Complexation of Eu and Tb with fulvic acids as studied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence

Complexation of Eu and Tb with fulvic acids (FA) has been studied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. The lanthanide species are excited by a pulsed Xe/Cl excimer laser and the short-lived luminescence of the fulvic acids is eliminated by time gating. The conditional binding constants (K') and the total metal-binding capacities of the fulvic acids have been determined from the equilibrium titration curves. No significant variations of the log K' values (about 6) have been found in the pH range investigated (2.7, 5.5, 6.5) at ionic strengths of 0.1 and 1M (NaClO(4)). An inverse relationship of K' to total metal concentration is observed. Substitution of Eu for Al has been found to depress the fluorescence signal of the Eu-FA complex. The binding constants of Al(3+) and Eu(3+), derived from the competition experiments, are of the same order of magnitude. The effect of competition on metal binding and trace-metal transport is discussed.     

Complexation studies of Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>ion with orthosilicic acid

Summary The complexation behavior of Co²⁺with ortho-silicic acid (o-SA) has been studied as a function of ionic strength (I) from 0.20 to 1.00M (NaClO₄) at pH 4.96±0.03 and 25 °C by solvent extraction with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) as the extractant. The stoichiometry of the extracted species was determined to be Co(DEHP)₂(HDEHP)₂. Co²⁺forms a 1:1 complex, CoOSi(OH)₃⁺, as the predominant species witho-SA concentrations of 3.00^. 10^-4to 4.00^. 10^-3M. The stability constant (logb₁) values for CoOSi(OH)₃⁺complex decrease with the increase in ionic strength. These values were fitted with the extended Debye-Huckel expression to obtain the value of logb₁at I=0.00M. The effect of aging time of the o-SA solution on logb₁values for CoOSi(OH)₃⁺complex was investigated and compared with those of the UO₂OSi(OH)₃⁺complex.     

Hydridosilazanes hydrolysis-condensation reactions studied by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H and <Superscript>29</Superscript>Si liquid NMR spectroscopy

Hydridosilazane compounds containing Si–N and Si–H bonds can be used as precursors of SiO_x materials. The hydrolysis-condensation reactions of tetramethyldisilazane, as a polyhydridosilazane model compound, were investigated by ¹H and ²⁹Si liquid NMR spectroscopy. These reactions were carried out at room temperature for up to 120 min in presence of water. The identified products are short linear siloxane species (hydride terminated polydimethylsiloxanes M^HD_xM^H) and cyclosiloxanes. Silicon hydride persistence in the reactional mixture suggested that silazane group is more sensitive to hydrolysis reaction than silicon hydride group. Moreover, additional experiments evidenced that the low steric hindrance of the silicon hydride influences the silazane hydrolysis kinetic. Hence the presence of ammonia released during silazane hydrolysis reaction was demonstrated to be a catalyst of the silicon hydride hydrolysis reaction.     

The first (<Superscript>31</Superscript>P, <Superscript>17</Superscript>O,and <Superscript>103</Superscript>Rh) NMR observation complex formation of rhodium(III) with phosphoric acid

³¹P, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁰³Rh NMR spectroscopy shows that rhodium(III) reacts with phosphoric acid to generate polynuclear aquaphosphate complexes in which phosphate ions mostly have a bridging function. Assignment of ¹⁰³Rh NMR signals in dominant rhodium complexes is suggested.     

EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) investigations of the structure of Cm(III)/Eu(III) complexed with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid and different synergistic agents

The complexes of trivalent actinide curium (Cm(III)) with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid ((ClPh)2PSSH) and three different neutral complexing agents as synergists in tert-butylbenzene are studied by EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The results are compared with those from the corresponding europium (Eu(III)) complexes. The aim of these investigations is to understand the chemical interactions responsible for the high selectivity of the synergistic systems of (ClPh)2PSSH and neutral complexing agents tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tributylphosphate and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate for trivalent actinide cations in liquid-liquid extraction. In our structural chemistry study, we find that the inner coordination sphere of extracted Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes are different. In all complexes the (ClPh)2PSSH is bound to the metal cation in a bidentate fashion and the oxygen donor of the neutral complexing agent used as synergist is directly coordinated to the metal cation. Comparison of the Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes shows that Cm(III) preferentially binds to the sulfur of (ClPh)2PSSH, whereas Eu(III) is preferentially bound to oxygen. A good selectivity in liquid-liquid extraction is correlated with a high ratio of the sulfur coordination number to oxygen coordination number. This leads to the conclusion that the observed differences in the coordination structure between Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes play an important role in the selectivity of these extraction systems.     

