Rapid isolation of plutonium in environmental solid samples using sequential injection anion exchange chromatography followed by detection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This paper reports an automated analytical method for rapid determination of plutonium isotopes (²³⁹Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu) in environmental solid extracts. Anion exchange chromatographic columns were incorporated in a sequential injection (SI) system to undertake the automated separation of plutonium from matrix and interfering elements. The analytical results most distinctly demonstrated that the crosslinkage of the anion exchanger is a key parameter controlling the separation efficiency. AG 1-×4 type resin was selected as the most suitable sorbent material for analyte separation. Investigation of column size effect upon the separation efficiency revealed that small-sized (2 mL) columns sufficed to handle up to 50 g of environmental soil samples. Under the optimum conditions, chemical yields of plutonium exceeded 90% and the decontamination factors for uranium, thorium and lead ranged from 10³ to 10⁴. The determination of plutonium isotopes in three standard/certified reference materials (IAEA-375 soil, IAEA-135 sediment and NIST-4359 seaweed) and two reference samples (Irish Sea sediment and Danish soil) revealed a good agreement with reference/certified values. The SI column-separation method is straightforward and less labor intensive as compared with batch-wise anion exchange chromatographic procedures. Besides, the automated method features low consumption of ion-exchanger and reagents for column washing and elution, with the consequent decrease in the generation of acidic waste, thus bearing green chemical credentials.     

Creation of bioorthogonal redox systems depending on nicotinamide flucytosine dinucleotide

Many enzymes catalyzing biological redox chemistry depend on the omnipresent cofactor, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is also involved in various nonredox processes. It remains challenging to disconnect one particular NAD-dependent reaction from all others. Here we present a bioorthogonal system that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of l-malate with a dedicated abiotic cofactor, nicotinamide flucytosine dinucleotide (NFCD). By screening the multisite saturated mutagenesis libraries of the NAD-dependent malic enzyme (ME), we identified the mutant ME-L310R/Q401C, which showed excellent activity with NFCD, yet marginal activity with NAD. We found that another synthetic cofactor, nicotinamide cytosine dinucleotide (NCD), also displayed similar activity with the ME mutants. Inspired by these observations, we mutated d-lactate dehydrogenase (DLDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) to DLDH-V152R and MDH-L6R, respectively, and both mutants showed fully active with NFCD. When coupled with DLDH-V152R, ME-L310R/Q401C required only a catalytic amount of NFCD to convert l-malate. Our results opened the window to engineer bioorthogonal redox systems for a wide variety of applications in systems biology and synthetic biology.     

Synthesis of Ni2P promoted trimetallic NiMoW/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for diesel oil hydrotreatment

The Ni2P promoted and γ-Al2O3 supported NiMoW sulfide catalyst consisting of 4 wt% Mo, 22 wt% W, 2 wt% Ni and 2.5 wt% Ni2P was synthesized by a co-impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that Ni2P, Ni, Mo and W species were highly dispersed over γ-Al2O3. The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) showed that the presence of Ni2P brought a strong promotional effect on the HDS activity, which was further confirmed by the HDS and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of diesel oil under industrial conditions. The enhancement in HDN activity and stability by Ni2P addition could be attributed more to the effect of new active sites of Ni2P than that of acidity modification. The as-prepared Ni2P-NiMoW/γ-Al2O3 catalyst showed better hydrotreating performance than NiMoW/γ-Al2O3 and commercial catalysts.     

The amperometric determination of indole-3-acetic acid based on CeCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-DHP film modified gold electrode

An amperometric sensor for the determination of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) based on the CeCl₃-DHP film modified gold electrode was developed. CeCl₃ was dissolved into water in the presence of dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate (DHP). The IAA sensor was prepared via evaporating solvent of the CeCl₃-DHP dispersion on the gold electrode surface. The amperometric response of IAA on the CeCl₃-DHP film modified gold electrode was investigated. The experimental results indicate that the passivation of the electrode due to the adsorption of the oxidation product of IAA decreases significantly at the CeCl₃-DHP film modified gold electrode, in contrast to that at the bare and the DHP modified gold electrode. The experimental parameters were optimized and an electrochemical method for the determination of IAA was established. The oxidation peak current is linearly with the concentration of IAA from 1 × 10⁻⁷ to 2 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ and the detection limit is 3 × 10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation of eight measurements is 3.2% for 5 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ IAA. The IAA in plant leaves were extracted and determined by the IAA sensor.     

