Forward ion-exchange kinetics of heavy metal ions on the surface of carboxymethyl cellulose Sn(IV) phosphate composite nano-rod-like cation exchanger

The Nernst?CPlanck equations with some additional assumptions was used in this study to investigate the forward kinetics and ion-exchange mechanism of heavy metal ions viz. Ni²⁺?CH⁺, Cu²⁺?CH⁺, Mn²⁺?CH⁺ and Zn²⁺?CH⁺ on the surface of carboxymethyl cellulose Sn(IV) phosphate composite nano-rod-like cation-exchanger. It was observed that heavy metals' exchange processes were imparted by the particle diffusion-controlled phenomenon. Some physical parameters i.e., fractional attainment of equilibrium U(??), self-diffusion coefficients (D _o), energy of activation (E _a), and entropy of activation (??S*) were estimated. These investigations revealed that the equilibrium is attained faster at higher temperature probably because of availability of thermally enlarged matrix of carboxymethyl cellulose Sn(IV) phosphate composite nano-rod-like cation-exchange material. The physical parameters observed for this composite cation exchanger were also compared with other composite ion exchangers. The results showed that the ion-exchange phenomenon is more feasible on the surface of this composite cation exchanger as compared with the other ion exchangers which indicated the usefulness of this composite ion exchanger in various applications.     

Investigations on the preparation and application of some inorganic separators for the removal of the matrix activity in neutron-activated biological samples

For the selective removal of the matrix activity (²⁴Na,³²P and⁴²K) in the neutron activation analysis of biomedical samples the inorganic separators “hydrated antimony pentoxide”, zirconium phosphate, and titanium phosphate were prepared. The sorption parameters of the samples were determined via elution chromatography techniques, with appropriate tracers. The basic principles of the sorption processes were investigated, and the experimental conditions were optimized. These inorganic separators were then applied, combined with a distillation procedure and an ion-exchange separation, for the determination of the following trace elements in animal blood samples: Mn, Co, Cu, Fe and Zn.     

Hydrolysis of phosphate esters with polymer-supported catalysts containing cyclodextrin pendant group

Polymer-supported catalysts of several kinds, including-cyclodextrin (P-CD),-cyclodextrin-diethylenetriamine (P-CD-DETA), and-cyclodextrin-N-methylhydroxamate (P-CD-NMHA)-containing polymers, as well as their corresponding metal complexes, were synthesized and examined as catalysts for the hydrolysis of phosphate esters. The kinetic measurements were performed in a phosphate buffer (0.05 M, pH 8.2) at a temperature of 25.0±0.1 °C. Each kinetic run was initiated on introducing ester stock solution (0.13 ml) containing diphenylp-nitrophenyl phosphate (DPPNPP) in dioxane (0.010 M). The rate of hydrolysis of DPPNPP was evaluated by measuring the absorbance of liberatedp-nitrophenol at 402 nm. The dissociation constants between DPPNPP and the polymers P-CD, P-CD-DETA and P-CD-NMHA obtained from Eadie-type plots were 16.8, 16.4 and 8.0 (×10^–3 M) and the acceleration factors were 1.5, 2.8 and 8.6 respectively. Hence P-CD-NMHA is the most promising catalyst. The activation parameters, preexponential factor (A) and activation energy using P-CD-NMHA as catalyst, areA=1.2×10⁹ min^–1 andE _a=43 kJ/mol respectively; the latter was about 12 kJ/mol lower than the activation energy of spontaneous hydrolysis. The results indicate that the catalytic power of P-CD-NMHA may reflect the combined behavior of molecular recognition and nucleophilicity.     

