Removal of bromophenol blue from polluted water using a novel azo-functionalized magnetic nano-adsorbent.

Water pollution from organic dyes poses a serious danger to the environment. In the present work, we report a novel adsorbent (ADFS) based on azo-dye-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) for the removal of the anionic dye bromophenol blue (BPB) from contaminated water. The fabricated SPIONs, azo dye, and ADFS adsorbent were characterized with FTIR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, 1HNMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, SEM imaging, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, vibrating sample magnetometry, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. DLS measurements showed a particle size of 46.1 and 176.5 nm for the SPIONs and the ADFS, respectively. The adsorbent exhibited an adsorption capacity of 7.43 mg g-1 and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (r2 = 0.9981). The ADFS could efficiently remove BPB from water after stirring for 120 minutes at room temperature and pH 2. The adsorption process was proved to occur via physisorption, as revealed by the Freundlich isotherm (n = 1.82 and KF = 11.5). Thermodynamic studies implied that the adsorption is spontaneous (-8.03 ≤ ΔG ≤ -0.58 kJ mol-1) and enthalpy-driven might take place via van der Waals interactions and/or hydrogen bonding (ΔH = -82.19 kJ mol-1 and ΔS = -0.24 kJ mol-1 K-1).

Matrix-dispersed magnetic molecularly-imprinted polyaniline for the effective removal of chlorpyrifos pesticide from contaminated water.

We report a new adsorbent nanocomposite material based on matrix-dispersed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in molecularly-imprinted polyaniline for the removal of chlorpyrifos (CPF), a hazardous organophosphate pesticide, from water. The synthesized magnetic molecularly-imprinted polymer (MMIP) was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, magnetic susceptibility, DLS, zeta potential measurement, SEM and high-resolution TEM imaging. The average size of the naked SPIONs ranges from 15 to 30 nm according to the high-resolution TEM analysis. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS), adsorption isotherms and rebinding conditions were investigated in detail. The proposed MMIP has an imprinting factor of 1.64. In addition, it showed a high experimental adsorption capacity of 1.77 mg g-1 and a removal efficiency of nearly 80%. The fabricated MMIP material demonstrated excellent magnetic susceptibility allowing for easy separation using an external magnetic field. The adsorption mechanism of CPF onto the MMIP adsorbent followed the second-order kinetics model and fitted to the Temkin adsorption isotherm. By studying the adsorption thermodynamics, negative ΔG values (-1.955 kJ mol-1 at room temperature) were obtained revealing that the adsorption process is spontaneous. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at room temperature (ca. 303 K), neutral pH and using a high CPF concentration.

Optimisation and validation of a new analytical method for the determination of four natural and synthetic hormones using LC-ESI-MS/MS.

A rapid liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the simultaneous determination of four natural and synthetic hormone residues (progesterone, testosterone, trenbolone acetate and zeranol) in animal tissue samples. Sample preparation was optimised to minimise time and solvent consumption. Meat samples were mechanically homogenised and digested in a procedure that gave similar recoveries to those enzymatically hydrolysed by Helix pomatia. Efficient extraction was achieved using acidified acetonitrile (1% acetic acid). Chromatographic conditions were optimised to minimise matrix effects. Analytes were separated using a C18 column with gradient elution using ammonium formate solution in methanol (MeOH)/water (1:9) and MeOH mobile phases. Finally, residues were qualitatively and quantitatively determined by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Different parameters for LC-MS/MS (e.g., declustering potential and collision energy) were optimised using API 6500QT; all analytes were measured using positive-mode electrospray ionisation (ESI+) except zeranol which was measured in negative mode (ESI-). Due to LC-MS/MS signal enhancement/suppression, the determination of hormones was based on matrix-matched standard calculations. The method was validated for the four hormones on meat samples at different fortification levels and showed accepted performance criteria according to European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Decision limits and detection capabilities were estimated for all analytes.

New copper(II) complexes with dopamine hydrochloride and vanillymandelic acid: spectroscopic and thermal characterization.

