Synthesis of N,N′-bis(isopropylaminoethyl)-1,10-phenanthroli ne- 2,9-dimethanamine and N,N′-bis(diethylaminoethyl)-1,10-phenanthroline -2,9-dimethanamine and potentiometric determination of the formation constants of their complexes with manganese(II), cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II)

Two hexadentate compounds incorporating 1,10-phenanthroline and four alkylamino donors have been prepared. The protonation constants and the formation constants of dipositive ion (Mn2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) complexes have been determined in aqueous solution by pH titration at 25 ± 0.1 °C and I = 0.1 mol·dm–3 NaNO3.     

The neutron flux of a252Cf neutron activation analysis device using the MCNP code

This report presents results from the application of the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) computer code to the²⁵²Cf neutron activation analysis (NAA) Device in the Technical Physics Institute of the Heilongjiang Science Academy of the People's Republic of China. The thermal and epithermal neutron flux at the sample positions and the neutron and photon fluxes on the surfaces of the device were calculated. A comparison between the calculated and experimental thermal and epithermal neutron fluxes at sample positions yield relative errors of less than 10% for the thermal neutron flux.     

Migration behavior and separation of active components in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch and its commercial extract by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

1-Anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (1,8-ANS), 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid (bis-ANS) and 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (2,6-TNS) were evaluated as additives in different buffers for the detection of bovine whey proteins using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) monitoring in capillary electrophoresis (CE). These N-arylaminonaphthalene sulfonates furnish a large fluorescence emission when associated to some proteins whereas their emission in aqueous buffers, such as those used in CE separations, is very small. To select the best detection conditions, the fluorescence of these probes was first compared using experiments carried out in a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, it was demonstrated that 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES) buffer (pH 8 and pH 10.2) and the fluorescent probe 2,6-TNS gave rise to the highest increase in fluorescence for BSA. When the composition of these separation buffers was optimized for the electrophoretic separations, CHES buffer, pH 10.2 was chosen as the most suitable buffer to detect bovine whey proteins. The limit of detection obtained for some whey proteins in CE separations was about 6.10(-8) M for BSA, 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin A (beta-LGA), 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin B (beta-LGB), and 3.10(-6) M for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA). These detection limits were compared to those achieved using UV detection under the same separation conditions. The results showed that the detection limits of BSA, beta-LGA and beta-LGB were twice as good using LIF than with UV detection. However, the limit of detection for alpha-LA was better when UV was used. The applicability of LIF detection to CE separation of whey proteins in bovine milk samples was also demonstrated.     

Effect of pH, ionic strength, and temperature on the phosphate adsorption onto lanthanum-doped activated carbon fiber

Phosphate removal from polluted water is crucial to preventing eutrophication. Herein, we present the investigation on phosphate adsorption in aqueous solutions by using lanthanum-doped activated carbon fiber (ACF-La). Various batch sorption conditions, e.g., pH, ionic strength, and temperature were tested, and the adsorption mechanisms were discussed. The sorption capacity of ACF-La was higher in acidic solutions than that in basic ones, suggesting that the Lewis acid-base interaction gradually dominated the adsorption process with the increase in pH values. The degree of phosphate removal decreased with the enhancement of the ionic strength of the solution, meaning that the adsorption of phosphate on ACF-La was strongly dependent on ionic strength. Employing the pseudo first- and second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models to evaluate the adsorption kinetics of phosphate onto ACF-La indicated that the second-order model best fits the experimental data. The presence of chloride ion in solutions increased the effect of intra-particle diffusion on the adsorption of phosphate onto ACF-La but reduced the overall rate of the adsorption. The thermodynamic parameters were determined which revealed the feasibility, spontaneity, and endothermic nature of adsorption.     

Surface structure and catalytic properties of MoO3/CeO2 and CuO/MoO3/CeO2

XRD, LRS, TPR and in situ NH(3) adsorption FT-IR were used to investigate the dispersion state of the copper oxide and molybdena species of MoO(3)/CeO(2) and CuO/MoO(3)/CeO(2) catalysts as well as their surface acidity. The results showed that the molybdena monolayer modification promoted the dispersion of CuO due to the formation of new tetrahedral vacancies. Meanwhile, CuO changed the structure of molybdenum species and then influenced the surface acidity of the samples. A detail discussion about the possible model of the surface structure of the catalyst was presented. In addition, combining with the in situ NH(3) adsorption FT-IR, the relationships between the activities for 'NO + NH(3) + O(2)' reaction and surface acid properties (Br?nsted and Lewis acid sites) of the catalysts were discussed.     

