Novel method for characterization of aqueous vanadium species: A perspective for the transition metal chemical speciation studies

Implications of albumin in cell culture media on the biological action of vanadates(V)

In this article, the implications of binding competition of vanadates(V) with dodecyl sulfates for bovine serum albumin on cytotoxicity of vanadium(V) species against prostate cancer cells have been investigated. The pH- and SDS-dependent vanadate(V)-BSA interactions were observed. At pH 5, there is only one site capable of binding ten vanadates(V) ions (logK(ITC)1 = 4.96 ± 0.06; ΔH(ITC)1 = -1.04 ± 0.03 kcal mol-1), whereas at pH 7 two distinctive binding sites on protein were found, saturated with two and seven V(V) ions, respectively (logK(ITC)1 = 6.11 ± 0.06; ΔH(ITC)1 = 0.78 ± 0.12 kcal mol-1; logK(ITC)2 = 4.80 ± 0.02; ΔH(ITC)2 = - 4.95 ± 0.14 kcal mol-1). SDS influences the stoichiometry and the stability of the resulting V(V)-BSA complexes. Finally, the cytotoxicity of vanadates(V) against prostate cancer cells (PC3 line) was examined in the presence and absence of SDS in the culture medium. In the case of a 24-h incubation with 100 μM vanadate(V), a ca. 20 % reduction in viability of PC3 cells was observed in the presence of SDS. However, in other considered cases (various concentrations and time of incubation) SDS does not affect the dose-dependent action of vanadates(V) on the investigated prostate cancer cells.

Highly efficient oxidative-alkaline-leaching process of vanadium-chromium reducing residue and parameters optimization by response surface methodology

Vanadium-chromium reducing residue was not only a typical solid waste in the steel industry but also a valuable secondary source for recovery of vanadium and chromium. A highly efficient oxidative-alkaline-leaching technology with Na₂S₂O₈ was applied in this work. The effect of experimental factors including m(NaOH)/m(Residue), liquid-to-solid ratio, reaction temperature, m(Na₂S₂O₈)/m(Residue) and reaction time, on the leaching process were investigated. It was showed that 96.3% vanadium was leached out under selected conditions: m(NaOH)/m(Residue) = 0.30, liquid-to-solid ratio of 5 mL/g, reaction time of 60 min, m(Na₂S₂O₈)/m(Residue) = 0.50, reaction temperature of 90°C and stirring rate at 500 rpm, respectively. The leaching kinetics behaviour analysis demonstrated that the controlling step of the reaction was the diffusion of residue through the liquid film, and the Ea for vanadium leaching out was calculated to 15.57 kJ/mol. Response surface methodology was applied to analyze the interaction of the main conditions and the results showed that the influence of experimental factors on the leaching efficiency of vanadium followed the order: m(NaOH)/m(Residue) (B) > m(Na₂S₂O₈)/m(Residue) (C) > reaction temperature (E) > reaction time (D) > liquid-to-solid ratio (A).

Quantitative tuning of ionic metal species for ultra-selective metal solvent extraction toward high-purity vanadium products

The essence behind metal solvent extraction is the interaction between metal species and organic extractants. Aqueous metal species tuning at the molecular level is critical to improve the extraction efficiency and selectivity of the target metal. Herein, we demonstrate a quantitative metal species tuning strategy which is capable of extracting the most critical metals (e.g., V, W, and Mo) in extraction systems constructed by amines. We reveal the superior activities of V₄ and V₁₀ species among various V and Cr species by calculations and experiments. In addition, the contribution of various V_n species was quantitatively evaluated via Ion Species Contribution Evaluation (ISCE). Our tuning strategy is rationally designed by bridging species characteristics and routine aqueous conditions with extraction activities. Consequently, a three-dimensional model of V and Cr solvent extraction is established for the prediction of reaction regions, and the reactivities of nearly 20 kinds of typical metal species are compared and predicted. Our strategy serves for industrial solvent extraction, and may provide inspiration for the traditional hydrometallurgical revolutionary.

Efficient Recovery of Vanadium from High-Chromium Vanadium Slag with Calcium-Roasting Acidic Leaching

High-chromium vanadium slag (HCVS) is an important by-product generated during the smelting process of high-chromium-vanadium-titanium-magnetite. Direct acid leaching and calcium-roasting acid leaching technology were applied to recover vanadium and chromium from HCVS. The effects of experimental parameters on the leaching process, including concentration of H2SO4, reaction temperature, reaction time, and liquid-to-solid ratio, were investigated. The XRD and UV-Vis DRS results showed that vanadium and chromium existed in low valence with a spinel structure in the HCVS. The Cr-spinel was too stable to leach out; no more than 8% of the chromium could be leached out both in the direct acid leaching process and calcium-roasting acid-leaching process. Most low valence vanadium could be oxidized to high valence with calcium-roasting technology, and the leaching efficiency could be increased from 33.89% to 89.12% at the selected reaction conditions: concentration of H2SO4 at 40 vt.%, reaction temperature of 90 °C, reaction time of 3 h, liquid-to-solid ratio of 4:1 mL/g, and stirring rate of 500 rpm. The kinetics analysis indicated that the leaching behavior of vanadium followed the shrinking core model well, and the leaching process was controlled by the surface chemical reaction, with an Ea of 58.95 kJ/mol and 62.98 kJ/mol for direct acid leaching and roasting acid leaching, respectively.

