Analysis of nitrite and nitrate as 1-nitro-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene derivatives by reversed-phase HPLC with UV-detection

Summary A reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in aqueous solutions, biological buffers and human urine is described. The method is based on the conversion of nitrite and nitrate into their 1-nitro-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene (NTBM) derivatives by using 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene and concentrated sulphuric acid. NTMB is extracted by benzene, the solvent evaporated, the residue reconstructed in methanol/water (3/4, v/v) and subsequently analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC and UV detection (360 nm). The specificity of the nitration reaction, good reproducibility (C.V. 6.2%) and high sensitivity (8.4 ng nitrite) show the applicability of this method to the quantitative analysis of nitrite and nitrate in several matrices including human urine.     

Part I: Thermodynamic analysis of volumetric properties of concentrated aqueous solutions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate,and ethylammonium nitrate based on pseudo-lattice theory

This study concerns volumetric behaviour of mixtures between water and three ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF₄), 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bdmimBF₄), and ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). We report that the pseudo-lattice theory proposed by Bahe and recently supplemented by Varela et al. can suitably describe the partial molar volume of ionic liquids throughout the composition scale from the infinitely dilute state to the pure room temperature molten salt. In this approach, the ions of 1:1 electrolytes in concentrated solutions are supposed to be distributed in a face-centred-cubic structure. The main advantage of this approach is that, contrary to Debye–Hückel approach, it widens the range of composition that can be described to high concentration salt solutions (several times molar) and also the most diluted salt solutions.     

Methylammonium formate as a mobile phase modifier for totally aqueous reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Although alkylammonium ionic liquids (ILs) such as ethylammonium nitrate and ethylammonium formate have been used as mobile phase "solvents" for liquid chromatography (LC), we have shown that the IL methylammonium formate (MAF), in part because of its lower viscosity as compared to other ILs, can be an effective replacement for methanol (MeOH) in reversed-phase LC. Plots of log retention factor versus the fraction of MeOH and MAF in the mobile phase indicate quite comparable solvent strength slope values of 2.50 and 2.05, respectively. Using a polar endcapped C18 column, furazolidone and nitrofurantoin using 20% MAF-80% water could be separated in 22 min but no baseline separation is possible using MeOH as the modifier, even down to 10%. Suppression of silanol peak broadening effects by MAF is important, permitting a baseline separation of pyridoxine, thiamine, and nicotinamide using 5% MAF-95% water at 0.7 mL/min. Using 5% MeOH-95% water, severe peak broadening for thiamine is evident. The compatibility of MAF as a mobile phase modifer at the 5% level for LC with mass spectrometry detection of water-soluble vitamins is also shown.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of starch in water-immiscible organic solvent,two-phase systems

Enzyme-catalyzed hydrolyzations of starch by α-amylase have been studied in various two-phase systems, consisting of water and a water-immiscible organic solvent. The hydrolytic conversion of soluble starch to malto-oligosaccharides by α-amylase was greatly accelerated in 10% (v/v) water content of water-dodecane two-phase systems. However, a rapid inactivation of the enzyme has been observed in these systems. Addition of surfactant to these systems, such as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 60) or bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT), was effective for the enzyme stability. Effects of enzyme immobilization on the stability of α-amylase, using Ca-alginate and chitosan beads, also have been studied. The stability of immobilized enzyme was clearly enhanced in a 5–10% (v/v) water content two-phase system, whereas the free enzyme was inactivated within 41 h, remaining at a relative activity of 47–76% after 41 h of treatment. Furthermore, scanning electron micrographs (SEM) were taken to observe the effect of the two-phase system on the hydrolysis of starch. Potato starch granules have been extremely swelled and burst out in the stirred 10% (v/v) water content system, which did not contain enzymes.     

