Amperometric sensor for the determination of ascorbic acid based on Cobalt hexacyanoferrate modified electrode fabricated through a new route

A new approach was attempted to prepare a chemically modified electrode using Cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) as the redox mediator and to study its stability and electrocatalytic activity for ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation. The basic principle underlying the electrode modification is the coordination of cobalt ion with the amino nitrogen of aniline adsorbed on the surface of a graphite rod. This surface was subsequently derivatized with ferrocyanide to get CoHCF film on the electrode surface. The CoHCF modified electrode as prepared above was characterized using cyclic voltammetry. The effect of scan rate, supporting electrolyte and pH of the medium on the performance of the modified electrode was investigated. The CoHCF modified electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid and gave a linear response from 5.52 x 10(-5) M to 3.23 x 10(-2) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9929. The detection limit was found to be 3.33 x 10(-5) M. Hydrodynamic voltammetry and chronoamperometry studies for the oxidation of ascorbic acid were also carried out. The electrode was highly stable and exhibited good reproducibility. This modified electrode was also applied for the determination of ascorbic acid in commercial samples.     

Waterborne trifunctionalsilane‐terminated polyurethane nanocomposite with silane‐modified clay

Trifunctional organosilane‐modified clay was synthesized and used to prepare waterborne trifunctionalsilane‐terminated polyurethane (WSPU)/clay nanocomposite dispersions in this study. Qualitative evidence of the presence of chemically attached silane molecules on clay were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The grafted amount and the grafting yield were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and the obtained results were in good agreement with the cation exchange capacity of pristine clay. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy examinations indicated that the clay platelets are mostly intercalated or partially exfoliated in the SPU matrix with a d‐spacing of ～2.50 nm. Clay does not influence the location and peak broadness of the glass transition temperature of soft segment as well as hard segment domains in the WSPU/clay films. WSPU/clay dispersion with higher clay content exhibits a marginal increase in the average particle size, but silane modified clay has a pronounced effect compared with Cloisite 20A‐based nanocomposites. In addition, the incorporation of organophilic clay can also enhance the thermal resistance and tensile properties of WSPUs dramatically through the reinforcing effect. The improvement in water and xylene resistance of the silane modified clay nanocomposites proved that trifunctional organosilane can be used as effective modifiers for clays. Storage stability results confirmed that the prepared nanocomposite dispersions were stable. This method provides an efficient way to incorporate silane modified clay in SPU matrix. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2747–2761, 2007     

Stability of invertase in reverse micelles

The stability of invertase was studied under various conditions, including at 75°C, in presence of stabilizers (sorbitol and glycerol) at 75°C, and in the presence of denaturants (urea and trichloroacetic acid) at 37°C in reverse micelles. Stability of the invertase in reverse micelles was found to be improved over that of the enzyme in bulk aqueous solution. Sorbitol could enhance enzyme stability as it does in the bulk aqueous system. The stabilizing effect of glycerol was reduced in reverse micelles. The denaturation pattern of urea remains unaltered. However, the denaturation effect of trichloroacetic acid has been reduced in reverse micelles.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic secondary amine-blocked isocyanates

N-Methylaniline-, diphenylamine-, and N-phenylnaphthylamine-blocked toluene diisocyanates (TDI) were prepared and characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy, and nitrogen content analyses. The structure–property relationship of these adducts was established by reacting with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). The cure rate of the adduct increases from the N-phenylnaphthylamine- to diphenylamine- and to N-methylaniline-blocked TDI adduct. Simultaneous TGA/DTA results also confirm this trend, and the thermal stability of the adduct decreases in the following order: N-phenylnaphthylamine–TDI > diphenylamine–TDI > N-methylaniline–TDI. The gas chromatogram of the amine-blocked isocyanate confirms that the thermolysis products are the blocking agent and isocyanate. The solubilities of the adducts were carried out in polyether, polyester, and hydrocarbon polyols, and it was found that the N-methylaniline–TDI adduct shows higher solubility than the rest and also found that the polyester polyol shows higher solvating power against the adducts than the polyether and hydrocarbon polyols. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1815–1821, 1999     

Purification of 89Sr source obtained from 89Y(n,p) 89Sr by ion-exchange chromatography using tri-sodium tri-meta phosphate (SMP) as eluant

⁸⁹Sr was produced via ⁸⁹Y(n, p) ⁸⁹Sr using yttria as target in Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam, India. A radiochemical procedure has been developed for the separation of bulk yttrium using TBP by solvent extraction followed by purification of ⁸⁹Sr source by ion exchange chromatography using the cation exchange resin Dowex 50WX8 (100–200 mesh) and nitric acid of variable molarity as eluant. The present study establishes the purification of ⁸⁹Sr source from the other radionuclidic impurities like ⁸⁸Y, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁰Co, ⁸⁶Rb, ¹⁹²Ir, ¹⁰³Ru, ¹¹³Sn, ¹³⁹Ce, ¹⁶⁰Tb, ¹⁵⁴Eu etc. produced during the irradiation of yttria by using the complexing agent tri-sodium tri-meta phosphate (SMP) in nitric acid medium instead of nitric acid alone as an eluant. The purification was achieved by using 0.1 M SMP as complexing agent which was optimized based on the distribution ratio data and final elution of Sr fraction was obtained in nitric acid medium. This resulted into a faster purification of ⁸⁹Sr source in a smaller volume of eluant. Purity of Sr source from the cross contamination of the complexing agent SMP was also ensured.     

