Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and partial least squares discriminant analysis applied to the quality control of olive oil

Direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode [ESI(+)‐MS] is used to obtain fingerprints of aqueous–methanolic extracts of two types of olive oils, extra virgin (EV) and ordinary (OR), as well as of samples of EV olive oil adulterated by the addition of OR olive oil and other edible oils: corn (CO), sunflower (SF), soybean (SO) and canola (CA). The MS data is treated by the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) protocol aiming at discriminating the above‐mentioned classes formed by the genuine olive oils, EV (1) and OR (2), as well as the EV adulterated samples, i.e. EV/SO (3), EV/CO (4), EV/SF (5), EV/CA (6) and EV/OR (7). The PLS‐DA model employed is built with 190 and 70 samples for the training and test sets, respectively. For all classes (1–7), EV and OR olive oils as well as the adulterated samples (in a proportion varying from 0.5 to 20.0% w/w) are properly classified. The developed methodology required no ions identification and demonstrated to be fast, as each measurement lasted about 3 min including the extraction step and MS analysis, and reliable, because high sensitivities (rate of true positives) and specificities (rate of true negatives) were achieved. Finally, it can be envisaged that this approach has potential to be applied in quality control of EV olive oils. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for Multiple Binding Modes in the Initial Contact Between SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 Protein and Cell Surface Glycans**

Infection of host cells by SARS-CoV-2 begins with recognition by the virus S (spike) protein of cell surface heparan sulfate (HS), tethering the virus to the extracellular matrix environment, and causing the subunit S1-RBD to undergo a conformational change into the ‘open’ conformation. These two events promote the binding of S1-RBD to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, a preliminary step toward viral-cell membrane fusion. Combining ligand-based NMR spectroscopy with molecular dynamics, oligosaccharide analogues were used to explore the interactions between S1-RBD of SARS CoV-2 and HS, revealing several low-specificity binding modes and previously unidentified potential sites for the binding of extended HS polysaccharide chains. The evidence for multiple binding modes also suggest that highly specific inhibitors will not be optimal against protein S but, rather, diverse HS-based structures, characterized by high affinity and including multi-valent compounds, may be required.     

Simple Characterization of Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Capillary Electrophoresis

The development of methodologies for the characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using natural products has received increasing attention, especially to monitoring its stability and size for further application. In this paper, a capillary electrophoretic (CE) method is presented for characterization of AgNPs synthesized using honey or glucose as reducing agents. A simple electrolyte solution composed of 20 mM sodium borate and 20 mM sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) at pH 8.5 was used for separation of AgNPs within a short analysis time (<12 min). The obtained results were compared with the traditional characterization techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), showing satisfactory correlation in terms of size distribution. In addition, valuable information about electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential values of AgNPs was obtained by applying the CE-UV/Vis method. Thus, the proposed methodology represents a straightforward tool for the fast and cost-effective characterization of AgNPs within a single analysis, employing minimal amounts of reagents and samples.     

Processes associated with ionic current rectification at a 2D-titanate nanosheet deposit on a microhole poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate

Films of titanate nanosheets (approx. 1.8-nm layer thickness and 200-nm size) having a lamellar structure can form electrolyte-filled semi-permeable channels containing tetrabutylammonium cations. By evaporation of a colloidal solution, persistent deposits are readily formed with approx. 10-μm thickness on a 6-μm-thick poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) substrate with a 20-μm diameter microhole. When immersed in aqueous solution, the titanate nanosheets exhibit a p.z.c. of − 37 mV, consistent with the formation of a cation conducting (semi-permeable) deposit. With a sufficiently low ionic strength in the aqueous electrolyte, ionic current rectification is observed (cationic diode behaviour). Currents can be dissected into (i) electrolyte cation transport, (ii) electrolyte anion transport and (iii) water heterolysis causing additional proton transport. For all types of electrolyte cations, a water heterolysis mechanism is observed. For Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ions, water heterolysis causes ion current blocking, presumably due to localised hydroxide-induced precipitation processes. Aqueous NBu₄⁺ is shown to ‘invert’ the diode effect (from cationic to anionic diode). Potential for applications in desalination and/or ion sensing are discussed.

     

Effect of combining rules for cubic equations of state on the prediction of double retrograde vaporization

In this work, the phenomenon of double retrograde vaporization (DRV) is simulated using the Peng–Robinson equation of state with the classical mixing rules and several combining rules for the cross-energy and cross-co-volume parameters. The binary interaction parameters are set equal to zero in all cases, i.e., the calculations are entirely predictive. An interesting conclusion is that the predictions using the classical combining rules (geometric mean rule for a_ij and arithmetic mean rule for b_ij) provide the best agreement with the experimental data for all the systems tested: methane + n-butane, methane + n-pentane, ethane + limonene, and ethane + linalool. Another interesting observation is that several combining rules for b_ij, other than the arithmetic mean rule, predict the existence of three phases in equilibrium in a very narrow temperature range close to the critical temperature of methane in the methane + n-pentane system, even though, literature data indicates that n-hexane is the first n-alkane to present partial liquid phase immiscibility with methane.     

