Recent progress for capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an attractive technique in separation science because of its high separation performance, short analysis time and low cost. Electrochemical detection (EC) is a powerful tool for CE because of its high sensitivity. In this review, developments of CE-EC from 2008 to August, 2011 are reviewed. We choose papers of innovative and novel results to demonstrate the newest and most important progress in CE-EC.      

Analytical methods to differentiate Romanian amber and Baltic amber for archaeological applications

The study aims to establish several definite criteria which will differentiate Romanian amber and Baltic amber to certify the local or Baltic origin of the materials found in archaeological sites on the Romanian territory, by using light microscopy and performing analytical methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-variable angle reflectance and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Experiments especially by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, were applied to a wide range of samples with controlled origin. The methods were optimised and resulted in premises to apply the techniques to analysis of the archaeological material.      

Pressure induced structural phase transitions—A review

The contemporary status of experimental as well as theoretical advances within the special view of structural phase transitions is reviewed. A brief outline of phase transitions and its classification is presented first. High-pressure experimental techniques developed for studying the structural phase transitions and elastic properties are reviewed. The complete set of theoretical and experimental data obtained is for the group II–IV alkaline earth chalcogenides. Here the authors review the currently used calculations and high-pressure behavior of these materials and the theoretical work that has been done on them.      

Chemometric analysis of heavy metal content for various environmental matrices in terms of their use in biomass thermal processing

Chemometric analysis was performed to determine the heavy metal content, such as Zn, Cd, Ni, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Fe, in 36 samples of Scots Pine taken from 9 locations within the Upper Silesian Industrial Basin. The samples, after being pre-processed, were examined for the above elements through the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The highest concentration of heavy metals was discovered in samples from Jaworzno. Based on the concentration assessment, the relationship between element quantity, sampling location, and matrix type has been determined, and definite element group co-existence has been confirmed and described.      

Chiral enantiopure bis(thio)ureas derived from TADDOL and their carboxylate complexation capacity

New chiral enantiopure ureas and thioureas with (R,R)-TADDOL backbone were synthesized. Bis-(thio)ureas with C2 symmetry were obtained from TADDOL iso(thio)cyanates and bifunctional amino-(thio)ureas from TADDAMINE, respectively. These were tested for carboxylate recognition capacity and the association constant was determined for the most stable complex.      

Synthesis of fluorescent carboxylic acid ligands for construction of monolayers on nanostructures

Two new long-chain carboxylic acids (1, 2) bearing strong fluorescent group pyrene as ligands for Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) have been synthesized. The multistep targeted synthesis is accomplished by use of Pyren-1-yl methylamine hydrochloride and employing simplified synthetic protocols. Compound 2 contains a chiral center purposely introduced along the atom chain in order to make it suitable for chiro-optical studies of the resulting SAMs.      

Impact of un-polymerized acrylamide monomer residues onto protein identification by MALDI TOF MS

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is a powerful tool for protein mixture separation frequently used in proteomic studies. This article describes the problems which can arise during the identification process of separated proteins by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Presence of residual acrylamide monomers in the peptide samples leads to a significant peptide signal suppression. In the case of protein prohibitin, isolated from the MCF 7 breast cancer cell line, the peptide signal suppression was observed in 50% of all detected peptides.      

Characterization of calcium carbonates used in wet flue gas desulphurization processes

This paper presents an experimental characterization of two sources of calcium carbonate, limestone and calcium carbonate precipitate (CCP) used in wet flue gas desulphurization processes. Characterization of the two carbonate sources was carried out by chemical analysis, IR spectra, thermal behavior, particle size distribution for CCP, BET surface area and absorption capacity of SO₂ in calcium carbonate suspensions. The absorption temperature, suspension concentration and carbonate grain size were found to be the most influential parameters in the absorption capacity measurements.      

Aflatoxin species: their health effects and determination methods in different foodstuffs

Carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of aflatoxin species are known in literature. Their intake over a long time period might be health-dangerous for human even at trace levels. It is well known that different foodstuffs can be contaminated by aflatoxin species through growing and storage. Due to the serious health effects, sensitive determination of aflatoxin species in any matrices related with the human being is very crucial at trace levels. In literature, there are sensitive techniques to analyze the different samples for the contents of their aflatoxin species. Each technique has some advantages and disadvantages over the other techniques. This review aims to summarize the different health effects of aflatoxin species, development of analytical techniques and applications of developed techniques in a variety of matrices.      

