Electrosorptive detection based on double-layer capacitance for selective anion monitoring in ion chromatography : Part 1. Mercury Electrodes

A novel scheme is presented for the detection of selected anions in ion chromatography, based on changes in differential double-layer capacitance, ΔC_d, for a metal electrode at a suitable electrode potential induced by specific anion adsorption. The detector in this liquid chromatography/double-layer capacitance (LC/DLC) arrangement is a hanging or dropping mercury electrode in a large-volume wall-jet configuration. The anions observed to be detected readily by this approach include chloride, bromide, iodide, azide, thiocyanate, and thiosulfate. The relationship between ΔC_d and the analyte concentration can be arranged to be approximately linear at least over the range 1–100 mg l^?1. An attractive feature of the technique is its insensitivity to ionic concentration gradients in the flowing stream. Another virtue of LC/DLC is its selectivity, although it is less sensitive for the detection of complexing anions than amperometric detection based on mercury oxidation. Dual detection schemes are also devised, involving monitoring double-layer capacitance at two potentials or combined with amperometric detection.     

Thermophysics of alkali and related azides II. Heat capacities of potassium,rubidium, cesium,and thallium azides from 5 to 350 K

The heat capacities of potassium, rubidium, cesium, and thallium azides were determined from 5 to 350 K by adiabatic calorimetry. Although the alkali-metal azides studied in this work exhibited no thermal anomalies over the temperature range studied, thallium azide has a bifurcated anomaly with two maxima at (233.0±0.1) K and (242.04±0.02) K. The associated excess entropy was 0.90 cal_th K^?1 mol^?1. The thermal properties of the azides and the corresponding structurally similar hydrogen difluorides are nearly identical. Both have linear symmetrical anions. However, thallium azide shows a solid-solid phase transition not exhibited by thallium hydrogen difluoride. At 298.15 K the values of C_p^o, S^o, and $\text{?{G}{}^{\mathrm{o}}\text{(T)?H}{}^{\mathrm{o}}\text{(0)}}\text{T}$, respectively, are 18.38, 24.86, and 12.676 cal_th K^?1 mol^?1 for potassium azide; 19.09, 28.78, and 15.58 cal_th K^?1 mol^?1 for rubidium azide; 19.89, 32.11, and 18.17 cal_th K^?1 mol^?1 for cesium azide; and 19.26, 32.09, and 18.69 cal_th K^?1 mol^?1 for thallium azide. Heat capacities at constant volume for KN₃ were deduced from infrared and Raman data.     

Hofmeister effects on the colloidal stability of poly(ethylene glycol)-decorated nanoparticles

The colloidal stability of poly(ethylene glycol)-decorated poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA/Tween-20, particles was investigated by means of phase separation measurements, in the presence of sodium fluoride (NaF), sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium nitrate, or sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) at 1.0?mol?L^?1. Following Hofmeister's series, the dispersions of PMMA/Tween-20 destabilized faster in the presence of NaF than with NaSCN. After the phase separation, the systems were homogenized and except for the dispersions in NaF, re-dispersed particles took longer to destabilize, indicating that anions adsorbed on the particles, creating a new surface. Except for F^? ions, the adsorption of anions on the polar outmost shell was evidenced by means of tensiometry and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Fluoride ions induced the dehydration of the polar shell, without affecting the polar shell electron density, and the formation of very large aggregates. A model was proposed to explain the colloidal behavior in the presence of Hofmeister ions.     

Nickel pyrazolyl borate complexes: Synthesis, structure and analytical application in biological and environmental samples as anion selective sensors

