Volume 7, Issue 3

An ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) procedure was developed for the determination of five 5-nitroimidazoles (dimetridazole, ipronidazole, metronidazole, ronidazole and ternidazole) and three of their metabolites (1-methyl-2-hydroxymethyl-5-nitroimidazole, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-5-nitroimidazole and 1-methyl-2-(2′-hydroxyisopropyl)-5-nitroimidazole) in egg matrices. Conditions for UPLC separation and electrospray ionization MS/MS in the positive ion mode were optimized. Samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with buffered aqueous 2.5% trichloroacetic acid followed by solid-phase extraction on a Strata-X-C cartridge with reversed-phase and cation-exchange functionalities. The method’s performance was evaluated in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, applying the alternative matrix-comprehensive in-house validation approach using specially designed InterVal software. The method was robust against different sample matrix and SPE cartridges, operator change, and changes in sample extract storage. Acceptable apparent recoveries (76 to 109%) were obtained for all analytes. The decision limits (CCα) and detection capabilities (CCα) were within the ranges of 0.19–2.62 and 0.26–4.29 μg kg−1. For all compounds the calibration curve linearity was good with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. Fifteen eggs and ten whole egg powder samples obtained commercially in Lithuania were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS; none were found contaminated by 5-nitroimidazoles or their metabolites.

Subsurface pollution by volatile organic compounds has emerged as a widespread problem in industrialized countries. This study compares static headspace technique and methanol extraction/purge-and-trap analysis followed by thermal desorption/gas chromatography in attempts for quantification of gas survey results in the determination of these chemicals in soil. Several soils were contaminated with aqueous solution of perchloroethylene (PCE) (140 mg L−1) using a vapor treatment method. Soil spiking took place up to 24 h in desiccator by exposing individual soil samples contained in open 40 mL glass vials to PCE evaporated from the solution. After exposure the samples were stored and analyzed within 2 days. The achieved results strongly suggest that gas extraction can provide quantitative results, regarding PCE concentration in soils, which are not significantly different from liquid based extraction analysis.

A novel hydroxyamino phosphane was synthesised through the reaction of 2-imidazolidinone with ClPPh2 and subsequently reaction of the resulting bisphosphino derivative with the Grignard reagent BrMgC5H11. The interaction of the pentyl substituent with one of the two phosphino groups and the structure in solution is shown by multinuclear NMR-spectroscopy..

A hollow fibre liquid phase microextraction for gas chromatographic determination of some p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters has been developed. Chlorobenzene containing tetradecane as internal standard was used for the extraction. Optimized extraction was carried out at room temperature for 40 min in the presence of 0.4 g mL−1 NaCl in the sample solution. Calibration was linear up to 30 mg L−1. Correlation coefficients were 0.996–0.998. Enrichment factors were 21, 95 and 154, and detection limits were 0.20, 0.03 and 0.01 μg mL−1 for methylparaben, ethylparaben and propylparaben, respectively. Reproducibility was acceptable with relative standard deviations up to 11.7%. The technique was tested for water and urine analysis.

A new and convenient method for the determination of Alizarin Red S by the perturbations caused by different amounts of Alizarin Red S on a novel B-Z oscillating system is proposed. This new type Belousov-Zhabotinskii involves a macrocyclic copper(II) complex [CuL](ClO4)2 as catalyst and malic acid as the substrate. The ligand L in the complex is 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene. It is found that the relationship between the change in the oscillation amplitude and the logarithm of the Alizarin Red S concentration in the range of 1.5 × 10−7 to 1 × 10−3 M fits a polynomial model: ΔA = 659 + 184.2 log [Alizarin Red S]+ 12.9 log2 [Alizarin Red S]. The RSD obtained with ten samples is 4.4%. The probable mechanism involving the perturbation of Alizarin Red S on the oscillating chemical system is also discussed.

