Preparation, Characterization, and Application of an Enzyme-Immobilized Magnetic Microreactor for Flow Injection Analysis

Enzyme-immobilized magnetic microparticles (EMMP) have been prepared for use as a microreactor in flow injection analysis (FI). The microparticles were directly injected into the FI system. Their retention occurred within the flow line by small permanent magnets located near the detector. The analytical utility of this concept was illustrated by the assay of glucose using glucose oxidase (GOx), immobilized microparticles, and amperometric detection of liberated hydrogen peroxide. The microparticles were derived from silica gel (nominal pore diameter, 15-80 nm) by impregnation with a citric acid/ethanol solution and a ferric nitrate/ethanol solution and then by calcination in a nitrogen atmosphere to produce ferrimagnetic fine particles of spinel-type iron oxide (gamma-Fe(2)O(3)) inside the pore. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The calibration curve of the glucose sample (2 microL injected) was linear between 2.5 x 10(-6) and 5 x 10(-4) mol/L (R = 0.9995), and the detection limit was 1.0 x 10(-6) mol/L or 0.36 ng of injected glucose (S/N = 3). The repeatability for a 5 x 10(-4) mol/L glucose solution was RSD = 1.5% (n = 6). Application to the assay of glucose in a fermentation broth is illustrated. The GOx MMP were stable and active for more than eight months when kept at 10 degrees C.

Reverse Fluorous Solid-Phase Extraction: A New Technique for Rapid Separation of Fluorous Compounds

Fluorous-tagged compounds can rapidly be separated from organic (non-tagged) compounds by the new separation technique of reverse fluorous solid-phase extraction (r-fspe). In a reversal of the roles of solid and liquid phases in standard fluorous spe, a mixture is charged to a polar solid phase (standard silica gel) and then eluted with a fluorous solvent or solvent mixture. The organic components of the mixture are retained, while the fluorous components pass. [structure: see text]

Estimation of diffusion coefficient of chromium in colloidal silica using digital photography

In order to study the effectiveness of using colloidal silica, NYACOL DP5110, to stabilize chromium-contaminated soil, the diffusion of chromium in colloidal silica gel was estimated from laboratory experiments. To measure diffusion coefficients of chromium in the colloidal silica gel, a new measurement method based on digital photography was introduced. A series of experiments were designed and conducted to validate this new method and to estimate the diffusion coefficients of chromium in the colloidal silica gel. Accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by several differentways. It was found that the apparent diffusion coefficient of chromium in colloidal silica gel ranged from 1.76 to 8.48 x 10(-10) m2/s depending mainly on the concentration of silica in the gel with chromium concentration less than 10(-2) M. Higher silica concentrations yielded lower diffusion coefficients due to the obstruction to the free movement of chromium. The adsorption isotherm of chromate to colloidal silica gel was found to be linear at pH 7; the partition coefficient was calculated to be 0.549 L/g. Mass balance calculations were performed to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method and found that the measuring error was less than 6.5%. Based on the test data, the estimation of diffusion coefficients for chromium in colloidal silica gel using digital photography seems to be accurate and precise. This method is suitable for analyzing colored chemicals inside clear/white gels. From the results, it can be concluded that the gel behaves as a porous material with silica network forming continuous solid phase and its pore space saturated with water. The chromium ions diffuse in porous silica gel on a tortuous path. Therefore, the bulk diffusion dominates. Thus, the silica can be represented as a fix and impenetrable immersion in the solution. The presence of these motionless silica chains leads to an increase in the mean path of the diffusing molecules between two points in the system. On the basis of the test results, it can also be concluded that colloidal silica, NYACOL DP5110, for in-situ treatment of chromium-contaminated soils seems to be ineffective. Further research of more realistic simulation of diffusion and refined gel formulation with the capacity to convert the chromium to an immobile form is recommended.

