Determination of trace mercury by solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence quenching method based on lead carboxymethyl cellulose (Pb(CMC)(2)) particles containing luminescent salicyl fluorones molecules

Luminescent particles of lead carboxymethyl cellulose (Pb(CMC)₂), which contains salicyl fluorones (THBF), Pb(CMC)₂-THBF, were synthesized by sol-gel method. Pb(CMC)₂-THBF can emit intense and stable solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence (SS-RTP) on filter paper. EDTA can chelate the Pb²⁺ in Pb(CMC)₂-THBF, causing it decompose into aqueous soluble components PbY²⁻, CMC⁻ and THBF, and these components can react with Hg²⁺ to form (CMC)₂Hg-THBF, causing decrease of phosphorescence intensity. Based on the facts above, a new method for the determination of trace mercury by SS-RTP quenching method was established. The linear range of this method is 2.0-40.0 fg spot⁻¹ (5.0-100.0 pg ml⁻¹) of Hg²⁺, with a detection limit (LD) of 0.26 fg spot⁻¹, and the regression equation of working curve is (fg spot⁻¹, 0.4 μl spot⁻¹), r = 0.9994. This method has been applied to the determination of trace mercury in water sample with satisfactory results. The mechanism of SS-RTP emission is also discussed.     

8-Quinolineboronic acid as a potential phosphorescent molecular switch for the determination of alpha-fetoprotein variant for the prediction of primary hepatocellular carcinoma

8-Quinolineboronic acid phosphorescent molecular switch (8-QBA-PMS) in the “off” state emitted weak room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of 8-QBA on the acetylcellulose membrane (ACM) with the perturbation of Pb²⁺. When 8-QBA-PMS was used to label concanavalin agglutinin (Con A) to form 8-QBA-PMS-Con A based on the reaction between -OH of 8-QBA-PMS and -COOH of Con A, 8-QBA-PMS turned “on” automatically due to its structure change, and RTP of the system increased 2.7 times. Besides, -NH₂ of 8-QBA-PMS-Con A could carry out affinity adsorption (AA) reaction with the -COOH of alpha-fetoprotein variant (AFP-V) to form the product Con A-AFP-V-Con A-8-QBA-PMS containing -NH-CO- bond, causing the RTP of the system to further increase. Moreover, the amount of AFP-V was linear to the ΔI_p of the system in the range of 0.012-2.40 (fg spot⁻¹). Thus, a new affinity sensitive adsorption solid substrate room temperature phosphorimetry using 8-QBA-PMS as labelling reagent (8-QBA-PMS-AASSRTP) for the determination of AFP-V was proposed with the detection limit (LD) of 9 × 10⁻¹⁵ g mL⁻¹. It had been used to determine AFP-V in human serum with the results agreeing with enzyme-link immunoassay (ELISA), showing promise for the prediction of PHC due to the intimate association between AFP-V and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). The mechanism of the promethod was also discussed.     

Determination of sulfur-containing amino acids by capillary electrophoresis dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis dynamic reaction cell™ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-DRC-ICP-MS) for the determination of sulfur-containing amino acids is described. The sulfur-containing amino acids studied include l-cysteine, l-cystine, dl-homocystine and l-methionine. The species studied were well separated using a 70 cm length×75 μm i.d. fused silica capillary while the applied voltage was set at +22 kV and a 10 mmol l⁻¹ disodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.8) containing 0.1 mmol l⁻¹ EDTA and 0.5 mmol l⁻¹ Triton X-100 was used as the electrophoretic buffer. The sulfur-selective electropherogram was determined at m/z 48 as by using its reaction with O₂ in the reaction cell. The method avoided the effect of polyatomic isobaric interferences at m/z 32 caused by and on by detecting as the oxide ion at m/z 48, which is less interfered. The detection limit of various species studied was in the range of 0.047-0.058 μg S ml⁻¹, which corresponded to the absolute detection limit of 1.3-1.6 pg S based on the injection volume of 27 nl. We determined the concentrations of selected sulfur-containing amino acids in urine and nutritive complement samples. The recovery was in the range of 92-128% for various species.     