Effect of the addition of a nonaqueous polar solvent (glycerol) on enzymatic catalysis in reverse micelles. Hydrolysis of 2-naphthyl acetate by alpha-chymotrypsin

The kinetics of hydrolysis of 2-naphthyl acetate (2-NA) catalyzed by alpha-chymotrypsin (alpha-CT), in reverse micellar solutions formed by glycerol (GY)-water (38% v/v) mixture/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/n-heptane has been determined by spectroscopic measurements. To compare the efficiency of this reaction with that observed in micelles with water in the core, as well as in the corresponding homogeneous media, the reaction was also studied in water/AOT/n-heptane reverse micellar solutions and in both homogeneous media (water and GY-water, 38% v/v mixture). In every media, alpha-CT was characterized by the absorption and emission spectra, the fluorescence lifetimes, and the fluorescence anisotropy of its tryptophan residues. The effect of AOT concentration on the kinetic parameters obtained in the micellar systems was determined, at a constant molar ratio of the inner polar solvent and surfactant. Moreover, the data obtained allowed the evaluation of the 2-NA partition constant between the organic and the micellar pseudophase. It is shown that the addition of GY to the micelle interior results in an increase in the catalytic properties of alpha-CT. The fluorescence anisotropy studies in the different media show that the addition of GY increases the viscosity as compared with the aqueous systems. It seems that the GY addition to the reverse micellar aggregates results in a decrease of the conformational mobility of alpha-CT, which leads to an increase of the enzyme stability and activity.     

Stability Constants of Some Macrocyclic Complexes of Ag(I) and Cu(II) in Mixed Solvents by Potentiometry

Stability constants of complexes of Ag(I) and Cu(II) perchlorates and nitrates with some macrocyclic compounds in 90 and 75% (v/v) DMSO+water and 75% (v/v) DMF+water media have been determined by potentiometry. Silver and copper wires, and Coated Wire Ion Selective Electrodes (CWISE) were used as indicator electrodes. It was observed that complexation is stronger when the salt is present as a perchlorate than when it is as a nitrate. For both cations the stability constant values in 75% (v/v) DMF+water were somewhat higher than in 75% (v/v) DMSO. The macrocyclic effect due to cyclization of linear amine tosylates has been observed. Competitive potentiometry has been utilized to compare some of the results.     

Model system for concentrated electrolyte solutions: Thermodynamic and transport properties of ethylammonium nitrate in acetonitrile and in water

Ethylammonium nitrate (ETAN), a low melting fused salt which is completely miscile in water and in many non-aqueous solvents, was used as a model system for the study of concentrated non-aqueous electrolyte solutions. Acetonitrile (AN) was chosen as a representative aprotic solvent. Some data were also obtained for water as solvent. The properties investigated over the whole mole fraction range, many as a function of temperature, were solid-liquid phase diagram, volume, heat capacity, conductivity and viscosity. Most properties in both solvents vary in a regular fashion over the whole mole fraction range and the properties at high concentration rapidly tend to those of the molten salt. The apparent volumes and heat capacities vary linearly with lnX₂ over a large mole fraction range. There is evidence of significant association in AN (K _A =1094 l-mol⁻) but not in water. The low concentration thermodynamic data were fitted with an association model using the above K _A to obtain the partial molar quantities of ETAN at infinite dilution and in the associated state. These latter values are of the same magnitude as the molar quantities of the molten electrolyte.     

Spectroscopic and catalytic studies of lipases in ternary hexane-1-propanol-water surfactantless microemulsion systems

A series of water-in-oil microemulsion systems formulated without surfactant were used to solubilize lipases from Rhizomucor miehei and Candida antarctica B. The effect of the system's composition on the velocity of enzymic reactions was investigated following a model esterification reaction. The interaction between enzymes and the microemulsion environment was studied by steady state fluorescence spectroscopy. The site of localization of the enzyme within the different microdomains of the dispersed phase was investigated by applying the fluorescence energy transfer technique. To determine the properties of the interface between water and organic solvent of the surfactantless microemulsion systems the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopic technique was applied. The results indicated that even at low water content, water-rich structures are formed. This was confirmed by conductivity measurements. By the addition of enzyme it was observed that when the aqueous phase of the surfactantless microemulsion systems exceeds 2% (v/v) the enzyme retains its catalytic activity, as it is located within the water pools that protect it from the organic solvent. These confined water phases show a propanol rich interface with hexane and their structure depends on the system's composition.     

