Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of NO3 radicals with a series of aromatics at 296 ± 2 K

Rate constants have been determined at 296 ± 2 K for the gas phase reaction of NO₃ radicals with a series of aromatics using a relative rate technique. The rate constants obtained (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 units) were: benzene, <2.3 × 10^?17; toluene, (1.8 ± 1.0) × 10^?17; o? xylene, (1.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?16; m? xylene, (7.1 ± 3.4) × 10^?17; p? xylene, (1.4 ± 0.6) × 10^?16; 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, (5,6 ± 2.6) × 10^?16; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (5.4 - 2.5) × 10^?16; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, (2.4 ± 1.1) × 10^?16; phenol, (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?12; methoxybenzene, (5.0 ± 2.8) × 10^?17; o-cresol, (1.20 ± 0.34) × 10^?11; m-cresol, (9.2 ± 2.4) × 10^?12; p-cresol, (1.27 ± 0.36) × 10^?11; and benzaldehyde, (1.13 ± 0.25) × 10^?15. These kinetic data, together with, in the case of phenol, product data, suggest that these reactions proceed via H-atom abstraction from the substituent groups. The magnitude of the rate constants for the hydroxy-substituted aromatics indicates that the nighttime reaction of NO₃ radicals with these aromatics can be an important loss process for both NO₃ radicals and these organics, as well as being a possible source of nitric acid, a key component of acid deposition.     

Dissociation Quotients for Citric Acid in Aqueous Sodium Chloride Media to 150°C

The three molal dissociation quotients for citric acid were measured potentiometrically with a hydrogen-electrode concentration cell from 5 to 150°C in NaCl solutions at ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, and 1 molal. The molal dissociation quotients and available literature data at infinite dilution were fitted by empirical equations in the all-anionic form involving an extended Debye-Hückel term and up to five adjustable parameters involving functions of temperature and ionic strength. This treatment yielded the following thermodynamic quantitites for the first dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _1a=−3.127±0.002, ΔH _1a ^o =4.1±0.2 kJ-mol⁻¹, ΔS _1a ^o =−46.3±0.7 J-K⁻¹-mol⁻¹, and ΔCp _1a ^o =−162±7 J-K⁻¹-mol⁻¹; for the second acid dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _2a =−4.759±0.001, ΔH _2a ^o =2.2±0.1, ΔS _2a ^o =−83.8±0.4, and ΔCp _2a ^o =−192±15, and for the third dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _3a=−6.397±0.002, ΔH _3a ^o =−3.6±0.2, ΔS _3a ^o =−134.5±0.7, and ΔCp _3a ^o =−231±7.     

The temperature dependence of the OH radical reactions with some aromatic compounds under simulated tropospheric conditions

The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for the OH radical reactions with toluene, benzene, o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, phenol, and benzaldehyde were measured by the competitive technique under simulated atmospheric conditions over the temperature range 258–373 K. The relative rate coefficients obtained were placed on an absolute basis using evaluated rate coefficients for the corresponding reference compounds. Based on the rate coefficient k(OH + 2,3-dimethylbutane) = 6.2 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1s^?1, independent of temperature, the rate coefficient for toluene k_OH = 0.79 × 10^?12 exp[(614 ± 114)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 over the temperature range 284–363 K was determined. The following rate coefficients in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were determined relative to the rate coefficient k(OH + 1,3-butadiene) = 1.48 × 10^?11 exp(448/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1: o-cresol; k_OH = 9.8 × 10^?13 exp[(1166 ± 248)/T]; 301–373 K; p-cresol; k_OH = 2.21 × 10^?12 exp[(943 ± 449)/T]; 301–373 K; and phenol, k_OH = 3.7 × 10^?13 exp[(1267 ± 233)/T]; 301–373 K. The rate coefficient for benzaldehyde k_OH = 5.32 × 10^?12 exp[(243 ± 85)/T], 294–343 K was determined relative to the rate coefficient k(OH + diethyl ether) = 7.3 × 10^?12 exp(158/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The data have been compared to the available literature data and where possible evaluated rate coefficients have been deduced or updated. Using the evaluated rate coefficient k(OH + toluene) = 1.59 × 10^?12 exp[(396 ± 105)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, 213–363 K, the following rate coefficient for benzene has been determined k_OH = 2.58 × 10^?12 exp[(?231 ± 84)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 over the temperature range 274–363 K and the rate coefficent for m-cresol, k_OH = 5.17 × 10^?12 exp[(686 ± 231)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, 299–373 K was determined relative to the evaluated rate coefficient k(OH + o-cresol) = 2.1 × 10^?12 exp[(881 ± 356)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The tropospheric lifetimes of the aromatic compounds studied were calculated relative to that for 1,1,1-triclorethane = 6.3 years at 277 K. The lifetimes range from 6 h for m-cresol to 15.5 days for benzene. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improvement of HS-SPME for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in water samples by simultaneous direct fiber cooling and freezing of analyte solution