A [{hydrotris(3-phenyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate}(3-phenyl-5-methyl-pyrazole) nickel chloride] [Tp^Ph,MeNi(Cl)Pz^Ph,MeH] (I) has been synthesized and explored as ionophores for the preparation of a poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane sensor for azide and thiocyanate anions. The compounds [Tp^Ph,MeNi(N₃)Pz^Ph,MeH] (II) and [Tp^Ph,MeNi(SCN)Pz^Ph,MeH] (III) were characterized by their crystal structures and proved to be bonded as monodentate through nitrogen atom of azide and thiocyanate anion. Potentiometric investigations also indicate high affinity of this receptor for thiocyanate and azide ions. PVC based membranes of I using as hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) cation discriminator and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE), dibutylphthalate (DBP), acetophenone (AP) and tributylphosphate (TBP) as plasticizing solvent mediators were prepared and investigated as SCN⁻ and N₃⁻ selective sensors. The best performance was shown by the membrane of thiocyanate with composition (w/w) of (I) (7%):PVC (31%):DBP (60%):HTAB (2%). This sensor works well over a wide concentration range 5.3 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻² M with Nernstian compliance (59.2 mV decade⁻¹ of activity) within pH range 2.5-9.0 with a response time of 11 s and showed good selectivity for thiocyanate ion over a number of anions. The sensor exhibits adequate life (3 months) and could be used successfully for the determination of thiocyanate content in human urine, saliva and river water samples. While the membrane of [Tp^Ph,MeNi(Cl)Pz^Ph,MeH] ionophore with composition (I) (6%):HTAB (4%):PVC (31%):TBP (59%) showed highest sensitivity and widest linear range for azide ion. These sensors exhibit the maximum working concentration range of 8.1 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻² M with Nernstian slope of 59.3 mV decade⁻¹ of activity. It can be applied for the monitoring of the azide ions concentration in aqueous black tea and orange juice samples.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of chloride with an on-line solid mercury(II) thiocyanate minicolumn and bromide with a silver thiocyanate minicolumn

Flow-injection spectrophotometric procedures are described for the determination of chloride and bromide using on-line solid mercury(II) thiocyanate and silver thiocyanate minicolumns, respectively. The linear response ranges for chloride and bromide are 0.28 × 10^?4?8.5 × 10^?4 M and 0.38 × 10^?4?2.4 × 10^?4 M, respectively. The sample throughput for both systems is 100 h^?1. The lifetime of the minicolumns is 50 and 200 injections, respectively.     

Double-layer effects on simple electrode reactions III. The reduction of Eu3+ and Cr3+ in the presence of thiocyanate anions. Evidence for ligand bridging

The rates of reduction of Eu³⁺ and Cr³⁺ have been measured in mixed perchlorate + thiocyanate electrolytes at constant ionic strength, using low concentrations of thiocyanate to minimize its association with the cationic reactants. The effect of adsorbed thiocyanate anions on the reduction kinetics of Cr³⁺ resembled those produced by iodide and bromide on both Cr³⁺ and Eu³⁺. However, thiocyanate exhibited an unusual catalytic effect on the reduction of Eu³⁺ which was identified as arising from a reaction pathway involving thiocyanate-bridging between the mercury surface and the Eu³⁺. The diagnostic criteria used to support the proposed mechanism included analysis of the rate—potential behavior and of the effects of competitively adsorbed iodide ions upon the reduction rates.     

The double layer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions: Part II. Structure of the water/nitrobenzene interface in the presence of 1:1 and 2:2 electrolytes

From fast galvanostatic pulse measurements at 25°C the capacitance of the water/nitrobenzene interface was evaluated as a function of the interfacial potential difference Δ_o^w? for systems consisting of NaBr, LiCl or MgSO₄ in water and tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate, tetraphenylarsonium tetraphenylborate or tetraphenylarsonium dicarbollylcobaltate in nitrobenzene. The modified Verwey—Niessen model, in which an inner layer of solvent molecules separates two space-charge regions (the diffuse double layer), describes the structure of the water/nitrobenzene interface well at electrolyte concentrations above ca. 0.02 mol dm^?3, provided that the ions are allowed to penetrate into the inner layer over some distance. For all the systems studied the zero-charge potential difference was found at Δ^w_o?_pzc ≈ 0 on the basis of the standard potential difference Δ^w_o?⁰_TMA + = 0.035 V for tetramethylammonium cation which was used as a reference ion. At zero surface charge a comparison was made with the theoretical capacitance calculated using the mean spherical approximation for a model consisting of two ion and dipole mixtures facing each other. The effect of ion penetration on the interfacial capacitance was estimated from the solution of the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation for a triple dielectric model with a continuous distribution of the point ions. The concentration-independent inner layer potential difference and capacitance can only be inferred from the capacitance data if the ion size effect is taken into account. A non-iterative procedure based on the hypernetted-chain equation was used for the evaluation of the potential drop across the diffuse double layer. The extend of the penetration into the inner layer appears to be a function of ion solvation, e.g. the more hydrated ion the less extensive ion penetration is likely.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and thermal studies of some Hg(II) and Cd(II) coordination compounds of N,N-bis[(E)-3-(phenylprop)-2-enylidene]propanediamine

