Preparation and evaluation of a novel molecularly imprinted SPE monolithic capillary column for the determination of auramine O in shrimp

A novel method combining molecular imprinting and SPE was developed in a capillary column for the determination of auramine O in shrimp. The capillary monolithic column was prepared by UV‐initiated in situ polymerization, using auramine O as template and methacrylic acid and ethylene dimethacrylate as functional monomer and cross‐linker, respectively. The properties of the prepared capillary monolithic column were investigated under the optimized conditions coupled with HPLC, and then the morphologies of the inner polymers were characterized by SEM. The calibration curve was expressed as A = 103C + 19.8 (r = 0.9992) with a linear range of 0.25–25.0 μg/mL, and the recoveries of auramine O at different concentrations in shrimp ranged from 90.5 to 92.4% with RSDs ranging from 2.1 to 4.4%. The capacities of the molecularly imprinted polymer and nonimprinted polymer columns were 0.722 and 0.147 μg/mg, respectively, and the LOD (S/N = 3) of auramine O in shrimp was 17.85 μg/kg. Under the selected conditions, the enrichment factors obtained were higher than 70‐fold. The results indicate that the prepared molecularly imprinted capillary monolithic column was reliable and applicable to the analysis of auramine O in shrimp.     

Rapid analysis of the essential oil components of dried Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim by Fe2O3‐magnetic‐microsphere‐assisted microwave distillation and simultaneous headspace single‐drop microextraction followed by GC–MS

In this work, microwave distillation assisted by Fe₂O₃ magnetic microspheres (FMMS) and headspace single‐drop microextraction were combined, and developed for determination of essential oil compounds in dried Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZBM). The FMMS were used as microwave absorption solid medium for dry distillation of dried ZBM. Using the proposed method, isolation, extraction, and concentration of essential oil compounds can be carried out in a single step. The experimental parameters including extraction solvent, solvent volume, microwave power, irradiation time, and the amount of added FMMS, were studied. The optimal analytical conditions were: 2.0 μL decane as the extraction solvent, microwave power of 300 W, irradiation time of 2 min, and the addition of 0.1 g FMMS to ZBM. The method precision was from 4 to 10%. A total of 52 compounds were identified by the proposed method. The conventional steam distillation method was also used for the analysis of essential oil in dried ZBM and only 31 compounds were identified by steam distillation method. It was found that the proposed method is a simple, rapid, reliable, and solvent‐free technique for the determination of volatile compounds in Chinese herbs.     

Sequence-specific electrochemical detection of double-strand PCR amplicons of PML/RARα fusion gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia

A novel electrochemical method for the sequence-specific detection of double-stranded polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of PML/RARα fusion gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was described in detail. Based on a “sandwich” sensing mode involving a pair of locked nucleic acids probes (capture probe and reporter probe), this DNA sensor exhibited excellent selectivity and specificity. The direct and quantitative analysis of double-stranded complementary was firstly performed by our sensor without the use of alkali, helicase enzymes, or denaturants. Finally, combining PCR technique with electrochemical detection scheme, PCR amplicons (191 bp) of the PML/RARα fusion gene were obtained and rapidly identified with a low detection limit of 79 fmol in the 100-μL hybridization system. The results clearly showed the power of sensor as a promising tool for the sensitive, specific, and portable detection of APL and other diseases.     

HPLC-DAD data coupled with second-order calibration method applied to food analysis: Simultaneous determination of six benzoylurea insecticides in various fruit samples by selecting time region of chromatogram

This work presents a novel application of second-order calibration based on self-weighted alternating trilinear decomposition(SWATLD)algorithm for analyzing the HPLC-DAD data.The proposed method makes it possible to simultaneously determine teflubenzuron,hexaflumuron,flufenoxuron,chlorfluazuron,diflubenzuron and benzoylurea in different fruit samples,i.e.pear,apple and banana,in the selected time region of chromatogram.The concentration,elution time and spectral information of these benzoylurea insecticides are selectively extracted from complex matrices even in the presence of unknown interferences.The root-mean-square error of prediction(RMSEP)and figures of merit,including sensitivity(SEN),selectivity(SEL)and limit of detection(LOD)are employed to access the performance of the method.The LODs obtained for these insecticides are within the range 0.017–0.26 ppm in pears,0.039–0.33 ppm in apples,0.041–0.44 ppm in bananas,respectively.Such a chemometrics-based protocol holds great potential to be extended as a promising alternative for more practical applications in food safety and quality monitoring.     

Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of three Co(II) coordination architectures based on a flexible multidentate carboxylate ligand and different N-donor ligands

Three new cobalt complexes, {[Co₅(tci)₂(bimb)₃(µ₃-O)₂(H₂O)₂]·3DMF·4H₂O} _n (1), {[Co₃(tci)₂(bib)]·2DMF·2H₂O} _n (2) and {[Co(Htci)(bpea)_0.5]·H₂O} _n (3) (H₃tci = tris(2-carboxyethyl)isocyanurate, bimb = 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl, bib = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene, bpea = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, DMF = N,N′-dimethylformamide), have been successfully synthesized through the assembly of Co(II) ions, H₃tci and different N-donor ligands, respectively. All complexes were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermogravimetric (TG) analyses and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Complex 1 exhibits a 3D three-fold parallel interpenetrated 3D → 3D structure with (6⁵·8) CdSO₄ topology. Complex 2 is built from [Co₃(µ₂-O_carboxyl)₂(CO₂)₄] clusters and linear bib ligands, displaying a two-fold parallel interpenetrated (3,8)-connected (4³)₂(4⁶·6¹⁸·8⁴) topology, while complex 3 is a 3D pillar-layered structure involving an infinite -Co-(µ₂-Ocarboxyl)(CO₂)-Co-chain. The diverse structures of the three complexes indicate that the skeletons of different N-donor ligands play an important role in the assembly of such different frameworks. In addition, magnetic investigation indicates that besides spin-orbit coupling of Co(II) ions, there exist antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in Co₅ and Co₃ clusters of 1 and 2, respectively.     

