NADH Electrooxidation Using Bis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) (2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-Exchanged Zirconium Phosphate Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

We present a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified using the electron mediator bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺) exchanged into the inorganic layered material zirconium phosphate (ZrP). X‐Ray powder diffraction showed that the interlayer distance of ZrP increases upon [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ intercalation from 10.3 Å to 14.2 Å. The UV‐vis and IR spectroscopies results showed the characteristic peaks expected for [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺. The UV‐vis spectrophotometric results indicate that the [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ concentration inside the ZrP layers increased as a function of the loading level. The exchanged [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ exhibited luminescence even at low concentration. Modified CPEs were constructed and analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. The intercalated mediator remained electroactive within the layers (E°′=–38.5 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, 3.5 M NaCl) and electrocatalysis of NADH oxidation was observed. The kinetics of the modified CPE shows a Michaelis–Menten behavior. This CPE was used for the oxidation of NADH in the presence of Bakers' yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. A calibration plot for ethanol is presented.     

Electrocatalytic properties of surface oxides on gold,platinum, and stainless steel electrodes in electrooxidation of malic acid

Electrocatalytic properties of oxides formed at gold, platinum, and stainless steel electrodes in the malic acid electrooxidation in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ are studied. Gas chromatographic analysis of the electrolyte after holding the potential at 1.0 V for 8 h shows that on platinum and gold electrodes 2 mmol of acetaldehyde are produced and on stainless steel, 45 mmol. The acetaldehyde yield is the highest on stainless steel.From Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 304–309.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Avramov Ivi, Popi, Antonovi.This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Preparation of weak cation exchange packings based on monodisperse poly(glycidyl methacrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads and their chromatographic properties

The monodisperse, macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate- co-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads were synthesized by a single-step swelling and polymerization method. Based on this media, a weak cation exchange (WCX) stationary phase for HPLC was synthesized by a new chemically modified method. The prepared resin has advantages for biopolymer separation, high column efficiency, low column backpressure, high protein mass recovery, and good resolution for proteins. The measured bioactivity recovery for lysozyme was 98+/-5%. The dynamic protein loading capacity of the WCX packings was 17.3 mg g(-1). The experimental results show that the synthesized WCX resin has very weak hydrophobicity.     

Synthesis of octahydroquinolines through the Lewis acid catalyzed reaction of vinyl allenes and imines

The reaction of vinyl allenes with imines under Lewis acid catalysis has been explored. Vinyl allenes in which the allenic portion of the molecule is tri- or tetrasubstituted gave octahydroquinoline derivatives as single isomers together with a minor compound formed by an ene reaction of the imine with the allene. Compounds in which the allene is 1,3-disubstituted do not react under the conditions assayed.     

Optimisation and validation of an automated solid phase extraction technique coupled on-line to enzyme-based biosensor detection for the determination of phenolic compounds in surface water samples

Summary A fully integrated screening system for phenolic compounds was developed incorporating on-line solid phase extraction, fractionation and biosensor detection. Two different types of biosensors, solid graphite and carbon paste electrodes incorporating the enzyme tyrosinase, were compared and used in the screening system. Interfacing of the solid phase extraction and fractionation with the biosensor detection was given special attention since the biosensors were not compatible with the organic modifier used for desorption of phenols from the solid phase extraction step. The system was validated with conventional analytical techniques. Surface water samples from the Ebro river were spiked with 1,10, and 25g L^–1 of catechol, phenol,p-cresol, respectively. Three out of seven samples were spiked and the correct samples were identified, containing phenols equivalent to the spiked concentrations.     

Influence of γ-radiation on the properties of Langmuir-Blodgett films of poly (3-hexadecylthiophene) in interaction with selected environment-polluting gases

The influence of -radiation on the electric properties of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of partially iodine-doped poly-(3-hexadecylthiophene) and stearic acid in interaction with selected environment-polluting gases has been studied. CO₂, CO and NO₂ increase the LB films conductivity and NO has a tendency to decrease the electric conductivity. The influence of -radiation was expressive onyl in the case of CO₂, whereas NO₂ brought about degradation of the conductive polymer.     

Analysis of steroids. XLI. Ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of quaternary ammonium steroids on silica.

A normal-phase ion-pair chromatographic system has been developed for the high-performance liquid chromatographic investigation of pipecuronium bromide (2 beta,16 beta-bis-(N'-dimethyl-l-piperazinyl)-3 alpha,17 beta-diacetoxy-5 alpha-androstane dibromide) and related quaternary ammonium steroids. The use of silica as the stationary phase and a 96:4 mixture of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1 mol/dm3 sodium perchlorate as the eluent with detection at 213 nm enable the potential impurities as well as the hydrolytic and oxidative degradation products of pipecuronium bromide to be separated and detected down to the 0.01% level. The above system is also applicable to the high-performance liquid chromatographic investigation of other quaternary ammonium steroids (pancuronium bromide, vecuronium bromide).     