Theoretical evaluation of the substrate-assisted catalysis mechanism for the hydrolysis of phosphate monoester dianions

Quantum chemistry methods coupled with a continuum solvation model have been applied to evaluate the substrate-assisted catalysis (SAC) mechanism recently proposed for the hydrolysis of phosphate monoester dianions. The SAC mechanism, in which a proton from the nucleophile is transferred to a nonbridging phosphoryl oxygen atom of the substrate prior to attack, has been proposed in opposition to the widely accepted mechanism of direct nucleophilic reaction. We have assessed the SAC proposal for the hydrolysis of three representative phosphate monoester dianions (2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate, phenyl phosphate, and methyl phosphate) by considering the reactivity of the hydroxide ion toward the phosphorus center of the corresponding singly protonated monoesters. The reliability of the calculations was verified by comparing the calculated and the observed values of the activation free energies for the analogous S_N2(P) reactions of F⁻ with the monoanion of the monoester 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate and its diester analogue, methyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate. It was found that the orientation of the phosphate hydrogen atom has important implications with regard to the nature of the transition state. Hard nucleophiles such as OH⁻ and F⁻ can attack the phosphorus atom of a singly protonated phosphate monoester only if the phosphate hydrogen atom is oriented toward the leaving-group oxygen atom. As a result of this proton orientation, the SAC mechanism in solution is characterized by a small Brønsted coefficient value (β_lg=−0.25). This mechanism is unlikely to apply to aryl phosphates, but becomes a likely possibility for alkyl phosphate esters. If oxyanionic nucleophiles of pK_a<11 are involved, as in alkaline phosphatase, then the S_N2(P) reaction may proceed with the phosphate hydrogen atom oriented toward the nucleophile. In this situation, a large negative value of β_lg (−0.95) is predicted for the substrate-assisted catalysis mechanism.     

Analysis of phosphate rock samples for vanadium using accelerator-based thermal neutrons

Extensive sedimentary phosphate deposits exist in the Sirhan-Turayf basin in northwestern Saudi Arabia containing significant amounts of uranium, thorium, vanadium and rare earth elements. The determination of the concentration and pattern of distribution of some of these elements is essential for economic aspects. This study reports the analysis of vanadium in selected phosphate rock samples from the basin using accelerator-based thermal neutrons activation analysis (TNAA). Samples were irradiated in a thermal neutron flux of 2.5·10⁶ n·cm⁻²·s⁻¹. The induced activity was measured with a HP-GMX detector coupled to a PC-based data acquisition and analysis system. The facility was calibrated using certified standards of vanadium. The minimum detection limit of vanadium was about 1 mg. Three independent measurements on each sample yielded comparable results indicating the reliability of the technique. The vanadium concentrations in the samples vary from 23 to 457 ppm. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of Polyether Polyols using Glycerol Phosphate Disodium Salt as Initiator

The employment of glycerol phosphate as initiator for the synthesis of polyether polyols is explored in order to open the possibility of preparing a new range of products with enhanced flame retardant properties. For this purpose, glycerol phosphate disodium salt was employed as initiator, caesium hydroxide was selected as catalyst and dimethyl sulfoxide as the aprotic solvent. The influence of the operative conditions on the polymerization rate and the product properties was studied. This study revealed that the employment of dimethyl sulfoxide allows the activation of the initiator and the start-up of the propylene oxide incorporation to the polyol chain. The optimal ratio between the catalyst and the initiator resulted to be 1:6 using CsOH. MALDI-TOF MS, ¹H-NMR and ³¹P-NMR results confirmed that the phosphate was incorporated into the polymer chain. Finally, the thermal stability of the phosphorylated polyols was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis.     

Determination of cadmium in environmental materials by fast neutron activation analysis

Cadmium is determined by activation analysis with fast neutrons, obtained by irradiation of a thick beryllium target with 14.5-MeV deutrons. Cadmium-111m, formed via the ¹¹²Cd(n, 2n)^111mCd and ¹¹¹Cd(n, n′)^111mCd reactions, is separated by liquid—liquid extraction with zinc dithyldithiocarbamate in chloroform and measured with a Ge(Li) γ-spectrometer. For low concentrations, cadmium is precipitated as cadmium ammonium phosphate after the extraction. NBS and BCR reference materials were analyzed: for concentrations between 3 and 500 μg g^?1, the relative standard deviation ranges from 5 to 3% The results obtained for sewage sludge are compared with those obtained by reactor neutron activation analysis.     