Procedure for separation of GM2 ganglioside species with different ceramide structures by a flash reversed-phase silica gel liquid chromatography

GM2 ganglioside, beta-GalNAc-(1-4)-[alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-3)-]beta-Gal-(1-4)-beta-Glc-(1-1)-Cer, is the main ganglioside in the brain of Tay-Sachs patients. In this work, GM2 ganglioside was extracted from a Variant B Tay-Sachs human brain, purified to homogeneity of the oligosaccharide moiety by silica gel chromatography. It was further fractionated for the first time into the molecular species differing in the ceramide structures by reverse-phase flash chromatography. The GM2 ganglioside species were characterized by gas-chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The major GM2 species contained the ceramides with d18:1-18:0 (40.5% of the total GM2 species), d20:1-18:0 (31%) and d18:1-20:0 (12%). We also found minor GM2 species with the ceramides with d18:1-24:1 (4%), d18:1-22:0 (2%) and d18:2-24:1 (1%), which have not been reported previously.

Ion chromatographic determination of hydroxide ion on monolithic reversed-phase silica gel columns coated with nonionic and cationic surfactants

The determination of hydroxide by ion chromatography (IC) is demonstrated using a monolithic octadecylsilyl (ODS)-silica gel column coated first with a nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylene (POE)) and then with a cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)). This stationary phase, when used in conjunction with a 10 mmol/l sodium sulfate eluent at pH 8.2, was found to be suitable for the rapid and efficient separation of hydroxide from some other anions, based on a conventional ion-exchange mechanism. The peak directions and detection responses for these ions were in agreement with their known limiting equivalent ionic conductance values. Under these conditions, a linear calibration plot was obtained for hydroxide ion over the range 16 micromol/l to 15 mmol/l, and the detection limit determined at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 6.4 micromol/l. The double-coated stationary phase described above was shown to be superior to a single coating of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide alone, in terms of separation efficiency and stability of the stationary phase. A range of samples comprising solutions of some strong and weak bases was analyzed by the proposed method and the results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by conventional potentiometric pH measurement.

Effects of moisture on the toxicity of inorganic and organic insecticidal dust formulations to German cockroaches (Blattodea: Blattellidae)

Toxicity of boric acid (40-99% [AI]), silica gel, eugenol, and deltamethrin dust formulations to adult male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), was evaluated at five different relative humidities ranging from 0 to 100% and in the presence of 0 to 1 ml of water. Victor boric acid dust was generally the most toxic boric acid formulation at all relative humidities, despite having the lowest percentage (40%) of boric acid; however, this was the only formulation to have sucrose and other edible ingredients. There was no consistent effect of relative humidity on dust toxicity; LT50 values of Roach Prufe (98% boric acid), Victor, and Drione (silica gel and synergized pyrethrins) increased significantly linearly with relative humidity, whereas other formulations were unaffected. The LT50 values of all boric acid-based dust formulations declined exponentially when wetted with increasing volumes of water. Water did not affect the toxicity of deltamethrin and eugenol dusts, but it caused a linear decline in toxicity of silica gel (Dri-Die). The toxicity of a formulation containing silica gel and synergized pyrethrins (Drione) increased exponentially with increasing amounts of water. Moisture in the form of relative humidity does not strongly affect the toxicity of most insecticidal dust formulations. Presence of water, however, increases the toxicity of boric acid dusts and Drione. Toxicity of the hydrophobic deltamethrin (DeltaDust) and eugenol (EcoPCO D) dusts were unaffected by water.

