Differences in infrared spectroscopic data of connective tissues in transflectance and transmittance modes

Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy (FT-IRIS) has been used extensively to characterize the composition and orientation of macromolecules in thin tissue sections. Earlier and current studies of normal and polarized FT-IRIS data have primarily used tissues sectioned onto infrared transmissive substrates, such as salt windows. Recently, the use of low-emissivity (“low-e”) substrates has become of great interest because of their low cost and favorable infrared optical properties. However, data are collected in transflectance mode when using low-e slides and in transmittance mode using salt windows. In the current study we investigated the comparability of these two modes for assessment of the composition of connective tissues. FT-IRIS data were obtained in transflectance and transmittance modes from serial sections of cartilage, bone and tendon, and from a standard polymer, polymethylmethacrylate. Both non-polarized and polarized FTIR data differed in absorbance, and in some cases peak position, between transflectance and transmittance modes. However, the FT-IRIS analysis of the collagen fibril orientation in cartilage resulted in the expected zonal arrangement of fibrils in both transmittance and transflectance. We conclude that numerical comparison of FT-IRIS-derived parameters of tissue composition should account for substrate type and data collection mode, while analysis of overall tissue architecture may be more invariant between modes.     

Raman and infrared spectroscopic investigation of contact ion pair formation in aqueous cadmium sulfate solutions

Raman and IR data for aqueous CdSO₄ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ solutions have been recorded over broad concentration and temperature ranges. Whereas the v₁-SO ₄ ^2– band profile is symmetrical in (NH₄)₂SO₄ solutions, in CdSO₄ solutions a shoulder appears on the high frequency side which increases in intensity with increasing concentration and temperature. The molar scattering coefficient of the v₁-SO ₄ ^2– band is the same for all forms of sulfate in (NH₄)₂SO₄ and CdSO₄ solutions and is independent of temperature up to 99°C. The high frequency shoulder is attributed to the formation of a contact ion pair [Cd²⁺OSO ₃ ^2– ] (11 associate). Also the v₃-SO ₄ ^2– antisymmetric stretching mode shows a splitting in the CdSO₄ solution. Further spectroscopic evidence for contact ion pair formation is provided by IR spectroscopy. No higher associates or anionic complexes are required to interpret the spectroscopic data. The degree of association has been measured as a function of concentration and temperature. The thermodynamic association constant, K_A=0.15±0.05 kg-mol^–1 at 25°C is estimated from the Raman data by an extrapolation procedure by taking account of the activity coefficients. Values are reported for the activity coefficient of the ion pair. From the Raman temperature dependence studies, the enthalpy of formation for the contact ion pair is estimated to be 10±1 kJ-mol^–1.     

Adsorption of CO2 in metal organic frameworks of different metal centres: Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations compared to experiments

A Grand Canonical Monte Carlo study has been performed in order to compare the different CO₂ adsorption mechanisms between two members of the MIL-n family of hybrid metal-organic framework materials. The MIL-53 (Al) and MIL-47 (V) systems were considered. The results obtained confirm that there is a structural interchange between a large pore and narrow pore forms of MIL-53 (Al), not seen with the MIL-47 (V) material, which is a consequence of the presence of μ ₂-OH groups. The interactions between the CO₂ molecules and these μ ₂ OH groups mainly govern the adsorption mechanism in this MIL-53 (Al) material. The subsequent breaking of these adsorption geometries after the adsorbate loading increases past the point where no more preferred adsorption sites are available, are proposed as key features of the breathing phenomenon. After this, any new adsorbates introduced into the MIL-53 (Al) large pore structure experience a homogeneous adsorption environment with no preferential adsorption sites in a similar way to what occurs in MIL-47 (V).     

Zinc(II) Hydration in Aqueous Solution: A Raman Spectroscopic Investigation and An ab initio Molecular Orbital Study of Zinc(II) Water Clusters

Raman spectra of aqueous Zn(II)–perchlorate solutions were measured over broad concentration (0.50–3.54 mol-L^–1) and temperature (25–120°C) ranges. The weak polarized band at 390 cm^–1 and two depolarized modes at 270 and 214 cm^–1 have been assigned to ₁(a _1g), ₂(e _g), and ₅(f _2g) of the zinc–hexaaqua ion. The infrared-active mode at 365 cm^–1 has been assigned to ₃(f _1u). The vibrational analysis of the species [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ⁺ ] was done on the basis of O _h symmetry (OH₂ as point mass). The polarized mode ₁(a _1g)-ZnO₆ has been followed over the full temperature range and band parameters (band maximum, full width at half height, and intensity) have been examined. The position of the ₁(a _1g)-ZnO₆ mode shifts only about 4 cm^–1 to lower frequencies and broadens by about 32 cm^–1 for a 95°C temperature increase. The Raman spectroscopic data suggest that the hexaaqua–Zn(II) ion is thermodynamically stable in perchlorate solution over the temperature and concentration range measured. These findings are in contrast to ZnSO₄ solutions, recently measured by one of us, where sulfate replaces a water molecule of the first hydration sphere. Ab initio geometry optimizations and frequency calculations of [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ⁺ ] were carried out at the Hartree–Fock and second-order Møller–Plesset levels of theory, using various basis sets up to 6-31 + G*. The global minimum structure of the hexaaqua–Zn(II) species corresponds with symmetry T _h. The unscaled vibrational frequencies of the [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ⁺ ] are reported. The unscaled vibrational frequencies of the ZnO₆, unit are lower than the experimental frequencies (ca. 15%), but scaling the frequencies reproduces the measured frequencies. The theoretical binding enthalpy for [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ⁺ ] was calculated and accounts for ca. 66% of the experimental single-ion hydration enthalpy for Zn(II).Ab initio geometry optimizations and frequency calculations are also reported for a [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ¹⁸ ] (Zn[6 + 12]) cluster with 6 water molecules in the first sphere and 12 in the second sphere. The global minimum corresponds with T symmetry. Calculated frequencies of the zinc [6 + 12] cluster correspond well with the observed frequencies in solution. The ₁-ZnO₆ (unscaled) mode occurs at 388 cm^–1 almost in perfect correspondence to the experimental value. The theoretical binding enthalpy for [Zn(OH₂) ₂ ¹⁸ ] was calculated and is very close to the experimental single ion-hydration enthalpy for Zn(II). The water molecules of the first sphere form strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules in the second hydration shell because of the strong polarizing effect of the Zn(II) ion. The importance of the second hydration sphere is discussed.