Adsorption of mercury species on river sediments — effects of selected abiotic parameters

Abiotic parameters (pH, temperature, current velocity, mercury species concentration, and sediment and aqueous media composition) influence mercury species (MeHg⁺, EtHg⁺, PhHg⁺ and inorganic Hg²⁺) adsorption on river sediments. The highest amount of adsorbed MeHg⁺ and EtHg⁺ (82–93% and 85–91% for static and agitated system, respectively) occurred at pH 3–4. For PhHg⁺ the maximum adsorption (90% and 95% for static and agitated systems) was located over the broad 3–10 pH range, while for Hg²⁺ (94% and 97% for static and agitated systems) it was at pH ∼ 3. Temperature (4.5–60°C) influenced the adsorption rate but not the quantity. Both rate and quantity increased in the order: static < agitated ≤ stirred systems. The aqueous medium composition affected both rate and quantity. Sulfate caused the largest adsorption decrease for organomercury species (15–25% decrease); sulfide reduced Hg²⁺ adsorption about 67%. Cations at pH 5.2 reduced either the adsorption rate (Ca²⁺, Al³⁺) or the total adsorption (Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺). Positive correlations were found between sediment C, N, S content as well as cation exchange capacity (CEC) with mercury adsorption (R = 0.45–0.66, 0.56–0.89, 0.45–0.61 and 0.55–0.73, respectively) while negative correlations were observed with Fe and Al (R = −0.63 to −0.90 and −0.65 to −0.86, respectively).     

Fluorescent sensing layer for the determination of<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps"> L</Emphasis>-malic acid in wine

An enzymatic method for determining L-malic acid in wine based on an L-malate sensing layer with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), L-malate dehydrogenase (L-MDH) and diaphorase (DI), immobilized by sol-gel technology, was constructed and evaluated. The sol-gel glass was prepared with tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), water and HCl. L-MDH catalyzes the reaction between L-malate and NAD⁺, producing NADH, whose fluorescence (λ _exc = 340 nm, λ _em = 430 nm) could be directly related to the amount of L-malate. NADH is converted to NAD⁺ by applying hexacyanoferrate(III) as oxidant in the presence of DI. Some parameters affecting sol-gel encapsulation and the pH of the enzymatic reaction were studied. The sensing layer has a dynamic range of 0.1–1.0 g/L of L-malate and a long-term storage stability of 25 days. It exhibits acceptable reproducibility [s _r(%)≈10] and allows six regenerations. The content of L-malic acid was determined for different types of wine, and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) was used as a bleaching agent with red wine. The results obtained for the wine samples using the sensing layer are comparable to those obtained from a reference method based on UV-vis molecular absorption spectrometry, if the matrix effect is corrected for.     

A Temperature and Salt-Tolerant <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Glutaminase from Gangotri Region of Uttarakhand Himalaya: Enzyme Purification and Characterization

Purification and characterization of halotolerant, thermostable alkaline l-glutaminase from a Bacillus sp. LKG-01 (MTCC 10401), isolated from Gangotri region of Uttarakhand Himalaya, is being reported in this paper. Enzyme has been purified 49-fold from cell-free extract with 25% recovery (specific activity 584.2 U/mg protein) by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation followed by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Enzyme has a molecular weight of 66 kDa. l-Glutaminase is most active at pH 11.0 and stable in the pH range 8.0–11.0. Temperature optimum is 70 °C and is completely stable after 3 h pre-incubation at 50 °C. Enzyme reflects more enhanced activity with 1–20% (w/v) NaCl, which is further reduced to 80% when NaCl concentration was increased up to 25%. l-Glutaminase is almost active with K⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ni²⁺ ions and K _m and V _max values of 240 μM and 277.77 ± 1.1 U/mg proteins, respectively. Higher specific activity, purification fold, better halo-tolerance, and thermostability would make this enzyme more attractive for food fermentation with respect to other soil microbe derived l-glutaminase reported so far.     

