Flow-injection analysis of nitrate by reduction to nitrite and gas-phase molecular absorption spectrometry

Two flow-injection manifolds have been investigated for the determination of nitrate. These manifolds are based on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and determination of nitrite by gas-phase molecular absorption spectrophotometry. Nitrate sample solution (300 microL) which is injected to the flow line, is reduced to nitrite by reaction with hydrazine or passage through the on-line copperized cadmium (Cd-Cu) reduction column. The nitrite produced reacts with a stream of hydrochloric acid and the evolved gases are purged into the stream of O2 carrier gas. The gaseous phase is separated from the liquid phase using a gas-liquid separator and then swept into a flow-through cell which has been positioned in the cell compartment of an UV-visible spectrophotometer. The absorbance of the gaseous phase is measured at 204.7 nm. A linear relationship was obtained between the intensity of absorption signals and concentration of nitrate when Cd-Cu reduction method was used, but a logarithmic relationship was obtained when the hydrazine reduction method was used. By use of the Cd-Cu reduction method, up to 330 microg of nitrate was determined. The limit of detection was 2.97 microg nitrate and the relative standard deviations for the determination of 12.0, 30.0 and 150 microg nitrate were 3.32, 3.87 and 3.6%, respectively. Maximum sampling rate was approximately 30 samples per hour. The Cd-Cu reduction method was applied to the determination of nitrate and the simultaneous determination of nitrate and nitrite in meat products, vegetables, urine, and a water sample.     

The use of phenylfluorone in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride and Triton X-100 for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in blood serum

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for determination of copper(II) is based on the formation of a blue coloured complex of Cu(II) with 9-phenyl-2,3,7-trihydroxy-6-fluorone (PF) in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride (CP) and Triton X-100, has been developed. Optimum concentrations of PF, CP, Triton X-100 and pH ensuring maximum absorbance were defined. The complex Cu(II)-PF-CP-Triton X-100 shows maximum absorbance at 595 nm with a molar absorptivity value of 9.67x10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). The detection limit of the method is 0.028 mug ml(-1). Beer's law is obeyed for copper concentrations in the range 0.04-0.4 mug ml(-1). The studies of the effect of foreign ions on determination of copper, show that the selectivity of the method is poor. The cations of alkali metals and anions Br(-), Cl(-), I(-), F(-), NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-), CH(3)COO(-), SO(4)(2-), S(2)O(3)(2-), PO(4)(3-), citrates (examined in 1000-fold molar excess over copper) do not affect the determination. All cations forming complexes with PF have an interfering effect. The statistical evaluation of the method was carried out for six determinations using 10 mug of Cu and the following results were obtained: the standard deviation, SD=0.042, the confidence interval mu(95)=10.1+/-0.1 mug Cu. The method has been applied for determination of copper in blood serum.     

Density functional theory modeling of the proposed nitrite anhydrase function of hemoglobin in hypoxia sensing

The role of NO and nitrite-bound methemoglobin (Hb(III)NO(2)(-)) in hypoxic signaling is highly controversial. One provoking possibility is that hemoglobin (Hb) functions as a nitrite anhydrase, producing N(2)O(3) (from nitrite) as an NO carrier. The ability of Hb to generate N(2)O(3) would provide an intriguing means of NO release from red blood cells. We have investigated this proposed new reactivity of Hb using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For this purpose, models of the Hb/myoglobin (Mb) active site have been constructed. Our results show that the O-bound (nitrito) form of Hb/Mb(III)NO(2)(-) is essential for the formation of N(2)O(3). The formation and release of N(2)O(3) is shown to be energetically favorable by 1-3 kcal/mol, indicating that the anhydrase function of Hb/Mb is biologically feasible.     