Preparation and characterization of a p-tert-butyl-calix[6]-1,4-benzocrown-4-bonded silica gel stationary phase for liquid chromatography

A p-tert-butyl-calix[6]-1,4-benzocrown-4-bonded silica gel stationary phase (CR6BS) was first prepared via 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane as coupling reagent for high performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the new stationary phase was characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), elemental analysis and thermal analysis. The chromatographic performance of the bonded-stationary phase was evaluated by using neutral, acidic and basic solutes as probes. Meanwhile, comparative study of the new stationary phase with a p-tert-butyl-calix[6]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase (C6BS, the parent) and ODS was done under the same chromatographic conditions. The results show that the new stationary phase has an excellent reversed-phase property, which is similar to C6BS and ODS. However, the selectivities for some aromatic compounds are different from the parent phase (C6BS) and ODS, especially the latter. In one hand, as hybrid of calixarene and crown ether, CR6BS with the oxygen atoms of ether-bridge can provide the complexation sites for the solutes, lacking of C6BS. On the other hand, the rigid conformation of CR6BS may be responsible to the different performance partially. CR6BS exhibits high selectivity in the separation of alkylated aromatics from their parents as compared with C6BS.

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin immobilized on carbon paste electrode by silica sol–gel film

Direct electrochemical and electrocatalytic behaviors of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on carbon paste electrode (CPE) by a silica sol-gel film derived from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) were investigated for the first time. Hb/sol-gel film modified electrodes showed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks for Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple at about -0.312 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The formal potential of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple varied linearly with the increase of pH in the range of 5.0-10.0 with a slope of 49.44 mV pH(-1), which suggests that a proton transfer is accompanied with each electron transfer (ET) in the electrochemical reaction. The immobilized Hb displayed the features of peroxidase and gave excellent electrocatalytic performance to the reduction of O2, NO2(-) and H2O2. The calculated apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was 8.98 x 10(-4)M, which indicated that there was a large catalytic activity of Hb immobilized on CPE by sol-gel film toward H2O2. In comparison with other electrodes, the chemically modified electrodes, used in this direct electrochemical study of Hb, are easy to be fabricated and rather inexpensive. Consequently, the Hb/sol-gel film modified electrode provides a convenient approach to perform electrochemical research on this kind of proteins. It also has potential use in the fabrication of the third generation biosensors and bioreactors.

New procedure of silica gel surface modification preparation of gaseous standard mixtures for calibration purposes

The new type of silica gel surface modification with using the trimethylamine as a reagent is described. The samples of chemically modified silica gel have been used for generation of gaseous standard mixtures (methyl chloride as a measurand) using the technique of thermal decomposition of the surface compound. The main aim of the research was to check the suitability of the new type of silica gel surface modification for obtaining methyl chloride as a measurand of gaseous standard mixture. The gaseous standard mixture obtained with using this technique was used for calibration of a thermal desorber-gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (TD-GC-FID) system. The homogeneity of coverage of silica gel surface with the immobilized compound has been evaluated. The full uncertainty budget of determination of liberated amount of methyl chloride has been calculated. The average amount of methyl chloride liberated from the unit sample of chemically modified silica gel is 3.59 +/- 0.13 mg g(-1). The influence of the modification way on the amount of liberated analyte has also been determined.

Direct Analysis of Silica Gel Extracts from Immunostained Glycosphingolipids by Nanoelectrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A combined strategy of preparative high-performance thin-layer chromatography overlay assay and mass spectrometry was established for the structural characterization of immunostained glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in silica gel extracts. Crude chloroform/methanol/water (30/60/8, v/v/v) extracts of immunostained TLC bands were analyzed by nanoelectrospray low-energy CID mass spectrometry without further purification. The GSL species investigated were isomeric monosialogangliosides of the neolacto series from a ganglioside preparation of human granulocytes, the disialoganglioside GD3 from a human melanoma lipid extract, and ganglio series Gg3Cer of a neutral GSL preparation from murine lymphoreticular MDAY-D2 cells. For the specific detection of lipid-bound oligosaccharides, polyclonal chicken IgY, murine monoclonal IgG3, and IgM antibodies were used. The resulting mass spectra show that only analytical quantities of approximately 1 microg of a single GSL within a complex mixture are required for the structure determination of immunostained GSLs by MS and MS/MS. All species investigated were detected as singly charged deprotonated molecular ions, and neither buffer-derived salt adducts nor coextracted contaminants from the immunostaining procedure or the silica gel layer were observed. This effective HPTLC-MS-joined procedure offers a wide range of applications for any carbohydrate binding agents such as bacterial toxins, plant lectins, and others.