Simple mercury fractionation in biological samples by CV AAS following microwave-assisted acid digestion or TMAH pre-treatment

A simple and reliable method to determine total and inorganic mercury in biological certified reference material (CRM) by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS) is proposed. After the CRM treatment at room temperature with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), inorganic mercury is determined by CV AAS. Total mercury is measured by the same technique, after sample acid digestion in a microwave oven. Organic mercury, basically methylmercury, is obtained by difference. In both procedures, the quartz tube is kept at room temperature. By means of analysis of the following reference materials: pig kidney, lobster hepatopancreas, dogfish liver and mussel tissue, it was clear that the difference between the total and inorganic mercury concentrations agrees with the methylmercury concentration. Only one calibration curve against aqueous standards in acidic medium was carried out for both procedures. The concentrations obtained by both procedures are in agreement with the certified values according to the t-test at a 95% confidence level. The relative standard deviations were lower than 3.0% for digested CRM and 6.0% for CRM treated with TMAH for most of the samples. The limits of detection in the samples were 0.02 µg g^{− 1} and 0.04 µg g^{− 1} for inorganic and total Hg, respectively, since the sample mass for total mercury was half of that for inorganic mercury determination. Simplicity and high efficiency without using chromatographic techniques are some of the qualities of the proposed method, being adequate for fractionation analysis of mercury in biological samples.     

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.     

Kinetic study of the promazine oxidation to promazine 5-oxide by trisoxalatocobaltate(III) in basic aqueous media

The kinetics of the oxidation of promazine by trisoxalatocobaltate(III) were studied in the presence of a large excess of the cobalt(III) in tris buffer solution using u.v.–vis spectroscopy ([Co^III] = (0.6 − 2) × 10⁻³ M, [ptz] = 6 × 10⁻⁵ M, pH = 6.6–7.8, I = 0.1 M (NaCl), T = 288−308 K, l = 1 cm). The reaction proceeds via two consecutive reversible steps. In the first step, the reaction leads to formation of cobalt(II) species and a stable cationic radical. In the second step, cobalt(III) is reduced to cobalt(II) ion and a promazine radical is oxidized to the promazine 5-oxide. Linear dependences of the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k ₁ and k ₂) on [Co^III] with a non-zero intercept were established for both redox processes. Rates of reactions decreased with increasing concentration of the H⁺ ion indicating that the promazine and its radical exist in equilibrium with their deprotonated forms, which are reactive reducing species. The activation parameters for reactions studied were as follows: ΔH^≠ = 44 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −100 ± 4 JK⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the first step and ΔH^≠ = 25 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −169 ± 4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the second step, respectively. Mechanistic consequences of all the results are discussed.     

Resolution of an intense sweetener mixture by use of a flow injection sensor with on-line solid-phase extraction

An integrated solid-phase spectrophotometry–FIA method is proposed for simultaneous determination of the mixture of saccharin (1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one-1,1-dioxide; E-954) (SA) and aspartame (N-l-α-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester; E-951) (AS). The procedure is based on on-line preconcentration of AS on a C₁₈ silica gel minicolumn and separation from SA, followed by measurement, at λ=210 nm, of the absorbance of SA which is transiently retained on the adsorbent Sephadex G-25 placed in the flow-through cell of a monochannel FIA setup using pH 3.0 orthophosphoric acid–dihydrogen phosphate buffer, 3.75×10^–3 mol L⁻¹, as carrier. Subsequent desorption of AS with methanol enables its determination at λ=205 nm. With a sampling frequency of 10 h⁻¹, the applicable concentration range, the detection limit, and the relative standard deviation were from 1.0 to 200.0 μg mL⁻¹, 0.30 μg mL⁻¹, and 1.0% (80 μg mL⁻¹, n=10), respectively, for SA and from 10.0 to 200.0 μg mL⁻¹, 1.4 μg mL⁻¹, and 1.6% (100 μg mL⁻¹, n=10) for AS. The method was used to determine the amounts of aspartame and saccharin in sweets and drinks. Recovery was always between 99 and 101%. The method enabled satisfactory determination of blends of SA and AS in low-calorie and dietary products and the results were compared with those from an HPLC reference method.     