The sensitivity and precision of headspace solid-phase micro extraction (HS-SPME) at an analyte solution temperature (T _as) of +35 °C and a fiber temperature (T _fiber) of +5 °C were compared with those for HS-SPME at T _as and T _fiber of −20 °C for analysis of the volatile organic compounds benzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, toluene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and tetrachloroethylene in water samples. The effect of simultaneous fiber cooling and analyte solution freezing during extraction was studied. The compounds are of different hydrophobicity, with octanol/water partition coefficients (Kow) ranging from 126 and 2511. During a first set of experiments the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SPME fiber was cooled to +5 °C with simultaneous heating of the aqueous analyte solution to +35 °C. During a second set of experiments, both SPME fiber holder and samples were placed in a deep freezer maintained at −20 °C for a total extraction time of 30 min. After approximately 2 min the analyte solution in the vial began to freeze from the side inwards and from the bottom upwards. After approximately 30 min the solution was completely frozen. Analysis of VOC was performed by coupling HS-SPME to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In general, i.e. except for tetrachloroethylene, the sensitivity of HS-SPME increased with increasing compound hydrophobicity at both analyte solution and fiber temperatures. At T _as of +35 °C and T _fiber of +5 °C detection limits of HS-SPME were 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for benzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene, 0.125 μg L⁻¹ for toluene, and 0.025 μg L⁻¹ for ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene. In the experiments with T _as and T _fiber of −20 °C, detection limits were reduced for compounds of low hydrophobicity (Kow<501), for example benzene, toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and trichloroethylene. In the concentration range 0.5–62.5 μg L⁻¹, the sensitivity of HS-SPME was enhanced by a factor of approximately two for all compounds by performing the extraction at −20 °C. A possible explanation is that freezing of the water sample results in higher concentration of the target compounds in the residual liquid phase and gas phase (freezing-out), combined with enhanced adsorption of the compounds by the cooled fiber. The precision of HS-SPME, expressed as the relative standard deviation and the linearity of the regression lines, is increased for more hydrophobic compounds (Kow>501) by simultaneous direct fiber cooling and freezing of analyte solution. Background contamination during analysis is reduced significantly by avoiding the use of organic solvents.     

Selective Pseudo-Rotaxane Type Complex Formation of Zinc(II) (t-butylatedtetraphenyl) porphyrin-Viologen Linked Compounds with tri-O-methyl-β-Cyclodextrin

