New IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) recommendations on the measurement of pH - background and essentials

The IUPAC Recommendations on pH (1985) have serious metrological deficiencies (recommendation of two pH scales and of several pH definitions and procedures to measure pH). Background and essential features of new recommendations, which replace the 1985 document, are reported in this paper. The new document is strictly based on metrological principles. pH is defined (notionally) by the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion activity according to S?rensen and Linderstr?m-Lang (1924), that is pH=-lg a(H). Because pH is a single ion quantity it is immeasurable and is therefore experimentally verified, with stated uncertainties, by pH(PS) values of primary standard buffer solutions. The assignment of pH(PS) is carried out in a Harned cell (without transference), which is defined as a primary method of measurement, and involves the Bates-Guggenheim convention. pH(PS) is thus a conventional quantity. Consideration of the uncertainty of the Bates-Guggenhein convention, however, permits its incorporation into the internationally accepted SI system of measurement. Comparison of the pH of secondary buffer solutions with pH(PS) values in recommended cells with transference yields secondary standards, whose pH(SS) can be traced back to pH(PS) and consequently to the definition of pH. The traceability chain is continued "downwards" by practical cells with transference containing glass electrodes for the measurement of pH(X) values of unknown solutions, for which three calibration procedures are recommended. The measurement of pH is thus represented by the traceability chain pH(X)-->pH(SS)-->pH(PS)-->pH as defined, each step having stated uncertainties. This hierarchical system of measurement excludes any pH 'scale'. Tabulated pH(PS) values are given as examples, and it is recommended that actual pH(PS) and pH(SS) be taken from certificates, which are to accompany each lot of certified reference material (CRM). Target uncertainties and examples of their calculation, a sign convention for pH cells and conventions for presenting cell schemes are given in the new document.     

Analytical challenges and the development of biomarkers to measure and to monitor the effects of ocean acidification

Changing ocean-carbonate chemistry caused by oceanic uptake of anthropogenic atmospheric carbon dioxide leads to the formation of carbonic acid, thus lowering the pH of the sea with predictions of a decrease from current levels at 8.15 to 7.82 by the end of the century. The exact measurement of subtle pH changes in seawater over time presents significant analytical challenges, as the equilibrium constants are governed by water temperature and pressure, salinity effects, and the existence of other ionic species in seawater.Here, we review these challenges and how pH also affects dissolved inorganic and organic chemicals that affect biological systems. This includes toxic compounds (xenobiotics) as well as chemicals that are beneficial for marine organisms, such as the chemical signals (i.e. pheromones) that are utilized to coordinate animal behavior. We review how combining analytical, molecular and biochemical tools can lead to the development of biosensors to detect pH effects to enable predictive modeling of the ecological consequences of ocean acidification.     

Variation of the pH of the background electrolyte due to electrode reactions in capillary electrophoresis: Theoretical approach and in situ measurement

Electrode reactions during the electrophoretic process may change the pH of the buffer and subsequently the migration behavior of solutes with resultant loss of reproducibility. A theoretical treatment of pH variations due to electrolytic processes is presented. The choice of buffer appears to have a dramatic influence on the pH variations observed, even if substantial buffer action is expected at the pH chosen. The experimental evaluation of the separation of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid reveals that the quality of the separation decreases continuously from a baseline separation observed in the first experiment to a comigration of the two solutes (resolution = 0) in the ninth experiment. A pH decrease of about 0.05 pH units accounts for the observed changes in mobility. A novel in situ pH measurement approach is presented, in which the mobility, peak area, and peak height of an indicator dye are related to the pH in the capillary. This enables the identification and quantification of pH variations during electrophoretic runs: the pH decreases at the anodic side already after the first experiment and pH variations as small as 0.02 pH units can be measured. The variations in peak height appear to be less suited. The calculated pH variations are in close agreement with the ones obtained experimentally.     