The dopamine derivatives participate in the regulation of wide variety of physiological functions in the human body and in medication life. Increase and/or decrease in the concentration of dopamine in human body reflect an indication for diseases such as Schizophrenia and/or Parkinson diseases. The Cu(II) chelates with coupled products of dopamine hydrochloride (DO.HCl) and vanillymandelic acid (VMA) with 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) are prepared and characterized. Different physico-chemical techniques namely IR, magnetic and UV-vis spectra are used to investigate the structure of these chelates. Cu(II) forms 1:1 (Cu:DO) and 1:2 (Cu:VMA) chelates. DO behave as a uninegative tridentate ligand in binding to the Cu(II) ion while VMA behaves as a uninegative bidentate ligand. IR spectra show that the DO is coordinated to the Cu(II) ion in a tridentate manner with ONO donor sites of the phenolic-OH, -NH and carbonyl-O, while VMA is coordinated with OO donor sites of the phenolic-OH and -NH. Magnetic moment measurements reveal the presence of Cu(II) chelates in octahedral and square planar geometries with DO and VMA, respectively. The thermal decomposition of Cu(II) complexes is studied using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The activation thermodynamic parameters, such as, energy of activation, enthalpy, entropy and free energy change of the complexes are evaluated and the relative thermal stability of the complexes are discussed.

Spectrophotometric determination of peptic ulcer sulfur-containing drugs in bulk form and in tablets.

Two spectrophotometric procedures are suggested for the determination of three irreversible proton pump inhibitors, rabeprazole (RAB), omeprazole (OMP) and pantoprazole (PAN) in pure form and in different pharmaceutical formulations. The first method is based on the oxidation of RAB and PAN with potassium iodate in an acidic medium followed by extracting the liberated iodine with cyclohexane and measurement at λ = 520 nm. Beer's law is valid in the concentration ranges from 10-400 and 5-400 µg ml(-1) for RAB and PAN, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivities of the resulting coloured product were found to be 1.34 × 10(3) and 1.64 × 10(3) l.mol(-1). cm(-1) for RAB and PAN, respectively. The second method is based on the interaction of the basic drugs, OMP, RAB and PAN, in 1,2-dichloroethane with bromophenol blue (BPB), bromocresol green (BCG) and bromocresol purple (BCP) in the same solvent to produce stable coloured ion pairs with maximum absorbance at 385-405 nm. Regression analysis of Beer's plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 10-60, 10-60 and 5-40 µg ml(-1) for OMP, 10-150, 10-150 and 10-60 µg ml(-1) for RAB and 10-250, 10-150 and 10-100 µg ml(-1) for PAN with BPB, BCG and BCP reagents, respectively. The limits of detection are 0.46-7.69 µg ml(-1) and limits of quantitation range between 1.52-8.53 µg ml(-1). The optimum assay conditions were investigated and the recovery of the drugs from their dosage forms ranged from 99.33% to 100.5%. Intraday relative standard deviations (RSD) were 0.029-1.397% and the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.9992 to 1. The two methods can be applied successfully for the determination of these drugs in tablets. The results of analysis were validated statistically through recovery studies.

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction mechanism between DDQ as pi-acceptor and potassium iodate and flucloxacillin and dicloxacillin drugs and their determination in pure and in dosage forms.

Two simple and accurate spectrophotometric methods are presented for the determination of beta-lactam drugs, flucloxacillin (Fluclox) and dicloxacillin (Diclox), in pure and in different pharmaceutical preparations. The charge transfer (CT) reactions between Fluclox and Diclox as electron donors and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) pi-acceptor and potassium iodate via oxidation reduction reaction where the highly coloured complex species or the liberated iodine have been spectrophotometrically studied. The optimum experimental conditions have been studied carefully. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 2-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 10-450 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using DDQ reagent and at 50-550 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and 50-560 microg ml(-1) for Diclox using iodate method, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration range is calculated and found to be 6-450 and 15-450 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using DDQ, respectively, and 65-550 and 63-560 microg ml(-1) for Fluclox and Diclox using iodine, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity is found to be 0.018 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for DDQ method and 0.013 and 0.011 microg cm(-2) for iodate method for Fluclox and Diclox, respectively, which indicates the high sensitivity of both methods. Standard deviation (S.D.=0.01-0.80 and 0.07-0.98) and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.=0.13-0.44 and 0.11-0.82%) (n=5) for DDQ and iodate methods, respectively, refer to the high accuracy and precision of the proposed methods. These results are also confirmed by between-day precision of percent recovery of 99.87-100.2 and 99.90-100% for Fluclox and Diclox by DDQ method and 99.88-100.1 and 99.30-100.2% for Fluclox and Diclox by iodate method, respectively. These data are comparable to those obtained by British and American pharmacopoeias assay for the determination of Fluclox and Diclox in raw materials and in pharmaceutical preparations.

