Dispersive solid phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid–liquid extraction for the determination of BTEX in soil samples: ant colony optimization–artificial neural network

In this study, dispersive solid phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid–liquid extraction has been developed for the extraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes isomers (BTEX) in soil samples prior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The BTEX were extracted from soil sample into acetonitrile by dispersive solid phase extraction method, and the extract was then used as dispersive solvent in dispersive liquid–liquid extraction procedure. Ant colony optimization–artificial neural network (ACO–ANN) has been employed to develop the model for simulation and optimization of this method. The volume of dispersive solvent, volume of extraction solvent, extraction time, and ultrasonic time were the input variables, while the multiple response function (R_m) of analytes was the output. The optimum operating condition was then determined by ant colony optimization method. At the optimum conditions, the limit of detections of 0.12–0.75 ng g⁻¹ was obtained for the BTEX. The developed procedure was then applied to the extraction and determination of BTEX in the soil samples and one certified soil. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thiol‐functionalized fructose‐derived nanoporous carbon as a support for gold nanoparticles and its application for aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water

Gold nanoparticles supported on thiol‐functionalized fructose‐derived nanoporous carbon (AuNPs@thiol‐Fru‐d‐NPS) were found to be a simple bench‐top, biocompatible, recyclable and selective catalytic system for the aerobic oxidation of various types of alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones at room temperature under the environmentally friendly conditions with excellent yields. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical characterisation and hepatoprotective potential of Cosmos sulphureus Cav. and Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.

This study was conducted to validate the hepatoprotective activity of Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos bipinnatus. Aqua-methanolic extracts of both plants were evaluated for the presence of various phyto-constituents through HPLC. Different doses of both plant extracts were administered to rats for nine days. Standard control was silymarin 100 mg/kg. Paracetamol 1 gm/kg was administered 3 h post treatment on 9th day for induction of hepatotoxicity. Blood was collected for the evaluation of liver biochemical markers and livers were removed for histopathological evaluation 24 h post-paracetamol treatment. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in both plant extracts. The extracts of both plants decreased the level of alanine aminotransaminase and total bilirubin significantly (p < 0.05), dose dependently and protected hepatocytes from paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. It can be concluded that both plants may possess hepatoprotective activity possibly due to the presence of quercetin and phenolic compounds.     

Synthesis of polyethylene‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes via a peroxide‐initiating radical coupling reaction and by using well‐defined TEMPO and thiol end‐functionalized polyethylenes

Polyethylene (PE), alkoxyamine‐ and thiol‐terminated PEs (PE‐TEMPO and PE‐SH, respectively) can be converted to macroradicals using a peroxide, a thermal cleavage of the alkoxyamine and a hydrogen transfer reaction of the thiol, respectively. The addition of these macroradicals to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were compared by performing grafting reactions at 160 °C in 1,3‐dichlorobenzene as solvent. Raman spectroscopy was utilized to follow the introduction of PE on the MWCNTs' surface while thermogravimetric and elemental analysis indicated the extent of this grafting. The grafting ratio was found to be in the range of 19–36 wt %. PE‐functionalized MWCNTs were imaged by transmission electronic microscopy showing a PE layer with various thicknesses covering the surface of nanotubes. It was found that higher levels of grafting were obtained using PE‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy and PE‐SH rather than a radical grafting reaction in which dicumyl peroxide, PE, and MWCNTs were reacted. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Cytotoxic and spectroscopic studies on binding of a new synthesized bipyridine ethyl dithiocarbamate Pt(II) nitrate complex to the milk carrier protein of BLG

In the present investigation, we have decided to study the interaction between the bovine whey carrier protein of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) with a newly synthesized Pt(II) complex (bipyridine ethyl dithiocarbamate Pt(II) nitrate), as an anti-cancer compound using fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic methods at two different temperatures of 25 and 37 °C. Also, cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of this complex have studied against cancer model cell line of K562. Results of intrinsic fluorescence of BLG represent that Pt(II) complex has strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of protein through dynamic quenching procedure. The values of binding constant (0.21 and 0.27 μM^?1 at 25 and 37 °C, respectively) and number of binding site calculated according to the quenching methods at different temperatures. Also, thermodynamic parameters data suggested that hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in the interaction of complex with BLG. In addition, far-UV-CD results show that Pt(II) complex did not induce any significant changes in the secondary structure of BLG. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of the complex toward the cancer cell line of K562 were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining methods. From above results, it can be concluded that the bovine whey carrier protein of BLG could bind to be a suitable transfer for this new anti-cancer compound and may be suggested that the anti-tumor activity of this complex reveals typical morphological features of apoptotic death.     