Calculation of the surface potential and surface charge density by measurement of the three-phase contact angle

The silica/silicon wafer is widely used in the semiconductor industry in the manufacture of electronic devices, so it is essential to understand its physical chemistry and determine the surface potential at the silica wafer/water interface. However, it is difficult to measure the surface potential of a silica/silicon wafer directly due to its high electric resistance. In the present study, the three-phase contact angle (TPCA) on silica is measured as a function of the pH. The surface potential and surface charge density at the silica/water surface are calculated by a model based on the Young-Lippmann equation in conjunction with the Gouy-Chapman model for the electric double layer. In measurements of the TPCA on silica, two distinct regions were identified with a boundary at pH 9.5-showing a dominance of the surface ionization of silanol groups below pH 9.5 and a dominance of the dissolution of silica into the aqueous solution above pH 9.5. Since the surface chemistry changes above pH 9.5, the model is applied to solutions below pH 9.5 (ionization dominant) for the calculation of the surface potential and surface charge density at the silica/aqueous interface. In order to evaluate the model, a galvanic mica cell was made of a mica sheet and the surface potential was measured directly at the mica/water interface. The model results are also validated by experimental data from the literature, as well as the results obtained by the potentiometric titration method and the electro-kinetic measurements.     

Nano engineered biodegradable capsules for the encapsulation and kinetic release studies of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride

Polyelectrolyte based nano and micro capsules have been extensively studied as promising drug carrier in recent years. Natural degradable capsules have received great deal of attention due to their fascinating structural and morphological characteristics, biocompatibility, sustained and targeted-release capabilities. In this work, chitosan - dextran sulphate nano capsules were prepared via Layer-by-Layer (L-b-L) technique using sacrificial template for drug delivery applications. The loading and in vitro release studies were performed using ciprofloxacin hydrochloride as a model drug. The release media used in the study are plain water and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS). The optimum drug load was 389 ​μg, at a loading pH of 2.1 and a temperature of 25 ​°C for 50 ​min encapsulation time. The drug loaded capsules exhibited a slow and sustained release up to 24 ​h and the maximum release rate was obtained at pH 1.2 in water and pH 7.4 in PBS. Least amount of drug release occurred at pH 5.0 in both the release media. The amounts of drug release in water at pH 1.2, pH 5.0 and pH 7.4 are 309 ​μg, 163 ​μg and 251 ​μg respectively where as the corresponding values in the case of PBS (at pH 1.2, pH 5.0 and pH 7.4) are 236 ​μg, 198 ​μg and 251 ​μg respectively. Two different models namely, Ritger - Peppas and Higuchi models were chosen to study the release kinetics behaviour of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. The prepared bio-degradable capsules had potential as drug carrier for targeting antibacterial drugs with diverse functionality.     

Effect of the pH, the concentration and the nature of the buffer on the adsorption mechanism of an ionic compound in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. II. Analytical and overloaded band profiles on Symmetry-C18 and Xterra-C18

In a previous report, the influence of the pH, the concentration, and the nature of the buffer on the retention and overloading behavior of propranolol (pKa = 9.45) was studied on Kromasil-C18 at 2.75 < pH < 6.75, using four buffers (phosphate, acetate, phthalate, and succinate), at three concentrations, 6, 20, and 60 mM. The results showed that the propranolol cation was eluted as an ion-pair with the buffer counter-anion. A similar study was carried out with Symmetry-C18 and Xterra-C18. Two additional buffers, formate and citrate, were also used. Propranolol elution band profiles were recorded for a small (less than 1 microg) and a large (375 microg) sample size. The results are similar to those obtained with Kromasil and confirm earlier conclusions. The buffer concentration, not its pH, controls the retention time of propranolol, in agreement with the chaotropic model. The retention factor depends also on the nature of the buffer, particularly on its valence, and on the hydrophobicity of the basic anion. With the monovalent anions HCOO- (pH 3.75), H2PO4- (pH 2.75), HOOC-Ph-COO- (pH 2.75), HOOC-CH2-CH2-COO- (pH 4.16), CH3COO- (pH 4.75) and HOOC-CHCOOH-COO- (pH 3.14), at moderate loadings, and for the two larger buffer concentrations, the band profiles are well accounted for by a simple bi-Langmuir isotherm model (no adsorbate-adsorbate interactions). By contrast, these profiles are accounted for by a bi-Moreau isotherm model (i.e., with significant adsorbate-adsorbate interactions) with the bivalent anions -OOC-Ph-COO- (pH 4.75), -OOC-CH2-CH2-COO- (pH 5.61), HPO4(2-) (pH 6.75), and HOOC-CHCOO(-)-COO- (pH 4.77) and with the trivalent anion -OOC-CHCOO(-)-COO- (pH 6.39). The best values of the isotherm parameters were determined using the inverse method. The saturation capacity and the equilibrium constant on the low-energy sites increase with increasing buffer concentration, a result consistent with the formation in the mobile phase of a hydrophobic complex between the propranolol cation and the buffer anion. With bivalent and trivalent anions, adsorbate-adsorbate interactions are strong on the low-energy sites but they remain negligible on the high-energy sites. The density of the high energy sites is lower and the equilibrium constant on the low-energy sites are both higher with the bivalent and the trivalent buffer anions than with the univalent buffer anions. These results are consistent with the formation of a 2:1 and a 3:1 propranolol-buffer complex with the bivalent and the trivalent anions, respectively.     