Novel Ortho effects detected in the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of substituted bisaryl phosphate antagonists of platelet-activating factor

A series of substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds, (R¹CH₂)⁺ ArOP = O(O^?)(OArR²R₃), was analyzed and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Abundant fragment ions were observed and correlated with the proposed structures. From fragmentation pattersn, ‘ortho effect’ reactions were demonstrated to have occurred when the phosphoryl oxygen reacted with the (CH₂R¹)⁺ and C?O(OCH₃) substituents in the ortho position, relative to the phosphate group, and displaced the R¹ and OCH₃ groups, respectively, to produce phosphorus containing six-membered rings fused to the aryl moiety. When the (CH₂R¹)⁺ substituents were in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were not observed. However, when the C?O(OCH₃) substituent was in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, an abundant fragment ion containing a five-membered phosphate ring fused to the aryl ring was detected with the original phosphoryl oxygen ortho to both the phosphate oxygen and a formyl group, formed from the original C?O(OCH₃) substituent. All other fragmentations not involving the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were nearly identical for the different structural isomers of the substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds.     

Lichen specie Canoparmelia texana as bioindicator of environmental impact from the phosphate fertilizer industry of São Paulo,Brazil

The Brazilian phosphate industry is the sixth worldwide producer of phosphate rock concentrate generating phosphoric acid, fertilizers, intermediates for fertilizers and other products. Two of the most important of these industries are both located in the city of Cubatão—São Paulo, Brazil, and they are responsible for the production of P₂O₅, generating a residue known as phosphogypsum. The raw material, phosphate rock and products are commonly transported to the industrial complex by a railroad line and present in their composition natural radionuclides from the U and Th series and rare earth elements. Lichens have been used for monitoring atmospheric pollution and radiological contamination for a long time and have proven to be an important tool. This paper aims to highlight the use of the lichen specie Canoparmelia texana (family Parmeliacea) as a bioindicator of atmospheric pollution by the natural radionuclides from the U and Th series and RREs due to the operation of these industries and the storage of their residue in the open air. Samples of these lichen specie were collected in the vicinity of the industries and the railroad. The radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ²¹⁰Pb were measured by alpha and beta counting, after radiochemical separation, and ²³⁸U, ²³²Th as well as REEs were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results showed that the lichens present the same fingerprint as the phosphate rock and phosphogypsum, furthermore the cluster analysis of the results showed that the lichen samples collected near to the railroad line presented the highest values for all the elements studied.     

Separation of tantalum from niobium in rock phosphates and its determination through neutron activation analysis

A simple solvent extraction procedure for an effective separation of traces of tantalum from rock phosphate samples has been developed and used in its determination through neutron activation analysis. The tantalum contents in the samples were found to be about 3.10⁻⁷%.     

Sorption of uranyl ions on silica: Effects of contact time, pH, ionic strength, concentration and phosphate

The sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ and phosphate on silica were simultaneously studied. The effect of contact time between the solid phase and aqueous solution, pH and ionic strength on the UO₂ ²⁺ sorption in the absence and the presence of phosphate was investigated. The effect of contact time between the solid phase and aqueous solution, pH and ionic strength on the phosphate sorption was investigated too. The isotherms of UO₂ ²⁺ and phosphate sorption at different pH values were determined. It was found that as compared with the sorption in the absence of phosphate, the sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on silica in the presence of phosphate is increased at low pH and decreased at high pH; the abruptly increased with increasing pH in the pH range 3-6; the sorption is gradually decreased with increasing pH in the pH range 2-12; the sorption insensitive and the sorption of phosphate is sensitive to ionic strength.     

Kinetics of liquid-solid ion-exchange reactions of transition metal ions in tin(IV) phosphate

A simple approach to liquid-solid ion exchange kinetics of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺ ions in tin(IV) phosphate under different conditions of temperature, exchange ion concentration, and the particle size of the exchanger has been reported. The kinetics were controlled by particle diffusion and the $\text{t}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ law operated to about 65–75% of exchange. The diffusion coefficients and activation energies were calculated. The activation energies of Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were found to be low when compared with Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions due to Jahn-Teller distortion.     

Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of TEA<Superscript>+</Superscript>/SAPO-5

A silico alumino phosphate with AFI structure (SAPO-5) was prepared in a two-phase medium and characterized by XRD, followed by the addition of TEA⁺. The kinetics of the TEA⁺/SAPO-5 thermal decomposition reaction was studied by isothermal and dynamic thermogravimetry. Two kinetic models, D₃ and D₄ based on diffusion processes were found as best to fit the isothermal data. On the other hand, the best fit for the dynamic data is the F₁ first order reaction model. According to the apparent activation energy values, the use of the dynamic method indicates a higher temperature dependence than the isothermal method.     

Electrochemical determination of acetaminophen at a carbon electrode modified in the presence of β-cyclodextrin: role of the activated glassy carbon and the electropolymerised β-cyclodextrin

Acetaminophen is a well-known drug commonly used to provide pain relief, but it can also lead to acute liver failure at high concentrations. Therefore, there is considerable interest in monitoring its concentrations. Sensitive and selective acetaminophen electrochemical sensors were designed by cycling a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to high potentials in the presence of β-CD in a phosphate electrolyte, or by simply activating the GCE electrode in the phosphate solution. Using cyclic voltammetry, adsorption-like voltammograms were recorded. The acetaminophen oxidation product, N-acetyl benzoquinone imine, was protected from hydrolysis, and this was attributed to the adsorption of acetaminophen at the modified GCE. The rate constants for the oxidation of acetaminophen were estimated as 4.3 × 10^–3 cm² s^–1 and 3.4 × 10^–3 cm² s^–1 for the β-CD-modified and -activated electrodes, respectively. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the limit of detection was calculated as 9.7 × 10^–8 M with a linear concentration range extending from 0.1 to 80 μM. Furthermore, good selectivity was achieved in the presence of caffeine, ascorbic acid and aspirin, enabling the determination of acetaminophen in a commercial tablet. Similar electrochemical data were obtained for both the β-CD-modified and activated GCE surfaces, suggesting that the enhanced detection of acetaminophen is connected mainly to the activation and oxidation of the GCE. Using SEM, EDX and FTIR, no evidence was obtained to indicate that the β-CD was electropolymerised at the GCE.

     

Crystallization study of Na-Gd phosphate glass using non-isothermal DTA

Na-Gd phosphate glasses doped with Ce³⁺ are intensively studied due to their high intensity radioluminescence. Crystallization kinetics of glass with nominal composition of NaGd(PO₃)₄ was investigated using non-isothermal DTA at heating rates between 10 and 115 K min⁻¹ and evaluated by the Kissinger and Ozawa peak methods. The activation energy for crystallization was determined for heating rates lower than 72 Kmin⁻¹ as 789.91 and 802.77 kJ mol⁻¹ by using the Kissinger and Ozawa methods, respectively. Formation of nuclei, their dimensions and movement of the crystallization front were observed using isothermal optical thermomicroscopy.     

Effect of poly(bisphenol A acryloxyethyl phosphate) on the activation energy in thermal degradation of urethane acrylate

Poly(bisphenol A acryloxyethyl phosphate) (BPAAEP) was blended in different ratios with a commercial urethane acrylate to obtain a series of UV curable flame-retardant resins. The thermal oxidative degradation mechanism of their cured films in air were studied by thermogravimetric analysis at several heating rates between 5 and 20°C min⁻¹. The activation energies were determined using Kissinger method, Friedman method, Flynn-Wall method, Horowitz-Metzger method and Ozawa method. The results showed that the activation energies of the blends were lower than that of pure urethane acrylate at lower degree of degradation, whereas the higher activation energies were obtained at higher degree of degradation.     

Effect of tellurium promoter on vanadium phosphate catalyst for partial oxidation of n-butane

Te-promoted (1%) vanadium phosphate catalyst (VPDTe) was prepared via VOPO4·2H2O by calcining its precursor VOHPO4·0.5H2O in a flow of n-butane/air.VPDTe catalyst has resulted a higher existence of V5+ phase with V5+/V4+ ratio of 0.23.SEM micrographs show that Te addition altered the arrangement of the platelets from "rose-like" clusters to layer with irregular shape.Te addition has also markedly lowered the reduction activation energies of the vanadium phosphate catalyst as revealed by TPR profile.The amount of active oxygen species associated with V4+ phase of the Te promoted catalyst was significantly higher than those of the unpromoted catalyst.These observations suggest that high mobility and availability of reactive oxygen species contributed to the enhancement of n-butane conversion up to 80% at 673 K,while only 47% over unpromoted catalyst (2400 h-1,1.7% n-butane in air).     

