Determination of Attogram Quantities of Silver via Quenching of the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Rhodamine B Based on the Catalysis of its Oxidation by Potassium Persulfate

A new method of SS-RTP for the determination of trace silver has been established. This method is based on the fact that Ag⁺, when activated by ,-bipyridyl (bipy) in a media of HAc–NaAc (pH=4.9), can catalyze the reaction of Rhodamine B (RhoB) oxidized by K₂S₂O₈, thus causing the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence (SS-RTP) of RhoB to be quenched. The activating efficiency of bipy is 6.7 times higher than that of o-phenanthroline (phen). The reduction of the phosphorescence intensity (I_p) of RhoB is directly proportional to the concentration of Ag⁺ ions in the range of 1.6016.0agspot^–1 (0.40µLspot^–1). The regression equation of the working curve can be expressed as I_p=18.78+5.100m_Ag+ (agspot^–1) (r=0.9994, n=6), the detection limit is 0.28agspot^–1. This rapid, accurate and sensitive method has been successfully applied to the determination of trace silver in tea and human hair samples, and the results agree well with the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The mechanism of the catalyzing reaction is also discussed.     

In vitro and in vivo antitumour studies of a new thiosemicarbazide derivative and its complexes with 3d-metal ions

A new ligand, 1-(2-furanthiocarbo)-3-thiosemicarbazide (H₂ftsc), prepared from thiosemicarbazide and carboxymethyl-2-furandithioate, forms complexes [Mn(ftsc)(H₂O)₂], [Pd(ftsc)] · 2H₂O, [M(Hftsc)(acac)₂] (M=Co^III or Cr^III), [M(Hftsc)₂(acac)] (M=Mn^III or Fe^III) and [Zn(Hftsc)₂] · 2H₂O, which were characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, i.r., electronic and n.m.r. spectral data. The Mössbauer spectra of [Fe(Hftsc)₂(acac)] at 298K and 80K suggest the presence of high-spin iron(III) with an S=5/2 state. In vivo and in vitro antitumour activity of the ligand and the complexes have been screened towards several tumour cell-lines.     

Voltammetric Behavior of Dopamine at ct-DNA Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrode

A sub-micrometer thin-layer DNA modified carbon fiber microcylinder electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of ct-DNA at 1.5V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The voltammetric behavior of dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine) was investigated at the modified electrode. It was found that the modified electrode exhibits a highly electrocatalytic activity toward dopamine oxidation. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for determination of dopamine in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution. A linear response of the peak current versus the concentration was found in the range of 4×10^–6 to 10^–4molL^–1 at 10^–4molL^–1 AA (ascorbic acid) coexistence (R=0.9959) and the range of 6×10^–5 to 10^–3molL^–1 at 10^–3molL^–1 AA (R=0.9960). The presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid did not interfere with the determination. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility. This method can be applied to the detection of DA in real samples.     

Determination of Iron(III), Cobalt(II) and Chromium(III) in Various Water Samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry After Preconcentration by Means of Saccharomyces Carlsbergensis Immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4

A method for the determination of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cr(III) by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) after preconcentrating on a column containing S. carlsbergensis immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 has been developed. The optimum values of pH, amount of adsorbent, elution solution and flow rate of the sample solution were determined for the quantitative recovery of the analytes. The effect of interfering ions on the recovery of the analytes was also investigated. Under the optimum conditions, recoveries of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cr(III) by S. carlsbergensis immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 were 99±2, 100±2 and 98±2% at 95% confidence level, respectively. The limit of detections for Fe(III), Co(II) and Cr(III) were 2.8, 3.9 and 7.4ngmL^–1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the analytes in various water samples. The validity of the method was checked with spiked water samples. Fe(III), Co(II) and Cr(III) was determined with a relative error of less than 5%.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination of Chromium (VI) by Oxidation of Sodium Pyrogallol-5-sulphonate by Hydrogen Peroxide

Summary. A new selective, sensitive, and simple kinetic method is developed for the determination of trace amounts of chromium (VI). The method is based on the catalytic effect of Cr(VI) on the reaction of sodium pyrogallol-5-sulphonate (PS) with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by tracing the oxidation product at 437nm within 1min after addition of H₂O₂. The optimum reaction conditions are PS (1.32·10^–3mol·dm^–3), H₂O₂ (0.32mol·dm^–3), HClO₄ (2.6·10^–3mol·dm^–3) at 25°C. Following this procedure, chromium (VI) can be determined with a linear calibration graph up to 0.25ng·cm^–3 and a detection limit of 0.024ng·cm^–3, based on the 3 criterion. The interference effect of several species was also investigated and it was found that the most common cations and anions do not interfere with the determination. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(VI) and total Cr in river waters and total Cr in herbal samples.     

