Analysis and physical significancy of the kinetic parameters associated with albumin adsorption onto glassy carbon obtained by electrochemical impedance measurements

The kinetics of albumin adsorption onto a glassy carbon rotating disk electrode in a phosphate buffer, is reported from the time variations of the double-layer capacitance C_d, of the charge transfer resistance R_t and of the Tafel coefficient of the electrochemical reaction b; these three electrical quantities are determined by electrochemical impedance and faradaic current I measurements. The variations of C_d, 1/R_t, b  (R_tI)⁻¹ and I can be written under the form: α₀ + α₁ e^−t/τ1 + α₂ e^−t/τ2, where α₀, α₁, α₂, τ₁, τ₂ characterize a given electrical quantity. We demonstrate that this type of variation validates a two-step adsorption mechanism already proposed, starting from simply taking into account C_d(t). We analyze and discuss comprehensively various possibilities of interpreting the shifts between the time-constants associated with thevarious quantities as well as the correlations between these constants and those associated with physical adsorption phenomena.     

Yields of trapped electrons in pulse irradiated aqueous LiCl Glasses at temperatures down to 6K

Pulse radiolysis of deuterated aqueous LiCl glasses at temperatures in the range 6 K to 70 K show that the yield G(e^?_IR) of infrared absorbing electrons (e^?_IR) increases sharply as the temperature is lowered when [LiCl] ? 10 M. Under these conditions the yield of visible absorbing electrons (e^?_vis) decreases, but to a lesser extent. When [LiCl] ? 8 M, G(e^?_IR) and G(e^?_vis) are both much less dependent on temperature. These data suggest that at very low temperatures e^?_IR are not trapped exclusively in a purely aqueous environment.     

The galvanostatic double-pulse method in the study of the kinetics of stepwise electrode reactions

Analysis of the kinetics of the overall electrode reaction Me⁰ ? e^? = Me²⁺ proceeding through the three consecutive charge-transfer steps Me⁰ ? e^? = Me⁺ Me⁺ ? e^? = Me²⁺ Me²⁺ ? e^? = Me³⁺ involving non-adsorbed intermediates under transient single- and double-galvanostatic conditions has been made. Curves of η ? t were plotted and change of intermediate concentrations with time were calculated numerically for different ratios of exchange current densities. It is shown that when the time of reaching the steady-state, caused by the rate levelling of single-electron steps considerably exceeds the time of double-layer charging by the short duration current impulse, the employment of the galvanostatic double-pulse method allows the stepwise electrode process under non-stationary conditions to be investigated and information about the kinetics of the fastest steps in the reaction sequence to be obtained. Comparison of the conclusions of the analysis and experiment has been carried out by the galvanostatic double-pulse method in the stepwise electrode reaction Bi⁰ ?3 e^? = Bi(III) on an amalgam electrode in 2 M HClO₄ solutions.     

Concentration dependent spectral changes of electrons trapped in MgCl2 and CaCl2 glasses. A pulse radiolysis study

The aqueous MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ glasses were subjected to pulse radiolysis at 87 K. The time evolution and concentration dependence of e^-_t optical absorption spectra was examined.For MgCl₂ glasses the increase of Mg²⁺ concentration from 2.6 to 5 mol dm^-3 is followed by the shift of λ_max from 665 to 615 nm. For CaCl₂ glasses the concentration change from 3.1 to 4.5 mol dm^-3 Ca²⁺ causes the shift of λ_max from 625 to 590 nm. The blue shift is also observed during partial decay of e^-_t on μs time scale.With increasing concentration of electrolyte the contribution of e^-_ir to the total e^-_t absorption decreases, whereas that of e^-_vis increases.The ratio of [e^-_ir]/[e^-_vis] measured on micro-second time scale is significantly higher for Mg²⁺ than Ca²⁺ glasses.     

