Ruthenium and ruthenium dioxide-modified graphite-ethylene/propylene/diene and graphite-Teflon composite electrodes as amperometric flow detectors. Application to the determination of methionine

The flow injection amperometric performance of solid composite graphite electrodes with ethylene/propylene/diene (EPD) or Teflon as binding agents, and with Ru or RuO2 particles as electrocatalytic modifiers has been compared. Both, Ru and RuO2 modified electrodes exhibited electrocatalytic properties on the methionine oxidation process in alkaline media. The electrodes composition and the hydrodynamic and chemical variables were optimized. Graphite-EPD (GEPD) electrodes showed a better analytical performance than graphite-Teflon (GPTFE) electrodes. Furthermore, a better sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility was observed for RuO2-GEPD electrodes when compared with Ru-GEPD electrodes. At an applied potential of +0.50 V, a detection limit for methionine of 4.8x10(-5) mol L(-1), similar to those reported in the literature for other RuO2-modified electrodes, was obtained. The analytical applicability of RuO2-GEPD electrodes was demonstrated by determining methionine in a complex pharmaceutical formulation.     

Determination of traces of streptomycin and related antibiotics by adsorptive stripping voltammetry

Adsorptive stripping voltammetry provides sensitive determinations of trace amounts of the saccharide-related antibiotics, streptomycin, erythromycin and novobiocin. A static mercury drop electrode is immersed in a stirred alkaline solution of the drug for a fixed time (60–300 s) at a suitable potential, and the adsorbed species is then stripped in the linear-scan or differential-pulse mode. The preconcentration potentials and stripping peak potentials (vs. Ag/AgCl) are, respectively, ?1.0 V and ?1.58 V for streptomycin, ?0.9 V and ?1.2 V for erythromycin, and ?1.0 V and ?1.38 V for novobiocin. The interfacial behavior is discussed. Short preconcentration periods suffice to quantity streptomycin, novobiocin, and erythromycin down to the 7 × 10^?10 M, 2.5 × 10^?9 M, and 1.3 × 10^?8 M levels, respectively. Streptomycin added to urine can be quantified after simple dilution.     

Monitoring in situ catalytically active states of Ru catalysts for different methanol oxidation pathways

One of the prerequisites for the detailed understanding of heterogeneous catalysis is the identification of the dynamic response of the catalyst surface under variable reaction conditions. The present study of methanol oxidation on different model Ru pre-catalysts, performed approaching the realistic catalytic reaction conditions, provides direct evidence of the significant effect of reactants' chemical potentials and temperature on the catalyst surface composition and the corresponding catalytic activity and selectivity. The experiments were carried out for three regimes of oxygen potentials in the 10(-1) mbar pressure range, combining in situ analysis of the catalyst surface by synchrotron-based photoelectron core level spectroscopy with simultaneous monitoring of the products released in the gas phase by mass spectroscopy. Metallic Ru with adsorbed oxygen and transient 'surface oxide', RuO(x), with varying x have been identified as the catalytically active states under specific reaction conditions, favouring partial or full oxidation pathways. It has been shown that the composition of catalytically active steady states, exhibiting different activity and selectivity, evolves under the reaction conditions, independent of the crystallographic orientation and the initial pre-catalyst chemical state, metallic Ru or RuO(2).     

Structures and properties of zirconia-supported ruthenium oxide catalysts for the selective oxidation of methanol to methyl formate

