A new amperometric H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> biosensor based on nanocomposite films of chitosan–MWNTs,hemoglobin, and silver nanoparticles

A new H₂O₂ biosensor was fabricated on the basis of nanocomposite films of hemoglobin (Hb), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)–chitosan (Chit) dispersed solution immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The immobilized Hb displayed a pair of well-defined and reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E ^θ′) of −22.5 mV in 0.1 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k _s) in the Chit–MWNTs film was evaluated as 2.58 s⁻¹ according to Laviron’s equation. The surface concentration (Γ*) of the electroactive Hb in the Chit–MWNTs film was estimated to be (2.48 ± 0.25) × 10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻². Meanwhile, the Chit–MWNTs/Hb/AgNPs/GCE demonstrated excellently electrocatalytical ability to H₂O₂. Its apparent Michaelis–Menten constant (K _M^app) for H₂O₂ was 0.0032 mM, showing a good affinity. Under optimal conditions, the biosensors could be used for the determination of H₂O₂ ranging from 6.25 × 10⁻⁶ to 9.30 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 3.47 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the biosensor possessed rapid response to H₂O₂ and good stability, selectivity, and reproducibility.     

Electrocatalysis and Amperometric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide at an Aluminum Microelectrode Modified with Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate Film

 The electrocatalytic activity of an aluminum microelectrode modified with cobalt hexacyanoferrate film is described. A simple method was used for the preparation of the modified microelectrode. The modified microelectrode exhibits good electrocatalytic properties for electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The effect of solution pH and applied potential on the electrocatalytic properties of the modified microelectrode is investigated. The results show that the best potential for the detection of hydrogen peroxide is 0.0 vs. SCE for better response and decrease of interferences. Due to the microelectrode scale, it can be used for the determination of small amounts of H₂O₂. The calibration plot is linear up to 1.7 mM (r = 0.988) with a response time of 5.1 s. The detection limit of the microelectrode as H₂O₂ sensor is 2 × 10⁻⁷ M. The sensivity of the H₂O₂ sensor is 225.6 nA mmol⁻¹ and RSD of this sensor is less than 2.3%. In addition, effects of possible interferences and possibility of the sensor for real samples is investigated. The present work shows the potential of the proposed method for the fabrication of modified electrodes, as it can be used to employ for different purposes in micro scale. Received June 20, 2001; accepted June 14, 2002     

Mechanism of hydroquinone-inhibited oxidation of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate

The kinetics of hydroquinone-inhibited oxidation of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate was studied volumetrically by measuring the oxygen uptake in the presence of an initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile) at T = 333 K and P _{O 2} = 1 and 0.21 atm. The oxidation of acrylic acid inhibited by 4-methoxyphenol was studied under the same conditions for comparison. The rate constants of the reactions of the peroxyl radicals of acrylic acid (∼CH₂CH(COOH)O₂^·) and methyl methacrylate (∼CH₂CMe(COOMe)O₂^·) with hydroquinone (HOC₆H₄OH) (1.20 × 10⁵ and 7.16 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively) and of the reaction of peroxyl radicals of acrylic acid with 4-methoxyphenol (p-CH₃OC₆H₄OH) (3.25 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) were measured. The stoichiometric inhibition factors f were determined. The reaction between the semiquinone radical and oxygen, O₂ + HOC₆H₄O^·, plays an important role, decreasing the factor f and the efficiency of the inhibition effect of hydroquinone. The rate constants of this reaction were calculated from kinetic data: k = 5.72 × 10² (in acrylic acid) and 4.60 × 10² l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (in methyl methacrylate).     

Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin were investigated by employing cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disc electrode techniques. The cyclic voltammograms of the electroreduction of oxygen showed an enhanced current peak at approximately −0.289 V in air-saturated phosphate buffer pH = 7 and scan rate 10 mV s⁻¹. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the reduction of oxygen at glassy carbon have been evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The experimental parameters were optimized and the mechanism of the catalytic process was discussed. The obtained values of E°′ (V vs. Ag/AgCl), the apparent electron transfer rate constant k_s (s⁻¹), heterogeneous rate constant for the reduction of O₂ at the surface of the modified electrode k_h (M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and α (charge transfer coefficient of oxygen) were as follows: −0.146, 23.4, 9.9 × 10³ and 0.57, respectively. In addition, plumbagin exhibited strong catalytic activity toward the reduction of H₂O₂.     