Inclusion complexation behavior of 2,3,6−tri-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (TM-β-CD) with zinc(II) 5,10,15-tri-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-20-(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenylporphyrin covalently linked with violgen by a polymethylene chain (Zn-t- bu-PC _n V²⁺; n=4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) was investigated by means of ¹H NMR, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopies in acetonitrile-water (1:1, v/v). The ¹H NMR spectra indicated that Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺ presumably existed as a mixture of a dimer and a monomer in high concentration (>1×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³), and the dimer was degraded by the complex formation with TM-β-CD. The ¹H NMR spectra of these compounds as a function of [TM-β-CD] showed the selective formation of 1:1 (=Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺: TM-β-CD) pseudo-rotaxane type complexes. The chemical modification by t-butyl groups on porphyrin showed a good protective effect on inclusion of benzene groups into the TM-β-CD cavity. These rotaxane formation constants (K) were determined by titration studies using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. These complex formation constants were somewhat affected by the spacer methylene chain between the porphyrin and viologen. The value of K for Zn-t-bu-PC₄V²⁺·TM-β-CD is 1.0×10³ M⁻¹ which is the smallest whereas those for Zn-t-bu-PC _n V²⁺·TM-β-CD (n=8, 10, 12) were similar (1.0×10⁴ M⁻¹).     

Separation of phenol and cresols by crystalline complexation with 1,1-di(p-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane,and crystal structure analyses of the complexes

This paper is concerned with 11 inclusion complexes of the 1,1-di(p-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane host with either phenol or one of the cresol derivatives as guest. Selectivity studies showed preferential complexation with a guest according to the sequence;m-cresol > p-cresol > phenol > o-cresol. Crystallographic analyses of the four complexes revealed isomorphous structures [crystal data for the phenol complex:a=6.232,b=10.849,c=14.845 Å, =95.69, =93.49, =104.31°, space groupPl,Z=2]. The intermolecular arrangements are characterized by layers of efficiently hydrogen bonded entities (host-to-host, host-to-guest and guest-to-host) parallel toab, every OH group being involved in two H-bonds. Organization of the layers alongc is stabilized by weak dispersion forces, thus being most sensitive to structural variation of the guest component. The observed features of selectivity upon crystalline complexation are related to differences in topological complementarity between the constituents of each structure. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82052 (4 pages).     

O-Tolyl/benzyl dithiocarbonates of phosphorus(III) and (V): syntheses and characterization

Abstract  

O-Tolyl/benzyl dithiocarbonates, ROCS₂Na (R = o-, m-, or p-CH₃C₆H₄–, and –CH₂C₆H₅), were synthesized and characterized. These new ligands reacted with PCl₃/POCl₃ in refluxing toluene which resulted in the formation of phosphorus(III) and phosphorus(V) tolyl/benzyl dithiocarbonates corresponding to [(ROCS₂) _n PCl_3−n ] and [(ROCS₂) _n POCl_3−n ] (R = o-, m-, or p-CH₃C₆H₄–, and –CH₂C₆H₅; n = 1, 2, 3). These pale yellow liquid compounds were characterized by IR, mass, and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P) spectral studies, which suggest the dithiocarbonate ligands bind in a monodentate mode leading to P–S–C linkages in these derivatives.     

Crystal structure of tetraphenylarsonium aquatetracyanonitridorhenate(V), (AsPh4)2 [ReN(H2O)(CN)4]·5H2O

The crystal structure of (AsPh₄)₂[ReN(H₂O)(CN)₄]·5H₂O has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. The yellow crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with cell dimensionsa=15.482(1),b=19.950(2),c=16.999(1)? and β=101.69(6)^o,Z=4,D _expt=1.48(1)g cm⁻³ andD _calc=1.52g cm⁻³. The anisotropic refinement of 7858 observed reflections converged toR=0.055. The [ReN(H₂O)(CN)₄]²⁻ ion has a distorted octahedral geometry. Bond distances: Re≡N=1.639(8), Re−OH₂=2.496(7) and Re−C_(av)=2.11(1) ?. The rhenium atom is displaced by 0.35 ? out of the plane formed by the four carbon atoms of the cyano ligands towards the terminal nitrido ligand. TMC 2479     

Electrochemical determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cresol using mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-modified carbon paste electrode

