Immobilization and voltammetric detection of human interleukine-2 gene on the pencil graphite electrode

The immobilization and differential pulse anodic voltammetry (DPAV) of a 20-mer oligonucleotide related to the human interleukine-2 (hIL-2) using renewable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) is described. The influences of electrochemical pretreatment of PGE on the ability of the electrode in hIL-2 adsorption, and conditions of hiIL-2 immobilization on PGE including immobilization potential and time, sodium chloride concentration as well as stirring of the solution were studied and optimum conditions were suggested. Accordingly, the electrochemical pretreatment of the polished PGE by electrostatic procedure at 1.80 V for 5 min in 0.50 M acetate buffer solution of pH 4.8 is proposed as the optimum pre-treatment procedure. Similarly, the obtained optimum conditions for immobilization of hIL-2 on the activated PGE was an immobilization duration of 5 min at applied potential of 0.50 V. Trace levels of hIL-2 was readily detected following only 5 min immobilization period with detection limit of 6 nM.     

Impact of electrodialytic parameters on cation migration kinetics and fouling nature of ion-exchange membranes during treatment of solutions with different magnesium/calcium ratios

During electrodialysis (ED) treatment of solutions with different Mg/Ca ratios (R = 0, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5 and 2/5) and in different pH conditions (acid, neutral and basic), foulings on ion-exchange membranes were previously characterized and identified, by the way of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. A mineral fouling was observed in neutral and basic conditions (for R = 1/5 and 2/5) on the anion-exchange membrane (AEM) concentrate side and in basic conditions on the cation-exchange membrane (CEM) concentrate side as well as on the diluate side for R = 1/5 and 2/5. The objectives of this present work were to link the morphological characterization and identification of membrane fouling to electrodialytic parameters and cation migration kinetics. It appeared that the CEM permselectivity was severely affected in basic conditions for R ≥ 1/5. The consequence of this alteration was the migration of OH⁻ through the CEM, a pH increase in the diluate compartment and different treatment durations. The calcite observed on AEM concentrate side for Mg/Ca ≥ 1/5 would be due first to the particular operating conditions such as the recirculation of the concentrate solution, and also to the supersaturated conditions reached or not at the AEM interface and favourable pH conditions.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-aminonicotinic acids by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with amines

2-(Methylamino)nicotinic acid was readily prepared in high yield by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with 40% aq MeNH₂ under microwave irradiation either at 120 °C for 2 h or at 140 °C for 1.5 h. Subsequently, we found that a range of 2-aminonicotinic acids could be obtained under microwave heating. The optimal reaction conditions involved the use of 3 equiv of amine, water as the solvent and heating at 200 °C for 2 h in the presence of diisopropylethylamine (3 equiv).     

Synthesis of salicylaldehyde-modified mesoporous silica and its application as a new sorbent for separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A new functionalized mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using salicylaldehyde was utilized for the separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium in natural water by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of U(VI) were optimized. The preconcentration factor was 100 (1.0 mL of elution for a 100 mL sample volume). The analytical curve was linear in the range 2-1000 μg L⁻¹ and the detection limit was 0.5 ng mL⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) under optimum conditions was 2.5% (n = 10). Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination of uranium at pH 5. The sorbent exhibited excellent stability and its sorption capacity under optimum conditions has been found to be 10 mg of uranium per gram of sorbent. The method was applied for the recovery and determination of uranium in different water samples.     

A microwave-assisted sequential extraction of water and dilute acid soluble arsenic species from marine plant and animal tissues