Formations of Active Species and By-Products in Water by Pulsed High-Voltage Discharge

Formations of active species and by-products are different from bubbling different gases in a pulsed high-voltage discharge reactor. The identification of all the products and the formation rate determination of active species are quite important as the process is applied to wastewater disposal. Serials of measurements were conducted to do the identifications and determinations in this paper. Amounts of · OH all increased but that of H₂O₂ all decreased by bubbling gas. The · OH formation rate was 3.49 × 10⁻⁷, 3.56 × 10⁻⁷, 3.21 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.94 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ s⁻¹ with bubbling nitrogen, argon, air and oxygen respectively, but it was 1.61 × 10⁻⁷ mol s⁻¹ l⁻¹ without bubbling. Without any bubbling, the H₂O₂ formation rate was up to 6.53 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ s⁻¹, while it was 9.97 × 10⁻⁷, 1.663 × 10⁻⁷, 1.73 × 10⁻⁶ and 3.14 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ s⁻¹ with bubbling nitrogen, argon, air and oxygen, respectively. NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ was detected in discharged water with bubbling nitrogenous gas. Their formation made the pH decreased.     

Bioadsorption and ion exchange of Cr3+ and Pb2+ solutions with algae

Heavy metals can be removed from effluents and recovered using physico-chemical mechanisms as biosorption processes. In this work “Arribada” seaweed biomass was employed to assess its biosorptive capacity for the chromium (Cr³⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) cations that usually are present in waste waters of plating industries. Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted in a mixed reactor on a batch basis. Biosorption equilibrium and fluid-solid mass transfer constants data were analyzed through the concept of ion exchange sorption isotherm. The respective equilibrium exchange constants (K _eqCr=173.42, K _eqPb=58.86) and volumetric mass transfer coefficients ((k _mCr a)′=1.13×10⁻³ s⁻¹, (k _mPb a)′=0.89×10⁻³ s⁻¹) were employed for the dynamic analysis of Cr and Pb sorption in a fixed-bed flow-through sorption column. The breakthrough curves obtained for both metals were compared with the predicted values by the heterogeneous model (K _eqCr=171.29, K _eqPb=60.14; k _mCr a=7.81×10⁻² s⁻¹, k _mPb a=2.43×10⁻² s⁻¹), taking into account the mass transfer process. The results suggest that these algae may be employed in a metal removal/recovery process at low cost. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Reactions of sulphacetamide with pulse radiolytically generated reducing radicals

Pulse radiolysis technique has been used to characterise the transients formed by the reaction of sulphacetamide with e_aq ^- and subsequently study the electron transfer reactions from the transient to various electron acceptors such as thionine, safranine-T and methyl viologen. The results indicate that the semi-reduced sulphacetamide species are highly reducing in nature as they transfer electrons to various dyes with near diffusion controlled rates (k > 10⁹dm³mol⁻¹s⁻¹) in alkaline and acidic solutions. The influence of oxygen on the decay behaviour of semi-reduced species has been investigated and the results show that O₂ reaction with SA⁻ is very fast (k = 1.5 × l0⁹dm³mol⁻¹s⁻¹) and leads to the formation of a permanent-coloured product. Reactions of H.atoms resulted in the formation of two transient species whose spectral, kinetic and acid-base characteristics have also been investigated.     

Electrochemical reduction and kinetics of hydrogen peroxide on the rotating disk palladium-plated aluminum electrode modified by Prussian blue film as an improved electrocatalyst

This paper describes the use of an aluminum electrode plated by metallic palladium and modified by Prussian blue (PB/Pd-Al) in the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The effect of pH on the electroreduction of H₂O₂ on the modified electrode is investigated and a simple irreversible reduction pathway is suggested. The electroreduction kinetics including transfer coefficient α, potential-dependent charge transfer rate constants k _f, and diffusion coefficient D are estimated by means of forced hydrodynamic voltammetry using a rotating disk PB/Pd-Al electrode. The mean values obtained for kinetics are 0.38, 10⁻² cm⁻¹, and 7.6 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. The long-term stability of the modifying layers on the Al substrate was studied.     

