Thermoanalytical study of the complexes of 4-dimethylaminocynnamylidenepyruvate with manganese (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), cupper (II), zinc (II) and lead (II), in the solid state

Solid state compounds M-4-DMCP, where 4-DMCP is 4-dimethylaminocynnamylidenepyruvate and M represents Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Pb (II) were prepared. These compounds were studied by thermoanalytical techniques: thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction powder patterns and complexometric titration with EDTA. From the results obtained by the complexometric titration with EDTA, TG, DTG and DSC curves, was possible to establish the hydration degree, stoichiometry and thermal stability of the prepared compounds.

Lability of heavy metal species in aquatic humic substances characterized by ion exchange with cellulose phosphate

Labile metal species in aquatic humic substances (HSs) were characterized by ion exchange on cellulose phosphate (CellPhos) by applying an optimized batch procedure. The HSs investigated were pre-extracted from humic-rich waters by ultrafiltration and a resin XAD 8 procedure. The HS-metal species studied were formed by complexation with Cd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Mn(II) and Pb(II) as a function of time and the ratio ions to HSs. The kinetics and reaction order of this exchange process were studied. At the beginning (<3 min), the labile metal fractions are separated relatively quickly. After 3 min, the separation of the metal ions proceeds with uniform half-lives of about 12-14 min, revealing rather slow first-order kinetics. The metal exchange between HSs and CellPhos exhibited the following order of metal lability with the studied HSs: Cu > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cd. The required metal determinations were carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Tolerance to copper and zinc of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans isolated from sewage sludge

The effect of copper and zinc ions on sulphur oxidation by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, strain SFR01, isolated from anaerobic sewage sludge was assessed, resulting in tolerance levels up to 20 and 200 mmol l(-1) for copper and zinc, respectively. The tolerance levels obtained were higher than the concentration of copper and zinc usually found in the collected sewage sludge. The tolerance levels obtained indicate no constraints for sludge bioleaching of those metals due to their toxicities to the indigenous A. thiooxidans.

INTRATRACHEAL INJECTION OF NICKEL CHLORIDE AND COPPER-ZINC SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN LUNG OF RATS

Superoxide radical (O2-) is a free radical that may be involved in various toxic processes. Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase catalyses the dismutation of the superoxide free radical and protects cells from oxidative damage, and it has been used clinically. The concentration of Ni2+ and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity were measured in lungs of rats at time intervals of 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, and 40 days following an intratracheal injection of 127 nmol of NiCl2. Nickel chloride increased nickel content and resulted in a significant increase of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity in lungs. This elevation of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity was highest on the 12th day (approximately threefold) and is at levels comparable to controls rats on day 40 onwards. Since Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity was increased in lung throughout our experimental period without corresponding increases of Cu2+ and Zn2+, we speculate that the elevation of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity might be due to an increased half-life of the enzyme, induced by nickel.

Kinetics of zinc uptake and anatomy of roots and leaves of coffee trees as affected by zinc nutrition

Zinc (Zn) uptake kinetics and root and leaf anatomy were studied in coffee trees grown in nutrient solutions with or without Zn. Leaves and roots were sampled and cuts were made in the medium part of the leaves and in root tips and observed under an optical microscope. Plants grown without Zn showed an increase in root and in root stele diameter. There was also an increase in epidermis thickness and in the cross-sectional area of the cortex and stele due to Zn deficiency, but the diameter of xylem vessels was decreased. An increase in root cortex and stele diameter provided for an increased surface for nutrient uptake. Accordingly, C(min) was decreased from 13.8 to 3.4 mu mol L(-1) and V(max) increased from 0.50 to 2.1 mu mol cm(-2) h(-1) .

In situ and simultaneous nanostructural and spectroscopic studies of ZnO nanoparticle and Zn-HDS formations from hydrolysis of ethanolic zinc acetate solutions induced by water

The simultaneous formation of nanometer sized zinc oxide (ZnO), and acetate zinc hydroxide double salt (Zn-HDS) is described. These phases, obtained using the sol-gel synthesis route based on zinc acetate salt in alcoholic media, were identified by direct characterization of the reaction products in solution using complementary techniques: nephelometry, in situ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structures (EXAFS). In particular, the hydrolytic pathway of ethanolic zinc acetate precursor solutions promoted by addition of water with the molar ratio N = [H2O]/[Zn2+] = 0.05 was investigated in this paper. The aim was to understand the formation mechanism of ZnO colloidal suspension and to reveal the factors responsible for the formation of Zn-HDS in the final precipitates. The growth mechanism of ZnO nanoparticles is based on primary particle (radius approximate to 1.5 nm) rotation inside the primary aggregate (radius < 3.5 nm) giving rise to an epitaxial attachment of particles and then subsequent coalescence. The growth of second ZnO aggregates is not associated with the Otswald ripening, and could be associated with changes in equilibrium between solute species induced by the superficial etching of Zn-HDS particles at the advanced stage of kinetic.

Europium(III)-containing zinc oxide from Pechini method

ZnO:Eu3+ (0.1 and 3 at%) with average particle size of 500 nm were prepared by the Pechini method. Photoluminescence spectroscopy evidences that there is no energy transfer between ZnO and Eu3+ ion. The emission spectrum at 77 K shows that Eu3+ ions occupy at least three different sites in ZnO:Eu 3 at% sample. The experimental intensity parameter Omega(2) indicates that Eu3+ ions in the sample doped with 3 at% occupy sites where 4-configurational levels can better mix with opposite-parity states than those in the sample doped with 0.1 at%. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Raman phonon modes of zinc blende InxGa1-xN alloy epitaxial layers

Transverse-optical (TO) and longitudinal-optical (LO) phonons of zinc blende InxGa1-xN (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.31) layers are observed through first-order micro-Raman scattering experiments. The samples are grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates, and x-ray diffraction measurements are performed to determine the epilayer alloy composition. Both the TO and LO phonons exhibit a one-mode-type behavior, and their frequencies display a linear dependence on the composition. The Raman data reported here are used to predict the A(1) (TO) and E-1 (TO) phonon frequencies of the hexagonal InxGa1-xN alloy. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01234-6].