Flow-through sensor based on derivative synchronous fluorescence spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of pyrene,benzo(e)pyrene and benzo(ghi)perylene in water

A flow-through/first derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric sensor for the determination of PAH has been described. This sensor has been used for the simultaneous determination of PAH mixtures (pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene and benzo(ghi)perylene). Linear calibration ranges between 10 and 500 ng/ml with acceptable precision (repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, smaller than 4.6%, and sampling frequency of 12 h(-1)) have been obtained. The method has been applied to the determination of the target analytes in spiked water samples with excellent results (recoveries between 94 and 108%).     

Determination of cadmium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion of animal tissues and sewage sludges

The determination of cadmium in different sample types has been carried out by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry with D(2)-background correction using a unpyrocoated graphite tube, after pressurized microwave-assisted digestion. Five chemical modifiers [(NH(4))(2)HPO(4), Pd(NO)(3))(2), Ni(NO(3))(2), thiourea and Triton X-100] have been assayed and nickel nitrate has been found to be most effective for an accurate determination of cadmium in mussel tissue, pig kidney and sewage sludge. The characteristic mass of the method is of the order of 1 pg and the limit of detection is lower than 0.1 ng/ml.     

Observation of baker’s yeast strains used in biotransformation by atomic force microscopy

Different strains of baker’s yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The images of uncoated and nonfixed samples were reproducible with high-constrast and nanometer-resolution. Molecules from the polysaccharide surface of the cell wall were pictured and the distance of atoms was measured. The preparation of samples was easy, suggesting that AFM is a useful tool in this type of analyses.     

Spin‐State Ordering on One Sub‐lattice of a Mononuclear Iron(III) Spin Crossover Complex Exhibiting LIESST and TIESST

The two‐step spin crossover in mononuclear iron(III) complex [Fe(salpm)₂]ClO₄ ? 0.5 EtOH ( 1 ) is shown to be accompanied by a structural phase transition as concluded from ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray diffraction, with spin‐state ordering on just one of two sub‐lattices in the intermediate magnetic and structural phase. The complex also exhibits thermal‐ and light‐induced spin‐state trapping (TIESST and LIESST), and relaxation from the LIESST and TIESST excited states occurs via the broken symmetry intermediate phase. Two relaxation events are evident in both experiments, that is, two T(LIESST) and two T(TIESST) values are recorded. The change in symmetry which accompanies the TIESST effect was followed in real time using single crystal diffraction. After flash freezing at 15 K the crystal was warmed to 40 K at which temperature superstructure reflections were observed to appear and disappear within a 10 000 s time range. In the frame of the international year of crystallography, these results illustrate how X‐ray diffraction makes it possible to understand complex ordering phenomena.     

Dramatic Influence of an Anionic Donor on the Oxygen‐Atom Transfer Reactivity of a MnV–Oxo Complex

Addition of an anionic donor to an Mn^V(O) porphyrinoid complex causes a dramatic increase in 2‐electron oxygen‐atom‐transfer (OAT) chemistry. The 6‐coordinate [Mn^V(O)(TBP₈Cz)(CN)]^? was generated from addition of Bu₄N⁺CN^? to the 5‐coordinate Mn^V(O) precursor. The cyanide‐ligated complex was characterized for the first time by Mn K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and gives Mn?O=1.53 Å, Mn?CN=2.21 Å. In combination with computational studies these distances were shown to correlate with a singlet ground state. Reaction of the CN^? complex with thioethers results in OAT to give the corresponding sulfoxide and a 2e^?‐reduced Mn^III(CN)^? complex. Kinetic measurements reveal a dramatic rate enhancement for OAT of approximately 24 000‐fold versus the same reaction for the parent 5‐coordinate complex. An Eyring analysis gives ΔH^≠=14 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=?10 cal mol^?1 K^?1. Computational studies fully support the structures, spin states, and relative reactivity of the 5‐ and 6‐coordinate Mn^V(O) complexes.     

A Strategy for the Preparation of Thioantimonates Based on the Concept of Weak Acids and Corresponding Strong Bases

By following a new synthetic approach, which is based on the in situ formation of a basic medium by the reaction between the strong base Sb(V)S₄^3? and the weak acid H₂O, it was possible to prepare three layered thioantimonate(III) compounds of composition [TM(2,2′‐bipyridine)₃][Sb₆S₁₀] (TM=Ni, Fe) and [Ni(4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine)₃][Sb₆S₁₀] under hydrothermal conditions featuring two different thioantimonate(III) network topologies. The antimony source, Na₃SbS₄ ? 9 H₂O, undergoes several decomposition reactions and produces the Sb^IIIS₃ species, which condenses to generate the layered anion. The application of transition‐metal complexes avoids crystallization of dense phases. The reactions are very fast compared to conventional hydrothermal/solvothermal syntheses and are much less sensitive to changes of the reaction parameters.     

Ordered Mesoporous ZSM‐5 Employing an Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquid

Hierarchically porous ZSM‐5 was achieved by using a simple bottom‐up strategy combining zeolite seeds with imidazolium‐based ionic liquids. The bimodal ZSM‐5 with hexagonal arranged mesopores (3 nm) shows important activity in the acid catalysis of bulky compounds relative to conventional ZSM‐5.     

Electronic and Structural Properties of Highly Aluminum Ion Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

This study presents the experimental and theoretical study of highly internally Al‐doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. Two synthesis methods were used and detailed characterization was performed. There were differences in the doping and the crystallinity, but the nanoparticles synthesized with the different methods share common features. Anatase to rutile transformation occurred at higher temperatures with Al doping. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the generation of oxygen vacancies, which is an interesting feature in photocatalysis. In turn, the band‐gap energy and the valence band did not change appreciably. Periodic density functional calculations were performed to model the experimentally doped structures, the formation of the oxygen vacancies, and the band gap. Calculation of the density of states confirmed the experimental band‐gap energies. The theoretical results confirmed the presence of Ti⁴⁺ and Al³⁺. The charge density study and electron localization function analysis indicated that the inclusion of Al in the anatase structure resulted in a strengthening of the Ti?O bonds around the vacancy.