Geochemical and Spatial Distribution of Topsoil HMs Coupled with Modeling of Cr Using Chemometrics Intelligent Techniques: Case Study from Dammam Area,Saudi Arabia

Unconsolidated earthen surface materials can retain heavy metals originating from different sources. These metals are dangerous to humans as well as the immediate environment. This danger leads to the need to assess various geochemical conditions of the materials. In this study, the assessment of topsoil materials’ contamination with heavy metals (HMs) was conducted. The material’s representative spatial samples were taken from various sources: agricultural, industrial, and residential areas. The materials include topsoil, eolian deposits, and other unconsolidated earthen materials. The samples were analyzed using the ICP-OES. The obtained results based on the experimental procedure indicated that the average levels of the heavy metals were: As (1.21 ± 0.69 mg/kg), Ba (110.62 ± 262 mg/kg), Hg (0.08 ± 0.18 mg/kg), Pb (6.34 ± 14.55 mg/kg), Ni (8.95 ± 5.66 mg/kg), V (9.98 ± 6.08 mg/kg), Cd (1.18 ± 4.33 mg/kg), Cr (31.79 ± 37.9 mg/kg), Cu (6.76 ± 12.54 mg/kg), and Zn (23.44 ± 84.43 mg/kg). Subsequently, chemometrics modeling and a prediction of Cr concentration (mg/kg) were performed using three different modeling techniques, including two artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, namely, generalized neural network (GRNN) and Elman neural network (Elm NN) models, as well as a classical multivariate statistical technique (MST). The results indicated that the AI-based models have a superior ability in estimating the Cr concentration (mg/kg) than MST, whereby GRNN can enhance the performance of MST up to 94.6% in the validation step. The concentration levels of most metals were found to be within the acceptable range. The findings indicate that AI-based models are cost-effective and efficient tools for trace metal estimations from soil.     

A High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on Tungsten Oxide Nanoplates and Highly Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrodes

Tungsten oxide/graphene hybrid materials are attractive semiconductors for energy-related applications. Herein, we report an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC, HRG//m-WO₃ ASC), fabricated from monoclinic tungsten oxide (m-WO₃) nanoplates as a negative electrode and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) as a positive electrode material. The supercapacitor performance of the prepared electrodes was evaluated in an aqueous electrolyte (1 m H₂SO₄) using three- and two-electrode systems. The HRG//m-WO₃ ASC exhibits a maximum specific capacitance of 389 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹, with an associated high energy density of 93 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 500 W kg⁻¹ in a wide 1.6 V operating potential window. In addition, the HRG//m-WO₃ ASC displays long-term cycling stability, maintaining 92 % of the original specific capacitance after 5000 galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles. The m-WO₃ nanoplates were prepared hydrothermally while HRG was synthesized by a modified Hummers method.     

On Some Sharp Spectral Inequalities for Schrödinger Operators on Semiaxis

In this paper we obtain sharp Lieb–Thirring inequalities for a Schrödinger operator on semiaxis with a matrix potential and show how they can be used to other related problems. Among them are spectral inequalities on star graphs and spectral inequalities for Schrödinger operators on half-spaces with Robin boundary conditions.     

Di­chloro­bis­(tri­methyl­ene­thio­urea‐κS)antimony(III) chloride

In the title compound, [SbCl₂(C₄H₈N₂S)₂]Cl, the coordination around the Sb atom can be described as distorted pseudo‐octahedral. Both rings of the tri­methyl­ene­thio­urea ligands [alternatively 3,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione] adopt an envel­ope conformation. The mol­ecules are connected into dimers in the ab plane by two intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The dimers are arranged into infinite one‐dimensional chains along the a axis as a result of the Cl^? ions forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds with three NH groups.     

An overview on enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials for use in electrochemical and optical assays

Various kinds of nanomaterials have been described in recent years that represent stable and low-cost alternatives to biomolecules (such as enzymes) for use in (bio)analytical methods. The materials typically include, metal/metal oxides, metal complexes, nanocomposites, porphyrins, phthalocyanines, smart polymers, and carbonaceous nanomaterials. Due to their biomimetic and other properties, such nano-materials may replace natural enzymes in chemical sensors, biosensors, and in various kinds of bioassays. This overview (with 252 references) highlights the analytical potential of such nanomaterials. It is divided into sections on (a) the types of nanomaterials according to their intrinsic nature, (b) non-enzymatic sensor designs (including electrochemical, colorimetric, fluorescent and chemiluminescent methods), and (c), applications of non-enzymatic sensors in the biomedical, environmental and food analysis fields. We finally address current challenges and future directions.

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Graphical abstract This review discusses different types of nanomaterials, which are explored as a potential biomimetic material to replace the natural enzyme in the field of biosensors, and have found widespread applications in biomedical, food and environmental analysis.

