An Alternative Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Copper and Lead for Quality Control of Sugar Cane Spirit using a Nanotube-Based Sensor

The development of an electroanalytical method for simultaneous determination of copper and lead ions in sugar cane spirit (cachaca) using carbon paste electrode modified with ascorbic acid and carbon nanotubes (CPE-AaCNT) is described. Squarewave voltammetry (SWV) with anodic stripping was employed, and this technique was optimized with respect to the following parameters: frequency (50 Hz), amplitude (100 mV) and scan increment (9 mV). The analytical curves were linear in the range from 0.0900 to 7.00 mg L-1 for lead and copper. The limits of detection were 48.5 and 23.9 mu g L-1 for lead and copper, respectively. The developed method was applied to the simultaneous determination of copper and lead in five commercial samples of sugar cane spirit. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by F AAS/GF AAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometry/graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry) and showed that CPE-AaCNT can be successfully employed in the simultaneous determination of these metals in real sugar cane spirit samples.

A forensic study: Lead determination in gunshot residues

Electrochemical lead analyses of gunshot residues (GSRs) were performed using an acidic solution with a bare gold microelectrode in the presence of chloride ions. GSRs from four different guns (0.38 in. revolver, 12 caliber pump-action shotgun, 0.38 repeating rifle, and a 0.22 caliber semi-automatic rifle) and six different types of ammunition (CleanRange (R), normal, semi-jacketed, especial 24g (R), 3T (R), CBC (R), and Eley (R)) were analyzed. Results obtained with the proposed methodology were compared with those from an atomic absorption spectrometry analysis, and a paired Student's t-test indicated that there was no significant difference between them at the 95% confidence level. With this methodology, a detection limit of 1.7 nmol L-1 (3 sigma/slope), a linear range between 10 and 100 nmol L-1, and a relative standard deviation of 2.5% from 10 measurements were obtained. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of a gold microelectrode for discrimination of gunshot residues

Gunshot residues (GSR) can be used in forensic evaluations to obtain information about the type of gun and ammunition used in a crime. In this work, we present our efforts to develop a promising new method to discriminate the type of gun [four different guns were used: two handguns (0.38 revolver and 0.380 pistol) and two long-barrelled guns (12-calibre pump-action shotgun and 0.38 repeating rifle)] and ammunition (five different types: normal, semi-jacketed, full-jacketed, green, and 3T) used by a suspect. The proposed approach is based on information obtained from cyclic voltammograms recorded in solutions containing GSR collected from the hands of the shooters, using a gold microelectrode; the information was further analysed by non-supervised pattern-recognition methods [(Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA)]. In all cases (gun and ammunition discrimination), good separation among different samples in the score plots and dendrograms was achieved. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An EQCM-D study of the influence of chloride on the lead anodic oxidation

The influence of chloride on the electrodeposition of lead films and their dissolution in anodic stripping voltammetric experiments was examined. Gold substrates were plated with lead films, and mass changes were monitored by using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation factor (EQCM-D). The results showed that the amount of electrodeposited lead is slightly dependent on the chloride concentration. The charge/mass ratio data indicated the presence of Pb(I) and Pb(II) as a result of film dissolution, and the precipitation and deposition of PbCl2 onto the electrode surface. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the morphology of the lead film was strongly influenced by chloride present in the plating solution and that much rougher films were obtained in comparison with those obtained in the absence of chloride. The rate of the anodic dissolution was higher for lead films with higher surface areas, which lead to an increase in their stripping voltammetric currents. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Caffeine Determination at a Carbon Fiber Ultramicroelectrodes by Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Caffeine determination using a fast-scan voltammetric procedure at a carbon fiber ultramicroelectrode (CF-UME) is described. The CF-UME was submitted to electrochemical pretreatment. Parameters such as number of acquisition cycles, scan rate, potential window, and the electrochemical surface pretreatment were optimized. Using the optimized conditions, it was possible to achieve a LDR from 10.0 up to 200 mu mol L-1, with a LOD of 3.33 mu mol L-1. The method has been applied in the determination of caffeine in commercial samples, with errors of 1.0-3.5% in relation to the label values and recoveries of 97-114% within the linear range.