This paper described the determination of p-nitroaniline in a double organic substrate oscillating system of tartrate-acetone-Mn2+-KBrO3-H2SO4. Under the optimum conditions, temperature was chosen as a control parameter to design the bifurcation point and proposed a convenient method for determination of p-nitroaniline. Results showed that the system consisting of 3.5 mL 0.06 mol L−1 tartrate, 4.0 mL 0.7 mol L−1 H2SO4, 1.5 mL 1.5×10−4 mol L−1 MnSO4, 4.0 mL 0.4 mol L−1 acetone and 7.0 mL 0.05 mol L−1 KBrO3 was very sensitive to the surrounding at 33.5°C. A good linear relationship between the potential difference and the negative logarithm concentration of p-nitroaniline was obtained to be in the range of 2.50×10−7∼3.75×10−5 mol L−1 with a lower detection limit of 2.50×10−8 mol L−1.

The analytical microextraction methods of gas chromatography coupled with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) for determination of selected essential oils in herbs were proposed. Two microextraction methods for the isolation of essential oils from plants such as Lavandula spica L., Melissa officinalis L., Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. were used. The methods of solid-phase and single-drop microextractions, were optimised and compared. The obtained LOD values for all studied essential oils were found to be within 2.5–20.5 μg for SDME and 57.0–139.8 μg for SPME method per 100 g of dried sample leaves. The appropriate LOQ values were then 8.4–68.4 μg for SDME and 189.8–466.1 μg for SPME of target analytes per 100 g of dried sample leaves.

The selective enhancement of membrane introduction mass spectrometry for non-polar alkanes, alkenes, and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds by the application of acetonitrile as a chemical ionization reagent was investigated. Acetonitrile Cl is able to produce specific fragment ions for many of the compounds test and this can be used to identify and quantify the parent neutrals. This method provided relatively high detection limits of the test compounds. This method could potentially be useful for analytical applications such as the detection of non-polar hydrocarbons for environmental studies if CH3CN Cl/MIMS is coupled with a preconcentration method.

In this work we present experimental results about synthesis, structure evolution and in vitro bioactivity of new calcium phosphate silicate/wollastonite (CPS/W) glass-ceramics. The samples obtained were synthesized via polystep sol-gel process with different Ca/P+Si molar ratio (R). The structure of the materials obtained was studied by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. XRD showed the presence of Ca15(PO4)2(SiO4)6, β-CaSiO3 and α-CaSiO3 for the sample with R=1.89 after thermal treatment at 1200°C/2h. The XRD results are in good agreement with FTIR analysis. SEM denotes that apatite formation can be observed after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Ceramics, with basic composition based on the CaO-SiO2-P2O5-MgO system with different Ca+ Mg/P+Si molar ratio (R), were prepared via polystep sol-gel technique. The structure of the obtained ceramic materials has been studied by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM. X-ray diffraction showed the presence of akermanite and HA for the sample with R = 1.68 and Mg substituted β-TCP and silicocarnotite for the sample with R = 2.16, after thermal treatment at 1200°C/2 h. The obtained results are in good agreement with FTIR. In vitro test for bioactivity in static condition proved that the carbonate containing hydroxyapatite (CO3HA) can be formed on the surface of the synthesized samples. CO3HA consisted of both A- and B-type CO 32− ions. SEM micrographs depicted different forms of HA particles, precipitated on the surface after soaking in 1.5 simulated body fluid (SBF).

The reaction mechanism between AlX and HX (X = Br, Cl, and F) have been characterized in detail using DFT as well as the ab initio method. The reaction yielding AlX3 and molecular hydrogen was calculated to be highly exothermic. The present calculations also show that the possible routes to the trihalides species start more favorable with the primary insertion product AlX2H than with the biadduct AlX(HX)2 one.

Comparative studies were performed on a series of 2,4-di and 2,3,4-trisubstituted benzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, which were synthesized with conventional and microwave heating methods. In microwave irradiation method, approximately, 95–97.5% of the reaction time was increased and 1–45% yield increase was obtained. All compounds were able to inhibit the growth of the screened microorganisms in vitro with MIC values between 3.9–250 μg mL−1. The highest activity was expressed by compound IIId (2,4-diphenyl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a] pyrimidine), which has the MIC value of 3.9 μg mL−1 and 31.2 μg mL-1 for Penicillium natatum ATCC 24791 and E. faecalis ATCC 29212, respectively.

