Interference in the kinetic determination of ascorbic acid by sulphide and sulphite

The reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPI) by sulphides and sulphites has been studied kinetically by the stopped-flow technique. The reaction is first-order with respect to each of the reactants. From the distribution diagrams for the species DH(+)(2), DH and D(-) for DCPI and H(2)Q, HQ(-) and Q(2-) for sulphides or sulphites, a mechanism is proposed which suggests partial reactions of all possible combinations of the reacting species at any pH. An equation for calculation of the second-order reaction rate constants k at any pH is derived, which gives k as a function of [H(+)], the partial reaction rate constants and the dissociation constants of DCPI and H(2)S or H(2)SO(3). Values of the overall reaction rate constants over a wide pH-range have been determined, together with values of k for all possible partial reactions. For particular pH-values the second-order reaction rate constant was determined by four different methods. Mean values of k = 251 +/- 1 and 240 +/- 1 l.mole(-1).sec(-1) were obtained for pH 3.15 and 4.17, respectively, for the DCPI-Na(2)S reaction and k = 137 +/- 1, 127 +/- 1 and 136 +/- 1 l.mole(-1).sec(-1) for pH 2.02, 4.25 and 5.10, respectively, for the DCPI-Na(2)SO(3) reaction. From the slopes of the linear Arrhenius plots activation energies of 6.6 +/- 0.2 and 4.0 +/- 0.1 kcal/mole for the DCPI-Na(2)S and DCPI-Na(2)SO(3) reactions, respectively were calculated. The effect of ionic strength on the reactions supports the proposed mechanism.     

Analytical methods to determine phosphonic and amino acid group-containing pesticides

A comprehensive view on the possibilities of the most recently developed chromatographic methods and emerging techniques in the analysis of pesticides glyphosate, glufosinate, bialaphos and their metabolites is presented. The state-of-the-art of the individual pre-treatment steps (extraction, pre-concentration, clean-up, separation, quantification) of the employed analytical methods for this group of chemicals is reviewed. The advantages and drawbacks of the described analytical methods are discussed and the present status and future trends are outlined.     

Kinetic and mechanistic study of the reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol by dithionites

The reaction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPI) and dithionites is studied kinetically by applying the stopped-flow technique. Reaction rate constants are given for the pH range 1.30–6.80. The reaction was found to follow first-order kinetics with respect to each of the reactants. For pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, the second-order reaction rate constant was determined by applying four different technique. Mean values of k = 172±5, 200±2 and 276±4 l mol^?1s^?1 are given for pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, respectively. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction, which suggests partial reactions of all possible species of DCPI and dithionites at any pH. An equation for the calculation of k at any pH is derived, which gives k as a function of [H⁺], the partial reaction rate constants and the dissociation constants of DCPI and H₂S₂O₄. Values of reaction rate constants of all possible partial reactions are also presented.     

Detecting functional magnetic resonance imaging activation in white matter: Interhemispheric transfer across the corpus callosum

Background  

It is generally believed that activation in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is restricted to gray matter. Despite this, a number of studies have reported white matter activation, particularly when the corpus callosum is targeted using interhemispheric transfer tasks. These findings suggest that fMRI signals may not be neatly confined to gray matter tissue. In the current experiment, 4 T fMRI was employed to evaluate whether it is possible to detect white matter activation. We used an interhemispheric transfer task modelled after neurological studies of callosal disconnection. It was hypothesized that white matter activation could be detected using fMRI.     

Kinetic study of the fast step of the alkaline hydrolysis of p-chloranil using stopped flow technique

The alkaline hydrolysis of p-chloranil or 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (C₆Cl₄O₂, Q) was studied, using stopped flow spectrophotometry and Electron Spin Resonance techniques (E.S.R.). In the present study it was shown for the first time, that a free radical is produced chemically and that it can account for the propagation of the reaction. It was found that in alkaline conditions chloranil in a “Michael” fashion undergoes 1,2 addition being hydrolyzed and in turn produces a chloranil free radical (Q^•) The hydrolysis then proceeds via a number of intermediates yielded by this radical and a number of different products is formed. The formation of these products, both quantitatively and qualitatively has a strong dependence on the concentration of the OH⁻ species and chloranil. The various possible routes of the hydrolysis are studied either spectrophotometrically or by E.S.R. Two different intermediates are observed absorbing at 426 nm and at 540 nm, respectively. Each species was formed and destroyed within 10 s to 30 min depending on the exact conditions. The reaction rate constants for the formation and the decay of the intermediates was estimated using the Guggenheim method. At both wavelengths the rate constants seem to have a complex relation to the concentration of the anion. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 385–391, 1997     

Kinetic and mechanistic study of the reaction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol and cysteine

In this work the reaction of cysteine (H(2)Q) with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (D) is studied kinetically in the pH range 2.5-9.0. Taking into consideration the distribution diagrams for the species H(3)Q(+), H(2)Q, HQ(-), Q(2-) for cysteine and DH(+)(2), DH, D(-) for 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol the reaction rate constants k(i) for all possible combinations of the reacting species were determined. The maximum reactivity appears at pH 6.88 with an overall reaction constant k = 306 1.mole(-1).sec(-1) at 22 degrees . The effect of the concentrations of the reagents and the ionic strength on the reaction rate is also given. From Arrhenius plots an activation energy E(a) = 8.1 kcal/mole was calculated. Working curves for the determination of cysteine in aqueous solutions are also presented applying the reaction rate method. Finally the paper includes important analytical information for the calculation of the errors due to interference of cysteine by the kinetic determination of ascorbic acid, using its reaction with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol.     

Ion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate by post-column indirect fluorescence detection

This short paper highlights the suitability of ion chromatography with post-column indirect fluorescence detection to determine simultaneously nitrite and nitrate based on the quenching of tryptophan native fluorescence. The method uses an enhanced fluorescence mobile phase containing tryptophan and detects the suppression of fluorescence of the mobile phase due to the elution of the target ions. The phenomenon of fluorescence quenching of tryptophan is highly induced by the presence of phosphate ions. The quenched fluorescence intensity exhibits concentration dependence in the range 1-25 mg/l and 3-65 mg/l for nitrite and nitrate, respectively. The relative standard deviation for five replicates of a standard solution containing a mixture of 5 mg/l of nitrite and 10 mg/l of nitrate lies around 2.8%. This simple coupling technique results in a relatively sensitive, fast, and accurate method, allowing for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of nitrite and nitrate. The method can easily be implemented to real samples such as foodstuffs, fertilizers and soils and is proven to be precise and accurate when compared with reference methods.