Optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters in hydride generation laser-induced breakdown spectrometry for the determination of arsenic,antimony, lead and germanium in aqueous samples

A laser induced breakdown spectrometry hyphenated with on-line continuous flow hydride generation sample introduction system, HG-LIBS, has been used for the determination of arsenic, antimony, lead and germanium in aqueous environments. Optimum chemical and instrumental parameters governing chemical hydride generation, laser plasma formation and detection were investigated for each element under argon and nitrogen atmosphere. Arsenic, antimony and germanium have presented strong enhancement in signal strength under argon atmosphere while lead has shown no sensitivity to ambient gas type. Detection limits of 1.1 mg L⁻¹, 1.0 mg L⁻¹, 1.3 mg L⁻¹ and 0.2 mg L⁻¹ were obtained for As, Sb, Pb and Ge, respectively. Up to 77 times enhancement in detection limit of Pb were obtained, compared to the result obtained from the direct analysis of liquids by LIBS. Applicability of the technique to real water samples was tested through spiking experiments and recoveries higher than 80% were obtained. Results demonstrate that, HG-LIBS approach is suitable for quantitative analysis of toxic elements and sufficiently fast for real time continuous monitoring in aqueous environments.     

Observations on toxicologically relevant arsenic in urine in adult offspring of families with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and controls by batch hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

The aim of this study was to develop a method for the characterization of internal exposure to arsenic, which is thought to play a role in the development of a kidney disease, known as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, typical for a district in Bulgaria, and to investigate whether the As body burden differs in the offspring versus control individuals. For this case study, an analytical procedure for the determination of toxicologically relevant arsenic (the sum of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, and dimethylarsinate) in urine by batch-type hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. Optimization experiments for levelling off the sensitivity of inorganic arsenic and its mono- and dimethylated species in dilute HCl–L-cysteine medium were performed. The limit of detection for hydride forming arsenic fraction was 0.5?ng As, i.e. 0.25?µg?L^?1 in 10?mL of 1?+?4 v/v diluted urine. The relative standard deviation was typically 1.5–1.8% for aqueous solution and 2–6% for urine samples at 1.0?µg?L^?1 As. The sample throughput rate was 15?h^?1. No statistical correlation and cross-correlation between individuals case-control and sex at 95% confidence were found: controls (n?=?99), mean 3.5?±?2.1 (SD), range 0.9–10.4, median 3.0?µg?L^?1 As and cases (n?=?102), mean 3.6?±?2.2 (SD), range 0.5–11.0, median 3.2?µg?L^?1 As. On the basis of this study, arsenic can be excluded as a factor involved in BEN development.     

AgGa(S1-xSex)2固溶体的电子结构和光学性质

采用基于赝势平面波基组的密度泛函理论方法, 对一系列具有黄铜矿结构的AgGa(S_1-xSe_x)₂固溶体的构型、电子结构、线性和二阶非线性光学性质进行了系统研究. 结果表明, 各固溶体具有类似的能带结构, 体系带隙随x值增加而逐渐减小. 当所引入的Hartree-Fock交换项贡献为22.56%时, 对应的杂化PBE泛函得到的带隙值与实验结果相近. 固溶体的各种光学性质, 包括折射率、双折射率、反射率、吸收系数和二阶倍频系数等均随着组成的改变呈现出有规律的变化趋势, 变化范围介于AgGaS₂和AgGaSe₂二者之间. 因此, 利用固溶体光学性质的变化规律, 可从中寻找出具有特定光学性能的晶体材料.     

Synthesis and photophysical studies of heteroaryl substituted-BODIPy derivatives for biological applications

Mono and di-heteroaryl-4,4′-difluoro-8-(aryl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPy) (1–5) were synthesized using Suzuki–Miyaura couplings. Hetero aryl substitution on 3- or 3,5-positions caused large bathochromic shifts (up to ∼150 nm) in absorption (569–652 nm) and fluorescence maxima (586–679 nm) in comparison to classical BODIPy. Quantum yields were found to be as high as 0.65. Singlet oxygen production activities of these compounds were studied by monitoring the absorbance quenching of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, on exposure to light (>600 nm). Cellular uptake of compound 4 was demonstrated using cervical cancer cells and fibroblast cell line and was confirmed by the images obtained using confocal microscope.     