Layer charge is one of the key parameters used for the characterisation of expandable clay minerals, smectites. It determines most significant properties of the material which are important from the industrial application point of view. This work is related to a novel method introduced to characterize the layer charge of smectites, based on using cationic organic dyes as molecular sensors. One xanthene and four phenothiazine cationic dyes were tested using reduced charge montmorillonites (RCMs) and compared with methylene blue, which has been used most frequently. The characterization of the charge was based on the formation of molecular assemblies (H- and J-aggregates) composed by dye cations, which were easily detectable using absorption spectroscopy in the UV/VIS spectrum. More detailed characterization of the spectra required calculations of second-derivative curves. For all of the reaction systems tested in this work, the molecular aggregation increased with the layer charge of RCMs. Slight to moderate differences in the formation of dye assemblies related to the differences in the molecular structures of the individual dye cations. For example, the molecular asymmetry of azure A brought about the formation of coexistent species of similar structures. The structure of the heteroaromatic skeleton affected the extent of the aggregation and spectral changes with time. The presence of reactive, non-substituted amino groups in thionine cations probably partially decomposed in the clay mineral colloids based on high-charge RCMs. Any of the tested dyes could be used as molecular sensors for empirical characterization of the layer charge of clays taking into account the differences mentioned above.

A quick method of quantitative determination of sulbactam in human plasma, using liquid chromatography-UV spectroscopy, has been developed and validated. After derivatization with imidazole, plasma samples were treated by direct deproteinization with acetonitrile as an extraction solvent. After ultracentrifugation, sulbactam extract was directly injected onto the LC column. Chromatographic separation was performed on TSK Gel Super ODS (50 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 2 μm) using methanol and phosphate buffer with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide solution as a mobile phase. Gradient elution was employed. The method was fully validated according to the United States Food and Drug Administration requirements (linearity, precision, trueness, quantification limit, detection limit, recovery, specificity and stability). The calibration curves were linear within the concentration range of 0.05–4.0 μg mL−1. Good method/system precision and accuracy of the method were demonstrated.

The aqueous sol-gel synthesis technique for the preparation of (Pb,Sr)Sr2(Y,Ca)Cu2O7±x (Pb-1212) and (Pb2,Cu)Sr2(Y,Ca)Cu2O8±x (Pb-3212) superconductors using two different complexing agents, namely 1,2-ethanediol and tartaric acid was studied. The phase transformations, composition and micro-structural features in the polycrystalline samples were studied by powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis of the ceramic samples obtained by calcination of Pb-Sr-Y-Ca-Cu-O acetate-glycolate precursor gels in air, for 10 hours at 800°C and at 825°C, showed the presence of homogeneous Pb-1212 and Pb-3212 crystallites as major phases. The XRD patterns of the ceramics obtained from Pb-Sr-Y-Ca-Cu-O acetate-tartrate precursor gels, however, showed multiphasic character. The critical temperature of superconductivity (TC (onset)) observed by resistivity measurements were found to be 91 K and 75 K for Pb-1212 and Pb-3212 samples, respectively.

A simple and sensitive dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method for extraction and preconcentration of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in water samples is presented. After adjusting the sample pH to 3, extraction was performed in the presence of 1% W/V sodium chloride by injecting 1 mL acetone as disperser solvent containing 15 μL tetrachloroethylene as extraction solvent. The proposed DLLME method was followed by HPLC-DAD for determination of PCP. It has good linearity (0.994) with wide linear dynamic range (0.1–1000 μg L−1) and low detection limit (0.03 μg L−1), which makes it suitable for determination of PCP in water samples.

A partial least squares (PLS-1) calibration model based on kinetic—spectrophotometric measurement, for the simultaneous determination of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) ions is described. The method was based on the difference in the rate of the reaction between Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions with 1-(2-pyridylazo)2-naphthol in a pH 5.8 buffer solution and in micellar media at 25°C. The absorption kinetic profiles of the solutions were monitored by measuring the absorbance at 570 nm at 2 s intervals during the time range of 0–10 min after initiation of the reaction. The experimental calibration matrix for the partial least squares (PLS-1) model was designed with 30 samples. The cross-validation method was used for selecting the number of factors. The results showed that simultaneous determination could be performed in the range 0.1-2 μg mL−1 for each cation. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) ions in water and in synthetic alloy samples.