The kinetic of the oxidation of InSn48

The oxidation of InSn48 has been investigated at partial pressures between 10^-8 Pa and 10⁺⁴ Pa over a temperature range from 22^°C to 250^°C with different analytical methods. The oxide film contains a mixture of several oxides, although indium oxide forms preferentially. Below the melting point a logarithmic growth, and above this, a parabolic growth of the oxide film has been observed. The oxide film formed in air at 250^°C does not become thicker than 50 nm in the first 5 min of oxidation.     

Determination of Total Selenium Content in Cereals and Bakery Products by Flow Injection Hydride Generation Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Applying in-situ Trapping on Iridium-Treated Graphite Platforms

A flow injection hydride generation graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric (FI-HG-GFAAS) method was applied to the determination of Se in Se-doped and undoped cereals and bakery products. For the purpose of doping, the soils used for the cultivation of the cereals were dosed with Se-doped foliar fertilizers. The samples were dissolved in a mixture of HNO₃ and H₂O₂ solutions using microwave-assisted digestion. The decomposition of H₂Se generated from the sample solutions and the trapping of elemental Se were performed at a temperature of 300°C on an Ir-pretreated integrated graphite platform of a transversally heated graphite atomizer (THGA). For release of the trapped Se within a fairly short atomization time (5s), an atomization temperature of 2200°C was observed to be optimal. The overall efficiency of hydride generation, transport and trapping was 86%.The upper limit of the linear dynamic range of calibration was 10µgL^–1, which corresponds to 0.5µgg^–1 for solid samples. Recovery of the samples spiked with Se^VI solutions was found to be 93±6% on average. The relative standard deviation of the determinations was less than 8%. The limit of detection was found to be 0.06µgL^–1, corresponding to 3ngg^–1 for solid samples. The accuracy of the method was verified with the use of IAEA-155 (whey powder) certified reference material. End-capped THGA tubes resulted in an extension of the linear calibration range compared to that of standard THGAs.The Se content in bakery products made of undoped cereals ranged from 7.7 to 68ngg^–1 (wet weight) in 18 samples, whereas the Se content of the corresponding cereals was found to be below 100ngg^–1 (wet weight). The Se level of cereals grown on soils treated with Se-doped fertilizers ranged from 128 to 1046ngg^–1 (wet weight), and it depended linearly on the Se concentration of the corresponding foliar fertilizer.     

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Gold and Palladium Using Microcolumn On-line Preconcentration and Separation

A microcolumn on-line preconcentration and separation system was developed for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) determination of trace levels of gold and palladium. The analytes were selectively adsorbed onto the microcolumn packed with 2-mercaptothiazole immobilized silica gel (MBTSG) in an acidity range of 0.1 to 6.0M HCl at a sampling flow rate of 4.0mLmin^–1. The analytes adsorbed could be desorbed by a thiourea solution with a flow rate of 2.0mLmin^–1. Most of the common coexisting metal ions at a concentration of 25.0mgmL^–1 and anions at a concentration of 50.0mgmL^–1 did not interfere with the preconcentration and determination of Au and Pd. The limits of detection (LOD), defined as three times the standard deviation of the blank (3), of Au and Pd are 10ngmL^–1 and 26ngmL^–1, respectively, with a preconcentration time of 60s. The relative standard deviation (RSD) is about 2.0% for 0.20µgmL^–1 Au and 0.30µgmL^–1 Pd. With a sample loading time of 30min, 6.7ngmL^–1 Au and 10ngmL^–1 Pd can be preconcentrated quantitatively. A geological sample, an anode slime and a secondary nickel alloy were successfully determined with the proposed method, and the results obtained showed good agreement with the certified values.Received December 23, 2002; accepted May 14, 2003 Published online August 8, 2003     

Determination of Caffeine Using a Simple Graphite Pencil Electrode with Square-Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