This paper describes the use of dilute nitric acid for the extraction and quantification of arsenic species. A number of extractants (e.g. water, 1.5 M orthophosphoric acid, methanol-water and dilute nitric acid) were tested for the extraction of arsenic from marine biological samples, such as plants that have proved difficult to quantitatively extract. Dilute 2% (v/v) nitric acid was found to give the highest recoveries of arsenic overall and was chosen for further optimisation. The optimal extraction conditions for arsenic were 2% (v/v) HNO₃, 6 min⁻¹, 90 °C. Arsenic species were found to be stable under the optimised conditions with the exception of the arsenoriboses which degraded to a product eluting at the same retention time as glycerol arsenoribose. Good agreement was found between the 2% (v/v) HNO₃ extraction and the methanol-water extraction for the certified reference material DORM-2 (AB 17.1 and 16.2 μg g⁻¹, respectively, and TETRA 0.27 and 0.25 μg g⁻¹, respectively), which were in close agreement with the certified concentrations of AB 16.4 ± 1.1 μg g⁻¹ and TETRA 0.248 ± 0.054 μg g⁻¹.To preserve the integrity of arsenic species, a sequential extraction technique was developed where the previously methanol-water extracted pellet was further extracted with 2% (v/v) HNO₃ under the optimised conditions. Increases in arsenic recoveries between 13% and 36% were found and speciation of this faction revealed that only inorganic and simple methylated species were extracted.     

Development of a methodology for the simultaneous determination of inorganic and organolead compounds using supercritical fluid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and its application to environmental matrices

A method for the extraction of triethyl lead (TEL⁺), trimethyl lead (TML⁺), and Pb²⁺ from sand was developed using supercritical modified CO₂-CH₃OH extraction and in situ complexation with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) using a 2⁵ factorial exploratory design is described. The screened variables were (i) pressure (69-193 bar), (ii) temperature (40-150 °C), (iii) ligand amount (0-100 mg), (iv) methanol volume (0.0-0.5 mL) and (v) static time (0-45 min). The optimum extraction conditions found were as follow: pressure, 193 bar; temperature, 40 °C; amount of NaDDTC, 100 mg; methanol volume, 0.5 mL; static time 45 min; and CO₂ flow rate, 1 mL min⁻¹. Under these conditions the following recoveries were obtained (TML⁺ 97 ± 2%, TEL⁺ 70 ± 5%, and Pb²⁺ 100 ± 4%). The presence of NaDDTC is not necessary for the extraction of TML⁺ and TEL⁺, but it is a very significative parameter for Pb²⁺. A second experimental design 2² + star for temperature and pressure was realized, but the results were not better than those of the first model. SFE extract derivatization was achieved with pentylmagnesium bromide, and target analyte determination was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Detection limits in the full-scan mode were 4, 10, and 39 pg as lead for TMPeL, TEPeL and PbPe₄, respectively. The method was validated with urban dust containing TML⁺ (CRM 605. Pb 7.9 ±1.2 μg kg⁻¹) and river sediment containing inorganic lead (GBW08301. Pb 79.0 ± 12.0 mg kg⁻¹) as reference materials. The proposed method was applied to lead analysis in sand collected from an oil-polluted beach in Chile.     

Cloud point extraction for ultra-trace Cd determination in microwave-digested biological samples by ETAAS

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the preconcentration of cadmium, after the formation of a complex with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)-phenol (5-Br-PADAP), and further determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) using polyethyleneglicolmono-p-nonyphenylether (PONPE 7.5) as surfactant. The chemical variables that affect the cloud point extraction were optimized. The separation of the two phases was easily accomplished by cooling the mixture in order to make more viscous the surfactant-rich phase. In order to establish the optimum conditions for the determination of Cd by ETAAS, Pd + Mg, Pt, Ir, Rh and Ru were studied as chemical modifiers. The best thermal stabilization was obtained with Pd + Mg, with a maximum pyrolysis temperature of 1100 °C. Under the optimum conditions i.e., pH 9.0, [5-Br-PADAP] = 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, [PONPE 7.5] = 0.02% (w/v), an enhancement factor of 22-fold was reached. The lower limit of detection (LOD) obtained under the optimal conditions was 0.008 μg L⁻¹. The precision for 10 replicate determinations at 0.2 μg L⁻¹ Cd was 3.5% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.). The calibration graph using the preconcentration method was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9984 at levels close to the detection limit up to at least 1.0 μg L⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of cadmium in urine samples and in a water standard reference material.     