A sensitive, simple and rapid method for ultra-trace determination of iron and manganese based on ultrasound assisted pseudodigestion in citric acid fermentation medium samples (beet and cane molasses and raw sugar based mediums) is described. Parameters influencing pseudo-digestion, such as sonication time, sample mass and solvent system were fully optimized. Final solutions obtained upon sonication were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The best conditions for metal pseudo-digestion were as follows: a 25, 30 and 20 min sonication time for beet molasses, cane molasses and raw sugar based medium samples, respectively, 0.7 g sample mass of raw sugar based samples, 0.5 g sample mass of molasses based samples and an extraction mixture of concentrated HNO3-H2O2, in 25 mL of solvent. Analytical results obtained for the two metals by ultrasound assisted pseudo-digestion and conventional wet digestion methods showed a good agreement. This method reduces the time required for all treatments (heating to dryness, cooling and separation) in comparison with conventional wet digestion method. The accuracy of the method was tested by comparing the obtained results with that of conventional wet digestion method.

Complex formation between curcumin and Hg(II) ion MeOH/H2O (1: 1 v/v) was investigated and monitored by the spectrophotometric method. The absorption peak of unreacted curcumin which was close and overlapped with that of the complex, was removed by calculation using Microsoft Excel, thereby, allowing determination of the stoichiometry of the complex by the mole-ratio and the Job’s continuous variation methods. Both methods indicated that a 1:1 complex of curcumin and Hg(II) was formed in solution. The formation constant of the 1:1 Hg(II) complex was obtained from two methods, the equilibrium concentration calculation and the linear plot of Benesi-Hildebrand equation, as log K = 4.44 ± 0.16 and 4.83 ± 0.02, respectively. The structure is proposed as a tetrahedral complex of Hg(II) with one curcumin and two chloride ions as ligands.

Sulphur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was used to identify sulphur compounds in PM10 samples collected simultaneously at two sites with different environmental situations in the province of Trieste (NE of Italy), during summer and winter seasons respectively. The first site is an industrial site located near a steel mill plant and the second is a coastal site. The sulphur speciation at the industrial site has shown the presence of the following sulphur compounds in both seasons: organic compounds (thiophenes or Polycyclic Aromatic Sulphur Heterocycles — PAHs) and sulphates while in the winter season sulphites were also present. In the coastal site organic compounds (thiophenes or PASHs) and sulphate were found during winter season, moreover bisulphates were found during summer season. Relative percentages of the different sulphur compounds have shown that sulphate is the most abundant form of sulphur in the industrial site samples during both seasons and in the coastal site sample collected during the winter season (> 98%); in the coastal site sample collected during the summer season the relative percentages of bisulphate and sulphate were around 40% and 60% respectively.

A new cadmium (II) complex, [Cd(bdmpp)(SeCN)2(H2O)] (1) (where bdmpp = 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolyl)pyridine), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral (IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, UV-Vis) analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. X-ray analysis showed that the structure was crystallized in the monoclinic space group Cc with a = 9.031(2), b = 13.884(3), c = 16.910(3) Å, and Z = 4. The geometry around the cadmium atom is distorted octahedral with a CdN3Se2O setup. The N atoms of the SeCN are engaged in two strong intermolecular H-bonding interactions forming a 3D supramolecular polymeric network. The geometry and vibrational frequencies of complex 1 computed with the DFT methods (BLYP, B3LYP, B3PW91, MPW1PW91) are in better agreement with experiment than those obtained with the ab-initio method except for the bond angles. The molecular orbital diagram has been also calculated and visualized at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ level of theory.

Without any surfactant, antiferromagnetic Co3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized successfully for the first time by means of an oxidation-reduction method with cobalt sulfate as starting material, which was oxidized to cobalt salt by NaNO3 after alkalinizing with NaOH. Morphological, structural, spectroscopic and magnetic characterization of the product were done by SEM, TEM, XRD, and VSM, respectively. The average crystallite size (on the base of line profile fitting method), D and σ, is estimated as 30 ± 6 nm. Some anomalous magnetic properties and their enhanced effect have been observed in Co3O4 antiferromagnetic nanocrystallites, including a bias field, coercivity, permanent magnetic moments and an open loop. These phenomena are attributed to the unidirectional anisotropy which is caused by the exchange coupling between AFM and FM layers, the existence of the spin glass like surface spins of Co3O4 nanoparticles due to size effects and surface-area effect.