Structure and electric properties of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NaPO<Subscript>3</Subscript> glasses

The influence of the SO₄²⁻ ion on the temperature and concentration dependences of electric conductivity and the structure of sodium phosphate oxide glasses was studied. The increased electric conductivity of sulfate-phosphate glasses was explained by the formation of mixed sulfate-phosphate fragments with terminal SO₄²⁻ ions in the structure of glasses in the Na₂SO₄-NaPO₃ system. The dissociation energies of the sodium sulfate fragments are lower than those of pure oxide sodium phosphate structural units. As a result, the number of dissociated sodium ions increases, the activation energy of electric conductivity falls, and the conductivity (at 25°C) increases approximately 270-fold relative to the conductivity of NaPO₃. The arrangement of SO₄²⁻ ions in the structure was evaluated from the IR spectra of the glasses.     

Investigation of metal activation of a partially purified polyphenol oxidase enzyme electrode

Biosensors can be developed using different biological materials and immobilization technologies. Enzymes are generally used in biosensor construction, and some enzymes need metal ions or small organic molecules as a cofactor for their activation. Polyphenol oxidases can be activated by several metal ions such as Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Ni²⁺. In this study, a new measurement method has been developed that is based on the metal ion activation of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme used in the biosensor preparation, especially to determine the concentration of Mg²⁺ ions. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) (EC 1.10.3.1) was partially purified from potato (Solanum tuberosum) by using (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, dialysis, and lyophylization processes. As a result of this processes, approximately 30-fold purification was achieved for PPO. For construction of the biosensor, the enzyme was immobilized on the dissolved oxygen probe membrane using gelatin and glutaraldehyde (2.5%). Using the biosensor, we obtained responses for catechol in the absence and presence of Mg²⁺ ions. Differences between the biosensor responses were related to the concentration of Mg²⁺ ions. The biosensor response depends linearly on concentration of Mg²⁺ ions between 0.05 and 7.5?mM. In the optimization studies, phosphate buffer (pH 7.0, 50?mM) and 35°C were determined to be the optimum conditions. This project will be a novel biosensor study and it might bring a new term, ‘activation based biosensor’ into the biosensor area.     

Preparation of quaternized dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate grafted nonwoven fabric for the removal of phosphate

Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) grafted polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) nonwoven fabric was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization. Grafting conditions were optimized and about 150% DMAEMA grafted samples were used for further experiments. DMAEMA graft chains were later quaternized with dimethyl sulphate for the removal of phosphate ions. Adsorption experiments were conducted with quaternized DMAEMA grafted fabric for phosphate removal at low (0.5–25 ppm) and high phosphate concentrations (50–1000 ppm). Adsorbed phosphate amounts at pH 7 were found to be 63 mg phosphate/g polymer and 512 mg phosphate/g polymer for low (25 ppm) and high phosphate concentrations (1000 ppm) respectively showing the efficiency of the adsorbent material in removing phosphate. The pH effect on phosphate adsorption showed that the quaternized DMAEMA grafted nonwoven fabric can adsorb phosphate over a wide pH range (5.00–9.00) indicating that adsorbent material can effectively remove different forms of phosphate ions, namely H₂PO₄^?, HPO₄^2? and PO₄^3? in aqueous solution at this pH range where the species exist. Competitive adsorption experiments were also carried out with two concentration levels at pH 7 to investigate the effect of competing ions. Phosphate adsorption on quaternized DMAEMA grafted nonwoven fabric was found to be higher than the other competing ions at two concentration levels. At high concentration level, the adsorption order was phosphate>nitrite>bromide>sulphate>nitrate whereas at low concentration level, the order was phosphate?sulphate>bromide>nitrite>nitrate.