Electrocatalysis at chemically modified electrodes : Detection/determination of redox gaseous species in continuous-flow systems

The electrocatalytic response of chemically modified carbon paste and glassy carbon electrodes with anchored Fe(II)/Fe(III) centers is presented for gaseous species such as NO₂, SO₂, H₂S, and Cl₂. Carbon paste electrodes are modified by direct admixing of tris[4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline]iron(II) perchlorate, and glassy carbon electrodes are modified by oxidative electropolymerisation of tris[5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline]iron(II) perchlorate. The electrocatalytic cycle operating in the integrated reaction/pre-electrode layer of chemically modified electrodes results in significant signal enhancement. Chemical modification of the conducting surfaces protects the electrode surface from poisoning. evaluation was done in a continuous-flow system using gravitational flow fo supporting electrolyte carrier propulsion, direct injection of air containing parts per billion or parts per million (v/v) of the gaseous species, and amperometric detection with the chemically modified electrodes as part of a thin-layer cell.     

Thin-layer chromatography of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and tris(2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) on Sephadex G gels

Summary Gel chromatographic behaviour of tris(1, 10-phenanthroline)iron(II), tris(2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) and tris(glycinato)cobalt(III) on Sephadex G-10 or G-25 was investigated by TLC with 0.001–1.0M NaCl as the eluent. The zone shapes and R_M values of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and tris(2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) were appreciably dependent on the sample and eluent concentration, while the neutral complex, tris(glycinato) cobalt(III), exhibited the round zones with constant R_M values. The order of R_M values was found to be tris(glycinato)cobalt(III<tris(2,2∔pyridine)iron(II)<tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) in all systems studied, although the reverse trend was expected when assuming the chromatographic behaviour of solute compounds to be controlled by the “sieving effect”. The comparison of the behaviour on Sephadex G gels with that on CM-cellulose revealed that the predominant mechanism involved is not the sieving effect, but ion-exchange and/or hydrophobic interaction.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of cobalt with dithizone

Cobalt(II) in acetate-tartrate buffer (pH 6.0-7.3) is extracted quantitatively as cobalt(III) dithizonate with excess of dithizone in CCl(4). The molar absorptivity in the CCl(4) phase is 4.6 x 10(4) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1) at the absorption maximum 550 nm. The calibration graph is linear for 1-10 mug of cobalt in 10 ml of CCl(4) when excess of dithizone is removed by back-extraction with 0.01M aqueous ammonia. Most interferences can be overcome by (a) initial extraction with dithizone at pH 1.3, (b) selective back-extraction into hydrochloric acid (pH 1 to 2), (c) oxidation of iron and tin to iron(III) and tin(IV) and addition of fluoride to complex the former, and (d) selective reaction of nickel dithizonate with 1,10-phenanthroline in the CCl(4) phase followed by back-extraction of nickel into 0.1M acid. The method has been applied to determination of cobalt in a copper-nickel-zinc alloy and a nimonic alloy.     

Spectrophotometric flow injection determination of l-ascorbic acid with a packed reactor containing ferric hydroxide

A flow injection system with spectrophotometric detection is proposed for determining l-ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical formulations. In this system a column containing Fe(OH)(3) immobilized in polyester resin (packed reactor) is inserted before the detector. Fe(III)-1,10-phenanthroline complex is reduced by l-ascorbic acid to produce Fe(II)-1,10-phenanthroline complex which is monitored at 510 nm. Under the optimum analytical conditions, the linearity of the calibration equation for l-ascorbic acid ranged from 5.0x10(-6) to 6.0x10(-5) M of added amount. The detection limit was 5.0x10(-7) M and recoveries between 98.5-102.0% were obtained. No interference was observed from the common excipients of pharmaceutical formulations and other active substances such as acetylsalicylic acid, caffeine and thiamine.     

Evaluation of the potentiometric detection of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters in capillary electrophoresis

It is demonstrated that acetylcholine may be determined potentiometrically in capillary electrophoresis down to 6 x 10(-7) M with a miniature coated-wire ion selective electrode. The more established amperometric method is not possible for this compound. Similarly, 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is not accessible amperometrically; although potentiometric detection was possible, the sensitivity is not good. Other neurotransmitters may be determined by either method, but in these cases amperometric determination is generally favorable. For serotonin the potentiometric detection limit was 4 x 10(-5) M, while for the amperometric method a detection limit of 10(-7) M was found.     

