Fluorescence quenching studies on the interaction of a novel deepened cavitand towards some transition metal ions

A novel ‘three-level’ deepened cavitand featuring a significantly sizable portal has been synthesized and its interaction with some transition metal ions has been investigated in THF/H₂O binary solvent using fluorescence quenching technique. The results suggest that among the used transition metal ions including Ag⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Hg²⁺, La³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺, only Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ show good quenching ability. In order to interpret the quenching mechanism, the Stern–Volmer kinetics, and the presence of both the dynamic and static quenching have been discussed. It was found that the simultaneous presence of the sphere-of-action static quenching and dynamic quenching model agrees very well with the experimental results. The limits of detection for Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ were found to be 2.1 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ (3σ) and 3.6 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ (3σ), respectively. Cations with potential interference, such as K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, La³⁺ and Mn²⁺ do not have significant effects on the determinations of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺. This cavitand can be potentially applied as optical sensor for the detection of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺.     

SPE-LC-MS-MS Determination of Phenoxy Acid Herbicides in Surface and Ground Water

A novel method has been developed and validated for the analysis of six phenoxy acid herbicides (dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, dichlorprop, mecoprop and MCPB) in surface and ground waters. After solid-phase extraction on Isolute ENV+, analysis was by LC-MS-MS without using derivatization. The limits of quantitation are from 0.01 to 0.05 μg L⁻¹. Average recoveries in method validation (spiking levels: limit of quantitation and 10 times limit of quantitation) ranged from 76.5 to 108.3%, with relative standard deviations of < 13.6%. The method was applied to real surface and ground water samples which gave average recoveries (spiking level: 0.1 μg L⁻¹) ranging from 82.7 to 94.8%, with relative standard deviations of < 19.3%.

     

Combined thermoanalytical-mass-spectrometric investigation of crupodexR dextranomer

A cross-linked dextranomer, which is used as a wound drying and cleansing powder (Crupodex^R), has been investigated by several thermoanalytical methods. First the TG, DTG and DTA characteristics were studied and compared with those of another product (Debrisan^R), marketed earlier. The TG curves were also used for the examination of water uptake and the drying process. The traces of organic solvents (mainly ethanol) remaining from the manufacturing process were studied with a quadrupole mass-spectrometer coupled to a derivatograph. From the results of these experiments, several conclusions were drawn about the mechanism of water and solvent uptake.

---

Zusammenfassung Crupodex^R-Puder, ein vernetztes Dextranomer zum Trocknen und Säubern von Wunden, wurde mittels einiger thermoanalytischer Methoden untersucht. Zuerst wurden die TG, DTG und DTA Charakteristiken betrachtet und mit denen eines schon früher auf den markt gekommenen Produktes (Debrisan^R) verglichen. Die TG-Kurven wurden auch zur Untersuchung der Wasseraufnahme- und Trocknungsprozesse verwendet. Aus dem Produktionsprozeß verbliebene Lösungsmittelreste — hauptsächlich Ethanol — wurden mit einer Instrumentenanordnung Quadrupolmassenspektrometer-Derivatograph bestimmt. Mittels dieser Ergebnisse konnten einige Schlußfolgerungen betreffs des Mechanismus der Wasser- und Lösungsmittelaufnahme getroffen werden.

---

(), . , , . . , , , -, . , .

     

Spatially Distributed Current Oscillations with Electrochemical Reactions in Microfluidic Flow Cells

The formation of spatiotemporal patterns is investigated by using a chemical reaction on the surface of a high‐aspect‐ratio metal electrode positioned in a flow channel. A partial differential equation model is formulated for nickel dissolution in sulfuric acid in a microfluidic flow channel. The model simulations predict oscillatory patterns that are spatially distributed on the electrode surface; the downstream portion of the metal surface exhibits large‐amplitude, nonlinear oscillations of dissolution rates, whereas the upstream portion displays small‐amplitude, harmonic oscillations with a phase delay. The features of the dynamical response can be interpreted by the dependence of local dynamics on the widely varying surface conditions and the presence of strong coupling. The patterns can be observed for both contiguous and segmented metal surfaces. The existence of spatially distributed current oscillations is confirmed in experiments with Ni electrodissolution in a microfluidic device. The results show the impact of a widely heterogeneous environment on the types of patterns of chemical reaction rates.     

Influence of Support Type and Metal Loading in Methane Decomposition over Iron Catalyst for Hydrogen Production

Natural gas resources, stimulate the method of catalytic methane decomposition. Hydrogen is a superb energy carrier and integral component of the present energy systems, while carbon nanotubes exhibit remarkable chemical and physical properties. The reaction was run at 700 °C in a fixed bed reactor. Catalyst calcination and reduction were done at 500 °C. MgO, TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ supported catalysts were prepared using a co‐precipitation method. Catalysts of different iron loadings were characterized with BET, TGA, XRD, H₂‐TPR and TEM. The catalyst characterization revealed the formation of multi‐walled nanotubes. Alternatively, time on stream tests of supported catalyst at 700 °C revealed the relative profiles of methane conversions increased as the %Fe loading was increased. Higher %Fe loadings decreased surface area of the catalyst. Iron catalyst supported with Al₂O₃ exhibited somewhat higher catalytic activity compared with MgO and TiO₂ supported catalysts when above 35% Fe loading was used. CH₄ conversion of 69% was obtained utilizing 60% Fe/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Alternatively, Fe/MgO catalysts gave the highest initial conversions when iron loading below 30% was employed. Indeed, catalysts with 15% Fe/MgO gave 63% conversion and good stability for 1 h time on stream. Inappropriateness of Fe/TiO₂ catalysts in the catalytic methane decomposition was observed.     

