CuFe2O4/Polyaniline (PANI) Nanocomposite for the Hazard Mercuric Ion Removal: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption Properties Study.

Copper ferrite nano-particles (CuFe2O4) were synthesized, characterized, modified with polyaniline to form CuFe2O4/PANI nano-composite. They were used as new adsorbents for the removal of the hazardous mercuric ions from aqueous solutions. High resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) were used for the characterization of the synthesized CuFe2O4 nano-particles (NPs) in presence and absence of PANI nano-composite. The synthesized CuFe2O4NPs were of spherical shape with an average size of 10.8 nm. XRD analysis displayed crystal peaks for CuFe2O4NPs and amorphous peaks CuFe2O4/PANI nano-composite due to the existence of polyaniline layer. Contact time, adsorbent dose, solution pH, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm and recyclability were studied. The method at the optimum conditions exhibited high performance with high mercury removal percentage of up to 99% with a maximum adsorption capacity 12.5 and 157.1 mg/g for CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4/PANI, respectively. The adsorption processes were fitted to Langmuir isotherms. The adsorption behavior of CuFe2O4@PANI composite towards Hg2+ ions is attributed to the soft acid-soft base strong interaction between PANI and Hg(II) ions. High stability and enhanced re-usability are offered using CuFe2O4@PANI composite due to its enhanced removal efficiency. No significant removal decrease was noticed after five adsorption-desorption cycles. In addition, it possesses an easy removal from aqueous solutions by external magnetic field after adsorption experiments. These indicated the enhancement of polyaniline to the surface of CuFe2O4 toward the adsorption of mercury from aqueous solutions.

Potentiometric PVC-Membrane-Based Sensor for Dimethylamine Assessment Using A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer as A Sensory Recognition Element.

A new simple potentiometric sensor is developed and presented for sensitive and selective monitoring of dimethylamine (DMA). The sensor incorporates a molecularly imprinted polymer, with a pre-defined specific cavity suitable to accommodate DMA. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles were dispersed in an aplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The MIP is synthesized by using a template molecule (DMA), a functional monomer (acrylamide, AM), cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDMA) and initiating reagent (benzoylperoxide, BPO). Using Trizma buffer solution (5 mmol L-1, pH 7.1), the sensor exhibits a rapid, stable and linear response for 1.0 × 10-5 to 1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1 DMA+ with a calibration slope of 51.3 ± 0.3 mV decade-1, and a detection limit of 4.6 × 10-6 mol L-1 (0.37 µg mL-1). The electrode exhibited a short response time (10 s) and stable potential readings (± 0.5 mV) for more than 2 months. Potentiometric selectivity measurements of the sensor reveal negligible interferences from most common aliphatic and aromatic amines. High concentration levels (100-fold excess) of many inorganic cations do not interfere. The sensor is successfully used for quantification of low levels of DMA down to 0.5 µg mL-1. Verification of the presented method was carried out after measuring the detection limit, working linearity range, ruggedness of the method, accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility. Under flow-through conditions, the proposed sensor in its tubular form is prepared and introduced in a two-channel flow injection setup for hydrodynamic determination of DMA. The sampling rate is 50-55 samples h-1. The sensor is used to determine DMA in different soil samples with an accuracy range of 97.0-102.8%.

Novel Aminoacridine Sensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Hybrid Polymeric Membranes for Static and Hydrodynamic Drug Quality Control Monitoring.

Novel biomimetic potentiometric ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) were fabricated and designed for the assessment of aminoacridine (ACR) based on newly synthesized imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes. Thermal polymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) or acrylamide (AM) as function monomer, aminoacridine as a template and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as across-linker, were utilizedto give the molecular recognition part. The membranes of sensors I andII consist of MIP based MAA and AM, respectively, dispersed in a poly(vinyl chloride) membrane plasticized with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) in the ratio of 3.0 wt%, 32.2 wt% and 64.8 wt%, respectively. Sensors III and IV were similarly prepared with added 1.0 wt% tetraphenyl borate (TPB-) as an anionic discriminator. Sensors I and II exhibited near-Nernstian potential response to ACR+ with slopes of 51.2 ± 1.3 and 50.5 ± 1.4 mV/decade in a 0.01 M phosphate buffer of pH 6.0. The linear response coversthe concentration range of 5.2 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-3 M with a detection limit of 0.05 and 0.17 µg/mL for sensors I and II, respectively. The performance characteristics of these sensors were evaluated under static and hydrodynamic mode of operations. They were used for quality control assessment of aminoacridine in some pharmaceutical preparations and biological samples.

New potentiometric sensors based on selective recognition sites for determination of ephedrine in some pharmaceuticals and biological fluids.

New cost-effective potentiometric membrane sensors with cylindrical configuration responsive to ephedrine are described. The sensors setup is, based on the use of triacetyl-ß-cyclodextrin [(triacetyl-ß-CD)] as a neutral ionophore embedded in a plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix (sensor I) and carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) [(PVC-COOH)] as a simultaneous plastic matrix and ion exchanger (sensor II). Both sensors showed significant enhancement of response towards ephedrinium cation (EPD(+)) over a concentration range of 3.0 × 10(-5)-8.0 × 10(-3) mol L(-1) at pH 4-9 and 3-8 with low detection limits of 5.7 × 10(-6) and 6.2 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) for sensors (I) and (II), respectively. The sensors displayed near-Nernstian cationic slope of 57.0 and 55.6 mV decade(-1) for EPD(+) and the effects of lipophilic salts and various foreign common ions were examined. The sensors were also satisfactorily used as tubular detectors in a double channel flow injection system. The intrinsic characteristics of the detectors in a low dispersion manifold under hydrodynamic mode of operation were determined and compared with data obtained under batch mode of operation. Validation of the method revealed good performance characteristics including long life span, good selectivity for EPD(+) over a wide variety of other organic compounds, long term stability, high reproducibility, fast response, low detection limit, wide measurement range, acceptable accuracy and precision. Applications of the sensors to the determination of EPD(+) in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked biological fluid samples were carried out and compared with standard techniques. Notably, the sensors introduced offer several advantages over many of those previously described that are amenable to quality control/quality assurance assessment of the homogeneity, stability and purity of ephedrine drug tablets.