Simultaneous femtomole determination of cysteine, reduced and oxidized glutathione, and phytochelatin in maize (Zea mays L.) kernels using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Thiol compounds such as cysteine (Cys), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) gluathione, and phytochelatins (PCs) play an important role in heavy metal detoxification in plants. These thiols are biological active compounds whose function is elimination of oxidative stress in plant cells. The aim of our work was to optimise sensitive and rapid method of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED) for determination of the abovementioned thiol compounds in maize (Zea mays L.) kernels. New approach for evaluation of HPLC-ED parameters is described. The most suitable isocratic mobile phase for the separation and detection of Cys, GSH, GSSG and PC2 consisted of methanol (MeOH) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). In addition, the influence of concentrations of TFA and ratio of MeOH:TFA on chromatographic separation and detection of the thiol compounds were studied. The mobile phase consisting from methanol and 0.05% (v/v) TFA in ratio 97:3 (%; v/v) was found the most suitable for the thiol compounds determination. Optimal flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.18 ml min(-1) and the column and detector temperature 35 degrees C. Hydrodynamic voltammograms of all studied compounds was obtained due to the selection of the most effective working electrodes potentials. Two most effective detection potentials were selected: 780 mV for the GSSG and PC2 and 680 mV for determination of Cys and GSH. The optimised HPLC-ED method was capable to determine femtomole levels of studied compounds. The detection limits (3 S/N) of the studied thiol compounds were for cysteine 112.8 fmol, GSH 63.5 fmol, GSSG 112.2 fmol and PC2 2.53 pmol per injection (5 microl). The optimised HPLC-ED method was applied to study of the influence of different cadmium concentrations (0, 10 and 100 microM Cd) on content of Cys, GSH, GSSG and PC2 in maize kernels. According to the increasing time of Cd treatment, content of GSH, GSSG and PC2 in maize kernels increased but content of Cys decreased. Decreasing Cys concentration probably relates with the increasing GSH and phytochelatins synthesis.     

Examination of surface adsorption of sodium chloride and sodium dodecyl sulfate by surface potential measurement at the air/solution interface

The surface potential (DeltaV) of the air/sodium chloride solution interface was measured by using an ionizing (241)Am electrode method at 298.2 K. The surface potential steeply increased from 0 up to 15 mV with increasing concentration, then gradually increased up to 20 mV between 1 and 10 mmol dm(-3), and finally stayed almost constant at 20 mV up to the concentration of 20 mmol dm(-3). This result means that sodium ions concentrate more just near the air/solution interface, whereas chloride ions concentrate more far below the interface above the bulk region of electroneutrality. The dipole moment was derived from the surface potential value, from which the width of the interfacial layer was estimated as a function of the magnitude of electric charge. As for the sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, on the other hand, the surface potential steeply decreased from 0 down to -80 mV with increasing concentration from 0 to 0.01 mmol dm(-3), then rapidly increased up to -50 mV between 0.1 and 3 mmol dm(-3), then linearly increased up to 0 mV with increasing concentration from 3 mmol dm(-3) up to the CMC, 8 mmol dm(-3), then quite rapidly decreased again down to -82 mV from the CMC to 10 mmol dm(-3), and finally stayed almost constant at -82 mV up to the concentration of 20 mmol dm(-3). The above variations of the surface potential cannot be elucidated by the conventional surface excess, and therefore, the new concept of surface adsorption was presented for a simple salt and a typical anionic surfactant.     

Determination of Thiols and Disulfides in Whole Blood and Its Fractions by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry and Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Titration

SH‐ and SS‐groups content and their ratio is one of the most important factors of organism antioxidant system. Change in ratio of thiols to disulfides can serve as an indicator of oxidative stress. Anodic stripping voltammetry and anodic stripping voltammetric titration (direct and reverse variants) methods are proposed for determination of thiols and disulfides concentration. Disulfides are preliminary reduced with sodium sulfite. Ag⁺+RSH→AgSR+H⁺ reaction is used to provide the information. Unreacted silver ions concentration is determined by anodic stripping voltammetry method using platinum working electrode. Calibration free method is suggested. The possibilities of express analysis of blood and its fractions are described. Reliability of results and accuracy are confirmed by model solutions analysis and recovery study of whole blood and its fractions. Results of whole blood, erythrocyte mass, plasma and serum taken from different groups of patients' investigations are given, that demonstrate perspectives of the application methods in clinical practice.     