Fe(II) hydroxycarbonate Fe2(OH)2CO3 (chukanovite) as iron corrosion product: Synthesis and study by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Fe(II) compounds were precipitated by mixing FeCl₂ · 4H₂O, NaOH and Na₂CO₃ · 10H₂O solutions and the influence of the concentration ratios R = [FeCl₂ · 4H₂O]/[NaOH] and R′ = [Na₂CO₃ · 10H₂O]/[NaOH] on the nature of the precipitates was studied. The conditions favouring the formation of chukanovite Fe₂(OH)₂CO₃ at the detriment of Fe(II) hydroxide Fe(OH)₂, often considered as the first solid forming from the Fe(II) dissolved species generated by the dissolution of steel, were determined. Chukanovite was the unique compound to form for R > 1 and R′ > 0.5. When one of these conditions was not met, that is when the amount of Fe(II) dissolved species or the amount of carbonate species was not sufficient, Fe(OH)₂ was precipitated together with chukanovite. For the smallest values of R and R′, 0.6 and 0.1, respectively, chukanovite was not obtained. However, it was demonstrated that ageing at room temperature of a carbonate-containing suspension of Fe(OH)₂ could lead to the total transformation of Fe(II) hydroxide into chukanovite. The Fe(II) compounds were analysed by ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy under inert atmosphere, since this method allowed us to distinguish unambiguously Fe₂(OH)₂CO₃ from Fe(OH)₂. As a result, chukanovite could also be identified by infrared micro-spectroscopy inside the rust layers of an archaeological iron nail extracted from a soil presenting anoxic conditions.     

Development of a fast capillary electrophoresis method to determine inorganic cations in biodiesel samples

The aim of this study was to develop a fast capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of inorganic cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) in biodiesel samples, using barium (Ba²⁺) as the internal standard. The running electrolyte was optimized through effective mobility curves in order to select the co-ion and Peakmaster software was used to determine electromigration dispersion and buffer capacity. The optimum background electrolyte was composed of 10 mmol L⁻¹ imidazole and 40 mmol L⁻¹ of acetic acid. Separation was conducted in a fused-silica capillary (32 cm total length and 23.5 cm effective length, 50 μm I.D.), with indirect UV detection at 214 nm. The migration time was only 36 s. In order to obtain the optimized conditions for extraction, a fractional factorial experimental design was used. The variables investigated were biodiesel mass, pH, extractant volume, agitation and sonication time. The optimum conditions were: biodiesel mass of 200 mg, extractant volume of 200 μL and agitation of 20 min. The method is characterized by good linearity in the concentration range of 0.5-20 mg kg⁻¹ (r > 0.999), limit of detection was equal to 0.3 mg kg⁻¹, inter-day precision was equal to 1.88% and recovery in the range of 88.0-120%. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of cations in biodiesel samples.     

Silica gel modified with 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-phenylurea for selective solid-phase extraction and preconcentration of Sc(III) from environmental samples

A new method that utilizes 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-phenylurea-modified silica gel as a solid-phase extractant has been developed for preconcentration of trace Sc(III) prior to the measurement by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace level of Sc(III) were optimized using batch and column procedures in detail. The optimum pH value for the separation of Sc(III) on the new sorbent was 4 and complete elution of Sc(III) from the sorbent surface was carried out using 1.0 mL of 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HCl. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination of the analyte. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the sorbent at optimum conditions was found to be 32.5 mg g⁻¹ while the time of 95% adsorption was less than 2 min. The detection limit of present method was found to be 0.091 μg g⁻¹, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 3.0% (n = 8). The method was successfully applied for the preconcentration of trace Sc(III) in the environmental samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of some phthalate acid esters in artificial saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after activated carbon enrichment

The determination of six phthalate acid esters was achieved in artificial saliva using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry following activated carbon enrichment of samples. Central composite experimental design was applied to optimize method parameters, such as pH, adsorption time and amount of activated carbon. The best compromise of analytical conditions for the simultaneous determination of analytes from spiked artificial saliva were found to be: pH (3), adsorption time (30 min), activated carbon amount (1.8 g L⁻¹) and elution solvent (chloroform). These conditions were applied to study the migration of phthalate acid esters from different children's toys into saliva. A horizontal agitation method was applied to extract the analytes from plastic toys into saliva for 2 h at 37 °C. The detection limits of the method were in the range of 1.3-5.1 μg L⁻¹, while the relative standard deviation (%) values for the analysis of 100 μg L⁻¹ of the analytes were below 3.0% (n = 5). Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was the main analyte found in these samples.     

