Photophysical properties of ricin

The molar absorption coefficient of ricin in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 279 nm was measured as (93,900+/-3300) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The concentration of ricin was determined using amino acid analysis. The absorption spectrum of ricin was interpreted in terms of 69% contribution from absorption by tryptophan residues and 31% contribution from absorption by tyrosine residues. The total dipole strength of the ricin band at 280 nm was determined to be (147+/-8) D2 and was consistent with the combined dipole strengths of 10 tryptophan ([11.7+/-1.0] D2) and 23 tyrosine ([1.4+/-0.2] D2) residues. The structure of ricin was used to determine the coupling of the tryptophan residues in ricin. The maximum interaction energy was found to be 424 cm(-1)/epsilon while the average interaction between any two pairs of tryptophan residues was approximately 18 cm(-1)/epsilon. In this study, epsilon is the dielectric constant inside the protein. The fluorescence from ricin, excited at 280 nm, was dominated by fluorescence from tryptophan residues suggesting the presence of energy transfer from tyrosine to tryptophan residues. The absorbance and fluorescence of ricin increased slightly when ricin was denatured in a high concentration of guanidine. Irreversible thermal unfolding of ricin occurred between 65 degrees C and 70 degrees C. (D=3.3364*10(-30) Cm, not SI unit, convenient unit for the magnitude of the electric dipole moment of molecules.).     

Determination of a cationic surfactant with naphthalene black 12B by the resonance light scattering technique

A new determination method for a cationic surfactant, zephiramine (Zeph), was developed with resonance light scattering (RLS) technique, based on the interaction of naphthalene black 12B with Zeph. The resonance light scattering (RLS) and UV characteristics of interaction between naphthalene black 12B and Zeph were studied. The RLS intensity of naphthalene black 12B at 363 nm was greatly enhanced in the presence of Zeph at pH 6.0. The enhanced RLS is proportional to the concentration of Zeph in the range of 3.20 x 10(-7) - 1.44 x 10(-5) mol L(-1). The limit of detection was 8.8 x 10(-8) mol L(-1). The proposed method was applied to the determination of Zeph in synthetic and spiked water samples with the recovery of 96.2-104% and RSD of 1.1-2.5%.     

A novel chemiluminescence technique for quantitative measurement of low concentration human serum albumin.

An efficient and highly sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) technique is proposed in the current study for detection of low levels of human serum albumin (HSA). Chemiluminescence (CL) produced during interaction between fluoresceinyl cypridina luciferin analog (FCLA)-1O2 can be modified with the presence of HSA. The conventional CL technique uses a quenching effect of HSA for its quantitative measurement. We are reporting here that the CL intensity can be enhanced, rather than quenched, by the addition of HSA. The CL signal can be linearly correlated with the HSA concentration over a clinically interesting range of 5 x 10(-9) - 8 x 10(-8) mol L(-1), with a detection limit of 2.5 x 10(-9) mol L(-1). The determination result was consistent with that obtained from conventional methods. One possible mechanism of HSA detection technique using CL enhancement approach is discussed. Intermolecular energy transfer in chemiluminescence systems and changes of microenvironment are likely to be contributors of the CL enhancement with HSA.     

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.     

Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Deoxycholate and Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose: Dynamic Surface Tension Measurements

Interfacial tension changes and interaction between sodium deoxycholate (DOC) and a nonionic polymer hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were studied by the Wilhelmy plate method. The concentration of HPMC was fixed at 8x10(-5), 2x10(-4), and 1x10(-3)% (w/v) while DOC ranged form 0 to 8x10(-2) M, i.e., concentrations below and above the critical micellar concentration (cmc) for DOC. Emphasis was placed on the highly diluted solutions of the polymer in order to lessen possible contributions of the effects of the bulk phase on the observed surface behavior. The dynamics of the surface tension was investigated in the presence and absence of DOC. The kinetics of the interfacial tension changes were explained in terms of adsorption of the polymer molecules and conformational changes of already adsorbed molecules at the interface. The molecules above a critical DOC aggregation concentration (cac) formed clusters, which was evidenced by these surface tension measurements. A synergism in surface activity was observed below that cac. The cmc of DOC remained unchanged by the presence of HPMC. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Electrochemical behaviors of adrenaline at acetylene black electrode in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate

The electrochemical behaviors of adrenaline at the acetylene black electrode in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicated that the electrochemical responses of adrenaline were apparently improved by SDS, due to the enhanced accumulation of protonated adrenaline via electrostatic interaction with negatively charged SDS at the hydrophobic electrode surface. This was verified by the influences of different kinds of surfactants on the electrochemical signals of adrenaline. The electrochemical parameters of the adrenaline oxidation were explored by chronocoulometry. Under optimal working conditions, the oxidation peak current at 0.57 V was proportional to adrenaline concentration in the range of 5.0x10(-8) to 7.0x10(-6) mol/L, with a low detection limit of 1.0x10(-8)mol/L for 70s accumulation by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This method was applied to determine adrenaline in the hydrochloride injection sample. The results are satisfying compared with that by the standardized method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

Fluorescence enhancement effect of morin-nucleic acid-L-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS system and the determination of nucleic acid

It is found that L-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS can further enhance the fluorescence intensity of the morin-nucleic acid system. Under optimum conditions, the enhanced intensity of fluorescence is proportional to the concentration of nucleic acid in the range of 7.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-5) g mL(-1) for fish sperm DNA (fsDNA) and 9.0 x 10(-8)-5.0 x 10(-6) g mL(-1) for yeast RNA (yRNA). The corresponding detection limits (S/N = 3) are 2.0 x 10(-8) g mL(-1) and 4.0 x 10(-8) g mL(-1), respectively. The interaction mechanisms of morin-nucleic acid-L-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS system are studied by multiple techniques. It is considered that there exists synergistic effects of groove binding and electrostatic interaction between morin, L-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS and nucleic acid, and the complex of morin-L-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS-nucleic acid is formed.     

Fabrication of herbicide biosensors based on the inhibition of enzyme activity that catalyzes the scavenging of hydrogen peroxide in a thylakoid membrane.

A novel herbicide biosensor with a thylakoid modified membrane electrode is presented. Thylakoid, isolated from spinach leaves, was entrapped in a membrane of poly (vinylalcohol) with the styrylpyridinium group (PVA-SbQ). The thylakoid membrane was fixed on the surface of a platinum electrode. It was found that the enzymes in thylakoid kept their activity for several months in the membrane. The oxidative current of hydrogen peroxide in a Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4) was detected at the modified electrode by a differential pulse voltammetric method. In the presence of herbicides, the oxidation current from the hydrogen peroxide decreased due to an inhibitor effect on the enzymes in thylakoid compared with that in the absence of the herbicides. The changes in the oxidation current at the electrode were proportional to the herbicide concentrations. The sensor could be used to detect herbicides in concentration ranges of 3 x 10(-9) - 1.5 x 10(-7) M for paraquat, 1 x 10(-8) - 3 x 10(-7) M for diuron, 4 x 10(-8) - 3 x 10(-6) M for prometryn, 5 x 10(-8) - 5 x 10(-6) M for atrazine and 1 x 10(-7) - 5 x 10(-6) M for ametryn, respectively. The enzyme activity on scavenging hydrogen peroxide in the modified PVA-SbQ membrane was examined.     

Voltammetric determination of ethinylestradiol at a carbon paste electrode in the presence of cetyl pyridine bromine

Electrochemical behaviors of ethinylestradiol at a carbon paste electrode (CPE) in the presence of cetyl pyridine bromide (CPB) are investigated by electrochemical techniques. Compared with that at a CPE without CPB, the oxidation peak potential of ethinylestradiol shifts negatively and the peak current is increased significantly, due to the enhanced accumulation of ethinylestradiol via electrostatic interaction with CPB at the hydrophobic electrode surface. It is verified by the influences of different kinds of surfactants on the electrochemical signals of ethinylestradiol. Some parameters such as pH, scan rate, accumulation potential and accumulation time on the oxidation of ethinylestradiol are optimized. Under optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current is proportional to ethinylestradiol concentration in the range of 5.0 x 10(-8) to 2.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 3.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) for 150 s accumulation by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The proposed procedure is successfully applied to determine ethinylestradiol in pharmaceutical formulation (Levonorgestrel and Etinylestradiol tablets) and the results are satisfying compared with that of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

Small-angle X-ray scattering on solutions of carboxymethylcellulose and bovine serum albumin

The existence of attractive interaction between CMC and BSA was evidenced in solution at pH higher than the protein isoelectric point by means of SAXS. Mixtures of BSA at 10 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1) and CMC at the concentration range of 1 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1) to 10 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1) were investigated. Upturns in the very low q range revealed the presence of aggregates when the CMC concentration was higher than 2 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1). The comparison between the calculated form factor with the experimental curves at intermediate and long q values indicated that the BSA molecules keep their native form in mixtures with CMC concentrations lower than 5 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1). Therefore, for CMC concentrations higher than 2 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1) the mixtures start to present aggregates and free BSA molecules coexisting in solution.     