Ethylammonium nitrate (EAN)/Tf2O and EAN/TFAA: ionic liquid based systems for aromatic nitration

Acting as in situ sources of triflyl nitrate (TfONO(2)) and trifluoroacetyl nitrate (CF(3)COONO(2)), the EAN/Tf(2)O and EAN/TFAA systems, generated via metathesis in the readily available ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) ionic liquid as solvent, are powerful electrophilic nitrating reagents for a wide variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds. Comparative nitration experiments indicate that EAN/Tf(2)O is superior to EAN/TFAA for nitration of strongly deactivated systems. Both systems exhibit low substrate selectivity (K(T)/K(B) = 5-10) in between values reported for covalent nitrates and preformed nitronium salts.     

Acid-base equilibria in binary water/organic solvent systems Dissociation of citric acid in water/dioxan and water/methanol solvent systems at 25 degrees

The thermodynamic constants of citric acid were determined at 25 degrees in water/dioxan and water/methanol mixtures with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% v/v organic co-solvent content. Simple relations allowing the calculation of palpha*(H) of citrate buffer solutions are proposed (alpha*(H) being the hydrogen-ion activity referred to the standard state in the corresponding medium). The palpha*(H) values of some citrate buffer solutions, suitable for standardization, are reported. The pK values obtained are discussed in relation to the nature and composition of the solvent, as well as the structure of the acid molecule.     

Thermodynamics of AOT Micelle Formation in Ethylammonium Nitrate

AOT micelle formation in ethylammonium nitrate (an ionic liquid) was investigated by surface tension measurement in this article and the critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of AOT in ethylammonium nitrate at different temperatures were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters of micelle formation were obtained according to the two-phase thermodynamic model. The results suggested that the micelle formation of AOT in ethylammonium nitrate was a spontaneous, endothermal and entropy-increasing process.     

Extraction of betulin, trimyristin, eugenol and carnosic Acid using water-organic solvent mixtures

A solvent system consisting of ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and water, in the volume ratio of 4.5:4.5:1, was developed and used to extract, at room temperature, betulin from white birch bark and antioxidants from spices (rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) and white oak chips. In addition, under reflux conditions, trimyristin was extracted from nutmeg using the same solvent system, and eugenol from olives was extracted using a mixture of salt water and ethyl acetate. The protocol demonstrates the use of water in organic solvents to extract natural products from plants. Measurement of the free-radical scavenging activity using by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) indicated that the extraction of plant material using ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and water (4.5:4.5:1, v/v/v) was exhaustive when carried out at room temperature for 96 h.     

Self-assembly of nonionic surfactants into lyotropic liquid crystals in ethylammonium nitrate, a room-temperature ionic liquid

The stability of a variety of lyotropic liquid crystals formed by a number of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants in the room-temperature ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) is surveyed and reported. The pattern of self-assembly behaviour and mesophase formation is strikingly similar to that observed in water, even including the existence of a lower consolute boundary or cloud point. The only quantitative difference from water is that longer alkyl chains are necessary to drive the formation of liquid crystalline mesophases in EAN, suggesting that a rich pattern of "solvophobic" self-assembly should exist in this solvent.     

Electrospinning of polystyrene/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) blends

Ultrafine polystyrene (PS)/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) fibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning of PS/MEH‐PPV solutions in chloroform, 1,2‐dichloroethane, and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Three concentrations of the solutions were prepared: 8.5, 16, and 23.5% (w/v), with the compositional weight ratios between PS and MEH‐PPV being 7.5:1, 15:1, and 22.5:1, respectively. Smooth fibers only observed from 23.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform. Improvement in the electrospinnability of 8.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform was achieved by addition of an organic salt, pyridinium formate (PF), or by addition of a minor solvent with a high dielectric constant value. The average diameters of the as‐spun PS/MEH‐PPV fibers were between 0.30 and 5.11 μm. Last, photoluminescence of 8.5% (w/v) solutions of PS/MEH‐PPV in a mixed solvent system of chloroform and 1,2‐dichloroethane of various volumetric compositions and the resulting as‐spun fibers was investigated and compared. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1881–1891, 2005     

Thermodynamic quantities of surface formation of aqueous electrolyte solutions VIII. Aqueous solutions of sulfates salts

In this work the surface tension of the aqueous solutions of alkali metal sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium nitrate have been measured with an expectation that the effect of sulfate salts on the air/water surface differs from that of typical electrolyte because of their peculiar results of surface potential data. The results show that the slope of surface tension-concentration curves of sulfate salts depends to some extent upon cations while that of alkali metal nitrate gives almost the same magnitude. In order to make comparison with salts of different valence types, we used the ratio of surface excess density to bulk concentration of a salt as an index of surface activity of the salt. It was shown that the surface activity of a salt largely dependent upon its valence type as well as its specific property of anion.     

