Biomass-Derived Porous Carbonaceous Aerogel as Sorbent for Oil-Spill Remediation.

We prepared a cost-effective, environmentally friendly carbonaceuous oil sorbent with a lotus effect structure using a simple one-pot hydrothermal reaction and a mild modification process. The carbonaceous oil sorbent can rapidly, efficiently, and continuously collect oil in situ from a water surface. This sorbent was unlike traditional sorbents because it was not dependent on the weight and volume of the sorption material. The sorbent was also successfully used to separate and collect crude oil from the water surface and can collect organic solvents underwater. This novel oil sorbent and oil-collection device can be used in case of emergency for organic solvent leakages, as well as leakages in tankers and offshore drilling platforms.

Selective colorimetric detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) using gallic acid capped gold nanoparticles.

A colorimetric assay is proposed for the selective detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) via the aggregation-induced color change of gallic acid capped gold nanoparticles (GA-AuNPs). The AuNPs are characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). To detect Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) coexisting in a sample, citrate and thiosulfate were applied to mask Cr(vi) for the detection of Cr(iii), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) was applied to mask Cr(iii) for the detection of Cr(vi). At optimized experimental conditions, the selectivity of these AuNPs-based detection systems is excellent for Cr(iii) and/or Cr(vi) compared with other types of metal ions. The limit of detections (LODs) of a mixture of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi), Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) by eye vision are 1.5, 1.5 and 2 µM, respectively, and those by UV-vis spectroscopy are 0.05, 0.1 and 0.1 µM, respectively. The minimum detectable concentrations for Cr(iii) or Cr(vi) are all below the guideline value set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The applicability of the AuNPs-based colorimetric sensor is also validated by the detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) in electroplating wastewater and real water samples with high recoveries.

Colorimetric detection of copper and efficient removal of heavy metal ions from water by diamine-functionalized SBA-15.

SBA-15 functionalized with N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylene-diamine (TPED) was synthesized and used for the colorimetric detection of Cu(2+) and removal of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. Compared to free SBA-15, the adsorption ability of diamine-functionalized SBA-15 (depicted as SBA-TPED) increased remarkably, the maximum adsorption capacity of SBA-TPED for Cu(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+) was 27.22, 96.43 and 12.16 mg g(-1), respectively. Furthermore, SBA-TPED exhibits high selectivity for Cu(2+) with the relative selectivity coefficient of SBA-TPED for Cu(2+)/Pb(2+) being over 10 and for Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) being over 60. The naked-eye detection limit of SBA-TPED for Cu(2+) is 0.95 ppm, and the determination of Cu(2+) in real water samples also displays satisfactory results. Moreover, SBA-TPED possesses fast kinetics for removing Cu(2+) with a saturation time of less than 30 min, and can be regenerated by simple acid treatment.

Anion-tunable configuration isomerism and magnetic coupling in a tetranuclear discrete, one-dimensional (1D) chiral chain and 1D-decker copper(II) complexes of a carbohydrazine derivative.

The reactions of ligand N'-[(pyridin-2-yl)methylene]pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide (ppcd) with different copper salts (1, acetate; 2, perchlorate; 3, sulfate) in MeOH could afford one acetate-bridge tetranuclear discrete [Cu2(ppcd)(ac)2(H2O)(OH)]2·H2O (1), one-dimensional (1D) chiral chain [Cu(ppcd)]ClO4 (2), and a 1D-decker complex of a trinuclear copper(II) subunit, Cu3(ppcd)2(H2O)4(SO4)2 (3). Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that conformation isomerism of the ppcd ligand was associated with the configuration of -N-N- (trans or cis) and could induce the versatile coordination mode in the presence of different anions. The 1D chiral chain was interestingly obtained from the achiral rigid ligand in complex 2. Magnetic studies indicated that the magnitude of the antiferromagnetic coupling can be tuned because of the configuration isomerism [compound 1 is practically diamagnetic at room temperature (J ≈ -1000 cm(-1)), with a strong antiferromagnetic one (J = -255.4 cm(-1)) for 2 in the 1D uniform chain and an antiferromagnetic one (J = -123.6 cm(-1)) for 3 within the trinuclear copper subunit].

