“Sock-Ball” Chromatographic Separation of Some Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons with C60-Fullerene Stationary Phase

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of different molecular shapes were tested and compared with a prepared C₆₀-fullerene-phase, and with the commercial Amino-phase or RP-18-phase in the mobile phase of methanol/dichloromethane (90/10 — 70/30) or n-hexane/dichloromethane (80/20). The chromatographic separation results indicate that C₆₀-fullerene-phase achieves the special selectivities and performances for the separation of PAHs. Based on the retention mechanism of “π-π” complex interaction or “Sock-Ball” shaped combination, PAHs undergo more pronounced interaction with C₆₀ ligand. For example, decacyclene, a sock-shaped PAH, the structure of which was calculated by means of semi-empirical molecular orbital methods, possesses stronger retention to give a “Sock-Ball” chromatographic separation with C₆₀-fullerene-phase. However, PAHs with bend, planar, or co-planar structures eluted on C₆₀-fullerene-phase undergo adsorption chromatography, but possess weaker retentions. The retention power of “Sock-Ball” chromatography can successfully recognize the different molecular shapes of PAHs.     

Protein adsorption behavior and immunoglobulin separation with a mixed‐mode resin based on p‐aminohippuric acid

p‐Aminohippuric acid is a newly developed ligand for mixed‐mode chromatography with a commercial resin name of Nuvia cPrime. In this study, bovine immunoglobulin G and bovine serum albumin were used as two model proteins, and the adsorption isotherms with Nuvia cPrime were investigated under different pH and salt concentrations. The results showed that pH had a strong but different influence on the adsorption of these two proteins. The adsorption capacity for bovine immunoglobulin G and BSA was 170.4 and 28.1 mg/g at pH 6.0, respectively. Different salts also showed varying effects on the protein adsorption. Moreover, the adsorption and elution behaviors of the two proteins in a column were determined under varying pH and salt concentrations. An optimized process showed that feedstock loaded under pH 6.0 with 0.8 M (NH₄)₂SO₄ and eluted under pH 8.0 with 1.0 M NaCl could effectively purify bovine immunoglobulin G from feedstock containing BSA. The purity of bovine immunoglobulin G could reach 99.8% and the recovery was 92.7%. The results demonstrated that the control of pH and salt addition during the loading and elution processes were two key factors in improving separation efficiency with Nuvia cPrime resin.     

Chemical separation of enriched cadmium target from copper backing in cyclotron production of radioisotope 111In

A radiochemical purification procedure was developed for the separation of enriched cadmium (¹¹¹Cd and ¹¹²Cd) from natural copper that used as backing; and was based upon the chromatographic adsorption. The separation of copper from cadmium was studied in this work. The ions were selectively separated from aqueous solution. Ion-exchange chromatography was employed as a column (1.5 cm i.d. and 15 cm length) with AG1-X8 resin (chloride form, 100–200 mesh) and a flow rate of 1–2 ml/min throughout the separation. 6 M HCl media was used for the adsorption of Cd and Cu on the resin. Then, Cu was eluted by 2 M HCl and Cd by 100 ml 0.5 M HNO₃. The amount of Cu and Cd ions in the final solution (0.5 M HNO₃) were measured by pulse polarographic method and the concentration of Cu was found to be <0.1 ppm. The Cd was quantitatively recovered and the recovery yield from ion-exchange chromatography was greater than 96 %.     