Effects of ethylene polymerization conditions on the activity of SiO2-supported zirconocene and on polymer properties

The effects of polymerization conditions were evaluated on the production of polyethylene by silica-supported (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ grafted under optimized conditions and cocatalyzed by methylaluminoxane (MAO). The Al : Zr molar ratio, reaction temperature, monomer pressure, and the age and concentration of the catalyst were systematically varied. Most reactions were performed in toluene. Hexane, with the addition of triisobutilaluminum (TIBA) to MAO, was also tested as a polymerization solvent for both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst systems. Polymerization reactions in hexane showed their highest activities with MAO : TIBA ratios of 3 : 1 and 1 : 1 for the homogeneous and supported systems, respectively. Catalyst activity increased continuously as Al : Zr molar ratios increased from 0 to 2000, and remained constant up to 5000. The highest activity was observed at 333 K. High monomer pressures (≈ 4 atm) appeared to stabilize active species during polymerization, producing polyethylenes with high molecular weight (≈ 3 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹). Catalyst concentration had no significant effect on polymerization activity or polymer properties. Catalyst aging under inert atmosphere was evaluated over 6 months; a pronounced reduction in catalyst activity [from 20 to 13 × 10⁵ g PE (mol Zr h)⁻¹] was observed only after the first two days following preparation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1987–1996, 1999     

Synthese und Struktur von Ammin- und Amidokomplexen des Iridiums

Synthesis and Structure of Ammine and Amido Complexes of Iridium The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₄Cl at 300 °C in a sealed glass ampoule yields the iridium(III) ammine complex (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅], which crystallizes isotypically with K₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with Z = 4, and a = 1350.0(2); b = 1028.5(3); c = 689.6(2) pm. The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₃ at 300 °C, however, gives the already known [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ beside a small amount of [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂. In pure form [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ is obtained by ammonolysis of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] at 300 °C with NH₃. [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂ crystallizes triclinic (P1, Z = 1, a = 660,2(3); b = 680,4(3); c = 711,1(2) pm; α = 103,85(2)°, β = 114,54(3)°, γ = 112,75(2)°). The structure contains Cl^– anions and [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]²⁺ cations with a trans position of the Cl atoms. Upon reaction of [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ with Cl₂ one ammine ligand is eliminated yielding [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl, which is transformed to orthorhombic [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]Cl₂ (Pnma, Z = 4, a = 1335,1(3); b = 1047,9(2); c = 673,4(2) pm) by crystallization from water. In the octahedral complex [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]²⁺ the four ammine ligands have an equatorial position, whereas the Cl atom and the aqua ligand are arranged axial. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Cl₂ at 330 °C affords the tetragonal Ir^IV complex (NH₄)[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] (P4nc, Z = 2, a = 702.68(5); c = 912.89(9) pm). Its structure was determined using the powder diagram. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Br₂ in water, on the other hand, gives (NH₄)₂[IrBr₆] crystallizing in the K₂[PtCl₆] type. Oxidation of (PPh₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with PhI(OAc)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ affords the Ir^V amido complex (PPh₄)[Ir(NH₂)Cl₅].     

Application of thermal analysis to the rhenium recovery process from copper and molybdenum sulphides minerals

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Rhenium production from copper and molybdenum sulphides involves the use of a pyrometallurgical process. In traditional pyrometallurgy processes, gases...     

NH4I-catalyzed chalcogen(S/Se)-functionalization of 5-membered N-heteroaryls under metal-free conditions

Herein, we described the NH₄I-catalyzed CH bond chalcogenation of N-heteroaryls in the presence of a minimum amount of DMSO/H₂O/acetic acid as additives (2.5/2.5/1?M equiv., respectively), under metal-free conditions. Under optimized conditions, a wide variety of sulfenyl/selenyl imidazo[1,2-α]pyridines were prepared in very good yields. Moreover, the present approach was also highly efficient for the chalcogenation of different 5-membered N-heteroaryls, e.g., indole, imidazothiazole, indazole and imidazopyrimidine derivatives.     

Flow injection determination of cobalt after its sorption onto polyurethane foam loaded with 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-p-cresol (TAC)

An electrochemically stable monolayer of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) was obtained for the first time. It was based on the electrostatic attachment of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to the benzene sulfonic acid monolayer film, which was covalently bound onto glassy carbon electrode by the electrochemical reduction of diazobenzene sulfonic acid. The surface-confined Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) underwent reversible surface process, and reacted with the coreactant, tripropylamine, to produce electrochemiluminescence. In view of the stability of the electrode, the results strongly suggested that light was emitted from the surface-confined Ru(bpy)(3)(2+), not from the detached Ru(bpy)(3)(2+). The Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) modified electrode was used to the determination of tripropylamine. It showed good linearity in the concentration range from 5 muM to 1 mM with a detection limit of 1 muM (S/N=4). The good stability of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) modified electrode also showed that the benzene sulfonic acid monolayer film prepared can be served as an excellent support to construct multilayers.