Catalytic oxidation of thiols at preheated glassy carbon electrode modified with abrasive immobilization of multiwall carbon nanotubes: applications to amperometric detection of thiocytosine, l-cysteine and glutathione

The performance of preheated glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes is described. First glassy carbon electrode is heated for 5 min at 50 °C, then abrasive immobilization of multiwall carbon nanotubes on a preheated glassy carbon electrode was achieved by gentle rubbing of electrode surface on a filter paper supporting carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-modified glassy carbon electrodes exhibit strong and stable electrocatalytic response toward thiols oxidation in wide pH range. These properties permit an important decrease in over voltage for the oxidation of thiocytosine, glutathione and l-cysteine, as well as a dramatic increase in the peak currents in comparison with bare glassy carbon electrode. Furthermore, the thiols amperometric response of the coated electrodes is extremely stable, with more than 95% of the initial activity after 30 min stirring of 0.1 mM thiols. The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for thiols detection by hydrodynamic amperometry. The substantial decrease in the overvoltage of the thiols oxidation associated with a stable amperometric response and antifouling properties of nanotubes films allow the development of highly sensitive thiols sensor without using any redox mediator. Such ability of carbon nanotubes to promote the thiols electron transfer reaction, short response time (5 s) and long-term stability, low detection limit, extended linear concentration range, high sensitivity suggest great promise for thiols amperometric sensors and detector for chromatographic analysis of thiol derivatives.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of selenium(IV) by its catalytic effect on the reduction of spadns by sulphide in micellar media

A simple kinetic spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of Se(IV). The method is based on the reduction of spadns by sulphide in micellar media. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of spadns at 515 nm with a fixed-time method. The decrease in the absorbance of spadns is proportional to the concentration of Se(IV) in the range 0.5–100 ng/mL with a fixed time of 2.5–7.0 min from the initiation of the reaction. The limit of detection is 0.3 ng/mL Se(IV). The relative standard deviation for the determination of 0.02 and 0.10 μg/mL Se(IV) was 2.10 and 1.95%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Se(IV) in water. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Enhancement of the analytical properties and catalytic activity of a nickel hexacyanoferrate modified carbon ceramic electrode prepared by two-step sol-gel technique: application to amperometric detection of hydrazine and hydroxyl amine

The electroless sol-gel technique was used for the construction of nickel hexacyanoferrat (NiHCF) modified carbon composite electrodes (CCEs).This involves two steps: formation of a carbon ceramic electrode fabricated by nickel powder and then immersing the electrode into a sodium- hexacyanoferate solution for the immobilization of NiHCF films. The cyclic voltammety of the resulting modified CCEs prepared under optimum conditions, shows a well defined surface redox couple due to the [Ni^IIFe^III/II(CN)₆]^−2/−1 system. The effect of different alkali metal cations in supporting electrolyte on the behavior of the modified electrode were studied. The charge transfer coefficient (α) and charge transfer rate constant (k_s) for modified films were calculated. Hydrazine and hydroxylamine have been chosen as a model to elucidate the electocatalytic ability and analytical parameters of NiHCF modified CCE prepared by one and two-step sol-gel techniques and these compounds determined amperometically at the surface of modified electrodes. The latter shows a good electocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrazine and hydroxylamine in the pH range 3-8 in comparison with CCEs modified by homogeneous mixture of graphite powder, Ni(NO₃)₂ and Na₂[Fe(CN)₆], (one-step sol-gel technique). Furthermore, the catalytic rate constant, linear dynamic range, limit of detection, and sensitivity for hydrazine and hydroxylamine detections were evaluated and compared with CCEs prepared with one-step sol-gel method. The modified CCEs containing NiHCF shows good repeatability, short response time, t 90%<3 s, long term stability (3 months) and excellent catalytic activity. Furthermore, the method of preparation is rapid and simple and the modified electrodes are renewed by simple mechanical polishing and immersing in [Na₃Fe(CN]₆] solution.     

Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide as Novel Electrochemical Platform for Immobilization of FAD and its Application as Highly Sensitive Persulfate Sensor

In this study, manganese oxide nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide(MnOxNPs/rGO) was used as support for strong immobilization of flavin adenine dinucleotide(FAD). A thin film of rGO cast on the electrode surface, followed by performing electrodeposition of MnOxNPs at applied constant potential of +1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 200 s. Finally, FAD was electrodeposited onto the rGO/MnOxNPs film by potential cycling between 1.0 to ?1.0 V in solution containing 1 mg ml^?1 FAD. Electrochemical properties and catalytic activity of GCE/rGO‐MnOxNPs/FAD toward persulfate (S₂O₈^2?) reduction was investigated. Under optimized condition, the concentration calibration range, detection limit, and sensitivity were 0.1 μM–2 mM, 90 nM and 125.8 nA/μM, respectively, using hydrodynamic amperometry technique.     

Biological synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles using Verbascum speciosum Schrad. and cytotoxicity properties toward HepG2 cancer cell line

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered as one of the best modes of drug releasing plans for the treatment of various diseases. AuNPs have different...     

Phase-Transition Thermal Charging of a Channel-Shape Thermal Energy Storage Unit: Taguchi Optimization Approach and Copper Foam Inserts

Thermal energy storage is a technique that has the potential to contribute to future energy grids to reduce fluctuations in supply from renewable energy sources. The principle of energy storage is to drive an endothermic phase change when excess energy is available and to allow the phase change to reverse and release heat when energy demand exceeds supply. Unwanted charge leakage and low heat transfer rates can limit the effectiveness of the units, but both of these problems can be mitigated by incorporating a metal foam into the design of the storage unit. This study demonstrates the benefits of adding copper foam into a thermal energy storage unit based on capric acid enhanced by copper nanoparticles. The volume fraction of nanoparticles and the location and porosity of the foam were optimized using the Taguchi approach to minimize the charge leakage expected from simulations. Placing the foam layer at the bottom of the unit with the maximum possible height and minimum porosity led to the lowest charge time. The optimum concentration of nanoparticles was found to be 4 vol.%, while the maximu possible concentration was 6 vol.%. The use of an optimized design of the enclosure and the optimum fraction of nanoparticles led to a predicted charging time for the unit that was approximately 58% shorter than that of the worst design. A sensitivity analysis shows that the height of the foam layer and its porosity are the dominant variables, and the location of the porous layer and volume fraction of nanoparticles are of secondary importance. Therefore, a well-designed location and size of a metal foam layer could be used to improve the charging speed of thermal energy storage units significantly. In such designs, the porosity and the placement-location of the foam should be considered more strongly than other factors.     

Lower bounds on signed edge total domination numbers in graphs

The open neighborhood N _G (e) of an edge e in a graph G is the set consisting of all edges having a common end-vertex with e. Let f be a function on E(G), the edge set of G, into the set {−1, 1}. If for each e ∈ E(G), then f is called a signed edge total dominating function of G. The minimum of the values , taken over all signed edge total dominating function f of G, is called the signed edge total domination number of G and is denoted by γ _st ′(G). Obviously, γ _st ′(G) is defined only for graphs G which have no connected components isomorphic to K ₂. In this paper we present some lower bounds for γ _st ′(G). In particular, we prove that γ _st ′(T) ⩾ 2 − m/3 for every tree T of size m ⩾ 2. We also classify all trees T with γ _st ′(T). Research supported by a Faculty Research Grant, University of West Georgia.     

Amperometric and voltammetric detection of hydrazine using glassy carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes and catechol derivatives

