A capillary coated with a metal-organic framework for the capillary electrochromatographic determination of cephalosporins

The authors have developed a rapid and reliable method for the capillary electrochromatographic determination of cephalosporin antibiotics in environmental waters. An open-tubular capillary column was modified with the complex [Cu(mal)(bpy)], a copper(II) complex with malic acid and 4,4′-bipyridyl, by an amide coupling method to act as the stationary phase. The simultaneous determination of the cephalosporins formulations, namely cefapirin (CP), ceftiofur (EFT) and cefixime (CFM) in environmental water samples was accomplished in buffer of pH 5.0 by applying a voltage of 8 kV and with DAD detection. Detection limits typically are 0.1 μg?mL^?1.The method was applied to the analysis of cephalosporins in spiked water samples from Kunming Lake to give recoveries betwen 88 and 106%.

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Graphical abstract A metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized from copper(II), malic acid and 4,4′-bipyridyl and used as stationary phase of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) by covalent immobilization on the capillary inner walls. Compared to an uncoated fused-silica capillary, improved separation of cephalosporin antibiotics can be accomplished.

     

Fluorometric aptamer based determination of adenosine triphosphate based on deoxyribonuclease I-aided target recycling and signal amplification using graphene oxide as a quencher

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe an aptamer based fluorometric assay for the determination of ATP. It is based on deoxyribonuclease I-aided target recycling and signal amplification. The...     

Single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite as a fiber coating for solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The authors describe a three-dimensional single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite (g-C₃N₄@G) deposited on a stainless steel wire by a sol-gel technique. The coated fiber was applied to direct immersion solid-phase microextraction of trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from cosmetics samples prior to their determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Due to π stacking interaction and hydrophobic interaction between the g-C₃N₄@G coating and the analytes (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene), the fiber displays an excellent adsorption capability for the analytes. Under optimized conditions, the method has a wide linear range, low LODs (from 1.0 to 2.0 ng L⁻¹), good repeatability and high recoveries. It was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in cosmetics. The g-C₃N₄@G fiber also exhibited good durability.

Schematic of a three-dimensional single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite (g-C₃N₄@G) that was coated onto a stainless steel wire for the direct-immersion solid phase microextraction of trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection.

     

Construction of metal–organic frameworks from 3-(6-oxo-6,9-dihydro-1H-purin-1-yl)propionate

A series of metal–organic frameworks built from a propionate-functionalized purine-containing ligand 3-(6-oxo-6,9-dihydro-1H-purin-1-yl)propanoic acid (H₂L), {[La(HL)₃(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n (1), {[Ce(HL)₃(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O}_n (2), [Co(HL)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (3), {[Cd(L)(H₂O)]·0.5H₂O}_n (4) and {[Pb(HL)(C₂O₄)_0.5(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n (5), was synthesized and characterized. Isostructural 1 and 2 have polymeric chain structures further linked into 3-D porous supramolecular frameworks with 1-D open channels through complicated interchain hydrogen bonding interactions. At 77 K and 1 bar, the dehydrated porous materials 1 and 2 show adsorption behaviors with maximum nitrogen uptakes of 14 and 23 mL g^?1, respectively. Complexes 3–5 are 2-D coordination polymers but have different topological structures. Metallohelicate 3 has (4,4) nets composed of left- and right-handed metal–organic helices sharing the common metal centers, but metallohelicate 4 possesses (4·8²) topology and 5 has 6³-topological structure. In 3 and 5, the polymeric layers are further assembled through regular interlayer hydrogen bonding interactions to form 3-D supramolecular frameworks. Additionally, the thermostabilities of 1–5 as well as the magnetism of 3 were also investigated.     

Potentiometric Studies on Complexation of Cu(II) Ion with Methyl/Nitro-Substituted 1,10-Phenanthrolines and Selected Amino Acids

Protonation constants of methyl/nitro substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines {(m/n-sphen): 4-methyl-phenanthroline (4-mphen), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5-mphen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tmphen) and 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (5-nphen)] and the amino acids (aa) l-tyrosine (tyr) and glycine (gly), and their corresponding binary and ternary stability constants with Cu(II), were determined in aqueous 0.1 mol·L^?1 KCl ionic media at 298.15 K. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the binary and ternary complexes of Cu(II) with the ligands were calculated from the potentiometric data using the “BEST” software package. The species distribution diagrams were obtained using the “SPE” software package under the experimental conditions described. The order of stability of the ternary complexes in terms of the primary ligands is [Cu(tmphen)(aa)]⁺ > [Cu(dmphen)(aa)]⁺ > [Cu(4-mphen)(aa)]⁺ > [Cu(5-mphen)(aa)]⁺ > [Cu(5-nphen)(aa)]⁺. The stability constants of the ternary complexes decrease in the following order: [Cu(m/n-sphen)(gly)]⁺ > [Cu(m/n-sphen)(tyr)]⁺, which is identical to the sequence found for the binary complexes of Cu(II) with gly and tyr.     