Some new coordination compounds of cadmium(II) and mercury(II) with N,N-bis[(E)-3-(phenylprop)-2-enylidene]propanediamine (L) as a new bidentate Schiff base ligand with general formula MLX₂ (X = Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, SCN^?, and N₃ ^?) have been prepared. They were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-infrared (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet–Visible spectra, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra. The reasonable shifts of FT-IR and NMR spectral signals of the complexes with respect to the free ligand confirm well coordination of ligand and anions(X-) in inner sphere coordination mode. The thermal behavior of the complexes from room temperature to 800 °C shows weight loss by decomposition of the anions and ligand segments in the subsequent steps. The results showed that cadmium complexes have no water molecules (neither as lattice nor as coordinated water) and are decomposed in two temperature steps except about cadmium thiocyanate complex that is decomposed in three steps. Final residual contents of cadmium complexes are suggested to be cadmium oxide or sulfide. Mercury complexes were decomposed in three to four temperature steps. Mercury bromide and azide complexes leave out a little amount of mercury oxide in final, while mercury chloride, iodide, and thiocyanate complexes were found to be completely decomposed without any residual matter.     

Aluminum(III) Porphyrins as Ionophores for Fluoride Selective Polymeric Membrane Electrodes

Aluminum(III) porphyrins are examined as potential fluoride selective ionophores in polymeric membrane type ion‐selective electrodes. Membranes formulated with Al(III) tetraphenyl (TPP) or octaethyl (OEP) porphyrins are shown to exhibit enhanced potentiometric selectivity for fluoride over more lipophilic anions, including perchlorate and thiocyanate. However, such membrane electrodes display undesirable super‐Nernstian behavior, with concomitant slow response and recovery times. By employing a sterically hindered Al(III) picket fence porphyrin (PFP) complex as the membrane active species, fully reversible and Nernstian response toward fluoride is achieved. This finding suggests that the super‐Nernstian behavior observed with the nonpicket fence metalloporphyrins is due to the formation of aggregate porphyrin species (likely dimers) within the membrane phase. The steric hindrance of the PFP ligand structure eliminates such chemistry, thus leading to theoretical response slopes toward fluoride. Addition of lipophilic anionic sites into the organic membranes enhances response and selectivity, indicating that the Al(III) porphyrin ionophores function as charged carrier type ionophores. Optimized membranes formulated with Al(III)‐PFP in an o‐nitrophenyloctyl ether plasticized PVC film exhibit fast response to fluoride down to 40 μM, with very high selectivity over SCN^?, ClO₄^?, Cl^?, Br^? and NO₃^? (k^pot<10^?3 for all anions tested). With further refinements in the membrane chemistry, it is anticipated that Al(III) porphyrin‐based membrane electrodes can exhibit potentiometric fluoride response and selectivity that approaches that of the classical solid‐state LaF₃ crystal‐based fluoride sensor.     

Applications of ion-exchange minicolumns in a flow-injection system for the spectrophotometric determination of anions

Displacement of thiocyanate from a strongly basic ion-exchange resin by other anions is used to determine common anions at the 10^?5–10^?4 M level by spectrophotometric detection of the iron(III)/thiocyanate complex. Chloride and sulphate can be removed by incorporating a pre-column containing a cation-exchange resin in the silver form followed by a zinc reductor, thus allowing the determination of nitrate in their presence. Binary mixtures (e.g., chloride and nitrate) can be determined simultaneously by splitting the sample in the flow system so that part goes through the chloride suppressor (giving a nitrate response only) and part by-passes it giving a response to both chloride and nitrate.     

Actinide thermodynamic predictions—II. Stabilities of actinide anions in liquid ammonia

The stabilities (as ΔG_f^o) of monatomic actinide anions in liquid ammonia are estimated from a simple electrostatic model. It is shown that, with the possible exception of Md^?, the existence of actinide anions in this solvent is highly improbable.     