First Total Syntheses of 4′-0-Geranylisoliquiritigenin And 4′-O-Geranylnarigenin

The title compounds, 4'-0-geranylisoliquiritigenin and 4'-0-geranylnaringenin isolated from Millettia ferruginea and Borania coerulescens respectively, were first synthesized starting from geranyl bromide, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and O-hydroxy acetophenones by the condensation reaction and demethoxymethylation as key steps.     

Preparation and Characterization of the Hybrids Containing Silica Nanoparticles by Sol-Gel Crosslinking Process

The organic/inorganic hybrid nanomaterials containing silica nanoparticles are synthesized by sol-gel crosslinking process. The tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and γ-aminopropyltriethoxylsilane as coupling agents are used as a precursor. The 2,4,6-tri [(2-epihydrin-3-bimethyl-ammonium)propyl]-1,3,5-triazine chloride (Tri-EBAC) as crosslinking agent is used to form covalent bonds among the inorganic nanoparticles. The chemical and morphological structures of the organic/inorganic hybrid are characterized with FTIR spectra, ²⁹Si-NMR, x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The results show that the organic/inorganic hybrid forms covalent bond between the inorganic nanoparticle and Tri-EBAC. The network organic/inorganic hybrid can form good film with even nanometer particles. The network organic/inorganic hybrids nanomaterial not only exhibits the thermal properties of inorganic compounds, but also exhibits the thermal properties of organic polymer.     

A Noble‐Metal‐Free Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Catalyst for the Highly Efficient Conversion of CO2 with Propargylic Alcohols

Cyclization of propargylic alcohols with CO₂ is an important reaction in industry, and noble‐metal catalysts are often employed to ensure the high product yields under environmentally friendly conditions. Herein a porous noble‐metal‐free framework 1 with large 1D channels of 1.66 nm diameter was synthesized for this reaction. Compound 1 exhibits excellent acid/base stability, and is even stable in corrosive triethylamine for one month. Catalytic studies indicate that 1 is an effective catalyst for the cyclization of propargylic alcohols and CO₂ without any solvents under mild conditions, and the turnover number (TON) can reach to a record value of 14 400. Furthermore, this MOF catalyst also has rarely seen catalytic activity when the biological macromolecule ethisterone was used as a substrate. Mechanistic studies reveal that the synergistic catalytic effect between Cu^I and In^III plays a key role in the conversion of CO₂.     

Cu Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Carbon Materials for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Development of eco‐friendly, cost‐effective, and high‐performance electrocatalysts to replace precious metal platinum for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has received increasing attention. Herein, we adopt a facile one‐pot strategy to embed Cu nanoparticles onto N‐doped carbon‐graphene (Cu@NC‐700). The Cu@NC‐700 exhibits robust and efficient ORR catalysis with positive half‐wave potential (~0.86 V vs. RHE) and low Tafel slope (33.9 mV?dec^–1) in 0.1 M KOH solution. Meanwhile, it manifests remarkable electrochemical stability, and strong tolerance to methanol crossover and carbon monoxide poisoning. The synergistic effect between Cu‐N‐C sites, Cu nanoparticles, and N‐doped carbon support speeds up ORR electrocatalysis.     

Screening of inhibitors for oxidase mimics of Au@Pt nanorods by catalytic oxidation of OPD

Nanostructured materials are a new class of enzyme mimics, the inhibitors of which have not been studied. Herein, we demonstrate the screening of inhibitors for Au@Pt nanorod (NR) oxidase mimics. In addition, based on the enzyme inhibition reaction, determination of "poisoning" inhibitors is demonstrated.