Flow injection analysis of sulphite by gas-phase molecular absorption UV/VIS spectrophotometry

A flow injection gas-phase molecular absorption spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of sulphite in aqueous solution. The sulphite solution, 200 microl, is introduced into a stream of distilled water. The carrier stream containing a sulphite zone is reacted, in the first mixing coil, with a stream of sulphuric acid (1 M). The evolved sulphur dioxide is purged to the segments of nitrogen flow through the second mixing coil. The gaseous phase is separated from the liquid stream by the use of a purpose built gas-liquid separator and then is swept into a purpose built flow-through cell. The absorbance of the gaseous phase is measured at 200 nm using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer. Up to 440 microg of sulphite is determined. The limit of detection is 0.8 microg and the R.D.S. for the determination of 70 and 220 microg of sulphite are 1.02 and 0.76%, respectively. Up to 40 samples h(-1) can be analyzed. The effect of several anions and cations on the determination of sulphite was studied and the results showed that the method is relatively free from interferences. The proposed method was applied to the determination of sulphite in a synthetic sample, water sample and lemon juice.     

A simple simultaneous flow injection method based on phosphomolybdenum chemistry for nitrate and nitrite determinations in water and fish samples

A direct spectrophotometric flow injection method for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate has been developed. The method is based on the oxidation of a phosphomolybdenum blue complex by the addition of nitrite and the decrease in absorbance of the blue complex is monitored at 820 nm. The injected sample is split into two segments. One of the streams was directly reacted with the above reagent and detected as nitrite. The other stream was passed through a copperised cadmium reductor column where reduction of nitrate to nitrite occurs, and the sample was then mixed with the reagent and passed through the cell of the spectrophotometer to be detected as nitrite plus nitrate. The conditions for the flow injection manifold parameters were optimised by experimental design and the concentration of nitrite and nitrate was determined in the linear range from 0.05 to 1.15 mug ml(-1) nitrite and 0.06 to 1.6 mug ml(-1) nitrate with a detection limit of 0.01 mug ml(-1) for nitrite and 0.025 mug ml(-1) for nitrate. The method is suitable for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in fish and water samples with a sampling rate of 25+/-2 sample per hour.     

Automated determination of sulphite and sulphur dioxide by cool flame molecular emission spectrometry after reduction to hydrogen sulphide with sodium tetrahydroborate III

An automated method for the determination of sulphite and sulphur dioxide by cool flame molecular emission spectrometry is described. The method is based on the reduction of both compounds to hydrogen sulphide with sodium tetrahydroborate III. The sample which is mixed with NaBH(4) is acidified with 6M hydrochloric acid and carried by a continuous-flow stream into a gas-liquid separator where the evolved hydrogen sulphide is swept by nitrogen into a cool, hydrogen-nitrogen-entrained air flame. The intensity of the blue diatomic S(2) emission generated is measured at 384 nm. The proposed method has a detection limit for sulphite of 0.029 mug/ml and relative standard deviations of 1.2 and 1.5% for 1 and 5 mug/ml respectively. The calibration graph is linear up to 24 mug/ml sulphite and samples can be analysed at a rate of about 40/hr. The method has been applied to the determination of SO(2) in air and sulphite in wines.     

Mechanistic analysis of reductive nitrosylation on water-soluble cobalt(III)-porphyrins

The reactions of NO and/or NO2- with three water-soluble cobalt porphyrins [Co(III)(P)(H2O)2]n, where P = TPPS, TCPP, and TMPyP, were studied in detail. At pH < 3, the reaction with NO proceeds through a single reaction step. From the kinetic data and activation parameters, the [Co(III)(P)(NO)(H2O)]n complex is proposed to be the primary product of the reaction with NO. This complex reacts further with a second NO molecule through an inner-sphere electron-transfer reaction to generate the final product, [Co(III)(P)(NO-)](n-1). At pH > 3, although a single reaction step is also observed, a systematic study as a function of the NO and NO2- concentrations revealed that two reaction steps are operative. In the first, NO2- and NO compete to substitute coordinated water in [Co(III)(P)(H2O)2]n to yield [Co(III)(P)(NO)(H2O)]n and [Co(III)(P)(NO2-)(H2O)](n-1) as the primary reaction products. Only the nitrite complex could be detected and no final product formation was observed during the reaction. It is proposed that [Co(III)(P)(NO)(H2O)]n rapidly reacts with NO2- to form the nitrite complex, which in the second reaction step reacts with another NO molecule to generate the final product through an inner-sphere electron-transfer reaction. The reported results are relevant for the interaction of vitamin B(12a) with NO and NO2-.     

