Ultrasound-assisted extraction of antimony and cobalt from inorganic environmental samples using a cup-horn sonoreactor prior to their determination by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple, fast and reliable method is described for the quantitative extraction of Sb and Co from inorganic environmental matrices containing variable amounts of silicates prior to their determination by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry. The method is based on the ultrasound-assisted extraction of both elements using the mixture 20% v/v HF + 20% v/v HNO₃ as extractant. The extraction procedure was carried out in closed Eppendorf vials immersed in a cup-horn sonoreactor for 20?min. Once extraction has been accomplished, the supernatant liquid is separated from the solid phase and subsequently transferred into the autosampler of the instrument. A two-level full factorial design (2⁴) was applied for screening optimisation of the variables influencing the ultrasonic extraction. These variables were: sonication time; amplitude of the ultrasound energy; nitric and hydrofluoric acid concentrations. MLDs were 0.20 and 0.06?µg?·?g^?1 for Sb and Co, respectively. Between-batch precision values, expressed as relative standard deviations (n?=?3), were less than 5.5 and 9.6% for Sb and Co, respectively. The method was evaluated using a wide variety of inorganic certified reference materials, such as SRM 2702 (Marine Sediment), SRM 2782 (Industrial Sludge), BCR 176R (Fly Ash), SRM 1633b (Coal Fly Ash) SRM 2710 (Montana Soil) and SRM 2711 (Montana Soil).     

Interaction between ions and substituted buckybowls: A comprehensive computational study

Complexes formed by substituted buckybowls derived from corannulene and sumanene with sodium cation or chloride anion have been computationally studied by using a variety of methods. Best results have been obtained with the SCS‐MP2 method extrapolated to basis set limit, which reproduces the highest‐level values obtained with the MP2.X method. All bowls form stable complexes with chloride anion, with stabilities ranging from ?6 kcal/mol in the methylated corannulene derivative to ?45 kcal/mol in the CN‐substituted sumanene. The opposite trend is observed in sodium complexes, going from deeply attractive complexes with the methylated derivatives (?36 kcal/mol with sumanene derivative) to slightly repulsive ones in the CN‐substituted bowls (2 kcal/mol in the corannulene derivative). Anion complexes are stabilized by large electrostatic interactions combined with smaller though significant dispersion and induction contributions. Conversely, cation complexes are stabilized by large induction contributions capable of holding together the bowl and the cation even in cases where the electrostatic interaction is repulsive. The effect of substitution is mainly reflected on changes in the molecular electrostatic potential of the bowl and, thus, in the electrostatic contribution to the interaction. Therefore, the variations in the stability of the complexes on substitution could be roughly predicted just considering the changes in the electrostatic interaction. However, other contributions also register changes mainly as a consequence of displacements on the position of the ion at the minimum, so the accurate prediction of the stability of this kind of complexes requires going further than the electrostatic approach. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Simultaneous ultrasound-assisted emulsification-derivatization as a simple and miniaturized sample preparation method for determination of nitrite in cosmetic samples by microvolume UV-vis spectrophotomety

A simple and miniaturized approach based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification-derivatization is proposed for the determination of nitrite in cosmetic samples by UV-vis micro-spectrophotometry. Oil/water emulsions were formed using 15 mg of cosmetic sample and 1 mL of an aqueous medium containing 0.5% w/v SDS and 1% v/v acetic acid. When powerful sonication systems were used to make emulsions, i.e. probe or cup-horn sonoreactor, stable and transparent emulsions were obtained in one or half minute per sample, respectively. The Griess reaction in these special conditions (i.e. sonication and the presence of an organized medium) was investigated. The absence of matrix effects allows external calibration with aqueous standards for nitrite quantification. Analytical features were compared to those of the European official method 82/434/EEC. Detection limit, sample throughput and reagent consumption were significantly improved.     