     

trans‐Di­aqua­bis­(thio­semicarb­azido‐κ2N,S)­nickel(II) dimaleate dihydrate

In the title compound, [Ni(CH₅N₃S)₂(H₂O)₂](C₄H₃O₄)₂·2H₂O, the Ni atom lies on a center of symmetry and is coordinated by N and S atoms from two thio­semicarbazide ligands and the O atoms of two water mol­ecules in a distorted octahedral geometry. In the asymmetric unit, the three components are linked together by one O—H⋯O and two N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The packing is built from molecular ribbons parallel to the b direction, stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and by one N—H⋯S and two N—H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The ribbons are further connected into columns by N—H⋯O interactions and then into a three‐dimensional network by three O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.     

Natural convection of CuO–water nanofluid filled in a partially heated corrugated cavity:KKL model approach

In this article, flow and heat transfer inside a corrugated cavity is analyzed for natural convection with a heated inner obstacle. Thermal performance is analyzed for Cu O–water inside a partially heated domain by defining the constraint along the boundaries. For nanofluid analysis, the Koo and Kleinstreuer Li(KKL) model is implemented to deal with the effective thermal conductivity and viscosity. A heated thin rod is placed inside the corrugated cavity and the bottom portion of the corrugated cavity is partially heated. The dimensionless form of nonlinear partial differential equations are obtained through the compatible transformation along with the boundary constraint. The finite element method is executed to acquire the numerical solution of the obtained dimensional system. Streamlines, isotherms and heat transfers are analyzed for the flow field and temperature distribution. The Nusselt number is calculated at the surface of the partially heated domain for various numerical values of emerging parameters by considering the inner obstacle at cold, adiabatic and heated conditions. The computational simulation was performed by introducing various numerical values of emerging parameters. Important and significant results have been attained for temperature and velocities(in both x-and y-directions) at the vertically and horizontally mean positions of the corrugated duct.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Three Polymeric Silver(I) Terephthalate Complexes with Organic N‐Donor Ligands: [Ag(pren)]2(tp)·2H2O, [Ag(en)][Ag(μ2‐tp)]·H2O,and [Ag2(μ4‐tp)(apy)2]

Three polymeric silver(I) complexes with terephthalate anions as counterions or ligands, [Ag(pren)]₂(tp)·2H₂O ( 1 ), [Ag(en)][Ag(μ₂‐tp)]·H₂O ( 2 ), and [Ag₂(μ₄‐tp)(apy)₂] ( 3 ) (where pren = 1, 2‐propylenediamine, tp =terephthalate dianion, en = ethylenediamine, and apy = 2‐aminopyridine) were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray single crystal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁1/c with a = 11.3221(5), b = 7.1522(3), c = 14.8128(5)Å, V = 1015.77(7)ų, β = 122.132(2), and Z = 2. 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with a = 9.6144(6), b = 11.3465(7), c = 11.4810(7)Å, V = 1252.5(1)ų, and Z = 4. 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 8.2003(5), b = 5.8869(4), c = 18.3769(11)Å, β = 92.593(1), V = 886.2(1)ų, and Z = 4. Terephthalate dianions are not coordinated to the metal atoms in 1 , but act as a μ₂‐bridging ligand in 2 and as a μ₄‐bridging ligand in 3 .     

Spectral studies and structure of a 2-hydroxyacetophenone 3-hexamethyleneiminyl thiosemicarbazonate(-2) copper(II) complex containing 1,10-phenanthroline

The spectral studies and structure of a ternary complex of copper(II) with 2-hydroxyacetophenone 3-hexamethyliminylthiosemicarbazonate (L(2-)) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) are reported. The thiosemicarbazone binds to the metal as a dianionic ONS-donor (L(2-)) ligand, and forms a complex of the stoichiometry [CuLphen]. The copper(II) complex was characterized by IR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, as well as by solid state room-temperature magnetic susceptibility. Spin Hamiltonian and bonding parameters of the compound are calculated from the EPR spectra. Computer simulation of EPR spectrum in DMF at 77 K aided the calculation of magnetic and bonding parameters of the compound. The structure of the compound is solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The geometry around copper is distorted square pyramidal.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and properties of a tetrametallic 3-ferrocenyl-2-crotonic acid-bridged manganese(II) complex [Mn2(phen)4(FCA)2](ClO4)2·H2O

The title complex [Mn₂(phen)₄(FCA)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (1) (FCA = dianion of 3-ferrocenyl-2-crotonic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) has been prepared, and its structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure consists of a dinuclear cation [Mn₂(phen)₄(FCA)₂]²⁺, non-coordinated perchlorate anions and a water molecule. The two Mn^II ions are separated by 4.374 Å in the cation and are dicarboxylate-bridged by carboxylate ligands containing ferrocenyl units. Each FCA is bound to two Mn^II ions through carboxylate oxygens with the syn–anti bridging mode. The Mn^II ion is coordinated in an octahedral N₄O₂ geometry by two chelate phen ligands and two -carboxylate oxygen atoms. Electrochemical properties of (1) are discussed.