Shipboard determination of aluminum in seawater at the nanomolar level by electron capture detection gas chromatography

A glance into aluminum toxicity and resistance in plants

Aluminum toxicity is an important stress factor for plants in acidic environments. During the last decade considerable advances have been made in both techniques to assess the potentially toxic Al species in environmental samples, and knowledge about the mechanisms of Al toxicity and resistance in plants. After a short introduction on Al risk assessment, this review aims to give an up-to-date glance into current developments in the field of Al toxicity and resistance in plants, also providing sufficient background information for non-specialists in aluminum research. Special emphasis is paid to root growth and development as primary targets for Al toxicity. Mechanisms of exclusion of Al from sensitive root tips, as well as tolerance of high Al tissue levels are considered.

Thermally Stable Merocyanine Form of Photochromic Spiropyran with Aluminum Ion as a Reversible Photo-driven Sensor in Aqueous Solution

A reversible photo-driven sensor for aluminum ions based on photochromic spiropyran was reported with rapid response time. The detection of aluminum was performed via the chelation of aluminum ions with the merocyanine form (MC) of photochromic spiropyran. ¹H NMR studies confirmed the conversation from the MC form into the Al³⁺-MC form. Addition of aluminum ions to the spiropyran (SP) in a MeCN/H₂O mixture results in obvious color changes with a loss in absorbance at 539 nm and an enhancement in absorbance at about 420 nm after irradiation at 365 nm. The metal chelation complex (Al³⁺-MC) can also be converted into the original SP form by irradiation with visible light. Aluminum ions can be detected down to 0.5 μM levels in a fast response of less than 5 seconds with no interference from other ionic species.

Determination of aluminium in natural water samples

The atmospheric deposition of terrestrial dust into the ocean is an important factor in controlling Earth's climate. Aluminium can be used as a tracer for the magnitude and location of dust transported from the land to surface ocean. The element is ideal for this purpose since its primary input is via aeolian dust deposition and it has a short surface water residence time. The accurate determination of dissolved aluminium in seawater is difficult due to the complexity of the matrix and the trace (nanomolar) concentrations at which the metal exists. This paper presents a critical review of the different sampling and analytical methods for the determination of the concentration of aluminium in natural waters, with particular focus on techniques successfully applied to shipboard analysis of seawater.