Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

Litter pollution is a growing concern, including for Antarctica and the species that inhabit this ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the microplastic contamination in three seal species that inhabit the Western Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga), leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) and Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) seals. Given the worldwide ubiquity of this type of contaminant, including the Southern Ocean, we hypothesized that the three seal species would present anthropogenic debris in their feces. We examined 29 scat samples of crabeater (n = 5), leopard (n = 13) and Weddell (n = 11) seals. The chemical composition of the items found were identified using micro-Raman and micro-FTIR spectroscopies. All the samples of the three species presented anthropic particles (frequency of occurrence - %FO - 100 %). Fibers were the predominant debris, but fragments and filaments were also present. Particles smaller than 5 mm (micro debris) were predominant in all the samples. Leopard seals ingested significantly larger micro-debris in comparison with the other seal species. The dominant color was black followed by blue and white. Micro-Raman and micro-FTIR Spectroscopies revealed the presence of different anthropogenic pigments such as reactive blue 238, Indigo 3600 and copper phthalocyanine (blue and green). Carbon black was also detected in the samples, as well as plastic polymers such as polystyrene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide, polypropylene and polyurethane These results confirm the presence of anthropogenic contamination in Antarctic seals and highlight the need for actions to mitigate the effects and reduce the contribution of debris in the Antarctic ecosystem.

Microplastics and anthropogenic debris in rainwater from Bahia Blanca, Argentina.

Concern about atmospheric microplastic (MP) contamination has increased in recent years. This study assessed the abundance of airborne anthropogenic particles, including MPs, deposited in rainfall in Bahia Blanca, southwest Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rainwater samples were collected monthly from March to December 2021 using an active wet-only collector consisting of a glass funnel and a PVC pipe that is only open during rain events. Results obtained show that all rain samples contained anthropogenic debris. The term "anthropogenic debris" is used to refer to the total number of particles as not all the particles found could be determined as plastic. Among all the samples, an average deposition of 77 ± 29 items (anthropogenic debris) m-2d-1 was found. The highest deposition was observed in November (148 items m-2d-1) while the lowest was found in March (46 items m-2d-1). Anthropogenic debris ranged in size from 0.1 mm to 3.87 mm with the most abundant particles being smaller than 1 mm (77.8%). The dominant form of particles found were fibers (95%), followed by fragments (3.1%). Blue color predominated (37.2%) in the total number of samples, followed by light blue (23.3%) and black (21.7%). Further, small particles (<2 mm), apparently composed of mineral material and plastic fibers, were recognized. The chemical composition of suspected MPs was examined by Raman microscopy. The analysis of µ-Raman spectra confirmed the presence of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene vinyl acetate fibers and provided evidence of fibers containing industrial additives such as indigo dye. This is the first assessment of MP pollution in rain in Argentina.

Spectroscopic and structural studies on phenyl and pentafluorophenyl trifluorothioacetate, and pentafluorophenyl trifluoroacetate, CF3C(O)SC6H5, CF3C(O)SC6F5 and CF3C(O)OC6F5.

Phenyl and pentafluorophenyl trifluorothioacetate, CF3C(O)SC6H5 and CF3C(O)SC6F5, were prepared by condensation of CF3C(O)Cl and the corresponding mercaptan RSH under vacuum conditions. The compounds were isolated and properly characterized by using infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy techniques and by mass spectrometry. The crystal structures have been determined for both CF3C(O)SC6H5 and according to the best of our knowledge the not yet reported in the literature CF3C(O)SC6F5 species. The conformational preferences of the three title species were also determined by means of FTIR spectroscopy. In the case of CF3C(O)OC6F5, the FTIR spectrum was also measured in an Ar-matrix and a subsequent photochemical study was performed. The main stable photoproduct found, beside CO, was the ether C6F5OCF3. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to determine the conformational preferences and complement the experimental structure parameters as well as to interpret the UV-Vis spectra determined for the three species under study. As a result of all these experimental determinations complemented with computational calculations, it can be affirmed that the title compounds present a single syn conformation in the analyzed phases (syn with respect to the CO double bond and the opposite C-chalcogen single bond). This finding reconfirms the syn conformational transferability found so far for both thioesters and esters, a result that is closely related to the properties of these families in biological processes.

First assessment of debris pollution in the gastrointestinal content of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) stranded on the west south Atlantic coasts.