Contamination of therapeutic human immunoglobulin preparations with apolipoprotein H (β2‐glycoprotein I)

Polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrates are important biological medicinal products and the assurance of their quality and safety is crucial. In our present approach we used proteomic methods to check the purity of commercial Ig products of different origin. The experimental setup included nonreducing 2DE or DIGE combined with MALDI‐TOF and the thrombin generation assay, a routine safety test for pharmaceutical Ig preparations, and was complemented by a specific immunoassay. 2DE patterns displayed contaminations with trace amounts of human apolipoprotein H (Apo‐H), transferrin, albumin, and its fragments. In contrast to the latter, Apo‐H is a protein that is active in the coagulation cascade, and thus a potential involvement in thromboembolic events in vivo cannot be excluded. It was found by 2DE and MALDI‐TOF to be a contaminant of several Ig preparations. Spiking experiments of Ig preparations with pure Apo‐H demonstrated an Apo‐H concentration dependent increase in thrombin generation assay values. Traces of Apo‐H are possibly also contributing to unwanted side effects, as already known for factor XIa. The significance of Apo‐H contaminations for these side effects might be verified by detailed analyses of pharmacovigilance data.     

A hybrid nanofluid analysis near a parabolic stretched surface

Two dimensional incompressible steady viscous nano-fluid flow with the impacts of heat generation and porous medium is examined numerically. For this objective Ti₆Al₄v are taken as nano-particles dispersed in different base fluids such as methanol, engine oil and water. Basically in this study we will compare three different nano-fluids to assess their flow behaviour and thermal performance. The flow model is developed under certain assumptions. The two dimensional non-linear PDEs are converted into non-linear ODEs with suitable transformation. The numerical procedure is adopted to find the results by using Bvp4c technique in MATLAB. Moreover, graphs are generated for various parameters against the temperature and velocity profiles. The fluid behaviour for different parameter is examined on velocity and temperature profile. It is depicted that for high values of volume fraction and curvature parameter nano-particles leads to high velocity and temperature profile. Moreover, velocity profile decreases for permeability parameter, while temperature profile enhances for heat generation parameter. The influence of Nusselt number and skin friction also assessed. The model of entropy generation is also presented.     

A Happy Get-Together – Probing Electrochemical Interfaces by Non-Linear Vibrational Spectroscopy

Electrochemical interfaces are key structures in energy storage and catalysis. Hence, a molecular understanding of the active sites at these interfaces, their solvation, the structure of adsorbates, and the formation of solid-electrolyte interfaces are crucial for an in-depth mechanistic understanding of their function. Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy has emerged as an operando spectroscopic technique to monitor complex electrochemical interfaces due to its intrinsic interface sensitivity and chemical specificity. Thus, this review discusses the happy get-together between VSFG spectroscopy and electrochemical interfaces. Methodological approaches for answering core issues associated with the behavior of adsorbates on electrodes, the structure of solvent adlayers, the transient formation of reaction intermediates, and the emergence of solid electrolyte interphase in battery research are assessed to provide a critical inventory of highly promising avenues to bring optical spectroscopy to use in modern material research in energy conversion and storage.     

基于Ti3C2-MXene的太阳能界面水汽转换

水资源匮乏是现代化发展中面临的全球性问题,太阳能界面水汽转换(Interfacial Solar Steam Generation, ISSG)是一种高效、绿色、低成本进行海水淡化和废水处理的方法。ISSG使用绿色的太阳能作为热源,通过光热转换并将热限制在水气界面上以高效产生蒸气,然后经过冷凝收集获得清洁水。设计和构筑具有强光吸收的光热转换材料是ISSG的技术核心。Ti₃C₂-MXene是一种新型二维碳化钛材料,具有比表面积大、水分散性好和光热转换效率高等优点,在ISSG领域具有巨大的应用潜力。本文介绍了ISSG技术和MXene,总结了光热转换材料的设计原则,论述了Ti₃C₂-MXene复合材料在ISSG领域的研究进展,其中包括二维MXene薄膜、三维MXene气凝胶和水凝胶、生物基-MXene复合材料的构筑和性能等,并分析了Ti₃C₂-MXene所面临的挑战和发展前景。