Study of the selection mechanism of heavy metal (Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+) adsorption on clinoptilolite

The study was carried out on the sorption of heavy metals (Ni2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+) under static conditions from single- and multicomponent aqueous solutions by raw and pretreated clinoptilolite. The sorption has an ion-exchange nature and consists of three stages, i.e., the adsorption on the surface of microcrystals, the inversion stage, and the moderate adsorption in the interior of the microcrystal. The finer clinoptilolite fractions sorb higher amounts of the metals due to relative enriching by the zeolite proper and higher cleavage. The slight difference between adsorption capacity of the clinoptilolite toward lead, copper, and cadmium from single- and multicomponent solutions may testify to individual sorption centers of the zeolite for each metal. The decrease of nickel adsorption from multicomponent solutions is probably caused by the propinquity of its sorption forms to the other metals and by competition. The maximum sorption capacity toward Cd2+ is determined as 4.22 mg/g at an initial concentration of 80 mg/L and toward Pb2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ as 27.7, 25.76, and 13.03 mg/g at 800 mg/L. The sorption results fit well to the Langmuir and the Freundlich models. The second one is better for adsorption modeling at high metal concentrations.     

Stimulated interdiffusion and optical recording in Sb/As2S3 nanomultilayers

The role of the compositional modulation at nano-scale dimensions (2–10 nm) in the enhancement of optical recording parameters in nanomultilayers, which contain Sb as active, optical absorbing and diffusing layers and As₂S₃ as barrier (matrix) layers was investigated. Comparison was made with single homogeneous layers made of ternary (As₂S3)_xSb_1−x glasses and co-deposited from Sb and As₂S₃. It was shown that essential increase of the recording efficiency, sensitivity of the bleaching process, broadening of its spectral range occurs due to the stimulated interdiffusion of adjacent components in Sb/As₂S₃ nanomultilayers with optimized Sb layer thickness.     

Fourfold [2]rotaxanes based on calix[4]arenes

Tetraurea calix[4]arenes with four loops form exclusively heterodimers with open-chain urea calix[4]arenes when they are dissolved in aprotic solvents. These assemblies can be considered as pseudorotaxanes. If open-chain tetraureas ending with maleic imide functions are used, their Diels-Alder reaction with 1,4,5,8-tetrapentoxyanthracene leads to tetra[2]rotaxanes which cannot be split into the single calixarene parts by hydrogen bond breaking solvents.     

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for imaging of copper, zinc, and platinum in thin sections of a kidney from a mouse treated with cis-platin

Platinum complexes are used for the treatment of several types of cancer. High platinum concentrations in the target tissue and low concentrations in dose-limiting tissue structures such as renal tubules are desirable to assure selective toxicity. Microlocal analysis of platinum distribution in tissue sections may thus contribute to the optimization of platinum therapy. Scanning laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to produce images of element distribution in 14-μm thin sections of kidney tissue from a mouse treated with cis-platin 60 min prior to victimization. The sample surface was scanned (raster area 300 mm²) with a focused laser beam (wavelength 266 nm, diameter of laser crater 50 μm, inter line distance 50 μm and laser power density 3 × 10⁹ W cm⁻²) in a cooled laser ablation chamber (about −15 °C) developed for these measurements. The laser ablation system was coupled to a double-focusing sector field ICP-MS. Ion intensities of ⁶³Cu⁺, ⁶⁴Zn⁺, and ¹⁹⁶Pt⁺ were measured within the tissue by LA-ICP-MS. Matrix-matched laboratory standards served for calibration of analytical data. The mass spectrometric analysis yielded an inhomogeneous distribution for Cu, Zn, and Pt in thin kidney sections. Copper was enriched in the capsule and outer cortex, zinc in the inner cortex and the platinum concentration followed a centripetal gradient with clear medullar enrichment. Thus, scanning LA-ICP-MS may be a useful tool in the preclinical development of new and less nephrotoxic platinum complexes.     

Ammonium sorption from aqueous solutions by the natural zeolite Transcarpathian clinoptilolite studied under dynamic conditions

The scope of this study is ammonium-ion uptake from synthetic aqueous solutions onto raw and pretreated forms of the natural zeolite Transcarpathian clinoptilolite under dynamic conditions. Hydrogen ions displaced exchangeable cations on the clinoptilolite in distilled water (sodium ions) and hydrochloric acid (sodium, potassium, and calcium ions) and destroyed the zeolite framework structure in the last case. Ammonium uptake onto the zeolite occurs by exchange with Na(+), Ca(2+), and K(+) ions. Although Na(+) ions were observed to be more easily exchanged for both hydrogen and ammonium ions, the role of Ca(2+) ions increased with zeolite saturation by NH(+)(4) ions. The maximum sorption capacity of the clinoptilolite toward NH(+)(4) ions, estimated under dynamic conditions, is significantly higher than that measured under static conditions; proximity of the values of a distribution coefficient and a retardation factor for different conditions (215-265 dm(3)/kg and 979-1107, respectively) allows us to use these parameters to model ammonium uptake onto the clinoptilolite. Slowing down or interruption in filtration resulted in the improvement of ammonium sorption properties of the zeolite. The ammonium removal improves with use of the finer fractions of the clinoptilolite up to 0.35 mm. A recycling study results confirmed the importance of external diffusion for ammonium sorption by the clinoptilolite. Preliminary treatment of the sorbent confirmed the predominant importance of the ion-exchange mechanism. The advantage of prior NaCl treatment of the clinoptilolite in improvement of ammonium removal over the other techniques was shown.     

Portable automated separation system for routine purification and/or pre-concentration of radionuclides based on column chromatography

In recent years the purification and/or pre-concentration of radionuclides before the measurement has grown increasing interest in analytical chemistry. In this study, a new compact and portable stand-alone equipment permitting automatisation of various separation tasks is developed. The new system allows performing quick and reliable automated separation of the selected radionuclide. Since there is no need for permanent manual control of the separation procedures (automatic loading of the sample, washing and stripping solution on the column are controlled via a computer program) the system can be operated overnight. The new system posses the possibility of more variable control for the separation process via new developed user-friendly software, is shielded against the chemical vapors and could be universally equipped with any available chromatographic column. For the automated separation of U, Pu and Am isotopes (achieved recoveries were in the range of 65–95 %, depending on the element separated. The data, presented, show that the application of the module should be also straightforward for other elements: simply by changing the chromatographic columns with the resin having high chemical selectivity for the target ion. The developed separation column module, software and hardware can be readily adapted in any laboratory to meet defined analytical requirements.     

Synthesis and NMR spectroscopy investigations of functionalized 8,8,10-trimethyl-4-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrano[3,2-g]chromene-2,6-diones and their spirothiadiazole derivatives

New functionalized derivatives of 8,8,10-trimethyl-4-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrano[3,2-g]-chromene-2,6-dione – analogues of the natural compound graveolone – possessing hydrazine, hydroxylamine, and thiosemicarbazide residues were synthesized and their reactions with acetic anhydride were studied. The structure of the obtained compounds was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and NMR spectroscopy investigations of functionalized 8,8,10-trimethyl-4-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrano[3,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>]chromene-2,6-diones and their spirothiadiazole derivatives

New functionalized derivatives of 8,8,10-trimethyl-4-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrano[3,2-g]-chromene-2,6-dione – analogues of the natural compound graveolone – possessing hydrazine, hydroxylamine, and thiosemicarbazide residues were synthesized and their reactions with acetic anhydride were studied. The structure of the obtained compounds was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Correspondence: Viktoria Moskvina, Chemistry Department, Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, 60, ul. Vladimirskaya, 01033 Kyiv, Ukraine.