A simple commercial graphite pencil electrode (GPE) was utilized for monitoring caffeine using the square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) method. This method was applied to determine the caffeine levels in several tea samples, which yielded a relative error of 1% in the concentrations. Caffeine was deposited at 0.0V (vs. Ag/AgCl), then reduced at +1.40V to strip it on the GPE. Optimal experimental conditions for the analysis were found to be as follows: pH value of 9 for the medium; deposition potential of 0.0V; deposition time of 120s; SW frequency of 25Hz; SW amplitude of 45mV, and step potential of 6mV. Given these optimum conditions, a linear range was observed within the concentration of 0500mgL^–1. At caffeine concentrations of 50.0, 250.0, and 500.0mgL^–1, the relative standard deviations in measured concentrations (n=12) were 0.19, 0.09, and 0.11%, respectively. The detection limit was found to be 9.2mgL^–1, which is comparable with the result obtained using a carbon paste electrode, equivalent to 8.2mgL^–1.     

Effect of Cyclodextrins on the Chemical Stability of ST1435, a Contraceptive Steroid Progestin, in Aqueous Solution

The influence of cyclodextrins (CDs) on the chemical stability of the contraceptive steroid progestin, ST1435, in aqueous solution has been studied using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of CD structure, temperature, and CD concentration on the rate of degradation were investigated. It was found that the drug degraded to different extents following a pseudo-first order reaction mechanism. The presence of the host molecules affected the degradation rate as a result of complexation which might result in protection of the labile moiety of the drug molecule against degradation. Hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD) and hydroxyethyl--cyclodextrin (HE--CD) retarded the degradation in contrast to -cyclodextrin (-CD) which accelerated the steroid degradation. The stabilizing action of HP--CD is larger than that of HE--CD. The degradation rate increased upon increasing temperature and the Arrhenius equation is valid. Lineweaver-Burk equation analysis indicated that the steroid included inside the CD cavity degraded three times more slowly than did the free ST1435 in solution. This equation further supported the formation of a 1 : 1 inclusion complex between ST1435 and HP--CD with a stability constant of 934.5 M-1 at 65°C.     

Determination of Heavy Metal Ions in Chinese Herbal Medicine by Microwave Digestion and RP-HPLC with UV-Vis Detection

A new method for the simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions in Chinese herbal medicine by microwave digestion and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been developed. The Chinese herbal medicine samples were digested by microwave digestion. Lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and tin ions in the digested samples were pre-column derivatized with tetra-(4-chlorophenyl)-porphyrin (T₄-CPP) to form the colored chelates which were then enriched by solid phase extraction with C₁₈ cartridge and eluted from the cartridge with tetrahydrofuran (THF). The chelates were separated on a Waters Xterra RP₁₈ column by gradient elution with methanol (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) and THF (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5mLmin^–1 and detected with a photodiode array detector in the range of 350–600nm. In the original samples the detection limits of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin are 4ngL^–1, 3ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, 5ngL^–1, 2ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, and 4ngL^–1, respectively. This method was applied to the determination of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin in Chinese herbal medicine samples with good results.     

Solid-Phase Extraction with Slurry Injection of the Resin Into ETAAS for Trace Determination of Thallium in Natural Water

Thallium in natural water samples was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after 1000-fold enrichment by mini solid-phase extraction from a 100-mL sample solution. A Tl-pyrrolidine-1-carbodithioate complex formed in a sample solution of pH 1.6 was extracted on fine particles of a cellulose nitrate resin dispersed in the sample solution. The cellulose nitrate resin was then collected on a membrane filter (25mm^ø) by filtration under suction using a glass funnel with an effective filtration area of 0.64cm². As a result, a circular thin layer of the resin phase with a diameter of 9mm was obtained. Then the resin phase was carved out by an acrylate resin puncher with a 10-mm^ø hole to put it into a sample cup containing 100µL of 10mM HNO₃ containing 0.5mM NaCl. The resin phase was suspended in the solution by ultrasonication. 1000-fold enrichment was thus attained within 15min, and the suspension was delivered to electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The linear calibration graph was obtained in the range of 0–4ng of Tl in 100mL of a sample solution. The detection limit obtained by 3 method was 0.19ng. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Tl in natural water samples. The results showed the concentration of Tl in seawater was 12.1±1.8pgmL^–1 for the calibration graph method and 12.6±1.4pgmL^–1 for the standard addition method. A snowmelt sample contained 20.7±1.0pgmL^–1 of Tl.     

