Direct and simultaneous voltammetric analysis of heavy metals in tap water samples at Assiut city: an approach to improve the analysis time for nickel and cobalt determination at mercury film electrode

Tap water samples (Assiut city, lie in the middle north of upper Egypt, approx. 370 km from Cairo, January-March, 2002) were taken from the eight sampling sites of different locations at Assiut city. The samples are analyzed to determine the total content of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) while nickel and cobalt are determined by a new simple differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV), using dimethylglyoxime (DMG) as the complexing agent. This method uses sodium sulfite as the supporting electrolyte, which facilitates the removal of oxygen interference without the traditional necessity of purging with inert gas. The effect of various parameters was studied using DPASV (for Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) and AdSV (for Ni and Co) methods. Subsequently, under the so found experimental conditions, the stability of calibration curves and the detection limits (μg/l) have been determined. The data achieved (for all metals utility) are comparable to those measured by the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometric (GF-AAS) method. The effects of the interferences between these metal ions have been investigated. Moreover, the effect of storage was discussed and the obtained results were compared favorably with standard official methods. Statistical analysis of the database exhibits applicability and the accuracy of the techniques. The results obtained from the two techniques (Voltammetry and GF-AAS) are in very good agreements in the most tap water samples.     

四元缔合物体系薄层树脂相分离与光度法联用测定痕量钴

提出了在酸性条件下 (pH=5.0),利用阳离子交换树脂-丁二酮肟-碘-钴四元体系,通过薄层树脂相光度法测定钴的新方法。本法灵敏度高 (e454=1.7105L/molcm),比水相光度法提高14倍,精密度理想 (测定2.0礸/ml Co(II) 6次,RSD=1.3%),选择性好。实测药品VB12及天然水中钴,线性范围0.024~2.0礸/ml (定容50ml),检出限10.4ng/ml。     

Nickel determination in osteoblast-like cell culture medium by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry with a mercury microelectrode

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of nickel, which is an alloying element in commonly used metallic biomaterials, on the biomaterials mineralization process. An electrochemical method was developed to quantify this metal ion in osteoblast-like cell culture medium (OST) by performing adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) at a mercury film microelectrode (MFM). The optimized analytical conditions and the square-wave CSV parameters for the analysis are: DMG concentration: 5.00 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹; ammonium chloride buffer: 0.10 mol L⁻¹ (pH 9.2); frequency: 50 Hz, amplitude 20 mV; step: 2 mV; adsorption time: 10 s, deposition potential: −0.70 V and reduction potential: −1.20 V. The limit of detection was 7.70 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ for an adsorption time of 10 s. The results achieved by CSV using the MFM were compared to those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) to ensure the reliability of the electrochemical method. The mineralization process was evaluated by biochemical and histochemical assays.     

Study on the anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution by transient pH detection based on scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

The anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution was studied by the tip–substrate voltammetry mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). A platinum microdisc electrode was selected as the tip electrode, which functioned as a pH sensor with transient response capability. The pH value of the solution near the Ni electrode surface varied while the Ni substrate oxidation reaction occurred, and the pH variation could be detected by the tip faradic current. The cyclic voltammogram results showed that two types of hydroxides: i.e. α‐Ni(OH)₂ and β‐Ni(OH)₂ were formed during Ni oxidation in the lower potential region. In the proceedings of α‐Ni(OH)₂ → γ‐NiOOH and β‐Ni(OH)₂ → β‐NiOOH, the process of OH^? concentration decrease in the solution was ahead and behind of electron transfer in the solid phase, respectively. These results indicate that the OH^? adsorption process occurs as an elementary step in the former reaction and the H⁺ diffusion process from the inner to the outer layer of the solid phase occurs as a subsequent step in the latter reaction. The results also revealed that the oxide film on the Ni surface has a two‐layer structure. The real potential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the Ni surface with different cycles is also analyzed in the paper. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Lead Sulfide Nanoparticles in Zirconia-Silica-Urethane Thin Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process

PbS nanocrystals (NCs) ranging between 4–8 nm were incorporated into Zirconium-Silica-Urethane (ZSUR) matrix obtained by the sol-gel method. The sizes of the particles were controlled by temperature treatment and by concentration of PbS in ZSUR matrix. The sizes of PbS NCs were determined by TEM measurements. The quantum size effect could also be extracted from optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra. The new matrix allows incorporation of up to 40% PbS forming a characteristic structure of dendrite by reacting lead acetate with ammonium thiocyanate in sol-gel matrix. The sol precursors of the matrix for Zirconium-Silica-Urethane contained zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) matrix solution, tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), 3-glycid oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GLYMO) and polyethylene urethane silane (PEUS) synthesized separately. The ZrO₂ matrix solution was obtained from zirconium n-tetrapropoxide in propanol and acetic acid was used as a chelating agent to stabilize the zirconium oxide precursor.     

