Method Development for the Speciation of Chromium in River and Industrial Wastewater Using GFAAS

A simple, sensitive and inexpensive method for the speciation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in river and industrial wastewater was developed, optimized and validated. Samples were collected, filtered and then chromium species were determined in the filtrate. In the filtrate, total Cr was determined directly by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). A portion of the filtered sample was buffered to pH 6.4, extracted with Amberlite LA-2/MIBK and finally Cr(VI) was determined in the organic extract and Cr(III) in the aqueous phase using GFAAS. The method was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material, CRM 544, and good accuracy was obtained. The limit of detection for Cr(VI) and Cr(tot)/Cr(III) was found to be 0.30 and 0.08 µg L⁻¹, respectively, and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation of better than 11% was achieved for nine replicates. A number of water samples from the Tinishu Akaki River, Ethiopia, and wastewater samples from a chemical plant in Germany, were analysed. In addition to the GFAAS method, Cr(tot) was also determined using ICP-MS (in CRM 544, lyophilized water, and Tinishu Akaki River water samples) and Cr(tot) and Cr(VI) using UV-VIS spectrophotometry (in CRM 544 and industrial wastewater samples). Good agreement between the different methods was found.     

New artificial receptors from selectively functionalized calix[4]arenes

Abstract

The development of new synthetic methods for the monoalkylation of calix[4]arenes at the lower rim allows the synthesis of a new class of trihydroxamate siderophores. Three chelating hydroxamic acid units are introduced through a sequence of reactions which blocks the macrocycle in the cone conformation. The new ligands obtained form neutral 1:1 complexes (FeL) with iron (III), which are stable in EtOH/H₂O 9:1 at pH 2–7. Calix[4]arene bis-crown ethers are prepared by exploiting the selective 1,2-(proximal) functionalization of calix[4]arenes at the lower rim. These ligands are, however, less effective in complexing alkali metal cations compared with the 1,3-calix[4]arene crown-ethers which, in their partial cone structure, offer a better shielding for the complexed cations. Rigid upper rim-bridged calix[4]arenes potentially useful for the inclusion of neutral molecules are prepared by exploiting the selective 1,3-diformylation of calix[4]arene at the upper rim. Finally a new chloromethylation method for calix[4]arenes blocked in the cone conformation is described together with the synthesis of new cavitands.     

Photoelectrochemical platform for sensing propyl gallate in edible oil samples based on CdTe quantum dots and poly(D-glucosamine)

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - This paper reports the development of a photoelectrochemical platform based on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode modified with carboxyl-functionalized...     

The impact of time on the heat resistance of self-compacting high-performance concrete incorporated with recycled martials

The influence of time on the mechanical behavior of concrete after exposure to elevated temperatures has been studied. Twenty-one self-compacting high-performance concrete mixtures with different incorporation amounts of coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and three unprocessed waste powder materials have been tested at age of 270 days for residual compressive and flexural strength after exposure to fire. The results have been compared to the results for the same concrete, which have been studied at age of 90 days. A new parameter has been introduced for comparing the responses of concrete to elevated temperatures at different ages; this parameter was the “heat resistance” which expresses the total area under the curve of the relative residual strength (compressive or flexural) after exposing to six temperature degrees (20, 150, 300, 500, 600, and 800 °C). The results showed that the age of concrete has an influence on the response of concrete to elevated temperatures. The heat resistance of compressive strength enhanced with age but the concrete behaved with a tendency different to that at the age of 90 days. The heat resistance of flexural strength has not been affected or slightly decreased but not with more than 10% to that at the age of 90 days. The used waste powder materials were unprocessed waste fly ash, waste cellular concrete powder and waste perlite powder; they proved that using any of them up to 15% as a replacement for cement with 0% or 25% of RCA enhanced the concrete resistance for the fire with time. The main two reasons for changing of residual strength with the time were the changing of water content and the proceeding of hydration of the binder. In general, long ages testing properties of concrete simulate the real behavior of concrete structures accurately.

     

Theoretical investigation of the alloxan–dialuric acid redox cycle

The redox cycle between alloxan, a mild oxidizing agent, and its reduction partner, dialuric acid, is investigated using density functional theory. It is found that the initial step is the one‐electron reduction of alloxan followed by protonation, yielding a stable neutral radical, AH^·. The radical can then accept another electron to form the dialuric acid anion. The formation of this anion is thermodynamically favored in both the gas phase and in solution. The radical may also undergo dimerization to alloxantin, followed by the transfer of a proton from one moiety to another, yielding alloxan and dialuric acid. This reduction is thermodynamically feasible in the gas phase, but not in aqueous solution. In the case of reduction of alloxan by glutathione at the physiological pH, computed redox potentials indicate that a two‐electron reduction is the favored course of reaction, yielding directly the dialuric acid anion, which then undergoes aerial oxidation to yield the superoxide radical. The redox cycling between alloxan and dialuric acid is responsible for the diabetogenic activity of alloxan, producing cytotoxic radicals on reoxidation of dialuric acid. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Regioselective Photocyclization Reactions of 3‐Allyloxy‐6‐chloro‐2‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one: Solvent Effect

The photo‐irradiation of thienylchromenone resulted in the regioselective cyclization which is exclusively controlled by the nature of solvent used as reaction medium. Compared to nonpolar medium, polar solvent furnished a diverse array of novel angular tetracyclic photoproducts with gem‐dihydro functionality and exocyclic double bonds on the fused pyran ring, which is unprecedented to best of our knowledge.     

Polyketide Synthase-Mediated O-Methyloxime Formation in the Biosynthesis of the Oximidine Anticancer Agents

Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) are modular megaenzymes that employ unusual catalytic domains to assemble diverse bioactive natural products. One such PKS is responsible for the biosynthesis of the oximidine anticancer agents, oxime-substituted benzolactone enamides that inhibit vacuolar H⁺-ATPases. Here, we describe the identification of the oximidine gene cluster in Pseudomonas baetica and the characterization of four novel oximidine variants, including a structurally simpler intermediate that retains potent anticancer activity. Using a combination of in vivo, in vitro and computational approaches, we experimentally elucidate the oximidine biosynthetic pathway and reveal an unprecedented mechanism for O-methyloxime formation. We show that this process involves a specialized monooxygenase and methyltransferase domain and provide insight into their activity, mechanism and specificity. Our findings expand the catalytic capabilities of trans-AT PKSs and identify potential strategies for the production of novel oximidine analogues.     

A journey through quality control

The Euroanalysis VII conference in Vienna included a two-day session: Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry. The contributions comprised 15 lectures devoted to: intra-laboratory quality measures, inter-laboratory control, formal aspects and accreditation and implementation. The paper presents an overview of the main items developed by the contributors.A survey on the session on Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry of Euroanalysis VIIThe authors thank the organizers of EUROANALYSIS VII and in particular Dr. B. Griepink and Dr. E. Maier of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the CEC for their support and considerable contributions.