The effects of RuO(x) structure on the selective oxidation of methanol to methyl formate (MF) at low temperatures were examined on ZrO(2)-supported RuO(x) catalysts with a range of Ru surface densities (0.2-3.8 Ru/nm(2)). Their structure was characterized using complementary methods (X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectra, and reduction dynamics). The structure and reactivity of RuO(x) species change markedly with Ru surface density. RuO(x) existed preferentially as RuO(4)(2-) species below 0.4 Ru/nm(2), probably as isolated Zr(RuO(4))(2) interacting with ZrO(2) surfaces. At higher surface densities, highly dispersed RuO(2) domains coexisted with RuO(4)(2-) and ultimately formed small clusters and became the prevalent form of RuO(x) above 1.9 Ru/nm(2). CH(3)OH oxidation rates per Ru atom and per exposed Ru atom (turnover rates) decreased with increasing Ru surface density. This behavior reflects a decrease in intrinsic reactivity as RuO(x) evolved from RuO(4)(2-) to RuO(2), a conclusion confirmed by transient anaerobic reactions of CH(3)OH and by an excellent correlation between reaction rates and the number of RuO(4)(2-) species in RuO(x)/ZrO(2) catalysts. The high intrinsic reactivity of RuO(4)(2-) structures reflects their higher reducibility, which favors the reduction process required for the kinetically relevant C-H bond activation step in redox cycles using lattice oxygen atoms involved in CH(3)OH oxidation catalysis. These more reactive RuO(4)(2-) species and the more exposed ZrO(2) surfaces on samples with low Ru surface density led to high MF selectivities (e.g. approximately 96% at 0.2 Ru/nm(2)). These findings provide guidance for the design of more effective catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols by the synthesis of denser Zr(RuO(4))(2) monolayers on ZrO(2) and other high surface area supports.     

Investigation of electrochemical behavior of lipid lowering agent atorvastatin calcium in aqueous media and its determination from pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological fluids using boron-doped diamond and glassy carbon electrodes

The electrochemical behavior of atorvastatin calcium at glassy carbon and boron-doped diamond electrodes has been studied using voltammetric techniques. The possible mechanism of oxidation was discussed with model compounds. The dependence of the peak current and potentials on pH, concentration, scan rate and nature of the buffer were investigated for both electrodes. The oxidation of atorvastatin was irreversible and exhibited a diffusion-controlled fashion on the diamond electrode. A linear response was obtained within the range of 9.65 x 10(-7) - 3.86 x 10(-5) M in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) solution for both electrodes. The detection limits of a standard solution are estimated to be 2.11 x 10(-7) M with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and 2.05 x 10(-7)M with square wave voltammetry (SWV) for glassy carbon electrode, and 2.27 x 10(-7) M with DPV and 1.31 x 10(-7)M with SWV for diamond electrodes in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) solution. The repeatability of the methods was found good for both electrodes. The methods were fully validated and successfully applied to the high-throughput determination of the drug in tablets, human serum and human urine with good recoveries.     

Electrochemical oxidation of nitrite and the oxidation and reduction of NO2 in the room temperature ionic liquid [C2mim][NTf2

The electrochemical oxidation of potassium nitrite has been studied in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) [C2mim][NTf2] by cyclic voltammetry at platinum electrodes. A chemically irreversible oxidation peak was observed, and a solubility of 7.5(+/-0.5) mM and diffusion coefficient of 2.0(+/-0.2)x10(-11) m2 s(-1) were calculated from potential step chronoamperometry on the microdisk electrode. A second, and sometimes third, oxidation peak was also observed when the anodic limit was extended, and these were provisionally assigned to the oxidation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrate (NO3-), respectively. The electrochemical oxidation of nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2) was also studied by cyclic voltammetry in [C2mim][NTf2] on Pt electrodes of various size, giving a solubility of ca. 51(+/-0.2) mM and diffusion coefficient of 1.6(+/-0.05)x10(-10) m2 s(-1) (at 25 degrees C). It is likely that NO2 exists predominantly as its dimer, N2O4, at room temperature. The oxidation mechanism follows a CE process, which involves the initial dissociation of the dimer to the monomer, followed by a one-electron oxidation. A second, larger oxidation peak was observed at more positive potentials and is thought to be the direct oxidation of N2O4. In addition to understanding the mechanisms of NO2- and NO2 oxidations, this work has implications in the electrochemical detection of nitrite ions and of NO2 gas in RTIL media, the latter which may be of particular use in gas sensing.     

