Experimental study of a closed system in the sodium chlorite–iodine–ethyl acetoacetate oscillation reaction by UV–Vis and online FTIR spectrophotometric method

The sodium chlorite–iodine–ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) chemical oscillatory reaction system was studied by UV–Vis and online FTIR spectrophotometric method. The oscillation phenomenon does not occur as long as the reactants are mixed. There is a pre-oscillatory or induction period. The amplitude is small at the beginning stage and then increases with reaction time. Finally, the oscillation ceases suddenly. The amplitude and the number of oscillations are associated with the initial concentration of sodium chlorite, iodine, EAA and sulfuric acid. The equations for the triiodide ion reaction rate changing with reaction time and the initial concentrations on the oscillation stage were obtained. The intermediates were detected by the online FTIR analysis. Based upon the experimental data in this work and in the literature, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed for the oscillation reaction.     

Experimental study of a closed system in the chlorine dioxide–iodine–ethyl acetoacetate–sulfuric acid oscillation reaction by UV–vis and online FTIR spectrophotometric methods

The appearance of oscillations depends critically on the pH for a closed system of ClO₂–I₂–ethyl acetoacetate in the absence of sulfuric acid, and was investigated by determining the absorbance of I₃⁻ with reaction time at 280 nm. The pH should be 2.2–3.8. The initial concentration of ethyl acetoacetate, chlorine dioxide, iodine, and sulfuric acid has great influence on the oscillation at 581 nm for I₃⁻–starch complex (SI₃⁻). The oscillation occurs as long as the reactants are mixed at 280 nm. There is no pre-oscillatory period. However, at 581 nm, there is an induction period. The curve’s shape at 581 nm is very different from that at 280 nm. The oscillation becomes more obvious by adding starch at 581 nm for I₃⁻–starch complex (SI₃⁻) than that observed without adding starch at 280 nm. The oscillation curve is more regular and smooth by adding starch at 581 nm than that without adding starch at 280 nm. The amplitude and the number of oscillations are associated with the initial concentration of reactants. The higher the initial concentration of ethyl acetoacetate, the bigger the amplitude. Also, the number of oscillations becomes small. An opposite influence exists for chlorine dioxide and iodine. The higher the initial concentration of sulfuric acid, the bigger the amplitude. Also, the number of oscillations becomes large. The equations for the triiodide ion reaction rate changing with reaction time and the initial concentrations on the oscillation stage were obtained. The intermediates were detected by the online FTIR analysis. Based upon the experimental data in this work and in the literature, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed for the oscillation reaction.     

A thermo extraction–UV/Vis spectrophotometric method for total iodine quantification in soils and sediments

Iodine in soils and sediments is a difficult element to analyze due to its volatility in acidic conditions. Traditionally it has been quantified using neutron activation analysis techniques, which, unfortunately, requires access to a nuclear reactor. We present here a simple method for solid-phase iodine analysis by thermo extraction at 1000°C and quantification by UV/Vis photometry. Samples are combusted in an oxygen stream and trapped in Milli-Q water. The extracts are then quantified by an As³⁺–Ce⁴⁺ spectrometric method whereby iodide catalyzes the oxidation of As³⁺ to As⁵⁺ and reduction of Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺. Three standard reference materials were analyzed with excellent recoveries (97–113%) and RSDs (<5%). Moreover, the detection limit was less than 50 ng absolute iodine with a confidence limit of 95%. When applied to carbonate-rich samples from sediment traps deployed in Lake Constance we found very low iodine levels (0.8–2 mg kg⁻¹). Despite the low concentrations, the precision of the method was consistently better than 5% RSD. However, the method needed to be slightly modified for organic and iodine-rich sediments (20–30% organic carbon) from a lake in the Black Forest by increasing the oxygen flow rate and decreasing the combustion time. Using the modified method we were able to achieve RSDs lower than 5%.     

An optical and electrochemical anion sensor of F− investigated by UV–vis, 1H NMR and cyclic voltammetry

A new anion receptor: 1,1′-di-(2″,4″-di-nitrophenylhydrazino-β-carbonyl)-ferrocene (1) based on ferrocene has been designed and synthesized as a highly colorimetric and electrochemical sensitive sensor for F^?. The binding mode with F^? was further investigated by UV–vis titration and ¹H NMR titration experiments. In addition, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) was performed to discuss the electrochemical sensing for F^?.     

Simple and selective method for determination of iodide in pharmaceutical products by flow injection analysis using the iodine–starch reaction

This work exploited the well-known iodine–starch reaction for development of a simple flow-injection (FI) method for determination of iodide in pharmaceutical samples. Iodide in an injected zone was oxidized to iodine. A gas diffusion unit enables selective permeation of iodine through a hydrophobic membrane. Detection was made very selective for elemental iodine by employing formation of the I₃ ^––starch complex. The detection limit (3S/N) of the system was 1 mg I L^–1. For a liquid patent medicine used for asthma treatment we suggested modification of the system. Direct injection of this sample, which contains a particularly high concentration level of iodide (ca. 9000 mg I L^–1), can be achieved by coupling a dialysis unit to the FI system. This has increased the working range to 6000–10,000 mg I L^–1 without employing complicated nanoliter injection.     