Photochemical immobilization of proteins on microwave–synthesized photoreactive polymers

We report a rapid and versatile procedure for the preparation of photoreactive polymers and light-induced immobilization of proteins onto such polymers. Photoreactive controlled-pore glass, silica gel, glass slide, and polystyrene microtiter plate are prepared in 40-60s by microwave irradiation of the respective amino polymers and 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene. Azido group, now part of the polymer, yields highly reactive nitrene under ultraviolet (UV) light at 365 nm. Thus, when photoreactive polymer and horseradish peroxidase or glucose oxidase are exposed to UV light, the reactive nitrene immobilizes the protein molecules in 10 to 20 min through covalent bonding. As nitrene has a property of inserting into C-H bond, the method may find potential applications for immobilization of biomolecules irrespective of their functional groups.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of six Iranian plants

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is the major worldwide cause of bacterial gastrointestinal infections in adults and children. Antibiotic therapy and a combination of two or three drugs have been widely used to eradicate these infections. However, development of drug resistance in bacteria calls for new sources of drugs, and plants seem to be a logical source of new antibacterial compounds.

METHODS

The anti-H. pylori activities of six native Iranian plants (Glycyrrhiza aspera, Juglans regia, Ligustrum vulgare, Thymus kotschyanus, Trachyspermum copticum and Xanthium brasilicum) and seven antibiotics were determined against 70 clinical isolates from children using the disk susceptibility assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also measured for the biologically active extracts. One extract with the best anti-H. pylori activity was fractionated by silica gel and thin layer chromatography and the active compounds were identified by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)HNMR) spectroscopy.

RESULTS

All plant extracts showed anti-H. pylori activity by the disk sensitivity method, but the most active extracts were those from X. brasilicum and T. copticum. In fact, the anti-H. pylori activities of the two extracts were superior to the disk antibiotic susceptibility profile. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were within the range of 31.25-250 micro g/ml. Fractionation and chemical identification of the extract from X. brasilicum showed the presence of two substances, a flavonoid and a xanthanolide.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, new sources of anti-H. pylori drugs are needed. The use of medicinal plants and/or their chemical components may have potential benefit in eradicating such problems.

Synthesis of chiral stationary phases with radical polymerization reaction of cellulose phenylcarbamate derivatives and vinylized silica gel

Cellulose phenylcarbamate derivatives having methacrylate groups were synthesized with regioselective and non-regioselective procedures. These derivatives were chemically immobilized onto a vinylized silica gel, respectively, via a radical co-polymerization reaction. The immobilization was efficiently attained using a small amount of AIBN. The chiral recognition abilities of the prepared chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were evaluated by HPLC resolution of test enantiomers. It was observed that most of the enantiomers were completely resolved with markedly high column efficiency of 30,000-40,000 plates per metre for the eluted peaks. The effect of the amount of methacrylolyl chloride used for preparation on resolution was investigated. A direct comparison of the chiral recognition ability was made on the regioselectively and non-regioselectively prepared CSPs. In addition, the chemically bonded-type of CSPs were found to be relatively stable with addition of solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and chloroform into the mobile phase, which can lead to the dissolution of cellulose derivatives on the coated CSPs. Thus the choice of solvents used as the mobile phase is greatly extended and better resolution of several test enantiomers was observed on the prepared CSPs with THF and chloroform as a composition in the mobile phase. The batch-to-batch and run-to-run reproducibility was also discussed on the newly prepared CSPs.