This paper provides the first evidence of debris pollution, including plastic, in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found stranded on the Atlantic coast of southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Macro-, meso- and microparticles of anthropogenic origin were observed in 100 % of the studied birds, with debris abundance ranging between 33 and 200 items/bird. Microparticles represented 91 % of the total debris and 97 % of them were fibers. Black particles were the most abundant (30 %), followed by transparent (26 %), blue (14 %), yellow (10.3 %), and red (10 %). Infrared and Raman spectroscopy identified 62.7 % of the total particles as plastics, with polypropylene (27.8 %) and polyester (21.6 %) being the most abundant polymers. Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers, metallic particles, and pigments were also found. The presence of metallic microparticles was suggested for the first time in penguins. Stranded juvenile Magellanic penguins are proposed as promising bioindicators of plastic pollution in the South Atlantic.

Stamplike flexible SERS substrate for in-situ rapid detection of thiram residues in fruits and vegetables.

A simple and sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) method for the detection of thiram residues in fruit and vegetable peels is reported. A flexible SERS substrate based on silver nanoparticles in an agar gel has been developed and characterised. Peels of different fruits and vegetables were intentionally contaminated with different amounts of thiram. The analyte was then extracted within few seconds by gentle rubbing the surface with the agar substrate using it as a stamp. The optimum experimental conditions of the developed method were explored. The limit of detection of thiram in the peels of tomato and green pepper was 140 pg/cm2. The values achieved for apple was 2 pg/cm2. The method presented could be extensively used for the detection of traces of other contaminants on food surfaces and for other relevant applications.

Preparation of FC(S)SF, FC(S)SeF and FC(Se)SeF through matrix photochemical reactions of F2 with CS2, SCSe, and CSe2.

The reactions of F2 with CS2, SCSe, and CSe2, respectively, were analyzed under matrix conditions by co-deposition of the halogen with the triatomic molecules trapped in argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures. In all cases, after co-deposition, the formation of the respective van der Waals complexes is observed. When each mixture is subsequently irradiated by means of broad-band UV-visible light (200 ≤ λ ≤ 800 nm), FC(S)SF, fluorothiocarbonylsulfenyl fluoride, FC(S)SeF, fluorothiocarbonylselenyl fluoride and FC(Se)SeF, fluoroselenocarbonylselenyl fluoride are produced, respectively. All these species exist as two stable planar syn- and anti-conformers (syn- and anti- of the CZ double bond, Y = S, Se, with respect to the S-F or Se-F single bond, respectively). For FC(S)SF, syn- is the rotamer with the lowest energy, while for both FC(S)SeF and FC(Se)SeF the anti-form is the lowest energy conformer. In all cases, other products due to alternative or subsequent photochannels are observed during the photochemical processes carried out in argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures.

Color Source for the First Argentinian Flags.

In this work, a historical controversy of more than 200 years is settled by the study of the oldest preserved Argentinian flag. The results of the present work reinforce the hypothesis of a number of historians who consider it to be the first flag that was originally hoisted on February 27, 1812, on the banks of the Paraná River. The work consists of a study of the original textile. Through chemical analysis and implementation of different types of analyses, techniques, and spectroscopies such as UV-vis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and resonance Raman, the original characteristics of the flag of Macha were determined. The flag was colored with indigotin from Europe (from Isatis tinctoria) and made of silk; it is white, blue, and white in a horizontal arrangement. It was not treated with tin, and its blue color was subsequently adopted by the Central American Confederation and later by various states of Central America. According to related contemporaneous stories, its preservation was due to the watchfulness of the patriots.

Formation of HCO+ and HCS+ Ions in the Photodissociation of CH3OC(S)SCH3 under VUV Synchrotron Radiation.

Synchrotron-based total ion yield and photoelectron-photoion-coincidence spectra have been applied to investigate the electronic structure and the dissociative ionization of gaseous O,S-dimethyl xanthate, CH3OC(S)SCH3, in the shallow-core S 2p region. The spectral assignment and the electronic structure are interpreted in terms of the most stable synperiplanar conformer in the Cs symmetry point group. The use of tunable synchrotron radiation allows for a selective excitation of sulfur atoms at different photon energy values, including resonance transitions and ionization around the S 2p level. The fragmentation patterns show that the title molecule is well suited as a laboratory precursor of ionic species found in the interstellar medium, especially formyl and thioformyl cations, HCO+ and HCS+, respectively.

Valence and Inner Electronic Excitation, Ionization, and Fragmentation of Perfluoropropionic Acid.