Preparation of core–shell structure Fe3O4@SiO2 superparamagnetic microspheres immoblized with iminodiacetic acid as immobilized metal ion affinity adsorbents for His‐tag protein purification

The core–shell structure Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ magnetic microspheres were prepared by a sol–gel method, and immobiled with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) as metal ion affinity ligands for protein adsorption. The size, morphology, magnetic properties and surface modification of magnetic silica nanospheres were characterized by various modern analytical instruments. It was shown that the magnetic silica nanospheres exhibited superparamagnetism with saturation magnetization values of up to 58.1 emu/g. Three divalent metal ions, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, were chelated on the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–IDA magnetic microspheres to adsorb lysozyme. The results indicated that Ni²⁺‐chelating magnetic microspheres had the maximum adsorption capacity for lysozyme of 51.0 mg/g, adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 60 min and the adsorbed protein could be easily eluted. Furthermore, the synthesized Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–IDA–Ni²⁺ magnetic microspheres were successfully applied for selective enrichment lysozyme from egg white and His‐tag recombinant Homer 1a from the inclusion extraction expressed in Escherichia coli. The result indicated that the magnetic microspheres showed unique characteristics of high selective separation behavior of protein mixture, low nonspecific adsorption, and easy handling. This demonstrates that the magnetic silica microspheres can be used efficiently in protein separation or purification and show great potential in the pretreatment of the biological sample. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb in environmental samples by ICP-AES using polyaniline for separation

The anion exchange properties of polyaniline for Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb in potassium iodide were studied. The analytes converted into anionic complexes by KI (0.03–0.96 mol/L) in HCl were adsorbed on polyaniline and eluted with HNO₃. The optimum conditions for adsorption and elution were determined. Quantitative recoveries were obtained for Cd, Cu and Pb, whereas, the recoveries for Sb were about 75%. This separation procedure was used with subsequent ICP-AES determination for Cd, Cu, and Pb in NIST-coal fly ash (1633b) and a sea plant with an R.S.D of 5% (n = 5).     

Study on selective separation of cesium from high level liquid waste using a macroporous silica-based supramolecular recognition absorbent

A macroporous silica-based supramolecular recognition absorbent (Calix[4]?+?Dodecanol)/SiO₂?CP, was prepared by successive impregnation and fixing the 1,3-[(2,4-diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-Calix[4]arene (Calix[4]arene-R14) and its molecule modifier 1-Dodecanol onto SiO₂ silica-based polymer support. The characterization of (Calix[4]?+?Dodecanol)/SiO₂?CP was examined by thermal gravimetry and differential thermal analysis and electron probe microanalysis. Relatively large separation factors of Cs and other metal ions (?? _Cs/M ⁿ⁺ ) above 60 were obtained in the presence of 3?M HNO₃. The adsorption data of Cs(I) fitted well with Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 0.19?mmol?g^?1. The Cs(I) in 3?M HNO₃ were also effectively adsorption on (Calix[4]?+?Dodecanol)/SiO₂?CP in the column operation, and the loaded Cs(I) was successfully eluted with an eluent of H₂O. The column packed with (Calix[4]?+?Dodecanol)/SiO₂?CP had excellent reusability after three cycles.     

LC with a Teicoplanin Aglycone Chiral Sorbent for the Separation of the Enantiomers of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: An Evaluation of Chiral Capillary Columns

A capillary column with a teicoplanin aglycone (TAG) stationary phase (CSP) was used for enantioselective separation of selected profen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in capillary liquid chromatography (cLC). The effect of variations in the mobile phase composition on the retention and enantioselective separation was examined. The best resolution was attained in the mobile phase composed of 40/60 (v/v) methanol/1.0% triethylamine acetate buffer, pH 4.0 or 4.5. Under the optimized separation conditions, five of the set of eight analytes were enantioresolved with resolution values better than 0.9. Only fenoprofen was not enantioseparated in any system tested. The optimized separation conditions were used for evaluation of three chiral capillary columns (all prepared in the same way in our laboratory) in terms of the repeatability and reproducibility of the results. The run-to-run repeatability was expressed in terms of the relative standard deviation (RSD) values, obtained from ten independent measurements, for the following parameters: the retention factor for the first eluted enantiomer (k ₁), the selectivity (α), the enantioresolution (R), the theoretical plate count per meter for the first eluted enantiomer (N ₁) and the elution curve asymmetry for the first eluted enantiomer (As ₁). None of the RSD values exceeded 8%. The column-to-column reproducibility of these parameters ranged between 1 and 9%. The results obtained with TAG based CSPs in cLC (a laboratory packed capillary column) were compared with those obtained by classical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a commercially available column. The cLC procedure provided a better enantioresolution and the elution curves had a better symmetry.