A mesoporous TiO₂ (meso-TiO₂) was synthesized, and used to prepare modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). The electrochemical sensing properties were characterized using K₃[Fe(CN)₆], showing that meso-TiO₂ modified CPE possesses larger surface area and higher electron transfer rate. The electrochemical behavior of p-cresol was investigated. At the meso-TiO₂ modified CPE, the oxidation peak current of p-cresol remarkably increases, and the oxidation peak potential shifts negatively, suggesting that meso- TiO₂ exhibits highly efficient catalytic activity to the oxidation of p-cresol. Based on this, a sensitive, rapid and convenient electrochemical method was developed for the detection of p-cresol. The linear range is from 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ and 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹, and the limit of detection is as low as 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹. Finally, the new method was successfully used to determine p-cresol in water samples.     

The standard enthalpies of combustion and formation of crystalline cobalt tetrakis(4-metoxyphenyl)porphin complex

The energy of combustion of cobalt tetrakis(4-metoxyphenyl)porphin was determined in an isothermic-shell liquid calorimeter with a stationary calorimetric bomb. The standard enthalpies of combustion and formation of the complex were calculated, −Δ _c H ^o = 27334.06 ± 50.98 kJ/mol and Δ_f H ^o = 3062.90 ± 50.97 kJ/mol. Original Russian Text ? R.P. Tarasov, A.V. Volkov, M.I. Bazanov, A.S. Semeikin, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 993–995.     

The electrochemical polymerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine on <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-tyrosine functionalized glassy carbon electrode and its application

The polymerization of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) on l-tyrosine (Tyr) functionalized glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and its electro-catalytic oxidation towards ascorbic acid (AA) had been studied in this report. l-Tyrosine was first covalently grafted on GCE surface via electrochemical oxidation, which was followed by the electrochemical polymerization of OPD on the l-tyrosine functionalized GCE. Then, the poly(o-phenylenediamine)/l-tyrosine composite film modified GCE (POPD-Tyr/GCE) was obtained. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electrochemical techniques have been used to characterize the grafting of l-tyrosine and the polymerization and morphology of OPD film on GCE surface. Due to the doping of the carboxylic functionalities in l-tyrosine molecules, the POPD film showed good redox activity in neutral medium, and thus, the POPD-Tyr/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic response to AA in 0.1 mol l⁻¹ phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 6.8). The anode peak potential of AA shifted from 0.58 V at GCE to 0.35 V at POPD-Tyr/GCE with a greatly enhanced current response. A linear calibration graph was obtained over the AA concentration range of 2.5 × 10⁻⁴–1.5 × 10^–3 mol l⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The detection limit (3δ) for AA was 9.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The modified electrode showed good stability and reproducibility and had been used for the determination of AA content in vitamin C tablet with satisfactory results.     

Standard molar enthalpies of formation of some methylfuran derivatives

The standard (p ^o = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation \Updelta_\textf H_\textm^\texto ( \textl), {{\Updelta}}_{\text{f}} H_{\text{m}}^{\text{o}} ( {\text{l),}} of the liquid 2-methylfuran, 5-methyl-2-acetylfuran and 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde were derived from the standard molar energies of combustion, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry. The Calvet high temperature vacuum sublimation technique was used to measure the enthalpies of vaporization of the three compounds. The standard (p ^o = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K have been derived from the corresponding standard molar enthalpies of formation in the liquid phase and the standard molar enthalpies of vaporization. The results obtained were −(76.4 ± 1.2), −(253.9 ± 1.9), and −(196.8 ± 1.8) kJ mol⁻¹, for 2-methylfuran, 5-methyl-2-acetylfuran, and 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde, respectively.     