Fluorescence enhancement of yttrium(III)-rutin by nucleic acids in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

It is found that nucleic acids can enhance the fluorescence intensity of yttrium(III) (Y(3+))-rutin in presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) system. In hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA)-HCl buffer, the maximum enhanced fluorescence is produced, with maximum excitation and emission wavelengths at 452 and 520 nm, respectively. Based on this, a new fluorimetric method of determination of nucleic acids is proposed. Under optimum conditions, the enhanced fluorescence intensity is proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 1.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5)g/ml for fish sperm DNA (fsDNA), 1.0 x 10(-7) to 4.6 x 10(-6)g/ml for yeast RNA (yRNA), their detection limits (S/N=3) are 7.5 x 10(-8), 8.0 x 10(-8)g/ml, respectively. The interaction mechanism is also studied.     

Spectroscopic studies on the mode of interaction of an anticancer drug with bovine serum albumin

The mechanism of interaction of vinblastin sulphate (VBS) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been reported. Association constant for VBS-BSA binding was found to be 3.146+/-0.06 x 10(4) M(-1). Stern-Volmer analysis of fluorescence quenching data showed that the fraction of fluorophore (protein) accessible to the quencher (drug) was close to unity indicating thereby that both tryptophan residues of BSA are involved in drug-protein interaction. The rate constant for quenching, greater than 10(10) M(-1) S(-1), indicated that the drug-binding site is in close proximity to tryptophan residues of BSA. Binding studies in the presence of an hydrophobic probe, 8-anilino-1-naphthalein-sulphonic acid, sodium salt (ANS) indicated that there is hydrophobic interaction between VBS and probe and they do not share common sites in BSA. Thermodynamic parameters obtained from data at different temperatures showed that the binding of VBS to BSA involves predominant hydrophobic forces. The effects of some additives and paracetamol on binding of VBS-BSA have also been investigated. The CD spectrum of BSA in presence of VBS shows that the binding of VBS leads to change in the helicity of BSA.     

Determination of morphine in process streams by sequential injection analysis with chemiluminescence detection

A procedure for the determination of morphine in process streams by sequential injection analysis based on the chemiluminescence reaction of morphine with acidic potassium permanganate in the presence of sodium hexametaphosphate is presented. The chemiluminescence emission has been monitored using an in-house detection system which consisted of a fibre optic flowthrough cell and a sensitive, low dark current, photomultiplier tube. The calibration graph (range 2 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-4) mol/l) was not linear over the entire range of concentration, with a polynomial equation of best fit of y = 1.0 x 10(15) x(3) - 2.2 x 10(11) x(2) + 1.3 x 10(7) x - 8.3. The calibration function approximates linearity over the concentration range 2.5 x 10(-6) to 3.0 x 10(-5) mol/l where the slope of the log-log plot is 1.09 +/- 0.16. The detection limit was estimated at about 10(-8) mol/l from the response of the lowest calibration standard (2.5 x 10(-8) mol/l) which gave a signal to noise ratio of 3 : 1. Although the structurally related codeine did not interfere significantly the results suggest that this method may be susceptible to matrix effects, dependent on the location of sampling from the process stream.     

Microsized graphite sensors for potentiometric determination of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride in pure powder, tablets, and plasma

Two cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (CZ) microsized graphite selective sensors were investigated with dibutylsebacate as a plasticizer in a polymeric matrix of carboxylated polyvinyl chloride (PVC-COOH) in the case of sensor 1, based on the interaction between the drug and the dissociated COOH groups in the PVC-COOH. Sensor 2 was based on the interaction between the drug and ammonium reineckate, which acted as anionic electroactive material in the presence of polyvinyl chloride matrix. The two sensors were constructed by using 2-hydroxy propyl beta-cyclodextrin as an ionophore, which has a significant influence on increasing the membrane sensitivity and selectivity of both sensors. Fast and stable Nernstian responses of 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) and 1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-2) M for the two sensors, respectively, with slopes of 58.6 and 55.5 mV/decade, respectively, over the pH range 2-4 were obtained. The proposed method displayed useful analytical characteristics for determination of CZ in its pure powder form with average recoveries 99.95 +/- 0.23 and 99.61 +/- 0.34% for sensors 1 and 2, respectively, and in plasma with good recoveries. The sensors were also used to determine the intact drug in the presence of its degradate and, thus, could be used as stability-indicating methods. The obtained results by the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the U.S. Pharmacopeia method; no significant difference for either accuracy or precision was observed. Results obtained with the two electrodes revealed their performance characteristics, which were evaluated according to International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry recommendations.     