中性载体可咯化合物应用于银离子电位传感器的研究

研制了一种以5,10,15-三(五氟苯基)可咯[H_3(tpfc)]为活性组分物质、以邻硝基苯辛醚o-NPOE为增塑剂、以四苯硼钠为亲脂性大阴离子添加剂的PVC膜电极(4种物质的质量比为3:3:62:32),电极能斯特斜率为54.8 mV/decade、工作浓度范围为5.1×10~(-6)～0.1 mol/L,pH为4.0～8.0,响应时间不超过30 s,该电极对银离子能抵抗来自Hg~(2+)、Pb~(2+)等离子干扰,表现出较高的选择性.这种传感器可用于对实际矿石样品进行检测.     

Investigation of Silver(I) Ion Sensing Property of Ruthenium(II) Thiosemicarbazone Complex Using Coated Graphite and Polymeric Membrane Electrodes

A ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(PPh₃)₂(pytsc)₂] {Hpytsc = pyridine‐2‐carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone, (C₅H₅N)C²(H)=N³‐N²(H)‐C¹(=S)N¹H} has been used as an ion carrier for the selective determination of silver(I) ions in solution. Silver(I) ion‐selective coated graphite based (CGE) and PVC polymeric membrane based (PME) electrodes exhibit Nernstian slope for silver(I) ions over a wide concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M to 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ M (with CGE) and 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M (with PME). The working pH range of these electrodes has been found to be from 1.2 to 7.2 for CGE and 2.2 to 6.5 for PME. The proposed CGE sensor exhibits better analytical features like sensitivity and selectivity towards different secondary ions in comparison to the corresponding PME with no interference from mercury(II) ions . These electrodes also act as indicator electrodes in potentiometric titration and have been successfully used for the determination of silver content in solution of real samples (1 gm dissolved in 100 mL of dilute nitric acid) such as silver ornaments and thin silver foils. Silver content determined by the use of ion selective electrode was found to vary in the concentration range from 1.20 x 10⁻² M to 7.45 x 10⁻² M and results were found to be comparable with those obtained from the traditional volumetric method of analysis. It is the first report of a metal‐ligand complex used as an ion carrier in ion selective electrode, which is selective for a metal ion other than the one used in the complex.     

硫化银/凹凸棒的Ag+选择电极

以硝酸银、凹凸棒石和硫代乙酰胺为原料制得硫化银/凹凸棒-Ag₂S/ATT电极,并探讨了硫代乙酰胺配比、增塑剂用量、膜厚度以及溶液pH值等因素对电极性能的影响. 结果表明,新型银离子选择电极有较好的能斯特响应,其响应斜率48.0 mV·decade^-1,Ag⁺浓度线性响应范围1.0×10^-1 ~ 1.0×10^-6 mol·L^-1. 在pH = 2.0 ~ 8.0溶液中该电极电势可稳定72 h,对常见阳离子如Na⁺、Ca²⁺、Fe²⁺、Cu²⁺等呈现较强的抗干扰能力.     

Colorimetric detection of iron ions (III) based on the highly sensitive plasmonic response of the N-acetyl-l-cysteine-stabilized silver nanoparticles

We report here a facile colorimetric sensor based on the N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NALC)-stabilized Ag nanoparticles (NALC–Ag NPs) for detection of Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous solution. The Ag NPs with an average diameter of 6.55 ± 1.0 nm are successfully synthesized through a simple method using sodium borohydride as reducing agent and N-acetyl-l-cysteine as protecting ligand. The synthesized silver nanoparticles show a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) around 400 nm and the SPR intensity decreases with the increasing of Fe³⁺ concentration in aqueous solution. Based on the linear relationship between SPR intensity and concentration of Fe³⁺ ions, the as-synthesized water-soluble silver nanoparticles can be used for the sensitive and selective detection of Fe³⁺ ions in water with a linear range from 80 nM to 80 μM and a detection limit of 80 nM. On the basis of the experimental results, a new detection mechanism of oxidation–reduction reaction between Ag NPs and Fe³⁺ ions is proposed, which is different from previously reported mechanisms. Moreover, the NALC–Ag NPs could be applied to the detection of Fe³⁺ ions in real environmental water samples.     