Monoclonal antibodies directed against chicken ß2-microglobulin developed with a synthesized peptide.

We developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against chicken ß2-microglobulin (chß2M) by fusions between SP2/0 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with a synthesized peptide corresponding to positions 91-119 of the COOH domain of chß2M. Two of them, 6E7 and 3D1, identified as IgG1/κ, could react with chß2M protein from avian macrophage HD11 cells and human 293T cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-chß2M in immunofluorescence assays. Only a 12 kDa protein band of chß2M could be detected in the HD11 and 293T/chß2M cell lysates by Western blot analysis. Chicken ß2M in serum and plasma could be found in Western blot by MAb 3D1. Moreover, MAb 3D1 also recognized the chß2M antigen on the cell membranes in flow cytometry. Immunohistochemical staining with these MAbs revealed that chß2M was present in chicken thymus, spleen, and bursa. These MAbs will be good tools for analyzing the mechanism of the chicken immune system.

Structural transitions in mixed ternary noble gas clusters.

The properties of noble gas systems can be greatly extended by heterogeneous mixtures of elements. The geometrical structures and energies of mixed Ar-Kr-Xe clusters were investigated using ternary Lennard-Jones (TLJ) potential. For the Ar19Kr n Xe19, Ar19Kr19Xe n , and Ar n Kr19Xe19 (n = 0-17) clusters investigated, the results show that only two minimum energy configurations exist, i.e., polytetrahedron and six-fold pancake. The inner core of all these clusters is composed mainly of Ar atoms, and Kr and Xe atoms are distributed on the surface with well mixed pattern for polytetrahedral and segregate pattern for six-fold pancake configurations. The relative stability property of Ar-Kr-Xe clusters with a certain composition is discussed. Moreover, the role of heterogeneity on the strain was investigated, and reduced strain energies in Ar-Kr-Xe clusters were studied to find possible ways of reducing strain. The results showed that the strain energies were affected mainly by Ar-Ar, Ar-Kr, and Xe-Xe bonds.

Modifying Fe3O4 microspheres with rhodamine hydrazide for selective detection and removal of Hg2+ ion in water.

Rhodamine hydrazide modifying Fe(3)O(4) microspheres (Fe(3)O(4)-R6G) was developed for selective detection and removal of mercury ion from water. With a saturation magnetization of 74.2 emu/g, the Fe(3)O(4)-R6G could be simply recollected from water with magnetic separation within a few minutes. The selectivity and adsorption ability of Fe(3)O(4)-R6G for metal cations were studied by fluorophotometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that Fe(3)O(4)-R6G exhibited excellent selectivity for sensing mercury ion over other metal ions in aqueous solution, and also adsorbed 91% of mercury ion. The maximum adsorption capacity of the Fe(3)O(4)-R6G for Hg(2+) ion was 37.4 µmol g(-1). The Fe(3)O(4)-R6G was successfully applied to the determination of Hg(2+) in environmental samples, and could be used repeatedly by treatment with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide.

Poly[[chloridodimethanol(µ(3)-pyridine-2,3-dicarboxyl-ato)europium(III)] methanol monosolvate].

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {[Eu(C(7)H(3)NO(4))Cl(CH(3)OH)(2)]·CH(3)OH}(n), contains one Eu(III) ion, one pyridine 2,3-dicarboxylate dianion (PDC), two CH(3)OH mol-ecules coordinating to the metal atom, one coordinating chloride and one lattice occluded CH(3)OH mol-ecule. In the crystal, each PDC anion coordinates to three adjacent Eu(III) ions by the pyridine N and O atoms of the carboxyl-ate groups. The Eu(III) cation is eightfold coordinated by four carboxyl-ate O atoms, one pyridine N atom, two MeOH and one chloride anion in the form of a distorted polyhedron. Extended coordination of the PDC ligand lead to the formation of a two-dimensional coordination polymer parallel to (10-1).

