Elaboration by high-energy ball milling of copper/palladium composite materials – characterization and electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of nitrate in alkaline medium

In this study, an original approach was explored to decorate copper particles with palladium and well-defined bimetallic copper/palladium powders were elaborated through a two-step ball milling procedure. First, copper powder was milled with previously determined optimal conditions (ball-to-powder mass ratio of 2, milling duration of 6 h under argon) in order to obtain spherical nanocrystalline copper particles with an average diameter of 800 μm. Then, an additional milling in presence of 1 at.% of palladium powder was performed, leading to the formation of Cu–Pd composite materials. Palladium surface concentrations from 3 to 62 at.% were obtained by varying both the ball-to-powder mass ratio (2:1 or 10:1) and the milling duration (from 5 to 30 min). Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that the more intense the milling is, the easier the palladium diffuses into the copper matrix and smaller the palladium concentration on copper particles is. Cyclic voltammetry and electrolysis experiments showed that palladium inclusions on copper improve greatly the electrocatalytic activity for nitrate reduction in alkaline media. The key role of Pd in the Pd–Cu composite electrodes is to accelerate the reduction of nitrite, formed by the electrochemical reduction of nitrate on Cu sites. Also different nitrate electroreduction behaviors were observed at copper and copper–palladium electrodes leading to the preferential formation of nitrite or ammonia depending on the applied potential and the Pd surface concentration.     

Spectrophotometric study of coproporphyrin-I complexes of copper(II) and cobalt(II)

The reagent 3,8,13,18-tetramethyl-21H,23H-porphine-2,7,12,17-tetrapropionic acid or coproporphyrin-I (CPI) was used for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) and cobalt(II) in the presence of pyridine and imidazole catalysts. Optimum conditions were investigated and the methods were applied to the determination of parts per billion levels of copper(II) and cobalt(II). The Sandell sensitivities of the recommended procedures were 0.568 μm cm⁻² and 0.464 μg cm⁻² (for A = 0.001) for copper and cobalt, respectively. The relative standard deviations were 2.0% for copper and 1.0% for cobalt. The kinetics of the reaction of CPI with copper(II) and cobalt(II) in the presence of the catalysts and the influence of the temperature were studied, and their kinetic constants determined.The influence of light on the photodecomposition of CPI was also studied.     

Column Preconcentration of Aluminum and Copper(II) in Alloys, Biological Samples, and Environmental Samples with Alizarin Red S and Cetyltrimethylammonium-Perchlorate Adsorbent Supported on Naphthalene Using Spectrometry

A column method has been established for the preconcentration of aluminum and copper(II) with Alizarin Red S and a cetyltrimethylammonium-perchlorate ion pair supported on naphthalene, using a simple glass-tipped tube. Aluminum and copper(II) react with Alizarin Red S to form water-soluble colored chelate anions. These chelate anions form water-insoluble ternary complexes with the adsorbent on the inactive surface of naphthalene packed into a column. They are quantitatively retained in the pH ranges of 4.7-5.2 for aluminum and 5.0-10.0 for copper. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) for aluminum and 5 ml of ethanol for copper and the absorbance was measured with a spectrometer at 525 nm for aluminum and at 529 nm for copper. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 0.25-5.0 μg of aluminum in 5 ml of DMF solution and 0.50-12.0 μg of copper in 5 ml of ethanol solution. The molar absorptivities and Sandell′s sensitivities were respectively calculated to be 2.8 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 9.62 × 10⁻⁴ μg · cm⁻² for aluminum and 2.5 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 2.5 × 10⁻³ μg · cm⁻² for copper. Seven replicate determinations of sample solutions containing 2.5 μg of aluminum and 6.0 μg of copper gave mean absorbances of 0.520 and 0.480 with relative standard deviations of 1.67 and 0.33%, respectively. Interference due to various foreign ions has been studied and the method has been applied to the determination of aluminum in standard alloys, tea leaves, vehicle particulates, copper in coal fly ash, and commercial salt samples.     