片状多层结构卤化银外延乳剂的光物理性质及感光性能的研究

本文利用可控双注仪设计并制备了三种系列共二十种片状多层结构溴碘化银乳剂及其外延体。用X射线能谱仪(EDS)和电镜验证所设计的碘离子多层分布和氯化银外延体的位置,研究了它们的光物理性质和感光性能,发现外延AgCl对主体微晶性质的影响随层次结构和外延位置不同有很大的变化。若主体微晶结构合理,光电子利用效率已经较高,电子与空穴分离好,外延后其乳剂的感光度提高幅度反而不大。相反,若主体微晶的结构不合理,则外延可能导致两种结果:或增加潜影形成效率,提高感光度;或造成潜影分散,降低感光度。     

掺杂立方AgBr乳剂介电频谱的研究——Ⅰ.Cd++、Cu++离子的影响

测定了立方AgBr乳剂经添加不同量Cd(NO₃)₂、CdCl₂、CdBr₂、Cu(NO₃)₂、CuCl₂、CuBr₂、KCl和KBr以后的介电频谱,发现Cd⁺⁺离子只有在卤素离子存在的情况下才能进入AgBr微晶的表面层晶格,使AgBr微晶表面层内填隙银离子浓度降低,从而使AgBr乳剂的介电吸收峰明显向低频方向偏移.Cu⁺⁺离子很难进入AgBr微晶的表面层晶格,因而对介电吸收峰的位置和形状没有明显影响.这种差别可能主要是由于Cd⁺⁺和Cu⁺⁺离子的离子半径、电子层构型及晶体中的配位情况不同所引起的.最后,对Sillars方程应用于照相乳剂体系的条件作了初步探讨.     

Determination of trace silica in highly purified water based on delayed quenching of Rhodamine B through nanoparticle formation with molybdosilicate

The development of a highly sensitive analytical method for trace silica is an urgent necessity for the real-time monitoring of highly purified water used in the semiconductor industry. However, there are no reports of a simple yet sensitive method for the determination of trace silica. Here we describe the delayed quenching phenomenon of Rhodamine B cation caused by nanoparticle formation with molybdosilicate ions in aqueous solution and its application to the one-step determination of trace silica at ppt to low ppb levels. We found that the quenching takes place over several minutes and the quenching time is dependent on the concentration of silica. The measurements made by a dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer indicated that the diameter of the particles were at nanometer levels. The detection limit was found to be 34 ng dm(-3) Si (1.2 x 10(-9) mol dm(-3)). The average quenching time for 1 microg dm(-3) was 239 s with an RSD of 2.2% (n= 7). The proposed method has been successfully applied to distilled and highly purified water samples. There was good agreement between the results obtained by the proposed method and those by ICP-three dimensions quadrupole MS/MS with 11-fold evaporation concentration. The main point of this method is that in the trace determination of silica, the signal is larger at lower concentrations. The advantages of the proposed method are that it can be used as real-time monitoring for trace silica in highly purified water, and will be a great aid to industries in which the quality control of water is crucial.     

Distribution of low-density lipoprotein-bound low-molecular-weight thiols: a new analytical approach

We have recently demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apoprotein is able to bind the most concentrated plasma thiols such as cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and homocysteine by disulfide linkage. However, the LIF CE assay employed to measure linked thiols was not sensitive enough to verify whether low concentrated plasma thiols as glutathione and glutamylcysteine are also linked to apoprotein. By modifying sample treatment and electrophoretic parameters we set up a new method with an LOQ of about 1.5 nmol/L, by which we demonstrate that LDL apoprotein binds all physiological plasma thiols. The increased sensitivity was obtained by drying released apoB thiols after reduction treatment, dissolving them directly in a low volume of derivatization buffer and decreasing the dilution factor of derivatized sample before CE injection. Moreover, by increasing the concentration of the electrolyte buffer, we improved the selectivity of peaks, in particular between glutathione (GSH) and the impurity peak derived from unreacted 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein, which in the previous electrophoretic conditions were overlapped. The method optimization, reached by searching the best combination between sample matrix and CE run buffer, is fully described. Given the potential pathologic significance of protein thiolation, the proposed method may be useful to understand the mechanisms and the balances that regulate the interaction between thiols and -SH free groups of proteins.     