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of phenolic constituents in honey from various floral sources using multiwalled carbon nanotubes as extraction sorbents

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method has been developed for the simultaneous separation, identification and determination of 22 phenolic constituents in honey from various floral sources from Yemen. Solid‐phase extraction was used for extraction of the target phenolic constituents from honey samples, while multiwalled carbon nanotubes were used as solid‐phase adsorbent. The chromatographic separation of all phenolic constituents was performed on a BEH C₁₈ column using a linear gradient elution with a binary mobile phase mixture of aqueous 0.1% formic acid and methanol. The quantitation was carried out in selected ion reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The total amount of phenolic acids, flavonoids and other phenols in each analyzed honey was found in the range of 338–3312, 122–5482 and 2.4–1342 μg/100 g of honey, respectively. 4‐Hydroxybenzoic acid was found to be the major phenolic acid. The main detected flavonoid was chrysin, while cinnamic acid was found to be the major other phenol compound. The regeneration of solid phase adsorbent to be reused and recovery results confirm that the proposed method could be potentially used for the routine analysis of phenolic constituents in honey extract.     

Retention behavior of resorcinarene‐based cavitands on C8 and C18 stationary phases

The understanding of the retention behavior of large molecules is an area of interest in liquid chromatography. Resorcinarene‐based cavitands are cavity‐shaped cyclic oligomers that can create host–guest interactions. We have investigated the chromatographic behavior of two types of cyclic tetramers as analytes in high‐performance liquid chromatography. The experiments were performed at four different temperatures (15, 25, 35, 45°C) on two types of reversed stationary phases (C₈ and C₁₈) from two different manufacturers. We have found a huge difference between the retention of resorcinarenes and cavitands. In some cases, the retention factor of cavitands was even a hundred times larger than the retention factor of resorcinarenes. The retention of methylated derivates was two to four times larger compared to that of demethylated compounds on every column. The opposite retention behavior of the resorcinarenes and cavitands on the two types of stationary phases showed well the difference of the selectivity of the XTerra and BDS Hypersil columns. The retention mechanism was studied by the thermodynamic parameters calculated from the van't Hoff equation.     

Synthesis of n-butyl ester and n-butylamide of methyl-phenylphosphinic acid: Two case studies

n-Butyl methyl-phenylphosphinate and methyl-phenylphosphinic n-butylamide were synthesized by different methods: the reaction of methyl-phenylphosphinic chloride with ⁿBuOH or ⁿBuNH₂, respectively, the T3P®-promoted derivatization of methyl-phenylphosphinic acid with ⁿBuOH or ⁿBuNH₂, the microwave-assisted direct esterification of the model phosphinic acid, and finally the alkylating esterification with n-butyl bromide under phase-transfer-catalytic and microwave-assisted conditions. The different methods, mostly elaborated by us, were compared from practical and environmentally friendly points of view.     

Surface and subsurface oxidation of Mo2C/Mo(100): low-energy ion-scattering, auger electron, angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron, and mass spectroscopy studies

The interaction of oxygen with a carburized Mo(100) surface was investigated at different temperatures (300-1000 K). The different information depths of low-energy ion-scattering (LEIS) spectroscopy, with topmost layer sensitivity, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) allowed us to discriminate between reactions on the topmost layer and subsurface transformations. According to ARXPS measurements, a carbide overlayer was prepared by the high-temperature decomposition of C(2)H(4) on Mo(100), and the carbon distribution proved to be homogeneous with a Mo(2)C stoichiometry down to the information depth of XPS. O(2) adsorbs dissociatively on the carbide layer at room temperature. One part of the chemisorbed oxygen is bound to both C and Mo sites, indicated by LEIS. Another fraction of oxygen atoms probably resides in the hollow sites not occupied by C. The removal of C from the outermost layer by O(2), in the form of CO, detected by mass spectroscopy (MS), was observed at 500-600 K. The carbon-depleted first layer is able to adsorb more oxygen compared to the Mo(2)C/Mo(100) surface. Applying higher doses of O(2) at 800 K results in the inward diffusion of O and the partial oxidation of Mo atoms. This process, however, is not accompanied by the removal of C from subsurface sites. The depletion of C from the bulk starts only at 900 K (as shown by MS, AES, and XPS), very probably by the diffusion of C to the surface followed by its reaction with oxygen. At T(ads) = 1000 K, the carbon content of the sample, down to the information depth of XPS, decreased further, accompanied by the attenuation of the C concentration gradient and a substantially decreased amount of oxygen.