Comparison of the interfacial properties of Eugenia uniflora and Triticum vulgaris lectins

We have investigated the interfacial and dielectric properties of EuniSL, a recently purified lectin obtained from seeds of Eugenia uniflora (EuniSL), through surface pressure (Pi) and surface potential (DeltaV) measurements of its floating monolayers at the 2.0相似文献   

Determination of the microenvironment-pH and charge and size characteristics of amino acids through their electrophoretic mobilities determined by CZE

Effective electrophoretic mobility data of 20 amino acids reported in the literature are analyzed and interpreted through simple physicochemical models, which are able to provide estimates of coupled quantities like hydrodynamic shape factor, equivalent hydrodynamic radius (size), net charge, actual pK values of ionizing groups, partial charges of ionizing groups, hydration number, and pH near molecule (microenvironment-pH of the BGE). It is concluded that the modeling of the electrophoretic mobility of these analytes requires a careful consideration of hydrodynamic shape coupled to hydration. In the low range of pH studied here, distinctive hydrodynamic behaviors of amino acids are found. For instance, amino acids with basic polar and ionizing side chain remain with prolate shape for pH values varying from 1.99 to 3.2. It is evident that as the pH increases from low values, amino acids get higher hydrations as a consequence each analyte total charge also increases. This result is consistent with the monotonic increase of the hydrodynamic radius, which accounts for both the analyte and the quite immobilized water molecules defining the electrophoretic kinematical unit. It is also found that the actual or effective pK value of the alpha-carboxylic ionizing group of amino acids increases when the pH is changed from 1.99 to 3.2. Several limitations concerning the simple modeling of the electrophoretic mobility of amino acids are presented for further research.     

Electron transfer and electrocatalytic properties of the immobilized methionine80alanine cytochrome c variant

The M80A variant of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (cytc), which features a noncoordinating Ala residue in place of the axial heme iron Met ligand, was chemisorbed on a gold electrode coated with 4-mercaptopyridine or carboxyalkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAM) and investigated by cyclic voltammetry at varying conditions of temperature, pH, and O2 concentration. The E degrees ' value (standard reduction potential for the heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple) of M80A cytc on both SAMs is of approximately -200 mV (vs the standard hydrogen electrode, SHE) at pH 7, which is more than 400 mV lower than that of native cytochrome c in the same conditions. The thermodynamics of Fe(III) to Fe(II) reduction and the kinetics of heterogeneous electron transfer (ET) are dominated by the presence of a hydroxide ion as the sixth axial heme iron ligand above pH 6. On both SAMs, protonation of the bound hydroxide ion is mainly responsible for the changes in these parameters at low pH, since the distances of ET between the heme and the electrode are found to be independent of pH in the range of 5-11. The invariance of the electrochemical features up to pH 11 indicates that no changes in heme iron coordination occur at high pH, at variance with native cytc. Most notably, immobilized M80A cytc is found to act as an efficient biocatalyst for O2 reduction from pH 5 to 11.0. This finding makes M80A cytc a suitable candidate as a constituent of a biocatalytic interface for O2 biosensing and opens the way for the exploitation of engineered cytochrome c in the bio-based detection of chemicals of environmental and clinical interest.     