介电损耗法测定卤化银乳剂微晶体的离子电导

卤化银乳剂层在交变电场中显示出介电色散现象(Maxwell-Wagner效应),即在交变电场的频率f不同时,卤化银乳剂层的介电损耗ε″也不相同。根据ε″～1f,曲线可以计算卤化银微晶体的离子电导σ₂。我们注意到,不同类型的明胶具有不同的介电常数ε′₁,同一明胶在不同频率和真空度下所显示的ε′₁也有差别。含湿量的增大使乳剂的ε″_max,ε′_max和ε_∞的数值增大,使ε″～1gf曲线的低频端提高,使f_max向低频偏移。通过抽气严格控制样品含湿量是得到准确的σ₂的关键。此外,我们还考察了乳剂层的层数和电极的尺寸对f_max和σ₂值的影响。     

染料增感AgBr乳剂的光电子衰减动力学研究

本工作利用微波吸收薄膜介电谱测量技术,测量了菁染料光谱增感后的AgBr晶体乳剂在脉冲激光曝光后产生的光电子衰减时间特性,分析了不同类型的染料及其增感条件对材料光电子时间特性的影响关系.通过比较增感后的T 颗粒乳剂和立方体乳剂的光电子衰减特性,实验验证了吸附在T 颗粒(111)晶面上的染料比吸附在立方体(100)晶面上的染料更有效、更有助于形成潜影的论据.     

Precipitation of silver/palladium alloy platelets from homogeneous solutions

Dispersed silver/palladium (Ag/Pd) nanoplatelets were prepared by delivering in parallel solutions of mixed metal nitrates and L-ascorbic acid into a nitric acid solution containing Arabic gum. The shape and size of bimetallic nanoparticles varied with the silver/palladium weight ratio and the concentration of nitric acid. The optimum conditions for platelets formation were a palladium content of ~2.0 wt.% and nitric acid concentrations above 1.0 mol dm(-3). The data presented show that both parameters play a critical role in the nucleation and growth of AgPd particles. A mechanism explaining the formation of the bimetallic nanoplatelets is proposed.     

Titrage potentiometrique des thiols en milieu organique a l'aide d'une electrode a monocristal de sulfure d'argent: Comparaison avec une electrode argent-sulfure d'argent classique

The responses of the silver sulfide membrane electrode (the so-called sulfideselective membrane electrode) to different primary and aromatic thiols and to hydrogen sulfide have been studied in an ethanol-benzene mixture. They have not been found in good agreement with the Nernst relationship. However, this electrode can readily be used to follow, by potentiometry, the precipitation of thiols and thiol-hydrogen sulfide mixtures with silver ions. The observed potential breaks are similar to those obtained with a conventional silver-silver sulfide electrode. As it needs neither pretreatment nor maintenance, the silver sulfide membrane electrode is therefore suitable for determining hydrogen sulfide and thiols in petroleum products by potentiometric titration.     

Efficient Synthesis of a New Podand and Application as a Suitable Carrier for Silver Ion‐Selective Electrode

A new podand of 1,1′‐thia‐bis‐[1‐(chloroethan‐2‐acetamid‐α‐oxy)] naphtol was synthesized and used as a suitable carrier for Ag⁺ PVC membrane electrode. The electrode exhibited linear response with a Nernstian slope of (59.5±0.8 mV/decade) within a wide concentration range of 1.0×10^?7 to 1.5×10^?2 mol L^?1 silver ions. The electrode had a fast response time of <10 s and detection limit of 8.6×10^?8 mol L^?1 with a working pH range from 3.7 to 9.0. The electrode was highly selective for Ag(I) ions over a large number of cations such as alkali, alkaline earth, and heavy metal ions. The proposed sensor has been applied as an indicator electrode for indirect determination of vitamin B₁ in tablets by determination of Cl^? ions in this compound with a standard solution of Ag(NO₃).     