Residual photocurrent at a mercury electrode

The residual photocurrent observed at negative potentials with mercury in contact with slightly alkaline 1 M KCl solution has been reinvestigated and found to be caused partly by the reaction of e^?_aq with traces of unidentified electron acceptors and partly by reaction with the solvent. Such a solution can be freed from electron-accepting impurities by irradiation with light of shorter wavelength than 270 nm if SO^2?₃ is present at low concentration. The time constant for the homogeneous decay of e^?_aq at pH ca. 8.8 is then raised to about 400 μs. This slow decay is due to reaction with the solvent as the decay time constant can be increased considerably by raising the pH of the solution. In unsteady state experiments with purified 1 M KCl solutions of high pH containing no added scavenger for e^?_aq the current connected with electron emission and e^?_aq diffusion towards the electrode and the bulk of the solution, is cancelled out at ca. ?1.4 V vs. SCE by a thermal non-faradaic current component when 360 nm light is employed. When CO₂ is present at high concentration a similar cancellation is observed at lower pH at ca. ?1.1 V vs. SCE, suggesting a value for the diffusion coefficient of the radical-ion CO^?₂ about 3.3 times smaller than that of e^?_aq.     

Ultimate tensile properties of elastomers. VII. Effect of crosslink density on time–temperature dependence

Data on tensile strength and elongation at break for a series of Viton A-HV vulcanizates are discussed. The data were obtained at various extension rates at temperatures from ?5 to 230°C (25 ? T — T_g ? 260°C) on seven vulcanizates having crosslink densities v_e (estimated from C₁ in the Mooney-Rivlin equation) from 0.46 × 10^?5 to 24.4 × 10^?5 mole/cm³. At an extension rate of 1 min^?1, an increase in v_e affects the tensile strength σ_b (based on the undeformed cross-sectional area) and the true tensile strength σ_bσ_b (based on the cross-sectional area of a deformed specimen) as follows: σ_b is essentially constant at a low temperature; it passes through a decided maximum at intermediate temperatures; and it increases to a plateau at elevated temperatures. In contrast, λ_bσ_b decreases markedly at all temperatures, an exception being the most lightly crosslinked vulcanizate(s). Application of time—temperature superposition to the ultimate-property data gave log a_T; its temperature dependence is that typical of nonpolar rubbery polymers. Data on the vulcanizates were compared in corresponding temperature states by plotting log 273σ_b/T, log 273λ_bσ_b/T, and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max against logt_b/(t_b)_max, where t_b is the temperature-reduced time to break and (t_b)_max is the value at which the ultimate extension ratio λ_b attains its maximum, (λ_b)_max. Except for the most lightly crosslink vulcanizate, the comparison shows that 273λ_bσ_b/T and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max are substantially independent of (or only weakly dependent on) crosslink density, that 273λ_b/T increases with v_e, and that 273λ_b/T ∝? v_e^0.6 and λ_b ∝? v_e^?0.4 at a large value of t_b/(t_b)_max.     

Electrochemical reactions with protonations at equilibrium: Part X. The kinetics of the p-benzoquinone/hydroquinone couple on a platinum electrode

The kinetics of the p-benzoquinone/hydroquinone Q/QH₂ couple on a platinum electrode are analysed on the basis of the theory presented earlier (E. Laviron, J. Electroanal. Chem., 146 (1983) 15) for the nine-member square scheme when the protonations are assumed to be at equilibrium, using experimental data from the literature. The square scheme is of the NN type. The Tafel plots and the variations of the experimental apparent rate constants between pH 0 and 7 are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The heterogeneous rate constants found for the elemental electrochemical steps are as follow: Q Q^?, k_h3=1/6×10^?3 cm s^?1; QH^.QH^?, k_h5=0.11 cm s^?1; QH⁺QH^., k_h2?160 cm s^?1; k_h4 for the reaction QH₂^+.QH₂ is in the range 0.5–4 cm s^?1. Between pH 0 and 7, the reaction sequence during the reduction is, for the most part, successively H⁺e^?H⁺e^?, e^?H⁺H⁺e^?, and e^?H⁺e^?H⁺ (reverse sequence during the oxidation).     

Crossed-second-order-effects of the isotope shift and hyperfine-structure parameters in the Eu I configuration 4f 7 6s6d

In the Eu I configuration 4f ⁷ 6s6d the isotope shift (IS) and hyperfine-structure (hfs) of the termse ⁶ D ande ¹⁰ D were determined from fourteen transitions (4f ⁷ 6s6d-4f ⁷ 6s6p) with computer supported interference spectroscopy. From the IS of altogether nine levels of 4f ⁷ 6s6d the crossed-second-order-parameterg ₃(4f,6s)=?0.90(6)mK was evaluated. The ratiog ₃/G ₃=?4.4(3)·10^?6 (G ₃: Slater Integral of the fine structure) is of the same size as that from five other independent investigations and one theoretical value. The single electron hfs splitting constantsa _4f ¹⁰ =?1.9(3)mK,a _6s ¹⁰ =391(3)mK, anda _6d ¹² =0.9(3)mK were also evaluated and are compared with those of other Eu 4f ⁷ 6snl configurations.     