The citrate precursor has been used to synthesize nanocrystalline Mg-Zn-ferrites. The nature of the prepared precursor is characterized and compared with those of the precursors studied earlier, prepared by the same process. The study has been performed by inorganic and organic elemental analyses, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Electronic absorption spectrometry in the UV-VIS region, Differential Thermal analysis/ Thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) analyses, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The collected results determined the precursor as a coordination polymer with monomer unit (NH4)4{M [Fe(C6H5O7)2]2}, where M=Zn or Mg.

Stabilization of Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP; EC 1.11.1.7) against temperature and pH via the formation of the conjugates obtained by multipoint covalent bonding of dextran aldehyde (DA) to the enzyme were studied. Hence, three different molar weighted dextrans (17.5 kD, 75 kD, 188 kD) were covalently bonded to purified enzyme with different molar ratios (nHRP/nDA 20/1, 10/1, 1/1, 1/5, 1/10, 1/15, 1/20). The thermal stabilities of the obtained conjugates were evaluated with the activities determined at different temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80°C) applying 60 minutes incubation time. Conjugates formed were characterized by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and fluorescence techniques. The conjugate synthesized using dextran 75 kDa with nHRP/nDA 1/10 molar ratio showed better thermal stability than other conjugates and purified enzyme at pH 7. This conjugate also has wider activity pH range than purified enzyme. In addition, mentioned conjugate at pH 7 had very long storage lifetime compared to purified enzyme at +4°C and room temperature; which is considered a favorable feature for usage in practice.

New 2-acyl-1,3-indandione derivatives, compounds 1–4, were obtained by condensation of 2-acetyl-1,3-indandione with benzaldehyde, thiophene-2-aldehyde, thiophene-3-aldehyde and furane-2-aldehyde, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized 2-substituted 1,3-indandiones were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-Vis and MS). Based on the obtained results it is suggested that the compounds exist in the exocyclic enolic form. Mass spectral fragmentation paths are also proposed. In order to verify the possibility for tautomerization processes of the newly synthesized compounds their absorption spectra were recorded in various solvents. Furthermore, the complexation properties of the compounds with metal(II) ions were also studied. A series of non-charged complexes with Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) was isolated and analyzed by elemental analyses and IR. The paramagnetic Cu(II) complexes were studied by EPR and distorted, flattened tetrahedral structures are predicted. The other metal complexes show the presence of water molecules, most probably coordinated to the metal ion, thus forming octahedral geometry. Ultimately, the studied properties of the newly synthesized compounds, 1–4, suggest that they may find application as extracting agents for metal ions, rather than as optical sensors.

The half-wave potential (E1/2) is an important electrochemical property of organic compounds. In this work, a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) analysis has been conducted on the half-wave reduction potential (E1/2) of 40 substituted benzoxazines by means of both a heuristic method (HM) and a non-linear radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) modeling method. The statistical parameters provided by the HM model (R2 =0.946; F=152.576; RMSCV=0.0141) and the RBFNN model (R2=0.982; F=1034.171 and RMS =0.0209) indicated satisfactory stability and predictive ability. The obtained models showed that benzoxazines with larger Min valency of a S atom (MVSA), lower Relative number of H atom (RNHA) and Min n-n repulsion for a C-H bond (MnnRCHB) and Minimal Electrophilic Reactivity Index for a C atom (MERICA) can be more easily reduced. This QSPR approach can contribute to a better understanding of structural factors of the organic compounds that contribute to the E1/2, and can be useful in predicting the E1/2 of other compounds.

In this paper we describe the use of a simple and versatile technique of templated electrodeposition through polystyrene sphere templates to produce nanostructured films of gold with regular submicron spherical holes arranged in a hexagonal close-packed structure. The templates were produced by self assembly of a monodispersed suspension of polystyrene spheres on gold substrates using capillary forces. The self assembly process was modified through the chemical modification of the gold substrate with cysteamine thiol. Films of gold were prepared by electrochemical deposition through the template. The electrochemical deposition charge and the current time curve were used to control the film height with a precision of approximately 10 nm. The colour of the nanostructured films changed as the film thickness was changed. Surface enhanced Raman Scattering spectra were recorded and used to identify very low concentrations of aromatic thiol molecules, 4-Nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) and 4-Aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT), adsorbed on the surface of the nanostructured gold substrates.