Separation of fatty acid methyl esters by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with packed columns and programming of sampling duration

Fatty acid methyl esters from various fats and oils were separated by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with conventional packed columns and FID detection. The first dimension was a silica gel column and the second dimension was an ODS column. This combination was largely orthogonal for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters. The first dimension separations were primarily based on the number of double bonds while the second dimension separations were based on the chain length. The highly-ordered chromatograms and improved resolution allowed the easy detection and identification of minor components. Although the first dimension separations were performed under isobaric conditions where the peak width increased in proportion to the retention, the programming of the sampling duration allowed us to maintain the optimum re-injection frequency (3-4 times) per peak into the second dimension and so to minimize the total analysis time without deteriorating the resolution.

Comparative study of controlled pore glass, silica gel and Poraver® for the immobilization of urease to determine urea in a flow injection conductimetric biosensor system

This study compared the responses of three enzyme reactors containing urease immobilized on three types of solid support, controlled pore glass (CPG), silica gel and Poraver. The evaluation of each enzyme reactor column was done in a flow injection conductimetric system. When urea in the sample solution passed though the enzyme reactor, urease catalysed the hydrolysis of urea into charged products. A lab-built conductivity meter was used to measure the increase in conductivity of the solution. The responses of the enzyme reactor column with urease immobilized on CPG and silica gel were similar and were much higher than that of Poraver. Both CPG and silica gel reactor columns gave the same limit of detection, 0.5 mM, and the response was still linear up to 150mM. The analysis time was 4-5 min per sample. The enzyme reactor column with urease immobilized on CPG gave a slightly better sensitivity, 4% higher than the reactor with silica gel. The life time of the immobilized urease on CPG and silica gel were more than 310h operation time (used intermittently over 7 months). Good agreement was obtained when urea concentrations of human serum samples determined by the flow injection conductimetric biosensor system was compared to the conventional methods (Fearon and Berthelot reactions). These were statistically shown using the regression line and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. The results showed that the reactor with urease immobilized on silica gel had the same efficiency as the reactor with urease immobilized on CPG.

Sodium NMR relaxation in porous materials

The NMR relaxation of hydrogen nuclei of a fluid in a porous material is generally interpreted in terms of the Brownstein-Tarr model, in which the relaxation rate of the signal is inversely proportional to the pore size. We have investigated whether this model can be applied to the relaxation of Na nuclei in a NaCl solution in a porous material. The results indicate that the ion distribution over the pores can be obtained from an analysis of the Na NMR signal decay, if the pore sizes are roughly below 1 microm. This information is very useful for studies of combined moisture and ion transport in porous building materials.

Cadmium biosorption by cells of Spirulina platensis TISTR 8217 immobilized in alginate and silica gel

The biosorption of cadmium by immobilized Spirulina platensis on alginate gel and silica gel was studied. The maximum biosorption capacities for alginate immobilized cells and silica immobilized cells were 70.92 and 36.63 mg Cd/g biomass, respectively. Temperature did not have an influence on metal sorption, whereas an initial pH solution did. Sorption occurred in a wide pH range (pH 3-8). The highest adsorption of alginate immobilized cells was at pH 6, while silica immobilized cell adsorption was not affected at pH between 4 and 7. The immobilized cells were reused in consecutive adsorption-desorption. The results showed that immobilized cells could be repeatedly used in the sorption process up to five times.

Preparation and chiral recognition of a novel chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography, based on mono(6A-N-allylamino-6A-deoxy)-perfunctionalized β-cyclodextrin and covalently bonded silica gel

A novel chiral stationary phase (CSP) was prepared by immobilizing mono(6A-N-allylamino-6A-deoxy)-perphenylcarbamoylated beta-cyclodextrin onto the surface of silica gel via hydrosilylation. The chromatographic properties of this column were tested with a wide range of structurally diverse racemic compounds and drugs under reverse phases. Separation mechanisms involved are also discussed.