A DFT study of substituent effects in corannulene dimers

Corannulene dimers made up of corannulene monomers with different curvature and substituents were studied using M06-2X, B97D and ωB97XD functionals and 6-31+G* basis set. Corannulene molecules were substituted with five alternating Br, Cl, CH(3), C(2)H or CN units. Geometric results showed that substituents gave rise to small changes in the curvature of corannulene bowls. So, there was not a clear relationship between the curvature of bowls and the changes on interaction energy generated by addition of substituents in the bowl. Electron withdrawing substituents gave rise to a more positive molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of the bowl, which was able to get a strong interaction with the negative MEP at the surface of a fullerene. Substitution with CN caused the largest effect, giving rise to the most positive MEP and to a large interaction energy of -24.64 kcal mol(-1), at the ωB97XD/6-31+G* level. Dispersive effects must be taken into account to explain the catching ability of the different substituted corannulenes. For unsubstituted dimers, calculations with DFT-D methods employing ωB97XD and B97D functionals led to similar results to those previously reported at the SCS-MP2/cc-pVTZ level for corannulene dimers (A. Sygula and S. Saeb?, Int. J. Quant. Chem., 2009, 109, 65). In particular, the ωB97XD functional led to a difference of only 0.35 kcal mol(-1), regarding MP2 interaction energy for corannulene dimers. On the other hand, the M06-2X functional showed a general considerable underestimation of interaction energies. This functional worked quite well to study trends, but not to obtain absolute interaction energies.     

Synthesis and Structure of the Dimeric Copper(II) Complex Tetrakis[<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-thiazol-2-yl-(4-methylphenyl)sulfonamidate]dicopper(II)

Abstract The coordination chemistry of the ligand N-thiazol-2-yl-toluenesulfonamidate towards the copper(II) ion has been investigated using an electrochemical synthesis method. The X-ray structure of this complex was elucidated and is discussed. The compound crystallised in the monoclinic crystal system, P2₁/c space group with a = 17.3888(9), b = 16.3003(9), c = 18.3679(9) ? and β = 114.3640(10)°. Four bidentate sulfathiazolato anions bridge two metal centers in a paddle-wheel fashion, with the nitrogen atoms as donors to give a dimeric species with a Cu···Cu distance of 2.7859(5) ?. Graphical Abstract The coordination chemistry of the ligand N-thiazol-2-yl-toluenesulfonamidate towards the copper(II) ion has been investigated using an electrochemical synthesis method. The X-ray structure of the product has been elucidated and is discussed. Sulfathiazolato anions act as bridging ligands to give a dimeric species with a Cu···Cu distance of 2.7859(5) ?.      

Experimental determination of space charge density associated with flow electrification phenomenon: Application to power transformers

At the solid/liquid interface, a charge zone called the Electrical Double Layer (EDL) appears. It is constituted of two zones of opposite sign, one in the solid and another one in the liquid. When a liquid flows through a pipe, an axial streaming current is generated. This current is due to the convection of the charges coming from the electrical layer in the liquid. The experimental methods for the determination of space charge density have been clearly identified in the case of fully-developed EDL. On the contrary, there is a need for further exploration in the case of a non-fully developed EDL. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the fully developed space charge density at the wall by streaming electrification experiments which are conducted in the case of non-fully developed EDL. Moreover, it introduces a simplified procedure for the experimental determination of space charge density as a function of liquid flow velocity. This procedure can be conducted for the investigation of flow electrification phenomena in transformers with oil/metal configuration.     

Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc(II) Complexes with [(4‐Methylphenyl)Sulfonyl]‐1H‐Amido‐2‐Phenyl‐2‐Oxazolines

A series of [(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]‐1H‐amido‐2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline ligands, HTs‐ROz, has been synthesized by the reaction of substituted 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)oxazolines and p‐toluensulfonyl chloride. The electrochemical oxidation of a sacrificial zinc anode in an acetonitrile solution of the corresponding ligand gave compounds of general formula [Zn(Ts‐ROz)₂]. All complexes have been characterized by microanalysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In all cases, the metal atom is coordinated by the nitrogen atoms of two monoanionic ligands.     

Solvent shifts induced by dimethylsulphoxide in α-proton magnetic resonances of carbonyl compounds

The chemical shifts of α- and β-proton resonances of a number of carbonyl compounds in carbon tetrachloride and dimethylsulphoxide have been determined. The magnitude of the effect of the solvent change on the α-proton resonances seems to vary directly with its lability.