Mechanistic studies on the nitrite-catalyzed reductive nitrosylation of highly charged anionic and cationic Fe(III) porphyrin complexes

The nitrosyl complexes formed during the binding of NO to the (Pn)FeIII(H2O)2 (n = 8+ and 8-) complexes, viz., (P8-)FeII(H2O)(NO+) and (P8+)FeII(H2O)(NO+), undergo subsequent reductive nitrosylation reactions that were found to be catalyzed by nitrite, which was also produced during the reaction. The effect of the nitrite concentration, pH, temperature, and pressure on the nitrite-catalyzed reductive nitrosylation process was studied in detail for (P8-)FeIII(H2O)2, (P8+)FeIII(H2O)2, and (P8+)FeIII(OH)(H2O), from which rate and activation parameters were obtained. On the basis of these data, we propose mechanistic pathways for the studied reactions. The available results favor the operation of an innersphere electron-transfer process between nitrite and coordinated NO(+). By way of comparison, the cationic porphyrin complex (P8+)FeIII(L)2 (L = H2O or OH-) was found to react with NO2(-) to yield the nitrite adduct (P8+)FeIII(L)(NO2)(-)). A detailed kinetic studied revealed that nitrite binds to (P8+)FeIII(H2O)2 according to a dissociative mechanism, whereas nitrite binding to (P8+)FeIII(OH)(H2O) at higher pH follows an associative mechanism, similar to that reported for the binding of NO to these complexes.     

Spectrophotometric determination of micro amounts of nitrite in water and soil

A spectrophotometric method for determination of micro amounts of nitrite in water and soil with p-aminoacetophenone and resorcinol is described. The interference of foreign ions can be eliminated by masking with complexing agents. Beer's law is obeyed up to 20 mug of NO(2)(-) in 60 ml of solution and the molar absorptivity at 435 nm is 5.27 x 10(4) l.mole(-1).cm(-1). The colour is stable for 10 hr. Results obtained by using the proposed method for water and soil samples agree well with those obtained by the Saltzman standard method.     

Long-term γ-radiolysis kinetics of NO3(-) and NO2(-) solutions

Radiolysis kinetics in NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) solutions during γ-irradiation were studied at an absorbed dose rate of 2.1 Gy·s(-1) at room temperature. Air- or argon-saturated nitrate or nitrite solutions at pH 6.0 and 10.6 were irradiated, and the aqueous concentrations of molecular water decomposition products, H(2) and H(2)O(2), and the variation in the concentrations of NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) were measured as a function of irradiation time. The experimental data were compared with computer simulations using a comprehensive radiolysis kinetic model to aid in interpretation of the experimental results. The effect of nitrate and nitrite, present at concentrations below 10(-3) M, on water radiolysis processes occurs through reactions with the radical species generated by water radiolysis, (?)e(aq)(-), (?)O(2)(-), and (?)OH. The changes in H(2) and H(2)O(2) concentrations observed in the presence of nitrate and nitrite under a variety of conditions can be explained by a reduction in the radical concentrations. The kinetic analysis shows that the main loss pathway for H(2) is the reaction with (?)OH and the main loss pathways for H(2)O(2) are reactions with (?)e(aq)(-) and (?)OH. Nitrate and nitrite compete for the radicals leading to an increase in the concentrations of H(2) and H(2)O(2). Post-irradiation measurements of H(2), H(2)O(2), NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) concentrations can be used to calculate the radical concentrations and provide information on the redox conditions of the irradiated aqueous solutions.     