氟化氢与涂有聚合物膜下二氧化硅的反应研究

ＨＦ与ＳｉＯ２的反应是一种亲核取代反应，但高温下此反应不能发生．当涂覆在ＳｉＯ２表面的聚合物膜中含有某些特殊的有机化合物或超强酸时，可以促进该反应的发生，这些化合物被称为诱蚀剂．诱蚀剂分三类：（１）三级胺与ＨＦ形成季铵盐得到浓度很高的氟阴离子使该反应很容易发生；（２）强的偶极非质子官能团化合物与ＨＦ中的氢形成氢键使氟的亲核活性增加，有助于该反应发生；（３）超强酸因其质子对ＳｉＯ２骨架中氧的牢固结合能力活化了反应的离去基团，对ＨＦ与ＳｉＯ２的亲核反应起到催化作用．聚合物膜对添加在其中的小分子诱蚀剂起到阻止逃逸的栅栏作用，而本身带有诱蚀官能团的聚合物可以同时充当成膜物及诱蚀剂的作用．通过光化学反应可以选择性地实现聚合物膜下ＨＦ与ＳｉＯ２的刻蚀反应．     

Fabrication of solid thin film electrolyte and LiCoO2 by aerosol flame pyrolysis deposition

Aerosol flame pyrolysis deposition method was applied to deposit the oxide glass electrolyte film and LiCoO₂ cathode for thin film type Li-ion secondary battery. The thicknesses of as-deposited porous LiCoO₂ and Li₂O–B₂O₃–P₂O₅ electrolyte film were about 6 μm and 15 μm, respectively. The deposited LiCoO₂ was sintered for 2 min at 700 °C to make partially densified cathode layer, and the deposited Li₂O–P₂O₅–B₂O₃ glass film completely densified by the sintering at 700 °C for 1 h. After solid state sintering process the thicknesses were reduced to approximately 4 μm and 6 μm, respectively. The cathode and electrolyte layers were deposited by continuous deposition process and integrated into a layer by co-sintering. It was demonstrated that Aerosol flame deposition is one of the good candidates for the fabrication of thin film battery.     

硫化物纳米级粒子化膜的形成与气相性质的影响

采用偏振光反光度、紫外及可见光谱、电子显微镜形貌观察、粒子大小测定及电子衍射等方法加以系统研究硫化锌纳米级粒子化膜的制备与气相性质的影响．     

大口径厚液膜毛细管柱的制备

制备出了内径从0.46～0.74mm、液膜厚度从0.9～5.6μm的SE-54大口径厚液膜玻璃毛细管柱,并对它们的性能进行了评价。对低沸点的C_1-C_4烃进行了初步分离。     

Surface modification of low density polyethylene (LDPE) film by low pressure O2 plasma treatment

In this work, low pressure glow discharge O₂ plasma has been used to increase wettability in a LDPE film in order to improve adhesion properties and make it useful for technical applications. Surface energy values have been estimated using contact angle measurements for different exposure times and different test liquids. In addition, plasma-treated samples have been subjected to an aging process to determine the durability of the plasma treatment. Characterization of the surface changes due to the plasma treatment has been carried out by means of Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine the presence of polar species such as carbonyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. In addition to this, atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis has been used to evaluate changes in surface morphology and roughness. Furthermore, and considering the semicrystalline nature of the LDPE film, a calorimetric study using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been carried out to determine changes in crystallinity and degradation temperatures induced by the plasma treatment. The results show that low pressure O₂ plasma improves wettability in LDPE films and no significant changes can be observed at longer exposure times. Nevertheless, we can observe that short exposure times to low pressure O₂ plasma promote the formation of some polar species on the exposed surface and longer exposure times cause slight abrasion on LDPE films as observed by the little increase in surface roughness.