Intralaboratory validation of cell-free translation assay for detecting ricin toxin biological activity

A cell-free translation (CFT) assay for determining ricin biological activity was validated. The statistical data from the validation study showed a high level of precision within and between runs of the assay. The assay was specific for determining ricin biological activity in food-based matrixes and discriminated ricin from other ribosome-inactivating proteins. The mean bias (relative error) between measured ricin concentrations of 3 validation samples and their nominal concentrations was 1.1, 6.6, and 20.3%, while the coefficient of variation (CV) was 14.1, 7.7, and 13.5%, respectively, demonstrating good precision, accuracy, and linearity. The CVs of ricin concentrations in 2 ricin-containing samples calculated from a dilution series were <5 and <12%, respectively, demonstrating very good parallelism. The analyte stability of ricin-containing samples stored for 1 month either at 4 or -20 degrees C, the stability of ricin stock solutions, and the results of assays executed by different analysts and using different luminometers were evaluated. The statistical validation data confirmed that the 4-parameter logistic equation, y = (a - d)/[1 + (x/c)b] + d, provided an accurate representation of a sigmoidal relationship between the measured response and the observed ricin concentration for the CFT assay.     

Pulse injection analysis with chemiluminescence detection: determination of citric acid using tris-(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II)

A chemiluminescence method for the determination of citric acid was developed. The method is based on the enhancement of citric acid on the chemiluminescence light emission of tris-(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II). In the presence of tris-(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II), upon the addition of Ce(IV), resulted in intense light emission. The emission intensity is greatly enhanced by the presence of citric acid. The linear range and detection limit of citric acid are 3.0x10(-8) approximately 6.0x10(-6) mol l(-1) and 3.0x10(-8) mol l(-1), respectively. The precision of the proposed method is determined by analyzing 11 samples containing 1.0x10(-7) mol l(-1) citric acid. The relative standard deviation is 3.0%. The enhanced mechanism of citric acid was studied. The method was evaluated by carrying out an interference study with common ions and compounds, by a recovery study and by analysis of human urine and orange juice. A satisfactory result was obtained.     

Vitamin B-sensitized photo-oxidation of dopamine

Abstract Kinetics and mechanism of the photo-oxidation of the natural catecholamine-type neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) has been studied in aqueous solution, under aerobic conditions, in the presence of riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B(2)) as a photosensitizer. Results indicate the formation of a weak dark complex Rf-DA, with a mean apparent association constant K(ass) = 30 m(-1), only detectable at DA concentrations much higher than those employed in photochemical experiments. An intricate mechanism of competitive reactions operates upon photoirradiation. DA quenches excited singlet and triplet states of Rf, with rate constants of 4.2 x 10(9) and 2.2 x 10(9) m(-1) s(-1), respectively. With the catecholamine in a concentration similar to that of dissolved molecular oxygen in air-saturated water, DA and oxygen competitively quench the triplet excited state of Rf, generating superoxide radical anion (O(2)(*-)) and singlet molecular oxygen (O(2)((1)Delta(g))) by processes initiated by electron and energy-transfer mechanisms, respectively. Rate constants values of 1.9 x 10(8) and 6.6 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1) have been obtained for the overall and reactive (chemical) interaction of DA with O(2)((1)Delta(g)). The presence of superoxide dismutase increases both the observed rates of aerobic DA photo-oxidation and oxygen uptake, due to its known catalytic scavenging of O(2)(*-), a species that could revert the overall photo-oxidation effect, according to the proposed reaction mechanism. As in most of the catecholamine oxidative processes described in the literature, aminochrome is the DA oxidation product upon visible light irradiation in the presence of Rf. It is generated with a quantum yield of 0.05.     