Fluorimetric determination of nitrogen oxides in the air by a novel red-region fluorescent reagent

A sensitive fluorimetric method for the determination of nitrogen oxides (NO(x): NO+NO(2)) in air is described. Nitrogen dioxide (nitrogen monoxide was previously converted to nitrogen dioxide in oxide tubes) was aspirated through a fritted glass bubble at a flow rate of 500 ml min(-1) for 120 min and fixed as nitrite, using 0.1 N NaOH as a trapping solution with the empirical absorption efficiency 0.74 and the stoichiometric factor 0.5. The method is based on the fluorescence quenching of a red-region fluorescent reagent, tetra-substituted amino aluminum phthalocyanine (TAAlPc), after being diazotized by nitrite. Under optimal conditions the linear range of the calibration curve for nitrite is 1-40 ng ml(-1) (NO(2) 0.24-9.6 ppb, v/v). The detection limit is 0.34 ng ml(-1) for nitrite (NO(2) 0.08 ppb, v/v) and the relative standard deviation for six replicate measurements of 15 ng ml(-1) nitrite is 3.2%. The method has been applied to the determination of nitrogen oxides in the air with satisfactory results. Typical gaseous co-pollutants such as SO(2), H(2)S and HCHO did not interference the determination.     

Flow analysis-vapor phase generation-Fourier transform infrared (FA-VPG-FTIR) spectrometric determination of nitrite

In this work, the coupling between flow analysis (FA)–vapor phase generation (VPG) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) has been proposed as a novel and alternative strategy for the determination of nitrite. The analyte was transformed into the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) by on-line reaction with potassium iodide (KI) or ascorbic acid in acidic medium. The gaseous NO generated was transported by means of a N₂ gas carrier stream inside the IR gas cell and the corresponding FTIR spectrum was acquired in a continuous mode. The absorbance at 1876 cm⁻¹, corrected by a baseline established between 1879 and 1872 cm⁻¹ at a nominal resolution of 2 cm⁻¹, was selected as a measurement criterion. The effect of different spectroscopic and flow analysis experimental parameters, such as nominal resolution, number of scans, reducing agent and its concentration, acidic medium, reagents and sample flow rates, and the carrier gas flow rate on the analytical signal, and then in the figures of merit were initially evaluated by using a standard short path length (10 cm) IR gas cell. The optimization of the system was carried out by the univariate method. The main aims of this study were: (i) to investigate the on-line generation of gaseous nitric oxide in a continuous flow system, and (ii) the use of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry as an alternative and selective detector for the determination of nitrite. The proposed method was initially tested and applied for the determination of nitrite in samples with very high concentration of nitrite, such as frankfurters.     

Mechanisms of ferriheme reduction by nitric oxide: nitrite and general base catalysis

The reductive nitrosylation (Fe(III)(P) + 2NO + H(2)O = Fe(II)(P)(NO) + NO(2)(-) + 2H(+)) of the ferriheme model Fe(III)(TPPS) (TPPS = tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato) has been investigated in moderately acidic solution. In the absence of added or adventitious nitrite, this reaction displays general base catalysis with several buffers in aqueous solutions. It was also found that the nitrite ion, NO(2)(-), is a catalyst for this reaction. Similar nitrite catalysis was demonstrated for another ferriheme model system Fe(III)(TMPy) (TMPy = meso-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrinato), and for ferriheme proteins met-hemoglobin (metHb) and met-myoglobin (metMb) in aqueous buffer solutions. Thus, it appears that such catalysis is a general mechanistic route to the reductive nitrosylation products. Two nitrite catalysis mechanisms are proposed. In the first, NO(2)(-) is visualized as operating via nucleophilic addition to the Fe(III)-coordinated NO in a manner similar to the reactions proposed for Fe(III) reduction promoted by other nucleophiles. This would give a labile N(2)O(3) ligand that hydrolyzes to nitrous acid, regenerating the original nitrite. The other proposal is that Fe(III) reduction is effected by direct outer-sphere electron transfer from NO(2)(-) to Fe(III)(P)(NO) to give nitrogen dioxide plus the ferrous nitrosyl complex Fe(II)(P)(NO). The NO(2) thus generated would be trapped by excess NO to give N(2)O(3) and, subsequently, nitrite. It is found that the nitrite catalysis rates are markedly sensitive to the respective Fe(III)(P)(NO) reduction potentials, which is consistent with the behavior expected for an outer-sphere electron-transfer mechanism. Nitrite is the product of NO autoxidation in aqueous solution and is a ubiquitous impurity in experiments where aqueous NO is added to an aerobic system to study biological effects. The present results demonstrate that such an impurity should not be assumed to be innocuous, especially in the context of recent reports that endogenous nitrite may play physiological roles relevant to the interactions of NO and ferriheme proteins.     

