Capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Chemical speciation (extraction of elemental information and identification of molecular environment for an analyte in a complex sample) has been a long sought after goal for analytical chemists. Recently, because of successful developments in more sensitive element-specific detectors and gentle separation schemes, which preserve the true chemical information in a real sample, routine speciation experiments are becoming a common occurrence in the scientific literature. For many reasons, the combination of capillary electrophoresis (for separation of different chemical species) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (for element and isotope specific detection) has emerged as the method of choice for these analyses. In this article the basic principles of capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are discussed. Design consideration for instrument interface, anticipated difficulties with speciation experiments and applications for specific matrices and analytes are also presented in this article.     

Surface Interaction of Ionic Liquids: Stabilization of Polyethylene Terephthalate-Degrading Enzymes in Solution

The effect of aqueous solutions of selected ionic liquids solutions on Ideonella sakaiensis PETase with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) substrate were studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations in order to identify the possible effect of ionic liquids on the structure and dynamics of enzymatic Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysis. The use of specific ionic liquids can potentially enhance the enzymatic hydrolyses of PET where these ionic liquids are known to partially dissolve PET. The aqueous solution of cholinium phosphate were found to have the smallest effect of the structure of PETase, and its interaction with (BHET) as substrate was comparable to that with the pure water. Thus, the cholinium phosphate was identified as possible candidate as ionic liquid co-solvent to study the enzymatic hydrolyses of PET.     

An enaminone-directed benzannulation/macrocyclization approach to cyclophane ring systems

A straightforward and modular preparative approach to 1,3,5-triaroylbenzene-based functionalized cyclophane ring systems has been developed. The key cyclophane-forming macrocyclization reaction was accomplished during the course of a regioselective cross-benzannulation between bis(aryl ethynyl) ketone and enaminone reactants. Macrocyclic products with ring sizes ranging from 18- to 22-membered were successfully constructed. The composition of the tether connecting the two aryl ethynyl ketone fragments can be easily varied; consequently, this method is suitable for construction of a diverse range of structurally distinct cyclophane products. To illustrate this feature, cyclophanes possessing xylyl, alkyl, di(ethylene triamine), and di(ethylene oxy) bridging units were synthesized in isolated yields of 11-46%. Three new cyclophanes (calixarene-like macrocyles 8 and 9, as well as crownophane 18) were structurally characterized by X-ray diffractometry.     

A sunlight-induced method for rapid biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andrachnea chordifolia</Emphasis> ethanol extract

In this study a sunlight-induced method for rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles using an ethanol extract of Andrachnea chordifolia is described. The silver nitrate solutions (1 mM) containing the ethanol extract of Andrachnea chordifolia were irradiated by both sunlight radiation and by sunlight radiation passed through different colored filters (red, yellow or green). The smallest size of silver nanoparticles was obtained when a silver ion solution was irradiated for 5 minutes by direct sunlight radiation. Further examination of the shape and size and of the surface chemistry of these biogenic silver nanoparticles, which were prepared under sunlight radiation, was carried out using transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy images show spherical particles with an average size of 3.4 nm. Hydroxyl residues were also detected on the surface of these biogenic silver nanoparticles fabricated using plant extract of Andrachnea chordifolia under sunlight radiation. Our study on the reduction of silver ions by this plant extract in darkness shows that the synthesis process can take place under dark conditions at much longer incubations (48 hours). Larger silver polydispersed nanoparticles ranging in size from 3 to 30 nm were obtained when the silver ions were treated with the ethanol extract of Andrachnea chordifolia under dark conditions for 48 hours.     

Sonochemical synthesis of silver vanadium oxide micro/nanorods: Solvent and surfactant effects

In this investigation, a facile sonochemical route has been developed for the preparation of silver vanadium oxide (SVO) micro/nanorods by using silver salicylate and ammonium metavanadate as silver and vanadate precursor, respectively. Here, silver salicylate, [Ag(HSal)], is introduced as a new silver precursor to fabricate AgVO₃ nanorods. The effect of numerous solvents and surfactants on the morphology and sonochemical formation mechanism of AgVO₃ nanorods was studied. AgVO₃ nanorods were characterized by SEM and TEM images, XRD patterns, FT-IR, XPS, and EDS spectroscopy. SEM, TEM, and XRD results showed that AgO nanoparticles were formed onto AgVO₃ nanorods in the presence of ethanol, cyclohexanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and acetone. By using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as organic additives, the thickness of AgVO₃ nanorods decreased.     

Highly selective thiocyanate poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode based on a cadmium–Schiff’s base complex

A PVC membrane electrode based on a cadmium–salen (N,N′-bis-salicylidene-1,2ethylenediamine) complex as an anion carrier is described. The electrode has an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence with a preference for thiocyanate at pH 1.5–11.0. It has a linear response to thiocyanate from 1.0 × 10^–6 to 1.0 × 10^–1 mol L^–1 with a slope of 59.1 ± 0.2 mV per decade, and a detection limit of 7 × 10^–7 mol L^–1. This electrode has high selectivity for thiocyanate relative to many common organic and inorganic anions. The proposed sensor has a fast response time of approximately 15 s. It was applied to the determination of thiocyanate in a milk sample. Received: 1 December 2000 / Revised: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 30 April 2001     

Polymeric membrane coated graphite cesium selective electrode based on 4′,4″(5′) di–tert-butyl di-benzo-18-crown-6

A new PVC membrane coated graphite electrode for cesium ion based on 4′,4″(5′)di–tert-butyl di-benzo-18-crown-6 (DTBDB18C6) as ionophore was prepared. The electrode shows a near Nernstian response of 57.0 ± 1.8 mV decade^?1 over a wide activity range of 6.0 × 10^?6–1.0 × 10^?1 mol L^?1 with a limit of detection 4.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1. The proposed electrode is suitable for use in aqueous solution in the pH range of 3.0–9.5. It has a fast response time of 10 s and can be used for at least 1 month without any considerable divergence in potential. The selectivity coefficients for Cs⁺ ion with respect to ammonium, alkali, alkaline earth and some selected transition metal ions were determined and showed a superior selectivity over Li⁺, Na⁺ and alkaline earth metal ions. The new electrode was applied for determination of Cs⁺ in spiked tap water. The electrode was also used as indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Cs⁺ with sodium tetraphenyl borate.     

Ionic Liquids Modify the Performance of Carbon Based Potentiometric Sensors

A new type of potentiometric sensor based on a recently constructed carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) is described. Two kinds of ionic liquids, i.e., N‐octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (OPFP) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazoluim hexafluorophosphate (BMFP) were tested as binder for construction of the carbon composite electrode. The characteristics of these electrodes as potentiometric sensors were evaluated and compared with those of the traditional carbon paste electrode (CPE). The results indicate that potentiometric sensors constructed with ionic liquid show an increase in performance in terms of Nernstian slope, selectivity, response time, and response stability compared to CPE.     

Solvent-free one-pot synthesis of 4-aryl-3,5-dimethyl-1,4,7,8-tetrahydrodipyrazolo[3,4-b:4′,3′-e]pyridines using Fe3O4@SiO2@(BuSO3H)3 catalytic Fe3+ system as selective colorimetric

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The synthesis of 4-Aryl-(3,5-dimethyl-1,4,7,8-tetrahydro-dipyrazolo[3,4b:4′,3′e]pyridine derivatives was accomplished using Fe3O4@SiO2@(BuSO3H)3...