Enhanced and normal Raman scattering from pyridine adsorbed on rough and smooth silver electrodes

A multiplex spectrograph has been used to record potential difference and modulation Raman spectra of pyridine adsorbed on silver electrodes in an electrochemical cell. Spectra have been obtained from rough silver surfaces which give SERS and from surfaces where SERS has been diminished by prolonged cathodic polarisation (DSERS). Raman scattering from pyridine at smooth silver surfaces in potassium perchlorate and fluoride solutions has been distinguished from solution scatter by a potential modulation technique. The results show that the enhanced scattering caused by silver atom or cluster sites is respresentative of the surface as a whole as similar Raman spectra are obtained on smooth surfaces at a count rate as low as ?1.4 photons s^?1 (incident laser power 500 mW).Correlation of simultaneous differential capacitance data and “snapshot” SER spectra indicate that pyridine molecules in aqueous chloride ion solutions adsorb on silver in a flat π-bonded configuration at potentials markedly positive to the point of zero charge and exhibit specific reorientation at ?0.3 V and ?0.45 V (vs. SCE) to become N-bonded, perpendicular to the surface. Results also show that the adsorption behaviour of pyridine in chloride and fluoride ion solutions is largely similar.     

A study of the differential capacitance of zinc in aqueous solution with potassium silicate additions

The differential capacitance of the polycrystalline zinc electrode has been studied in aqueous solutions of KCl, KNO₃ and KOH both with and without the addition of potassium silicate. Double layer capacitance measurements can be made in KCl and KNO₃ without the interaction of OH^? at low pH values < 3.0. The reduction of the nitrate ion takes place at the zinc electrode in aqueous potassium nitrate.The silicate ion is adsorbed on the zinc electrode in aqueous KOH solutions at a potential close to the dissolution potential. This results in inhibition of metal dissolution, due to limited interaction of OH^? with the metal surface. The electrode resistance is increased by this adsorbed layer of silicate ion. In alkaline solution the h.e.r. is stimulated by the addition of potassium silicate.     

The Rules Governing the Formation of Silver Azide Photolysis Products

Irradiation of silver azide at λ = 365 nm (I > 1 × 10¹⁵ quantum cm^?2 s^?1) in a vacuum (1 × 10^?5 Pa) leads to an increase in the rate of photolysis and photoinduced current and the appearance of a new long-wave region of spectral sensitivity. The photolysis products, silver metal and gaseous nitrogen, are formed in a stoichiometric ratio on the surface of silver azide. The rate constants for silver azide photolysis were determined. Measurements of contact potential difference, current—voltage characteristics, photoelectromotive force, and photocurrent showed that AgN₃(A₁)—Ag (photolysis product) microheterogeneous systems were formed in silver azide photolysis. The limiting stage of silver azide photolysis is the diffusion of interstitial silver cations to the (T_nAg_m)⁰ neutral center.     

Thermodynamic properties of the silver ion in alcohol + water solvent mixtures from electromotive force measurements and thermodynamic solubility product constants of AgX (X = Cl,Br, I or CNS) at different temperatures

The standard potentials of the silver-silver ion electrode in alcohol+water solvent mixtures containing 10 and 20 wt% methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol have been determined from the electromotive force measurements of the cell Ag(s), AgCl(s), NaCl(c), NaNO₃(c)// NaNO₃(c), AgNO₃(c), Ag(s) at seven different temperatures in the range 5–35°C. The standard potentials in each solvent have been represented as a function of temperature. The standard thermodynamic functions for the electrode reaction, the primary medium effects of various solvents upon Ag⁺, and the standard thermodynamic quantities for the transfer of 1 g-ion of Ag⁺ from water to the respective alcohol + water media have been evaluated and discussed in the light of ion-solvent interactions as well as the structural changes of the solvents. From the values of the standard potentials of the Ag/Ag⁺ and Ag/AgX, X^? electrodes, the thermodynamic solubility product constants of silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide and silver thiocyanate have been determined in alcohol + water solvent mixtures at different temperatures.     

Carbonyl complexes of molybdenum and tungsten with sulfur donors: V. Reactions of carbonyl complexes of molybdenum(0) with uninegative (X,Y)-donor ligands (X,Y = S,N, O)

The reactions of the zerovalent carbonyl complexes Mo(CO)₆ and Mo(CO)₄(bipy) with a series of uninegative bidentate (X,Y)-donor ligands (X,Y = xanthates, dithiocarbamates, o-aminophenoxide, o-aminothiophenoxide, 2-picolinate and thioacetate) lead to new anionic tetracarbonyl complex anions [Mo⁰(X,Y)(CO)₄]^?. These anions, which can be isolated as their tetraphenylphosphonium salts, contain the (X,Y)-ligand as a bidentate group. In the case of (X,Y) = monothioacetate the decarbonylated species [PPh₄][Mo^II(TA)₃] is formed. The reacions of the new complexes with allyl bromide and methyl iodide are described.     