Reaction of nitrogen monoxide with a macrocyclic superoxorhodium(III) complex produces an observable nitratorhodium intermediate

The rapid (k > or = 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)) reaction between NO and L(2)(H(2)O)RhOO(2+) (L(2) = meso-Me(6)-[14]ane-N(4)) generates two strongly oxidizing, scavengeable intermediates, believed to be NO(2) and L(2)(H(2)O)RhO(2+). A mechanism is proposed whereby a peroxynitrito complex L(2)(H(2)O)RhOONO(2+) is formed first. The homolysis of O-O bond produces NO(2) and L(2)(H(2)O)RhO(2+) which were trapped with ABTS(2)(-) and Ni([14]aneN(4))(2+). In the absence of scavengers, the decomposition of L(2)(H(2)O)RhOONO(2+) produces both free NO(3)(-) and a rhodium nitrato complex L(2)(H(2)O)RhONO(2)(2+), which releases NO(3)(-) in an inverse acid-dependent process. The total yield of L(2)(H(2)O)RhONO(2)(2+) is 70%. In a minor, parallel path, NO and L(2)(H(2)O)RhOO(2+) react to give nitrite and the hydroperoxo complex L(2)(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+).     

Selective Oxygen Transfers with Iron(III) Porphyrin Nitrite

The reaction of octaethylporphyrin iron(III) chloride with potassium crown ether (18-crown-6) nitrite in N-methylpyrrolidone-1% acetic acid under argon generates the iron(III) nitrite salt (PFeNO(2)). The latter is a unique and selective oxygen atom transfer reagent. The reaction of a broad range of substrates (S) proceeds quantitatively to yield the oxidized substrate and the iron(II) porphyrin-nitrosyl adduct: PFeNO(2) + S --> PFeNO + SO. Diatomic molecules to which oxygen is directly transferred from PFeNO(2) are NO, CO, and O(2). The conversion NO to NO(2) is shown via (15)NO(2)(-) labeling experiments to proceed exclusively by the O atom transfer process. The ozone, generated from dioxygen, was trapped with nitrite ion and the two olefins 2-methyl-2 butene and 2,3-dimethyl-2 butene. These substances are inert to PFeNO(2) under argon. However, in an oxygen-saturated reaction mixture, nitrite produced nitrate. The olefins, following reduction of the reaction mixture with Zn/HOAc, yielded 1 mol of acetone and acetaldehyde and 2 mol of acetone, respectively. Other simple O atom transfers under argon were observed with dimethyl sulfide and triphenylphosphine. The PFeNO(2) reagent shows a preference for O insertion into allylic, benzylic, and aldehydic C-H bonds. Thus, no olefin containing these moieties is epoxidized. However, styrene and cis-stilbene are converted to styrene oxide and cis-stilbene oxide, respectively. The double oxidation of allylbenzene to trans-cinnamaldehyde entails an allylic rearrangement that suggests radical character to the O insertion process. However, no kinetic evidence for this was obtained. The reaction is an overall third-order process, rate = k(PFe(III))(NO(2)(-))(S). There was no correlation of observed rates with relevant C-H bond dissociation energies of substrates. The fastest reacting substrate was nitric oxide (k(22) degrees = 52 M(-)(2) s(-)(1)) and the slowest was toluene (k(50) degrees = 6.3 x 10(-)(4) M(-)(2) s(-)(1)). The range and selectivity of these O atom transfers sets them apart from the catalytic oxidations brought about by reactions of iron(III) porphyrins with peroxides, iodosoaryls, hypochlorite, and other oxidants. The driving force for the relatively mild oxidations with PFeNO(2) resides in the thermodynamic stability of the heme-NO adduct. Given the broad presence of nitrite in the environment and the ubiquity of porphyrins in the biosphere, the activation of nitrite by iron porphyrins has both an environmental and biochemical significance.     