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and catechol compounds. First, 25 microL of DMSO-CNTs solutions (0.4 mg/mL) was cast on the surface of GC electrode and dried in air to form a CNTs film. Then the GC/CNTs modified electrode immersed into a chlorogenic acid, catechine hydrate and caffeic acid solution (electroless deposition) for a short period of time (2-80s). The cyclic voltammogram of the modified electrode in aqueous solution shows a pair of well-defined, stable and nearly reversible redox couple (quinone/hydroquinone) with surface confined characteristics. The combination of unique electronic and electrocatalytic properties of CNTs and catechol compounds results in a remarkable synergistic augmentation on the response. The electrochemical reversibility and stability of modified electrode prepared with incorporation of catechol compound into CNTs film was evaluated and compared with usual methods for attachment of catechols to electrode surfaces. The transfer coefficient (alpha), heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k(s)) and surface concentrations (Gamma) for GC/CNTs/catechol compound modified electrodes were calculated through the cyclic voltammetry technique. The modified electrodes showed excellent catalytic activity, fast response time and high sensitivity toward oxidation of hydrazine in phosphate buffer solutions at pH range 4-8. The modified electrode retains its initial response for at least 2 months if stored in dry ambient condition. The properties of modified electrodes as an amperometric sensor for micromolar or lower concentration detection of hydrazine have been characterized.     

Fabrication of Glucose Biosensor Based on Encapsulation of Glucose‐Oxidase on Sol‐Gel Composite at the Surface of Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Carbon Nanotubes and Celestine Blue

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Celestin blue. Cyclic voltammograms of the modified electrode show stable and a well defined redox couple with surface confined characteristic at wide pH range (2–12). The formal potential of redox couple (E′) shifts linearly toward the negative direction with increasing solution pH. The surface coverage of Celestine blue immobilized on CNTs glassy carbon electrode was approximately 1.95×10^?10 mol cm^?2. The charge transfer coefficient (α) and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k_s) for GC/MWCNTs/Celestine blue were 0.43 and 1.26 s^?1, respectively. The modified electrode show strong catalytic effect for reduction of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen at reduced overpotential. The glucose biosensor was fabricated by covering a thin film of sol‐gel composite containing glucose oxides (GOx) on the surface of Celestine blue /MWCNTs modified GC electrode. The biosensor can be used successfully for selective detection of glucose based on the decreasing of cathodic peak current of oxygen. The detection limit, sensitivity and liner calibration rang were 0.3 μM, 18.3 μA/mM and 10 μM–6.0 mM, respectively. The accuracy of the biosensor for glucose detection was evaluated by detection of glucose in a serum sample, using standard addition protocol. In addition biosensor can reach 90% of steady currents in about 3.0 sec and interference effect of the electroactive existing species (ascorbic acid–uric acid and acetaminophen) was eliminated. Furthermore, the apparent Michaelis–Menten constant 2.4 mM, of GOx on the nano composite exhibits excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity of immobilized enzyme toward glucose oxidation. Excellent electrochemical reversibility of redox couple, high stability, technically simple and possibility of preparation at short period of time are of great advantages of this procedure for modification of glucose biosensor.     

Modification of Glassy Carbon Electrode With Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and α‐Silicomolybdate: Application to Sb(III) Detection

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and polyoxometalate. With immersing SWCNTs modified GC electrode in silicon polyoxomolybdate (α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4?) solution (direct deposition) for a short period of time (2–10 s) oxoanion adsorbed strongly and irreversibly on SWCNTs. Cyclic voltammograms of the α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? incorporated‐SWCNTs indicates three well‐defined and reversible redox couples with surface confined characteristic at wide pH range (1–7). The surface coverage (Γ) of α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? immobilized on SWCNTs was 2.14 (±0.11)×10^?9 mol cm^?2 indicating high loading ability of SWCNTs for polyoxometalate. The charge transfer rate constant (k_s) of three redox couples of adsorbed α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? were 9.20 (±0.20), 8.02 (±0.20), and 3.70 (±0.10) s^?1, respectively, indicate great facilitation of the electron transfer between α‐SiMo₁₂O₄₀^4? and CNTs. In this research the attractive mechanical and electrical characteristics of CNTs and unique properties and reactivity of polyoxometalates were combined. The modified electrode in buffer solution containing Sb(III) shows a new redox system at 0.38 V in pH 1. The voltammetric peak current increased with increasing Sb(III) concentration. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique was used for detection micromolar concentration of antimony. Furthermore, the interference effects various electroactive compounds on voltammetric response of Sb(III) were negligible. Finally the ability of the modified electrode for antimony detection in real samples was evaluated.