Zeolite-confined Nano-RuO(2): A green,selective, and efficient catalyst for aerobic alcohol oxidation

The development of green, selective, and efficient catalysts, which can aerobically oxidize a variety of alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, is of both economic and environmental significance. We report here the synthesis of a novel aerobic oxidation catalyst, a zeolite-confined nanometer-sized RuO(2) (RuO(2)-FAU), by a one-step hydrothermal method. Using the spatial constraints of the rigid zeolitic framework, we sucessfully incorporated RuO(2) nanoparticles (1.3 +/- 0.2 nm) into the supercages of faujasite zeolite. Ru K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure results indicate that the RuO(2) nanoclusters anchored in the zeolite are structurally similar to highly hydrous RuO(2); that is, there is a two-dimensional structure of independent chains, in which RuO(6) octahedra are connected together by two shared oxygen atoms. In our preliminary catalytic studies, we find that the RuO(2) nanoclusters exhibit extraordinarily high activity and selectivity in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions, for example, air and ambient pressure. The physically trapped RuO(2) nanoclusters cannot diffuse out of the relatively narrow channels/pores of the zeolite during the catalytic process, making the catalyst both stable and reusable.     

Visualization of atomic processes on ruthenium dioxide using scanning tunneling microscopy.

The visualization of surface reactions on the atomic scale provides direct insight into the microscopic reaction steps taking place in a catalytic reaction at a (model) catalyst's surface. Employing the technique of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we investigated the CO oxidation reaction over the RuO2(110) and RuO2(100) surfaces. For both surfaces the protruding bridging O atoms are imaged in STM as bright features. The reaction mechanism is identical on both orientations of RuO2. CO molecules adsorb on the undercoordinated surface Ru atoms from where they recombine with undercoordinated O atoms to form CO2 at the oxide surface. In contrast to the RuO2(110) surface, the RuO2(100) surface stabilizes also a catalytically inactive c(2 x 2) surface phase onto which CO is not able to adsorb above 100 K. We argue that this inactive RuO2(100)-c(2 x 2) phase may play an important role in the deactivation of RuO2 catalysts in the electrochemical Cl2 evolution and other heterogeneous reactions.     

Covalent modification of glassy carbon electrode with glutamic acid for simultaneous determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid

A novel covalently modified glassy carbon electrode with glutamic acid has been fabricated via an electrochemical oxidation procedure and was applied to the catalytic oxidation of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA), reducing the overpotentials by about 0.2 V and 0.3 V, respectively. Based on its strong catalytic function toward the oxidation of UA and AA, the modified electrode resolved the overlapping voltammetric response of UA and AA into two well-defined voltammetric peaks with both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which can be used for the simultaneous determination of these species in a mixture. The catalytic peak current obtained from DPV was linearly dependent on the UA and AA concentration in the range 2 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-4) mol L-1 and 1.0 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-4) mol L-1 with correlation coefficients of 0.996 and 0.997, respectively. The detection limits (3 delta) for UA and AA were 1.1 x 10(-6) mol L-1 and 9.2 x 10(-7) mol L-1, respectively. The modified electrode shows good sensitivity, selectivity and stability, and has been applied to the determination of UA and AA simultaneously in human urine samples with satisfactory results.     

Measurement of sulfite at oxide-coated copper electrodes

The amperometric determination of sulfite was performed using copper electrodes in alkaline media. A mechanism for the oxidation of sulfite at these electrodes is suggested, based on the formation of superficial CuO(.OH), which acted as an electron transfer mediator to the analyte. At 0.5 V versus SCE in 1 M NaOH, sulfite could be calibrated at a sensitivity of 0.2 A l mol-1 cm-2, with a response time for the steady state of 30 s. The limit of detection (three times the signal-to-noise ratio) was 2.5 x 10(-6) M and the response was linear up to 5 x 10(-4) M (r2 = 0.9996, n = 15). The standard deviation (n = 10) at 1 x 10(-5) and 1 x 10(-4) M was 3.27 x 10(-7) A cm-2 (mean = 3.62 x 10(-6) A cm-2) and 1.07 x 10(-13) A cm-2 (mean = 2.25 x 10(-5) A cm-2), respectively.     