Separation and determination of acrylamide in potato chips by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A simple and rapid method using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was developed for the separation and determination of acrylamide in potato chips at low levels for the first time. The experimental conditions for the separation and quantification of acrylamide were optimized at first. The optimized conditions were: 50 mmol/L Na₂B₄O₇ and 40 mmol/L SDS at pH 10.0, 12 kV applied voltage, 76 cm total length (67 cm effective length) and 75 μm i.d. capillary, 198 nm wavelength, 15 cm high 25 s hydrodynamics sample injection, 20 °C air-cooling. The linear response of acrylamide concentration ranges from 0.5 to 100 μg/mL with high correlation coefficient (r = 0.9986, n = 9). The LOD and LOQ were estimated to be 0.1 and 0.33 μg/mL based on S/N = 3 and 10. The precision values (expressed as R.S.D.) of intra- and inter-day were 0.86-4.35% and 2.61-9.65%, respectively. Recoveries spiked at levels 2, 20, 60 μg/mL ranged between 90.86% and 99.6% with R.S.D. less than 6.5%. Finally, the developed method has been applied to the analysis of real samples and has achieved satisfactory results. All of these indicated that it was a reliable method for the quantification of acrylamide in potato chips.     

Determination of SCFAs in water using GC-FID. Selection of the separation system

In the present study, an analytical procedure was developed for the determination of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in landfill leachate and municipal wastewater employing injection of aqueous samples to gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Chromatographic conditions such as a separation system, injection volume, oven temperature program were investigated and selected. With two columns, one with a polar (polyethylene glycol) and one with a non-polar (dimethylpolisiloxane) stationary phase, good separation of SCFAs, containing from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, was achieved. The sample volume was 2 μL and the temperature program 80 °C (30 s) then 7 °C min⁻¹ to 220 °C (2 min). LOQs values were below 0.25 mg L⁻¹. The concentrations of the acids in the landfill leachate studied ranged from 0.45 ± 0,059 (average ± extended uncertainty) mg L⁻¹ for pentanoic acid to 15.2 ± 0.73 mg L⁻¹ for ethanoic acid. Concentrations of SCFAs in the municipal wastewater were lower than LOQs.     

Silver-catalyzed activation of internal propargylic alcohols in supercritical carbon dioxide: efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of 4-alkylidene-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones

The silver-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions of carbon dioxide with internal propargylic alcohols and primary amines under supercritical conditions give 4-alkylene-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones in good to excellent yields. The optimized conditions are to use an alcohol (2 mmol), an amine (2 mmol), silver acetate (0.1 mmol), and carbon dioxide (8 MPa) at 120 °C.     

Revisiting extraction of bioactive apocarotenoids from Crocus sativus L. dry stigmas (saffron)

An ultrasound assisted extraction method is proposed for the recovery of bioactive glycosides (i.e. crocins and picrocrocin) from Crocus sativus L. dry stigmas using aqueous methanol. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the extraction parameters, namely, the percentage of methanol (%), the duration (min) and the duty cycles (s) of sonication. Optical microscopy, spectrophotometry and RP-HPLC-DAD were employed to follow pros and cons of the process. Additional experiments were conducted to compare recoveries with those under other agitation conditions (e.g. magnetic stirring according to ISO 3632-2 standard). The percentage of methanol, the sonication duration and duty cycles combination that can be recommended as optimum for the recovery of crocins and picrocrocin were 50%, 30 min, 0.2 s and 0.44%, 30 min, 0.6 s, respectively. Picrocrocin levels were not influenced dramatically under the optimum conditions for crocins extraction (11 ± 2 instead of 12 ± 1 mg kg⁻¹ dry stigmas, respectively) so that these can be considered optimum for both categories of tested compounds. Ultrasound assisted extraction speeded up further recovery of these precious apocarotenoids. Our findings for extraction conditions are useful for both industrial and analytical applications and should be considered in a forthcoming revision of the ISO 3632-2 technical standard.     

