A Novel Voltammetric Method for the Determination of Maleic Acid Using Silver Amalgam Paste Electrode

An efficient voltammetric method was developed for the determination of maleic acid at a silver amalgam paste electrode (AgA‐PE) in Britton–Robinson buffer pH 2.0. The experimental parameters, such as pH of Britton–Robinson buffer, type of the supporting electrolyte and activation of the electrode surface were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, a linear response was observed over the 2×10^?6–1×10^?4 mol L^?1 maleic acid concentration range, determination limit being 5×10^?7 mol L^?1. A highly stable response, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.6% for 45 repetitive measurements of 1×10^?4 mol L^?1 maleic acid showed that there was no apparent surface passivation indicating the suitability of the method. The method was successfully applied for direct determination of maleic acid in drinking and river water.     

Coal as a New Carbon Paste Electrode Modifier with Sorption Properties

A new type of carbon paste electrode modified with subbituminous and bituminous coal is presented. The operability of the coal carbon paste electrode with respect to the working potential window attainable was tested in various electrolytes. Cyclic voltammetry of the reference redox system [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? was performed to evaluate electron transfer kinetics. Open‐circuit sorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) with subsequent anodic stripping voltammetry was used to pilot coal sorption ability. The coal modified carbon paste electrode was also examined as a support for mercury film deposition and anodic stripping voltammetry of metals.     

Voltammetric Detection of Lead(II) Using Amide‐Cyclam‐ Functionalized Silica‐Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

2‐(4,8,11‐Triscarbamoylmethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradec‐1‐yl)acetamide (TETAM) derivatives bearing 1, 2, or 4 silylated arms have been synthesized and grafted to the surface of silica gel and ordered mesoporous silica samples. The resulting organic‐inorganic hybrids have been incorporated into carbon paste electrodes and applied to the preconcentration electroanalysis of Pb(II). The attractive recognition properties of these cyclam derivatives functionalized with amide pendent groups toward Pb(II) species and the highly porous structure of the adsorbents can be exploited for the selective and sensitive detection of the target analyte. Various parameters affecting the preconcentration and detection steps have been discussed with respect to the composition and pH of both accumulation and detection media, the nature of the adsorbent (number of silylated groups linking the macrocycle to silica, texture of materials), the accumulation time, and the presence of interfering cations. Under optimal conditions and for 2 min accumulation at open‐circuit, the voltammetric response increased linearly with the Pb(II) concentration in a range extending from 2×10^?7 to 10^?5 M, while a longer accumulation time of 15 min afforded a linear calibration curve between 10^?8 and 10^?7 M with a detection limit of 2.7×10^?9 M which is well below the European regulatory limit of lead in consumption water.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Nanomolar Concentration of Cerium(III) at a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified by N′‐[(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)Methylidene]‐2‐Furohydrazide

The aim of this work was to obtain an adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the Ce(III) determination at a carbon paste electrode, chemically modified with N'‐[(2‐hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]‐2‐furohydrazide (NHMF). The electroanalytical procedure comprised two steps: the Ce(III) chemical accumulation at ?200 mV followed by the electrochemical detection of the Ce(III)/NHMF complex, using anodic stripping voltammetry. The factors, influencing the adsorptive stripping performance, were optimized including the modifier quantity in the paste, the electrolyte concentrations, the solution pH and the accumulation potential or time. The resulting electrode demonstrated a linear response over a wide range of Ce(III) concentration (5.0–90 nmol dm^?3). The detection limit was found to be 0.8 nmol dm^?3 on the basis of a signal to noise ratio of 3. The precision for six determinations of 10 and 55 nmol dm^?3 Ce(III) was 5.6% and 2.1% (relative standard deviation), respectively. Application of the procedure to the determination of cerium in phosphate rock and wastewater samples gave good results.     

Voltammetric sensor for glutathione determination based on ferrocene-modified carbon paste electrode

The electrocatalytic oxidation of glutathione (GSH) has been studied at the surface of ferrocene-modified carbon paste electrode (FMCPE). Cyclic voltammetry (CV), double potential step chronoamperometry, and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques were used to investigate the suitability of incorporation of ferrocene into FMCPE as a mediator for the electrocatalytic oxidation of GSH in buffered aqueous solution. Results showed that pH 7.00 is the most suitable for this purpose. In the optimum condition (pH 7.00), the electrocatalytic ability of about 480 mV can be found and the heterogeneous rate constant of catalytic reaction was calculated as . Also, the diffusion coefficient of glutathione, D, was found to be 3.61 × 10^–5 cm² s⁻¹. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of glutathione at the surface of this modified electrode was linearly dependent on the GSH concentration and the linear analytical curves were obtained in the ranges of 3.2 × 10^–5 M–1.6 × 10^–3 M and 2.2 × 10^–6 M–3.5 × 10^–3 M with cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry methods, respectively. The detection limits (3σ) were determined as 1.8 × 10^–5 M and 2.1 × 10^–6 M using CV and DPV, respectively. Finally, the electrocatalytic oxidation of GSH at the surface of this modified electrode can be employed as a new method for the voltammetric determination of glutathione in real samples such as human plasma.     