Electrostatic effect of specifically adsorbed electroinactive ions upon electrode processes: Part V. Case of a charged adsorbed reactant. Trichloroacetate electroreduction in the presence of Br−, l−, SCN−, N3−, Ti+ and C(NH2)3+

The rate constant k_f for CCl₃COO^? electroreduction at constant applied potential, once corrected for diffuse-layer effects according to Frumkin, still depends on the charge density q_i due to specifically adsorbed supporting ions. Thus, in the presence of the adsorbed anions Br^?, I^?, SCN^? and N₃^?, the logarithm Φ of the rate constant corrected for diffuse-layer effects decreases linearly with |q_i|, albeit slightly. In the presence of the adsorbed cations Tl⁺ and C(NH₂)₃⁺, Φ increases with the positive charge density q_i due to the cation at a rate which is 3 to 8 times greater than the corresponding rate of decrease in the presence of the adsorbed anions. This behaviour has been interpreted on the basis of the theoretical treatment of ref. 22 by considering that the time of adsorption of the electroactive anion CCl₃COO^? is long enough to permit a perturbation in the distribution of the adsorbed supporting ions in the immediate vicinity of the adsorbed reactant.     

Conductance study of the thermodynamics of micellization of 1-hexadecylpyridinium bromide in mixed solvents containing dilute electrolyte solutions

The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of hexadecylpyridinium bromide (HDPB) is determined conductometrically in binary mixtures of water + cosolvent at various temperatures and at low concentrations of sodium bromide, ranging from 0 to 2.4 × 10^?2 M. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and acetonitrile (AN) were used as cosolvents added to water. The ability of NaBr to lower the CMC of HDPB in water is inhibited by DMSO and AN. Thermodynamic parameters of micellization ΔH_m ^o, ΔS_m ^o, and ΔG_m ^o are evaluated according to the pseudo-phase model. The contribution of DMSO and AN in the micellization process of HDPB in aqueous electrolyte solutions are discussed in terms of the observed thermodynamic properties.     

The impedance of liquid (Ga-In)-electrode of eutectic composition in aqueous electrolyte solutions in the absence and in the presence of surface-active ions

Adsorption behavior of anions at liquid (Ga-In)-electrode at a temperature of 305 K is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The above-listed methods allowed evaluating the adsorbability of different ions. Equivalent circuit describing the experimental data in the presence and in the absence of ions Br⁻ and Cl⁻ is a contour comprising a resistance connected in series to a capacitance whose value remains constant over the frequency range from ∼300 Hz to 10 kHz. Analysis of the experimental data obtained by the mixed electrolyte method with excess of surface-inactive ion Cl and constant ionic strength 0.1 M in electrolyte solutions acidified down to pH 3 gave the charge of specifically adsorbed ions Br⁻ and Cl⁻ (σ₁) at the liquid (Ga-In)-electrode surface as 5.24 and 1.67 μC/cm², respectively, at the adsorbate maximal concentration and zero-charge potential. These values are characteristic of very weak specific adsorption. The σ₁ values found for the (Ga-In)-electrode were used in the calculations of different isotherms, aiming at the determination of adsorption parameters. The results of the study were compared with literature data obtained by different researchers for different metals in the presence of specifically adsorbing bromide and chloride ions.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of nickel amalgam in aqueous solutions of halogen and pseudohalogen ions

The voltammetric oxidation of nickel amalgam from the hanging mercury drop electrode in aqueous solutions of F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, N₃^?, SCN^?, and ClO₄^? ions have been investigated. Concentrations of these anions were sufficiently low to depress the formation of complexes with nickel(II) in the bulk of the solution.An increase in the rate of anodic oxidation with increase of concentration of anions was observed both without and with correction for the φ₂ potential. This increase is explained as due to a catalytic effect of anions adsorbed on the electrode surface.Using the concept of changes of the activity coefficient of the activated complex it was possible to show that the oxidation of the nickel amalgam in thiocyanates and azides proceeds by the formation of the activated complex with bound SCN^? and N₃^? anions. These complexes form only in the activated state and decompose when products leave the double layer.In chlorides and bromides a similar mechanism is suggested only at larger surface concentration of anions. At lower surface concentration and in iodides the oxidation proceeds by the activated complex with no anions bound to the nickel, only long-range interactions of adsorbed anions with activated complex then exist.The order of these electrode reactions was calculated using the concept of the surface activity.The two-step mechanism of the charge transfer is also discussed.