Slowing down of oxygen migration in the processes of radical oxidation and of phenanthrene phosphorescence quenching in methanol glasses at 90 K

The hydroxymethyl radical oxidation kinetics follows the second-order equation with a time-dependent rate constant, K(t). The annealing effect is described by way of dividing K(t) into two factors, one of them depending on the preliminary annealing time (τ): K(t) = K₁(t + τ)K₂(t). The time dependence of both factors is fairly well approximated by the power functions: K₁(t + τ) ≈ (t + τ)^−0.18 and K₂(t ≈ t^−0.26. The oxygen quenching of phenanthrene phosphorescence follows an exchange mechanism, with the static conditions setting in at 77 K. At 90 K oxygen diffusion adds to the quenching efficiency. The time of oxygen jumps (τ_j) and its time dependence under the matrix annealing at 90 K are determined by comparing the theoretical 1/τ_j dependence of the quenching volume with experiment. The 1/τ_j(τ) is well described by the power function τ^{−0.18 ± 0.02)}. The annealing time functions of the oxidation rate constant and of the inverse jumping time are similar. The oxidation rate constant and the diffusion constant coincide in the order of magnitude. Consequently, the slowing down of oxygen migration contributes essentially to the time dependence of the rate constant.     

The absorption spectrum of carbon monoxide in the CO(3Π r,a) state between 215 nm and 285 nm

Bye-beam excitation of a He/CO mixture the CO(³Π _r ,a) state was sufficiently populated to allow the measurement of the absorption spectrum. The (0, 0), (1, 1), (2, 2) and (0, 1) bands of thec ³Π←a ³Π system of CO have been observed and the molecular constantsT _e =92036.0 cm^?1 (for the band head), ω _e =2249.5 cm^?1, ω _e x _e =29.5 cm^?1 have been derived for CO(c). A new electronic state withT _e =91854.3 cm^?1, ω _e =848.4 cm^?1, ω _e x _e =9.8 cm^?1,B _e =1.351 cm^?1, and α _e =0.021 cm^?1 was identified to be a³Σ state. It seems to be very likely that this state is the CO (3pσ,³Σ,j) state discussed in the literature. The results indicate a perturbation of the υ=1 levels of the new state by the CO (c,υ=0) levels. Another strong perturbation is found in the υ=4 levels. The three CO(³Σ,b,υ′=0,1,2)←CO (a,υ″=0) bands were also investigated yielding for CO(b):T _e =83778 cm^?1, ω _e =2335 cm^?1, ω _e x _e =59 cm^?1 andB _e =1.86 cm^?1.     

Electrochemical Studies for the Interaction of DNA with an Irreversible Redox Compound – Hoechst 33258

An electrochemical equation suitable for examining the interaction of irreversible redox compounds with DNA is established. According to the equation, diffusion coefficients of both free and binding compounds (D_f , D_b), binding constant (K) and binding site size (s) of compounds with DNA could be obtained simultaneously by nonlinear fit analysis of electrochemical data. Bis‐benzimidazole derivative (Hoechst 33258), as an irreversible redox compound, was investigated for its electrochemical behavior and the interaction with natural fish sperm DNA (fsDNA) using cyclic voltammetry, chronocoulometry, bulk electrolysis and scanning electrochemical microscope technique. A nonlinear fit analysis of the experimental data yielded: D_f=8.3×10^?5 cm² s^?1, D_b=6.0×10^?6 cm² s^?1, K=2.1×10⁸ cm³ mol^?1, s=3.9. The overall results suggest that Hoechst 33258 binds tightly to the minor groove of fsDNA and covers four base pairs.     