Chlorine Dioxide–Iodine–Sodium Thiosulfate Oscillating Reaction Investigated by the UV–Vis Spectrophotometric Method

A new chlorine dioxide–iodine–sodium thiosulfate chemical oscillatory reaction was studied by the UV–Vis spectrophotometric method. The initial concentrations of sodium thiosulfate, chlorine dioxide, iodine, sulfuric acid, and pH have great influences on the oscillations observed at wavelength 238 nm. The oscillations occur as long as the reactants are mixed. The amplitude and the number of oscillations are associated with the initial concentrations of reactants. The equations for the triiodide ion reaction rate changes with reaction time and the initial concentrations in the oscillation stage are an attenuation sine function. Based upon the experimental data in this work and in the literature, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed for the oscillation reaction.     

Supramolecular solvent-based liquid phase microextraction of malachite green at trace level from water samples for its UV–vis spectrophotometric detection

A simple and fast microextraction procedure based on supramolecular solvent extraction of malachite green from water samples has been established in the presented work. The effective analytical parameters including pH, solvent volume, sample volume etc. on the quantitative recoveries of the malachite green were optimised. Matrix effects were also investigated. The preconcentration factor was found as 50. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 16.3 and 54.5 µg L^?1, respectively. The relative standard deviation percentage was below 7%. The presented procedure was applied to the determination of malachite green content of natural water samples from fish farm and tap water etc.     

UV–vis and fluorescence detection by receptors based on an isophthalamide bearing a phenylethynyl group

We have successfully prepared 5-(2-phenylethynyl)isophathalilc acid as a signaling unit and the corresponding derivatives for an anion receptor 2 and a barbiturate receptor 4. Receptor 2 showed characteristic UV–vis changes and dramatic fluorescence quenching upon the addition of anions and receptor 4 showed UV–vis and an OFF-ON fluorescence changes upon the addition of dibutylbarbituric acid based on the diphenylethyne moiety.     

Measuring the rate constant of the reaction between carbon monoxide and iodine oxide at 298–363 K by the resonance fluorescence method

The rate constant of the reaction between the IO radical and carbon monoxide has been measured by the iodine atom resonance fluorescence method in the temperature range from 298 to 363 K. The reaction mainly takes place on the wall of the reactor.     

Orientational order of guest molecules in aligned liquid crystal as measured by EPR and UV–vis techniques

Orientational order of guest molecules in aligned liquid crystal 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) is studied via optical dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra measurements. The guest molecules used are bifunctional molecules bearing paramagnetic nitroxide group and photochromic azobenzene moiety. The bifunctional probe with rigidly bonded nitroxide and azobenzene moieties was found to align as a whole, while flexible long spacer between the moieties provides independent alignment for the nitroxide and azobenzene parts. Intermolecular interactions responsible for the alignment of azobenzene and nitroxide moieties of the probe molecules are discussed. The molecules with cis-configuration of azobenzene moiety are able to align in the liquid-crystalline medium, but to a lesser extent than the molecules with trans-configuration. Directions of orientational axes and characteristics of rotational mobility of spin probes are determined. Second, fourth and, in some cases, sixth rank order parameter values are found.     

π-dimerization of pleiadiene radical cations at low temperatures revealed by UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry and quantum theory

One-electron oxidation of the non-alternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pleiadiene and related cyclohepta[c,d]pyrene and cyclohepta[c,d]fluoranthene in THF produces corresponding radical cations detectable in the temperature range of 293–263 K only on the subsecond time scale of cyclic voltammetry. Although the EPR-active red-coloured pleiadiene radical cation is stable according to the literature in concentrated sulfuric acid, spectroelectrochemical measurements reported in this study provide convincing evidence for its facile conversion into the green-coloured, formally closed shell and, hence, EPR-silent π-bound dimer dication stable in THF at 253 K. The unexpected formation of the thermally unstable dimeric product featuring a characteristic intense low-energy absorption band at 673 nm (1.84 eV; logε _max = 4.0) is substantiated by ab initio calculations on the parent pleiadiene molecule and the PF₆⁻ salts of the corresponding radical cation and dimer dication. The latter is stabilized with respect to the radical cation by 14.40 kcal mol⁻¹ (DFT B3LYP) [37.64 kcal mol⁻¹ (CASPT2/DFT B3LYP)]. An excellent match has been obtained between the experimental and TD-DFT-calculated UV–vis spectra of the PF₆⁻ salt of the pleiadiene dimer dication, considering solvent (THF) effects.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of Hg(II) binding by thiol-rich peptides using both UV–vis and electrochemical detection

An existing method for HPLC determination of thiol-containing peptides has been successfully adapted to the analysis of mixtures of glutathione (GSH) and some related peptides with their Hg(II) complexes as a first approach to the study of phytochelatin extracts. The separation was achieved in a C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and 0.1% TFA/acetonitrile. Non-derivative UV–vis detection at 202 nm used in the original method has been complemented with amperometric detection at 1.2 V on glassy carbon electrode. Two different Hg(II)–GSH complexes were observed by both detection modes and confirmed by mass spectrometry.     