Removal of phenol from aqueous solutions by adsorption

Experiments have been conducted to examine the liquid-phase adsorption of phenol from water by silica gel, HiSiv 3000, activated alumina, activated carbon, Filtrasorb-400, and HiSiv 1000. Experiments were carried out for the analysis of adsorption equilibrium capacities and kinetics. The adsorption isotherm model of the Langmuir-Freundlich type was the best to describe adsorption equilibrium data for phenol for the adsorbents studied. Results of kinetic experiments indicated that HiSiv 1000 had the highest rate of adsorption among the adsorbents studied and therefore more detailed studies were carried out with this adsorbent. The influence of particle size, temperature, and thermal regeneration on adsorption of phenol by HiSiv 1000 was evaluated. From particle size experiments it appeared that adsorption capacity of HiSiv 1000 did not change by changing the particle size, but the rate of adsorption decreased considerably by increasing the particle size. The effect of temperature on adsorption was studied by determining equilibrium isotherms for HiSiv 1000 at 25, 40, and 55 degrees C. The results showed that adsorption capacity decreased with increasing temperature. Thermal regeneration of HiSiv 1000 was performed at 360 degrees C. It was observed that adsorption capacity of HiSiv 1000 did not change after 14 regeneration cycles. Equilibrium experiments showed that the adsorption capacities of activated carbon and Filtrasorb-400 were several times higher than that of HiSiv 1000.

Silica Sol-gel Amperometric Immunosensor for Schistosoma Japonicum Antibody Assay

An amperometric immunosensor was constructed by dispersing graphite, schistosoma-japonicum antigen (SjAg) and silica sol-gel at low temperature. The performance characteristics of the prepared immunosensor were examined in the buffered solution of o-aminophenol (o-AP) used as a substrate. It exhibited excellent physical and electrochemical stability with a renewable external surface. A competitive binding assay was employed to determine schistosoma-japonicum antibody (SjAb) with the aid of horseradish peroxidase labeled SjAb (HRP-SjAb). The experimental parameters for SjAb assay were optimized, including the amount of labeled SjAb in incubation solution, incubation time, temperature and the pH of solution. The use of o-AP substrate and amperometric detection at -250 mV (vs. SCE) results in a determination limit of 0.32 microg/ml and a linear range extending up to 0.18 microg/ml. The results of SjAb assay in serum samples demonstrate the feasibility of using the proposed immunosensor for clinical analysis.

Determination of Cadmium in River Water Samples by Flame AAS after On-line Preconcentration in Mini-Column Packed with 2-Aminothiazole-modified Silica Gel

A rapid and sensitive method was developed to determine trace levels of Cd2+ ions in an aqueous medium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, using on-line preconcentration in a mini-column packed with 100 mg of 2-aminothiazol modified silica gel (SiAT). The Cd2+ ions were sorbed at pH 5.0. The preconcentrated Cd2+ ions were directly eluted from the column to the spectrometer's nebulizer-burner system using 100 microL of 2 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid. A retention efficiency of over 95% was achieved. The enrichment factor (calculated as the ratio of slopes of the calibration graphs) obtained with preconcentrations in a mini-column packed with SiAT (A = -1.3 x 10(-3) + 1.8 x 10(-3)[Cd2+]) and without preconcentrations (A = 4 x 10(-5) + 3.5 x 10(-5)[Cd2+]), was 51 and the detection limit calculated was 0.38 microg L(-1). The preconcentration procedure was applied to determine trace levels of Cd in river water samples. The optimum preconcentration conditions are discussed herein.

M?NP acid, a powerful chiral molecular tool for preparation of enantiopure alcohols by resolution and determination of their absolute configurations by the1H NMR anisotropy method

A novel methodology using a chiral molecular tool of MalphaNP acid (1), 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid, useful for preparation of enantiopure secondary alcohols and determination of their absolute configurations by the (1)H NMR anisotropy method was developed; racemic MalphaNP acid (1) was enantioresolved with (-)-menthol, and the enantiopure MalphaNP acid (S)-(+)-(1) obtained was allowed to react with racemic alcohol, yielding a mixture of diastereomeric esters, which was clearly separated by HPLC on silica gel. By applying the sector rule of (1)H NMR anisotropy effect, the absolute configuration of the first-eluted MalphaNP ester was unambiguously determined. Solvolysis or reduction of the first-eluted MalphaNP esters yielded enantiopure alcohols.