The effects of Cu2+ on the catalytical degradation of acid chrome blue K (ACBK) in UV-TiO2 and H2O2 processes were studied. In these two processes, Cu2+ markedly depressed the catalytical degradation of ACBK by its interaction with ACBK. Through this interaction, the new complex Cu(ACBK)2 formed. The formation of this new complex was favorable to protect some groups in ACBK from the oxidation of reactive oxygen generated in UV-TiO2 and H2O2 processes, and consequently had suppressing effects on degradation of ACBK. In addition, Cu2+ also inhibited the degradation of ACBK in UV-TiO2 process by influencing the adsorption of ACBK on the surface of TiO2 particles.

The present work shows the growth of nordstrandite microcrystals observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Nordstrandite was synthesised from non-crystalline aluminium hydroxide reacted in 20% ethylene glycol/water solution, at room temperature. This material was characterized by TEM, SEM, SAED, XRD and EDS/TEM, during six month and revealed the formation and growth of nordstrandite. Fibrillar pseudoboehmite is the only aluminium hydroxide which could be identified during the first two weeks. The nuclei grow, from complete dissolution/recrystallization of pseudoboehmite fibrils, into platy rectangular microscrystals of nordstrandite. Some tabular microcrystals recrystallise, forming after six months only the multi-point nordstrandite stars. This electron-optical study suggest that the star shape results from the overlapping of rectangular plates, and pseudoboehmite fibrils act as the precursor of nordstrandite crystallisation in ethylene glycol/water solution.

Degradation of Congo Red (CR) a di azo dye in aqueous solution is investigated by a Photo Fenton like process using Fe3+ ions as the catalyst and peroxy disulfate as the oxidant. The influence of various reaction parameters like, concentration of Fe3+ ions, concentration of the dye, concentration of ammonium persulfate, pH of the solution and the presence of hydroxyl radical scavenger are studied and optimal conditions are reported. The degradation rate decreased at higher dye concentration and at higher pH. The rate constant (k), catalytic efficiency (kc) and process efficiency (Φ) are evaluated for different concentration of Fe3+ ions. The degradation of CR by the photo Fenton like process leads to the formation of 4-Amino, 3-azo naphthalene sulphonic acid, dihydroxy substituted naphthalene, dihydroxy substituted biphenyl, phenol, quinol etc., as intermediates, based on which probable degradation mechanism is proposed. These results show that a photo Fenton like process could be useful technology for the mineralization of di azo dyes under lower concentration of iron in acidic conditions. The present process is advantageous as it lowers the sludge production resulting from the iron comple

The heterogeneous catalytic ignition of lean to stoichiometric n-butane/air mixtures were studied at various total pressures between 10 and 100 kPa and at temperatures equal to or larger than the critical ignition temperatures. The induction periods, ignition and extinction temperatures were measured under strict isothermal conditions. The discussion presented in this paper is based on several literature models. The data analysis allowed for the determination of the overall kinetic parameters. The rigorous isothermal conditions indicated that the extinction temperatures are lower than the ignition, a behavior different from the results obtained in stagnation-point flow reactors.

The electrochemical reduction of four arylidene substituted derivatives of dibenz-[b,e]-thiepin-5,5-dioxide-11- one has been studied by cyclic voltammetry on platinum (Pt) electrode in aprotic media (DMSO), coupled with spectral EPR techniques. From the analysis of cyclic voltammetry experiments, aided by digital simulations using DigiSim software, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated for each system. The electrochemical behaviour is strongly directed by the nature of the arylidene substituents bound to the central heterocycle. The electrochemical investigation and solvent dependent semiempirical modeling using the PM3 hamiltonian in the frame of AMPAC program package allowed a rationalisation of experimental data regarding the electrochemical reduction and the reactivity of the intermediate species involved.