Voltammetric sensor for nitrite determination based on its electrocatalytic reduction at the surface of p-duroquinone modified carbon paste electrode

A p-duroquinone (tetramethyl-p-benzoquinone) modified carbon paste electrode (DMCPE) was employed to study the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite in aqueous solutions using cyclic voltammetry (CV), double potential-step chronoamperometry, and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). It has found that under an optimum condition (pH 1.00), the reduction of nitrite at the surface of DMCPE occurs at a potential of about 660 mV less negative than that of an unmodified carbon paste electrode (CPE). The catalytic rate constant, k′_h, based on Andrieux and Saveant theoretical model was calculated as for scan rate 10 mV s^-1. Also, the apparent diffusion coefficient, D _app, was found as 2.5 × 10^–10 and 3.61 × 10^–5 cm² s^-1 for p-duroquinone in carbon paste matrix and nitrite in aqueous buffered solution, respectively. The values for αn_α were estimated to be −0.65 and −0.19 for the reduction of nitrite at the surface of DMCPE and CPE, respectively. The electrocatalytic reduction peak currents showed a linear dependence on the nitrite concentration, and a linear analytical curve was obtained in the ranges of 5.0 × 10^–5 M to 8.0 × 10^–3 M and 6.0 × 10^–6 M to 8.0 × 10^–4 M of nitrite concentration with CV and DPV methods, respectively. The detection limits (2σ) were determined as 2.5 × 10^–5 M and 4.3 × 10^–6 M by CV and DPV methods. This method was also applied as a simple, selective and precise method for determination of nitrite in real samples (the weak liquor from the wood and paper factory of Mazandaran province in Iran) by using a standard addition method.     

Fabrication of modified TiO2 nanoparticle carbon paste electrode for simultaneous determination of dopamine, uric acid, and l-cysteine

A carbon paste electrode, modified with 2, 2′-[1,7-hepthandiylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone and TiO₂ nanoparticles, was used for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and l-cysteine. The study was carried out by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. Some kinetic parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient (α) and heterogeneous rate constant (k_s) were also determined for the DA oxidation. A dynamic range of 8.0–1400 μM, with the detection limit of 8.4 × 10⁻⁷ M for DA, was obtained using SWV (pH = 7.0). The prepared electrode was successfully applied for the determination of DA, UA, and l-cysteine in real samples.     

Synchrotron XANES and ED‐XRF analyses of fine‐paste ware from 13th to 14th century maritime Southeast Asia

The combination of energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (ED‐XRF) and synchrotron X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) provides the detailed composition of fine‐paste ware (FPW) kendis, dated back to 13th–14th century maritime Southeast Asia. Sources of clay and production sites were classified according to Al₂O₃, SiO₂, α‐Fe₂O₃ and γ‐Fe₂O₃ as well as trace elements. The similarities based on these components provided another evidence of a trade route between Kota Cina in North Sumatra of Indonesia and Kok Moh on Satingphra Peninsula, a well‐known production area in present‐day Thailand. In additions, the uniquely large contribution of α‐Fe₂O₃ in XANES spectra suggests that Nakhon Si Thammarat province of Thailand could also be one of FPW production areas in maritime Southeast Asia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A micromechanical model for porous materials with a reinforced matrix

In this study a micromechanical model is proposed for ductile porous material whose matrix is reinforced by small inclusions. The solid phase is described by a pressure sensitive plastic model. Based on works of Maghous et al. [6], a macroscopic plastic criterion is firstly obtained by using a two-step homogenization procedure. The effect of porosity at the mesoscale and the influence of inclusions at the microscale are taken into account simultaneously by this criterion. With a non-associated plastic flow rule, the micro-macro model is applied to modeling of mechanical behavior of a cement paste. In particular, we have considered at the microscopic scale the formation of calcite grains by carbonation process in the solid matrix. The studied cement paste is then seen as a reinforced matrix–pore system. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental data show that the proposed model is able to capture the main features of the mechanical behavior of the studied material.     

Characteristics of Bacterial Strains with Desirable Flavor Compounds from Korean Traditional Fermented Soybean Paste (Doenjang)

To identify and analyze the characteristics of the microorganisms involved in the formation of the desirable flavor of Doenjang, a total of 179 strains were isolated from ninety-four Doenjang collected from six regions in South Korea, and fourteen strains were selected through a sensory evaluation of the aroma of each culture. The enzyme activities of amylase, protease and lipase was shown in the various strains. Bacillus sp.-K3, Bacillus sp.-K4 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-J2 showed relatively high protease activity, at 317.1 U, 317.3 U and 319.5 U, respectively. The Bacillus sp.-K1 showed the highest lipase activity at 2453.6 U. In the case of amylase, Bacillus subtilis-H6 showed the highest activity at 4105.5 U. The results of the PCA showed that Bacillus subtilis-H2, Bacillus subtilis-H3, and Bacillus sp.-K2 were closely related to the production of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (23.51%~43.37%), and that Bacillus subtilis-H5 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-J2 were significantly associated with the production of phenethyl alcohol (0.39% and 0.37%). The production of peptides was observed to vary among the Bacillus cultures such as Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu and Pro-Ala-Glu-Val-Leu-Asp-Ile. These peptides are precursors of related volatile flavor compounds created in Doenjang via the enzymatic or non-enzymatic route; it is expected that these strains could be used to enhance the flavor of Doenjang.