Adsorption, separation, and thermochemical data on the herbicide picloram anchored on silica gel and its cation interaction behavior

The herbicide 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram), chemically anchored on silica gel surface (SiPi), has been used for divalent cation M(2+) (Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cd) adsorption from aqueous solutions at room temperature. The series of adsorption isotherms were adjusted to a modified Langmuir equation from data obtained by suspending the solid with MCl(2) solutions, which gave the maximum number of moles adsorbed as 9.27, 7.54, 5.12, and 1.54 x 10(-4) molg(-1) for Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cd, respectively. The minimum cation retention capacity from aqueous solution was observed at pH 1, increasing up to pH 4, and was maintained constant at pH 5 for all cations. The maximum retention capacity followed the sequence Cu>Ni>Zn>Cd. SiPi-M (Cu, Ni) interactions presented endothermic enthalpic values, which contrasted with exothermic values for SiPi-M (Zn, Cd) interactions. The anchored herbicide was also used to separate the cations when loaded in a column. Their resolutions were determined as the ability of this surface to separate cations, to give Rs(Cd-Zn)=2.33, Rs(Cd-Ni)=3.16, Rs(Cd-Cu)=7.21, Rs(Zn-Ni)=1.31, Rs(Zn-Cu)=2.55, and Rs(Ni-Cu)=0.72.

1H and 2H NMR studies of benzene confined in porous solids: melting point depression and pore size distribution

The pore size distributions of four controlled pore glasses and three silica gels with nominal diameters in the range 4-24 nm were determined by measuring the 1H and 2H NMR signals from the non-frozen fraction of confined benzene and perdeuterated benzene as a function of temperature, in steps of ca. 0.1-1 K. The liquid and solid components of the adsorbate were distinguished, on the basis of the spin-spin relaxation time T2, by employing a spin-echo sequence. The experimental intensity curves of the liquid component are well represented by a sum of two error functions. The mean melting point depression of benzene and perdeuterated benzene confined in the four controlled pore glasses, with pore radius R, follows the simplified Gibbs-Thompson equation DeltaT=kp/R with a kp value of 44 K nm. As expected, the kp value mainly determines the position of the pore size distribution curve, i.e., the mean pore radius, while the transition width determines the shape of the pore size distribution curve. The excellent agreement between the results from the 1H and 2H measurements shows that the effect of the background absorption from protons in physisorbed water and silanol groups is negligible under the experimental conditions used. The overall pore size distributions determined by NMR are in reasonable agreement with the results specified by the manufacturer, or measured by us using the N2 sorption technique. The NMR method, which is complementary to the conventional gas sorption method, is particularly appropriate for studying pore sizes in the mesoporous range.

Adsorption of Divalent Transition Metal Ions with a Chelating Agent on Octadecyl Silica Gel

This investigation looked at the extraction ability of divalent transition metal ions onto an octadecyl silica gel (C18g) with a 4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butadione (TTA) chelating agent. A method of retaining TTA onto C18g (TTA-C18g) was developed in order to adsorb the metal ions. The difference in the half-adsorption and half-extraction pH values between transition metals Ni2+-Co2+ was found to be 0.7 in this system. This is better than previously published results of 0.3 for the conventional extraction method using TTA in nitrobenzene. More than 96% of the metal ions in aqueous solution could be adsorbed onto TTA-C18g. Our system, which has no organic phase, can achieve a better removal or separation of transition metal ions than the conventional solvent-extraction methods using TTA in toluene or nitrobenzene.