Voltammetric determination of mesotrione at hanging mercury drop electrode

A study of the electrochemical reduction of the mesotrione pesticide on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) was performed as a basis for the development of a sensitive analytical method for natural samples. The electrochemical characteristics of herbicide mesotrione dissolved in a phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) have been determined by means of electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) over a wide range of pH from 2.0 to 10.0. The experimental parameters, such as electrolyte type and its pH, pulse amplitude, and scan rate were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of the pesticide in a spiked soil samples. Using this method, a linear calibration curve for mesotrione was obtained up to the 0.1 μM range in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 50 nM. The method can be applied successfully to the determination of mesotrione in soils. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Underpotential deposition of tin(II) on a gold disc electrode and determination of tin in a tin plate sample

This work describes a study of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Sn²⁺ on a polycrystalline gold disc electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronocoulometry (CC). Sn²⁺ ions showed well-defined peaks from UPD and UPD stripping (UPD-S) in 1 mol/L HCl solutions, while bulk deposition (BD) and BD stripping (BD-S) of the ions were also observed. The measured UPD shifts, E_UPD, between the UPD-S and the BD-S peaks were more than 200 mV. The UPD charge and the surface coverage of tin were measured by CC. A new method for determining Sn²⁺ was therefore developed, based on the excellent electrochemical properties of the Au/Sn UPD system. A plot of the UPD-DPASV (differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) signal versus the Sn(II) concentration was obtained for [Sn(II)] of 1.98×10^–7 to 3.64×10^–5 M. The method developed here has been applied to determine the tin in a tin plate sample.     

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight analysis for the identification and the determination of resveratrol and its metabolites in mouse plasma

Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has numerous interesting biological properties, but, per os, it is quickly metabolized. Some of its metabolites are more concentrated than resveratrol, may have greater biological activities, and may act as a kind of store for resveratrol. Thus, to understand the biological impact of resveratrol on a physiological system, it is crucial to simultaneously analyze resveratrol and its metabolites in plasma. This study presents an analytical method based on UHPLC-Q-TOF mass spectrometry for the quantification of resveratrol and of its most common hydrophilic metabolites. The use of ¹³C- and D-labeled standards specific to each molecule led to a linear calibration curve on a larger concentration range than described previously. The use of high resolution mass spectrometry in the full scan mode enabled simultaneous identification and quantification of some hydrophilic metabolites not previously described in mice. In addition, UHPLC separation, allowing run times lower than 10 min, can be used in studies that requiring analysis of many samples.     

Mechanism for nucleation and growth of electrochemical deposition of palladium(II) on a platinum electrode in hydrochloric acid solution

Palladium(II)and chloride ions tend to form complexes in aqueous solution.Both theoretical and experimental(by UV spectrum)results indicate that there are four complexes formed in aqueous solution containing 3 mol/L hydrochloric acid and 20mmol/L PdCl2.This work evaluates the kinetics of electrochemical deposition of palladium on a Platinum electrode.For this purpose,palladium electrodeposition was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry(CV),potentiostatic current-time transients(CTTs)and Tafel curve.By CTTs curves,the regions corresponding to the charge transfer control,mixed control and diffusion control were identified.In the diffusion control region,palladium electrodeposition mechanism was characterized as progressive nucleation with three-dimensional(3D)growth under diffusion control;as for the mixed control region,an adsorption(IAds),ion transfer(IIT),and nucleation and growth(ING)model were proposed to analyze the current-time transients quantitatively,which could separate the IAds,IIT and ING perfectly.     