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis equipped with amperometric detection for analysis of chlorinated phenolic compounds

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) equipped with amperometric detection has been developed for separation and detection of an 11-member model mixture of chlorinated phenolic compounds. With triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TACD) as a novel selectivity selector, acetonitrile proved to be an excellent solvent for this water-insoluble cyclodextrin derivative. Resolution of the analytes was achieved by using an optimized acetonitrile medium consisting of 500 mM acetic acid, 10 mM sodium acetate, 12 mM TACD and 50 mM tetrabutylammonium perchlorate. Separation of analytes was attributed to differential electrostatic and/or inductive interactions of the analytes with the TACD/TBA+ complex and charged tetrabutylammonium phases. A simple end-column amperometric detector (Pt vs. Ag/AgCl, poised at +1.6 V) in conjunction with NACE was used to analyze chlorophenols. Amperometric detection of such target compounds in acetonitrile-based media offers high sensitivity and alleviates electrode fouling compared to aqueous buffers. The detection limits obtained, ranging from 30 nM to 500 nM, are 3-8-fold lower than those obtained with aqueous buffers.     

Rapid speciation of iron by on-line coupling of short column capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with the collision cell technique

A method for rapid speciation analysis of iron was developed by on-line coupling of short column capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The collision cell technique was used to eliminate argon-based polyatomic interferences and a Micromist nebulizer was employed to increase the nebulization efficiency. Rapid speciation analysis of Fe(II) and Fe(III) was achieved within 1 min by short column capillary electrophoresis in a 14 cm x 50 microm id capillary at 28 kV voltage with a mixture of 15 mmol/L tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane + 1 mmol/L 1,10-phenanthroline + 1 mmol/L EDTA (pH 8.6) as running electrolyte. The precisions (RSD, n = 5) of migration time and peak area for Fe(II) and Fe(III) were in the range of 1.0 - 2.6 and 1.9 - 3.9%, respectively. The limits of detection (3sigma) of Fe(II) and Fe(III) were 10.0 and 8.3 microg/L, respectively.     

Continuous-flow performance of carbon electrodes modified with immobilized Fe(II)/Fe(III) centers Amperometric response to N(2)O, NO and NO(2)

The amperometric performance of two types of chemically modified carbon electrodes developed for the determination of oxides of nitrogen in continuous-flow systems is presented. The modification consists in immobilization of reversible Fe(II)/Fe(III) centers. The first type of electrode is a simple modification made by direct mixing of carbon paste with tris-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-iron(II) perchlorate; the other is a glassy-carbon surface modified by oxidative electropolymerization of tris-[5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline]iron(II) perchlorate. Detection is accomplished by transporting an injected sample plug to the sensing surface with the aid of gravitational flow of an aqueous solution of supporting electrolyte. The polymer-coated electrochemical detector compares favourably with the chemically modified carbon paste. It offers excellent resistance to poisoning and a competitive limit of detection [about 2 ppb (2 parts in 10(9)) v/v], at + 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, and good selectivity for NO(2) when used in a thin-layer cell. Incorporation of the cell in a continuous-flow system allows injection of about 120 samples per hour. The typical concentration range amenable to determination is 2-25 ppb v/v but depends on the thickness of the polymeric film. Nitrogen monoxide can also be detected but only in undiluted, pure form. Dinitrogen oxide gives no amperometric signal at any of the modified surfaces.     

Kinetic determination of traces of manganese in different materials by its catalytic effect on the methylene green-periodate reaction

The oxidation of Methylene Green by sodium periodate is a slow process. A kinetic method based on the catalytic effect of manganese(II) on this reaction in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline as activator is described. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of the dye at 620 nm. Under the optimal experimental conditions [4 x 10(-5)M Methylene Green, 0.2M acetate buffer (pH 4), 2 x 10(-3)M 1,10-phenanthroline, 2.5 x 10(-3)M sodium periodate, 35 degrees ], manganese(II) between 0.2 and 30 ng ml is determined by the tangent method. The accuracy of the method and the influence of 44 foreign ions have been studied and an equation for the kinetics of the catalysed reaction is proposed. The procedure has been applied to the determination of manganese in water, milk and beer with excellent results.     

Engineering organic sensitizers for iodine-free dye-sensitized solar cells: red-shifted current response concomitant with attenuated charge recombination

With a new metal-free donor-acceptor photosensitizer featuring the 2,6-bis(thiophen-2-yl)-4,4-dihexyl-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene-conjugated spacer and the tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II/III) redox shuttle, we present a highly efficient iodine-free dye-sensitized solar cell displaying a power conversion efficiency of 9.4% measured at 100 mW cm(-2) simulated AM1.5 conditions.     