Dipole moment characterization of phenol–, o-cresol–, and p-cresol–formaldehyde resins

Dipole moments and their temperature dependence have been measured in p-dioxane for fractionated novolac phenol–, o-cresol–, and p-cresol–formaldehyde polymers. The phenol–formaldehyde fractions covered a molecular weight range of 200 to 6100, and the limiting dipole moment ratio 〈μ²〉/xm² is 1.48. The p-cresol–formaldehyde dipole-moment ratio at a DP of 4 is 2.47, whereas the phenol–formaldehyde dipole-moment ratio is 1.40. That for o-cresol–formaldehyde is intermediate in value. The dipole-moment temperature coefficients are positive for p-cresol chains and negative for the phenol–formaldehyde chains. These results indicate that the hydroxyl groups along the p-cresol–formaldehyde polymer are highly ordered, with the aromatic rings closer to the sterically hindered planar position than in the phenol–formaldehyde polymers.     

Effect of pressure on retention factors in HPLC using a non-porous stationary phase

Summary Pressure and temperature have significant influence on retention in HPLC. This study investigates the effect of pressure and temperature on the retention behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, ethyl benzene, butyl benzene, pentyl benzene) and polar, acidic and basic samples (phenol, acetophenone, N,N-dimethyl aniline, benzophenone) on a reversed phase column. The effect has been studied on non-porous, tetradecyl (C₁₄) coated silica particles. We found that the adsorption-induced decrease of the partial molar volume of the solutes investigated was between ΔV _m =5–15 cm³ mol⁻¹. The increment of the decrease of the partial molar volume due to the addition of one CH₂ group, for the homologous series of the aromatic hydrocarbons is approximately ΔV _CH2 =2.3 cm³mol⁻¹. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001.     

Activation and reaction volumes of the reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-nitrophenylsulfenyl chlorides with styrene and cyclohexene in some solvents

The effect of hydrostatic pressure below 1000 kg cm⁻² on the rate of reactions of o-and p-nitrophenylsulfenyl chlorides with styrene and cyclohexene was studied. The activation and reaction volumes (cm³ mol⁻¹) for the reactions of o-nitrophenylsulfenyl chloride with styrene in acetonitrile (−23.1 and −23.6), 1,2-dichloroethane (−29.2 and −24.7), chlorobenzene (no, −20.2), and anisole (−25.1 and −21.2) and for the reaction of p-nitrophenylsulfenyl chloride with styrene in carbon tetrachloride (−39.5±1.5 and −22.0) were determined. In carbon tetrachloride the activation volumes for the reactions of cyclohexene with o-and p-nitrophenylsulfenyl chlorides (−37.7±2.0 and −40.9±1.2 cm³ mol⁻¹, respectively) are almost the same and coincide with the data for the reactions with styrene. The considerable decrease in the volume of the transition state in the nonpolar solvent is considered as a consequence of the enhanced electrostriction of carbon tetrachloride in the solvate sphere of the transition state of the reaction, which excludes the nonpolar transition state of the sulfuran type. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 477–480, March, 2007.     

Thermochemistry of europium and dithiocarbamate complex Eu(C5H8NS2)3(C12H8N2)

A solid complex Eu(C₅H₈NS₂)₃(C₁₂H₈N₂) has been obtained from reaction of hydrous europium chloride with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen⋅H₂O) in absolute ethanol. IR spectrum of the complex indicated that Eu³⁺ in the complex coordinated with sulfur atoms from the APDC and nitrogen atoms from the o-phen. TG-DTG investigation provided the evidence that the title complex was decomposed into EuS. The enthalpy change of the reaction of formation of the complex in ethanol, Δ_r H _m ^θ(l), as –22.214±0.081 kJ mol^–1, and the molar heat capacity of the complex, c _m, as 61.676±0.651 J mol^–1 K^–1, at 298.15 K were determined by an RD-496 III type microcalorimeter. The enthalpy change of the reaction of formation of the complex in solid, Δ_r H _m ^θ(s), was calculated as 54.527±0.314 kJ mol^–1 through a thermochemistry cycle. Based on the thermodynamics and kinetics on the reaction of formation of the complex in ethanol at different temperatures, fundamental parameters, including the activation enthalpy (ΔH _≠ ^θ), the activation entropy (ΔS _≠ ^θ), the activation free energy (ΔG _≠ ^θ), the apparent reaction rate constant (k), the apparent activation energy (E), the pre-exponential constant (A) and the reaction order (n), were obtained. The constant-volume combustion energy of the complex, Δ_c U, was determined as –16937.88±9.79 kJ mol^–1 by an RBC-II type rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. Its standard enthalpy of combustion, Δ_c H _m ^θ, and standard enthalpy of formation, Δ_f H _m ^θ, were calculated to be –16953.37±9.79 and –1708.23±10.69 kJ mol^–1, respectively.     