Polyaniline based nucleic acid sensor

Twenty-bases long NH2-modified DNA and PNA probes specific to a pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) were covalently immobilized onto a polyaniline (PANI)/Au electrode to detect nucleic acid hybridization with complementary, one-base mismatch and noncomplementary targets within 30 s using Methylene Blue. The PNA-PANI/Au electrode exhibits improved specificity (1000 times) and detection limit (0.125 x 10(-18) M) as compared to that of the DNA-PANI/Au electrode (2.5 x 10(-18) M). These PNA-PANI/Au electrodes can be utilized for detection of hybridization with the complementary sequence in 5 min sonicated M. tuberculosis genomic DNA within 1 min of hybridization time. These DNA-PANI/Au and PNA-PANI/Au electrodes can be used 6-7 and 13-15 times, respectively.     

Solvent effects on the oxidation of RuIV=O to O=RuVI=O by MnO4-. hydrogen-atom versus oxygen-atom transfer

The kinetics of the oxidation of trans-[RuIV(tmc)(O)(solv)]2+ to trans-[RuVI(tmc)(O)2]2+ (tmc is 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, a tetradentate macrocyclic tertiary amine ligand; solv = H2O or CH3CN) by MnO4- have been studied in aqueous solutions and in acetonitrile. In aqueous solutions the rate law is -d[MnO4]/dt = kH2O[RuIV][MnO4-] = (kx + (ky)/(Ka)[H+])[RuIV][MnO4-], kx = (1.49 +/- 0.09) x 101 M-1 s-1 and ky = (5.72 +/- 0.29) x 104 M-1 s-1 at 298.0 K and I = 0.1 M. The terms kx and ky are proposed to be the rate constants for the oxidation of RuIV by MnO4- and HMnO4, respectively, and Ka is the acid dissociation constant of HMnO4. At [H+] = I = 0.1 M, DeltaH and DeltaS are (9.6 +/- 0.6) kcal mol-1 and -(18 +/- 2) cal mol-1 K-1, respectively. The reaction is much slower in D2O, and the deuterium isotope effects are kx/kxD = 3.5 +/- 0.1 and ky/kyD = 5.0 +/- 0.3. The reaction is also noticeably slower in H218O, and the oxygen isotope effect is kH216O/kH218O = 1.30 +/- 0.07. 18O-labeled studies indicate that the oxygen atom gained by RuIV comes from water and not from KMnO4. These results are consistent with a mechanism that involves initial rate-limiting hydrogen-atom abstraction by MnO4- from coordinated water on RuIV. In acetonitrile the rate law is -d[MnO4-]/dt = kCH3CN[RuIV][MnO4-], kCH3CN = 1.95 +/- 0.08 M-1 s-1 at 298.0 K and I = 0.1 M. DeltaH and DeltaS are (12.0 +/- 0.3) kcal mol-1 and -(17 +/- 1) cal mol-1 K-1, respectively. 18O-labeled studies show that in this case the oxygen atom gained by RuIV comes from MnO4-, consistent with an oxygen-atom transfer mechanism.     

Electrochemical detection of trace insulin at carbon-nanotube-modified electrodes

Carbon-nanotube (CNT)-modified glassy-carbon electrodes dramatically accelerate the electrooxidation of insulin to offer an attractive amperometric detection of this important hormone. Hydrodynamic voltammograms indicate a substantial lowering of the detection potential, with oxidation starting above +0.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl) and leveling off of the response above +0.7 V. The flow-injection amperometric response (at pH 7.4) is highly linear (to at least 1000 nM), reproducible (RSD=4.8%;n=30), and fast (peak width of 45 s). The high sensitivity (48 nA/μM) and moderate detection potential (+0.8 V) lead to a low detection limit of 14 nM. Such performance characteristics compare favorably with those of previously reported metal-oxide-modified electrodes for insulin, and indicate great promise for in vivo measurements of insulin release and for monitoring this hormone in chromatographic effluents.     

Electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic study of the methylene green coated on modified silica gel

The electrochemical behavior of methylene green (MG) adsorbed on a silica surface modified with niobium oxide (SN) was investigated, using modified carbon paste electrodes. It was also used in an electrocatalytic study of NADH oxidation. The electrode showed a high stability attributed to the presence of SN, which avoids the leaching of the mediator from the electrode surface. The formal potential (E(0')) of the adsorbed MG was -35 mV vs SCE, showing a shift of 30 mV toward more positive potential values, compared to the MG dissolved in aqueous solution. This shift was assigned to the interaction between the basic nitrogen of MG and the acid sites of SN. The variation of the solution pH between 4 and 8 did not affect the stability nor the formal potential. However, for solution pH lower than 4 the formal potential was affected by the acidity of the medium. The electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at the electrode was investigated. In the solution pH between 5 and 8 the electrocatalytic activity remained almost constant, giving a response signal of 13.3 nA L micromol(-1) cm(-2) and a K(Mapp) of 1.4 x 10(-5) mol L(-1). The electrode gave a linear response range between 5.0 x 10(-4) and 4.0 x 10(-3) mol L(-1) NADH concentration at pH 7.0 at an applied potential of 50 mV vs SCE. Applying a flow injection analysis system, the electrode showed a better analytical performance for NADH detection, presenting a linear response range between 6.0 x 10(-5) and 1.0 x 10(-3) mol L(-1), with an analytical frequency of 30 determinations/h, a detection limit of 8.2 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), and a precision for 25 replicates of 1% expressed as a relative standard deviation.     

Covalent immobilization of cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase on polyaniline films for application to cholesterol biosensor

Cholesterol esterase (ChEt) and cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) have been covalently immobilized on electrochemically prepared polyaniline (PANI) films. These PANI/ChEt/ChOx enzyme films have been characterized using UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical behavior of these films has been studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometric techniques, respectively. The PANI/ChEt/ChOx enzyme films show broad oxidation peak from 0.2 to 0.5 V. These PANI/ChEt/ChOx biosensing electrodes have a response time of about 40s, linearity from 50 to 500 mg/dl of cholesterol oleate concentration. These PANI/ChEt/ChOx films are thermally stable up to 46 degrees C. This polyaniline based cholesterol biosensor has optimum pH in the range of 6.5-7.5, sensitivity as 7.5x10(-4) nA/mg dl and a lifetime of about 6 weeks.     

Electrocatalytical Oxidation and Determination of Dopamine at Redox Polymer/Nafion Modified Electrodes

ABSTRACT

The modified glassy carbon electrodes prepared by simultaneously covering with [Os(bpy)₂(PVP)₁₀Cl]⁺ redox polymer and Nafion film exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of dopamine (DA). Dual linear regions between 1.0x10^?8-1.8x10^?5 M and 1.8x10^?5-4.0x10^?4 M with correlation coefficients of 0.998 and 0.995, respectively, were obtained for log-log plots of catalytic current versus DA concentration. The detection limit for DA determination was ca. 5 nM with 3σ. The dual-film modified electrodes eliminated efficiently the interference from AA presence in a 1000-fold concentration ratio and showed excellent reproducibility for the determination of DA. The modified electrodes have been used to determine DA concentration with both cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric techniques. Electrocatalytic kinetics have been studied using a rotating disk electrode. Both the addition of Nafion film and an increase in DA concentration resulted in a decrease in the electrocatalytic rate constant. An apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 1.3 mM and maximum catalytic current of 88μA were evaluated from the chronoamperometric measurements.     

Electrocatalytic determination of ascorbic acid on a glassy carbon electrode chemically modified with cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate.