     

Radiochemical neutron activation analysis for determination of Au,Ag, Pt and Pd in geological samples

A procedure for separation of Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd in geological samples has been developed. After irradiation, samples were fused with Na₂O₂ and silver was separated by filtering through a PbCl₂ filter in 4M nitric acid solution. Au, Pt and Pd were concentrated with rhodium and thiourea as rhodium sulfide and the separation process of these elements was carried out by a chromatographic method. Au, Pt and Pd were retained on a Dowex-1×8 anion column in 1M HCl. Pd was eluted from the column by using a mixture of 75% HCl acid-25% acetone. Au was eluted by using a mixture of 10% HCl-90% acetone. In the gold fraction, Pt was also determined through the photopeak of¹⁹⁹Au radionuclide (158 keV). The method was simple and rapid.     

Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb in environmental samples by ICP-AES using polyaniline for separation

The anion exchange properties of polyaniline for Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb in potassium iodide were studied. The analytes converted into anionic complexes by KI (0.03–0.96 mol/L) in HCl were adsorbed on polyaniline and eluted with HNO₃. The optimum conditions for adsorption and elution were determined. Quantitative recoveries were obtained for Cd, Cu and Pb, whereas, the recoveries for Sb were about 75%. This separation procedure was used with subsequent ICP-AES determination for Cd, Cu, and Pb in NIST-coal fly ash (1633b) and a sea plant with an R.S.D of 5% (n = 5). Received: 13 November 1997 / Revised: 2 February 1998 / Accepted: 7 February 1998     

Recognition of 1,3‐Butadiene by a Porous Coordination Polymer

The separation of 1,3‐butadiene from C₄ hydrocarbon mixtures is imperative for the production of synthetic rubbers, and there is a need for a more economical separation method, such as a pressure swing adsorption process. With regard to adsorbents that enable C₄ gas separation, [Zn(NO₂ip)(dpe)]_n (SD‐65; NO₂ip=5‐nitroisophthalate, dpe=1,2‐di(4‐pyridyl)ethylene) is a promising porous material because of its structural flexibility and restricted voids, which provide unique guest‐responsive accommodation. The 1,3‐butadiene‐selective sorption profile of SD‐65 was elucidated by adsorption isotherms, in situ PXRD, and SSNMR studies and was further investigated by multigas separation and adsorption–desorption‐cycle experiments for its application to separation technology.     

Radiochemical separation of 109Cd from a silver target

A radiochemical separation method was developed for the separation of ¹⁰⁹Cd from a ^nat.Ag target (6.6 g, pressed into a 19 mm disc). The method comprised of two stages. In the first stage, after dissolution of the target in nitric acid, silver was separated from Cd by precipitation into the metallic form using 20 g of Cu turnings for the reduction of Ag⁺ ions. In the second stage, ¹⁰⁹Cd in the filtrate, that contained trace amount of silver and substantial quantity of Cu(I), was purified by use of a Bio-Rad AG1-X10 anion-exchange resin. The ion-exchange chromatography employed a column with (1.6 cm i.d. and 4 cm length) with a flow rate of 2 ml/min throughout the separation. ¹⁰⁹Cd was quantitatively recovered from the first stage and the recovery yield from the ion-exchange chromatography was greater than 96%. 2M HCl containing H₂O₂ was used for the adsorption of ¹⁰⁹Cd and elution of Cu. ¹⁰⁹Cd was eluted by 50 ml 1M HNO₃. The concentrations of stable isotopes of Ag and Cu in the final solution (5 ml 0.05M HCl) were measured by an ICP-OES method and found to be <1 ppm.     

