Hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles with associated functionality for catalytic transformation of biomass substrates.

We present the one-pot synthesis of functionalized organosilica nanoparticles to generate multi-functional hybrid catalysts. Octadecyl, alkyl-thiol and alkyl-amino moieties were used separately and in different combinations, to generate different hybrid spherical nanoparticles with tunable acidic, basic and amphiphilic properties, covalently incorporating up to three organic functional elements onto the surface of the nanoparticles. Several parameters were optimised such as the concentration of the base employed during the hydrolysis and condensation synthesis process that showed a strong influence on the particle size. The physico-chemical properties of the hybrid materials were fully characterized by XRD, elemental and thermogravimetric analysis, electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherms and 13C and 29Si NMR spectroscopy. Finally, the potential uses of the prepared materials as amphiphilic catalysts, with acidic or basic properties for the conversion of biomass molecules into platform chemicals were evaluated.

MoS2 quantum dots for on-line fluorescence determination of the food additive allura red.

This work presents an on-line fluorescence method for the allura red (AR) determination. The method is based on the fluorescence quenching of dots of MoS2 because of their interaction with the non-fluorescence dye. MoS2-dots were synthetized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and High Resolution Transmission Electronic Microscopy (HR-TEM). The simultaneous injection of the nanomaterial and the dye in a flow injection analysis system allows the determination of allura red at 1.7 × 10-6 M concentration level with a very good accuracy and precision (Er minor than 10% and RSD lower than 8%) and a sampling frequency of 180 samples per hour. Moreover, the interaction fluorophore-quencher results a dynamic inhibition mechanism. The proposed methodology was applied to the AR analysis in soft beverages and powders for gelatine preparation. Colourant concentrations of 63 ± 2 mg/L (n = 3) and 0.30 ± 0.01 mg/g (n = 3) were found, respectively. These results were validated by high performance liquid chromatography technique.