The role of electrolyte and polyelectrolyte on the adsorption of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, at the air-water interface

The role of the polyelectrolyte, poly(ethyleneimine), PEI, and the electrolytes NaCl and CaCl(2), on the adsorption of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, LAS, at the air-water interface have been investigated by neutron reflectivity and surface tension. The surface tension data for the PEI/LAS mixtures are substantially affected by pH and the addition of electrolyte, and are consistent with a strong adsorption of surface polymer/surfactant complexes down to relatively low surfactant concentrations. The effects are most pronounced at high pH, and this is confirmed by the adsorption data obtained directly from neutron reflectivity. However, the effects of the addition of PEI and electrolyte on the LAS adsorption are not as pronounced as previously reported for PEI/SDS mixtures. This is attributed primarily to the steric hindrance of the LAS phenyl group resulting in a reduction in the ion-dipole attraction between the LAS sulfonate and amine groups that dominates the interaction at high pH.     

pH/温度双重敏感性微凝胶的合成与应用

智能微凝胶是一类具有独特物理、化学性质的聚合物网络和溶剂组成的体系, 在众多的领域具有潜在的应用.本文介绍了近年来pH和温度双重敏感性微凝胶的研究概况、制备方法及其在药物控制释放、分离纯化和光子晶体方面的应用.     

Study of the Cloud Point of the Phenothiazine Drug Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride: Effect of Surfactants and Polymers

Surfactants/polymers are used extensively in drug delivery as drug carriers. We herein report the effect of surfactants and polymers on the cloud point (CP) of amphiphilic drug chlorpromazine hydrochloride. At fixed drug concentration (50 mM) and pH (6.7) these additives affect the CP in accordance to their nature and structure: anionic surfactants show an increase followed by a decrease, whereas cationic (conventional as well as gemini) and nonionic surfactants show continous increase. The behavior with polymers is dictated by the number of units present in a particular polymer. Increase in drug concentration and pH, in presence of fixed amounts of CTAB, increases and decreases the CP, respectively. Variation of CP with pH at various fixed gemini concentrations shows that gemini surfactants are better candidates for drug delivery.     

Comparison of bovine and porcine beta-lactoglobulin: a mass spectrometric analysis

Nano-electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS) is applied to comparison of bovine and porcine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG and PLG). The conformational and oligomeric properties of the two proteins under different solvent and experimental conditions are analyzed. The pH-dependence of dimerization is described for the pH range 2-11. The results indicate maximal dimer accumulation at pH 6 for BLG and pH 4 for PLG, as well as a lower stability of the PLG dimer at pH 4 compared to BLG at pH 6. Conformational stability appears to be higher for BLG at acidic pH, but higher for PLG at basic pH. The higher stability of BLG at low pH is revealed by means of either chemical or thermal denaturation. Equilibrium folding intermediates of both proteins are detected. Finally, conditions are found that promote dissociation of the BLG dimer at pH 6 into folded monomers.     

The influence of pH and complex formation on the ASV peaks of Pb, Cu and Cd

The effects of pH, electrolyte composition and complex formation on the size and position of the ASV peaks of Pb, Cu and Cd have been systematically evaluated, with an instrument equipped with a mercury thin-film electrode and by applying a linear ramp voltage scan. The peak heights change with pH and the magnitude of the pH effect varies with base electrolyte composition. Anions such as chloride and acetate reduce the signal, as does the presence of excess of ligands such as 2,2'-bipyridyl, NTA and EDTA. Formation of stable chelates (e.g., with EDTA) can lead to total loss of signal, but dissociation of labile complexes can be enhanced by reducing the pH and/or increasing the magnitude of the applied deposition potential, thus producing measurable peaks. The peak potentials vary with pH, and in copper systems there are additional shifts in the presence of citrate, 2,2'-bipyridyl and chloride. With the last two, double peaks are formed and these are attributed to the formation of both Cu(I) and Cu(II) oxidation products. The varied response, particularly in the case of copper, which can follow changes in the base electrolyte composition, supports the need for careful control of the chemical environment in quantitative determination, and raises some queries about the feasibility of using direct ASV for speciation purposes.     