Extending the dynamic range of the determination of copper by adsorption differential pulse stripping method using a principal component artificial neural network

A principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) has been applied for the analysis of the voltammogram data of Cu(II) and Cu(II)–PAN complex for extending the dynamic range of the determination of Cu(II) (5–550 μg/l). A three layer back-propagation network (6:5:1) was used with learning rate (r=0.09) and momentum (m=0.9), with sigmoidal transfer function in the hidden layer and one bias node in the input layer. Overall, the application of PC-ANN enables the extension of the dynamic range of the determination of Cu(II) from its narrow linear range (5–50 μg/l) to the high dynamic range (5–550 μg/l).     

A study of the spectrophotometric determination of traces of cadmium(II) and copper(II) with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol in the presence of polyglycol octylphenyl ether

A spectrophotometric study of the Cd(II) and Cu(II) complex of a new reagent, 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylamino phenol (5-Br-PADAP) in the presence of polyglycol octylphenyl ether (OP) is presented. A reddish binary complex is formed at pH 9 and shows maximal absorbance at 560 nm with molar absorptivity of 1.16 × 10⁵ · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ liter (Cd), 1.5 × 10⁵ mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ · liter (Cu). Beer's law is followed over the range 0.0 to 20 μg cadmium(II) and 0.0–18 μg copper(II). The continuous variation method and molar ratio method showed that the metal ligand ratio is 1:2; ordinarily, most ions do not interfere with the determination and the method can be applied for direct spectrophotometric determination of cadmium(II) and copper(II) in actual samples and the results obtained are satisfactory.     

Homo and heteronuclear complexes of dioxime ligands

The mononuclear fragments [Cu(HDopn)(OH)2]+ and [Cu(HPopn)(OH)2]+, [H2Dopn=3,3-(trimethylene- dinitrilo)-dibutan-2–one dioximate and H2Popn, = 3, 3-(phenylenedinitrilo)-dibutan-2–one dioximate] were used to prepare four binuclear complexes [(OH2)Cu (Dopn)Cu(ditn)]2+, [(OH2)Cu(Dopn)Ni(ditn)(H2O)]2+ (ditn=diethylenetriamine) and [(OH2)Cu(Popn)Cu(L) (H2O)]2+ (L=2,2-bipyridine or 1,10–phenanthroline). Two trinuclear complexes, [{Cu(Popn)(OH2)}2M (H2O)n]2+ (when M=CuII, n=1; M=ZnII, n= 2), have been synthesised and characterised by elemental analyses, f.a.b. mass, i.r., electronic, e.s.r. spectroscopy and variable temperature (5–300K) magnetic susceptibility measurements. A strong antiferromagnetic interaction (J=–545cm–1 to –700cm–1) has been found for the binuclear copper(II) complexes. The X-band e.s.r. spectra of these complexes at 300K and for trinuclear complexes at 120K indicate square-pyramidal geometry for the copper centres with a (dx2–y2)1 ground state. The binuclear complex of copper(II)–nickel(II) centres with antiferromagnetic interaction (J=–107 cm–1) is described, and moderately strong zero-field splitting within the quartet state leads to Kramers doublet, as indicated by X-band e.s.r. spectra of this complex. The trinuclear copper(II) complex with an antiferromagnetic interaction (J= –350cm–1) is also described. The heterometallic trinuclear copper(II)–zinc(II)–copper(II) system shows a very weak interaction (J–1cm–1).     

Ion-Pair High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Retention Behavior of Copper(II)–1-Oxa-4,7,10,13- tetraazacyclopentadecane Complex

The ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic retention behavior of copper(II)–1-oxa-4,7,10,13-tetraazacyclopentadecane (Cu(II)–OTACP) complex is discussed with data from indirect spectrophotometric detection on the μBondapak CN column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile solution (MeCN:H₂O 20:80) containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as ion-pairing reagent and sodium 1-naphthalenesulfonate (SNS) as detection reagent. The effects of the concentration of SDS and OTACP added to the sample solution to form the Cu(II)–OTACP complex on the capacity factor of the complex, k′, are illustrated. As a consequence of the study, it was found that two peaks anticipated for the 1:1 and 1:2 mole ratio complexes appeared, and the peak anticipated for the 1:2 mole ratio complex could be used to determine the Cu(II) ion. The method has been applied in the determination of Cu(II) ion in waste water and serum.     

Crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of copper(II) pseudohalide complexes with two sparteine epimers, having a CuN4 chromophore

Tetrahedrally distorted copper(II) sparteine pseudohalide complexes having a CuN₄ chromophore were prepared and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography. Among them, the crystal structures of copper(II) isothiocyanate complexes with two sparteine epimers, (−)-l-sparteine (Sp) and (−)-α-isosparteine (α-Sp), were determined. The N_Sp–Cu–N_Sp plane in copper(II) (−)-l-sparteine isothiocyanate [Cu(Sp)(NCS)₂] and copper(II) (−)-α-isosparteine isothiocyanate [Cu(α-Sp)(NCS)₂] is twisted by 58.2(6)° and 52.2(9)°, respectively, from the N_NCS–Cu–N_NCS plane. Based on the values of the dihedral angles and tilted distances of these two complexes, the geometry around Cu(II) in Cu(α-Sp)(NCS)₂ is more distorted from the perfect tetrahedron than that in Cu(Sp)(NCS)₂. For copper(II) sparteine pseudohalide (NCS⁻ and N₃⁻) complexes having a CuN₄ chromophore, the EPR and the optical spectral data were collected. The results of X-ray crystallography and ESR spectroscopy are in a good agreement with the assumption that the degree of distortion from planarity to tetrahedron will reduce the A_|| value of four-coordinate copper(II) sparteine pseudohalide complexes.     

Spectral,physicochemical and biological characterization of 2,5,11,14,19,20-hexaaza-3,12-dimethyl-4,13-dipropyl-tricyclo [13.3.1.1(6-10)]cosane-1(19),2,4,6(20),7,9,11,13,15,17-decaene and its transition metal complexes

The synthesis of a tetradentate nitrogen donor macrocyclic ligand i.e. 2,5,11,14,19,20-hexaaza-3,12-dimethyl-4,13-dipropyl-tricyclo[13.3.1.1(6-10)]cosane-1(19),2,4,6(20),7,9,11,13,15,17-decaene and its complexes with manganese(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) have been reported. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibility measurements, mass, ¹H-n.m.r. (Ligand), i.r., electronic, and e.p.r. spectral studies. On the basis of molar conductance the complexes may be formulated as [M(L)X₂] [where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II), and X = Cl⁻ & NO ₃⁻ ] due to their nonelectrolytic nature in dimethylformamide (DMF). All the complexes are of the high spin type and are six coordinated. On the basis of i.r., electronic and e.p.r. spectral studies an octahedral geometry has been deduced for Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes, and tetragonal geometry for Cu(II) complexes. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes, as growth inhibiting agents, have been screened in vitro against several species of bacteria and plant pathogenic fungi.     

Transition metal complexes with thiosemicarbazide-based ligands. Part 56. Square-pyramidal complexes of copper(II) with 2-acetylpyridine S-methylisothiosemicarbazone

The article describes the synthesis and single-crystal X-ray analysis of two sulfato and one thiocyanato copper(II) complex with 2-acetylpyridine S-methylisothiosemicarbazone (HL) of the formulae [Cu(HL)SO₄(H₂O)]·H₂O (1), [Cu₂(HL)₂(μ-SO₄)₂]·2H₂O (2) and [Cu(HL)(NCS)(SCN)] (3), as well as the structure of the protonated ligand H₂L⁺I⁻. Complexes 1 and 2 were obtained from the reaction of aqueous/methanolic CuSO₄·5H₂O and ethanolic/methanolic H₂L⁺I⁻ solutions, respectively. Complex 3 was synthesized by the reaction of methanolic solutions of Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, the ligand and NH₄SCN, with the addition of triethyl orthoformate. All three complexes have a slightly deformed square-pyramidal structure (τ_av = 0.15) with the tridentate NNN neutral ligand in the basal plane. In complexes 1 and 3 the apical position is occupied by the oxygen atom of the monodentate SO₄ group, or the sulfur atom of the SCN group. Thanks to the hydrogen bonds, complex 3 may be thought of as having a pseudo-dimeric structure. In the authentic centrosymmetric dimer 2, the oxygen atoms of both SO₄ groups occupy also the apical position of both coordination polyhedra, as well as an equatorial position. Complexes 1 and 3 have μ_eff values characteristic of magnetically isolated mononuclear Cu(II) complexes. In contrast to them, complex 2 has a μ_eff value of 1.57 BM, which is in agreement with its dinuclear structure. All the complexes, in addition to the X-ray analysis and magnetic measurements, were characterized by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy and by thermal analysis.     