Recent Approaches for Chemical Speciation and Analysis by Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry

In recent years, the chemical speciation of several species has been increasingly monitored and investigated, employing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This soft ionization technique gently desolvates weak metal–ligand complexes, taking them in the high vacuum sectors of mass spectrometric instrumentation. It is, thus, possible to collect information on their structure, energetics, and fragmentation pathways. For this reason, this technique is frequently chosen in a synergistic approach to investigate competitive ligand exchange-adsorption otherwise analyzed by cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-ACSV). ESI-MS analyses require a careful experimental design as measurement may face instrumental artifacts such as ESI adduct formation, fragmentation, and sometimes reduction reactions. Furthermore, ESI source differences of ionization efficiencies among the detected species can be misleading. In this mini-review are collected and critically reported the most recent approaches adopted to mitigate or eliminate these limitations and to show the potential of this analytical technique.

Leaching Kinetics of Vanadium from Calcium-Roasting High-Chromium Vanadium Slag Enhanced by Electric Field

Vanadium exists as multivalent valences in high-chromium vanadium slag, and it is hard to leach out in low valence. Electro-oxidation technology has been applied to enhance the leaching process of calcium-roasting high-chromium vanadium slag. The effect of parameters that affect the leaching efficiency of vanadium including concentration of sulfur acid, current density, reaction temperature, and liquid-to-solid ratio was investigated. The results showed that vanadium in low valence could be oxidized and efficiently leached out enhanced with electricity. The leaching kinetics was analyzed, which indicates that the leaching rate was controlled by the surface chemical reaction with an apparent activation energy of 40.11 kJ/mol. On the basis of this process, vanadium could be efficiently leached out with a leaching efficiency of 92.14% under optimal conditions: concentration of sulfur acid of 40 vol %, current density of 750 A/m², reaction temperature of 90 °C, reaction time of 180 min, particle size under 75 μm, liquid-to-solid ratio of 4:1 mL/g, and stirring rate of 500 rpm. The relationship between the leaching efficiency and the parameters affecting the leaching process could be described as 1 - (1 - x)^1/3 = K ₀ × [H₂SO₄]^0.1390 × [J]^0.03354 × [T]^2.8247 × [L/S]^-0.2598 × exp^40.11/T × t.

Oxidative Leaching Kinetics of Vanadium from the Vanadium-Chromium-Reducing Residue with K2Cr2O7

Oxidative-alkaline leaching of vanadium from vanadium-chromium-reducing residues with K2Cr2O7 was investigated in this paper. The effects of processing parameters including dosage of NaOH, dosage of K2Cr2O7, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the leaching efficiency of vanadium were studied. The results simulated by response surface methodology indicated that vanadium leaching was affected significantly by the dosage of K2Cr2O7 and NaOH, and the processing parameters that affected the leaching efficiency of vanadium followed the order m(NaOH)/m(residue) > m(K2Cr2O7)/sssssm(residue) > reaction temperature > reaction time. The leaching efficiency of vanadium was up to 99.92% under optimal conditions: reaction temperature of 90 °C, reaction time of 60 min, liquid-to-solid ratio of 5:1 mL g-1, m(K2Cr2O7)/m(residue) = 0.10, and m(NaOH)/m(residue) = 0.30. The kinetics analysis indicated that diffusion through the product layer was the controlling step and the apparent activation energy for vanadium leaching was calculated to be 58.275 kJ·mol-1.

Nanomaterials in speciation analysis of metals and metalloids

Nanomaterials have draw extensive attention from the scientists in recent years mainly due to their unique and attractive thermal, mechanical and electronic properties, as well as high surface to volume ratio and the possibility for surface functionalization. Whereas mono functional nanomaterials providing a single function, the preparation of core/shell nanoparticles allows different properties to be combined in one material. Their properties have been extensively exploited in different extraction techniques to improve the efficiency of separation and preconcentration, analytical selectivity and method reliability. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated revision of the most important features and application of nanomaterials (metallic, silica, polymeric and carbon-based) for solid phase extraction and microextraction techniques in speciation analysis of some metals and metalloids (As, Cr, Sb, Se). Emphasis will be placed on the presentation of the most representative works published in the last five years (2015-2019).