Spectrophotometric detection of arsenic using flow-injection hydride generation following sorbent extraction preconcentration

An automated system with a C(18) bonded silica gel packed minicolumn is proposed for spectrophotometric detection of arsenic using flow-injection hydride generation following sorbent extraction preconcentration. Complexes formed between arsenic(III) and ammonium diethyl dithiophosphate (ADDP) are retained on a C(18) sorbent. The eluted As-DDP complexes are merged with a 1.5% (w/v) NaBH(4) and the resulting solution is thereafter injected into the hydride generator/gas-liquid separator. The arsine generated is carried out by a stream of N(2) and trapped in an alkaline iodine solution in which the analyte is determined by the arsenomolybdenum blue method. With preconcentration time of 120 s, calibration in the 5.00-50.0 mug As l(-1) range and sampling rate of about 20 samples h(-1) are achieved, corresponding to 36 mg ADDP plus 36 mg ammonium heptamolybdate plus 7 mg hydrazine sulfate plus 0.7 mg stannous chloride and about 7 ml sample consumed per determination. The detection limit is 0.06 mug l(-1) and the relative standard deviation (n=12) for a typical 17.0 mug As l(-1) sample is ca. 6%. The accuracy was checked for arsenic determination in plant materials from the NIST (1572 citrus leaves; 1573 tomato leaves) and the results were in agreement with the certified values at 95% confidence level. Good recoveries (94-104%) of spiked tap waters, sugars and synthetic mixtures of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic were also found.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow-injection analysis

An automatic direct spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate by flow-injection analysis has been developed. Nitrite reacts with 3-nitroaniline in the presence of hydrochloric acid (0.96-1.8 M HCl or pH 0.5-0.7) to form a diazonium cation, which is subsequently coupled with N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride to form a stable purple azo dye, the absorbance of which is measured at 535 nm. Nitrate is reduced on-line to nitrite in a copper-coated cadmium column which is then treated with azo dye reagent and the absorbance due to the sum of nitrite and nitrate is measured; nitrate is determined from the difference in absorbance values. A copper column incorporated into the reaction manifold before the copperised cadmium column not only improves the long-term accuracy, but also extends the life time of the copperised cadmium column. Various analytical parameters, such as effect of acidity (pH), flow rate, sample size, dispersion coefficient, time, temperature, reagent concentration and interfering species, were studied. The calibration graphs were rectilinear for 0.1-3.5 mug ml(-1) of NO(3) and 10 ng ml(-1)-2.2mug ml(-1) of NO(2). The method is successfully applied to some food samples (meat, flour and cheese), environmental waters (inland and surface), beer and soil samples. Up to 30 samples can be analysed per hour with a relative precision of approximately 0.1-2%.     

Variable coordination modes of NO2(-) in a series of Ag(I) complexes containing triorganophosphines, -arsines,and -stibines. Syntheses,spectroscopic characterization (IR, 1H and 31P NMR,electrospray ionization mass), and structures of [AgNO2(R(3)E)(x)] adducts (E = P,As, Sb,x = 1-3)

