Electrochemical sensors of heavy metals using novel polymer-modified glassy carbon electrodes

Electroanalytical determination of heavy metals using stripping voltammetry is commonly employed and has many advantages over other methods. The sensitivity of the technique is greatly improved by employing different modified electrodes. Seven novel polymer-modified glassy carbon electrodes have been developed in this investigation for the trace analysis of heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper in formulated samples of waters by square wave stripping voltammetry. Very good responses have been observed for all the metals, while all the modified electrodes employed. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-modified electrode has resulted in very low limit of detection (LOD) value. Comparison is made between literature results of LOD and the results obtained in this study. An independent atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis of the industrial wastewater sample was carried out and the results compared. The suitability of the method for practical application was ascertained by applying the procedure for the wastewater from a plating industry.     

POLY(10-UNDECENOIC ACID) AND SOME OF ITS DERIVATIVES

Commercially available 10-undecenoic acid was esterified with 2,5-dimethylphenol. After the supply of ester was properly complexed, it was polymerized in quantities and in high yield to high molcular polymers. The polymeric esters were hydrolyzed with base to the acid salt, which were converted to the acids. Reactions with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole gave polyethylene-based polymeric imidazolids.     

LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS. IV. THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLY(ARYLIDENE-ETHER)S AND COPOLYMERS CONTAINING N-METHYLPIPERIDONE LINKED TO THE MAIN CHAIN THROUGH SPACERS OF VARIOUS LENGTHS

Two novel series of poly(arylidene-ether)s and copoly(arylidene-ether)s were synthesized from N-methylpiperidone and/or cyclohexanone respectively. The first series (homopolymers) was derived from 4,4′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane or 4,4′-diformyl-2,2′ dimethoxy-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane with N-methylpiperidone. The second series (copolymers) was derived from the diphenoxyalkanes (I–VIII) with N-methylpiperidone and cyclohexanone. The inherent viscosities of the polymers thus prepared were in the range of 0.37–0.98 dI/g. The majority of the polymers and copolymers are soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons. DSC measurements and microscope observation under polarized light demonstrate that this type of poly(arylidene-ether)s form nematic mesophase over a wide temperature range in contrast to the corresponding copoly(arylidene-ether)s. All of the polymers and copolymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. In most cases, the mesophase extends up to 315°C, where thermal decomposition prevents further observation. The morphology of polymer IXb and copolymer XIb as a selected example was examined by scanning electronic microscope.     

Fragrance encapsulation in polymeric matrices by emulsion electrospinning

We present the successful application of emulsion electrospinning for the encapsulation of a model for highly volatile fragrances, namely (R)-(+)-limonene in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fibrous matrix. The influence of the emulsion formulation and of its colloidal properties on the fiber morphology, as well as on the limonene encapsulation efficiency, is described. The release profile of the fragrance from the electrospun nanofibers over a fifteen days range shows that this type of nanofibrous matrices with a high fragrance loading capacity is of great potential for applications in various fields, such as cosmetics or food packaging.     

A Simple Method for Synthesis of Methylene Dioximes Using Poly(ethylene glycol)‐400 as a Phase Transfer Catalyst

Abstract

A simple method for synthesis of methylene dioximes by reaction of ketoximes with dichloromethane in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution using poly (ethylene glycol)‐400 (PEG‐400) as a phase transfer catalyst is described.     

Synthesis of poly(l-lactic acid) with improved thermal stability by sulfonic acid-catalyzed melt/solid polycondensation

Melt/solid polycondensation (MP/SSP) is deemed as an alternative synthetic route besides ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in synthesizing poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). However, it is found that PLLA synthesized by MP/SSP has much poorer thermal stability than that by ROP due to more residual Sn(II) metallic catalyst in the former, but sulfonic acids does not show any detrimental effect on the thermal stability of PLLA. To synthesizing PLLA with good thermal stability by MP/SSP, a variety of commercially available sulfonic acids were screened as catalysts in MP/SSP of PLLA. Among these nonmetallic catalysts, it was found that 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid (PSA) and 1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid (NSA) exhibited satisfactory catalytic reactivity and PLLAs with excellent thermal stability, high molecular weight, little coloration and good optical purity were successfully synthesized by MP/SSP. The decomposition temperature was increased by 80–100 °C in comparison to SnCl₂-catalyzed PLLA, and the thermal stability is comparable to commercial PLLA produced by ROP.     