Investigation of the luminescent properties of terbium-anthranilate complexes and application to the determination of anthranilic acid derivatives in aqueous solutions

The luminescent properties of terbium complexes with furosemide (FR), flufenamic (FF) acid, tolfenamic (TF) acid and mefenamic (MF) acid have been investigated in aqueous solutions. For all four compounds, complexation occurs when the carboxylic acid of the aminobenzoic group is dissociated and is greatly favoured in the presence of trioctylphosphine oxide as co-ligand and Triton X-100 as surfactant. Under optimum conditions, luminescence of the lanthanide ion is efficiently sensitised and the lifetime of the resonance level of terbium in the complex is ranging between 1 and 1.9 ms, against 0.4 ms for the aqua ion. The sensitivity of the method for the determination of anthranilic acid derivatives is improved by one to two orders of magnitude with respect to that achieved using native fluorescence or terbium-sensitised luminescence in methanol. The limits of detection are 2×10⁻¹⁰, 5×10⁻¹⁰ and 2×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ for flufenamic acid, furosemide and tolfenamic acid, and mefenamic acid, respectively, with within-run RSD values of less than 1%. The method has been applied to the determination of flufenamic acid in spiked calf sera with and without sample pretreatment. Depending on the method and the analyte concentration, the recovery was ranging between 83 and 113% and the lowest concentration attainable in serum samples was close to 1×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹.     

Determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in food-packaging materials by axial inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a time-of-flight (TOF) analyser was used for the determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in six food-packaging materials (paper and paper board). The samples (0.20-0.25 g) were digested in concentrated nitric acid in a high pressure microwave oven at 180 °C within 15 min. Two different plasma conditions were applied: cool plasma conditions (0.76 kW; 0.85, 0.89 and 15.5 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of chromium and normal plasma conditions (1.21 kW; 0.66, 0.68 and 13.6 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of cadmium and lead. External calibration was used in combination with rhodium (40 ng g⁻¹) as an internal standard. The detection limits (DL = 3S.D./sensitivity) under the conditions used corresponded to 0.01 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.06 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.07 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.03 ng g⁻¹ () and 0.02 ng g⁻¹ ( and ). The precision (R.S.D.) for six replicate determinations (10 s integration time) of 1 and 10 ng g⁻¹ of each analyte varied from 0.72% () to 4.43% (). The contents of chromium, cadmium and lead in the examined materials were evaluated using the signals of , and . They were in the range: 0.25-0.50 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, not detected (nd) to 0.12 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.28-0.35 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper and 0.50-0.64 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, nd to 0.09 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.67-0.99 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper board.     

Adamantane-dipyrromethanes: novel anion receptors

New adamantane-dipyrromethanes (AdD 1-4) were synthesized and their anion binding properties investigated. AdD 1-3 form 2:1 complexes with F⁻ (AdD:F = 2:1) characterized by high association constants, and 1:1 complexes with Cl⁻, Br⁻, and . The binding of Cl⁻, Br⁻, and by AdD 1-3 is 2-3 times stronger than for the reference compound, meso-phenyldipyrromethane (5). However, AdD 4 forms complexes with F⁻ characterized by 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry (AdD:F = 1:2).     

A catenated anion receptor based on indolocarbazole

A catenated anion receptor 7 comprising two indolocarbazole units was prepared by olefin ring-closing metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. Receptor 7 possesses a cage-like cavity where anions are encapsulated by forming four hydrogen bonds in the order of Cl⁻ > AcO⁻ >  >  > Br⁻ >  > I⁻ ≈  in 1% H₂O/acetone.     