Sorption of traces of silver ions onto polyurethane foam from acidic solution

The sorption of traces of silver ions onto polyurethane foam (PUF) has been investigated in detail. Maximum sorption of silver (K(d)=6109 cm(3) g(-1), %sorption>97.5%) has been achieved from 1 M nitric acid solution after equilibrating silver ions with approximately 29 mg PUF for 20 min. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the sorption of silver ions onto PUF have also been studied. The sorption of silver ions onto PUF follows a first-order rate equation, which results as 0.177 min(-1). The variation of sorption with temperature yields the values of DeltaH=-56.1+/-3.2 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS=-159.7+/-10.5 J mol(-1) K(-1) and DeltaG=-8.68+/-0.09 kJ mol(-1) at 298 K with a correlation factor gamma=0.9919. The sorption data were subjected to different sorption isotherms. The sorption follows Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms. The values of Langmuir isotherms Q=65.4+/-1.5 mumol g(-1) and b=(4.79+/-1.16)x10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) have been evaluated for Langmuir sorption constants, whereas the Freundlich sorption isotherm gives the value 1/n=0.12+/-0.02 and A=0.15+/-0.03 mmol g(-1). The D-R parameters computed were beta=-0.000817+/-0.000206 mol(2) kJ(-2), X(m)=76.8+/-8.7 mumol g(-1) and E=24.7+/-3.2 kJ mol(-1). The influence of common ions on the sorption was also examined. It is observed that Hg(II), thiourea, Al(III), thiocyanate and thiosulphate reduce the sorption, whereas Cu(II), citrate and acetate ions enhance the sorption significantly. It can be concluded that PUF may be used to remove traces of silver ions from its very dilute solutions or for its preconcentration from aqueous acidic solutions.     

Green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles using natural rubber latex extracted from Hevea brasiliensis

Colloidal silver nanoparticles were synthesized by an easy green method using thermal treatment of aqueous solutions of silver nitrate and natural rubber latex (NRL) extracted from Hevea brasiliensis. The UV–Vis spectra detected the characteristic surface plasmonic absorption band around 435 nm. Both NRL and AgNO₃ contents in the reaction medium have influence in the Ag nanoparticles formation. Lower AgNO₃ concentration led to decreased particle size. The silver nanoparticles presented diameters ranging from 2 nm to 100 nm and had spherical shape. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns indicated that the silver nanoparticles have face centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure. FTIR spectra suggest that reduction of the silver ions are facilitated by their interaction with the amine groups from ammonia, which is used for conservation of the NRL, whereas the stability of the particles results from cis-isoprene binding onto the surface of nanoparticles. Therefore natural rubber latex extracted from H. brasiliensis can be employed in the preparation of stable aqueous dispersions of silver nanoparticles acting as a dispersing and/or capping agent. Moreover, this work provides a new method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles that is simple, easy to perform, pollutant free and inexpensive.     

Application of extraction chromatography to the separation of thorium and uranium dissolved in a solution of high salt concentration

Extraction chromatography with commercially available UTEVA resin (for uranium and tetravalent actinide) was applied for the separation of Th and U from control solutions prepared from a multi-element control solution and from sample solutions of solidified simulated waste. Thorium and U in control solutions with 1-5mol/dm(3) HNO(3) were extracted with UTEVA resin and recovered with a solution containing 0.1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) and 0.05mol/dm(3) oxalic acid to be separated from the other metallic elements. Extraction behavior of U in the sample solutions was similar to that in the control solutions, but extraction of Th was dependent on the concentration of HNO(3). Thorium was extracted from 5mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solutions but not from 1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solutions. We conjecture that thorium fluoride formation interferes with extraction of Th. Addition of Al(NO(3))(3) and Fe(NO(3))(3), which have higher stability constant with fluoride ion than Th, does improve extractability of Th from 1mol/dm(3) HNO(3) sample solution.     

新型中空卤化银颗粒乳剂的制备和性能研究 Ⅱ.中子活化分析测定感光乳剂的元素组成

一般采用化学滴定法来定量分析卤化银乳剂中的银和卤素组份。其他仪器分析,如X射线能谱,X射线电子能谱,X光萤光等只能做到半定量或定性分析。而化学滴定法的实验操作步骤又十分繁琐,而且卤素的化学性质相近,需用差减法分别得到最后结果。本文采用中子活化分析法,样品不需预处理(即不需要去除明胶),即可对卤化银乳剂同时进行元素测定。所测定的数值与化学滴定法的结果对照比较,两者十分相近。说明利用中子活化分析来测定卤化银乳剂的元素组份是可靠的方法.