New optically active poly(amide–imide)s from N-trimellitylimido-l-amino acid and 1,2-bis[4-aminophenoxy]ethane in the main chain: Synthesis and characterization

Six new optically active poly(amide–imide)s (PAIs) with good inherent viscosities were synthesized from the direct polycondensation reaction of N-trimellitylimido-l-amino acids with 1,2-bis[4-aminophenoxy]ethane by direct polycondensation in a medium consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)/triphenyl phosphite (TPP)/calcium chloride (CaCl₂)/pyridine (py). Diamine was synthesized by using a two-step reaction. At first 1,2-bis[4-nitrophenoxy]ethane was prepared from the reaction of two equimolars 4-nitrophenol and one equimolar 1,2-dibromo ethane and the dinitro compound was reduced by using Pd/C. Also N-trimellitylimido-l-amino acids were synthesized by the condensation reaction of trimellitic anhydride with two equimolars of various l-amino acids in acetic acid solution. The polymerization reactions produced a series of optically active PAIs with a high yield and good inherent viscosity. The resulted polymers were fully characterized by means of FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, inherent viscosity, specific rotation, solubility tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a derivative of thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Cytochrome C Modified Poly(3-Aminobenzoic Acid) Thin Film

The electropolymerized poly(3-aminobenzoic acid) (PABA) film on indium tin oxide electrode was used for fabrication of cytochrome c (Cyt c) modified PABA thin film upon immobilization of Cyt c onto the PABA surface. The obtained Cyt c modified PABA thin film was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, XPS, AFM, and SEM-EDX techniques. Shifts of the UV-vis absorption peaks were observed from Cyt c modified PABA thin film compared with Cyt c solution and PABA thin film. The formation of the covalent amide bond between the carboxylic groups of PABA and amine groups in Cyt c was observed from XPS results.     

The Crystallization and Melting Behaviors of PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA Tri-block Copolymers

In this study,the poly(D-lactide)-block-poly(butylene succinate)-block-poly(D-lactide)(PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA)triblock copolymers with a fixed length of PBS and various lengths of PDLA are synthesized,and the crystallization behaviors of the PDLA and PBS blocks are investigated.Although both the crystallization behaviors of PBS and PDLA blocks depend on composition,they exhibit different variations.For the PDLA block,its crystallization behaviors are mainly influenced by temperature and block length.The crystallization signals of PDLA block appear in the B-D 2-2 specimen,and these signals get enhanced with PDLA block length.The crystallization rates tend to decrease with increasing PDLA block lendth during crystallizing at 90 and 100°C.Crystallizing at higher temperature,the crystallization rates increase at first and then decrease with block length.The crystallization rates decrease as elevating the crystallization temperature.The melting temperatures of PDLA blocks increase with block lengths and crystallization temperatures.For the PBS block,its crystallization behaviors are mainly controlled by the nucleation and confinement from PDLA block.The crystallization and melting enthalpies as well as the crystallization and melting temperatures of PBS block reduce as a longer PDLA block has been copolymerized,while the crystallization rates of the PBS block exhibit unique component dependence,and the highest rate is observed in the B-D 2-2 specimen.The Avrami exponent of PBS crystallites is reduced as a longer PDLA block is incorporated or the sample is crystallized at higher temperature.This investigation provides a convenient route to tune the crystallization behavior of PBS and PLA.     

Energy Storage by Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-anisidine) Matrix During Oxidative Hydrolysis

The chromaticity of poly(o-anisidine) (POAN) doped with different acids (HA), HA-doped POAN, has been studied by the spectrophotometric technique and the results were substantiated by molecular mechanics (MM+) calculations. The observed absorbance decrease (λ around 720 nm, dark green coloration) with increasing concentration of the inorganic oxidizing agent (KMnO₄) can be attributed to the oxidative hydrolysis mechanism. The oxidative hydrolysis constant (K _h) is highly dependent on the strength of the acid used. The HClO₄-doped POAN matrix has the ability to store about 128.878 kJ⋅g⁻¹ chromogenic energy (CE) at the wavelength 720 nm in a condensed lightweight form. MM+ calculations suggest that the potential energy (PE) in kJ⋅mol⁻¹ of the optimum molecular geometric (OMG) structure of the HClO₄-doped POAN matrix is at least two (2.052) times more stable than the OMG of the base form (POAN-EB) of the POAN matrix. Kinetic parameters of the oxidative hydrolysis reaction of the HA-doped POAN matrix were deduced from absorbance variations with time. The results of computer-oriented kinetic analysis indicate that the rate-controlling step for HA-doped POAN oxidative hydrolysis is governed by the Ginstling-Bronshein equation that represents three-dimensional diffusion (D4). Activation parameters for the oxidative hydrolysis of the HClO₄-doped POAN matrix were computed and discussed.