Thermodynamic properties of lithium mica: Lepidolite

Calorimetric measurements were made on natural sample of lepidolite having the composition (K_0.80Na_0.05Ca_0.07Rb_0.16Cs_0.03)(Li_1.34Al_1.40Fe³⁺_0.01)[Si_3.25Al_0.75O₁₀]F_1.80(OH)_0.20 from Na-Li-type rare-element-rich pegmatites of East Sayany, Russia. High-temperature enthalpy increments were measured with a Tian-Calvet calorimeter at 444-972 K using the drop method. The resultant (T) equation in the interval T = 298.15-972 K was calculated:  = 316.10 + 228.12 × 10⁻³ T − 50.10 × 10⁵ T⁻² (J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹) [± 0.4%] and the value of (298.15 K) = 327.8 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ was obtained. The standard molar enthalpy of formation from the elements was determined by high-temperature drop solution calorimetry in molten lead borate at T = 973 K. The value of Δ_f(298.15 K) for lepidolite was found to be −6201 ± 18 kJ mol⁻¹. The thermodynamic properties of lepidolite of idealized composition KLi_1.5Al_1.5[Si₃AlO₁₀]F₂ were estimated based on the experimental data obtained.     

Thermochemical study of two anhydrous polymorphs of caffeine

The mean values of the standard massic energy of combustion of caffeine in phase I (or alpha) and in phase II (or beta) measured by static-bomb combustion calorimetry in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, are Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, I) = −(21823.27 ± 0.68) J · g⁻¹ and Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, II) = −(21799.96 ± 1.08) J · g⁻¹, respectively.The standard (p^° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation in condensed phase for each form was derived from the corresponding standard molar enthalpies of combustion as, and .The difference between the standard enthalpy of formation of the two polymorphs in condensed phase was also evaluated by using reaction-solution calorimetry. The obtained result, 2.04 ± 0.25 kJ · mol⁻¹, is in agreement, within the uncertainty, with the difference between the molar enthalpies of formation obtained from combustion experiments (4.5 ± 3.2) kJ · mol⁻¹, which can be considered as an internal test for consistency of the results.A value for the standard enthalpy of formation of caffeine in the gaseous state was proposed: , estimated from the values of the standard enthalpies of formation of both crystalline forms obtained in this work, and the data on standard enthalpies of sublimation collected from the literature.     

Hetero dimer from tetrakisammonium cavitand and tetratopic crown ether cavitand

Hetero dimer between tetrakis(m-ammonium)cavitand and tetrakis(dibenzo-25-crown-8)cavitand 5 was formed in CDCl₃ at room temperature. The effects of solvent polarity and temperature on the stability of were studied and the thermodynamic parameters for the formation of are , ΔH⁰ = −67.4 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS⁰ = −201.6 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.     

Thermoanalytical study of linkage isomerism in coordination compounds: Part I. Reinvestigation of thermodynamic and thermokinetic of solid state interconversion of nitrito (ONO) and nitro (NO2) isomers of pentaaminecobalt(III) chloride by means of DSC

Solid state thermal isomerization of [Co(NH₃)₅(ONO)]Cl₂ (nitrito isomer) to [Co(NH₃)₅(NO₂)]Cl₂ (nitro isomer) and reverse reaction were investigated by non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found to be essentially an equilibrium process. The interconversions are accelerated at above 65 °C and reach to equilibrium state at about 155 °C. After establishment of the equilibrium the relative amounts of two isomers at any temperature are governed by Gibbs free energy relationship. The experimental enthalpy changes of isomerization of pure nitrito and nitro solid samples to the equilibrium state are −4.67 (±0.19) and 0.99 (±0.05) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. From these values, total enthalpy change was calculated as: ΔH°=−5.66(±0.20) kJ mol⁻¹. Using Gibbs free energy relationship, equilibrium constant, total free energy and entropy changes were estimated at 60 °C as: K=7.72(±0.8),  kJ mol⁻¹ and  J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹.An initial rate method has been developed to determine the kinetic parameters of these reactions from non-isothermal DSC data. Both nitro to nitrito and reverse reactions obey first order kinetic law in solid state. Estimated activation parameters of forward and reverse paths at 60 °C are , , and , respectively. The negative activation entropy of both directions support the intramolecular mechanism of isomerization, including formation of a seven coordinate transition state, which formerly suggested based on spectral and X-ray methods.     