Adsorption of cesium using mesoporous silica gel evenly doped by Prussian blue nanoparticles

In this paper, a novel mesoporous silica gel evenly doped by Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBMSG) was successfully synthesized by using N,N-dimethylamide as template with a large Barrett-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 505 m²/g and an average pore size of 2.9 nm. The static adsorption experiments showed that the equilibration time of PBMSG for Cs⁺ was about 30 min. The adsorption isotherm of PBMSG for Cs⁺ accorded with Langmuir model and the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity was 80.0 ± 2.9 mg/g. When the initial concentration of Cs⁺ was 1.00 mg/L, the adsorption partition coefficient K_d could reach 3.5 × 10⁴ mL/g After adsorption, Cs⁺ could be eluted by dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 2) with an efficiency of 89.8%, while no K⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺ was eluted. PBMSG exhibited good selectivity toward Cs⁺ and Rb⁺. In the presence of high concentration of K⁺, the selective adsorption of PBMSG could change the mass ratio of K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ from 96.63:0.83:1.00–1.12:0.73:1.00. The separation of Cs⁺ and Rb⁺ from K⁺ with similar concentration (100 mg/g) was realized by column experiment. This indicated that PBMSG was suitable for rapid recovery of low concentration of rubidium and cesium from complex matrixes, such as wastewater and salt lake brine, etc.     

LC with a Teicoplanin Aglycone Chiral Sorbent for the Separation of the Enantiomers of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: An Evaluation of Chiral Capillary Columns

A capillary column with a teicoplanin aglycone (TAG) stationary phase (CSP) was used for enantioselective separation of selected profen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in capillary liquid chromatography (cLC). The effect of variations in the mobile phase composition on the retention and enantioselective separation was examined. The best resolution was attained in the mobile phase composed of 40/60 (v/v) methanol/1.0% triethylamine acetate buffer, pH 4.0 or 4.5. Under the optimized separation conditions, five of the set of eight analytes were enantioresolved with resolution values better than 0.9. Only fenoprofen was not enantioseparated in any system tested. The optimized separation conditions were used for evaluation of three chiral capillary columns (all prepared in the same way in our laboratory) in terms of the repeatability and reproducibility of the results. The run-to-run repeatability was expressed in terms of the relative standard deviation (RSD) values, obtained from ten independent measurements, for the following parameters: the retention factor for the first eluted enantiomer (k ₁), the selectivity (α), the enantioresolution (R), the theoretical plate count per meter for the first eluted enantiomer (N ₁) and the elution curve asymmetry for the first eluted enantiomer (As ₁). None of the RSD values exceeded 8%. The column-to-column reproducibility of these parameters ranged between 1 and 9%. The results obtained with TAG based CSPs in cLC (a laboratory packed capillary column) were compared with those obtained by classical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a commercially available column. The cLC procedure provided a better enantioresolution and the elution curves had a better symmetry.     

Separation of isomeric and nonisomeric monoribonucleotides by isocratic ion pair high performance liquid chromatography

A simple, isocratic, high performance liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the first time for the separation of nine monoribonucleotides using the ion-pairing technique. An aqueous mobile phase containing 100 mM KH₂PO₄ and 12.5 mM tetramethylammonium hydroxide as the solvophobic ion, pH 3.9, was used with a reverse phase RP-18 column. The nine monoribonucleotides studied were separated and eluted in the following order: cytidine-5′ -phosphate, uridine-5′ -phosphate, cytidine-3′ -phosphate, guanosine-5′ -phosphate, uridine-3′ -phosphate, uridine-2′ -phosphate, adenosine-5′ -phosphate, guanosine-3′ -phosphate, and adenosine-3′ -phosphate. Generally the 5′ nucleotides eluted faster than the 3′ and the order of elution within each series was: cytidine, uridine, guanosine, and adenosine. The only nucleotide where three isomers were studied was uridine, and the 2′ eluted later than the 3′. Baseline separation was attained for a mixture containing four 3′ nucleotides and uridine-2′ -phosphate. When the four 5′ nucleotides were chromatographed, baseline separation was also obtained except between cytidine-5′ -phosphate and uridine-5′ -phosphate. The coefficient of variation of the retention characteristics, which reflected day-to-day variation, averaged 6.4%.     