The photoexcitation, photoionization, and photofragmentation of gaseous CF3CF2C(O)OH were studied by means of synchrotron radiation in the valence and inner energy regions. Photofragmentation events were detected from 11.7 eV through formation of COH+, C2F4+, and the parent species M+. Because the vertical ionization potential has been reported at 11.94 eV, the starting energy used in this study, 11.7 eV, falls just inside of the tail of the ionization band in the photoelectron spectra. Information from the total ion yield spectra around the C 1s, O 1s, and F 1s ionization potentials allows the energies at which different resonance transitions take place in the molecule to be determined. These transitions have been assigned by comparison with the results of the analysis of similar compounds. In the inner energy region, both kinetic energy release (KER) values and the slope and shape of double coincidence islands obtained from photoelectron-photoion-photoion coincidence (PEPIPICO) spectra allow different photofragmentation mechanisms to be elucidated.

Preparation and Properties of Chlorosulfuryl Chloroformate, ClC(O)OSO2Cl.

The novel chlorosulfuryl chloroformate, ClC(O)OSO2Cl, was prepared by the reaction of CCl4 and SO3. Alternatively, the compound was obtained from the direct insertion reaction of SO3 to Cl2C═O. The latter reaction constitutes also a confirmation of the proposed mechanism for the former one. Density functional theory and MP2 theoretical approximations predict the existence of two conformers, syn-gauche and syn-anti, depending on the value adopted by the dihedral angles ϕ(Cl-C-O-S) and ϕ(C-O-S-Cl). The structure of the syn-gauche conformer was determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). The existence of the syn-anti conformer can be neither confirmed nor excluded by the GED experiment. Vibrational spectra (vapor-phase and argon-matrix Fourier transform infrared and liquid Fourier transform Raman) were interpreted by an equilibrium mixture between both conformers.

Role of weak C-H...O and strong N-H...O intermolecular interactions on the high-symmetry molecular packing of trans-cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxamide.

An unpredicted fourfold screw N-H...O hydrogen bond C(4) motif in a primary dicarboxamide (trans-cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxamide, C8H14N2O2) was investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and IR and Raman spectroscopies. Electron-density topology and intermolecular energy analyses determined from ab initio calculations were employed to examine the influence of weak C-H...O hydrogen-bond interactions on the peculiar arrangement of molecules in the tetragonal P43212 space group. In addition, the way in which the co-operative effects of those weak bonds might modify their relative influence on molecular packing was estimated from cluster calculations. Based on the results, a structural model is proposed which helps to rationalize the unusual fourfold screw molecular arrangement.

Photodegradation of methyl thioglycolate particles as a proxy for organosulphur containing droplets.

Understanding the formation and transformation of sulphur-rich particles is of prime importance since they contribute to the global atmospheric sulphur budget. In this work, we performed a series of experiments on a photoactive organosulphur compound namely, methyl thioglycolate, as a model of an organosulphur species of marine origin. By investigating the photoproducts within levitated droplets, we showed that elemental sulphur (α-S8) and sulphate (SO42-) can be photochemically generated at the gas-liquid interface by heterogeneous interaction with gaseous O2 and H2O. These results demonstrate that the surface of levitated droplets facilitate the oxidation of methyl thioglycolate in the dark, while illumination is necessary to produce the oxidation in bulk experiments.

Disulfuryl Dichloride ClSO2 OSO2 Cl: A Conformation and Polymorphism Chameleon.

Disulfuryl dichloride ClSO2 OSO2 Cl was characterized by vibrational spectroscopy in the gaseous and liquid phase as well as in the Ar-matrix. By varying the temperature, certain bands could be assigned to several conformers. Gas-phase electron diffraction revealed a dominance of the anti-conformer at ambient temperature. The same conformation was found in the solid state. Via the in situ technique for crystallization, not less than four different modifications were identified. Among these different modifications, the structural parameters of the molecules remain relatively constant, but the aggregation pattern changes. Although the molecules aggregate by chlorine⋅⋅⋅oxygen contacts in each modification, the geometrical parameters of these interaction show significant differences and were evaluated and are in part inconsistent with the halogen bonding concept.

Electronic Properties and Dissociative Photoionization of Thiocyanates, Part III. The Effect of the Group's Electronegativity in the Valence and Shallow-Core (Sulfur and Chlorine 2p) Regions of CCl3SCN and CCl2FSCN.

