Effect of Laser Pulse Energy on the Characteristics of Cu Nanoparticles Produced by Laser Ablation Method in Acetone

The effect of laser fluence on the characteristics of Cu nanoparticles, prepared by laser ablation method, is investigated experimentally. 1–6 nm Cu nanoparticles were synthesized by the pulsed laser ablation of a high purity copper bulk in acetone. Effect of laser fluence on the size, morphology and structure of produced nanoparticles has been studied. Pulses of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser of 1,064 nm wavelengths at 7 ns pulse width at different fluences was employed to irradiate the Cu target in acetone. The UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectra of nanoparticles exhibit surface plasmon resonance absorption peak in the visible region. TEM and SEM micrographs indicate that with increasing the laser fluence the average size of spherical Cu nanoparticles is decreased and only the sample which is produced with the highest fluence shows exceptional behavior. It is found that Cu nanoparticles exhibit photoluminescence emission with single peak due to its interband transition.     

Development of a new strategy for the synthesis of graphene oxide-alumina nanocomposite as an efficient adsorbent for dispersive solid-phase extraction of parabens

The present study investigates the synthesis and application of the graphene oxide-alumina nanocomposite as a new adsorbent for the dispersive solid-phase extraction of three parabens and their determination using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. The characterization of the synthesized material was accomplished and its size, morphology, chemical composition, porosity, and thermal stability were studied. Application of the proposed strategy for the synthesis of the nanocomposite resulted in the incorporation of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into graphene oxide nanosheets, further resulting in the exfoliation of graphene oxide nanosheets increasing their surface area. An orthogonal rotatable central composite design was used to optimize the extraction. Under the optimum conditions, the analytical performance of the method showed a suitable linear dynamic range (0.2–100.0 μg/L), reasonable limits of detection (0.03–0.05 μg/L), and preconcentration factors ranging from 128 to 173. Finally, the new validated method was applied for the determination of parabens in some real samples including wastewater, cream, toothpaste, and juice samples with satisfactory recoveries (88%–109%), and relative standard deviations less than 8.7% (n = 3). Results demonstrated that inserting alumina nanoparticles into graphene oxide nanosheets improved the extraction efficiency of parabens, as polar acidic compounds, by providing additional efficient interactions including hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, and Brønsted and Lewis acid-base interactions.     

A Structural and Calorimetric Study on the Interaction Between Jack Bean Urease and Cyanide Ion

The cyanide ion was studied as an effecter of Jack bean urease at 300 K in 30 mmol⋅L⁻¹ Tris buffer, pH=7. The inhibition was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The extended solvation model was used for CN⁻+JBU interaction over the whole range of CN⁻ concentrations. The binding parameters recovered from the solvation model were attributed to the interaction with cyanide ion. It was found that cyanide ion acted as a noncooperative inhibitor of urease, and there is a set of 12 identical and independent binding sites for CN⁻ ions. The dissociation equilibrium constant is 749.99 μmol⋅L⁻¹. The molar enthalpy of binding is ΔH=−13.60 kJ⋅mol⁻¹.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of new bidentate Schiff base ligand and its vanadium(IV) complex: The catalytic activity of vanadyl complex in epoxidation of alkenes

The Schiff base ligand N-salicylidin-2-bromoethylimine (L) and its vanadium(IV) complex, VOL₂ (1), were synthesized and characterized by using X-ray, CHN, ¹H NMR and FT-IR methods. X-ray analysis shows the Schiff base ligand L acts as a bidentate (O, N) chelating ligand and coordinates via imine nitrogen and phenolato oxygen atoms to the V(IV) center. The coordination geometry around the V(IV) center in 1 is approximately square pyramidal, as indicated by the unequal metal-ligand bond distances and angles, with the basal plane formed by the N₂O₂ donors of the two bidentate Schiff base ligands, the two phenolato O atoms and the two imine N atoms are in the trans position. The coordination sphere of the V(IV) is completed by one oxygen atom in apical position. In the Schiff base ligand, L, there are some classical intramolecular O1-H1?N1 and non-classical intermolecular C9-H9b?O1 hydrogen bonds, while in 1, there are two non-classical intermolecular C7-H7?O3 and C8-H8b?O3 hydrogen bonds. The catalytic activity of 1 in epoxidation of cyclooctene was investigated in different conditions to obtain optimum conditions. The effects of solvent, oxidant, catalyst concentration and alkene/oxidant ratio were studied and the results showed that in CCl₄ in the presence of tert-butylhydroperoxide in 1:3 alkene/oxidant ratio, high epoxide yield was obtained. The epoxidation of alkenes was also carried out in optimized conditions that high catalytic activity and selectivity were obtained.     