Reactions of pyridyl donors with halogens and interhalogens: an X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman investigation

Three different N-donors L, namely N-ethyl-N′-3-pyridyl-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (1), N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (2), and tetra-2-pyridyl-pyrazine (3), bearing one, two and four pyridyl substituents, respectively, have been reacted with halogens X₂ (X = Br, I) or interhalogens XY (X = I; Y = Cl, Br). CT σ-adducts L · nXY, bearing linear N?XY moieties (L = 3; X = I; Y = Br, I; n = 2), and salts containing the protonated cationic donors H_nLⁿ⁺ (L = 1 − 3; n = 1, 2, 4), counterbalanced by Cl⁻, Br⁻, , , , , I₂Br⁻, , or anions, have been isolated. Among the reactions products, (H1⁺)Cl⁻, (H1⁺)Br⁻, , , and 3 · 2IBr have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The nature of the products has been elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy supported by MP2 and DFT calculations.     

A computational study of SbnF5n (n = 1-4): Implications for the fluoride ion affinity of nSbF5

This contributions shows with a series of ab initio MP2 and DFT (BP86 and B3-LYP) computations with large basis sets up to cc-pVQZ quality that the literature value of the standard enthalpy of depolymerization of Sb₄F_20(g) to give SbF_5(g) (+18.5 kJ mol⁻¹) [J. Fawcett, J.H. Holloway, R.D. Peacock, D.R. Russell, J. Fluorine Chem. 20 (1982) 9] is by about 50 kJ mol⁻¹ in error and that the correct value of (Sb₄F_20(g)) is +68 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹. We assign , , and values for Sb_nF_5n with n = 2-4 and compare the results to available experimental gas phase data. Especially the MP2/TZVPP values obtained in an indirect procedure that rely on isodesmic reactions or the highly accurate compound methods G2 and CBS-Q are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, and reproduce also the fine experimental details at temperatures of 423 and 498 K. With these data and the additional calculation of [Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻ (n = 1-4), we then assessed the fluoride ion affinities (FIAs) of Sb_nF_5n(g), nSbF_5(g), nSbF_5(l) and the standard enthalpies of formation of Sb_nF_5n(g) and [Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻_(g): FIA(Sb_nF_5n(g)) = 514 (n = 1), 559 (n = 2), 572 (n = 3) and 580 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹; FIA(nSbF_5(g)) = 667 (n = 2), 767 (n = 3) and 855 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹; FIA(nSbF_5(l)) = 434 (n = 1), 506 (n = 2), 528 (n = 3) and 534 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹. Error bars are approximately ±10 kJ mol⁻¹. Also the related Gibbs energies were derived. Δ_fH°([Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻_(g)) = −2064 ± 18 (n = 1), −3516 ± 25 (n = 2), −4919 ± 31 (n = 3) and −6305 ± 36 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹.     

Tetramidocavitand: strong anion receptor by well-organized four -(CO)N-H?X interactions

Resorcin[4]arene-based tetramidocavitands containing four secondary amide groups on their upper rim showed strong (R = methyl or ethyl) binding properties. The caviplex formation through hydrogen bonds of -(CO)N-H?X⁻ was supported by ¹H NMR and crystal structure analyses. In a mixture of C₂D₂Cl₄/DMSO/D₂O = 5:15:2 at 25 °C, the thermodynamic parameters for caviplex @1, ΔG (kcal mol⁻¹), ΔH (kcal mol⁻¹), and ΔS (cal K⁻¹ mol⁻¹), are −3.7, −8.6, and −16.7, respectively.     

“Unusual” phase transitions in CeAlO3

High-resolution time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction was carried out to investigate the crystal structures of CeAlO₃ over a wide temperature range between 4.2 and 1423 K. Confirming the recent result of X-ray powder diffraction, the room temperature structure is tetragonal with the space group I4/mcm (tilt system (a⁰a⁰c⁻)). The tetragonal structure persists down to 4.2 K. However, above room temperature CeAlO₃ undergoes three phase transitions: first to the orthorhombic Imma structure (tilt system (a⁰b⁻b⁻)) at, e.g., 373 K, then to the rhombohedral structure (tilt system (a⁻a⁻a⁻)) at, e.g., 473 K, and finally, to the primitive cubic structure which exists above 1373 K. The sequence of phases, , which occurs in CeAlO₃ is a rare one in oxide perovskites.     