Montmorillonies separated from the bentonites SAz-1 (Cheto, AZ, USA), and Cressfield (New South Wales, Australia) were used as starting materials. Reduced charge montmorillonites (RCMs) were prepared from these chemically different and Li-saturated montmorillonites via heating at temperatures in the range of 120–300°C. The residual exchangeable Li+ cations were then replaced with tetramethylammonium (TMA+) or hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA+) cations and the ability of the modified montmorillonites to adsorb biphenyl was investigated. Lower adsorption was observed for Li-montmorillonites than for the organoclays. The extent of adsorption was dependent on both the layer charge of montmorillonite and the size of alkylammonium cations. HDTMA-forms prepared from unheated Li-montmorillonites adsorbed biphenyl better than the organoclays prepared from RCMs. In contrast, the TMA-samples prepared from the Li-montmorillonites that were not heated showed low uptake of biphenyl probably due to high content of TMA+ cations. Reduction of the layer charge, resulting in lower content of TMA+ cations, increased sorption efficiency of both TMA-montmorillonites. The best adsorbents of biphenyl were HDTMA-SAz-1 prepared from the unheated Li-SAz-1 and TMA-Cressfield prepared from the Li-form heated at 180°C. These samples removed about 80% of biphenyl from its aqueous solutions

The triplet excited state properties and photosensitization mechanisms of indigo were investigated based on density functional theory calculations. The solvent effects on the photosensitization mechanisms of indigo have also been considered. The thermodynamic feasibility of the possible 1O2 and O2·−-photogeneration pathways by triplet excited state indigo in different solvents was explored, in order to gain some deeper insights into the photosensitization characters of the dye.

The kinetics of a proton transfer into dilute acid solutions containing natural zeolitic tuff was studied by following the pH evolution of the liquid phase. Four different solutions with tuff contents of 9, 3, 1 and 0.5 (% wt) and three different particle size fractions (≤ 2000 μm) were studied. The proton concentration of the solution was decreased by increasing the zeolite amount and decreasing the particle size fraction. The proton transfer reaction was analyzed with chemical reactions and diffusion model equations. Analysis shows that the adsorption and/or ion exchange are possible mechanisms and are expressed by a second order reaction model.

Phase equilibria established in the PbO - BiVO4 system over the whole component concentration range up to 1000°C have been investigated. A phase diagram has been constructed using DTA and XRD.

Oxidation of iodide ion from an air-saturated solution under natural sunlight (900±50 W m−2) on the surfaces of TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, MoO3 and CeO2 enhances by 6 to 12-fold on application of a cathodic bias of −0.2 to −0.3 V (vs NHE) to the semiconductors; light, the semiconductor and dissolved oxygen are essential for iodine generation. The semiconductors under an anodic bias of +0.2 to +0.3 V (vs NHE) fail to oxidize iodide ion from air-saturated solution under sunlight. Under cathodic bias, semiconductor mixtures like TiO2-ZnO, TiO2-Fe2O3 and ZnO-Fe2O3 show enhanced photocatalytic activity, indicating improved charge separation in oxide mixtures. The mechanism of photocatalysis under cathodic bias is discussed.

A new differential pulse voltammetric method for dopamine determination at a bare glassy carbon electrode has been developed. Dopamine, ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) usually coexist in physiological samples. Because AA and UA can be oxidized at potentials close to that of DA it is difficult to determine dopamine electrochemically, although resolution can be achieved using modified electrodes. Additionally, oxidized dopamine mediates AA oxidation and the electrode surface can be easily fouled by the AA oxidation product. In this work a chemometrics strategy, partial least squares (PLS) regression, has been applied to determine dopamine in the presence of AA and UA without electrode modification. The method is based on the electrooxidation of dopamine at a glassy carbon electrode in pH 7 phosphate buffer. The dopamine calibration curve was linear over the range of 1–313 μM and the limit of detection was 0.25 μM. The relative standard error (RSE %) was 5.28%. The method has been successfully applied to the measurement of dopamine in human plasma and urine.

Novel graft copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) were designed and synthesized by the free radical copolymerization of DMAEMA with precursor polymers of vinyl-functionalized poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The ability of the PVP- grafted copolymers to bind and condense DNA was confirmed by ethidium bromide displacement assay, agarose gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of PVP in the copolymers had a favorable effect on the biophysical properties of polymer/DNA complexes. Colloidal stable complexes obtained from the copolymer systems, were shown to be separate, uniformly spherical nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy. The approximate diameter of the complexes was 150–200 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering studies. These results confirm an important role played by the PVP grafts in producing compact stable DNA complexes. The ζ-potential measurements revealed that the incorporation of the PVP grafts reduced the positive surface charge of polymer/DNA complexes. The cytotoxicity of the copolymers decreased with an increasing fraction of PVP. Furthermore, in vitro transfection experiments with these copolymers showed improved ability of transfection in cell culture, demonstrating an important role for PVP grafts in enhancement of the transfection efficiency.