Determination of explosives based on novel type of sensor using porphyrin functionalized carbon nanotubes

The hydroxide of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was fabricated in our research to explore the interaction between porphyrin and explosive. It was turned out that in the formation of grid porphyrin film, carbon nanotubes as a cruciul base materials promoted the electron transfer rate. Most of important, the results also showed that the electrochemical response was enhanced through increasing the number of -OH substitution in porphyrin. Such information provides the platform for a practical strategy for rational design of the sensor of explosives.     

Controllable synthesis, magnetism and solubility enhancement of graphene nanosheets/magnetite hybrid material by covalent bonding

Hybrids of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles and surface-modified graphene nanosheets (GNs) were synthesized by a two-step process. First, graphene nanosheets were modified by SOCl(2) and 4-aminophenoxyphthalonitrile to introduce nitrile groups on their surface. Second, the nitrile groups of surface-modified graphene nanosheets were reacted with ferric ions on the surface of Fe(3)O(4) with the help of relatively high boiling point solvent ethylene glycol to form a GNs/Fe(3)O(4) hybrid. The covalent attachment of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles on the graphene nanosheet surface was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TEM and HRTEM observations indicated that the sizes of the nanoparticles and their coverage density on GNs could be easily controlled by changing the concentration of the precursor and the weight ratio to GNs. Magnetic measurements showed that magnetization of the hybrid materials is strongly influenced by the reaction conditions. Chemically bonded by phthalocyanine, the solubility of as-synthesized GNs/Fe(3)O(4) hybrid materials was greatly enhanced, which was believed to have potential for applications in the fields of composites, wastewater treatment and biomaterials.     

Determination of DNA based on localized surface plasmon resonance light scattering using unmodified gold bipyramids

The DNA was determined based on resonance light scattering (RLS) spectrometry and the localized surface plasmon resonance. The gold bipyramids were used as the probes and synthesized by a seed-mediated method. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used as stabilizing agent. DNA can be bound to the gold bipyramids due to electrostatic interaction and aggregates, which results in a strong enhancement of the RLS intensity. Under the optimal conditions, the intensity of RLS is directly proportional to the concentration of DNA in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 μg mL(-1).     

Determination of the sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Based on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) was determined using unmodified gold colloid as the probe. The Raman scattering intensity was obviously enhanced in the presence of sodium chloride. The influence of experimental parameters, such as incubation time, sodium chloride concentration and pH value on SERS performance was examined. Under the optimum conditions, the SERS intensity is proportional to the concentration of mesna in the range of 9.0×10(-8) to 9.0×10(-7) mol/L and detection limit (S/N=3) is 1.16×10(-8) mol/L. The corresponding correlation coefficient of the linear equation is 0.996, which indicates that there is a good linear relationship between SERS intensity and mesna concentration. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method is a viable method for determination of mesna. The real samples were analyzed and the results obtained were satisfactory.     

Doubly charged protonated a ions derived from small peptides

Protonated a(2) and a(3) (therefore doubly charged) ions in which both charges lie on the peptide backbone are formed in collision-induced dissociations of [La(III)(peptide)(CH(3)CN)(m)](3+) complexes. Abundant (a(3)+H)(2+) ions are formed from triproline (PPP) and peptides with a proline residue at the N-terminus; these peptides are the most effective in producing ions of the type (a(2)+H)(2+) and (a(3)+H)(2+). A systematic study of the effect of the location of the proline residue and other residues of aliphatic amino acids on the generation of protonated a ions is reported. Density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) gave the proton affinity of the a(3) ion derived from PPP to be 167.6 kcal mol(-1), 2.6 kcal mol(-1) higher than that of water. The protonated a(2) ions of diglycine and diproline and a(3) ions of triglycine have lower proton affinities and are only observed in lower abundances, possibly due to proton transfer to water in ion-molecule reactions.