Synthesis of unsymmetrical compartmental oxime nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes: spectral, electrochemical and magnetic studies

A new series of binuclear unsymmetrical compartmental oxime complexes (1–5) [M₂L] [M=Cu(II), Ni(II)] have been synthesized using mononuclear complex [ML] (L=1,4-bis[2-hydroxy-3-(formyl)-5-methylbenzyl]piperazine), hydroxylamine hydrochloride and triethylamine. In this system there are two different compartments, one has piperazinyl nitrogens and phenolic oxygens and the other compartment has two oxime nitrogens and phenolic oxygens as coordinating sites. The complexes were characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. Electrochemical studies of the complexes show two step single electron quasi-reversible redox processes at cathodic potential region. For copper complexes E¹ _pc=−0.18 to −0.62 and E² _pc=−1.18 to −1.25 V, for nickel complexes E¹ _pc=−0.40 to −0.63 and E² _pc=−1.08 to −1.10 V and reduction potentials are sensitive towards the chemical environment around the copper and nickel atoms. The nickel(II) complexes undergo two electrons oxidation. The first one electron oxidation is observed around +0.75 V and the second around +1.13 V. ESR Spectra of the binuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu₂L](ClO₄), [Cu₂L(Cl)], [Cu₂L(NO₃)] shows a broad signal at g=2.1 indicating the presence of coupling between the two copper centers. Copper(II) complexes show a magnetic moment value of μ_eff around 1.59 B.M at 298 K and variable temperature magnetic measurements show a −2J value of 172 cm⁻¹ indicating presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper(II) centres.     

Preparation, characterization and crystal structures of copper(II) hexaazamacrotetracyclic complexes with organic ligands

The reaction of [Cu(L)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O (L=1,3,10,12,16,19-hexaazatetracyclo[17,3,1,1^12.16,0^4.9]tetracosane) with NaN₃ and Na₂tp yields mononuclear and dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)(N₃)](ClO₄) (1) and [Cu(L)(μ-tp)](ClO₄) · 2H₂O (2). These complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, electronic absorption, cyclic voltammetry and magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structure of (1) shows that the copper(II) ion has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the two secondary and two tertiary amines of the macrocycle and one nitrogen atom from the azide group coordinating the axial position. The copper(II) ions in (2) are bridged by the terephthalate anion to form a dinuclear complex, in which each copper(II) ion reveals a distorted square-pyramid with four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and the oxygen atom of bridging tp ligand. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes gives two one-electron waves corresponding to Cu^II/Cu^III and Cu^II/Cu^I processes. The magnetic susceptibility measurement for (2) exhibits a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between copper(II) centers with a 2J value of −2.21 cm⁻¹ (H = −2JΣS₁ · S₂). The electronic spectra and electrochemical behavior of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the organic ligands.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nickel(II), palladium(II) and copper(II) in presence of each other and other ions with 1-(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyltriazene

Summary 1-(o-Carboxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyltriazene was found to be an excellent spectrophotometric reagent for the determination of nickel(II), palladium(II) and copper(II). At pH 6.8–8.3, 2.4–3.5 and 2.2–3.8, nickel, palladium and copper form greenish yellow, yellowish orange and light green complexes with maximum absorption at 410, 410, 400 nm, respectively. The systems obey Beer's law with optimum ranges from 0.25 to 2.0 ppm for Ni(II), 0.5–4.0 for Pd(II) and 0.5–4.0 for Cu(II); the elements form 11 complexes with the instability constants 2.1×10^–5, 1.5×10^–5 and 2.0×10^–5, resepctively. Effects of other anions and cations on the colour systems have been studied and procedures for the determination of Ni(II), Pd(II) and Cu(II) in presence of each other are described.