Iron (III) derivatives of 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline

The chemistry of the iron (III) derivatives of 4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline has been studied in detail. Oxidation of the intensely red tris(4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline) iron (II) ion results in a grey compound, tris(4,7-dihydroxy-l,10-phenanthroline)iron(III), which is stable below pH 10. Above pH 10 the grey compound is partially converted into an amber compound in which the ratio of phenanthroline to iron is 2:1. The amber compound is the conjugate base of a purple 2:1 compound with pK(a) = 9.77. The visible absorption spectra of the three species at various pH values are reported. For 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline pK(3), as determined by ultraviolet absorptometry, is 12.62 +/- 0.2.     

Solvent extraction of anions with metal chelate cations-XVIII Spectrophotometric determination of maleic acid in the presence of fumaric acid by solvent extraction with tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(ii) chelate cations

A new colorimetric method is proposed for the determination of maleic acid. Among aliphatic dicarboxylic acids tested, maleic acid was found to be selectively extracted into nitrobenzene as the red ion-association complex (lambda(max) 516 nm) formed between the hydrogen maleate anion and the tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) cation. At least a 32-fold molar excess of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) relative to maleic acid is needed and the optimal pH range is 3-5. A linear relationship is obtained over the concentration range 10(-5)-10(-4)M maleic acid. The relative standard deviation was 1.0 %. The colour intensity of the extract remains constant at room temperature for at least 24 hr. A large amount of fumaric acid, the trans-isomer of maleic add, is not extracted under the same conditions. This makes it possible to determine maleic acid in the presence of fumaric acid.     

The sensitive determination of nucleic acids using resonance light scattering quenching method

It is found that in hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA)-HCl buffer of pH 7.00, nucleic acids can quench the resonance light scattering (RLS) of europium (III) (Eu3+)-2-thenoyltrifluoroacetne (TTA)-1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) system. Based on this, a sensitive method for the determination of nucleic acids is proposed. The experiments indicate that under the optimum conditions, the quenched RLS intensity is in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 1.0x10(-10) to 2.0x10(-6) g ml-1 for fish sperm (fsDNA), 1.0x10(-11) to 1.0x10(-6) g ml-1 for yeast RNA (yRNA), 5.0x10(-11) to 5.0x10(-7) g ml-1 for calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). Their detection limits (S/N=3) are 0.03, 0.006 and 0.002 ng ml-1, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method is the most sensitive RLS method for the determination of nucleic acids so far. The interaction between nucleic acids and Eu3+-TTA-Phen is also discussed.     

PVC matrix membrane electrodes based on cobalt and nickel phenanthroline complexes for selective determination of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions

Potentiometric sensors for determining cobalt and nickel ions are described. They are based on the use of cobalt and nickel tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-TPB as electroactive compounds dispersed in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The sensors exhibit fast, near-Nernstian responses for cobalt and nickel-phenanthroline cations over the pH range 3–11 with a slope of 30.3 ± 0.3 mV/concentration decade. In the presence of excess 1,10-phenanthroline reagent, cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions at concentration levels as low as 4 × 10^–6 M are accurately determined. The results show an average metal ion recovery of 98.5% with a mean standard deviation of 0.5%. Cobalt in organometallic compounds and nickel in silicate rocks are determined by these sensors and results agreeing fairly well with atomic absorption spectrometry are obtained.     

Development of FIA equipped with a chemiluminescence detector using a mixed reagent of luminol and 1,10-phenanthroline.

We developed an FIA system equipped with a chemiluminescence detector using a mixed chemiluminescence reagent of luminol and 1,10-phenanthroline for the detection of metal ions and metal complexes. The carrier, mixed chemiluminescence reagent comprising luminol, 1,10-phenanthroline, and cethyltrimethylammonium bromide, and H2O2 solutions were fed by corresponding pumps at a definite flow rate. Sample solutions dissolving hematin, [Co(NH3)4(H2O)2]2(SO4)3, CuSO4, NiCl2, K3[Fe(CN)6], and K4[Fe(CN)6] were analyzed as models by the means of the present FIA system. Solutions of hematin, [Co(NH3)4(H2O)2]2(SO4)3, CuSO4, and NiCl2 were detected as positive peaks, as usual. The order of the catalytic activity of these samples for the present chemiluminescence reaction using the mixed chemiluminescence reagent was [Co(NH3)4(H2O)2]2(SO4)3 > hematin > CuSO4 > NiCl2. On the other hand, sample solutions of K3[Fe(CN)6] and K4[Fe(CN)6] were detected as negative peaks and were determined over the ranges of 1 x 10(-8) - 1 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 1 x 10(-8) M and 2 x 10(-8) - 4 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 2 x 10(-8) M, respectively. Their negative peaks were observed reproducibly with a relative standard deviation of 2 - 5%.     