Spectroscopic and photochemical properties of the lichen compound lobaric acid

Lichens synthesize and accumulate photoprotective compounds against possible damage induced by UV radiation in the photobiont. A biological model has been recently formulated that allows the use of lichens to evaluate changes at different UV radiation levels. The thermodynamics, photophysical and photochemical properties of lobaric acid were studied in acetonitrile, ethanol and Brij 35(3%) micelles at different pH values. Also the sun protector factor (SPF) was determined by in vitro methods. Lobaric acid was extracted from Stereoculon alpinum Laur. and characterized by means of standard procedures. Solutions were irradiated in oxygen and under nitrogen conditions with a UV medium pressure lamp. Lobaric acid absorbs at 287, 303 nm, and no fluorescence emission was observed. The maximum value of the molar extinction coefficient (5479.6 M(-1) cm(-1)) was obtained in Brij 35 at pH 12. Solubility is pH dependant and is highest in Brij 35 at pH 12 (4.45 x 10(-4) M). Photoconsumption quantum yields ranged between 10(-4) and 10(-5) in aerobic and anaerobic experimental conditions. Lobaric acid SPF was very low (0.5) compared with homosalate (4.0), (reference solar filter). Two pKa values, 5.05 (carboxylic acid group deprotonation) and 9.75 (phenolic OH deprotonation), were determined.     

Influence of chloride anions on the electrodeposition and electroactivity of the polymer matrix in polypyrrole,poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyrrole) and polypyrrole derivatives functionalized by titanocene centers,in dry non-aqueous solutions

We report electrochemical studies on the influence of a small concentration of chloride ions on the electroactivity of the polymer matrix of polypyrrole (PPy), poly(N-methylpyrrole) [p(N-MePy)] and a poly(titanocene-propyl-pyrrole) derivative, p(Tc3Py) [Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄; Tc=CpCpTiCl₂; Cp=C₅H₅; Cp=C₅H₄] in acetonitrile (AN), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The polymer films were obtained on Pt disc electrodes from AN solutions of the monomers containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF₆) as the supporting electrolyte and then transferred to the corresponding monomer-free solution. Studies in Cl^–-containing solutions have shown that the p(Tc3Py) matrix is very sensitive to the presence of Cl^– ions in all the above solvents, namely that it was subjected to electrochemical degradation at potentials above 0.1 V vs. a Ag/0.01 M Ag⁺ in AN reference electrode. Degradation of the p(Tc3Py) matrix was also observed in chloride-free DMF+TBAPF₆ solutions. Addition of chloride ions to the AN solution containing pyrrole, N-methylpyrrole or Tc3Py inhibits the deposition of the polymer films. On the other hand, we have found that PPy and p(N-MePy) matrices after their deposition in chloride-free AN solutions show much more stable redox responses in contact with chloride and/or DMF solutions. Possible mechanisms of these effects are discussed.Abbreviations AN acetonitrile - Cp cyclopentadienyl - DMF N,N-dimethylformamide - N-MePy N-methylpyrrole - p(N-MePy) poly(N-methylpyrrole) - PPy polypyrrole - p(Tc3Py) poly[Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄] - Py pyrrole - Tc titanocene=bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride, Cp₂TiCl₂, or its radical CpCpTiCl₂ (Cp=C₅H₄) - Tc3Py titanocene-propyl-pyrrole, Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄ - THF tetrahydrofuran Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Electrothermal vaporisation ICP-mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) for the determination and speciation of trace elements in solid samples - A review of real-life applications from the author's lab

The use of electrothermal vaporisation (ETV) from a graphite furnace as a means of sample introduction in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) permits the direct analysis of solid samples. A multi-step furnace temperature programme is used to separate the vaporisation of the target element(s) and of the matrix components from one another. Sometimes, a chemical modifier is used to enable a higher thermal pre-treatment temperature, by avoiding premature analyte losses (stabilisation) or promoting the selective volatilisation of matrix components. In almost all instances, accurate results can be obtained via external calibration or single standard addition using an aqueous standard solution. Absolute limits of detection are typically ~1 pg, which corresponds to 1 ng/g for a typical sample mass of 1 mg. Real-life applications carried out in the author's lab are used to illustrate the utility of this approach. These applications aim at trace element determination in industrial and environmental materials. The industrial materials analysed include different types of plastics - Carilon, polyethylene, poly(ethyleneterephtalate) and polyamide - and photo- and thermographic materials. As samples from environmental origin, plant material, animal tissue and sediments were investigated. Some applications aimed at a multi-element determination, while in other, the content of a single, but often challenging, element (e.g., Si or S) had to be measured. ETV-ICP-MS was also used in elemental speciation studies. Separation of Se-containing proteins was accomplished using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Subsequent quantification of the Se content in the protein spots was carried out using ETV-ICP-MS. As the volatilisation of methylmercury and inorganic mercury could be separated from one another with respect to time, no chromatographic or electrophoretic separation procedure was required, but ETV-ICP-MS as such sufficed for Hg speciation in fish tissue.