Preparation of a series of N-alkyl-3-boronopyridinium halides and study of their stability in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

A simple and efficient protocol for the preparation of a series of N-alkyl-3-boronopyridinium salts is described which requires exposure of 3-pyridineboronic acid neopentylglycol ester and corresponding alkyle halide to microwave irradiation followed by boronic ester hydrolysis. The technique employed drastically reduces the reaction time and prevents thermal degradation and the formation of side products. Water solutions of the obtained boronopyridinium salts are shown to be stable at room temperature in wide pH range as well as in the presence of hydrogen peroxide at pH 10.0 for 72 h.      

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkylation of benzimidazoles with ketonic Mannich bases and the reduction of the resulting 1-(3-oxopropyl)benzimidazoles

Benzimidazole, benzimidazoles diversely substituted at position 2, and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole have been alkylated at N ¹ with ketonic Mannich bases derived from acetophenones, acetylnaphthalenes, 2-acetylthiophene and 1-tetralone to afford a series of novel 1-(3-oxopropyl)benzimidazoles. The reduction of these transamination products with NaBH₄ in methanol produced the corresponding 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)benzimidazoles in excellent yields.      

Ceramic materials made of CdTe and Cd-Zn-Te nanocrystalline powders

In the present study newly produced semiconductor ceramic nanopowder materials made of CdTe and Cd_1−xZn_xTe (CZT) are considered. Common features and differences in microstructures, phase transformations, grain growth and properties of the ceramic materials of the binary and ternary compositions are studied.      

Review of analytical methods for the determination of chlorine dioxide

The present study reviews more than twenty years (1985-present) of published research on the development and application of analytical procedures for the determination of chlorine dioxide, a widely used disinfectant and bleaching agent. The review covers a variety of techniques including batch and automated spectrophotometry and fluorimetry, electroanalysis and chromatography. The analytical figures of merit to the methods are presented, while critical discussion regarding their advantages and disadvantages is addressed.      

Diironcarbonyl-coumarin complex: preparation, intramolecular electron transfer, and electro-generation of hydrogen

A new organometallic complex coupling photoactive coumarin to a diironhexacarbonyl unit has been successfully prepared and its composition and electronic structure confirmed by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. Emission spectral analysis of the complex reveals photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer from coumarin to the iron-carbonyl moiety. The compound is electrochemically reduced at −1.24 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺. This reduction is irreversible, attesting to the instability of the complex. Electrochemical evolution of hydrogen in the presence of the complex has been studied and results are discussed.      

Unusual reaction of 3,4-bis(3-nitrofurazan-4-yl)furoxan with ammonia,primary amines and hydrazine

The nucleophilic displacement of two nitro groups in 3,4-bis(3-nitrofurazan-4-yl)furoxan with ammonia, primary aliphatic amines and hydrazine leads to formation of a novel heterocyclic system, 7H-tris[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b:3′,4′-d:3″,4″-f]azepine. The reaction of compound 1 with secondary aliphatic amines proceeds in a typical way for nitrofurazans when the nitro-group in the starting compound is substituted by RR’N-group.      

Ugi products containing boronate esters

The Ugi reaction with formylphenylboronic acid derivatives as the carbonyl component proceeds to give the corresponding boron-containing dipeptide derivatives (Ugi products) in good yields.      

Methylcellulose/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> hybrids: sol-gel preparation and characterization by XRD,FTIR and AFM

Methylcellulose (MC) / SiO₂ organic / inorganic hybrid materials have been prepared from MC and methyltriethoxysilane or ethyltrimethoxysilane, and characterized by XRD, FTIR and AFM. XRD showed peak shifts. FTIR shows intermolecular hydrogen bonding between MC and SiO₂. AFM depicts surface roughness which depends on the silica precursor and MC content.      

Removal of cadmium and copper ions by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichosporon cutaneum</Emphasis> R57 cells immobilized onto polyvinyl alcohol/tetraethoxysilane hybrid matrices

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) hybrid materials were prepared by sol-gel methods and tested as matrices for immobilization of Trichosporon cutaneum R57, capable of removing cadmium and copper ions from aqueous solutions. A kinetic model was applied and the effects of matrix TEOS content on the copper and cadmium uptake equilibria and rate constants were investigated.