A sol‐gel based solid phase microextraction fiber for the analysis of aliphatic alcohols in apple juices

A new fiber based on titania‐chitin sol‐gel coated on a silver wire for the headspace solid phase microextraction of aliphatic alcohols from apple juice samples was developed. The influences of fiber coating composition and microextraction conditions (extraction temperature, extraction time, and ionic strength of the sample matrix) on the fiber performance were investigated. Also, the influence of temperature and time on desorption of analytes from fiber were studied. Under the optimized conditions, a porous fiber with a high extraction capacity and good thermal stability (up to 250°C) was obtained. The proposed headspace solid‐phase microextraction‐GC method was successfully used for the analysis of aliphatic alcohols in apple juice and concentrate samples. The recovery values were from 92.8 to 98.6%. The RSD (n=5) for all analytes were below 7.8%.     

Pd2+ reduction and gasochromic properties of colloidal tungsten oxide nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation

Tungsten oxide nanoparticles were fabricated by a pulsed laser ablation method in deionized water using the first harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (λ=1064 nm) at three different laser pulse energies (E1 =160, E2 =370 and E3 =500 mJ/pulse), respectively. The aim is to investigate the effect of laser pulse energy on the size distribution and gasochromic property of colloidal nanoparticles. The products were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that WO₃ nanoparticles were formed. After ablation, a 0.2 g/l PdCl₂ solution was added to activate the solution against hydrogen gas. In this process Pd²⁺ ions were reduced to deposit fine metallic Pd particles on the surface of tungsten oxide nanoparticles. The gasochromic response was measured by H₂ and O₂ gases bubbling into the produced colloidal Pd–WO₃. The results indicate that the number of unreduced ions (Pd²⁺) decreases with increasing laser pulse energy; therefore, for colloidal nanoparticles synthesized at the highest laser pulse energy approximately all Pd²⁺ ions have been reduced. Hence, the gasochromic response for this sample is nearly reversible in all cycles, whereas those due to other samples are not reversible in the first cycle.     

Competitive Potentiometric Study of a Series of 18-crown-6 with Some Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Ions in Methanol Using an Ag+/Ag Electrode

The complexation of some alkali and alkaline earth cations with18-crown-6(18C6), dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DCY18C6), and dibenzopyridino-18-crown-6 (DBPY18C6) in a methanol solution has been studied by a competitive potentiometric titration using Ag⁺/Ag electrode as a probe. The stoichiometry and stability constants of the resulting complexes have been evaluated by the MINIQUAD program. The stoichiometry for all resulting complexes was 1:1. The order of stability of Ag⁺ complexes with desired crown ethers varied as DBPY18C6 > DCY18C6 > 18C6 > DB18C6.The stability of the resulting complexes for each of these crown ethers varies in the order ofK⁺ > Na⁺ and Ba²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺.For each of the used metal ions the major sequence of the stability constants of the resulting complexes varies as DCY18C6 > 18C6 > DB18C6 > DBPY18C6 with minor exceptions.     

Activated persulfate by chelating agent Fe·/complex for in situ degradation of phenol: intermediate identification and optimization study

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Due to its high toxicity, phenol is classified as a priority. In this paper, the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions was investigated using EDTA and...     

Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Pentasaccharide Bearing Multiple Rare Sugars as a Potential Anti‐pertussis Vaccine

With the infection rate of Bordetella pertussis at a 60‐year high, there is an urgent need for new anti‐pertussis vaccines. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pertussis is an attractive antigen for vaccine development. With the presence of multiple rare sugars and unusual glycosyl linkages, the B. pertussis LPS is a highly challenging synthetic target. In this work, aided by molecular dynamics simulation and modeling, a pertussis‐LPS‐like pentasaccharide was chemically synthesized for the first time. The pentasaccharide was conjugated with a powerful carrier, bacteriophage Qβ, as a vaccine candidate. Immunization of mice with the conjugate induced robust anti‐glycan IgG responses with IgG titers reaching several million enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) units. The antibodies generated were long lasting and boostable and could recognize multiple clinical strains of B. pertussis, highlighting the potential of Qβ‐glycan as a new anti‐pertussis vaccine.