Both photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) data and PhotoElectron-PhotoIon-Coincidence (PEPICO) spectra obtained from a synchrotron facility have been used to examine the electronic structure and the dissociative ionization of halomethyl thiocyantes in the valence and shallow-core S 2p and Cl 2p regions. Two simple and closely related molecules, namely, CCl3SCN and CCl2FSCN, have been analyzed to assess the role of halogen substitution in the electronic properties of thiocyanates. The assignment of the He(I) photoelectron spectra has been achieved with the help of quantum chemical calculations at the outer-valence Green's function (OVGF) level of approximation. The first ionization energies observed at 10.55 and 10.78 eV for CCl3SCN and CCl2FSCN, respectively, are assigned to ionization processes from the sulfur lone pair orbital [n(S)]. When these molecules are compared with CX3SCN (X = H, Cl, F) species, a linear relationship between the vertical first ionization energy and electronegativity of CX3 group is observed. Irradiation of CCl3SCN and CCl2FSCN with photons in the valence energy regions leads to the formation of CCl2X+ and CClXSCN+ ions (X = Cl or F). Additionally, the achievement of the fragmentation patterns and the total ion yield spectra obtained from the PEPICO data in the S 2p and Cl 2p regions and several dissociation channels can be inferred for the core-excited species by using the triple coincidence PEPIPICO (PhotoElectron-PhotoIon-PhotoIon-Coincidence) spectra.

Photochemical Reaction of OCSe with ClF in Argon Matrix: A Light-Driven Formation of XC(O)SeY (X, Y = F or Cl) Species.

The photochemistry of OCSe with ClF trapped together in argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures has been explored and the first interhalogen representatives of the elusive XC(O)SeY family, namely syn-ClC(O)SeF, anti-ClC(O)SeF, syn-FC(O)SeCl, and anti-FC(O)SeCl, as well as the hitherto triatomic species ClSeF complexed by a CO molecule, were obtained. Both ClC(O)SeF conformers appear to be produced independently by photolysis of the respective precursors; while formation of both FC(O)SeCl structures is ruled by the presence of an angular molecular complex OCSe···Cl-F formed prior to photolysis. This latter photochemical pathway seems to favor the formation of the less stable anti-FC(O)SeCl structure instead of the more stable syn- one. With the aid of quantum chemical calculations, using ab initio, DFT, TDDFT, and CASSCF methods, the mechanism for this photochemical reaction is rationalized both in terms of radical processes as well as a photoinduced electron transfer occurring into the OCSe···Cl-F complex. Also a singlet-triplet conical intersection between anti and syn rotamers of the FC(O)SeCl molecule is theoretically explored.

Electronic structure determination using an assembly of conventional and synchrotron techniques: The case of a xanthate complex.

The electronic properties of the coordination complex nickel (II) bis-n-propylxanthate, Ni(CH3(CH2)2OC(S)S)2, were studied by a combination of complementary experimental (both laboratory and synchrotron based techniques) and theoretical methods. Energy differences between HOMOs and LUMOs were determined from UV-visible spectroscopy. The assignment of the transitions were performed with the aid of TD-DFT calculations and based in symmetry considerations. The analysis of the Raman excitation profiles of selected vibrational modes of the complex, taken in resonance with a particular electronic transition, was found to reinforce the electronic assignment. Experimental binding energies of inner and core electrons were determined by PES measurements. Ni K-edge, S K-edge, Ni L-edge, O K-edge and C K-edge XANES spectra were interpreted in terms of the promotion of core electrons to unoccupied electronic levels. An experimental quantitative molecular orbital diagram was constructed using the information extracted from the different techniques.

Structural Analysis of Perfluoropropanoyl Fluoride in the Gas, Liquid, and Solid Phases.

The coexistence of two conformers in perfluoropropanoyl fluoride, CF3CF2C(O)F, differing in the CC-CF dihedral angle (gauche 85(10)% and anti 15(10)%), has been determined by means of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). Quantum-chemical calculations performed at the MP2 and B3LYP approximations and cc-pVTZ basis sets reproduce the experimental values with confidence. By contrast, FTIR spectra give no clear evidence for the anti-conformer in the gas phase. Information on this less abundant but stable rotamer is obtained from matrix-isolation/FTIR spectroscopy and liquid Raman spectroscopy. In situ crystallization and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveal the presence of solely the gauche-conformation in the solid state. A set of intermolecular interactions including C═O···C═O, C-F···F-C, and F···C═O is detected. The nature of bonding and the relative stabilities of gauche- and anti-conformers are explored using natural bond orbitals.

Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Ionic Fragmentation of OSeCl2 and Its Analogue OSCl2 under VUV Irradiation.

The electronic structure and the dissociative ionization of selenium oxychloride, OSeCl2, have been investigated in the valence region by using results from both photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and synchrotron-based photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectra. The PES is assigned with the help of quantum chemical calculations at the outer-valence Green's function (OVGF) and symmetry adapted cluster/configuration interaction (SAC-CI) levels. The first energy ionization is observed at 11.47 eV assigned to the ionization of electrons formally delocalized over the Se, Cl, and O lone pair orbitals. Irradiation of OSeCl2 with photons in the valence region leads to the formation of OSeCl2(•+), OSeCl(+), SeCl2(•+), SeCl(+), and SeO(•+) ions. Furthermore, the inner shell Se 3p, Cl 2p, and Se 3s electronic regions of OSeCl2 together with S 2p, Cl 2p, and S 2s electronic regions of thionyl chloride, OSCl2, have been studied by using tunable synchrotron radiation. Thus, total ion yield spectra and the fragmentation patterns deduced from PEPICO spectra at the various excitation energies have been studied. Cl(+), O(•+), and Se(•+) ions appear as the most intense fragments in the OSeCl2 PEPICO spectra, like in the sulfur analogue OSCl2, whose photofragmentation is dominated by the Cl(+), O(•+), and S(•+) ions. Fragmentation processes in OSCl2 leading to the formation of the double coincidences involving atomic ions appear as the most intense in the PEPIPICO spectra.

Photofragmentation Mechanisms of Chlorosulfonyl Isocyanate, ClSO2NCO, Excited with Synchrotron Radiation between 12 and 550 eV.

The unimolecular photofragmentation mechanisms of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, ClSO2NCO, excited with tunable synchrotron radiation between 12 and 550 eV, were investigated by means of time-of-flight (TOF) coincidence techniques. The main fragmentation mechanism after single ionization, produced by irradiation of an effusive beam of the sample with synchrotron light in the valence electron region, occurs through the breaking of the Cl-S single bond, giving a chloride radical and a SO2NCO(+) fragment. This mechanism contrasts with the one observed for the related FSO2NCO, in which the rupture of the S-N bond originates the FSO2(+) fragment. The energies of the shallow- (S 2p, Cl 2p, and S 2s) and core-shell (C 1s, N 1s, and O 1s) electrons were determined by X-ray absorption. Transitions between these shallow and core electrons to unoccupied molecular orbitals were also observed in the total ion yield (TIY) spectra. Fourteen different fragmentation mechanisms of the doubly charged parent ion, ClSO2NCO(2+), were inferred from the bidimensional photoelectron-photoion-photoion-coincidence (PEPIPICO) spectra. The rupture of the S-N bond can evolve to form NCO(+)/SO2(•+), NCO(+)/SO(•+), or S(•+)/NCO(+) pairs of ions. The Cl-S bond breaking originates different mechanisms, Cl(+)/SO(•+), Cl(+)/S(•+), CO(•+)/S(•+), O(•+)/SO(•+), O(•+)/Cl(+), O(•+)/S(•+), C(•+)/S(•+), and C(•+)/O(•+) pairs being detected in coincidence as the final species. Another three coincidence islands can only be explained with an initial atomic rearrangement forming ClNCO(2+), ONCO(2+), and ClCO(2+), as precursors of CO(•+)/Cl(+), O(•+)/CO(•+), and C(•+)/Cl(+) pairs, respectively. The formation of Cl(•) radical is deduced from several mechanisms.

The Structure and Conformation of (CH3 )3 CSNO.

The gas-phase molecular structure of (CH3 )3 CSNO was investigated by using electron diffraction, allowing the first experimental geometrical parameters for an S-nitrosothiol species to be elucidated. Depending on the orientation of the -SNO group, two conformers (anti and syn) are identified in the vapor of (CH3 )3 CSNO at room temperature, the syn conformer being less abundant. The conformational landscape is further scrutinized by using vibrational spectroscopy techniques, including gas-phase and matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy, resulting in a contribution of ca. 80:20 for the anti:syn abundance ratio, in good agreement with the computed value at the MP2(full)/cc-pVTZ level of approximation. The UV/Vis and resonance Raman spectra also show the occurrence of the conformational equilibrium in the liquid phase, with a moderate post-resonance Raman signature associated with the 350 nm electronic absorption.