Reaction of hydroxyl radicals with S-nitrosothiols: Formation of thiyl radical (RS?) as the intermediate

The decomposition studies of S-nitrosothiols (RSNO) are important due to their potential role in vivo in connection with the storage and transport of nitric oxide (^•NO) within the body. Reactions of hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) with a number of RSNOs (S-nitroso derivatives of N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine, l-cysteinemethylester, N-acetylcysteamine, and dl-penicillamine) in aqueous medium at neutral and acidic pH have been reported in the present study. Radiation chemical technique (steady state and pulse radiolysis) has been utilized for the determination of the reaction rate constants, the end product analyses, and the transient intermediate species. The rate constants for the reaction of ^•OH with the selected RSNOs were determined using a competition kinetic method with 2′-deoxy-d-ribose as the competitor. All the rate constants were found to be of the order of diffusion controlled (10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The degradation yield of RSNOs was found to be quantitative (i.e., G(–RSNO) ≈ G(^•OH)) at neutral and acidic pH. The major products of decomposition were the respective disulfide (RSSR) and nitrite (NO₂ ⁻). A good material balance is also obtained between the degradation yield and the formation of the products (i.e., G(–RSNO) ≈ G(RSSR) + G(NO₂ ⁻)). The major transient intermediate was the thiyl radical (RS^•). Its intermediacy was confirmed by making use of the electron transfer reaction of 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS²⁻) to RS^•, which results in the formation of ABTS^•− having a transient absorption spectrum with λ_max at 410 nm. Based on these results, a generalized reaction mechanism is deduced for the reaction of ^•OH with RSNO.     

Comparison of methods with respect to efficiencies, recoveries, and quantitation of mercury species interconversions in food demonstrated using tuna fish

Eight different analytical extraction procedures commonly used to extract mercury species from biological samples were evaluated by analyzing Tuna Fish Tissue Certified Reference Material (ERM-CE464) certified for the content of total mercury and methylmercury. Speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS; US Environmental Protection Agency’s method 6800) was utilized to evaluate and effectively compensate for potential errors during measurement and accurately quantify mercury species using all the extraction methods. SIDMS was used to accurately evaluate species transformations during sample pretreatment, preparation and analysis protocols. The extraction methods tested in this paper were based on alkaline extraction with KOH or tetramethylammonium hydroxide; acid leaching with HCl, HNO₃ or CH₃COOH; extraction with l-cysteine hydrochloride; and enzymatic digestion with protease XIV. Detection of total mercury and mercury species from all extraction methods was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography–ICP-MS, respectively. Microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction were found to be the most efficient alkaline digestion protocols that caused the lowest levels of transformation of mercury species (6% or less). Extraction with 5 M HCl or enzymatic digestion with protease resulted in the second-highest extraction efficiency, with relatively lower transformation of methylmercury to inorganic mercury (3 and 1.4%, respectively). Despite frequent use of acid leaching for the extraction of mercury species from tuna fish samples, the lowest extraction efficiencies and the highest mercury species transformation were obtained when microwave-assisted extraction with 4 M HNO₃ or CH₃COOH was used. Transformations as high as 30% were found using some literature protocols; however, all the extractions tested produced accurate quantitation when corrected in accordance with the SIDMS method standardized in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s method 6800. Figure Determinative CRM Tuna Fish Tissue Methylmercury Calibration vs. Determinative Calculation.     

Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in Rat Plasma After Intravenous Administration of Aidi Lyophilizer

Aidi injection is a clinical medicine used in China for the treatment of cancer. Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside is the main effective components of the formulas. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed to quantify calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in rat plasma using a liquid–liquid extraction and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection. LC analysis was performed on a Diamonsil C₁₈ column (200 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) with isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–0.05% phosphoric acid (19.5:80.5, v/v) of a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The linear range was 0.11–17.6 μg mL⁻¹ and the low quantification limit was 0.11 μg mL⁻¹ (S/N = 10). The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples 0.11, 0.22, 1.32 and 8.80 μg mL⁻¹ ranged from 4.1 to 6.3 and 4.3 to 6.2%, respectively. The accuracy was from −6.7 to 4.3% in terms of relative error (RE). Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside was stable in storage at −20 °C for 2 weeks and stable after three freeze–thaw cycles in rat plasma. This method was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision and was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside in rat plasma after intravenous administration of Aidi lyophilizer.     