Facile Synthesis of Tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methane Derivatives via Alcoholysis Under Open-Flask and Mild Conditions

The reactions between a variety of functionalized alcohols and tris(dimethylsilyl)methane, (HMe₂Si)₃CH, are described. Alcohols such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-chloroethanol, 1-octanol, benzyl alcohol, glycidol, and allyl alcohol were converted in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst into the corresponding tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methanes, (ROMe₂Si)₃CH, in a convenient one-pot operation under aerobic conditions. The appearance of the products coincides with the generation of colloidal Pt(0) species. Moreover, poly(4-chloromethyl)styrene containing tris(dimethylsilyl)methyl groups reacts with benzyl alcohol or 2-chloroethanol in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst to give new macromolecules bearing tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methyl groups. The reaction rate is greatly influenced by the concentration of catalyst.     

Stabilization Of The CN35− Anion In Recoverable High-pressure Ln3O2(CN3) (Ln=La,Eu, Gd,Tb, Ho,Yb) Oxoguanidinates

A series of isostructural Ln₃O₂(CN₃) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) oxoguanidinates was synthesized under high-pressure (25–54 GPa) high-temperature (2000–3000 K) conditions in laser-heated diamond anvil cells. The crystal structure of this novel class of compounds was determined via synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) as well as corroborated by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The Ln₃O₂(CN₃) solids are composed of the hitherto unknown CN₃⁵⁻ guanidinate anion—deprotonated guanidine. Changes in unit cell volumes and compressibility of Ln₃O₂(CN₃) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) compounds are found to be dictated by the lanthanide contraction phenomenon. Decompression experiments show that Ln₃O₂(CN₃) compounds are recoverable to ambient conditions. The stabilization of the CN₃⁵⁻ guanidinate anion at ambient conditions provides new opportunities in inorganic and organic synthetic chemistry.     

因子分析-氢化物发生原子吸收法分析砷的形态

报道了用流动注射氢化物发生原子吸收法（ＦＩ－ＨＧＡＡＳ）对砷４种形态,Ａｓ,ＤＭＡ,ＭＭＡ）的混合体系进行测量后,根据吸光度加和性原则,用因子分析法（ＴＦＡ）对测定值进行解析,从而测定了混合体系中砷存在形态的数目、种类和含量。实验结果表明,不同酸度介质中不同形态砷校正曲线的斜率可作为相应的目标检测向量,应用于μｇ／Ｌ级低浓度砷的形态分析,平均回收率为９３．９％,结果令人满意。     

Zinc Oxide-Based Acetone Gas Sensors for Breath Analysis: A Review

Acetone is one of the toxic, explosive, and harmful gases. It may cause several health hazard issues such as narcosis and headache. Acetone is also regarded as a key biomarker to diagnose several diseases as well as monitor the disorders in human health. Based on clinical findings, acetone concentration in human breath is correlated with many diseases such as asthma, halitosis, lung cancer, and diabetes. Thus, its investigation can become a new approach for health monitoring. Better management at the early stages of such diseases has the potential not only to reduce deaths associated with the disease but also to reduce medical costs. ZnO−based sensors show great potential for acetone gas due to their high chemical stability, simple synthesis process, and low cost. The findings suggested that the acetone sensing performance of such sensors can be significantly improved by manipulating the microstructure (surface area, porosity, etc.), composition, and morphology of ZnO nanomaterials. This article provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research activities, published during the last five years (2016 to 2020), related to acetone gas sensing using nanostructured ZnO (nanowires, nanoparticles, nanorods, thin films, etc). It focuses on different types of nanostructured ZnO-based acetone gas sensors. Furthermore, several factors such as relative humidity, acetone concentrations, and operating temperature that affects the acetone gas sensing properties- sensitivity, long-term stability, selectivity as well as response and recovery time are discussed in this review. We hope that this work will inspire the development of high-performance acetone gas sensors using nanostructured materials.