Separation of bulk Y from 89Y(n,p) produced 89Sr by extraction chromatography using TBP coated XAD-4 resin

⁸⁹Sr was produced using the ⁸⁹Y(n, p) ⁸⁹Sr reaction by irradiating yttria target in the fast breeder test reactor (FBTR). An analytical scale procedure was standardized for the removal of the bulk target yttrium by solvent extraction using the tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP). The final purification of ⁸⁹Sr source was carried out by ion exchange chromatography. However, extraction chromatography is preferred to solvent extraction due to its low waste generation and ease of operation. This paper reports the separation of Sr from bulk Y and other radioactive impurities produced during irradiation by extraction chromatography using TBP coated XAD-4 resin. Initially the separation procedure was standardized using ⁸⁵Sr and ⁸⁸Y tracers. The ⁸⁹Sr in the dissolver solution of the irradiated yttria target was separated under the same standardized conditions. The study established the separation of Sr from Y in the dissolver solution of the irradiated target yttria by the TBP coated XAD-4 column. However the evaluation of the column after every use for about three separation studies exhibited the reduction in its breakthrough capacity for yttrium.     

Nanocomposites composed of layered molybdenum disulfide and graphene for highly sensitive amperometric determination of methyl parathion

The authors describe an inexpensive electrode for the sensitive amperometric determination of the pesticide methyl parathion. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a nanocomposite consisting of molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MoS2) and graphene that was prepared via a hydrothermal process. Its morphology, elemental composition, diffraction, impedance and voltammetric characteristics were studied. The modified electrode displays excellent electrocatalytic ability towards methyl parathion, and the reduction peak current, measured typically at ?0.60 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) is related to the concentration of methyl parathion. The effect of concentration, scan rate and solution pH value were optimized. The calibration plot is linear in the 10 nM to 1.9 mM concentration range, with a 3.2 nM detection limit (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The electrode is selective, stable, adequately repeatable and reproducible. The method was successfully applied to the determination of methyl parathion in spiked samples of homogenized apple, kiwi, tomato and cabbage.

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Graphical Abstract A reliable and robust methyl parathion sensor has been developed using heterostructured MoS₂/graphene. The linear range is 10 nM–1.9 nM and detection limit is 3.2 (±0.8) nM. The method was successful in real sample determination of spiked methyl parathion in food samples such as apple, kiwi, tomato and cabbage.

     

Toward glasses with better indentation cracking resistance

The microcracking sequence (radial, median, lateral, and ring-like) arising at the glass surface under sharp contact loading and the extent to which these cracks develop is intimately related to the way the material attempts to relax the corresponding stress field. Two processes which are known to occur upon indentation are densification and isochoric shear flow. The contributions of both mechanisms were quantitatively assessed for glasses belonging to different chemical systems in previous papers ,  and . In the present study, indentation cracking maps are provided, which offer guidelines to the design of glasses with better surface damage resistance based on their elastic properties and hardness.     

Electroless synthesis of multibranched gold nanostructures encapsulated by poly(o-phenylenediamine) in Nafion

Multibranched gold (Au) nanocomposite materials encapsulated by poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) (Au@PoPD) were synthesized in a Nafion polymer film through the electroless synthetic route. The micro-heterogeneous structured Nafion film acted as a reaction vessel and as the template for the formation of Au@PoPD nanocomposite materials leading to the formation of highly uniform distribution of high density of the polymer-gold nanocomposite material. The formation of Au@PoPD nanomaterials at the GP/Nf surface was scrutinized by recording in situ absorption spectra and was characterized. The formation of the (111) plane of gold was dominant at the Au@PoPD nanocomposite. The ratio of the benzenoid and quinoid units of the PoPD (ca. 1.65) observed for the Au@PoPD confirmed that the micro-heterogeneous structure of Nf film acted as a reaction vessel and as template for the formation of Au@PoPD nanocomposite material. Both PoPD and Au at the Au@PoPD nanocomposite showed electrochemical activities at the GC/Nf-Au@PoPD modified electrode. The electrocatalytic activity of the GC/Nf-Au@PoPD modified electrode was studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).