Determination of the Antibacterial Drug Enrofloxacin by Solid-Phase Spectrofluorimetry

A method for the determination of trace amounts of enrofloxacin based on solid-phase spectrofluorimetry has been developed. The relative fluorescence intensity of enrofloxacin fixed on Sephadex SP C-25 gel was measured directly after packing the gel beads in a 1-mm silica cell, using a solid-phase attachment. The wavelengths of excitation and emission were 277 and 448nm, respectively. The linear concentration range of application was 0.2–4.0ngmL^–1 of enrofloxacin, with a relative standard deviation of 1.2% (for a level of 2.0ngmL^–1) and a detection limit of 0.04ngmL^–1. The method was applied to the determination of enrofloxacin in commercial pharmaceutical formulations and spiked canine serum samples. It was validated using HPLC as a reference method and applying the standard addition methodology. Recovery levels of the method reached 100% in all cases.     

Single Crystal Growth,Crystal Structure and Thermal Behaviour of Mercury(II) Pyrophosphate Dihydrate

Summary. Colourless single crystals of Hg₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ up to 0.4 mm in length were grown by a diffusion technique starting from aqueous solutions of Na₄P₂O₇ and Hg(NO₃)₂. The crystal structure is isotypic with that of Ca₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ and was determined from a four-circle diffractometer data set (space group , Z=2, a=6.9374(7), b=7.4396(8), c=7.9863(7)Å, =84.685(8), =75.158(8), =72.818(8)°, 2413 structure factors, 132 parameters, R[F ²>2(F ²)]=0.0181, wR(F ² all)= 0.0384). Hg₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ is composed of approximately eclipsed P₂O₇ ^4– anions and distorted [HgO₆] octahedra and [HgO₇] pentagonal bipyramids as the main building units. The structure is stabilized by inter-water hydrogen bonding and by hydrogen bonding between terminal pyrophosphate oxygen atoms and the water molecules. The P–O distances to the terminal oxygen atoms range from 1.501(4) to 1.536(3)Å, with an average of 1.522Å; the mean distance of 1.615Å to the bridging O atom is considerably longer with an (O–P–O) bridging angle of 123.44(19)°. Both Hg atoms have two short Hg–O bonds around 2.17Å and additional bonds ranging from 2.381(3) to 2.708(4)Å. Upon heating above 160°C, both crystal water molecules are released simultaneously and anhydrous Hg₂P₂O₇ is formed which is stable up to ca. 660°C. Above this temperature the material decomposes completely.     

Determination of Arsenic in Food Samples by Hydride Generation – Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A method for the determination of trace amounts of arsenic in food samples using flow injection analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation (FI-HG AAS) was developed. The parameters of the flow injection system and the hydride generation were optimized with respect to reagent concentrations, atomization temperature, injection volume, reaction coil length and carrier flow rate. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.34µgL^–1 and 1.2µgL^–:1, respectively, and the analytical curve is linear up to 30.0µgL^–1 arsenic. The relative standard deviation for 12 replicates varies between 5% for 4.0µgL^–1 As and 1.8% for 30.0µgL^–1 As, with an injection frequency of up to 135h^–1. Interferences from Ni(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Mo(II), Bi(III), Se(IV), Se(VI), Sb(III) and Sb(V) could be masked with a mixture of ascorbic acid-KI in a 5.0molL^–1 HCl solution. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by using certified reference materials of biological samples, and the method was used to determine the content of arsenic in fish and coffee beans.     

Electrocatalytic Properties and Voltammetric Determination of Melatonin at a Nanostructured Film Electrode

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated, and the electrochemical behavior of melatonin on the MWNT film coated GCE was investigated. The oxidation peak current of melatonin increases significantly and the oxidation peak position shifts positively at the MWNT film modified GCE compared to that at a bare GCE. This indicates that MWNTs feature highly effective catalysis to the electrochemical oxidation of melatonin. A simple and sensitive electroanalytical method was developed for the determination of melatonin. The oxidation peak current is proportional to the concentration of melatonin from 8×10^–8 to 1×10^–5molL^–1. The detection limit is about 2×10^–8molL^–1 for 3min accumulation. The proposed method was demonstrated to work satisfactorily with commercial capsules.     

