Electrocatalytic Reduction of Chromium(VI) by Thionin: Electrochemical Properties and Mechanistic Study

The electrochemical properties of aqueous thionin (an electroactive water soluble dye) of pH 1–12 were investigated by cyclic voltammetry at a boron doped diamond(BDD) electrode. A well defined reversible redox couple was observed in acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions. The standard potential and kinetic parameters for thionin were obtained by fitting experimental cyclic voltammograms to those generated by the DigiSim program. The electrogenerated reduced form of thionin has been used as an efficient organic catalyst for the reduction of Cr(VI) at a BDD electrode immersed in aqueous media. The cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that an electrocatalytic process occurs, where electrochemically generated thionin reduced species (Leucothionin) is oxidized by Cr(VI) back to the parent thionin species via a EC' reaction mechanism. The determination of catalytic rate constant (K_cat) was accomplished again by fitting experimental cyclic voltammograms with simulated ones.     

Mechanism and kinetics of the reduction of In(III) ions at a polycrystalline gold electrode from highly concentrated ZnCl2 solutions

Summary The mechanism of the cathodic reduction of In(III) at gold has been studied by rotating disc and ring-disc voltammetry in highly concentrated aqueous ZnCl₂ solutions. At concentration of the base electrolyte higher than 7 mol dm^–3, the voltammetric curves recorded at the disc electrode split into two well-separated waves which correspond to the successive charge transfer reactions: In(III) + 2e^– In(I) and In(I) + e^– In. By the use of coulometric and potentiometric techniques, the formal potentials of the In(III)/In(I), In(III)/In and In(I)/In redox couples as well as the equilibrium constants of the reproportionation reaction In(III) + 2 In 3 In(I) has been determined and discussed. The kinetic parameters of the In(III)/In(I) electrode reaction have been also evaluated and discussed.

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Mechanismus und Kinetik der Reduktion von In(III)-Ionen an der Goldelektrode in hochkonzentrierten wäßrigen ZnCl₂-Lösungen

Zusammenfassung Es wird der Mechanismus der Reduktion von In(III)-Ionen in hochkonzentrierten ZnCl₂ Lösungen mittels der Scheiben- und Ring-Scheiben-Elektrode aus Gold untersucht. Wenn die Konzentration des Grundelektrolyten 7 mol dm^–3 übersteigt, verteilen sich die erhaltenen Stromspannungskurven auf zwei gut gestaltete Stufen, die den konsekutiven Durchtrittsreaktionen In(III) + 2e^– In(I) und In(I) + e^– In entsprechen. Aufgrund der coulometrischen und potentiometrischen Messungen werden die Formal-Standardpotentiale der In(III)/In(I)-, In(III)/In-und In(I)/In-Redoxpaare, die Gleichgewichtskonstanten der Reproportionierungsreaktion In(III) + 2 In 3 In ermittelt. Die kinetischen Parameter der Durchtrittsreaktion In(III)/In(I) werden bestimmt und diskutiert.

     

Stir bar sorptive extraction with in situ derivatization and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for determination of chlorophenols in water and body fluid samples

A new method, stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with in situ derivatization and thermal desorption (TD)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which is used for the determination of trace amounts of chlorophenols, such as 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TrCP), 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (2,3,4,6-TeCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), in tap water, river water and human urine samples, is described. The derivatization conditions with acetic acid anhydride and the SBSE conditions such as extraction time are investigated. Then, the stir bar is subjected to TD followed by GC-MS. The detection limits of the chlorophenols in tap water, river water and human urine samples are 1-2, 1-2, and 10-20 pg ml⁻¹ (ppt), respectively. The calibration curves for the chlorophenols are linear and have correlation coefficients higher than 0.99. The average recoveries of the chlorophenols in all the samples are higher than 95% (R.S.D. < 10%) with correction using added surrogate standards, 2,4-dichlorophenol-d₅, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol-¹³C₆, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol-¹³C₆ and pentachlorophenol-¹³C₆. This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective analytical method may be applicable to the determination of trace amounts of chlorophenols in liquid samples.     

The phase diagram and tetragonal superstructures of the rare earth cobaltate phases Ln1−xSrxCoO3-δ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Y, Ho, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb)

Single phase perovskite-based rare earth cobaltates (Ln_1−xSr_xCoO_3−δ) (Ln=La³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Gd³⁺, Dy³⁺, Y³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺; 0.67?x?0.9) have been synthesized at 1100°C under 1 atmosphere of oxygen. X-ray diffraction of phases containing the larger rare earth ions La³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ reveals simple cubic structures; however electron diffraction shows orientational twinning of a local, tetragonal (I4/mmm; a_p×a_p×2a_p) superstructure phase. Orientational twinning is also present for Ln_1−xSr_xCoO_3−δ compounds containing rare earth ions smaller than Nd³⁺. These compounds show a modulated intermediate parent with a tetragonal superstructure (I4/mmm; 2a_p×2a_p×4a_p). Thermogravimetric measurements have determined the overall oxygen content, and these phases show mixed valence (3⁺/4⁺) cobalt oxidation states with up to 50% Co(IV). X-ray diffraction data and Rietveld techniques have been used to refine the structures of each of these tetragonal superstructure phases (Ln=Sm³⁺-Yb³⁺). Coupled Ln/Sr and oxygen/vacancy ordering and associated structural relaxation are shown to be responsible for the observed superstructure.     