On Site Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in Water Samples of the Cananeia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Estuarine systems play an important role in the retention of toxic trace elements owing to the affinity of these elements with particles dissolved in water. This work presents the use of a voltammetric sensor to monitor heavy metal (Zn (II), Cd(II) and Pb (II)) concentrations in the Cananeia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon region (Sao Paulo State, Brazil). Lower concentrations were found in the Southern estuarine system (Cananeia City) and increased concentrations observed in the Northern sector (Iguape City) were promoted by anthropogenic activities, with particular influence from the historical introduction of mining wastes and inputs from agricultural, industrial and domestic effluents. The proposed method is reliable, inexpensive and fast, can simultaneously provide information on the concentration of these metallic ions and can be easily used for field measurements aboard oceanographic ships.

On site stripping voltammetric determination of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water samples of the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon complex in São Paulo state, Brazil

Estuarine systems play an important role in the retention of toxic trace elements owing to the affinity of these elements with particles dissolved in water. This work presents the use of a voltammetric sensor to monitor heavy metal (Zn (II), Cd(II) and Pb (II)) concentrations in the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon region (São Paulo State, Brazil). Lower concentrations were found in the Southern estuarine system (Cananéia City) and increased concentrations observed in the Northern sector (Iguape City) were promoted by anthropogenic activities, with particular influence from the historical introduction of mining wastes and inputs from agricultural, industrial and domestic effluents. The proposed method is reliable, inexpensive and fast, can simultaneously provide information on the concentration of these metallic ions and can be easily used for field measurements aboard oceanographic ships.

An alternative method for the simultaneous determination of copper and lead for quality control of sugar cane spirit using a nanotube-based sensor

The development of an electroanalytical method for simultaneous determination of copper and lead ions in sugar cane spirit (cachaça) using carbon paste electrode modified with ascorbic acid and carbon nanotubes (CPE-AaCNT) is described. Squarewave voltammetry (SWV) with anodic stripping was employed, and this technique was optimized with respect to the following parameters: frequency (50 Hz), amplitude (100 mV) and scan increment (9 mV). The analytical curves were linear in the range from 0.0900 to 7.00 mg L- 1 for lead and copper. The limits of detection were 48.5 and 23.9 µg L- 1 for lead and copper, respectively. The developed method was applied to the simultaneous determination of copper and lead in five commercial samples of sugar cane spirit. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by F AAS/GF AAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometry/graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry) and showed that CPE-AaCNT can be successfully employed in the simultaneous determination of these metals in real sugar cane spirit samples.

Use of Hg-Electroplated-Pt Ultramicroelectrode for Determining Elemental Sulphur in Naphtha Samples

This paper describes the applicability of a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode in the quantification of elemental sulphur in naphtha samples by square-wave voltammetry. A reproducible deposition methodology was studied and is reported in this paper. This methodology is innovative and relies on the quality of the mercury stock solution to obtain reproducible surfaces required for the analytical methodology. All analyses were performed using a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode (Hg-Pt UME) due to the low sensibility of such devices to ohmic drops in resistive solutions. The responses of the peak areas in voltammetric experiments were linear in all of the range studied. The method developed here is accurate and reproducible, with a detection limit of 0.010 mg L-1 and a good recovery range for both standard solutions of elemental sulphur (85 to 99%) and real naphtha sample (79%). These results attest to the potential for the application of this electroanalytical methodology in determining elemental sulphur in naphtha samples containing mercaptans and disulphides.

Chemical and physical factors influencing lead and copper contamination in drinking water: approach for a case study in analytical chemistry

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING LEAD AND COPPER CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING WATER: APPROACH FOR A CASE STUDY IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. Lead and copper concentrations in drinking water increase considerably on going from municipality reservoirs to the households sampled in Ribeirao Preto (SP-Brazil). Flushing of only 3 liters of water reduced metal concentrations by more than 50%. Relatively small changes in water pH rapidly affected corrosion processes in lead pipes, while water hardness appeared to have a long-term effect. This approach aims to encourage University teachers to use its content as a case study in disciplines of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and consequently increase knowledge about drinking water contamination in locations where no public monitoring of trace metals is in place.