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Spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Nickel(II), Palladium(II) und Kupfer(II) nebeneinander und in Gegenwart anderer Ionen mit Hilfe von 1-(o-Carboxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyltriazen

Zusammenfassung Ni, Pd und Cu bilden mit dem Reagens bei pH 6,8–8,3, 2,4–3,5 bzw. 2,2–3,8 grünlich-gelbe, gelblich-orange bzw. hellgrüne Komplexe mit Absorptionsmaxima bei 410, 410 bzw. 400 nm. Das Beersche Gesetz wird in den Bereichen 0,25–2,0, 0,5–4,0 bzw. 0,5–4,0 ppm befolgt. Die Elemente bilden 11-Komplexe mit den Instabilitätskonstanten 2,1 · 10^–5, 1,5 · 10^–5 bzw. 2,0 · 10^–5. Der Einfluß anderer Kationen und Anionen wurde untersucht und Arbeitsvorschriften werden angegeben.

     

Spectroscopic studies of novel porphyrin-copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes that share the pinch-porphyrin family structure of iron(III) complex models of peroxidases

Six novel pinch-porphyrin complexes [(picdien)(protoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (7), [(picdien)(mesoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (8) and [(picdien)(deuteroporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (9), [(picdien)(protoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (13), [(picdien)(mesoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (14) and [(picdien)(deuteroporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (15), were prepared from the corresponding free copper(II)-porphyrins (4–6), and zinc(II)-porphyrins (10–12) and picdien (N-(3H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-N-{2-[(3H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-amino]-ethyl}-ethane-2,3-diamine). Spectroscopic studies show that complexes (7–9) and (13–15) have the pinch-porphyrin type structure previously found in iron(III) complex models of peroxidases. Complexes (7–9), were characterized by u.v.–vis., m.c.d., and e.s.r. spectroscopy. E.s.r. spectra of the copper parent compounds (4–6) at ca. 10^–2–10^–4 M concentrations were typical of copper(II)-dimers. The addition of the picdien ligand broke up the dimers as detected by e.s.r. Compounds (7–9) are predominantly monomeric at ca. 10^–3 M concentration. The presence of picdien in (7–9) distorts the porphyrin internal portion of the plane so as to make these four internal nitrogen atoms, coordinated to copper(II), e.s.r.-distinguishable. MO and ligand field theories were used to characterize and to evaluate the directional covalence parameters of compounds (7–9). A non-fully axial, out-of-the-porphyrin-plane bonding was found for (7–9), similar to the bonding of the pinch-porphyrins-iron(III). However the in-plane distortion produced by the presence of the picdien ligand on copper(II) is significantly larger than in pinch-porphyrin-iron(III). The n.m.r. data show that the porphyrin-zinc(II) is the less strained and has the weakest bonded structure. The coordination number of the pinch-porphyrin with iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II), is in all cases six.     

Linear scan stripping voltammetry of copper(II) at the chemically modified carbon paste electrode

A new chemically modified electrode (CME), -benzoinoxime (CUPRON) modified carbon paste electrode, for determining copper(II) is reported because of its excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The electrode is made by mixing a quantity of CUPRON (25%, w/w) with graphite powder (50%, w/w) and paraffin oil (25%, w/w). The CME preferentially deposits copper from the pH 8.5 NH₃-NH₄Cl buffer solution containing copper(II) under an open circuit and most of metal ions do not interfere with the measurements. The detection limit (S/N of three) for determining Cu(II) is 3 × 10^–10 g/ml after 10 min accumulation in fast linear scan stripping voltammetric measurement. Linear calibration curves are obtained for Cu(II) concentration ranged from 1 × 10^–8 M to 1 × 10^–6 M. The response can be maintained with relative standard deviation of 6.0% in a 5 × 10^–6 M Cu(II) solution after eight accumulation/measurement/ regeneration cycles at the same electrode surface. The effect resulted from carbon paste preparation, reduction potential, electrode renewal, electrolyte and solution pH, preconcentration time, concentration dependence, possible interference and other variables has been evaluated. As for application, the CME demonstrates its high sensitivity and copper-selectivity in complex composition samples, such as anodic mud and polluted water.     

Thermophoretic deposition of palladium aerosol nanoparticles for electroless micropatterning of copper

A method for catalytic activation was introduced by producing palladium aerosol nanoparticles via spark generation and then thermophoretically depositing the particles onto a flexible polyimide substrate through a hole in pattern mask, resulting in a line (24 μm in width) and a square (136 μm × 136 μm) patterns. After annealing, the catalytically activated substrate was placed into a solution for electroless copper deposition. Finally, copper micropatterns of a line (35 μm in width) and a square (165 μm × 165 μm) were formed only on the activated regions of the substrate. Both patterns had the height of 1.6 μm.     

