New approaches to photocatalytic reaction of low concentrations of arylamines in alcohols

Photocatalytic interactions of a series of arylamines, for example 1,4-phenylenediamine, 1,2-phenylenediamine, 4-aminophenol, and 2-aminophenol, at low concentrations in typical primary alcohols have been investigated in the presence of anatase TiO₂ nanopowder. GC?CMS analysis of the irradiated solutions showed that, except for 1,2-phenylenediamine, 10?mmol/l alcoholic solutions of the arylamines gave predominately the corresponding imines. Irradiation of 2-aminophenol under these conditions, led to oxidation and dimerization to 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one.     

Photocatalytic reaction of arylamines/alcohols on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nano-particles

In this article, the photocatalytic reaction of aniline and 4-amino N,N-dimethyl aniline with methanol, ethanol and isopropanol on anatase TiO₂ nano-particles under UV (365-nm wavelength) irradiation was examined. The concentration of unreacted arylamines and products was measured by gas chromatography picks integration, and then the products were identified by mass spectroscopy analysis. By making a comparison within the rates of photocatalysis of each arylamine in different alcohols under various irradiation times, it was revealed that, in all cases, the sequence of photocatalysis rate was methanol > ethanol > isopropanol. In reactions where the concentrations of arylamine were lower than 10 mmol/l, imines were the main products and the alkylation of amines was not observed. In the higher concentration of arylamines, oxidation and dimerization was occurred.     

Photocatalytic reaction of aryl amines/alcohols on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles

In this article, the photocatalytic reaction of aniline and 4-amino N, N dimethyl aniline with methanol, ethanol and isopropanol on anatase TiO₂ nano-particles under UV (365 nm wavelength) irradiation was examined. The concentration of unreacted aryl amines and products was measured by gas chromatography picks integration, and then the products were identified by mass spectroscopy analysis. By making a comparison within the rates of photocatalysis of each aryl amine in different alcohols under various irradiation times, it was revealed that, in all cases, the sequence of photocatalysis rate was methanol > ethanol > isopropanol. In reactions where the concentrations of aryl amine were lower than 10 mmol/L, imines were the main products and alkylation of amines was not observed. In the higher concentration of aryl amines, oxidation and dimerization occurred.     

The effect of heat treatment in the reducing atmosphere on the physical properties of TiO2 thin films prepared by sol–gel method

Multilayered nanostructured TiO₂ thin films were prepared by sol–gel and dipping deposition on quartz substrate followed by thermal treatment under reducing atmosphere (20 %H₂–80 %Ar). Heat treatment at progressively higher temperatures caused structural, morphological, and optical changes, which were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The conductivities of the thin films were also measured by 4-point probe method. The XRD results showed that the calcined TiO₂ thin films consist of single anatase phase which was completely transformed into rutile phase after heat treatment at 1,000 °C. The grains of films grew by intra-agglomerate densification after heat treatment at higher temperatures. The root mean square roughness of the samples was found to be in the range of 0.58–3.36 nm. The partially reduced TiO₂ samples have red-shifted transmittance bands due to new energy band formed by oxygen vacancies. The electrical conductivity of the films was also enhanced after heat treatment in reducing atmosphere.     

Colorimetric aggregation assay based on array of gold and silver nanoparticles for simultaneous analysis of aflatoxins,ochratoxin and zearalenone by using chemometric analysis and paper based analytical devices

A fluorometric assay was introduced to determine Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) in blood samples by utilizing Zr-MOFs both as functional coating for magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles to provide modification surface (Zr-mMOF) and as fluorescein carrier to produce fluorescence signals (F@UIO-66-NH2). Through strong Zr-O-P bonding, two distinct terminal phosphate-labeled A. baumannii and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific aptamers were attached onto Zr-MOFs to fabricate the magnetic core-shell capture probe (denoted as Zr-mMOF-p-Ab-Apt) and signal probe (denoted as F@UIO-66-NH2-p-LPS-Apt), respectively. After successive incubation with A. baumannii in blood samples and magnetic separation, the sandwich-type composite of capture probe/A. baumannii cells/signal probe was treated with high concentration of anionic phosphate ions to destroy the nano-structure of UIO-66-NH2 in the signal probe and fast release of fluorescein to produce amplified fluorescence signals. Due to the high aptamer modification efficiency of Zr-mMOF-p-Ab-Apt (up to 93%) and its strong affinity to A. baumannii, the enrichment efficiency of this capture probe has reached to 96.7%. Further, due to the high fluorescein loading efficiency of UIO-66-NH2 and our novel amplification strategy to destroy F@UIO-66-NH2-p-LPS-Apt to release and amplify fluorescein signals at 512 nm in the presence of high concentration of anionic phosphate ions, the sensitivity of this method has reached 10 cfu mL−1. This method allows enrichment and determination of A. baumannii within ~2.5 h. The limit of detection of A. baumannii in blood samples is 10 cfu mL−1 with a linear range of 101–105 cfu mL−1. This indicates the potential of this assay for diagnosis of bloodstream infection in early stage.     

The Synthesis of Hetero-Halogenated Derivatives of Phloroglucide Analogues[1]

A short synthesis of the title compounds is reported. Most of the compounds prepared were found to be active against a number of pathogenic microorganisms in vitro.     

Y2O3: Eu,Zn nanocrystals as a fluorescent probe for the detection of biotin

We report on the application of nanocrystals (NCs) of the type Y₂O₃: Eu,Zn as a probe for the fluorescent detection of biotin in aqueous solution. The NCs were dispersed in water in the presence of various surface modifiers including mercaptoethanol (ME), monoethanolamine and ethylene glycol. Both the absorbance of surfactant and the stability of the suspensions were investigated in order to optimize the experimental conditions. ME is found to be the most suitable surfactant for stabilization of the suspended NCs. Their photoluminescence intensity is found to be quenched by biotin. The Stern-Volmer constant for the quenching process is 7.6?×?10³ M^?1. This NC probe can be applied to the detection of biotin in the 1–60 μM concentration range with detection limit of 1.89 μM. The possible mechanisms of quenching also are discussed.