Direct electron transfer of cytochrome C and its electrocatalytic properties on multiwalled carbon nanotubes/ciprofloxacin films

In this study, stable and homogenous thin films of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were obtained on conducting surface using ciprofloxacin (CF, fluoroquinolone antibiotic) as an effective-dispersing agent. Further, MWCNTs/CF film modified electrodes (glassy carbon and indium tin oxide-coated glass electrode) are used successfully to study the direct electrochemistry of proteins. Here, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) was used as a model protein for investigation. A MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode was used as a biocompatible material for immobilization of Cyt-C from a neutral buffer solution (pH 7.2) using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Interestingly, Cyt-C retained its native state on the MWCNTs/CF film. The Cyt-C adsorbed MWCNTs/CF film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) and CV. SEM images showed the evidence for the adsorption of Cyt-C on the MWCNTs/CF film, and UV–vis spectrum confirmed that Cyt-C was in its native state on MWCNTs/CF film. Using CV, it was found that the electrochemical signal of Cyt-C was highly stable in the neutral buffer solution and its redox peak potential was pH dependent. The formal potential (−0.27 V) and electron transfer rate constant (13 ± 1 s⁻¹) were calculated for Cyt-C on MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode. A potential application of the Cyt-C/MWCNTs/CF electrode as a biosensor to monitor H₂O₂ has been investigated. The steady-state current response increases linearly with H₂O₂ concentration from 2 × 10⁻⁶ to 7.8 × 10⁻⁵ M. The detection limit for determination of H₂O₂ has been found to be 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M (S/N = 3). Thus, Cyt-C/MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode can be used as a biosensing material for sensor applications.     

Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia using a cell with a Nafion membrane and SmFe0.7Cu0.3?xNixO3 (x = 0?0.3) cathode at atmospheric pressure and lower temperature

Samaria-doped ceria Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_2−δ (SDC) and SmFe_0.7Cu_0.3−x Ni _x O₃ have been synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical synthesis of ammonia was investigated at atmospheric pressure and low temperature, using the SFCN materials as the cathode, a Nafion membrane as the electrolyte, nickel-doped SDC (Ni-SDC) as the anode and silver-platinum paste as the current collector. Ammonia was synthesized from 25 to 100°C when the SFCN materials were used as cathode, with SmFe_0.7Cu_0.1Ni_0.2O₃ giving the highest rates of ammonia formation. The maximum rate of evolution of ammonia was 1.13 × 10⁻⁸ mol·cm⁻²·s⁻¹ at 80°C, and the current efficiency reached as high as 90.4%. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20863007)     

Electron transfer at an encapsulated cobalt(III) centre: kinetics of oxidation of thiourea and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea in aqueous acidic media

Summary The stoichiometries, kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation of (NH₂)₂CS (1) and (Me₂N)₂CS (2) to the corresponding disulphides by Co^IIIM (M = W₁₂O₄₀ ^∞-) in aqueous HC1O₄ were investigated. The reaction with (1) follows the empirical rate law- d[oxidant] = k[reductant][oxidant] where k = 12.5 ± 0.3 m⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 25° C, while that with (2) follows the equation- d[oxidant] = a + b [reductant] [reductant] [oxidant] where a = 5.4 × 10⁴ M⁻¹s⁻¹ and b = 3.3 × 10⁶M⁻² s⁻¹ at 25° C. Free radicals are important in the reactions and possible reaction mechanisms are suggested and discussed.     

Immobilization of flavine adenine dinucleotide onto nickel oxide nanostructures modified glassy carbon electrode: fabrication of highly sensitive persulfate sensor

A simple method was used to fabricate flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)/NiOx nanocomposite on the surface of glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Cyclic voltammetry technique was applied for deposition nickel oxide nanostructures onto GC surface. Owing to its high biocompatibility and large surface area of nickel oxide nanomaterials with immersing the GC/NiOx-modified electrode into FAD solution for a short period of time, 10–140 s, a stable thin layer of the FAD molecules immobilized onto electrode surface. The FAD/NiOx films exhibited a pair of well-defined, stable, and nearly reversible CV peaks at wide pH range (2–10). The formal potential of adsorbed FAD onto nickel oxide nanoparticles film, E ^o′ vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode is −0.44 V in pH 7 buffer solutions was similar to dissolved FAD and changed linearly with a slope of 58.6 mV/pH in the pH range 2–10. The surface coverage and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k _s ) of FAD immobilized on NiOx film glassy carbon electrode are 4.66 × 10⁻¹¹ mol cm⁻² and 63 ± 0.1 s⁻¹, indicating the high loading ability of the nickel oxide nanoparticles and great facilitation of the electron transfer between FAD and nickel oxide nanoparticles. FAD/NiOx nanocomposite-modified GC electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward S₂O₈²⁻ reduction at reduced overpotential. Furthermore, rotated modified electrode illustrates good analytical performance for amperometric detection of S₂O₈²⁻. Under optimized condition, the concentration calibration range, detection limit, and sensitivity were 3 μM–1.5 mM, 0.38 μM and 16.6 nA/μM, respectively.     