Dual functional rhodamine-immobilized silica toward sensing and extracting mercury ions in natural water samples.

A reversible solid optical sensor (SGIR) for Hg(2+) based on silica gel was designed and synthesized. The binding and adsorption abilities of SGIR for metal cations were investigated with fluorophotometry and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The SGIR exhibits high selectivity for sensing Hg(2+) over other metal cations in aqueous media because the Hg(2+) ion selectively induces a ring opening of the rhodamine fluorophores, and the SGIR was also found to adsorb 72% of Hg(2+) ion. The determination of Hg(2+) in both tap and lake water samples displays satisfactory results, and the SGIR can also be easily recovered by treatment of a solution of TBA(+)OH(-).

Structural optimization of Cu-Ag-Au trimetallic clusters by adaptive immune optimization algorithm.

The putative global minimum structures of Cu-Ag-Au trimetallic clusters with 19 and 55 atoms are obtained by adaptive immune optimization algorithm (AIOA) with the Gupta potential. For the 19-atom trimetallic clusters, the results indicate that all of them have double-icosahedral motifs. For the optimized structures of Cu(13)Ag(n)Au(42-n) (n = 1-41), the clusters can be categorized into 19 Mackay icosahedral structures, 1 6-fold pancake structure, and 21 ring-like structures linked by three face-sharing double-icosahedra. Furthermore, the segregation phenomena of the Cu, Ag, and Au atoms in the Cu-Ag-Au trimetallic clusters are studied to provide useful information for geometric character. Results show that Cu and Ag atoms prefer to locate in the inner-shell and on the surface, respectively, whereas Au atoms mainly locate in the middle-shell and tend to solve into Cu and Ag atoms.

Bis{4-chloro-N'-[phen-yl(2-pyrid-yl)methyl-idene]benzohydrazidato-κN',O}cobalt(III) nitrate methanol disolvate.

In the title compound, [Co(C(19)H(13)ClN(3)O)(2)]NO(3)·2CH(3)OH, the central Co(III) atom in the cation is surrounded by two tridentate ligands in a distorted octa-hedral fashion by four N and two O atoms. Classical O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link both methanol solvent mol-ecules with the nitrate anion.

Bis[4-chloro-N'-(2-pyridyl-methyl-idene)benzohydrazidato]cobalt(III) nitrate sesquihydrate.

In the title compound, [Co(C(13)H(9)ClN(3)O)(2)]NO(3)·1.5H(2)O, the central Co(3+) atom in the cation is coordinated by four N and two O atoms from the two tridentate ligands in a distorted octa-hedral fashion. In the crystal, the cobalt complex cations are linked to the half-occupied and the fully occupied water mol-ecules, and the nitrate anion via classical inter-molecular O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and weak C-H⋯O contacts.

A novel fluorescent distinguished probe for Cr (VI) in aqueous solution.

Salicylaldehyde rhodamine B hydrazone (SRBH) was developed as a new spectrofluorimetric probe for the selective and sensitive detection of CrO(4)(2-) in acidic conditions. The proposed method was based on the special oxidation reaction between non-fluorescent SRBH by potassium dichromate to produce a highly fluorescent rhodamine B, as a product. Under the optimum conditions described, the fluorescence enhancement at 591 nm was good linearly related to the concentration of CrO(4)(2-) from 1.0 x 10(-8) to 3.0 x 10(-7)M (0.42-12.6 ng mL(-1)) with a correlation coefficient of R(2)=0.9989 (n=10) and a detection limit of 1.5 x 10(-9)M (0.063 ng mL(-1)). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 2.0% (n=6). The proposed method was also successfully applied to the determination of chromium (VI) in drinking water, river water and synthetic samples.

[Bovine serum albumin in the presence of zinc (II) by fluorescence method].

