Development of MOF-derived Co3O4 microspheres composed of fiber stacks for simultaneous electrochemical detection of Pb2+ and Cu2.

As an ideal transition metal oxide, Co3O4 is a P-type semiconductor with excellent electrical conductivity, non-toxicity and low cost. This work reports the successful construction of Co3O4 materials derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using a surfactant micelle template-solvothermal method. The modified electrodes are investigated for their ability to electrochemically detect Pb2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous environments. By adjusting the mass ratios of alkaline modifiers, the morphological microstructures of Co3O4-X exhibit a transition from distinctive microspheres composed of fiber stacks to rods. The results indicate that Co3O4-1(NH4F/CO(NH2)2 = 1:0) has a distinctive microsphere structure composed of stacked fibers, unlike the other two materials. Co3O4-1/GCE is used as the active material of the modified electrode, it shows the largest peak response currents to Pb2+ and Cu2+, and efficiently detects Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the aqueous environment individually and simultaneously. The linear response range of Co3O4-1/GCE for the simultaneous detection of Pb2+ and Cu2+ is 0.5-1.5 µM, with the limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) are 9.77 nM and 14.97 nM, respectively. The material exhibits a favorable electrochemical response, via a distinctive Co3O4-1 microsphere structure composed of stacked fibers. This structure enhances the number of active adsorption sites on the material, thereby facilitating the adsorption of heavy metal ions (HMIs). The presence of oxygen vacancies (OV) can also facilitate the adsorption of ions. The Co3O4-1/GCE electrode also exhibits excellent anti-interference ability, stability, and repeatability. This is of great practical significance for detecting Pb2+ and Cu2+ in real water samples and provides a new approach for developing high-performance metal oxide electrochemical sensors derived from MOFs.

Evaluation of structural and physicochemical properties of octenyl succinic anhydride modified sweet potato starch with different degrees of substitution.

Octenyl succinic anhydride modified sweet potato starch (OSA-SPS) were synthesized in different degrees of substitution (DS) from 0.0073 to 0.0153. Unlike sweet potato starch (SPS), two additional characteristic peaks were detected at 1,572 and 1,724 cm-1 from the Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy in OSA-SPS and their intensities were generally increased with the elevation in DS. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the esterification did not alter the initial shape of starch granules and mainly occurred on the surface of starch pellets. In addition, OSA-SPS possessed higher transmittance, viscosity and stability, lower gelatinization temperature, and shorter gelatinization time than SPS. The changes of these properties of SPS after the esterification with OSA would be more conducive to its application in food and other fields. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch (OSAS), as a relatively novel amphiphilic surfactant, have been applied to the processing of many products due to its special hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. The structural and physicochemical properties of sweet potato starch (SPS) and octenyl succinic anhydride modified sweet potato starch (OSA-SPS) with different degrees of substitution (DS) were systematically analyzed in this research. The findings give fundamental understanding of OSA-SPS and provide a basic reference for its application in industries including food, cosmetics, textiles, and so on.

Solubilization of hesperidin with octenyl succinic anhydride modified sweet potato starch.

Hesperidin, the major flavonoid in citrus species, possesses various biological functions and pharmacological activities, however, its insolubility in water limits its bioavailability and medical or food application. When 8 g/L octenyl succinic anhydride modified sweet potato starch (OSA-SPS) with degree of substitution 0.0051 was applied to solubilize hesperidin under the conditions of stirring the mixture for 6 h at 2400 r/min, 50 °C and unadjusted pH, the solubilization efficiency of hesperidin was 6.52 folds higher than that without OSAS addition. It was noteworthy that the solubilization of hesperidin was obviously different from that of hesperetin (hydrolysate of hesperidin) either in starch origin of OSAS or in the influence of external factors. The interaction between OSA-SPS and hesperidin had been certified by means of FT-IR, XRD, DSC, 1H/2D NMR. These results would give a fundamental reference for probing specific mechanism between hesperidin and OSAS in the further research.