Mechanistic Study on the Oxidation of Promazine and Chlorpromazine by Hexaimidazolcobalt(III) in Acidic Aqueous Media

The kinetics of the oxidation of promazine and chlorpromazine by hexaimidazolcobalt(III) were studied in the presence of a large excess of cobalt(III) and H⁺ ions using u.v.–vis. spectroscopy ([Co^III] = (1–6) × 10⁻³ m, [ptz] = (2.5–10) × 10⁻⁵ m, [H⁺] = 0.05–0.8 m, I = 1.0 m (H⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻), T = 333–353 K, l = 1 cm). In each case, the reversible reaction leads to formation of cobalt(II) species and a stable cationic radical. A linear dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k_obs) on [Co^III] with a non-zero intercept was established for both phenothiazine derivatives. A marked difference in the observed reaction rate for promazine and chlorpromazine is associated with the difference in its ability to undergo oxidation and is consistent with a trend in the redox potential changes for these reductants. The activation parameters for reactions studied were determined. Mechanistic consequences of all the results are discussed.     

15-Hydroxybenzomonothia-15-crown-5 with the sulfur atom linked with the benzene ring and the derived sulfoxide: synthesis,structure, and complexation with the metal cations

Novel 15-hydroxybenzomonothia-15-crown-5 containing the sulfur atom linked with the benzene ring and its S-oxide were synthesized. The stability constants for the complexes of the obtained benzocrown ethers and a reference 15-hydroxybenzo-15-crown-5 with Na, Ca, Ag^I, Cd, Hg^II, and Pb^II perchlorates were determined by ¹H NMR titration. In MeCN-d₃, the benzothiacrown ether demonstrates a high selectivity towards the thio- and oxothiophilic Hg²⁺ (logK ₁ = 7.1) and Pb²⁺ ions (logK ₁ = 7.4). In MeCN-d₃-D₂O mixtures, the stabilities of the most of complexes decrease sharply due to competitive hydration of the metal cations except for the “soft” Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions having low affinity for the “hard” oxygen atoms and, on the contrary, very high affinity for the “soft” S^II atoms. This results in the change in selectivity of complexation: at the water content in solution of 20%, the benzothiacrown ether binds preferably the Hg²⁺ (logK ₁ = 5.0) and Ag⁺ ions (logK ₁ = 2.7). In MeCN-d₃, the benzothiacrown-derived sulfoxide is a weak and non-selective complexing agent towards all the metal cations under study; the reference 15-hydroxybenzo-15-crown-5 forms more stable complexes with the oxophilic sodium, calcium, and lead(ii) cations. The conformational features of the benzocrown ethers and their metal complexes established by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are discussed. The found characteristics of the complexing ability of benzomonothia-15-crown-5 where the sulfur atom is in conjugation with the benzene ring reveal that the macrocyclic ligands with such a structure are promising as high-selective and efficient complexing agents for the “soft” mercury(ii) and silver(i) cations in acetonitrile-water mixtures.     

LC-MS-MS Determination of Cyclo{(2S)-2-amino-8-[(aminocarbonyl)hydrazono] decanoyl-1-l-tryptophyl-l-isoleucyl-(2R)-2-piperidinecarbonyl} a Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor in Rat Serum

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay was developed for the determination of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, cyclo{(2S)-2-amino-8-[(aminocarbonyl)hydrazono]decanoyl-1-l-tryptophyl-l-isoleucyl-(2R)-2-piperidinecarbonyl} (SD-2007), in rat serum. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and ammonium formate (10 mM) (85:15 v/v), and the flow rate was 0.25 mL min⁻¹. Chromatographic separations were achieved by isocratic elution on a C₁₈ column. Multiple reaction monitoring was based on the transition of m/z = 681.8 → 83.6 for SD-2007 and 372.1 → 176.1 for trazodone (internal standard). A linearity was observed over a concentration range from 2 to 1,000 ng mL⁻¹ (r ² > 0.999), with the lower limit of quantification at 2 ng mL⁻¹ with 100 μL of rat serum. The mean intra- and inter-day assay accuracy ranged from 98.5–109.7% to 95.2–102.7%, respectively, and the mean intra- and inter-day precision was between 4.3–11.3% and 2.9–13.3%. The developed assay was applied to a pharmacokinetic study of SD-2007 in rats after intravenous injection (dose 4 mg kg⁻¹).     