The interaction between norfloxacin and bovine serum albumin, and the influence of Zinc (II) on the system of norfloxacin and bovine serum albumin was studied under physiological condition by fluorescence method. It was shown that norfloxacin has a powerful ability to quench the BSA fluorescence via a nonradiative energy transfer mechanism. The fluorescence quenching data were analyzed according to Stern-Volmer equation and double-reciprocal equation, and the binding constant (K) and the binding sites (n) were obtained. In the system of binary complex of NFLX and BSA, K = 6.80 x 10(5) and n = 1.21. There is a strong combination between NFLX and BSA, which offers the condition for the serum protein to be deposited and transported in vivo. Besides, the combination between NFLX and BSA becomes stronger in the presence of Zinc (II). According to Stern-Volmer equation and double-reciprocal equation, the concentration of Znic (II) is denser, and the binding constant (K) and the binding sites (n) are bigger. By studying the binding interaction between Zinc (II), norfloxacin and BSA, the mechanism of the interaction among norfloxacin, Zinc (II) and protein in organism, is furtherly discussed.

2'-Amino-3,6-dihydroxyxanthene-9-spiro-1'-isoindolin-3'-one monohydrate.

The title compound, C(20)H(14)N(2)O(4)·H(2)O, was synthesized by the reaction of fluorescein and hydrazine hydrate in ethanol. In the crystal structure, the organic mol-ecules are linked into extended two-dimensional networks by inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. Additional face-to-face π-π stacking inter-actions between the phenolic benzene rings in two adjacent mol-ecules [centroid-to-centroid separation = 3.773 (3) Å] link the mol-ecules into a three-dimensional framework.

3,6-Dihydr-oxy-2'-[(2-hydr-oxy-1-naphth-yl)methyl-eneamino]xanthene-9-spiro-1'-isoindolin-3'-one acetonitrile solvate.

The title compound, C(31)H(20)N(2)O(5)·C(2)H(3)N, was synthesized by the reaction of fluorescein hydrazide and excess 2-hydr-oxy-1-naphthaldehyde in acetonitrile. The spirolactam ring is planar and is nearly at right angles to the two benzene rings of the xanthene system. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings of the xanthene system is 9.92 (4)°. In the crystal structure, the mol-ecules are linked into extended two-dimensional networks by inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. Acetonitrile mol-ecules are located in the voids between the two-dimensional networks.

Chlorido(pyridine-2-carbaldehyde oximato-κN,N')(pyridine-2-carbaldehyde oxime-κN,N')copper(II).

In the title compound, [Cu(C(6)H(5)N(2)O)Cl(C(6)H(6)N(2)O)], the Cu atom is coordinated by one neutral and one deprotonated pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde oxime (pco) ligand, resulting in the formation of two five-membered CuN(2)C(2) rings. Together with the additional coordinating chloride anion, the coordination polyhedron of copper is best described as a distorted square-pyramid, the distortion parameter being 0.288. The two organic ligands are linked by an intramolecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond.

Functionalized CdS quantum dots-based luminescence probe for detection of heavy and transition metal ions in aqueous solution.

Strong luminescence CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared and modified with l-cysteine by a facile seeds-assistant technique in water. They are water-soluble and highly stable in aqueous solution. CdS QDs evaluated as a luminescence probe for heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions in aqueous solution was systematically studied. Five HTM ions such as silver(I) ion, copper(II) ion, mercury(II) ion, cobalt(II) ion, and nickel(II) ion significantly influence the photophysics of the emission from the functionalized CdS QDs. Experiment results showed that the fluorescence emission from CdS QDs was enhanced significantly by silver ion without any spectral shift, while several other bivalent HTM ions, such as Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+), exhibited effective optical quenching effect on QDs. Moreover, an obvious red-shift of emission band was observed in the quenching of CdS QDs for Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) ions. Under the optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Ag(+) ion ranging from 1.25 x 10(-7) to 5.0 x 10(-6)molL(-1) with a detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-8)molL(-1). The concentration dependence of the quenching effect on functionalized QDs for the other four HTM ions could be well described by typical Stern-Volmer equation, with the linear response of CdS QDs emission proportional to the concentration ranging from 1.50 x 10(-8) to 7.50 x 10(-7)molL(-1) for Hg(2+) ion, 3.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5)molL(-1) for Ni(2+) ion, 4.59 x 10(-8) to 2.295 x 10(-6)molL(-1) for Cu(2+) ion, and 1.20 x 10(-7) to 6.0 x 10(-6)molL(-1) Co(2+) ion, respectively. Based on the distinct optical properties of CdS QDs system with the five HTM ions, and the relatively wide linear range and rapid response to HTM ions, CdS QDs can be developed as a potential identified luminescence probe for familiar HTM ions detection in aqueous solution.