Fatores químicos e físicos que afetam a contaminação por chumbo e cobre em água potável: uma abordagem para o estudo de caso em química analítica

Lead and copper concentrations in drinking water increase considerably on going from municipality reservoirs to the households sampled in Ribeirão Preto (SP-Brazil). Flushing of only 3 liters of water reduced metal concentrations by more than 50%. Relatively small changes in water pH rapidly affected corrosion processes in lead pipes, while water hardness appeared to have a long-term effect. This approach aims to encourage University teachers to use its content as a case study in disciplines of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and consequently increase knowledge about drinking water contamination in locations where no public monitoring of trace metals is in place.

Cyclic Voltammetry and Computational Chemistry Studies on the Evaluation of the Redox Behavior of Parabens and other Analogues

Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The alkyl chain connected to the ester group defines some important physicochemical characteristics of these compounds, including the partition coefficient and redox properties. The voltammetric and computational analyses were carried out in order to evaluate the redox behavior of these compounds and other phenolic analogues. A strong correlation between chemical substituents inductive effects of parabens with redox potentials was observed. Using cyclic voltammetry and glassy carbon working electrode, only one irreversible anodic peak was observed around 0.8 V for methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), butylparaben (BP), benzylparaben (BzP) and p-substituted phenolic analogues. The electrodonating inductive effect of alkyl groups was demonstrated by the anodic oxidation potential shift to lower values as the carbon number increases and, therefore the parabens (and other phenolic analogues) oxidation processes to the quinonoidic forms showed great dependence on the substituent pattern.

Cyclic voltammetry and computational chemistry studies on the evaluation of the redox behavior of parabens and other analogues

Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The alkyl chain connected to the ester group defines some important physicochemical characteristics of these compounds, including the partition coefficient and redox properties. The voltammetric and computational analyses were carried out in order to evaluate the redox behavior of these compounds and other phenolic analogues. A strong correlation between chemical substituents inductive effects of parabens with redox potentials was observed. Using cyclic voltammetry and glassy carbon working electrode, only one irreversible anodic peak was observed around 0.8 V for methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), butylparaben (BP), benzylparaben (BzP) and p-substituted phenolic analogues. The electrodonating inductive effect of alkyl groups was demonstrated by the anodic oxidation potential shift to lower values as the carbon number increases and, therefore the parabens (and other phenolic analogues) oxidation processes to the quinonoidic forms showed great dependence on the substituent pattern.

Smart histogram analysis applied to the skull-stripping problem in T1-weighted MRI

In this paper we address the "skull-stripping" problem in 3D MR images. We propose a new method that employs an efficient and unique histogram analysis. A fundamental component of this analysis is an algorithm for partitioning a histogram based on the position of the maximum deviation from a Gaussian fit. In our experiments we use a comprehensive image database, including both synthetic and real MRI. and compare our method with other two well-known methods, namely BSE and BET. For all datasets we achieved superior results. Our method is also highly independent of parameter tuning and very robust across considerable variations of noise ratio.

Determination of Tetradifon in Brazilian Green Bell Pepper by Differential Pulse Voltammetry

Tetradifon, a potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic pesticide, can contribute to environmental and human contamination when applied to green bell pepper crops. In this context, in this work, a reliable and sensitive method for determination of tetradifon in Brazilian green bell pepper samples involving a differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique on a glassy carbon electrode is proposed. The electrochemical behavior of tetradifon as followed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggests that its reduction occurs via an irreversible five-electron transfer vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl, KCl 3 M reference electrode. Very well-resolved diffusion controlled voltammetric peaks have been obtained in a supporting electrolyte solution composed of a mixture of 40% dimethylformamide (DMF), 30% methanol, and 30% NaOH 0.3 mol L-1 at -1.43, -1.57, -1.73, -1.88, and -2.05 V. The proposed DPV method has a good linear response in the 3.00 - 10.0 mu mol L-1 range, with a limit of detection (L.O.D) of 0.756 mu mol L-1 and 0.831 mu mol L-1 in the absence and in the presence of the matrix, respectively. Moreover, improved L.O.D results (0.607 mu mol L-1) have been achieved in the absence of DMF from the supporting electrolyte solution. Recovery has been evaluated in five commercial green bell pepper samples, and recovery percentages ranging from 91.0 to 109 have been obtained for tetradifon determinations. The proposed voltammetric method has also been tested for reproducibility, repeatability, and potential interferents, and the results obtained for these three analytical parameters are satisfactory for electroanalytical purposes. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.024207jes] All rights reserved.