The dissociation quotients of formic acid in sodium chloride solutions to 200°C

The dissociation quotients of formic acid were measured potentiometrically from 25 to 200°C in NaCl solutions at ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.3 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mol-kg^–1. The experiments were carried out in a concentration cell with hydrogen electrodes. The resulting molal acid dissociation quotients for formic acid, as well as a set of infinite dilution literature values and a calorimetrically-determined enthalpy of reaction, were fitted by an empirical equation involving an extended Debye Hückel term and seven adjustable parameters involving functions of temperature and ionic strength. This regressional analysis yielded the following thermodynamic quantities for 25°C: logK=–3.755±0.002, H^o=–0.09±0.15 kJ-mol^–1, S^o=–72.2±0.5 J-K^–1-mol^–1, and C _p ^o =–147±4 J-K^–1-mol^–1. The isocoulombic form of the equilibrium constant is recommended for extrapolation to higher temperatures.     

On-line concentration of s-triazine herbicides in micellar electrokinetic chromatography using a cationic surfactant

A new method for the simultaneous determination of anions (sulfate, nitrate, and chloride) and cations (sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) in acid rain waters was investigated using high-performance ion-exclusion/cation-exchange chromatography with conductimetric detection on a separation column packed with a polymethacrylate-based weakly acidic cation-exchange resin in the hydrogen-form and an eluent comprising 1.5 mM sulfosalicylic acid–6 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 2.6, operated at 1.5 ml/min. Effective separation and highly sensitive conductimetric detection for the anions and the cations was achieved in about 14 min. Since the ionic balance (equivalents of anions/equivalents of cations) of acid rain waters of different pH (4.40–4.67) ranged from 0.97 to 0.94, evaluation of the water quality of acid rain was possible. This method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the anions and the cations in acid rain transported from mainland China and North Korea to central Japan monitored by a meteorological satellite data analyzer.     

Electrochemical Properties of an Osmium(II) Copolymer Film and Its Electrocatalytic Ability Towards the Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid in Acidic and Neutral pH

Copolymerization of an osmium(II) functionalized pyrrole moiety, osmium‐bis‐N,N'‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐N‐(pyridine‐4‐ylmethyl‐(8‐pyrrole‐1yl–octyl)‐amine)chloride ( I ) with 3‐methylthiophene was carried out. The resulting conducting polymer film exhibited a clear redox couple associated with the Os^3+/2+ response and the familiar conducting polymer backbone signature. The effect of film thickness upon the redox properties of the copolymer was investigated in organic electrolyte solutions. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) along with energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectra of the copolymerized films were undertaken, both after formation and redox cycling in neutral buffer solution. These clearly show that electrolyte is incorporated into the polymer film upon redox cycling through the Os^3+/2+ redox system. The Os^3+/2+ response associated with the copolymer was seen to be significantly altered in the presence of ascorbic acid both in acidic and neutral pH buffer solutions. This pointed to an electrocatalytic reaction between the ascorbic acid and the Os³⁺ form of the copolymer. Under acidic conditions the copolymer film exhibited a sensitivity of 1.76 (±0.05) μA/mM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.45 μM for ascorbic acid. Under neutral pH conditions the copolymer exhibited a sensitivity of 19.26 (±1.05) μA/mM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.28 μM for ascorbic acid.     

Synthesis of 2-(α-Hydroxyalkyl)-2-Oxazoline under Microwave Irradiation in Bluk

Four 2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)-2-oxazolines and a 2-(α-hydroxy-α,α-diphenyl)-2-benzooxazole were synthesized from β-amimoalcohols and α-hydroxy carboxylic acids under microwave irradiation in the absence of a solvent.     

Synthesis of 4b,5,10a,11-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-b]quinolin-10-ones from Baylis-Hillman adducts

We developed an efficient synthetic method for indenoquinoline skeletons from Baylis-Hillman adducts. 4b,5,10a,11-Tetrahydroindeno[1,2-b]quinolin-10-ones and 7H-indeno[2,1-c]quinolines were prepared from Baylis-Hillman adducts in polyphosphoric acid.     

Nucleation of β-hairpin structure in a pyrrole amino acid containing peptide

Synthesis and conformational studies of two short peptides containing pyrrole amino acids (1, Paa), Boc-Paa-Paa-d-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Paa-Paa-OMe (2: Xaa=Ala; 3: Xaa=Val), were carried out in which it was established that replacement of Ala in 2 with a Val residue helps peptide 3 to adopt a well-defined β-hairpin conformation in a nonpolar solvent, like CDCl₃.     

Disposable multichannel immunosensors for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using acetylcholinesterase as an enzyme label

An improved version of the disposable multichannel immunochemical biosensor for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) based on a screen-printed amperometric transducer and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against 2,4-D is reported. Entrapment within a thin Nafion film was used for the direct immobilization of MAb at the electrode surface. The amount of the tracer (2,4-D conjugated to acetylcholinesterase) bound in a competitive immunochemical reaction was determined amperometrically using acetylthiocholine iodide as substrate. The measuring procedure (times of incubation with tracer and substrate, pH, tracer concentration) was optimized. The sensor was able to detect less than 0.01 μg/L of free 2,4-D in water. One analysis (8 samples) was completed in 30 min (20 min for immunochemical reaction, 5 min incubation with substrate, 5 min measurement). The performance of the immunosensor (two configurations) was evaluated on real samples (tap water) with added 2,4-D. The determined amounts (mean values 0.097 to 0.105 and 0.89 to 1.13) corresponded well with the added contents of 2,4-D (0.100 and 1.00 μg/L, respectively).     

Capillary Zone Electrophoresis of some organic acids in milk whey

This paper describes a method for analysing some acids of milk whey by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis. After eliminating the whey proteins by ultrafiltration, the whey underwent electrophoretic separation in the presence of anodic electroosmotic flow. The following analytes were detected: citric, orotic, uric, and hippuric acids. A procedure is described for sample preparation and the operating conditions for electrophoretic capillary separation established. Finally, orotic acid is quantitatively determined.     

Conformation of poly(L-glutamic acid) in aqueous solutions of linear amphiphiles with a cationic group at both ends

The conformations of poly(l-glutamic acid) [P(Glu)] in solutions of the bipolar amphiphile 1,20-icosanediylbis(alkylammonium chloride) [C20(RA)₂], where RA includes trimethylammonium (TMA), dimethylammonium (DMA), or methylammonium (MA), were investigated with measurements of the circular dichroism spectra at 10–35 °C. All C20(RA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) in the aqueous solutions. The residue molar ellipticity at 222 nm showed a similar dependence on the amphiphile concentration (C _s) below 0.5 of the ratio of 2C _s to the residue concentration (C _p) of P(Glu), but it separated into three directions at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(MA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) at 2C _s/C _p<0.5 followed by a helix aggregate at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(DMA)₂ and C20(TMA)₂ also induced an α-helix, but a helix aggregate. C20(TMA)₂ indicated a strong temperature dependence and did not induce a complete α-helix at 35 °C. Received: 20 June 2001 Accepted: 6 September 2001