Formation of ring-retaining products from the OH radical-initiated reactions of benzene and toluene

The aromatic ring-retaining products formed from the gas–phase reactions of the OH radical with benzene and toluene, in the presence of NO_x, have been identified and their formation yields determined. These products, and their formation yields, are as follows: from benzene – phenol, 0.236 ± 0.044; nitrobenzene, {(0.0336 ± 0.0078) + (3.07 ± 0.92) × 10^?16[NO₂]}; from toluene – benzaldehyde, 0.0645 ± 0.0080; benzyl nitrate, 0.0084 ± 0.0017; o?cresol, 0.204 ± 0.027; m? + p?cresol, 0.048 ± 0.009; m-nitrotoluene, {(0.0135 ± 0.0029) + (1.90 ± 0.25) × 10^?16[NO₂]}, where the NO₂ concentration is in molecule cm^?3 units. The formation yields of o- and p-nitrotoluene from toluene were ca. 0.07 and 0.35 that of m-nitrotoluene, respectively. The observations that the nitro-aromatic yields do not extrapolate to zero as the NO₂ concentration approaches zero are not consistent with current chemical mechanisms for these OH radical-initiated reactions, and suggest that under the experimental conditions employed in this study the hydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals formed from OH radical addition to the aromatic ring react with NO₂ rather than with O₂. However, these data concerning the nitroaromatic yields are consistent with our previous conclusions that many of the nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in ambient air are formed, at least in part, in the atmosphere from OH radical reactions.     

Tripodal chelating ligand-based sensor for selective determination of Zn(II) in biological and environmental samples

Potassium hydrotris(N-tert-butyl-2-thioimidazolyl)borate [KTt^t-Bu] and potassium hydrotris(3-tert-butyl-5-isopropyl-l-pyrazolyl)borate [KTp^t-Bu,i-Pr] have been synthesized and evaluated as ionophores for preparation of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane sensor for Zn(II) ions. The effect of different plasticizers, viz. benzyl acetate (BA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), tributyl phosphate (TBP), and o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE), and the anion excluders sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB), potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB), and oleic acid (OA) were studied to improve the performance of the membrane sensor. The best performance was obtained from a sensor with a of [KTt^t-Bu] membrane of composition (mg): [KTt^t-Bu] (15), PVC (150), DBP (275), and NaTPB (4). This sensor had a Nernstian response (slope, 29.4 ± 0.2 mV decade of activity) for Zn²⁺ ions over a wide concentration range (1.4 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹ mol L⁻¹) with a limit of detection of 9.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. It had a relatively fast response time (12 s) and could be used for 3 months without substantial change of the potential. The membrane sensor had very good selectivity for Zn²⁺ ions over a wide variety of other cations and could be used in a working pH range of 3.5–7.8. The sensor was also found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media and could be successfully used for estimation of zinc at trace levels in biological and environmental samples. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Solubility Measurements of Crystalline NiO in Aqueous Solution as a Function of Temperature and pH