Surface speciation of Eu3+ adsorbed on kaolinite by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC)

Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) is an effective speciation technique for fluorescent metal ions and can be further extended by the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The adsorption of Eu(3+) on kaolinite as well as gibbsite as a reference mineral was investigated by TRLFS together with batch adsorption measurements. The PAFAFAC modeling provided the fluorescence spectra, decay lifetimes, and relative intensity profiles of three Eu(3+) surface complexes with kaolinite; an outer-sphere (factor A) complex and two inner-sphere (factors B and C) complexes. Their intensity profiles qualitatively explained the measured adsorption of Eu(3+). Based on the TRLFS results in varied H(2)O/D(2)O media, it was shown that the outer-sphere complex exhibited more rapid fluorescence decay than Eu(3+) aquo ion, because of the energy transfer to the surface. Factor B was an inner-sphere complex, which became dominant at relatively high pH, high salt concentration and low Eu(3+) concentration. Its spectrum and lifetime were similar to those of Eu(3+) adsorbed on gibbsite, suggesting its occurrence on the edge face of the gibbsite layer of kaolinite. From the comparison with the spectra and lifetimes of crystalline or aqueous Eu(OH)(3), factor C was considered as a poly-nuclear surface complex of Eu(3+) formed at relatively high Eu(3+) concentration.     

Extraction of metal ions (Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript>, Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>) using immobilized-polysiloxane iminobis(n-2-aminophenylacetamide) ligand system

A new insoluble solid functionalized ligand system bearing chelating ligand group of the general formula P-(CH₂)₃-N[CH₂CONH(C₆H₄)NH₂]₂, where P represents [Si–O] _n polysiloxane network, was prepared by the reaction of the immobilized diethyliminodiacetate polysiloxane ligand system, P-(CH₂)₃N(CH₂CO₂Et)₂ with 1,2-diaminobenzene in toluene. ¹³C CP-MAS NMR, XPS and FTIR results showed that most ethylacetate groups (–COOEt) were converted into the amide groups (–N–C=O). The new functionalized ligand system exhibits high capacity for extraction and removal of the metal ions (Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) with efficiency of 95–97% after recovery from its primary metal complexes. This functionalized ligand system formed 1:1 metal to ligand complexes.     

Structure of binuclear platinum(III) acetamidate complexes in solutions as probed by <Superscript>195</Superscript>Pt, <Superscript>13</Superscript>C,and <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

¹⁹⁵Pt, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was used to study the structure of binuclear platinum(III) acetamidate complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine ligands [Pt₂(phen)₂(acam)₄](NO₃)₂ (1) and [Pt₂(bipy)₂(acam)₄](NO₃)₂ (2) in aqueous solutions. The ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectra of solutions of complexes 1 and 2 in D₂O exhibit two signals with satellites due to the ¹⁹⁵Pt–¹⁹⁵Pt spin-spin coupling (¹ J(Pt–Pt) ≈ 6345 Hz), whereas their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra contain four sets of signals for the protons and the carbon atoms of the heterocyclic and acetamidate ligands. The signals were assigned using the COSY, NOESY, and HSQC/ HMBC experiments and comparing the coordination shifts of the signals for the protons of heterocycles. These data allowed us to draw a conclusion that binuclear complexes 1 and 2 in solution have a head-to-head structure with nonequivalent platinum(III) atoms (coordination cores PtN₅ and PtN₃O₂), the axial-equatorial coordination of the bidentate heterocyclic molecules, and two bridging and two terminal acetamidate ligands.     

Empirical method for prediction of the coordination environment of Eu(III) by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

The number of water molecules in the inner-sphere (N(H2O)) was determined for Eu(III) and the strength of ligand field (R(E/M)) was evaluated for a variety of coordination environments from the luminescence lifetime and the relative intensity at 615 nm and at 592 nm, by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. When R(E/M) and deltaN(H2O) for Eu(III) with a known coordination environment were plotted clear regularity was apparent between the location of the R(E/M)-deltaN(H2O) plot and the coordination environment of Eu(III). Here, deltaN(H2O) was calculated by use of the equation, deltaN(H2O)=9-N(H2O). Unknown coordination environments of Eu(III) can, in turn, be characterized, including both the inner- and the outer-sphere, simply by plotting R(E/M) and deltaN(H2O) for Eu(III) on the diagram. This empirical method is effective for prediction of the coordination environment of hydrated and complexed Eu(III) in solutions and that of the adsorbed Eu(III) on ion-exchange resins and by microorganisms.     