Ultrasensitive,simple and solvent-free micro-assay for determining sulphite preservatives (E220–228) in foods by HS-SDME and UV–vis micro-spectrophotometry

A new method based on headspace single-drop microextraction in combination with UV–vis micro-spectrophotometry has been developed for the ultrasensitive determination of banned sulphite preservatives (E220–228) in fruits and vegetables. Sample acidification was used for SO₂ generation, which is collected onto a 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) microdrop for spectrophotometric measurement. A careful study of this reaction was necessary, including conditions for SO₂ generation from different sulphating salts, drop pH, 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) concentration and potential interference effects. Variables influencing mass transfer (stirring, sample volume and addition of salt) and microextraction time were also studied. A simple sulphite extraction was carried out, and problems caused by oxidation during the extraction process were addressed. A high enrichment factor (380) allows the determination of low levels of free SO₂ in fruits and vegetables (limit of detection 0.06 μg g^?1, limit of quantification 0.2 μg g^?1) with an adequate precision (repeatability, relative standard deviation 5 %). In addition, the sulphiting process was studied through the monitoring of residual SO₂ in a vegetal sample, thus showing the importance of a sensitive tool for SO₂ detection at low levels.

Alternative charge stabilisation and a changing reactivity of 1,3,5-triazine based starburst compounds as studied by in situ ESR/UV–vis–NIR spectroelectrochemistry

The role of the chemical structure in an alternative charge stabilisation and a changing reactivity of star-shaped compounds with a central triazine ring linked to aryl groups like thiophene, furan or ethylenedioxythiophene synthesized by a Stille cross-coupling procedure, is followed by spectroelectrochemical measurements. While cathodic reduction leads to stable anion radicals with a delocalised spin on the central triazine moiety, dimerisation and oligomerisation occurs upon anodic oxidation. The stability of the charged states in the polymer film increased substantially using an EDOT (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) side group. The location of the charged states on the molecules has been proved by computations. These star-shaped molecules are excellent model structures for studies of the competition of dimerisation and oligomerisation processes based on the variation of the electron and spin distribution in the molecules.     

Studies of the characteristic and reaction mechanism of silica xerogel by sol–gel method catalyzed by alkylbiguanide as a strong organic base

Treatment of tetraethyl orthosilicate with 1,2-diisopropyl-4,4,5,5-tetra-methyl biguanide (A) as a highly strong base immediately gave silica gel by means of hydrolysis and condensation reaction at room temperature. The resulting wet gel was transparent and showed high density after dryness. From the results of gas adsorption and BET analysis, silica gel obtained by the treatment of strong base A had larger specific surface area and pore volume than silica gel that was prepared by a regular or less strong base such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). FTIR analysis revealed that the peak strength of Si-OH bond at 960?cm^?1 of silica gel prepared by highly strong base A was smaller than that of TMAH. To understand the mechanism behind such difference, a mixture of diphenylsilandiol and dimethoxydiphenylsilane were reacted with highly strong base A, and the resulting products comprised linear-chain siloxane oligomer and octaphenylcyclotetrasiloxane. Our results indicate that silanol generated by hydrolysis of TEOS is activated by A and the activated silanol undergoes subsequent direct reaction with unhydrolyzed alkoxy silane to give condensation products in ethanol. Such a direct polycondensation between silanol and alkoxy silane brought by highly strong base A led to three-dimensional crosslinking having a higher bulk density of silica gel.

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Probing the chemical reactivity of interfaces: Investigation on the interaction of dehydroindigo with Laponite by UV–vis,Raman and infrared spectroscopy

In this work, the interaction between dehydroindigo (an intermediary oxidized form of indigo) and Laponite clay was investigated. Dehydroindigo (DHI) has been detected when indigo is adsorbed by clay minerals, but it is relatively unstable and in the presence of water it turns back into indigo. It is, therefore, important to understand the factors that extend its stability and Laponite was chosen because the small aspect ratio implies in a large amount of silanol groups (SiOH) which would thus favor the DHI interaction through hydrogen bonding.A significant bathochromic shift (65 nm) of the DHI π®π* transition band in the visible region and changes in the relative intensities and position of the Raman bands at 1530, 1378 and 1167 cm⁻¹ assigned to ν(NCCN), δ(CN) and ν(CN) respectively, indicate that the interaction is stronger than expected for the van der Waals and polarization forces involved in the external surfaces interactions with the siloxane groups. It was also observed that DHI presents an enhanced photochemical stability when interacting with Laponite. These results indicate that hydrogen bonding between a DHI nitrogen atom and the −SiOH or MOH groups is mainly responsible for the behavior present in the DHI + Lap system.     