Development and characterization of a magnetic bead-quantum dot nanoparticles based assay capable of Escherichia coli O157:H7 quantification

The development and characterization of a magnetic bead (MB)-quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles based assay capable of quantifying pathogenic bacteria is presented here. The MB-QD assay operates by having a capturing probe DNA selectively linked to the signaling probe DNA via the target genomic DNA (gDNA) during DNA hybridization. The signaling probe DNA is labeled with fluorescent QD₅₆₅ which serves as a reporter. The capturing probe DNA is conjugated simultaneously to a MB and another QD₆₅₅, which serve as a carrier and an internal standard, respectively. Successfully captured target gDNA is separated using a magnetic field and is quantified via a spectrofluorometer. The use of QDs (i.e., QD₅₆₅/QD₆₅₅) as both a fluorescence label and an internal standard increased the sensitivity of the assay. The passivation effect and the molar ratio between QD and DNA were optimized. The MB-QD assay demonstrated a detection limit of 890 zeptomolar (i.e., 10⁻²¹ mol L⁻¹) concentration for the linear single stranded DNA (ssDNA). It also demonstrated a detection limit of 87 gene copies for double stranded DNA (dsDNA) eaeA gene extracted from pure Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 culture. Its corresponding dynamic range, sensitivity, and selectivity were also presented. Finally, the bacterial gDNA of E. coli O157:H7 was used to highlight the MB-QD assay's ability to detect below the minimum infective dose (i.e., 100 organisms) of E. coli O157:H7 in water environment.     

Determination of inorganic and methylmercury in fish by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Simple and rapid analytical procedures for the determination of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury in fish were proposed after careful optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters for Hg measurement by cold vapor (CV)/hydride generation (HG) atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and CV/HG inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Quantitative extraction of Hg species avoiding any inter-species conversion was achieved by fast microwave assisted solubilization of fish tissue with relatively low amount of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) or 6 mol L^− 1 HCl. After careful optimization of chemical parameters selective determination of Hg²⁺ in the presence of excess of methylmercury is attained by using continuous flow CV AAS, 1% m/V SnCl₂ as reductant and 0.1 mol L^− 1 HCl as reaction medium. Simple calibration curve prepared with aqueous standard of Hg²⁺ is recommended for its quantification. Both Hg²⁺ and methylmercury could be determined simultaneously with equal sensitivity by CV/HG ICP-AES directly in the diluted TMAH solution obtained after extraction with 1% m/V NaBH₄ as reductant. Quantification of the sum of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury against calibration curve prepared with aqueous standard of methylmercury is suggested. It should be mentioned that batch hydride generation system with quartz tube heated in air/acetylene flame could also be used for simultaneous determination of both Hg species in fish extracts, with standard additions calibration. The validity of the developed analytical procedures for selective determination of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury (by difference between the total Hg and Hg²⁺) is confirmed by the analyses of certified reference material DOLT-1 and reference material IMEP-20. Very close agreement between certified values and analytical results was found.     

Determination of Hg and Pb in compact fluorescent lamp by slurry sampling inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Mercury and lead were determined in an extraction solution applied to compact fluorescent lamps by axial view inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The solution contained 50% v/v HNO₃ and 10% v/v H₂O₂. The compact fluorescent lamps were treated by removing the socket and breaking the rest of the lamp inside the solution, followed by placing the mixture in an ultrasonic bath for 1 h. The mixture was filtrated in a coarse paper filter and the resulting extraction slurry was analyzed. The determination of Pb in the slurry required calibration by the analyte addition technique, while for Hg, external calibration was adequate. The quantification limits (10 s, n = 7), for Hg (194.164 nm) and Pb (220.353 nm) were, respectively, 10 and 30 µg per lamp. Analysis of spiked samples demonstrated reasonable accuracy of the method, with recoveries in the range from 99 to 120% for Hg and from 91 to 107% for Pb. Fifteen analyzed samples showed Hg masses per lamp in the range from 1.6 to 27 mg, and six samples were above the limit allowed by the European Community that is 5 mg per compact lamp. The values for Pb were between 0.07 and 0.75 mg per lamp. By filtrating the slurry in a membrane filter, and analyzing the resulting solution, it was found that all Hg was extracted to the liquid phase of the slurry, while a fraction of about 40% m/v of Pb is retained in the solid particles. The lamp cover glass, after extraction of the phosphor layer, was also analyzed for Hg and Pb. The concentration of Hg in the glass is quite low; however, the Pb content is high.     