Results of solubility experiments involving crystalline nickel oxide (bunsenite) in aqueous solutions are reported as functions of temperature (0 to 350 °C) and pH at pressures slightly exceeding (with one exception) saturation vapor pressure. These experiments were carried out in either flow-through reactors or a hydrogen-electrode concentration cell for mildly acidic to near neutral pH solutions. The results were treated successfully with a thermodynamic model incorporating only the unhydrolyzed aqueous nickel species (viz., Ni²⁺) and the neutrally charged hydrolyzed species (viz., Ni(OH)₂⁰)\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{2}^{0}). The thermodynamic quantities obtained at 25 °C and infinite dilution are, with 2σ uncertainties: log₁₀K_s0^o = (12.40 ±0.29),\varDelta_rG_m^o = -(70. 8 ±1.7)\log_{10}K_{\mathrm{s0}}^{\mathrm{o}} = (12.40 \pm 0.29),\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}G_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(70. 8 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rH_m^o = -(105.6 ±1.3)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}H_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(105.6 \pm 1.3) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rS_m^o = -(116.6 ±3.2)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}S_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} =-(116.6 \pm 3.2) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rC_p,m^o = (0 ±13)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}C_{p,m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (0 \pm 13) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; and log₁₀K_s2^o = -(8.76 ±0.15)\log_{10}K_{\mathrm{s2}}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(8.76 \pm 0.15); \varDelta_rG_m^o = (50.0 ±1.7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}G_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (50.0 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rH_m^o = (17.7 ±1.7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}H_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (17.7 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rS_m^o = -(108±7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}S_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(108\pm 7) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rC_p,m^o = -(108 ±3)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}C_{p,m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(108 \pm 3) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹. These results are internally consistent, but the latter set differs from those gleaned from previous studies recorded in the literature. The corresponding thermodynamic quantities for the formation of Ni²⁺ and Ni(OH)₂⁰\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{2}^{0} are also estimated. Moreover, the Ni(OH)₃ ^-\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{3}^{ -} anion was never observed, even in relatively strong basic solutions (m_{OH ^-} = 0.1m_{\mathrm{OH}^{ -}} = 0.1 mol⋅kg⁻¹), contrary to the conclusions drawn from all but one previous study.     

Determination of butoxyacetic acid (biomarker of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether exposure) in human urine candidate reference material

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE), an industrial solvent, is absorbed by the body not only by inhalation but also by dermal absorption (liquid or vapour). EGBE is metabolized to butoxyacetic acid (BAA). Pooled freeze-dried urine candidate reference material (RM) was prepared from urine obtained from persons occupationally exposed to EGBE. This material has the advantage of containing butoxyacetic acid in both the free and conjugated (glutamine and glycine) forms, as found in native urine. In all GC method modifications used, acid hydrolysis was used to release BAA from its conjugated form. The amount of butoxyacetic acid in homogeneity and stability testing was measured by GC after derivatisation with N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide. Detection was by MS in EI mode, in the authors’ laboratory. For interlaboratory comparison of the reference material GC methods with MS, FID, and ECD were used. Different extraction solvents (dichloromethane–isopropanol 2:1, ethyl acetate, or dichloromethane) and derivatisation reagents (trimethylsilyldiazomethane, N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide) were used. Using ANOVA (at the statistical level α = 0.05) no changes were found in the concentration of butoxyacetic acid during fifteen month isochronous stability testing, or in homogeneity testing. The uncertainty contributions were u _h = 8.8 mg L⁻¹ and u _s = 6.5 mg L⁻¹. The concentration of butoxyacetic acid in freeze-dried urine RM was evaluated from the results of eight laboratory data sets within an interlaboratory comparison by use of the interactive statistical software IPECA. The contribution to total uncertainty derived from interlaboratory comparison was u _i = 12.7 mg L⁻¹. The reference value (c = 273 ± 33 mg L⁻¹) is an unweighted arithmetic average of accepted results. The value is traceable to the pure butoxyacetic acid (98% w/w; Acros Organic #257760010) used as calibrant. The uncertainty given is combined expanded uncertainty derived from the results from interlaboratory comparison, and from homogeneity and stability tests (k = 2). The reference material will be used to verify method performance in the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to EGBE.