电子活度和pH对二氧化氯制备和稳定性的影响

建立了氯体系电子活度（pε）和pH优势区域图（pε-pH）图,从酸化、氧化和还原的角度,探讨了标准状态下pε和pH对二氧化氯制备和稳定性的影响。实际生产不可能制备绝对纯净的二氧化氯。对于不同的水体,由于其pε和pH值不同,因而可能使二氧化氯表现出不同的稳定性特征。如果水溶液中二氧化氯不歧化为氯酸根,二氧化氯相对稳定,并与亚氯酸根、氯分子或氯离子稳定共存。当氯体系实现最终平衡时,二氧化氯仅在强酸介质中优势存在,随着酸度降低,二氧化氯歧化为氯酸根和氯气,水溶性和二氧化氯在常规pH条件下不稳定。     

Influence of colloidal charge on response of pH and reference electrodes: the suspension effect

The pH measured in a charged sediment is often very different from that of the supernatant solution. This effect has been studied to determine whether it is caused by an anomalous junction potential at the reference electrode, as commonly thought, or by Donnan partitioning of hydrogen ions. Electrical conductivities in sediments of a strong cation-exchange resin were much higher than predicted by the junction artifact theory; electrode measurements of pH in sediments corresponded to titratable H(+)-content, and pH-changes induced by titration and salt addition were in accord with partitioning theory. These findings suggest that most pH differences observed between colloidal sediments and supernatants are real, not junction artifacts. Guidelines for interpretation of pH measurements on colloids are suggested.     

pH-dependence of the properties of hydrophobically modified polyvinylamine

A series of N-alkyl or N-benzyl substituted polyvinylamines (PVAm) were prepared and the properties of aqueous solutions were measured as functions of pH. The polymer solutions showed almost no surface activity under acidic conditions whereas surface tension was reduced to 40-50 mN/m around pH 9. Increasing either the degree of hydrophobic substitution or the hydrophobic chain length lowered the pH at which surface tension lowering was observed. Hydrophobic substitution also shifted plots of the degree of ionization versus pH toward lower pH which means lower pH values were required to achieve a given value of polymer charging. The hydrophobically modified PVAm associated in water giving species whose apparent diameter measured by dynamic light scattering decreased with increasing pH, whereas the electrophoretic mobilities of the associated species increased with decreasing pH. Although many hydrophobically modified and pH sensitive polymers have been described in the literature for applications in biomaterials, drug release and as pH sensitive surfactants, the hydrophobically modified PVAms are particularly attractive because they are easily prepared from commercially available polyvinylamines.     

油酸囊泡尺度多分散性及二元醇对其pH窗口的影响

以油酸(OA)为模型脂肪酸, 依据目测激光丁达尔现象在pH滴定曲线上划分相区, 确定OA囊泡化pH窗口为8.2~10.1. 利用光学显微镜、 激光共聚焦显微镜和冷冻刻蚀-透射电子显微镜共同表征了OA囊泡的形貌及粒径, 发现体系中微米和亚微米级的多层囊泡以及纳米级的单层囊泡共存, 呈现尺度多分散性. 用不同链长的短链二元醇辅助OA形成囊泡, 结果表明, 短链二元醇有助于脂肪酸囊泡(FAV)的pH窗口拓宽, 拓宽的方向取决于表面氢键作用方式或疏水插入方式. 在酸性条件下二元醇与FAV相互作用后, 在囊泡表面残留的自由羟基越多, 越有助于拓宽其酸性pH窗口.     

The history and development of a rigorous metrological basis for pH measurements

This paper discusses the basis and historical development of the traceability chain for pH. The quantity pH, first introduced in 1909, is among the most frequently measured analytical quantities. The practical measurement of the pH value of a sample is inexpensive, easy to perform, and yields a rapid result. However, the problems posed by the traceability of pH are not easy to solve. Most pH measurements are performed by potentiometry, using a glass electrode as the pH sensor. Such pH electrodes must be calibrated at regular intervals. Confidence in the reliability of pH measurements requires establishment of a metrological hierarchy including an uncertainty budget for calibration that links the pH measured in the sample to an internationally agreed and stated reference. For pH, this reference is the primary measurement of pH. A traceability chain can be established that links field measurements of pH to primary buffer solutions that are certified using this primary method. This allows the user in the field to estimate the measurement uncertainty of the measured pH data. As the realization of the primary measurement is sophisticated and time-consuming, primary standards are generally realized at national metrology institutes. A number of potentiometric methods are suitable for the determination of the pH of reference buffer solutions by comparison with the primary standard buffers. The choice between the methods should be made according to the uncertainty required for the application. For reference buffer solutions that have the same nominal composition as the primary standard, the differential potentiometric cell, often called the Baucke cell, is recommended.