An electrochemically prepared thin film of cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate (GC/CoPCNF) was used as a surface modifier for glassy carbon electrodes. The oxidation of ascorbic acid on a glassy carbon electrode modified with GC/CoPCNF as a working electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry and chronoamperometry in a 0.25 M KNO3 + 0.25 M phosphate buffer (pH 7) solution. The glassy carbon modified with CoPCNF showed good electrocatalytic activity toward ascorbic acid oxidation. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction was investigated, and the average value of the rate constant (k) for the catalytic reaction and the diffusion coefficient (D) were evaluated by different approaches for ascorbic acid, and were found to be 3.3 +/- 0.3 x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) and 3.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(-6) cm2 s(-1), respectively.     

Structures and catalytic properties of PtRu electrocatalysts prepared via the reduced RuO2 nanorods array

Structures and properties of PtRu electrocatalyts, derived from the aligned RuO2 nanorods (RuO2NR), are investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry toward COads and methanol oxidation. The catalytic activity of methanol oxidation and the CO tolerance are promoted significantly by reducing RuO2 into Ru metal before decorating with Pt. Reduction of RuO2NR was carried out by either thermal decomposition at 650 degrees C in vacuum or H2-reduction at 130 degrees C in low-pressure hydrogen. Reduction assisted by hydrogen allows infiltrating decomposition at low temperature and produces an array of nanorods with rugged walls featuring small Ru nuclei and larger surface area. Pt-RuNR, whose surface Pt:Ru ratio=0.58:0.42 was prepared by decorating with 0.1 mg cm(-2) Pt on the H2-reduced array containing 0.39 mg cm(-2) Ru, demonstrates a favorable combination of CO tolerance and high methanol oxidation activity superior to other RuO2NR-derived catalysts. When compared with a commercial electrocatalyst of PtRu (1:1) alloy (<4 nm), the activity of Pt-RuNR in methanol oxidation is shown to be somewhat lower at potential<0.48 V and higher at potential>or=0.48 V.     

Characterization of ruthenium oxide nanocluster as a cocatalyst with (Ga(1-x)Zn(x))(N(1-x)Ox) for photocatalytic overall water splitting

The formation and structural characteristics of Ru species applied as a cocatalyst on (Ga(1)(-)(x)()Zn(x)())(N(1)(-)(x)()O(x)()) are examined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. RuO(2) is an effective cocatalyst that enhances the activity of (Ga(1)(-)(x)()Zn(x)())(N(1)(-)(x)()O(x)()) for overall water splitting under visible-light irradiation. The highest photocatalytic activity is obtained for a sample loaded with 5.0 wt % RuO(2) from an Ru(3)(CO)(12) precursor followed by calcination at 623 K. Calcination is shown to cause the decomposition of initial Ru(3)(CO)(12) on the (Ga(1)(-)(x)()Zn(x)())(N(1)(-)(x)()O(x)()) surface (373 K) to form Ru(IV) species (423 K). Amorphous RuO(2) nanoclusters are then formed by an agglomeration of finer particles (523 K), and the nanoclusters finally crystallize (623 K) to provide the highest catalytic activity. The enhancement of catalytic activity by Ru loading from Ru(3)(CO)(12) is thus shown to be dependent on the formation of crystalline RuO(2) nanoparticles with optimal size and coverage.     

Voltammetric detection of magnolol in Chinese medicine based on the enhancement effect of mesoporous Al/SiO(2)-modified electrode

The enhancement effect of mesoporous Al-doped silica (Al/SiO(2))-modified electrode was investigated. Due to the properties such as large surface area, strong adsorptive ability and numerous active sites, mesoporous Al/SiO(2) alters the structure and property of electrode/solution interface, then greatly improves the electrochemical response of magnolol. The electrochemical behavior of magnolol was examined in detail. It is found that the oxidation peak current of magnolol remarkably increases at the mesoporous Al/SiO(2)-modified electrode. Based on this, a sensitive and convenient electrochemical method was developed for the determination of magnolol. The linear range is over the range from 7.5 x 10(-8) to 2.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1). The limit of detection (S/N=3) is as low as 2.5 x 10(-8) mol L(-1). Finally, this novel method was successfully used to determine the magnolol in Chinese traditional medicines.