Enhanced adsorption performance of the graphene oxide with metallic ion impurities by elution

The graphene oxides (GOs) with various content of metallic ions impurities were prepared, and the adsorption performance of the GO before and after elution was evaluated. The prepared GOs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma and atomic force microscopy. The results indicated that the metallic ion impurities hardly affected the interlayer distance, microstructure and thickness of the prepared GOs. The adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetic results showed that the metallic ions adsorbed on the GO surface had a negative influence on both the adsorption capacity and rate. After eluted by HNO₃ or HCl, most of the metallic ions adsorbed on the GO‐91 surface were ion‐exchanged by the protons of the acid eluents, and the purified GO showed enhanced equilibrium capacities and improved adsorption rate. The elution efficiency of HCl was better than that of HNO₃, and the adsorption capacity and rate of the GO eluted by HCl approximately reached to those of the GO prepared from the graphite with high purity. It indicated that HCl could efficiently remove the metallic ions adsorbed on the GO surface. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Langmuir Aggregation of Stain on Ionic Surfactant and its Application: Interaction of Bromo‐Pyrogallol Red with Cetyl Trimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) and Determination of Molybdenum Traces

The microphase adsorption‐spectral correction (MPASC) technique was de scribed and applied to study the interaction of bromo‐pyrogallol red (BPR) with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The synergism mechanism of micelles was analyzed and discussed. The large electrostatic micelle adsorbs the chromophore in only the monolayer, and the adsorption obeys the Langmuir adsorption. The formation of the (BPR₂·CTAB)₇₈ aggregate accelerates the Mo‐BPR complex reaction. Experimental results showed the adsorption constant of the adsorption aggregate 6.20 × 10⁵ and its molar absorptivity ?_r^610nm = 1.40 × 10⁶ lmol^?1cm^?1. For analysis of samples, the recovery of Mo was between 97.4 and 107% and the RSD was less than 4.39%.     

Effect of carbon pore structure on the CH4/N2 separation

The separation between CH₄ and N₂ bears importance in coalbed methane enrichment, and activated carbon is a major adsorbent for industrial PSA (pressure swing adsorption) separation. However, the adsorption of both gases shows supercritical features, and the physicochemical properties are also similar, which results in similar adsorption behavior and renders the separation difficult. To maximize the separation coefficient, the effect of carbon pore structure on the separation was studied and a series of carbons was prepared at different extent of activation. The effect of specific surface area, pore size and pore volume on the separation coefficient was observed and a linear correlation between the separation coefficient and the small pore (0.7–1.3?nm) volume reduced to unit surface area was shown.     

Ultrafast interfacial electron transfer from the excited state of anchored molecules into a semiconductor