Application of thiophilic chromatography to deplete serum immunoglobulins in sample preparation for bidimensional electrophoresis

Serum is a typical sample for non-invasive studies in clinical research. Its proteome characterization is challenging, since requires extensive protein depletion. Methods used nowadays for removal of high-abundance proteins are expensive or show quite often a low loading capacity, which has strong repercussions on the number of samples and replicates per analysis.In order to deplete immunoglobulins (Igs) and albumin (HSA) from 1 mL serum samples, we have developed a protocol based on a combination of thiophilic chromatography, not previously used in clinical proteomics, and a HSA-specific resin. Ig/HSA-depleted samples, immunoglobulinome and albuminone were analyzed by 2-DE. Thiophilic chromatography, coupled with HSA-depletion, allows a good 2-DE resolution as well as the visualization of new spots. Moreover, it yields enough protein to evaluate technical variability and facilitate subsequent protein identification. To validate the protocol, we carried out a preliminary comparative study between triplicate Igs/HSA-depleted serum samples from healthy control individuals and recently diagnosed/untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. RA patients showed several acute phase proteins, as well as additional serum proteins, differentially and significantly regulated.Therefore, thiophilic chromatography can be used as an efficient and economical method in 2-DE to deplete immunoglobulins from large human serum samples before a more extensive fractioning.     

DFT Study on Some Properties of Polybrominated Phenoxathiin 10-Oxides

With the B3LYP calculation method of density functional theory(DFT)and the 6-31G* basis set,full optimization calculation was made for phenoxathiin10-oxide(PTO)and 135 polybromine phenoxathiin 10-oxides(PBPTOs)with the Gaussian 03 program and molar heat capacity in constant volume(CVθ)value of each molecule in the standard state was obtained.The relation between CVθ and the substitution position and number of bromine atom(NPBS)was studied,and the results indicated good correlation(R2 = 1.000)between CVθ and NPBS of PBPTO compounds.Based on the output file of Gaussian 03 program,molar heat capacity at constant pressure(Cp,m)of PBPTO compounds from 200 to 1,000 K was calculated with the statistical thermodynamics program,and the correlation equation between Cp,m and temperature(T,T-1 and T-2)was obtained with the least-squares method,and the correlation coefficient of the correlation equation(R2)was 1.000.In addition,based on the partition function of each molecule calculated by vibration analysis,the relative rate constant of formation of each molecule was calculated.     

Electrochemical assessment of water|ionic liquid biphasic systems towards cesium extraction from nuclear waste

A room temperature ionic liquid (IL) composed of a quaternary alkylphosphonium (trihexyltetradecylphosphonium, P₆₆₆₁₄⁺) and tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate anion (TB⁻) was employed within a water|P₆₆₆₁₄TB (w|P₆₆₆₁₄TB or w|IL) biphasic system to evaluate cesium ion extraction in comparison to that with a traditional water|organic solvent (w|o) combination. ¹³⁷Cs is a major contributor to the radioactivity of spent nuclear fuel as it leaves the reactor, and its extraction efficiency is therefore of considerable importance. The extraction was facilitated by the ligand octyl(phenyl)-N,N′-diisobutylcarbamoylphosphine oxide (CMPO) used in TRans-Uranium EXtraction processes and investigated through well established liquid|liquid electrochemistry. This study gave access to the metal ion to ligand (1:n) stoichiometry and overall complexation constant, β, of the interfacial complexation reaction which were determined to be 1:3 and 1.6 × 10¹¹ at the w|P₆₆₆₁₄TB interface while the study at w|o elicited an n equal to 1 with β equal to 86.5. Through a straightforward relationship, these complexation constant values were converted to distribution coefficients, δ_α, with the ligand concentrations studied for comparison to other studies present in the literature; the w|o and w|IL systems gave δ_α of 2 and 8.2 × 10⁷, respectively, indicating a higher overall extraction efficiency for the latter. For the w|o system, the metal ion-ligand stoichiometries were confirmed through isotopic distribution analysis of mass spectra obtained by the direct injection of an emulsified water–organic solvent mixture into an electron spray ionization mass spectrometer.