Heavy-atom enhancement and analytical figures of merit for low-temperature phosphorimetry in the red region for several polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons

Analytical figures of merit for the low-temperature (77 K) phosphorescence of 22 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are presented. Also, heavy-atom enhancement factors have been obtained for these compounds with an n-heptane solvent with iodoethane and dimethylmercury as sources of external heavy atoms, and with a 3:1 v/v ethanol/water solvent with potassium iodide, silver nitrate, thallium acetate, and lead acetate as heavy-atom sources. Effects of these heavy atoms on the phosphorescence signals vary markedly, depending on the compound of interest.     

Electrochemistry of uranium in ionic organic media: Ethylammonium nitrate and acetamide-KSCN eutectic

The electrochemical reduction of hexavalent and tetravalent uranium is investigated in ethylammonium nitrate at 298 K and in the acetamide-KSCN eutectic at 400 K. The transient techniques describe a two-step reduction of UO ₂ ²⁺ in acetamide-KSCN while only one step is observed in ethylammonium nitrate. The reduction of tetravalent uranium proceeds in one step giving trivalent uranium in the two media. In any cases, additional kinetic phenomena are the source of difficulties for the understanding of the reactions. In controlled potential electrolysis, side-reactions between the reduced species and the solvent impede completely the mechanism foreseen by transient methods.     

Silver ion coordination countercurrent chromatography: Separation of β‐elemene from the volatile oil of Curcumae Rhizoma

In this work, the antitumor constituent β‐elemene was selectively separated from the volatile oil of the Curcumae Rhizoma by countercurrent chromatography with silver nitrate as selective reagent based on the formation of coordination complexes. A biphasic solvent system composed of n‐hexane/methanol/water (2:1.5:0.5, v/v/v) was selected, in which 0.15 mol/L of silver nitrate was added to the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase was used as the stationary phase for separation of β‐elemene by countercurrent chromatography after it was partially purified from the volatile oil by silica gel column chromatography. An enriched β‐elemene fraction was obtained by silica gel column chromatography to improve the percentage of β‐elemene from 16.5 to 46.1%. Subsequently, β‐elemene was further purified from 445 mg of the partially purified sample of volatile oil by countercurrent chromatography with silver nitrate as a selective reagent, yielding 145 mg of β‐elemene with greater than 99% purity, as determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The recovery of β‐elemene from the crude volatile oil through two steps was around 63.6%.     

Effect of inorganic salt on partition of high‐polarity parishins in two‐phase solvent systems and separation by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography from Gastrodia elata Blume

Parishins are high‐polarity and major bioactive constituents in Gastrodia elata Blume. In this study, the effect of several inorganic salts on the partition of parishins in two‐phase solvent systems was investigated. Adding ammonium sulfate, which has a higher solubility in water, was found to significantly promote the partition of parishins in the upper organic polar solvents. Based on the results, a two‐phase solvent system composed of butyl alcohol/acetonitrile/near‐saturated ammonium sulfate solution/water (1.5:0.5:1.2:1, v/v/v/v) was used for the purification of parishins by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. Fractions obtained from high‐speed counter‐current chromatography were subjected to semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography to remove salt and impurities. As a result, parishin E (6.0 mg), parishin B (7.8 mg), parishin C (3.2 mg), gastrodin (15.3 mg), and parishin A (7.3 mg) were isolated from water extract of Gastrodia elata Blume (400 mg). These results demonstrated that adding inorganic salt that has high solubility in water to the two‐phase solvent system in high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was a suitable approach for the purification of high‐polarity compounds.