Adducts of triorganophosphine, triphenylarsine, and triphenylstibine with silver(I) nitrite have been synthesized and characterized both in solution ((1)H, (31)P NMR) and in the solid state (IR, single-crystal X-ray structure analysis). In addition aggregates of AgNO(2) and ER(3) (E = P, As, Sb) have been identified in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The topology of the structures in the solid state was found to depend on the nature of ER(3) and on the stoichiometric ratio AgNO(2):ER(3). The adducts AgNO(2):EPh(3) (1:1) (E = P or Sb) are one-dimensional polymers, the role of NO(2)(-) being to bridge successive metal atoms by coordination of the two oxygens to one silver atom and the nitrogen lone pair to a successive Ag. The adduct AgNO(2):P(o-tolyl)(3) (1:1) is mononuclear, due to steric hindrance of the phosphine, the nitrite being O,O'-bidentate, a rare example of a quasi-linear P-Ag-X array. AgNO(2):P(p-F-C(6)H(4))(3) (1:1) is a dimer, the nitrite being coordinated through both oxygens, the first unidentate, the second bridging bidentate. P(o-tolyl)(3) and Pcy(3) form 1:2 adducts, also mononuclear, the nitrite still an O,O'-chelate. In contrast, the adduct AgNO(2):AsPh(3) (1:2) is a centrosymmetric dimer, essentially an aggregate of a pair of [Ag(O(2)N)(AsPh(3))(2)] arrays with one nitrite oxygen being the bridging atom. The adducts AgNO(2):EPh(3) (1:3) (E = As, Sb) are mononuclear, the nitrite behaving as a consistently strong O,O'-chelate. The E = As adduct is a triclinic solvated form, whereas the unsolvated E = Sb species is monoclinic. ESI-MS spectra of acetonitrile solutions of these complexes show the existence of [Ag(ER(3))](+), [Ag(CH(3)CN)](+), [Ag(CH(3)CN)(2)](+), [AgCl(2)](-), [Ag(NO(2))(2)](-), [Ag(ER(3))(CH(3)CN)](+), and [Ag(ER(3))(2)](+) as well as higher aggregates [Ag(2)(NO(2))(ER(3))(2)](+), [Ag(2)(NO(2))(3)](-) and [Ag(2)Cl(2)(NO(2))](-), which are less prevalent.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of boron in ceramic materials

A flow injection spectrophotometric method for the determination of boron in ceramic materials is described. The method is based on spectrophotometric measurement of the decrease in the pH produced by the reaction between boric acid and mannitol in the presence of an acid-base indicator. A bichannel FI (flow injection) manifold in which the sample solutions were injected into deionized water (at pH 5.4) and the stream was later merged with the reagent stream (a mannitol solution containing 1x10(-4) mol l(-1) bromocresol green at pH 5.4), was used. Transient signals were monitored at 616 nm. A theoretical model which describes the dependence between the absorbance values and boric acid concentration is presented. The model predicts a non linear dependence between the absorbance or increment in absorbance and the boric acid concentration. In contrast, the model predicts a linear dependence between the inverse of the absorbance values and the boric acid concentration. The calibration graphs (1/A vs mug ml(-1) B(2)O(3)) were linear over the range 1-30 mug ml(-1) of B(2)O(3). The relative standard deviations were 0.7 and 0.4% for 4 and 8 mug ml(-1) of B(2)O(3), respectively. The limit of detection was 0.02 mug ml(-1) of B(2)O(3) (3sigma criterium). The method was used to determine boron in nine ceramic materials with very different nominal boron compositions. The results were compared with those obtained using a potentiometric titration method as reference method. No significant differences (at 95% probability level) were found between the proposed and reference methods. The method is rapid, reliable, precise and free of interferences.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of anionic nitrate complexes of UO22+ and Eu3+ isolated in the gas phase

Wavelength-selective infrared multiple photon photo-dissociation (IRMPD) was used to generate spectra of anionic nitrate complexes of UO(2)(2+) and Eu(3+) in the mid-infrared region. Similar spectral patterns were observed for both species, including splitting of the antisymmetric O-N-O stretch into high and low frequency components with the magnitude of the splitting consistent with attachment of nitrate to a strong Lewis acid center. The frequencies measured for [UO(2)(NO(3))(3)](-) were within a few cm(-1) of those measured in the condensed phase, the best agreement yet achieved for a comparison of IRMPD with condensed phase absorption spectra. In addition, experimentally-determined values were in good general agreement with those predicted by DFT calculations, especially for the antisymmetric UO(2) stretch. The spectrum from the [UO(2)(NO(3))(3)](-) was compared with that of [Eu(NO(3))(4)](-), which showed that nitrate was bound more strongly to the Eu(3+) metal center, consistent with its higher charge. The spectrum of a unique uranyl-oxo species having an elemental composition [UO(9)N(2)](-) was also acquired, that contained nitrate absorptions suggestive of a [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(O)](-) structure; the spectrum lacked bands indicative of nitrite and superoxide that would be indicative of an alternative [UO(2)(NO(3))(NO(2))(O(2))](-) structure.