Two mono-Schiff base Mn(III) complexes (MnL2Cl, L=L1 and L2) were synthesized and employed as artificial hydrolases in catalyzing the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpicolinate (PNPP) in Gemini 16-2-16 micellar solution. The effect of different micelles and their complex structures on the catalytic hydrolysis of PNPP is discussed in detail. The observations showed that MnL 22Cl exhibited higher catalytic activity over MnL 12Cl under a comparable condition, which confirmed that an open active centre is essential for modulating the activities of the two enzyme mimics. Moreover, under the conditions employed, hydrolytic rates of PNPP induced by these Mn(III) complexes were faster in Gemini 16-2-16 micelles than that in the micellar solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a conventional analogue of Gemini 16-2-16.

Natural scolecite has been found as an effective catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-triarylimidazole derivatives via a three component reaction using benzil or benzoin, aldehydes and ammonium acetate. This method provides several advantages such as being environmentally benign, reusable, possessing high yields with increased variations of the substituents in the product and preparative simplicity.

A novel environmental friendly, room temperature route using an ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide ([BMIM]OH) for the synthesis of Mn3O4 nanoparticles is presented. The product was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Phase purity was confirmed by XRD, and X-ray line profile fitting determined a crystallite size of 42 ± 11 nm. TEM analysis revealed various morphologies. EPR measurements have indicated the existence of long-range interactions, due to the wide range of particle sizes and morphologies observed.

The study aims to establish several definite criteria which will differentiate Romanian amber and Baltic amber to certify the local or Baltic origin of the materials found in archaeological sites on the Romanian territory, by using light microscopy and performing analytical methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-variable angle reflectance and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Experiments especially by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, were applied to a wide range of samples with controlled origin. The methods were optimised and resulted in premises to apply the techniques to analysis of the archaeological material.

Two novel norcantharidin acylamide acids (HL1=N-pyrimidine norcantharidin acylamide acid, C12H13N3O4; HL2=N-pyridine norcantharidin acylamide acid, C13H14N2O4) were synthesized by a reaction of norcantharidin(NCTD) with 2-aminopyrimidine and 2-aminopyridine, respectively. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV and 1 H NMR. Fluorescence titration and viscosity measurements indicated that HL1, HL2 and HL3 (HL3=N-phenyl norcantharidin acylamide acid, C14H15NO4) can bind calf thymus DNA via partial intercalation. The liner Stern-Volmer quenching constant Ksv values for HL1, HL2 and HL3 were 2.05 × 104 L mol−1, 1.15 × 104 L mol−1 and 8.30×103 L mol−1, respectively. Two compounds containing heterocycle of HL1 and HL2 have been found to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA at physiological pH and temperature. The test of antiproliferation activity showed that the compounds had moderate to strong antiproliferative ability against the tested cell lines except of HL3 against the SMMC7721 cell line. The results indicated that the heterocycle attached to the norcantharidin was favorable to antiproliferative activity. This result was consistent with the DNA binding experiment.

In the present paper, an off-line preconcentration procedure for the determination of cadmium and lead by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Polyurethane foam (PUF) functionalized with o-aminophenol (o-AP) followed by Pyrazolone (Pyr) packed in a minicolumn was used as a sorbent material. The metals were retained on the modified PUF, from which it could be eluted and effectively preconcentrated. The detection limits were 0.072 and 0.016 μg L−1 for Pb and Cd respectively. Enrichment factors were 250 and 319 for lead and cadmium respectively. The procedure has been applied successfully to metal determination in water samples, fish liver and reference material.

In the present paper we describe results on the synthesis and lipophilicity determination of a series of biologically active compounds based on their heterocyclic structure. For synthesis of styrylquinoline-based compounds we applied microwave irradiation and solid phase techniques. The correlation between RP-HPLC retention parameter log k (the logarithm of retention factor k) and log P data calculated in various ways is discussed, as well as, the relationships between the lipophilicity and the chemical structure of the studied compounds.