Low‐energy ion scattering: Determining overlayer thickness for functionalized gold nanoparticles

With the widespread use of engineered nanoparticles for biomedical applications, detailed surface characterization is essential for ensuring reproducibility and the quality/suitability of the surface chemistry to the task at hand. One important surface property to be quantified is the overlayer thickness of self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) functionalized nanoparticles, as this information provides insight into SAM ordering and assembly. We demonstrate the application of high sensitivity low‐energy ion scattering (HS‐LEIS) as a new analytical method for the fast thickness characterization of SAM functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). HS‐LEIS demonstrates that a complete SAM is formed on 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic acid (C16COOH) functionalized 14 nm AuNPs. HS‐LEIS also experimentally provides SAM thickness values that are in good agreement with previously reported results from simulated electron spectra for surface analysis of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data. These results indicate HS‐LEIS is a valuable surface analytical method for the characterization of SAM functionalized nanomaterials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum chemical study of the host-guest inclusion complexes of the local anaesthetic drugs, procaine hydrochloride and butacaine hydrochloride, with α- and β-cyclodextrins

Quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were carried out in order to study the host-guest inclusion complexes of procaine hydrochloride (Pro-H) and butacaine hydrochloride (But-H) with α- and β-cyclodextrins (α- and β-CDs) by PM3 and AM1 methods. The systems were studied by a 1:1 (α-CD/Pro-H, α-CD/But-H, β-CD/Pro-H, and β-CD/But-H) stoichiometric ratio. In this work we calculated the energy of complex formation in vacuo, and this investigation was carried out on the basis of the host-guest approach. The stabilization energy results for the 1:1 host-guest inclusion complexes indicate that the β-CD/Pro-H complex is more stable than the α-CD/Pro-H complex. Furthermore, stabilization energy for the 1:1 inclusion complex of α-CD with But-H is lower than that for the 1:1 inclusion complex of β-CD with But-H. The calculation results show that all complexation processes for the four complexes are exothermic. Enthalpy changes for the α-CD/But-H and β-CD/Pro-H host-guest inclusion complexes are more negative than those for the other ones. ΔG ^o values for both the β-CD/Pro-H and α-CD/But-H complexes are negative. Correspondence: S. M. Hashemianzadeh, Department of Physical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.     

Application of the UNIFAC model for prediction of surface tension and thickness of the surface layer in the binary mixtures

The specific sorption of Eu(III) and Y(III) on γ-alumina was investigated with solid-state (1)H NMR. Solution pH was shown to influence the recorded (1)H NMR spectra of γ-alumina, and thus, metal ion-containing samples were prepared under constant pH conditions, 8.00±0.05. The metal ion concentration in the samples was varied between 6.58×10(-7) M - 3.95×10(-4) M in case of Y(3+) and 6.58×10(-8) M - 1.32×10(-4) M in case of Eu(3+). The mineral concentration was kept constant at 4 g/l. After separation of the liquid phase, the samples were dried under vacuum to remove physisorbed water from the mineral surface. However, even after 48 h of drying at 150°C and 20 mTorr, water was still detected in the proton spectra as two distinct peaks with chemical shifts at 1.3 and 0.9 ppm. The europium addition to the γ-alumina samples induced significant spectral changes in comparison with yttrium-containing samples. These changes were attributed to the paramagnetism of europium rather than to complexation reactions occurring on the mineral surface. Proton spectra obtained for yttrium samples were therefore used to detect the spectral changes induced by the sorption reaction itself. The results revealed a large distribution of protons being removed from the mineral surface upon yttrium complexation. Removed protons were assigned to both bridging surface hydroxyls such as (Al(VI))(2)-OH as well as to terminal hydroxyls, e.g., of type Al(VI)-OH. Acidic protons belonging to (Al(VI))(3)-OH groups were not observed to participate in the surface reaction.     

Influence of Short-Chain Alcohols on the Micellization Parameters of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS)

The influence of short-chain alcohol on the aggregation behavior of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) is investigated within a wide range of alcohol concentration by potentiometric technique. It is observed that aggregation behavior of SDS is a function of alcohol concentration. Variation of micellization parameters are studied in a wide range of alcohol concentration and the trend of changing of micellization parameters have been investigated. The variations of micellization parameters show several regularities. Finally, the relationships between these regularities and alcohol-surfactant interactions have been explained.     

A technique for evaluating the oil/heavy-oil viscosity changes under ultrasound in a simulated porous medium