Chemical Regulation of Carbon Quantum Dots from Synthesis to Photocatalytic Activity

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized by heating various carbon sources in HNO₃ solution at reflux, and the effects of HNO₃ concentration on the size of the CQDs were investigated. Furthermore, the oxygen‐containing surface groups of as‐prepared CQDs were selectively reduced by NaBH₄, leading to new surface states. The experimental results show that the sizes of CQDs can be tuned by HNO₃ concentration and then influence their photoluminescent behaviors; the photoluminescent properties are related to both the size and surface state of the CQDs, but the photocatalytic activities are determined by surface states alone. The different oxygen‐containing groups on the surface of the CQDs can induce different degrees of the band bending upward, which determine the separation and combination of the electron–hole pairs. The high upward band bending, which is induced by C?O and COOH groups, facilitates separation of the electron–hole pairs and then enhances high photocatalytic activity. In contrast, the low upward band bending induced by C? OH groups hardly prevents the electron–hole pairs from surface recombination and then exhibits strong photoluminescence. Therefore, both the photocatalytic activities and optical properties of CQDs can be tuned by their surface states.     

Two lanthanum(III) complexes containing η2‐pyrazolate and η2‐1,2,4‐triazolate ligands: intramolecular C—H...N/O interactions and coordination geometries

The lanthanum(III) complexes tris(3,5‐diphenylpyrazolato‐κ²N,N′)tris(tetrahydrofuran‐κO)lanthanum(III) tetrahydrofuran monosolvate, [La(C₁₅H₁₁N₂)₃(C₄H₈O)₃]·C₄H₈O, (I), and tris(3,5‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolato‐κ²N¹,N²)tris(tetrahydrofuran‐κO)lanthanum(III), [La(C₁₄H₁₀N₃)₃(C₄H₈O)₃], (II), both contain La^III atoms coordinated by three heterocyclic ligands and three tetrahydrofuran ligands, but their coordination geometries differ. Complex (I) has a mer‐distorted octahedral geometry, while complex (II) has a fac‐distorted configuration. The difference in the coordination geometries and the existence of asymmetric La—N bonding in the two complexes is associated with intramolecular C—H...N/O interactions between the ligands.     

A one‐dimensional silver(I) coordination polymer based on the 2‐[2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl]phenol ligand exhibiting photoluminescence

A one‐dimensional Ag^I coordination complex, catena‐poly[[silver(I)‐μ‐{2‐[2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl]phenol‐κ²N²:N³}] perchlorate monohydrate], {[Ag(C₁₉H₁₅N₃O)]ClO₄·H₂O}_n, was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐[2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl]phenol (L) with silver perchlorate. In the complex, the L ligands are arranged alternately and link Ag^I cations through one benzimidazole N atom and the N atom of the pyridine ring, leading to an extended zigzag chain structure. In addition, the one‐dimensional chains are extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture via O—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions and π–π stacking interactions. The complex exhibits photoluminescence in acetonitrile solution, with an emission maximum at 390 nm, and investigation of the thermal stability reveals that the network structure is stable up to 650 K.     

Reversible high‐temperature phase transition of a manganese(II) formate framework with imidazolium cations

A new metal–formate framework, poly[1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium [tri‐μ₂‐formato‐manganese(II)]], {(C₃H₅N₂)[Mn(HCOO)₃]}_n, was synthesized and its structural phase transition was studied by thermal analysis and variable‐temperature X‐ray diffraction analysis. The transition temperature is around 435 K. The high‐temperature phase is tetragonal and the low‐temperature phase is monoclinic, with a β angle close to 90°. The relationship of the unit cells between the two phases can be described as: a_HT = 0.5a_LT + 0.5b_LT; b_HT = −0.5a_LT + 0.5b_LT; c_HT = 0.5c_LT. In the high‐temperature phase, both the framework and the guest 1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium (HIm) cations are disordered; the HIm cations are located about 2mm sites and were modelled as fourfold disordered. The Mn and a formate C atom are located on fourfold rotary inversion axes, while another formate C atom is on a mirror plane. The low‐temperature structure is ordered and consists of two crystallographically independent HIm cations and two crystallographically independent Mn²⁺ ions. The phase transition is attributable to the order–disorder transition of the HIm cations.     

Highly selective synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes from methane in a coupled Downer-turbulent fluidized-bed reactor

For the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) from CH₄ over a Fe/MgO catalyst, we proposed a coupled Downer-turbulent fluidized-bed (TFB) reactor to enhance the selectivity and yield (or production rate) of SWCNTs. By controlling a very short catalyst residence time (1–3 s) in the Downer, only part of Fe oxides can be reduced to form Fe nano particles (NPs) available for the growth of SWCNTs. The percentage of unreduced Fe oxides increased and the yield of SWCNTs decreased accordingly with the increase of catalyst feeding rate in Downer. SWCNTs were preferentially grown on the catalyst surface and inhibited the sintering of the Fe crystallites which would be formed thereafter in the downstream TFB, evidenced by TEM, Raman and TGA. The coupled Downer-turbulent fluidized-bed reactor technology allowed higher selectivity and higher production rate of SWCNTs as compared to TFB alone.