Ultrafast heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) from the excited singlet state of the large organic chromophore perylene into the inorganic semiconductor rutile TiO₂ was investigated with femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission (TR-2PPE). The strength of the electronic interaction between the chromophore and the semiconductor was varied by inserting different anchor/bridge groups that functioned either as electronic wire or electronic tunnelling barrier. Both anchor groups, i.e. carboxylic and phosphonic acid, formed strong chemical bonds at the TiO₂ surface. The perylene chromophore with the different anchor/bridge groups was adsorbed from solution in a dedicated ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) chamber. The adsorption geometry of the chromophore perylene was determined from angle and polarization dependent two-photon photoemission (2PPE) signals and was found to be very different for the two different anchor/bridge groups. The measured adsorption geometries are compatible with recent DFT (density functional theory) calculations by P. Persson and co-workers [M. Nilsing, S. Lunell, P. Persson, L. Ojamäe, Phosphonic acid adsorption at the TiO₂ anatase (1 0 1) surface investigated by periodic hybrid HF-DFT computations, Surf. Sci. 582 (2005) 49–60]. Two different processes contributed to the TR-2PPE transients, firstly electron transfer from the chromophore to the electronic acceptor states on the surface and secondly escape of the electrons from the surface into the bulk of the semiconductor. The latter escape process was measured separately by making the interfacial electron injection process instantaneous when the chromophore catechol was employed in place of the perylene compounds. The thus measured electron escape behavior was governed by the same time constants that have recently been predicted by Prezhdo and coworkers from time dependent DFT calculations [W.R. Duncan, W.M. Stier, O.V. Prezhdo, Ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics of the ultrafast electron injection across the Alizarin-TiO₂ interface, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 7941–7951]. The HET times derived from the 2PPE transients showed very good agreement with HET times measured via transient absorption (TA) on anatase TiO₂ layers. The measured energy distribution of the 2PPE signals for the injected electrons suggests that a high density of electronic acceptor states is operative in both systems and is spread over an at least 1 eV wide energy range. The acceptor states are tentatively identified with surface states created through the formation of chemical bonds between the anchor groups of the organic molecules and surface atoms of the semiconductor.     

Photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds by Au-TiO2/sepiolite composites as the highly efficient catalysts

Photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) as typical model organic contaminants was investigated in aqueous solution within a cooperating Au/TiO₂/sepiolite heterostructure system under UV light irradiation. The Au/TiO₂/sepiolite composites with a single-crystalline (anatase) framework was synthesized by a facile sol-gel method using titanium tetrachloride as a TiO₂ precursor and depositing metal Au on the surface of TiO₂ nanostructures via a facile chemical reduction process. The crystal structure, surface area, light adsorption and the photoinduced charge separation rate of the photocatalyst prepared were characterized in detail. As compared with the pristine TiO₂, the Au/TiO₂/sepiolite hybrid material exhibited good photocatalytic efficiency (90%) for the UV-light photooxidation of methyl orange, which is four-fold of that of reference TiO₂. In addition, Au/TiO₂/sepiolite hybrid material also shows a good photodegradation performance toward Congo red removal. The highly efficient photocatalytic activity is associated with the strong adsorption ability of sepiolite for aromatic dye molecules, fast photogenerated charge separation due to the formation of Schottky junction between TiO₂ and metallic Au. This work suggests that the combination of the excellent adsorption properties of sepiolite and the efficient separation effect of noble metallic nanoparticles provides a versatile strategy for the synthesis of novel and highly efficient photocatalysts.     

Magnetic and hydrophilic imprinted particles via ATRP at room temperature for selective separation of sulfamethazine

In this work, a facile route to prepare hydrophilic molecularly imprinted particles with magnetic susceptibility (MMIPs) was first reported via atom transfer radical precipitation polymerization (ATRPP) in a methanol/water solvent at low temperature (298 K), which can be considered as an environment-friendly system. During the process, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and N, N-methylenebisacrylamide monomers were added to improve the hydrophilicity of the polymers. The obtained materials were characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and then used for the selective separation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) from aqueous medium. The images showed Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles that were successfully embedded into the polymer particles with the size ranging from 450 to 650 nm, which exhibited great superparamagnetic susceptivity and high thermal stability. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to determine specific adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and selective recognition and separation. The effect of the ratio of the double monomers used in the adsorption property was also studied. The equilibrium data of MMIPs toward SMZ was well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity estimated was 66.67 μmol g^?1. The adsorption kinetics rapidly achieved equilibrium within 1.0 h and was well described by the pseudo-second-order model. The MMIPs synthesized showed outstanding affinity and selectivity toward SMZ over structurally analogous antibiotics and easily achieved magnetic separation under an external magnetic field. In addition, the adsorption performance of the resulting MMIPs was no obviously decreased at least six repeated cycles.