Interaction of morin-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with nucleic acids and determination of nucleic acids at nanograms per milliliter levels based on the enhancement of preresonance light scattering

A new preresonance light scattering (PRLS) assay of nucleic acids is presented. At pH 7.30, the weak PRLS of morin-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) can be greatly enhanced by the addition of nucleic acids, owing to the interaction between the nucleic acid and morin-CTMAB. After the addition of morin and CTMAB to DNA, the zeta potential of DNA decreases and changes from negative to positive, which is due to the formation of an associate, the aggregation of morin on nucleic acids and the electric neutralization between DNA and the cationic surfactant CTMAB. Mechanism studies showed that the enhanced PRLS comes from the aggregation of morin in the presence of nucleic acids and CTMAB. The enhanced intensity of PRLS is in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range 7.5 x 10(-9)-1.0 x 10(-5) g ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, 7.5 x 10(-9)-1.0 x 10(-6) g ml(-1) for salmon sperm DNA and 1.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-6) g ml(-1) for yeast RNA. The detection limits are 3.4, 6.2 and 4.1 ng ml(-1) for calf thymus DNA, salmon sperm DNA and yeast RNA, respectively. Synthetic samples were analyzed satisfactorily.     

SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) effect on the autoxidation of the Glossoscolex paulistus giant extracellular hemoglobin: kinetic studies at pH 7.0 and 9.0

The effect of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the autoxidation process of the giant extracellular hemoglobin of Glossoscolex paulistus (HbGp) is addressed in the present work. The complex oligomeric assembly of hemoglobin subunits may influence the autoxidation rate and the exponential decay behavior. Kinetic studies were developed using UV-vis measurements at 415 nm. These spectroscopic measurements are analyzed at two pH values, 7.0 and 9.0, where the hemoglobin presents different oligomeric assembly. At pH 7.0 a high stability of the native form of the oxy-hemoglobin is observed, while at pH 9.0 an intense dissociation of the oligomer is promoted by alkalization. This difference is evident by comparison of the rate constants in the absence of surfactant: at pH 7.0 the kinetics presents a mono-exponential behavior with a rate constant of 0.27 x 10(-4)s(-1) while at pH 9.0 a bi-exponential behavior was observed with rate constant increase to 7 x 10(-4)s(-1) (fast process) and 1 x 10(-4)s(-1) (slow process). In the autoxidation induced by SDS two factors affect significantly the process rate, namely, the oligomeric arrangement of the hemoglobin and the strength of the interaction between SDS and HbGp. At pH 7.0, for SDS concentrations up to 0.3mM, a mono-exponential behavior was observed, showing rate constants around 0.4 x 10(-4)s(-1), which suggest that the hemoglobin still maintains the more compact structure observed at this pH for the native protein. In the SDS concentration range 0.75-1.0mM, the mono-exponential process changes into a bi-exponential behavior with rate constants varying from 48 x 10(-4) up to 99 x 10(-4)s(-1) for the fast process and from 1.7 x 10(-4) up to 3.7 x 10(-4)s(-1) for the slow process, suggesting hemoglobin dissociation. At pH 9.0, a bi-exponential decay is observed for all studied SDS concentration range, presenting rate constants from 11.0 x 10(-4) up to 179 x 10(-4)s(-1) for the fast process and from 1.0 x 10(-4) up to 8 x 10(4)s(-1) for the slow process probably due to hemoglobin dissociation, which is already present in the absence of surfactant. At pH 7.0, the highly packed native protein structure should inhibit the autoxidation process, but the SDS/HbGp interaction is more intense as compared to pH 9.0, due to the acid pI value, promoting oligomeric dissociation. So, the autoxidation process is regulated at pH 7.0 by the interaction with SDS, which triggers oligomeric dissociation and increase of autoxidation rate. At pH 9.0, the autoxidation process should be very fast, probably due to the oligomeric dissociation, which is already present in the absence of surfactant. At alkaline pH, the interaction with SDS seems be weaker than at pH 7.0. This behavior at pH 7.0 can be observed through the higher autoxidation rate for the faster chains and it is associated to the acid pI of the giant extracellular hemoglobins.     

Catalytic effect of some inorganic ligands on a ligand substitution reaction involving mercury(II) and its application as a differential kinetic method of analysis

To design a sensitive and selective kinetic method for determining a catalyst, the kinetics of the ligand substitution reaction between the mercury(II)-4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol complex and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid together with the catalytic effect of some inorganic ligands on this reaction were studied. The rate constant for a catalyzed reaction path was found to be linearly correlated with the electron donor constant of the catalyst. From this correlation, the difference in reactivity between sulfite or thiosulfate and sulfate was established. Under the selected conditions, sulfite up to 1.5 x 10(-6) M and thiosulfate up to 7 x 10(-7) M could be determined with detection limits of 3 x 10(-8) and 2 x 10(-8) M in the presence of 10 000 and 25 000-fold molar amounts of sulfate, respectively. The tolerance level in the determination of 1 x 10(-6) M of sulfite and 4 x 10(-7) M of thiosulfate was studied for 15 inorganic anions and 44 metal ions.