Double-imprinted polymer based on cross-linked poly(vinylimidazole–trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) in solid phase extraction for determination of lead from wastewater samples by UV–vis spectrophotometry

The monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in wastewater is increasingly becoming a crucial global issue since they tend to accumulate in food chains and can cause many biological abnormalities. In this work, it was developed a novel lead ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as a second template to be used as adsorbent in solid phase extraction (SPE) for determination of lead from wastewater samples by UV–vis spectrophotometry. The polymer called IIP–SDS was synthesised by a double-imprinting process with lead (template) and SDS (template). IIP–SDS was characterised by infrared spectroscopy Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. IIP–SDS showed good recovery for lead (around 82.0%), while the IIP (only lead as template) was 72.2% and non-IIP was 44.9%. Thus, the double-imprinting process for the preconcentration of Pb²⁺ proved to be a more adequate methodology than IIP with a single template. The optimised parameters of sample preparation were washing solvent (2.0 mL of tetrahydrofuran), type and volume of eluent (5 mL of 1 mol L^?1 hydrochloric acid), sample amount (30 mL of water spiked with 10.0 µg mL^?1), amount of IIP–SDS (400 mg) and sample pH (pH = 4.5). Linearity ranged from 10 to 125 µg L^?1 with r > 0.992. The limit of detection and quantification were 6.3 and 10 µg L^?1, respectively. The precision (relative standard deviation, %) and accuracy (relative error, %) were lower than 15%. Finally, IIP–SDS may be an alternative and effective adsorbent for SPE procedures in monitoring of wastewater samples.     

A hydrophilic interaction ultraperformance liquid chromatography (HILIC–UPLC) method for genomic DNA methylation assessment by UV detection

A hydrophilic interaction chromatography-based method, in combination with 1.7 μm ethylene bridged hybrid particle packed column (100 mm × 2.1 mm I.D.) and ultraperformance liquid chromatography, has been developed to measure cytosine (C) and methylcytosine (mC) in order to evaluate the extent of DNA methylation. Separation of cytosine and methylcytosine was achieved with good resolution and in fairly short times (5.5 min) by using isocratic elution with a mixture of 97:3 (v/v) acetonitrile/10 mM ammonium acetate as a mobile phase. The determination coefficients of C and mC were high (R ² > 0.999) within the range tested. The %RSD for intraday and interday were respectively 2.2% and 2.5% for C and 3.5% and 3.8% for mC. The limit of detection was 0.52 μM (0.52 fmol on-column) both for C and mC while the limit of quantification was 1.72 μM (1.72 fmol on-column) both for C and mC. The smallest amount of purified DNA that yielded a measurable level of C and mC was 10 μg. On the whole, this method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and precise.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of formaldehyde by a flow-injection method based on its catalytic effect on the acridine yellow–bromate reaction

A flow-injection configuration for the determination of formaldehyde is proposed. The method is based on the enhancing effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of acridine yellow by bromate in acidic medium. The proposed procedure is simple, inexpensive, sensitive and suitable for concentrations of formaldehyde between 1 and 56 microg mL(-1). A sampling-rate of 60 samples h(-1) was achieved. The effect of several organic and inorganic species was studied. The method was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in pharmaceuticals, milk and air in work environments. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained using the standard acetylacetone method.     

Rapid and sensitive method for the determination of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV–Vis detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol was developed. Acetaldehyde was derivatized with 0.900 mL 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHi) reagent and 50 L phosphoric acid 1 mol L^–1 at a controlled room temperature of 15°C for 20 min. The separation of acetaldehyde-DNPH (ADNPH) was carried out on a Shimadzu Shim-pack C₁₈ column, using methanol/LiCl_(aq) 1.0 mM (80/20, v/v) as a mobile phase under isocratic elution and UV–Vis detection at 365 nm. The standard curve of ADNPH was linear in the range 3–300 mg L^–1 per injection (20 L) and the limit of detection (LOD) for acetaldehyde was 2.03 g L^–1, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999 and a precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) of 5.6% (n=5). Recovery studies were performed by fortifying fuel samples with acetaldehyde at various concentrations and the results were in the range 98.7–102%, with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 0.2% to 7.2%. Several fuel samples collected from various gas stations were analyzed and the method was successfully applied to the analysis of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol samples.