Facile synthesis of water-soluble and size-homogeneous cadmium selenide nanoparticles and their application as a long-wavelength fluorescent probe for detection of Hg(II) in aqueous solution.

Highly luminescent uncoated water-soluble and mono-disperse CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared facilely. Uncoated CdSe core NPs possessing a good size distribution was accompanied with long wavelength of fluorescence emission. It is interesting to note that these functionalized NPs are soluble in water medium stably for more than 1 month, and no significant changes were found in the optical characteristics in comparison with fresh CdSe NPs prepared. The functionalized CdSe NPs exhibited strong specific affinity for mercury(II) through their surface functional groups. Based on the significant quenching of fluorescence emission of functionalized CdSe NPs with a long-wavelength 630nm, a simple, rapid and specific detection for Hg(II) was proposed. Under optimum conditions, the response of linearly proportional to the concentration of Hg(II) is between 0mol/L and 1.25x10(-6)mol/L, and the limit of detection is 4.50x10(-9)mol/L. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of six replicate measurements is 2.0% for 2.0x10(-7)mol/L of Hg(II). In terms of fluorescence quenching at 630nm of CdSe NPs, no obvious wavelength shift or no new emission band in presence of Hg(II) at pH 7.50 of phosphate buffer solution were found; furthermore, a significant reduction in absorbance at 230nm of CdSe NPs was first observed in our work. We could speculate that Hg(II) as an effective quencher (even at low concentration) for functionalized CdSe NPs emission suggests that it is capable of directly intercepting one of the charge carriers, thus disrupting the recombination process.

A functionalized gold nanoparticles and Rhodamine 6G based fluorescent sensor for high sensitive and selective detection of mercury(II) in environmental water samples.

A gold-nanoparticles (Au NPs)-Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) based fluorescent sensor for detecting Hg(II) in aqueous solution has been developed. Water-soluble and monodisperse gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) has been prepared facilely and further modified with thioglycolic acid (TGA). Free Rh6G dye was strongly fluorescent in bulk solution. The sensor system composing of Rh6G and Au NPs fluoresce weakly as result of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and collision. The fluorescence of Rh6G and Au NPs based sensor was gradually recovered due to Rh6G units departed from the surface of functionalized Au NPs in the presence of Hg(II). Based on the modulation of fluorescence quenching efficiency of Rh6G-Au NPs by Hg(II) at pH 9.0 of teraborate buffer solution, a simple, rapid, reliable and specific turn-on fluorescent assay for Hg(II) was proposed. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity of sensor is proportional to the concentration of Hg(II). The calibration graphs are linear over the range of 5.0x10(-10) to 3.55x10(-8) mol L(-1), and the corresponding limit of detection (LOD) is low as 6.0x10(-11) mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation of 10 replicate measurements is 1.5% for 2.0x10(-9) mol L(-1) Hg(II). In comparison with conventional fluorimetric methods for detection of mercury ion, the present nanosensor endowed with higher sensitivity and selectivity for Hg(II) in aqueous solution. Mercury(II) of real environmental water samples was determined by our proposed method with satisfactory results that were obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).