Effect of Base–Acid Properties of Mixtures of Ethanol with Water on the Enthalpy of Solution of Cyclic Ethers in these Mixtures at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis> = 298.15 K

The enthalpies of solution of the cyclic ethers 1,4-dioxane, 12-crown-4 and 18-crown-6 in mixtures of ethanol and water have been measured within the whole mole fraction range at T = 298.15 K. The enthalpy of solvation has been calculated. In pure ethanol and pure water, the solvation enthalpy of the investigated cyclic ethers depends linearity on the number of –CH₂CH₂– groups in the cyclic ether molecules. Based on the analysis of the preferential solvation model proposed by Waghorne, it can be concluded that the 1,4-dioxane, 15C5 and 18C6 molecules are preferentially solvated by water molecules in the range of low water content in these mixtures. The effect of base–acid properties of ethanol–water mixtures on the enthalpy of solution of cyclic ethers in these mixtures has been analyzed. The enthalpy of solution of cyclic ethers correlates with the acidic properties of ethanol–water mixtures in the range of high and medium water content. The results presented are compared with analogous data obtained for the methanol–water and propan-1-ol–water mixtures.     

Surface Tension Measurements for Binary Mixtures of Chlorobenzene or Chlorocyclohexane + Tetrahydrofuran at 298.15 K

Surface tensions (σ) for the binary mixtures chlorocyclohexane + tetrahydrofuran and chlorobenzene + tetrahydrofuran at 298.15 K and 1.013 bar have been determined as a function of the mole fraction. In order to analyze the surface tension behavior, the extended Langmuir (EL) and Shereshefsky models were used and parameters of the models were obtained for these mixtures. The standard Gibbs energy of adsorption (\( - \Delta G^{\circ} \)) was calculated using both models. The Gibbs energy change for replacing 1 mol of solute with 1 mol of solvent in the surface region (?G _S), and the excess number of molecular layers of solute in the surface region, were calculated using Shereshefsky’s model. The magnitudes of ?G _S and \( - \Delta G^{\circ} \) are discussed in terms of the nature and type of intermolecular interactions in the binary mixtures.     

Determination of Protonation Constants of O-Phospho-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-serine in Aqueous Solution: Potentiometry,Microcalorimetry, NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations

O-Phospho-l-serine is one of the naturally occurring phosphorylated amino acids, having important pharmacological activity and bioactivity. The protonation constants of O-phospho-l-serine were determined by means of potentiometric titrations at 25 °C and ionic strength of 0.5 mol·L^?1 (NaCl). The heat effects of the protonation reaction of the O-phospho-l-serine were measured by direct calorimetry. NMR spectroscopy has demonstrated that the first protonation site occurs at the nitrogen atom in the amino group, followed by one of the oxygen atoms in the phosphono group, and finally the carboxyl oxygen atom. This trend is in good agreement with the enthalpy of protonation and quantum chemical calculations. These data will help to predict the speciation of O-phospho-l-serine in physiological systems.     

Solution Chemistry of Arsenic Anions in the Presence of Metal Cations

The interaction of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) oxyanions with metal cations was investigated by potentiometry under temperature and ionic strength conditions approaching those prevailing in natural waters. The selection includes the major metal cations and some other ions of high environmental relevance. Ionic pairs [M(As^VO₄)]^?, [M(HAs^VO₄)] and [M(H₂As^IIIO₃)]⁺ formation is suggested for all +2 metal cations, based on the potentiometric results. These ion-pairs between arsenic anions and other metal cations are hardly ever mentioned or taken into account when arsenic speciation in natural waters is considered. These results provide the basis for studying arsenic speciation in natural aquatic systems, on which environmental fate, bioavailability and toxicity of the element depend. Some extrapolations to the conditions of the natural waters are presented as well as some insights into the adsorption process onto hydrous oxides.     

Cystine as Ligand of Calcium(II) and Magnesium(II) in Two Ionic Media and at Two Different Temperatures (25 and 37 °C)

Cystine plays an important role in human physiology, it is the precursor of cysteine. Cystine is the molecular form preferred by the immunity cellules system, included macrophages. Although slightly soluble, it can be a ligand towards cations because it is a sulfur-containing amino acid. Because of the physiological importance of calcium(II) and magnesium(II), complex formation between these cations and cystine was studied potentiometrically by employing electrochemical cells involving glass electrodes. The investigation was performed at two temperatures (25 and 37) °C and in two ionic media (1.00 and 0.15 mol·dm^?3 NaCl). In both ionic media, the adoption of a constant ionic medium allows extension of the investigation to a large range of reagent concentration. As the formation of weak complexes was foreseen, the low solubility of cystine is an advantage. Experimental data can be explained in any case by assuming the formation of mononuclear complexes in the presence of both calcium(II) and magnesium(II). The relative stability constants were determined.