Time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of Eu(III) complexation with alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid

Complexation of Eu(III) with alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid (HIBA), a model compound of humic acid, has been studied by time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ratio of fluorescence intensity of the two peaks at 616 and 592 nm (I(616/592)) was found to increase with increasing ligand to metal ratio. The I(616/592) data was used to deduce the stability constant of Eu-HIBA complexes of the type ML(i) (i=1-3). The formation of multiple ligand complexes was also corroborated by lifetime data which was found to increase with increasing [HIBA]/[Eu] ratio thus indicating replacement of coordinated water molecules by HIBA.     

Complex formation of neptunium(V) with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid studied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy with ultra-short laser pulses

The complex formation of neptunium(V) with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid) was studied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy with ultra-short laser pulses using the fluorescence properties of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid. A 2:1 complex of neptunium(V) with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid was found. The stability constant of this complex was determined to be logbeta(210) = 7.33 +/- 0.10 at an ionic strength of 0.1 mol/l (NaClO(4)) and at 21 degrees C. The determination of the stability constant required an investigation of the excited-state proton transfer of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid over the whole pH range. It was realized that 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid undergoes excited-state reactions only at pH values below 5. At pH values above 5 stability constants can be determined without kinetic calculation of the proton transfer.     

Complexation of Cm(III) with 6-(5,6-dipentyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine studied by time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy

The complexation of Cm(III) with 6-(5,6-dipentyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (C(5)-hemi-BTP) in a water-2-propanol solution is investigated by TRLFS. Upon increasing the concentration of C(5)-hemi-BTP in the Cm(III)-solution, three different species, the 1:1-, 1:2- and 1:3-complex, with emission bands at 599.9 nm, 607.3 nm, and 612.8 nm, respectively, are found. Hereby, slow complexation kinetics is observed which no other BTP-type ligand has shown up to now. The species distributions for various ligand concentrations are determined and stability constants are derived (log β(03) = 12.1 ± 0.1). As extraction with hemi-BTP ligands is only possible in the presence of a lipophilic anion, the complexation of Cm(III) with C(5)-hemi-BTP and 2-bromohexanoic acid is investigated to deduce the species formed in the extraction process. It is found that Cm(III) is coordinated by two C(5)-hemi-BTP ligands and one 2-bromohexanoate ligand. This species formed in aqueous solution is identical to the one from the extraction process.     

Complex formation of maleic acid with the Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in aqueous solution

The process of complex formation of maleic acid (H₂L) with the ions Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ was studied by potentiometric titration in a wide range of concentration ratios at 298 K and I = 0.1 mol/l (NaNO₃). The moieties ZnL, CoL, NiL, NiL ₂ ^2? , CuL, and CuL ₂ ^2? were detected and their stability constants were determined.     

Interaction energies of histidine with cations (H<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>)

The imidazol side group of histidine has two nitrogen atoms capable of being protonated or participating in metal binding. Hence, histidine can take on various metal-bound and protonated forms in proteins. Because of its variable structural state, histidine often functions as a key amino acid residue in enzymatic reactions. Ab initio (HF and MP2) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) interaction with side chain of histidine. The region selectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the side of attack. In the imidazol unite of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity. The complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.     

Thermodynamics of citrate complexation with Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions

Isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to determine the stoichiometry, formation constants and thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ^o, ΔH, ΔS) for the formation of the citrate complexes with the Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions. The measurements were run in Cacodylate, Pipes and Mes buffer solutions with a pH of 6, at 298.15 K. A constant ionic strength of 100 mM was maintained with NaClO₄. The influence of a metal ion on its interaction energy with the citrate ions and the stability of the resulting complexes have been discussed.     

Impact of environmental conditions on the sorption behavior of UO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript> onto attapulgite studied by batch experiments

The sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ from aqueous solution on attapulgite was investigated as a function of contact time, solid content, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) under ambient conditions by using batch technique. The attapulgite sample was characterized by XRD and FTIR in detail. The results indicated that the sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite increased quickly with rising pH at pH < 6.5, and decreased with increasing pH at pH > 6.5. The presence of HA or FA enhanced the sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite obviously at low pH because of the strong complexation of surface adsorbed HA/FA with UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite surface. Sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite was mainly dominated by ion-exchange or outer-sphere surface complexation at low pH values, but by inner-sphere surface complexation at high pH values. The results indicate that attapulgite is a very suitable adsorbent for the preconcentration and solidification of UO₂ ²⁺ from large volumes of aqueous solutions because of its negative surface charge and large surface areas.     