Theoretically, Ultrasound method is an economical and environmentally friendly or “green” technology, which has been of interest for more than six decades for the purpose of enhancement of oil/heavy-oil production. However, in spite of many studies, questions about the effective mechanisms causing increase in oil recovery still existed. In addition, the majority of the mechanisms mentioned in the previous studies are theoretical or speculative. One of the changes that could be recognized in the fluid properties is viscosity reduction due to radiation of ultrasound waves. In this study, a technique was developed to investigate directly the effect of ultrasonic waves (different frequencies of 25, 40, 68 kHz and powers of 100, 250, 500 W) on viscosity changes of three types of oil (Paraffin oil, Synthetic oil, and Kerosene) and a Brine sample. The viscosity calculations in the smooth capillary tube were based on the mathematical models developed from the Poiseuille’s equation. The experiments were carried out for uncontrolled and controlled temperature conditions. It was observed that the viscosity of all the liquids was decreased under ultrasound in all the experiments. This reduction was more significant for uncontrolled temperature condition cases. However, the reduction in viscosity under ultrasound was higher for lighter liquids compare to heavier ones. Pressure difference was diminished by decreasing in the fluid viscosity in all the cases which increases fluid flow ability, which in turn aids to higher oil recovery in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. Higher ultrasound power showed higher liquid viscosity reduction in all the cases. Higher ultrasound frequency revealed higher and lower viscosity reduction for uncontrolled and controlled temperature condition experiments, respectively. In other words, the reduction in viscosity was inversely proportional to increasing the frequency in temperature controlled experiments. It was concluded that cavitation, heat generation, and viscosity reduction are three of the promising mechanisms causing increase in oil recovery under ultrasound.     

Determination of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in drugs using polypyrrole-based headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorous detection

A headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorous detection (HS-SPME-GC-NPD) method using polypyrrole (PPy) fibers has been introduced to determine two derivatives of pyrrolidone; N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Two types of PPy fibers, prepared using organic and aqueous media, were compared in terms of extraction efficiency and thermal stability. It was found that PPy film prepared using organic medium (i.e. acetonitrile) had higher extraction efficiency and more thermal stability compared to the film prepared in aqueous medium. To enhance the sensitivity of HS-SPME, the effects of pH, ionic strength, extraction time, extraction temperature and the headspace volume on the extraction efficiency were optimized. Using the results of this research, high sensitivity and selectivity had been achieved due to the combination of the high extraction efficiency of PPy film prepared in organic medium and the high sensitivity and selectivity of nitrogen-phosphorous detection. Linear range of the analytes was found to be between 1.0 and 1000 μg L⁻¹ with regression coefficients (R²) of 0.998 and 0.997 for NVP and NMP, consequently. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.074 and 0.081 μg L⁻¹ for NVP and NMP, respectively. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for five replications of analyses was found to be less than 6.0%. In real samples the mean recoveries were 94.81% and 94.15% for NVP and NMP, respectively. The results demonstrated the suitability of the HS-SPME technique for analyzing NVP and NMP in two different pharmaceutical matrices. In addition, the method was used for simultaneous detection of NVP, 2-pyrrolidone (2-Pyr), γ-butyrolactone (GBL) and ethanolamine (EA) compounds.     

Surface tension of non-ideal binary and ternary liquid mixtures at various temperatures and p = 81.5 kPa

Experimental surface tensions for binary mixtures (1,2-ethandiol + water), (1,2-ethandiol + acetonitrile), and (acetonitrile + water) at temperatures of 283.15 K, 298.15 K, and 308.15 K and the ternary mixture (1,2-ethandiol/water/acetonitrile) at 298.15 K have been measured with the Du Noüy ring tensiometer. The surface tension of the above mentioned binary and ternary systems were correlated with empirical and thermodynamic based models. The methods of Pando et al. and Ku et al. were used to correlate the ternary surface tension data. The Fu et al., Kalies et al. and Wang et al. models were also applied to predict surface tension in the ternary system. The mean average absolute deviations obtained from the comparison of experimental and calculated surface tension values for ternary system with three models are less than 2.4%, which leads to concluding that these models show a good accuracy in different situations in comparison with other predictive equations.     

Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid,dopamine, and uric acid using a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes,ionic liquid,and palladium nanoparticles

We describe the modification of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and an ionic liquid (IL). Electrochemical studies revealed an optimized composition of 60 % graphite, 20 % paraffin, 10 % MWCNT and 10 % IL. In a next step, the optimized CPE was modified with palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) by applying a double-pulse electrochemical technique. The resulting electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It gives three sharp and well separated oxidation peaks for ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA), with peak separations of 180 and 200 mV for AA-DA and DA-UA, respectively. The sensor enables simultaneous determination of AA, DA and UA with linear responses from 0.6 to 112, 0.1 to 151, and 0.5 to 225 μM, respectively, and with 200, 30 and 150 nM detection limits (at an S/N of 3). The method was successfully applied to the determination of AA, DA, and UA in spiked samples of human serum and urine.

The CPE was modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid. After optimization the electrode was further modified with palladium nanoparticles. The resulting electrode gives three sharp and well separated oxidation peaks for ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid

     

Study of surface tension and surface properties of binary alcohol/n-alkyl acetate mixtures

The Butler equation is employed to describe quantitatively the nature, properties, and compositions of surface layers in binary liquid mixtures. Bulk mole fraction, surface molar area, and surface tension of pure components are necessary inputs for this equation. In addition, the UNIFAC group contribution method is applied to account for the nonideality of the bulk liquid as well as that of the surface layer. The average relative error obtained from the comparison of experimental and calculated surface tension values for 12 binary systems is less than 1%. Therefore, the model has good accuracy in comparison with other predictive equations. In addition to finding more information about the surface structure of binary mixtures, surface mole fraction was calculated using relative Gibbs adsorption values and an extended Langmuir model (EL). The obtained results show a good consistency between two models employed, i.e., the Gibbs adsorption model and EL model, based on the UNIFAC method.