Temperature dependence of radiationless processes. Isoquinoline in solution

The temperature dependence of the fluorescence quantum yield φ_f, the fluorescence lifetime τ_f, and the oscillator strength f(S₀→S₁) of isoquinoline in solution has been measured between room temperature and 77 K. Following an Arrhenius type expression, φ_f in ethanol increases from 0.012±0.002 at 295 K to 0.61±0.03 at 77 K paralleled by an increase of τ_f from 0.25±0.10 ns to 9.0±0.2 ns. Over the same temperature range f(S₀→S₁) and the radiative fluorescence lifetime remain constant. By analyzing the temperature dependent data, it is shown that a spin-allowed internal conversion process with an activation energy of ～1500 cm^?1 is responsible for the observed temperature effect. A mechanism is proposed based upon a thermally activated depopulation of the S₁(ππ^*) state of isoquinoline via a slightly higher state, presumably the S₂(ππ^*) singlet state. An extremenly fast process involving the dissociation of the hydrogen bond deactivates this latter state, by possing S₁.     

Precision measurement of the 1s 4f fine structure of HeI

Helium atoms were excited by hydrogen-ion impact, and electric dipole transitions between Stark substates of the 1s 4f multiplet of HeI were induced. Resonance signals were investigated at various frequencies 200 MHz<ν<800 MHz by scanning a static electric fieldF ₀?1 kV/cm and observing the intensity of the impact radiation for the singlet or triplet 1s 3d?1s 2p spectral line. From these measurements the following zero-field transition frequencies of the 1s 4f fine structure were deduced: ν(¹ F ₃?³ F ₂)=232.2(1.0) MHz; ν(³ F ₃?³ F ₄)=214.0(1.3) MHz; ν(¹ F ₃?³ F ₄)=490.6(0.4) MHz. Using calculated parameters of the magnetic fine-structure coupling, the exchange integral 2K=158.0(0.6) MHz of the 1s 4f configuration was evaluated.     

Adsorption and thermodynamics of biosurfactant,surfactin, monolayers at the air-buffered liquid interface

Adsorption of surfactin, a powerful lipopeptide biosurfactant, at the air-liquid interface has been investigated in this article. The adsorption took place from buffered solutions containing relatively high concentrations of surfactin co- and counterions. Dynamic surface tension measurements were used to follow the self-assembly of surfactin at the interface until equilibrium surface pressure Π ^e is reached at a given surfactin concentration (C _s). Gibbs adsorption equation in conjunction with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was used to predict surfactin surface excess as a function of the biosurfactant concentration up to the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The predicted surface excess at saturation (Γ _∞ ) is 1.05?±?0.05 μmol m^?2, corresponding to an area per molecule (A _∞ ) of 159?±?8 Å². The adsorption equilibrium constant (K?=?(1.5?±?0.6)?×?10⁶ M^‐?1) was also estimated from the nonlinear regression of Π ^e???C _s data in region B of the Π ^e???ln?C _s plot. The value of K suggests that surfactin has strong affinity for the interface, which is in line with its known high surface activity. Gibbs elasticity (E _G) of the interfacial surfactin monolayers, which is an important thermodynamic property, was also predicted at different surfactin concentrations. The limiting value (at the CMC) of E _G was found to be 183 mN m^?1, which is comparable to those reported in the literature for similar systems. The findings reported in this work reveal that the surface tension measurements coupled with appropriate theoretical analysis could provide useful information comparable to those obtained using highly sophisticated techniques.     

Formation of free radicals in water under high-power laser uv irradiation

It has been shown that under high-power laser UV irradiation (I = 10⁸–10¹⁰ W/cm², λ = 266 nm, τ_p = 30 ps) water becomes ionized by a two-photon mechanism to form some free radicals including the hydrated electron e^?_aq.     

Electrochemically inactive organic substance influence on peak height in anodic stripping voltammetry

A simplified method was proposed for calculation of changes of peak height (i) vs. deposition time (t_e) in the presence of a surfactant acting only at the deposition stage. The simplification was based on the assumption that the deposition current has a constant value until time t₁ when it decreases abruptly to a lower level. Hence the dependency of the peak height on the deposition time can be written:i=β₀t₁+β₁(t_e?t₁) Limiting cases were discussed: t₁→0 and β₁→1 leading to three types of i vs. t_e relation. The experimental evaluation was carried out for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) in the presence of various polyethyleneglycols. All three types of curves were obtained in the experiments, as well as some which did not fit the simplified theory.     

