Characterization of Hg(II) binding with different length phytochelatins using liquid chromatography and amperometric detection.

A simple and rapid methodology is optimised to analyse mixtures of different phytochelatins (PC(n), n=2-5) with Hg(II) by HPLC with amperometric detection as a first step towards the analysis of extracts of plants stressed with Hg(II). The separation was achieved in a C(18) column with a mobile phase of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water and 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile using gradient elution. Electrochemical detection with glassy carbon electrode and UV-vis detection were used in series. This methodology can clearly distinguish between the free peptides and their complexes and permits to study the evolution of the different complexes formed and predicts the possible interactions between the long chain phytochelatin complexes. ESI-MS is used as a complementary technique to find out the stoichiometries of such long chain phytochelatin complexes.

Liquid chromatographic analysis of Hg(II) binding by thiol-rich peptides using both UV-vis and electrochemical detection.

An existing method for HPLC determination of thiol-containing peptides has been successfully adapted to the analysis of mixtures of glutathione (GSH) and some related peptides with their Hg(II) complexes as a first approach to the study of phytochelatin extracts. The separation was achieved in a C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and 0.1% TFA/acetonitrile. Non-derivative UV-vis detection at 202 nm used in the original method has been complemented with amperometric detection at 1.2 V on glassy carbon electrode. Two different Hg(II)-GSH complexes were observed by both detection modes and confirmed by mass spectrometry.

Magnetic tuning of the electrochemical reactivity through controlled surface orientation of catalytic nanowires.

Nanowires have received considerable attention owing to their broad potential applications. We report here on the application of nanowires for magnetic control of the electrochemical reactivity and demonstrate how one can modulate the electrocatalytic activity by orienting catalytic nanowires at different angles. Unlike early "on/off" magnetic switching studies based on functionalized magnetic spheres, the present magnetoswitchable protocol relies on modulating the electrochemical reactivity without removing the magnetic material from the surface. Such behavior is attributed to the reversible blocking of the redox processes and to changes in the tortuosity-dependent flux rate. The nanowire-based magnetoswitchable protocol may be extremely useful for adjusting the electrochemical reactivity, such as for tuning the power output of fuel cells (rather than switching the power on/off).

Comparison of voltammetric detection assisted by multivariate curve resolution with amperometric detection in liquid chromatographic analysis of cysteine-containing compounds.

A voltammetric detection mode (VD) in conjunction with multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method is applied to the analysis of cysteine-containing compounds and compared with a well established amperometric detection (AD) mode in a thin-layer dual Hg/Au cell. VD-MCR-ALS provides an increase in selectivity for cases where satisfactory separation of electroactive compounds is not allowed. However, concentrations needed for a good quantification in VD are higher than in AD due to much large contribution of background in VD.