Spectrophotometric determination of trazodone, amineptine and amitriptyline hydrochlorides through ion-pair formation with molybdenum and thiocyanate.

Extraction spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tricyclic drugs such as trazodone (TZH), amineptine (APH) and amitriptyline (ATPH) hydrochlorides in pure form and in the dosage forms coming from different Egyptian markets. The method based on the formation of ion-pairs between these drugs under investigation and inorganic complex of Mo(V)-thiocyanate followed by its extraction with methylene chloride. The optimum conditions for the ion-pairs formation are established. The method permits the determination of TZH, APH and ATPH over the concentration range of 2-28, 2-32 and 1-30 microg ml(-1), respectively. The Sandell sensitivity (S) is found to be 0.105, 0.138 and 0.118 g cm(-2) for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The SD is found to be 0.16-0.377, 0.12-0.259 and 0.091-0.286 and the R.S.D. are 0.14-0.55, 0.12-0.399 and 0.095-0.485 for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The method is applicable for the assay of the investigated drugs in different dosage forms and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official method.

Two Spectrophotometric Assays for Dopamine Derivatives in Pharmaceutical Products and in Biological Samples of Schizophrenic Patients Using Copper Tetramine Complex and Tri-iodide Reagent.

Two simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the determination of levodopa (LD). The first method is based on coupling of 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) with one of the dopamine derivatives (LD, CD) to give a new ligand that reacts with copper tetramine complex to give intensely colored chelates. The colored products are quantified spectrophotometrically at 525 and 520 nm for LD and CD, respectively. The optimization of the experimental conditions is described. The method has been used for the determination of $19.7$ - $69.0$ and $18.1$ - $54.3$ $\mu$ g mL ${}^{-1}$ of LD and CD, respectively. The accuracy of the method is achieved by the values of recovery ( $100\pm 0.2$ %) and the precision is supported by the low standard deviation (SD $=0.17$ - $0.59$ ) and relative standard deviation (CV $=0.4$ %- $1.54$ %) values. The second method is based on the formation of ion-pair iodinated inner sphere or outer sphere colored complexes between the LD and triiodide ions at pH 5 and room temperature ( $23\pm 3^\circ$ C). This method has been used for the determination of LD within the concentration range $39.44$ - $78.88$ $\mu$ g mL ${}^{-1}$ with SD $=0.22$ - $0.24$ and recovery percent $=100 \pm 0.3$ %. The sensitivity of the two methods is indicated by Sandell's sensitivity of $0.014$ - $0.019$ g cm ${}^{-2}$ . The results of the two methods are compared with those of the official method. The interference of common drug additives, degradation products, and excipients was also studied. The proposed methods were applied successfully to the determination of the LD-CD synthetic mixture and Levocare drug. The determination of LD in urine of some schizophrenic patients was applied with good precision and accuracy. The reliability of the methods was established by parallel determinations against the official British pharmacopoeia method.

Structure investigation, spectral, thermal, X-ray and mass characterization of piroxicam and its metal complexes.

[M(H2L)2](A)2.yH2O (where H2L: neutral piroxicam (Pir), A: Cl- in case of Ni(II) or acetate anion in case of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions and y=0-2.5) and [M(H2L)3](A)z.yH2O (A: SO4(2-) in case of Fe(II) ion (z=1) or Cl(-) in case of Fe(III) (z=3) and Co(II) ions (z=2) and y=1-4) chelates are prepared and characterized using elemental analyses, IR, magnetic and electronic reflectance measurements, mass spectra and thermal analyses. IR spectra reveal that Pir behaves a neutral bidentate ligand coordinated to the metal ions through the pyridyl-N and carbonyl-O of the amide moiety. The reflectance and magnetic moment measurements reveal that these chelates have tetrahedral, square planar and octahedral geometrical structures. Mass spectra and thermal analyses are also used to confirm the proposed formulae and the possible fragments resulted from fragmentation of Pir and its chelates. The thermal behaviour of the chelates (TGA and DTA) are discussed in detail and the thermal stability of the anhydrous chelates follow the order Ni(II) congruent with Cu(II) Fe(II)