Fluorescence from the second excited singlet of aromatic thioketones in solution

The spectral characteristics and the quantum yield of the fluorescence from the second excited singlet state S₂ of the aromatic thioketone molecules xanthione (XS) and thioxanthione (TXS) have been determined in solution at room temperature and 77 K. In 3-methylpentane, the measured quantum yields are φ_f (295 K) = 5.1 × 10^?3 and φ_f(77 K) = 1.0 × 10^?2 for XS, and φ_f (295 K) = 1.5 × 10^?3 and φ_f (77 K) = 2.5 × 10^?3 for TXS. Using the Strickler-Berg expression for the radiative lifetime, the decay rate of S₂ is derived. It is concluded that internal conversion S₂ ? S₁ is the dominating deactivation channel of S₂ with k^{77 K}_nr(S₂ ? S₁) = 1.0 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for XS and k^{77 K}_nr (S₂→S₁) = 2.2 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for TXS. Between 295 and 77 K, φ_f increases by a factor of about 2 following an Arrhenius type expression. This temperature dependence of φ_f is considered to be intramolecular in nature and is attributed to a temperature sensitive rate constant k_nr(S₂?S₁) with an activation energy of 190 ± 20 cm^?1 and a frequency factor k′_nr = 3 × 10¹⁰ s^?1 for the XS molecule in 3-methylpentane.     

Electrode kinetics of the metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids: Part II. Cadmium-ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate (EDTA) complexes

The d.c. polarographic current-potential curves of Cd(II)-EDTA complexes were examined in the pH range 0.5–10.0, to elucidate the mechanism of their electrode processes and to determine the relevant electrochemical kinetic parameters. It was shown that the first wave observed below pH 3 at ?0.58 to ?0.65 V vs. SCE is the reversible reduction wave of Cd(II) aquo-ion with kinetically-controlled limiting current, and the second wave observed above pH 1.5 at ?0.75 to ?1.21 V vs. SCE corresponds to the simultaneous irreversible reduction of four complex species, CdH₃L⁺, CdH₂L, CdHL^? and CdL^2?, where CdH_pL^(p?2)+ and L^4? denote the protonated complex species with p protons and the unprotonated EDTA ion, respectively. Analysis of the dependence of limiting current on the hydrogen ion concentration led to the conclusion that the preceding reaction determining the behaviour of limiting current is CdH₃L⁺?Cd²⁺+H₃L^? with k₃^d=6.3×10² s^?1 and k₃^f=3.3×10⁶ s^?1M^?1, where k₃^d and k₃^f are the dissociation and formation rate constants, respectively. On the other hand, from analysis of the dependence of half-wave potentials of the second wave on the hydrogen ion concentration, the kinetic parameters of the four complex species were evaluated, and are given in Table 1. Further, it was shown that the cathodic rate constants of these four charge transfer processes at some reference potential together with those of Cd(II)-HEDTA complexes fulfil the linear free energy relationship.     

Determination of electrochemical kinetic parameters by square-wave polarography: Polarographic reduction of Zn(II) in 1 M KCl,KBr, and KNCS solutions

A new method of determining electrochemical kinetic parameters by square-wave polarography was presented, in which the faradaic current at θ/2, θ being the half-period of superimposed square-wave voltage, was used for the analysis. The method gave the following kinetic parameters for the electrode reaction, Zn(II) + 2e(Hg), in aqueous solutions at 25° C: k_c^θ=0.0052 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.36 in 1 M KCl, k_c^θ=0.011 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.30 in 1 M KBr, and k_c^θ=0.020 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.52 in 1 M KNCS. Induced adsorption of Zn(II) on the dropping mercury electrode was suggested in solutions containing thiocyanate ions.     

Bromine Hyperfine and quadrupole fine structure in the MODR spectrum of sym-tetrabromobenzene in its lowest triplet state

Bromine hyperfine and quadrupole fine structure has been observed in the 3 cm MODR spectrum of the photoexcited ³B_1u state of symmetric tetrabromobenzene (s?TBB) in a durene host crystal at liquid helium temperature. A preliminary analysis of the observed structure yields the two in-plane values of the bromine hyperfine tensor |A_y/gβl = 10.3 and |A_z/gβ| = 16.5 (for ⁸¹Br), and a comparison of these values with those recently observed for the α-bromomaleic acid radical suggests that the correct zero-field scheme in the lowest triplet state of s-TBB is τ_N > τ_M > τ_L.