Potentiometric redox determination of gold(III) and its application to alloys

The simple potentiometric method proposed for the indirect determination of 1–10 mg of gold(III) is based on reduction to the metal with excess of cobalt(II) in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine at pH 3 and 50°C, and titration of the unused cobalt(II) complex with iron(III) chloride solution. Many metal ions can be tolerated; Ag(I) and Pd(II) are eliminated by precipitation with sodium chloride and 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine, respectively, but Hg(II), Fe(III) and Pt(IV) interfere. The method is applied to the determination of gold in alloys.     

Determination of histamine by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection.

Capillary zone electrophoresis was employed for the determination of histamine using end-column amperometric detection with a carbon fiber microelectrode, at a constant potential. The optimum conditions of separation and detection were 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer, pH 5.6 for the buffer solution, 15 kV for the separation voltage, and 1.35 V (versus SCE) for the detection potential. The linear range was from 6.3 x 10(-7) to 1.5 x 1(-5) mol/L with the regression coefficient of 0.9997, and the detection limit was 4.0 x 10(-7) mol/L (S/N = 3). The proposed method was successfully applied to the direct determination of histamine in the beer samples without any sample clean-up procedures.     

Photovoltaic Performance of Triphenylamine Dyes-sensitized Solar Cells Employing Cobalt Redox Shuttle and Influence of π-conjugated Spacers

Developing photosensitizers suitable for the cobalt electrolyte and understanding the structure-property relationship of organic dyes is warranted for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The DSSCs incorporating tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II/III)-based redox elec-trolyte and four synthesized organic dyes as photosensitizers are described. The photovoltaic performance of these dyes-sensitized solar cells employing the cobalt redox shuttle and the influences of the π-conjugated spacers of organic dyes upon the photovoltage and photocur-rent of mesoscopic titania solar cells are investigated. It is found that organic dyes with thiophene derivates as linkers are suitable for DSSCs employing cobalt electrolytes. DSSCs sensitized with the as-synthesized dyes in combination with the cobalt redox shuttle yield an overall power conversion efficiency of 6.1% under 100 mW/cm² AM1.5 G illumination.     

Hexacyanoferrate(III) as a mediator in the determination of total iron in potable waters as iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline at a single-use screen-printed carbon sensor device

Hexacyanoferrate(III) was used as a mediator in the determination of total iron, as iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline, at a screen-printed carbon sensor device. Pre-reduction of iron(III) at −0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl) in the presence of hexacyanoferrate(II) and 1,10-phenanthroline (pH 3.5-4.5), to iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline, was complete at the unmodified carbon electrode surface. Total iron was then determined voltammetrically by oxidation of the iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline at +0.82 V, with a detection limit of 10 μg l⁻¹.In potable waters, iron is present in hydrolysed form, and it was found necessary to change the pH to 2.5-2.7 in order to reduce the iron(III) within 30 s. A voltammetric response was not found at lower pH values owing to the non-formation of the iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline complex below pH 2.5.Attempts to incorporate all the relevant reagents (1,10-phenanthroline, potassium hexacyanoferrate(III), potassium hydrogen sulphate, sodium acetate, and potassium chloride) into a modifying coated PVA film were partially successful. The coated electrode behaved very satisfactorily with freshly-prepared iron(II) and iron(III) solutions but with hydrolysed iron, the iron(III) signal was only 85% that of iron(II).     

Electrocatalytic properties of guanine, adenine, guanosine-5'-monophosphate, and ssDNA by Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine), Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline), and poly-Fe(II) tris(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)

The electrocatalytic oxidations of guanine, adenine, guanosine-5'-monophosphate(GMP) and ssDNA were performed in the presence of Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline) complexes as homogeneous catalysts by cyclic voltammetric methods. The Fe(II/III) redox couple of these compounds is responsible for their catalytic properties. The electrocatalytic oxidation current of above substrates were developed from the anodic peak currents of Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline) complexes at about +0.93 V and 0.97 V, respectively. The electrocatalytic oxidative properties of guanine by Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) complex was measured by amperometry method using the rotating disk electrodes. Electropolymerization of Fe(II) tris(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) complex produced thin polymer films on gold and glassy carbon electrodes. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ growth of the polymer. The poly(FeII(5-NH(2)-1,10-phen)(3)) exhibited a good electrocatalytic oxidation towards guanine and also for the mixture of guanine and adenine too.