Antioxidant activities of phenols in different solvents using DPPH assay

Studies on the antioxidant activity of two model phenols containing either an electron withdrawing (p-nitrophenol) or electron donating (p-aminophenol) group and p-hydroxyacetophenone in different solvents are reported using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay by spectrophotometry and stopped-flow techniques. The second-order rate constants measured with p-nitrophenol were found to be (1.2–5.5) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ but the DPPH radical reacts much faster with p-aminophenol (k = 0.5–1.1 × 10⁴ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹). The normal kinetic solvent effect in H atom transfer was seen in the case of p-nitrophenol with the solvent independent rate constant k _o = 0.1 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The IC₅₀ values in p-nitrophenol are similar to those measured in p-hydroxyacetophenone. On the other hand, much lower IC₅₀ values of more than four orders of magnitude with p-aminophenol were observed. This work demonstrates that the phenol with the electron donating –NH₂ substituent is a better antioxidant.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of hexaaqua rhodium (III) with sulphur (IV) in aqueous medium

An O-bonded sulphito complex, Rh(OH₂)₅(OSO₂H)²⁺, is reversibly formed in the stoppedflow time scale when Rh(OH₂) ₆ ³⁺ and SO₂/HSO ₃ ⁻ buffer (1 <pH< 3) are allowed to react. For Rh(OH₂)₅OH₂₊+ SO₂ □ Rh(OH₂)₅(OSO₂H)²⁺ (k₁/k_-1), k₁ = (2.2 ±0.2) × 10³ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, k₋1 = 0.58 ±0.16 s⁻¹ (25°C,I = 0.5 mol dm⁻³). The protonated O-sulphito complex is a moderate acid (K _d = 3 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³, 25°C, I= 0.5 mol dm⁻³). This complex undergoes (O, O) chelation by the bound bisulphite withk= 1.4 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ (31°C) to Rh(OH₂)₄(O₂SO)⁺ and the chelated sulphito complex takes up another HSO ₃ ⁻ in a fast equilibrium step to yield Rh(OH₂)₃(O₂SO)(OSO₂H) which further undergoes intramolecular ligand isomerisation to the S-bonded sulphito complex: Rh(OH₂)₃(O₂SO)(OSO₂)^- → Rh(OH₂)₃(O₂SO)(SO₃)⁻ (k _iso = 3 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, 31°C). A dinuclear (μ-O, O) sulphite-bridged complex, Na₄[Rh₂(μ-OH)₂(OH)₂(μ-OS(O)O)(O₂SO)(SO₃) (OH₂)]5H₂O with (O, O) chelated and S-bonded sulphites has been isolated and characterized. This complex is sparingly soluble in water and most organic solvents and very stable to acid-catalysed decomposition     

Electrochemical synthesis of Fe3O4-PB nanoparticles with core-shell structure and its electrocatalytic reduction toward H2O2

The Fe₃O₄-Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles with core-shell structure have been in situ prepared directly on a nano-Fe₃O₄-modified glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV). First, the magnetic nano-Fe₃O₄ particles were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Then, the properties of the Fe₃O₄-PB nanoparticles were characterized by CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device. The resulting core-shell Fe₃O₄-PB-modified electrode displays a dramatic electrocatalytic ability toward H₂O₂ reduction, and the catalytic current was a linear function with the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range of 1 × 10⁻⁷~5 × 10⁻⁴ mol/l. A detection limit of 2 × 10⁻⁸ (s/n = 3) was determined. Moreover, it showed good reproducibility, enhanced long-term stability, and potential applications in fields of magnetite biosensors.     

