Electrochemical determination of Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> at a titanium electrode modified with a lead film by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry

The modified titanium electrode with lead film (PbTiE) was used for determination of trace levels of cadmium using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The measurement of cadmium on the PbTiE has the best reply under the following conditions of PbTiE preparation: 10^–3 mol L^–1 Pb²⁺ in HCl (pH 1.0), deposition potential of–1.40 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl_sat and deposition time of 300 s. The PbTiE reveals highly linear behavior in the concentration range 5 × 10^–8 to 10^–6 mol L^–1, with a limit of detection of 2 × 10^–9 mol L^–1. Interference of nine ionic species was evaluated. The measurements were carried out without removing dissolved oxygen from the solution.     

Evaluation of Thermal and Analytical Properties of Two Liquid Crystals in Capillary GC

Comparative gas chromatographic applications of two new liquid crystals were investigated. The characterization of the two mesogenic compounds was performed with ¹H NMR and mass spectrometry. The thermal properties were established by differential scanning calorimetry. The optical characterization of the liquid crystal was made by using polarizing optical microscopy. The chromatographic separation abilities of the mesogenic compounds were studied using fused silica capillary columns. Interesting analytical performances were obtained notably in the separation of volatile aroma compounds and derivatives phenols.     

Effect of the chain length on the thermal and analytical properties of laterally biforked nematogens

Three laterally substituted liquid crystals were synthesized in order to investigate the effect of a lateral biforked chain on the thermal and analytical properties. The mesogenic molecules have the same core containing four aromatic rings connected by two ester and one diazo linkages, they differ by the length of one chain within the lateral biforked substituent. The phase transition temperatures were obtained by polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The clearing temperature and the nematic range decrease with increasing length of the lateral biforked chain. The stationary phases derived from these nematogens provide excellent resolution of various classes of compounds, including aromatic hydrocarbons (AH), substituted benzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), phenols and volatile organic compounds (VOC) present in the essential oils. The selectivities of the stationary phases were found to decrease according to the length of the side chain.     

Dy(III) - and Yb(III) -Curcuminoid Compounds: Original Fluorescent Single-Ion Magnet and Magnetic Near-IR Luminescent Species

The multifunctional behavior of two mononuclear lanthanide compounds attached to a curcuminoid called 9?Accm has been investigated. The results show that [Dy(9?Accm)(2) (NO(3) )(dmf)(2) ] Yb(9?Accm)(3) (py)] behaves as a single-ion magnet and that both compounds display luminescent responses and exhibit affinity for graphite surfaces.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant potency of floral honeys from different botanical and geographical origins

In order to assess their physicochemical and antioxidant properties as well as their antimicrobial potency, four varieties of honey from different botanical and geographical origins were used. The agar incorporation method was used to determine the antimicrobial potency of honeys. The total phenol content was determined by a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method and the free radical scavenging activity by the Fe³⁺ reducing power (FRAP) assay. Manuka honey was the most effective against Staphylococcus aureus Oxa R and S. aureus Oxa S with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 6% and 7%, respectively, whereas wild carrot honey was the most effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a MIC of 12%. Lavender honey was the least effective against all tested strains, even though was found to have the lowest pH and water content. Manuka honey had the highest content of polyphenols, with 899.09 ± 11.75 mg gallic acid/kg, whereas lavender honey had the lowest, with 111.42 ± 3.54 mg gallic acid/kg. A very significant correlation (r value was 0.9079 at P < 0.05) was observed between the total polyphenolic content and the Fe²⁺ content formed in the presence of the honey antioxidants. The differences between honey samples in terms of antibacterial and antioxidant activity could be attributed to the natural variations in floral sources of nectar and the different locations.     

Synthesis of Schiff bases by aromatic amine condensation with 3,3′-bithiophenes-2,2′ and 4,4′-dicarbaldehydes

Reactions of aromatic amines with 3,3′-bithiophene-2,2′-dicarbaldehyde 1 and 3,3′-bithiophene-4,4′-dicarbaldehyde 2 gave the 2,2′-(N-(aryl)diimino)-3,3′-bithiophene 3 and 4,4′-(N-(aryl)diimino)-3,3′-bithiophene 4 in good yields. Orthophenylenediamine reacted with 1 and 2 to give dithieno[3,4-c;4′,3′-e]azepino[1,2-a]benzimidazole 5 and dithieno[2,3-c;3′,2′-e]azepino[1,2-a]benzimidazole 6. All these original products have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis.     

Inclusion complexes of ortho-anisidine and β-cyclodextrin: A quantum mechanical calculation

The structural aspects for the complexation of ortho-anisidine (O-AN)/β-cyclodextrin were explored by using PM6, density function theory B3LYP/6-31G*, M05-2X/6-31G*, B3PW91/6-31G*, MPW1PW91/6-31G*, HF/6-31G* methods and several combinations of ONIOM2 hybrid calculations. Calculations were performed upon the inclusion complexation of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with neutral (O-AN1) and cationic (O-AN2) species of ortho-anisidine. The obtained results with PM6 method clearly indicate that the formed complexes are energetically favored, the complex of O-AN2/β-CD in B orientation is significantly more favorable than the others energetically. The structures show the presence of several intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions that were studied on the basis of natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis, employed to quantify the donor–acceptor interactions between ortho-anisidine and β-CD.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly ordered mesoporous nanomaterials Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15 from bentonite as efficient catalysts for the production of biodiesel MELA and EELA

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Low-cost Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15 mesoporous materials are successfully synthesized from bentonite as silicon and aluminum sources instead of laboratory reagents...     

Theoretical investigation study based on PM3MM and ONIOM2 calculations of β-Cyclodextrin complexes with diphenylamine

The inclusion complex of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and diphenylamine (DPA) was investigated by using PM3MM, DFT, HF and ONIOM2 methods. The most stable structure was obtained at the optimum position and angle. The results indicate that the inclusion complex formed by DPA entering into the cavity of β-CD from its wide side (the secondary hydroxyl group side) is more stable than that formed by DPA entering into the cavity of β-CD from its narrow side (the primary hydroxyl group side). The structures show the presence of several intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions that were studied on the basis of natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis, employed to quantify the donor–acceptor interactions between diphenylamine and β-CD. A study of these complexes in solution was carried out using the CPCM model to examine the influence of solvation on the stability of the diphenylamine β-CD complex.