Phosphate-selective electrodes containing immobilised ionophores

Phosphate selective electrodes have been produced based upon rubbery membranes containing heterocylic macrocycles as sensors covalently bound to a cross-linked polystyrene-block–polybutadiene-block–polystyrene (SBS) polymer. The membranes were robust and the best HPO₄²⁻-selective membrane fabricated was composed of 7.1% (m/m) dicumyl peroxide, 28.3% (m/m) 2-nitrophenyloctylether, 9.8% (m/m) 3-(10-undecenyl)-1,5,8-triazacyclodecane-2,4-dione, 31.0% (m/m) SBS and 23.8% (m/m) PoleStar™ 200R (clay-based filler). The characteristics of this electrode were a linear Nernstian range of 3.9×10⁻³ to 1×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻ with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻, a slope of −29.7±0.9 mV per activity decade and a pH range from 6 to 8. Selectivity coefficients for phosphate against various interfering anions (chloride, sulfate and nitrate) were determined. Response times were 2 min or under, stability of response and electrode lifetime in continuous use were also very satisfactory. The response behavior of HPO₄²⁻-ISEs based upon mobile and bound ionophores was comparable and suggests that mobility of the ionophore is not necessary to obtain a working ISE and that covalent binding of ionophores can be used to produce ISEs of increased stability and robustness.     

Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/mesoporous silica nanocomposites with confined polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP)/Ti-MCM-41 nanocomposites were prepared by isospecific propylene polymerization with Ti-MCM-41/Al(i-C₄H₉)₃ catalyst. The cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) ¹³C NMR spectrum of the composite was similar to that of the conventional isotactic PP, and the decrease in the pore volume of Ti-MCM-41 in the nanocomposites, as measured by N₂ adsorption, was consistent with the value calculated from the weight loss in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve; both these facts attest to propylene polymerization within the mesopores of Ti-MCM-41. Alkali treatment followed by extraction with o-dichlorobenzene allows us to extract the confined PP out of the Ti-MCM-41 mesopores. Although the PP/Ti-MCM-41 nanocomposites do not exhibit a crystalline melting point, the same PP when extracted from the mesopores showed a clear melting point at 154.7 °C; this indicates that the crystallization of PP confined in mesopores is strongly hindered. For the PP polymerized within the confinement, the molecular weight (M_w) and molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) were 84,000 and 4.3, respectively; these values were considerably smaller than those of the PP polymerized concurrently outside the Ti-MCM-41 mesopores (M_w = 200,000–450,000, M_w/M_n = 40–75). Therefore, the confinement also has a marked effect on the molecular weight of the PP. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3324–3332, 2003     

Metal speciation measurement by diffusive gradients in thin films technique with different binding phases

Since its invention in the mid-1990s, the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique has rapidly become one of the most promising in situ sampling techniques for trace metal measurement in natural waters. We investigated here the possibility of using DGT devices with different binding phases to determine different DGT labile fractions of Cd and Cu in laboratory solutions and in natural waters. Several binding phases were studied, including conventional Chelex 100 resin imbedded polyacrylamide hydrogel (Chelex) and several recently developed binding phases, poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PAM-PAA) gel, poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid-co-acrylamide) (PAAG-PAM) gel, Whatman P81 cellulose phosphate ion-exchange membrane (P81), and poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) aqueous solution. Laboratory testing in metal solutions spiked with EDTA or humic acid suggested that all the DGT devices measured only free metal ions and inorganic metal complexes. Upon field testing at both freshwater and seawater sites it was found that the DGT labile metal concentrations measured by different binding phases can be significantly different, suggesting that the DGT labile metal fractions were dependent on binding strength of the binding phase. By designing binding phases that can compete with different natural water complexing ligands to varying extents, it is possible to use these different DGT devices to measure metal speciation in natural waters.     

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.     

Photochemical aging of in situ polymerized blends of polystyrene and poly[acrylonitrile-g-(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene)-g-styrene] (AES)

The influence of photochemical aging of in situ polymerized PS/AES blends on their mechanical properties has been studied. The PS/AES blends were subjected to photochemical aging for 168 h and 720 h. Tensile properties and Izod impact resistance of aged and non-aged samples were evaluated. The mechanical properties of the PS/AES blends are influenced by the polymerization temperature and blend composition and represent a balance between the toughness of EPDM and the stiffness of SAN in the PS matrix. Even though the impact resistance and strain at break of HIPS are higher than those of the PS/AES blends, after the aging period all PS/AES blends showed higher strain at break than HIPS. PS/AES blends present higher photochemical stability than HIPS.     

TiO2-双亲共聚物复合纳米粒子的合成与紫外光敏特性

用偶联剂乙烯基三乙氧基硅烷改性纳米粒子TiO₂, 应用超声技术将TiO₂ 纳米粒子分散在甲醇介质中, 然后用苯乙烯(ST)原位聚合包封, 再用丙烯酰胺或乙烯基吡咯烷酮(VP)共聚, 两步原位分散聚合得到了有机聚合物为壳、TiO₂为核的有机/无机复合粒子. 用红外光谱、紫外-可见光谱、透射电子显微镜等检测手段进行表征. 结果显示: 由于双亲共聚物对TiO₂纳米粒子的敏化作用, 紫外-可见光谱图上两种纳米复合粒子的最大吸收峰均有明显红移, 并且吸收光谱的范围扩大了, 其中尤以TiO₂/(PST-co-PVP)为甚. 意味着光敏化活性的提高, 特别是在可见光谱的范围内. 这种情形对宽带隙半导体材料如TiO₂纳米粒子的光催化特性是有利的, 表明这类材料的应用空间得到了拓展.     

Time‐resolved in situ tomography for the analysis of evolving metal‐foam granulates

An experimental setup has been developed that allows for capturing up to 25 tomograms s^?1 using the white X‐ray beam at the experimental station EDDI of BESSY II, Berlin, Germany. The key points are the use of a newly developed, precise and fast rotation stage, a very efficient scintillator and a fast CMOS camera. As a first application, the foaming of aluminium alloy granules at 923 K was investigated in situ. Formation and growth of bubbles in the liquid material were observed and found to be influenced by the limited thermal conductivity in the bulk granules. Changes that took place between two tomographic frames separated in time by 39 ms could be detected and analysed quantitatively.     

Stroboscopic microscopy—direct imaging of structure development and phase separation during spin‐coating

Spin‐coated polymer blends possess a rich variety of accessible non‐equilibrium morphologies, formed through a process of phase separation and self‐assembly, the complexities of which remain incompletely understood. The technique of stroboscopic microscopy has now been developed to allow direct observations of microscopic and mesoscopic morphological development during spin‐coating and has afforded unequivocal information regarding morphological development. The technique so far has three modes of operation providing information on topographical, compositional, and crystal development. In this review, we look at the technique's development, its applications and comment on the future potential for this technique. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 17–25