q-TOF-MS/MS and their determination by capillary electrophoresis–ICP-MS: application to premix samples

A method was developed for the determination of metal complexes with glycine (glycinates, [M(Gly)_x(H₂O)_y(SO₄)_z]_n, where M denotes Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) in premix samples used for the preparation of animal feeds enriched in essential trace elements. The method was based on the extraction of the glycinates with 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 7.4) followed by their determination using capillary electrophoresis with ICP MS detection. The stability of the glycinates in solution was verified by electrospray TOF-MS. Each supplement was shown to be a mixture of complexes, with polymerization degrees ranging from n = 1 to n = 4 (depending on the metal), that were fully or partially dehydrated. The metal glycine complex moiety was found to be preserved during capillary electrophoresis. The detection limits, calculated as three times the standard deviation of the blank plus the blank, were between 0.05 and 0.2 μg mL⁻¹ (as the metal), and the calibration curves were linear, allowing the analysis of premix samples. Repeatability for glycinate standards was below 12%, and analytical precision was typically within 15%.     

Carbofuran: analytical methods and its determination in natural water samples by flow injection DPA(III)–H2SO4 chemiluminescence

This study proposes, a simple, rapid and sensitive chemiluminescent (CL) method for determination of carbofuran based on diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA)-sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) reaction coupled with flow injection (FI) methodology. Under optimum conditions, a linear standard curve is achieved in the range of 0.001–8.0 mg L^–1 (R²= 0.9994 (n = 11) with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.4–3.7% (n = 4)), a limit of detection (LOD) 5.0 × 10^–4 mg L^–1 (S/N = 3) and injection throughput 180 h^–1. The proposed method was applied satisfactorily for the analysis of carbofuran in freshwater samples using solid phase extraction (SPE) technique with the recoveries of 94–110% (% RSD = 1.7–3.8, n = 4). A possible CL reaction mechanism has also been discussed briefly.     

Structure and properties of glasses in the system Li2O–SnO–B2O3

Glasses in the system Li₂O–SnO–B₂O₃ system were prepared by a melt-quenching method. Thermal and viscous properties and local structure of these glasses were investigated. The SnO–B₂O₃ glasses exhibited relatively low glass-transition temperatures (T_g) around 350 °C and excellent thermal stability against crystallization. Viscosity measurements in the vicinity of T_g indicated that the glasses were considerably fragile compared to alkali borate glasses. Fraction of four-coordinated boron was maximized at the composition with 50 mol% SnO and that of nonbridging oxygen, which is not purely ionic in alkali borate systems but partially covalent, augmented with an increase in the SnO content. Correlation between glass properties and structure was discussed in the SnO–B₂O₃ binary system.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of ring-fused thiophene bridged push–pull dyes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Bisdimethylfluorenylamino-based push–pull dyes bearing one or two benzo[c]thiophene and its precursor bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene (BCOD) fused thiophene as π bridge have been synthesized. The effect of fused-ring on thiophene bridge for the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of these dyes has been investigated. Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with these dyes show moderate photovoltaic properties.     

Formation of micro- and nanosized particles of the Fe–Al–Co system in water solutions and its magnetic properties

Samples of the Fe–Al–Co system are obtained electrochemically in a water solution. The kinetic dependences that describe the processes that occur in microparticles of aluminum in water solutions are established. The phase composition of the synthesized samples is determined via X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the main contribution to the fine magnetic structure of Fe–Al–Co is made by the magnetically ordered structure with a hyperfine field around 348 kOe formed by a mechanical mixture of FeCo and Al.     

Curtin–Hammett principle: application to benzene oxide–oxepin tautomers

The very rapid benzene oxide/oxepin equilibrium plays an important role in the metabolism of benzene by cytochrome P450. Although it is the benzene oxide valence tautomer that is attacked by nucleophiles and rearranges to phenols in acidic media, it is the oxepin valence isomers that suffer one-electron oxidation. However, some other reactions are more competitive and also furnish useful illustrations of the Curtin–Hammett principle. For example, while oxepin and benzene oxide are comparable in energy, the only reaction product with maleic anhydride is the Diels–Alder adduct with benzene oxide. Density function theory (B3LYP/6-31G*) calculations are employed for study of three sets of benzene oxide/oxepin equilibria and Diels–Alder reactions with maleic anhydride and dimethylazodicarboxylate as well as epoxidation by dioxirane. Comparisons are made between theory and published experimental data.     

Thermodynamic and transport properties of the DyBr3–NaBr binary system

Phase equilibria in the DyBr₃–NaBr binary system were established from differential scanning calorimetry. This system exhibits incongruently melting compound Na₃DyBr₆ and one eutectic located at DyBr₃ molar fraction x = 0.409 (T = 711 K). Na₃DyBr₆ undergoes a solid–solid phase transition at 740 K and melts incongruently at 762 K. The specific conductivity of DyBr₃–NaBr liquid mixtures was measured over the whole composition range. Results obtained are discussed in term of possible complex formation.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction applied to the simultaneous derivatization and concentration of triclosan and methyltriclosan in water samples

A fast and novel sample preparation procedure for the determination of triclosan (TCS) and methyltriclosan (MTCS) in water samples is presented. Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, using a ternary mixture consisting of a disperser, an extractant and N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) as derivatization reagent, was used for the simultaneous derivatization, case of TCS, and concentration of both species in different water samples. Analytes were determined by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Influence of different factors on the performance of the sample preparation process is thoroughly discussed. Under final working conditions, a mixture of 1 mL of methanol, 40 μL of 1,1,1-trichloroethane and the same volume of MTBSTFA was added to 10 mL of water in a conical bottom glass tube. After centrifugation, the settled phase was injected directly in the chromatographic system. TCS was quantitatively extracted and converted into the corresponding tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivative, whereas for MTCS an extraction yield around 90% was attained. Limits of quantification between 2 and 5 ng L⁻¹ and reproducibility values below 10% were achieved; moreover, the performance of the extraction process was scarcely affected by the type of water sample. Globally, these values are comparable, or even better, to those reported for other approaches applied to the determination of same compounds, with the advantage of a shorter sample preparation step. Analysis of surface and wastewater samples confirmed the ubiquitous presence of TCS in the aquatic environment at levels from 20 to 700 ng L⁻¹.