Characterization of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of 4-(2-Quinolylmethyleneamino)-1-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl-5-pyrazolone and their analytical applications

A synthesis of the new reagent 4-(2-quinolylmethyleneamino)-1-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl-5-pyrazolone (QPP) and of its complexes with Ni(II) and Cu(II) is described. The structure of the ligand itself and the nature of the bonding in complex molecules were determined by elemental analysis, IR, and mass spectrometry. The analysis of data showed that isolated crystal metal complexes are of the ML₂ type. The composition and stability constants of the complexes in water/methanol solutions, (methanol) = 0.16, at constant temperature 25 ±1 °C and ionic strength of 0.5 M (KNO₃) at different pH (4, 6, 8, and 10) have been determined spectrophotometrically. The results indicate that the metal complexes formed in the solution have a metal-to-ligand ratio 1:2. The reaction of QPP with Ni(II) and Cu(II) in solution was quantitatively studied. The lowest detection limit for the determination of Ni is 0.3 μg/ml while that for Cu is 0.05 μg/ml under the investigated experimental Conditions.     

Rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.) vs. Copper: The Dose Makes the Poison?

The effects of copper addition, from various adsorbents, on the accumulation ability and glucosinolate content of cultivated rocket were studied. Different adsorbents (zeolite NaX, egg shells, substrate, fly ash) were treated with copper(II) solution with an adsorption efficiency of 98.36, 96.67, 51.82 and 39.13%, respectively. The lowest copper content and the highest total glucosinolate content (44.37 μg/g DW and 4269.31 µg/g DW, respectively) were detected in the rocket grown in the substrate with the addition of a substrate spiked with copper(II) ions. Rocket grown in the fly ash-substrate mixture showed an increase in copper content (84.98 μg/g DW) and the lowest total glucosinolate content (2545.71 µg/g DW). On the other hand, when using the egg shells-substrate mixture, the rocket copper content increased (113.34 μg/g DW) along with the total GSLs content (3780.03 µg/g DW), indicating the influence of an adsorbent type in addition to the copper uptake. The highest copper content of 498.56 μg/g DW was detected in the rocket watered with copper(II) solution with a notable decrease in the glucosinolate content, i.e., 2699.29 µg/g DW. According to these results rocket can be considered as a copper accumulator plant.     

Analytical characterization of bioactive fluoropolymer ultra-thin coatings modified by copper nanoparticles

Copper–fluoropolymer (Cu-CFx) nano-composite films are deposited by dual ion-beam sputtering. The extensive analytical characterization of these layers reveals that inorganic nanoparticles composed of Cu(II) species are evenly dispersed in a branched fluoropolymer matrix. In particular, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been employed to study the surface chemical composition of the material and to assess how it changes on increasing the copper loading in the composite. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the copper nanoclusters have a mean diameter of 2–3 nm and are homogeneously in-plane distributed in the composite films. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the kinetics of copper release in the solutions employed for the biological tests. The Cu-CFx layers are employed as bioactive coatings capable of inhibiting the growth of target microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Lysteria. The results of the analytical characterization enable a strict correlation to be established among the chemical composition of the material surface, the concentration of copper dissolved in the microorganisms broths, and the bioactivity of the nano-structured layer.     

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum by extraction of its thiosulphate complex

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum is described. The molybdenum thiosulphate complex is extracted into isoamyl alcohol from 1·0–1·5M hydrochloric acid containing 36–40 mg of Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O per ml. The absorbance at λ_max = 475 nm obeys Beer's law over the range 0–32 μg of Mo per ml of solvent phase. Up to 5 mg/ml of Ti(IV), V(V), Cr(VI), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), U(VI), W(VI), Sb(III), 1 mg/ml of Cu(II), Sn(II), Bi(V) and 10 μg/ml of Pt(IV) and Pd(II) do not interfere. Large amounts of complexing agents interfere. The method has been applied to analysis of synthetic and industrial samples.