Solubility of europium oxides in NaI melts at 700°C

The solubility product of EuO (pP _EuO = 8.65 ± 0.5) and its dissociation constant (pK _EuO = 5.67 ± 0.5) in NaI melts at 700°C have been determined by potentiometric titration with the use of a Pt(O₂)|ZrO₂(Y₂O₃) membrane oxygen electrode. Estimated on the basis of these parameters, the total solubility of EuO in NaI melts (1.12 × 10⁻³ mol/kg, logs _EuO = −2.95) is close to the value obtained by the consecutive additions method (2.8 × 10⁻³ mol/kg, logs _EuO = −2.55). The values obtained show that Eu²⁺ (EuI₂) is a stable cationic activator in NaI melt, but it yet cannot be recommended as an agent for the removal of oxygen-containing admixtures from this melt.     

Structural and electric properties of the Ce0.8(Sm1 ? xCax)0.2O2 ? δ system (x = 0.0–1.0)

CeO₂-based solid solutions with a fluorite structure are promising materials as electrolytes of medium-temperature electrochemical devices. This work presents the results of systematic studies of structural and electric properties and oxygen nonstoichiometry of the Ce_0.8(Sm_{1 − x} Ca _x )_0.2O_{2 − δ} system in a wide range of concentrations of 0 < x < 1 performed in order to establish the causes affecting the system conductivity and its behavior in a reducing medium. It is found that a single-phase solid solution of the fluorite type is formed in the whole concentration range. Parameters of its lattice cells decrease linearly at an increase in the concentration of Ca²⁺. Conductivity in air grows when calcium is added due to a decrease in the grain boundary resistance. The maximum conductivity in air was obtained for the composition of Ce_0.8(Sm_0.8Ca_0.2)_0.2O_{2 − δ} and is 13.71 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 873 K. Studies of the dependence of conductivity of the partial pressure of oxygen showed that electron conductivity is observed at a higher oxygen partial pressure at an increase in the temperature and calcium concentration. The critical partial pressure of oxygen ( p_O2 ^* )\left( {p_{O_2 }^* } \right) for the compositions of Ce_0.8(Sm_{1 − x} Ca _x )_0.2O_{2 − δ} with x = 0; 0.2, and 0.5 is 1.83 × 10⁻¹⁶, 1.73 × 10⁻¹³, and 3.63 × 10⁻¹³ atm at 1173 K, respectively, and 2.76 × 10⁻²¹, 5.05 × 10⁻¹⁸, and 1.31 × 10⁻¹⁸ atm at 1023 K.     

Nickel,copper and manganese hexacyanoferrate with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) hybrid film modified electrode for selectively determination of ascorbic acid

The NiHCF-PEDOT, CuHCF-PEDOT and MnHCF-PEDOT films were prepared on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by multiple scan cyclic voltammetry and characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The advantages of these films are demonstrated for selectivity detection of ascorbic acid using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric method. Interestingly, the NiHCF-PEDOT and CuHCF-PEDOT modified electrodes exhibited a wide linear response range (5 × 10⁻⁶−3 × 10⁻⁴ M, R ² = 0.9973 and 1.8 × 10⁻³−1.8 × 10⁻² M, R ² = 0.9924). The electrochemical sensors facilitated the oxidation of AA but not responded to other electroactive biomolecules such as dopamine, uric acid, H₂O₂, glucose. The difference is MnHCF-PEDOT/GCE that no response to AA. In addition, the NiHCF-PEDOT and CuHCF-PEDOT modified electrodes exhibited a distinct advantage of simple preparation, specificity, stability and reproducibility.     

Determination of the rate constants for the reaction Fe + O<Subscript>2</Subscript> = FeO + O in the forward and reverse directions

The results of our experimental studies and an analysis of the published data on the rate constant for the reaction Fe + O₂ = FeO + O in the forward (I) and reverse (−I) direction are reported. The data obtained in this work are described by the expressions k ₁ = 6.2 × 10¹⁴exp(−11100 K/T) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k ₋₁ = 6.0 × 10¹³exp(−588 K/T) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (T = 1500–2500 K). The generalized expressions for the temperature dependences of these rate constants derived by combining our results with the literature data can be presented as k ₁ = 9.4 × 10¹⁴(T/1000)^0.022exp(−11224 K/T) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (T = 1500–2500 K) and k ₋₁ = 1.8 × 10¹⁴(1000/T)^0.37exp(−367 K/T) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (T = 200–2500 K).     

Excited-state proton transfer from pyranine to acetate in methanol

Excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulphonate, HPTS) to acetate in methanol has been studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The rate constant of direct proton transfer from pyranine to acetate (k ₁) is calculated to be ∼1 × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. This is slower by about two orders of magnitude than that in bulk water (8 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) at 4 M acetate.