Electrochemical Determination of 4-Nitrophenol Using a Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Film-Coated Glassy Carbon Electrode

A single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated for the direct determination of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The electrochemical behaviors of 4-NP at the SWNT-film coated GCE were examined. In 0.1M phosphate buffer with a pH of 5.0, 4-NP yields a very sensitive and well-defined reduction peak at the SWNT-modified GCE. It is found that the SWNT film exhibits obvious electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-NP since it not only increases the reduction peak current but also lowers the reduction overpotential. Based on this, an electrochemical method was proposed for the direct determination of 4-NP. The reduction peak current varies linearly with the concentration of 4-NP ranging from 1×10^–8 to 5×10^–6M, and the detection limit is 2.5×10^–9M after 3min of open-circuit accumulation. The relative standard deviation at 2×10^–7M 4-NP was about 6% (n=10), suggesting excellent reproducibility. This new method was successfully employed to determine 4-NP in several lake water samples.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination of Chromium (VI) by Oxidation of Sodium Pyrogallol-5-sulphonate by Hydrogen Peroxide

A new selective, sensitive, and simple kinetic method is developed for the determination of trace amounts of chromium (VI). The method is based on the catalytic effect of Cr(VI) on the reaction of sodium pyrogallol-5-sulphonate (PS) with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by tracing the oxidation product at 437nm within 1min after addition of H₂O₂. The optimum reaction conditions are PS (1.32·10^–3mol·dm^–3), H₂O₂ (0.32mol·dm^–3), HClO₄ (2.6·10^–3mol·dm^–3) at 25°C. Following this procedure, chromium (VI) can be determined with a linear calibration graph up to 0.25ng·cm^–3 and a detection limit of 0.024ng·cm^–3, based on the 3 criterion. The interference effect of several species was also investigated and it was found that the most common cations and anions do not interfere with the determination. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(VI) and total Cr in river waters and total Cr in herbal samples.     

Determination of Iron in Tap and Waste Water Using Liquid–Liquid Extraction in a Flow-Injection System

A flow-injection procedure for the determination of iron(III) in water is described. The procedure is based on the formation of an ion pair between the tetraphenylarsonium (Ph₄As⁺) (TPA) or tetrabutylammonium (But₄N⁺) (TBA) cations and the tetrathiocyanatoferrate(III) complex (TTF). This ion pair is extracted with chloroform, and the absorbance of the organic phase is measured at 503nm (for Ph₄As⁺) or 475nm (for But₄N⁺). Iron concentrations higher than 0.9×10^–6molL^–1 (50µgL^–1) can be detected in the first case, with a relative standard deviation of 1.9% (n=12), a linear application rangeof between 1.34 and 54.0×10^–6molL^–1 (75–3015µgL^–1), and a sampling frequency of 30h^–1. For the ion pair with But₄N⁺, the detection limit is 0.52×10^–6molL^–1 (29µgL^–1), with a relative standard deviation of 1.6% and a linear application range between 0.73 and 54.0×10^–6molL^–1. Under the proposed working conditions, only Pd(IV), Cu(II) and Bi(III) interfere. With the application of the merging zones technique, considerable amounts of organic reagent can be saved. The TBA method was applied to the analysis of iron(III) in tap and industrial waste waters.     

Application of Functionalized Ag Nanoparticles for the Determination of Proteins at Nanogram Levels Using the Resonance Light Scattering Method

A novel method for the determination of proteins in aqueous solutions has been developed based on the enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) of Ag nanoparticles in the presence of proteins. Factors including acidity of the media, concentration of Ag hydrosol, reaction time, temperature, and interference of non-protein substances were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, with the enhanced RLS signals at 452nm, the linear ranges of calibration curves were 0–0.8µgmL^–1 for bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0–1.2µgmL^–1 for human serum albumin (HSA), and 0–2.5µgmL^–1 for human -IgG (-IgG), respectively. The detection limits were 1.3ngmL^–1 for BSA, 10ngmL^–1 for HAS, and 5.7ngmL^–1 for -IgG.This method has been applied to the analysis of synthetic samples and real human serum samples, and the results were in good agreement with those reported by the hospital, indicating that the method presented here is not only sensitive and simple, but also reliable and suitable for practical applications.