Uranyl sorption onto gibbsite studied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS)

Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) was combined with batch experiments to study the sorption of uranium(VI) onto gibbsite (gamma-Al(OH)3). The experiments were performed under ambient conditions in 0.1 M NaClO4 solution in the pH range from 5.0 to 8.5 using a total uranium concentration of 1x10(-5) M, and a solid concentration of 0.5 g/40 ml. Two uranyl surface species with fluorescence lifetimes of 330+/-115 and 5600+/-1640 ns, respectively, were identified. The first species was dominating the more acid pH region whereas the second one became gradually more prominent towards higher pH values. The fluorescence spectra of both adsorbed uranyl(VI) surface species were described with six characteristic fluorescence emission bands situated at 479.5+/-1.1, 497.4+/-0.8, 518.7+/-1.0, 541.6+/-0.7, 563.9+/-1.2, and 585.8+/-2.1 nm. The surface species with the short-lived fluorescence lifetime of 330 ns is attributed to a bidentate mononuclear inner-sphere surface complex in which the uranyl(VI) is bound to two reactive OH- groups at the broken edge linked to one Al. The second surface species with the significant longer fluorescence lifetime of 5600 ns was attributed to small sorbed clusters of polynuclear uranyl(VI) surface species. The longer fluorescence lifetime of the long-lived uranyl surface species at pH 8.5 is explained with the growing average size of the adsorbed polynuclear uranyl surface species.     

Incorporation of Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ba<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> into aragonite and comparison with calcite

We have investigated the presence of foreign ions into the bulk structure and the external surfaces of aragonite using periodic ab-initio methods. Four cations isovalent to Ca²⁺ were studied: Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The calculations were performed at structures (bulk, surface) that contain four and eight CaCO₃ units. Our results, at the Hartree-Fock level, show that the incorporation of those ions into aragonite depends strongly on their size. Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺, due to their smaller size, can substitute Ca²⁺ ions in the crystal lattice while the incorporation of Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ into aragonite is energetically less favoured. Examination of the [011], [110] and [001] surfaces of aragonite revealed that the surface incorporation reduces the energetic cost for the larger ions. These systems provide challenging examples for most shape analysis methods applied in Mathematical Chemistry.     

Radiation-chemical yield of excited neodymium(III) in laser liquids POCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-MCl<Subscript>n</Subscript>-<Superscript>235</Superscript>UO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> (M = Ti,Zr, Sn,or Sb)

Results of measurements of the yield of Nd³⁺ radioluminescence photons in inorganic laser liquids POCl₃-MCl_n-²³⁵UO ₂ ²⁺ -Nd³⁺ (M = Ti, Zr, Sn, or Sb) during homogeneous excitation by uranium α-particles are presented. It was found that the intensity of radioluminescence corresponding to the ⁴ F _3/2 → ⁴ I _11/2 transition in neodymium ions depends on the solvent composition. Data on the radiation-chemical yield, G, of excited neodymium ions in the POCl₃-MCl_n-²³⁵UO ₂ ²⁺ -Nd³⁺ (M = Ti, Zr, Sn, or Sb) system were obtained. At a neodymium concentration of 0.25 mol/l, the values of G for the excited ions were 0.60 ± 0.10, 0.84 ± 0.10, 1.20 ± 0.10, and 1.64 ± 0.16 ion/100 eV in solutions with TiCl₄, ZrCl₄, SnCl₄, and SbCl₅, respectively. The maximum yields of excited ions estimated at G = 1.68 ± 0.10 and 2.20 ± 0.24 ion/100 eV were obtained for the solutions with SnCl₄ and SbCl₅, respectively, at neodymium ion concentrations above 0.4 mol/l.     

Synthesis,DNA-binding and photocleavage studies of cobalt(III) complexes [Co(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(dpta)]<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and [Co(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(amtp)]<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

Two novel cobalt(III) mixed-polypyridyl complexes [Co(bpy)₂(dpta)]³⁺ and [Co(bpy)₂(amtp)]³⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, dpta = dipyrido-[3,2-a;2′,3′-c]-thien-[3,4-c]azine, amtp = 3-amino-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-f]-1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of Co^III complexes with calf thymus DNA was investigated by spectroscopic and viscosity measurements. Results suggest that the two complexes bind to DNA via an intercalative mode. Moreover, Co^III complexes have been found to promote the photocleavage of plasmid DNA pBR322 under irradiation at 365 nm. The mechanism studies reveal that hydroxyl radical (OH^•) is likely to be the reactive species responsible for the cleavage of plasmid DNA by [Co(bpy)₂(dpta)]³⁺ and superoxide anion radical (O ₂ ^•− ) acts as the key role in the cleavage reaction of plasmid DNA by [Co(bpy)₂(amtp)]³⁺.