火焰原子吸收光谱法研究五种螯合剂对染镉小鼠睾丸中镉钙铁锌浓度的影响

采用火焰原子吸收光谱法分别对染镉小鼠和N-对羟甲苯甲基-D-葡糖二硫代氨基甲酸钠(HBGD)、N-苯甲基-D-葡糖二硫代氨基甲酸钠(BGD)、二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸钠(DDTC)、二巯基丙醇(BAL)、乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)等五种螯合剂治疗组小鼠睾丸中镉、钙、铁、锌等金属浓度进行了测定和研究.结果表明:镉染毒(Cd 2.5 mg·kg-1,腹腔注射)后,小鼠睾丸中镉、钙、铁、锌等金属浓度显著高于对照组(p＜0.05),染镉30 min后用各螯合剂治疗(0.400 mmol·kg-1,腹腔注射),24 h后除EDTA外,其余螯合剂能明显降低睾丸中镉的浓度并抑制钙、铁、锌浓度的增加(p＜0.05);染镉24 h后注射各螯合剂,治疗24 h后,HBGD、BGD和DDTC显著降低了小鼠睾丸中各金属浓度(p＜0.05);提示HBGD和BGD有望成为染镉中毒的理想解毒剂.     

Low-Cost Potentiometric Sensor for Chloride Measurement in Continuous Industrial Process Control

Recently, the new updates in legislation about drinking water control and human health have increased the demand for novel electrochemical low-cost sensors, such as potentiometric ones. Nowadays, the determination of chloride ion in aqueous solutions has attracted great attention in several fields, from industrial processes to drinking water control. Indeed, chloride plays a crucial role in corrosion, also influencing the final taste of beverages, especially coffee. The main goal is to obtain devices suitable for continuous and real-time analysis. For these reasons, we investigated the possibility to develop an easy, low-cost potentiometric chloride sensor, able to perform analysis in aqueous mediums for long immersion time and reducing the need of periodic calibration. We realized a chloride ion selective electrode made of Ag/AgCl sintered pellet and we tested its response in model solutions compatible with drinking water. The sensor was able to produce a stable, reproducible, and accurate quantification of chloride in 900 s, without the need for a preliminary calibration test. This opens the route to potential applications of this sensor in continuous, in situ, and real time measurement of chloride ions in industrial processes, with a reduced need for periodic maintenance.     

Assessment of Chemical Composition and Anti-Penicillium Activity of Vapours of Essential Oils from Abies Alba and Two Melaleuca Species in Food Model Systems

The possibilities of the practical utilization of essential oils (EOs) from various plant species in the food industry have attracted the attention of the scientific community. Following our previous studies, the antifungal activities of three further commercial EOs, Melaleuca armillaris subsp. armillaris (rosalina; REO), Melaleuca quinquenervia (niaouli; NEO), and Abies alba (fir; FEO), were evaluated in the present research in respect to their chemical profiles, over four different concentrations, 62.5 μL/L, 125 μL/L, 250 μL/L, and 500 μL/L. The findings revealed that the major compounds of REO, NEO, and FEO were linalool (47.5%), 1,8-cineole (40.8%), and α-pinene (25.2%), respectively. In vitro antifungal determinations showed that the inhibition zones of a Penicillium spp. mycelial growth ranged from no inhibitory effectiveness (00.00 ± 00.00 mm) to 16.00 ± 1.00 mm, indicating a very strong antifungal activity which was detected against P. citrinum after the highest REO concentration exposure. Furthermore, the in situ antifungal efficacy of all EOs investigated was shown to be dose-dependent. In this sense, we have found that the highest concentration (500 µL/L) of REO, NEO, and FEO significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the growth of all Penicillium strains inoculated on the bread, carrot, and potato models. These results indicate that the investigated EOs may be promising innovative agents in order to extend the shelf life of different types of food products, such as bread, carrot and potato.     

MOCVD生长的InN薄膜中In分凝现象

利用金属有机物化学气相淀积(MOCVD)方法不同生长条件下在c面蓝宝石衬底上制备了InN薄膜,通过不同的物理表征手段研究了InN薄膜的物理性质,结果表明:合适的生长温度可以抑制InN薄膜表面分凝现象。研究认为较低的生长温度使作为N源的NH3分解率较低,In—N的成键可能性小,导致In在表面聚集出现分凝;而较高生长温度时,InN薄膜中In—N键能较小,易发生断裂,反应活性较强的N和H原子逸离薄膜表面,In滞留在薄膜表面也导致In分凝现象的出现。相对于表面分凝的样品,未出现表面分凝的样品的薄膜晶体质量和表面形貌也得到了提高。同时,通过Raman散射谱研究了晶格振动E2声子模的应力效应。     

Fe掺杂α-Bi2O3光电性质的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理杂化泛函HSE06方法对Fe掺杂α-Bi2 O3的电子结构和光学性质进行了计算研究.结果表明,Fe掺杂α-Bi2 O3体系有较小的结构变形,本征α-Bi2 O3的禁带宽度为2.69 eV,Fe掺杂使α-Bi2 O3的禁带宽度减小(约为2.34 eV).对其光学性质研究得出Fe掺杂扩展了α-Bi2 O3对可...     

Fe3+对KDP晶体光学质量的影响

金属离子Fe3+对KDP晶体的生长和光学性质有明显影响.本文在前期研究的基础上[1]系统考察了该杂质离子对KDP晶体光学质量的影响.实验结果表明,三价金属离子Fe3+会降低KDP晶体的透光率,同时对晶体均匀性和光损伤阈值也有明显影响.光损伤阈值降低的主要原因在于杂质诱发缺陷导致的电子崩电离、多光子电离(尤其是双光子电离)等过程的发生.