Synthesis, characterization and standard molar enthalpy of formation of La(C7H5O3)2·(C9H6NO)

The product from reaction of lanthanum chloride seven-hydrate with salicylic acid and 8-hydroxyquinoline, La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO), was characterized by IR, elemental analysis, molar conductance, and thermogravimetric analysis. The standard molar enthalpies of solution of [LaCl₃·7H₂O (s)], [2C₇H₆O₃ (s)], [C₉H₇NO (s)] and [La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO) (s)] in a mixed solvent of absolute ethyl alcohol, dimethyl formamide (DMF) and perchloric acid were determined by calorimetry to be [LaCl₃·7H₂O (s), 298.15 K] = −96.45 ± 0.18 kJ mol⁻¹, [2C₇H₆O₃ (s), 298.15 K] = 14.99 ± 0.17 kJ mol⁻¹, [C₉H₇NO (s), 298.15 K] = −3.86 ± 0.06 kJ mol⁻¹ and [La(C₇H₅O₃)₂·(C₉H₆NO) (s), 298.15 K] = −117.78 ± 0.11 kJ mol⁻¹. The enthalpy change of the reaction

(1)     

Syntheses, crystal and electronic structure, and some optical and transport properties of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd)

Three new compounds, LaCuOTe, CeCuOTe, and NdCuOTe, have been synthesized from the respective rare-earth elements, CuO, and a KI flux at 1023 K. The compounds, which have the ZrSiCuAs structure type, are isostructural to LaCuOS, and crystallize in space group P4/nmm of the tetragonal system with two formula units in cells of dimensions at 153 K of , , for LaCuOTe; , , for CeCuOTe; and , , for NdCuOTe. The structure of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd) is composed of alternating PbO-like [Ln₂O₂] and anti-PbO-like [Cu₂Te₂] layers stacked perpendicular to [0 0 1]. The experimental optical band gaps of LaCuOTe and NdCuOTe are 2.31 and 2.26 eV, respectively. At 298 K the electrical conductivity of LaCuOTe is 1.65 S/cm and the Hall mobility is +80.6 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. The positive values of the Seebeck and Hall coefficients indicate p-type electrical conduction. First-principles theoretical calculations were performed on LaCuOQ (Q=S, Se, Te). In LaCuOTe, Cu 3d and Te 5p orbitals dominate the states near the valence band maximum; the states near the conduction band minimum are composed of Cu 4s, Te 5p, and La 5d orbitals. The larger dispersion of Cu 3d orbitals and the presence of Te 5p orbitals near the valence band maximum are responsible for the larger hole mobility of LaCuOTe compared to LaCuOS and LaCuOSe.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermochemical behaviour of a barium complex [Ba(5-OH-BDC)(H2O)3] [5-OH-H2BDC = 5-hydroxyisophtalic acid]

A novel complex [Ba(5-OH-BDC)(H₂O)₃] [5-OH-H₂BDC = 5-hydroxyisophtalic acid] was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complex is Monoclinic P2₁/c, a = 11.1069(4), b = 14.8192(6), c = 6.5005(2) Å, β = 103.465(3)° and Z = 4, which exhibits a three-dimensional framework formed by linkage of adjacent two-dimensional (6, 3) layers via intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The title complex has been studied by IR spectrum and TG-DTG. The constant-volume combustion energy of the complex, Δ_cU, was determined as being (−3210.45 ± 1.41) kJ mol⁻¹ by a precise rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. The standard enthalpy of combustion, , and the standard enthalpy of formation, , were calculated as being (−3207.97 ± 1.41) and (−1922.80 ± 1.76) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. A calculation model for determining the specific heat capacity of the complex with an improved RD496-III microcalorimeter is also derived. The specific heat capacity of the complex was (6158.387 ± 0.187) J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.