Production of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-tagatose,a Functional Sweetener,Utilizing Alginate Immobilized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus fermentum</Emphasis> CGMCC2921 Cells

d-tagatose is a ketohexose that can be used as a novel functional sweetener in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements. This study was aimed at developing a high-yielding d-tagatose production process using alginate immobilized Lactobacillus fermentum CGMCC2921 cells. For the isomerization from d-galactose into d-tagatose, the immobilized cells showed optimum temperature and pH at 65 °C and 6.5, respectively. The alginate beads exhibited a good stability after glutaraldehyde treatment and retained 90% of the enzyme activity after eight cycles (192 h at 65 °C) of batch conversion. The addition of borate with a molar ratio of 1.0 to d-galactose led to a significant enhancement in the d-tagatose yield. Using commercial β-galactosidase and immobilized L. fermentum cells, d-tagatose was successfully obtained from lactose after a two-step biotransformation. The relatively high conversion rate and productivity from d-galactose to d-tagatose of 60% and 11.1 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹ were achieved in a packed-bed bioreactor. Moreover, lactobacilli have been approved as generally recognized as safe organisms, which makes this L. fermentum strain an attracting substitute for recombinant Escherichia coli cells among d-tagatose production progresses.     

Immobilization of Phenylalanine Dehydrogenase and Its Application in Flow-Injection Analysis System for Determination of Plasma Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine dehydrogenase (l-PheDH) from Sporosarcina ureae was immobilized on DEAE-cellulose, modified initially with 2-amino-4,6-dichloro-s-triazine followed by hexamethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde. The highest activity of immobilized PheDH was determined as 95.75 U/g support with 56% retained activity. The optimum pH value of immobilized l-PheDH was shifted from pH 10.4 to 11.0. The immobilized l-PheDH showed activity variations close to the maximum value in a wider temperature range of 45–55 °C, whereas it was 40 °C for the native enzyme. The pH and the thermal stability of the immobilized l-PheDH were also better than the native enzyme. At pH 10.4 and 25 °C, K _m values of the native and the immobilized l-PheDH were determined as K _{m Phe} = 0.118, 0.063 mM and K _{m NAD}⁺ = 0.234, 0.128 mM, respectively. Formed NADH at the exit of packed bed reactor column was detected by the flow-injection analysis system. The conversion efficiency of the reactor was found to be 100% in the range of 5–600 μM Phe at 9 mM NAD⁺ with a total flow rate of 0.1 mL/min. The reactor was used for the analyses of 30 samples each for 3 h per day. The half-life period of the reactor was 15 days.     

Kinetics and mechanism of bromide ions oxidation by cerium(IV) in sulphuric acid solutions revisited

Kinetics of Br⁻ anion oxidation by cerium(IV) species in aqueous H₂SO₄ solutions have been reexamined. The rate of reaction was determined spectrophotometrically based on a factor analysis of the absorbance – time data collected in the wavelength range 318–390 nm – the region characteristic for the cerium(IV) sulphato complexes. The data fit very well to a pseudo-first order dependence under a large molar excess of the reductant. The rate law of the form –d[Ce^IV]/dt = k[Ce^IV][Br^–]² has been obtained at constant H₂SO₄ concentration and ionic strength I = 2 m. The pseudo-first order rate constant decreases with an [H₂SO₄] increase from 0.1 to ca. 0.4 m range, then increases for higher [H₂SO₄]. The apparent activation parameters have been calculated from the third order rate constants k for different [H₂SO₄].     

Mercury determination and speciation analysis in surface waters

A sorbent L-cysteine grafted silica gel has been evaluated for separation and enrichment of dissolved inorganic i-Hg(II) and methylmercury CH₃Hg(I) from surface waters at sub-μg L⁻¹ concentrations. Chemical parameters for mercury species enrichment and separation have been optimized. Analytical schemes for the determination of Hg species, using selective column solid phase extraction (SPE) with continuous flow chemical vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry (CF-CVG-AAS) or inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were developed. Possibilities for on-site SPE enrichment were demonstrated as well. The limits of quantification were 1.5 and 5 ng L⁻¹ for dissolved i-Hg(II) and CH₃Hg(I) by CF-CVG-AAS and 1 and 2.5 ng L⁻¹ by ICP-MS with relative standard deviations between 7–12% and 7–14%, respectively. The chemically modified SPE sorbent has demonstrated high regeneration ability, chemical and mechanical stability, acceptable capacity and good enrichment factors. Results for total dissolved mercury were in reasonable agreement with those from independent analyses by direct ICP-MS determinations for river waters and for estuarine water certified reference material.      

Determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in water samples by slurry sampling cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry in a flow injection system after preconcentration on silica C18 modified

A novel method for preconcentration of methylmercury and inorganic mercury from water samples was developed involving the determination of ng l⁻¹ levels of analytes retained on the silica C₁₈ solid sorbent, previous complexation with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC), by slurry sampling cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-CVAAS) in a flow injection (FI) system. Several variables were optimized affecting either the retention of both mercury species, such as APDC concentration, silica C₁₈ amount, agitation times, or their determination, including hydrochloric acid concentration in the suspension medium, peristaltic pump speed and argon flow-rate. A Plackett-Burman saturated factorial design permitted to differentiate the influential parameters on the preconcentration efficiency, which were after optimized by the sequential simplex method. The contact time between mercury containing solution and APDC, required to reach an efficient sorption, was decreased from 26 to 3 min by the use of sonication stirring instead of magnetic stirring. The use of 1 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid suspension medium and 0.75% (m/v) sodium borohydride reducing agent permitted the selective determination of methylmercury. The combination of 5 mol dm⁻³ hydrochloric acid and 10⁻⁴% (m/v) sodium borohydride was used for the selective determination of inorganic mercury. The detection limits achieved for methylmercury and inorganic mercury determination under optimum conditions were 0.96 and 0.25 ng l⁻¹, respectively. The reliability of the proposed method for the determination of both mercury species in waters was checked by the analysis of samples spiked with known concentrations of methylmercury and inorganic mercury; quantitative recoveries were obtained.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the carbonatotetraimidazolecobalt(III) ion

Summary The kinetics of the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the [(imidazole)₄Co(CO₃)]⁺ ion was found to follow the rate law -dln[complex]/dt = k ₁ K[H⁺](1 + K[H ⁺]) in the 25–45 °C range, [H⁺] 0.05–1.0 m range and I = 1.0m. The reaction sequence consists of a rapid protonation equilibrium followed by the one-end dissociation of the coordinated carbonato ligand (rate-determining step) and subsequent fast release of the monodentate carbonato ligand. The rate parameter values, k ₁ and ITK, at 25 °C are 6.48 × 10⁻³s⁻¹ and 0.31m ⁻¹, respectively, and activation parameters for k ₁ are ΔH ₁ ^≠ = 86.1 ± 1.2kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS ₁ ^≠ = 2.1 ± 6.3 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹. The hydrolysis rate increases with increase in ionic strength. The different ways of dealing with the data fit are presented and discussed. The kinetic results are compared with those for the similar cobalt(III) complexes.     

Enhanced Production of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Arginine by Expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitreoscilla</Emphasis> Hemoglobin Using a Novel Expression System in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium crenatum</Emphasis>

Corynebacterium crenatum SYPA 5-5 is an aerobic and industrial l-arginine producer. It was proved that the Corynebacterium glutamicum/Escherichia coli shuttle vector pJC1 could be extended in C. crenatum efficiently when using the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat) as a reporter under the control of promoter tac. The expression system was applied to over-express the gene vgb coding Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) to further increase the dissolved oxygen in C. crenatum. As a result, the recombinant C. crenatum containing the pJC-tac-vgb plasmid expressed VHb at a level of 3.4 nmol g⁻¹, and the oxygen uptake rates reached 0.25 mg A₅₆₂⁻¹ h⁻¹ which enhanced 38.8% compared to the wild-type strain. Thus, the final l-arginine concentration of the batch fermentation reached a high level of 35.9 g L⁻¹, and the biomass was largely increased to 6.45 g L⁻¹, which were 17.3% and 10.5% higher than those obtained by the wild-type strain, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report that the efficient expression system was constructed to introduce vgb gene increasing the oxygen and energy supply for l-arginine production in C. crenatum, which supplies a good strategy for the improvement of amino acid products.