Phase equilibria in ternary aqueous mixtures of 1,3-butanediol with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol at T = (298.2, 303.2 and 308.2) K

Experimental tie-line data for ternary system of (water + 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BD) + 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH)) were determined at T = (298.2, 303.2 and 308.2) K under atmospheric conditions. This ternary system exhibits type-1 behavior of LLE. The experimental ternary LLE data were correlated using the NRTL model, and the binary interaction parameters were obtained. The average root-mean-square deviation between the observed and calculated mole fractions was 1.38%. Distribution coefficient and separation factor were measured to evaluate the extracting capability of the solvent. The separation factor values for the solvent used in this work were then compared with literature values obtained in our previous works for other butanediols.     

Voltammetric determination of aminobiphenyls at a boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond film electrode

Voltammetric behavior of 2-aminobiphenyl, 3-aminobiphenyl, and 4-aminobiphenyl at a boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond film electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Optimum conditions have been found for the determination of those genotoxic substances by differential pulse voltammetry at the above given electrode in the concentration range of 2 × 10⁻⁷ to 1 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L.     

Fluorescence enhancement of CdTe/CdS quantum dots by coupling of glyphosate and its application for sensitive detection of copper ion

A novel fluorescent probe for Cu²⁺ determination based on the fluorescence quenching of glyphosate (Glyp)-functionalized quantum dots (QDs) was firstly reported. Glyp had been used to modify the surface of QDs to form Glyp-functionalized QDs following the capping of thioglycolic acid on the core–shell CdTe/CdS QDs. Under the optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Cu²⁺ between 2.4 × 10⁻² μg mL⁻¹ and 28 μg mL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 1.3 × 10⁻³ μg mL⁻¹ (3δ). The Glyp-functionalized QDs fluorescent probe offers good sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Cu²⁺. The fluorescent probe was successfully used for the determination of Cu²⁺ in environmental samples. The mechanism of reaction was also discussed.     

Fast racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution of primary benzyl amines

We prepared a Pd nanocatalyst (average diameter of Pd nanoparticles = 1.73 nm) displaying a remarkable activity for the racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of 1-methylbenzylamine. It was eight times more active than the previous best. The DKR of 1-methylbenzylamine with the Pd nanocatalyst (2 mol %) in the presence of a thermostable lipase (Novozym 435) was complete in 6 h at 70 °C. The DKRs of other benzyl amines also proceeded to completion in 6 h under similar conditions except the amount of Pd nanocatalyst.     

Development of an enzymeless biosensor for the determination of phenolic compounds

The construction of amperometric enzymeless biosensors for phenolic compounds determination, using carbon paste electrode modified with copper phtalocyanine (CuPc) and histidine (His), based on the chemistry of the dopamine β-monooxygenase (DβM) enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation of the dopamine and its analogs is shown. The modified carbon paste was evaluated on electrodes constructed in two ways: putting the paste into a cavity of a rotating disk electrode and a platinum slide electrode fixed into a glass tube. The sensor in hydrodynamic conditions presented a linear response range between 30 and 250 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 4.6±0.1 nA l μmol⁻¹ cm⁻² for catechol, response time of 3 s and lifetime of about 50 days when stored at room temperature. The sensor in static conditions showed a linear response range from 40 to 250 μmol l⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 0.30±0.01 nA l μmol⁻¹ cm⁻² for catechol. The sensors presented the following relative response order for dopamine and some analog species: catechol>dopamine>guaiacol>serotonin>phenol.