Photodegradation study of the fenvalerate insecticide by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GC-MS and structural elucidation of its transformation products

The photolysis of fenvalerate, a pyrethroid insecticide, was studied in acetonitrile by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C NMR to identify the site of bond cleavage and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to establish the chemical structure of fenvalerate photoproducts. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of fenvalerate solutions was performed for 18 h with a solar light simulator, and the photolysis reaction obeyed first-order kinetics. Photolysis half-life time (t1/2) values ranged between 15.25 and 21.63 h (mean photodegradation percentage = 51.7 %) for 1H NMR and between 4.55 and 8.06 h (mean photodegradation percentage > 80 %) for 13C NMR. We observed five sites of bond cleavage, namely carbonyl-tertiary carbon, tertiary carbon-tertiary carbon, carbonyl-oxygen, carboxyl-tertiary carbon, and aromatic carbon-tertiary carbon, yielding photoproducts formation. GC-MS was associated with 1H NMR and 13C NMR to obtain a complete photodegradation mechanism. Before UV irradiation, two chromatogram peaks were obtained, due to the two fenvalerate isomers. Under irradiation, both peaks decreased, and new peaks appeared, corresponding to photoproduct formation. After a 12- to 13-h irradiation, 99.39 % of fenvalerate was degraded with a mean rate constant of 0.305 h–1. The chemical structure of the formed photoproducts was identified, either by using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mass spectral database or by interpreting the mass spectra. Finally, a detailed mechanism was proposed for fenvalerate photodegradation.

A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of pindolol in natural waters using various organic and cyclodextrin media

A simple, sensitive, and rapid spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of the β-blocker pindolol. The native fluorescence of pindolol was measured in different organic solvents and in cyclodextrin aqueous media. The highest fluorescence signal was obtained in 2-propanol at λ_em = 303 nm with λ_ex = 260 nm. Analytical figures of merit for the spectrofluorimetric determination of pindolol were satisfactory, with wide linear dynamic range (LDR) values of two orders of magnitude, and rather low limit of detection (LOD) values between 0.2 and 8.7 ng/mL. Moreover, the addition of cyclodextrins (HP-β-CD and β-CD) in aqueous media enhanced the fluorescence of pindolol. In addition, the inclusion complexes of pindolol with cyclodextrins were investigated and the stability constants of complexes were calculated by means of the method of nonlinear regression (NLR). The method was successfully applied to the analysis of tap water and natural water samples, spiked with pindolol.

Highly sensitive detection of Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions by a new fluorescent sensor based on 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole

A new electrosynthesized, fluorescent 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole (AHNSA-PPy) was used for the detection of Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy metallic ions. The optical properties of AHNSA-PPy were studied by UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence spectrometry in diluted DMSO solutions. UV-VIS spectrum showed a main band at 260 nm, a moderate band at 240 nm, and shoulders at 285, 295, 320 and 360 nm, whereas the fluorescence spectrum presented an excitation peak at 330 nm and a main emission peak at 390 nm with a shoulder at 295 nm. The effects of heavy metallic ions, including Cr(VI), Pb(II), and Cd(II), on the AHNSA-PPy UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence spectra were investigated. AHNSA-PPy fluorescence spectra were strongly quenched upon increasing the Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) concentrations. Linear Stern-Volmer relationships were established, and polynomial equations for Pb(II) and Cd(II) were obeyed, indicating the existence of a AHNSA-PPy dynamic fluorescence quenching mechanism for Cr(VI) and a combination of dynamic and static fluorescence quenching for Pb(II) and Cd(II). The AHNSA-PPy sensor showed high sensitivity for fluorescence detection of the three heavy metallic ions, with very low limits of detection (3σ) of 1.4 nM for Cr(VI), 2.7 nM for Cd(II) and 2.6 nM for Pb(II). Therefore, this very sensitive quenching fluorimetric sensor is proposed for the detection of trace, toxic heavy metallic ions in the environment.

Toxic heavy metals: impact on the environment and human health, and treatment with conducting organic polymers, a review

Water pollution by heavy metals has many human origins, such as the burning of fossil fuels, exhaust gases of vehicles, mining, agriculture, and incineration of solid and liquid wastes. Heavy metals also occur naturally, due to volcanoes, thermal springs activity, erosion, infiltration, etc. This water contamination is a threat for living beings because most heavy metals are toxic to humans and to aquatic life. Hence, it is important to find effective techniques for removing these contaminants in order to reduce the level of pollution of the natural waters. In this work, we have reviewed the toxicity of several heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel), their impact on the environment and human health, and the synthesis and characterization methods of conducting organic polymers (COPs) utilized for the removal of heavy metals from the environment. Therefore, this review was essentially aimed to present recent works and methods (2000-2020) on the environmental impact and toxicity of heavy metals and on the removal of toxic heavy metals, using chemically and/or electrochemically synthesized COPs. We have also stressed the great interest of COPs for the removal of toxic heavy metals from waters.

Simultaneous Determination of Binary Mixtures of Sulfonylurea Herbicides in Water by First-Derivative Photochemically Induced Spectrofluorimetry

First-derivative photochemically induced spectrofluorimetry (PIF-1D) is applied to the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of 4 sulfonylurea herbicides in aqueous micellar samples. Synthetic binary mixtures of sulfometuronmethyl with chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and 3-rimsulfuron, respectively, are well resolved by using the zero-crossing point procedure. PIF-1D allows the determination of binary mixtures of these herbicides with linear dynamic ranges over about 2 orders of magnitude, limits of detection between 0.5 and 52 ng/mL, and relative standard deviations within 0.3–2.9%. Application to the determination of binary mixtures of these herbicides in spiked tap water samples yielded satisfactory recoveries (90–117%).

A novel fluorescent sensor based on electrosynthesized benzene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole for determination of Pb(II) and Cu(II)

To develop conducting organic polymers (COPs) as luminescent sensors for determination of toxic heavy metals, a new benzene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole (PPy-BSA) thin film was electrochemically prepared by cyclic voltammetry (CV) on flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode in aqueous solution. PPy-BSA film was characterized by FTIR spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties of PPy-BSA were investigated by ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption and fluorescence spectrometry in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) diluted solutions. PPy-BSA fluorescence spectra were strongly quenched upon increasing copper(II) ion (Cu²⁺ ) and lead(II) ion (Pb²⁺ ) concentrations in aqueous medium, and linear Stern-Volmer relationships were obtained, which indicated the existence of a main dynamic fluorescence quenching mechanism. BSA-PPy sensor showed a high sensitivity for detection of both metallic ions, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ , with very low limit of detection values of 3.1 and 18.0 nM, respectively. The proposed quenching-fluorimetric sensor might be applied to the determination of traces of toxic heavy metallic ions in water samples.

Establishment of an EC50 database of pesticides using a Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence method

An EC₅₀ database was established to assess the acute toxicity of 16 PESTANAL pesticide standards and of seven pesticide commercial formulations using a Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence method. Half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀ ) is defined as the concentration of pollutant (in this case, pesticide) destroying 50% of the bacteria population and causing 50% bioluminescence inhibition, after a specified exposure time. Linear curves of bioluminescence inhibition versus pesticide concentration and EC₅₀ values were obtained for exposure times (t) of 5 or 15 min for these pesticides. The EC₅₀ values ranged from 6.90 × 10^-4 to 0.83 mg/ml (t = 5 min), and from 9.00 × 10^-4 to 0.37 mg/ml (t = 15 min) for pesticide standards, plus from 0.0077 to 0.74 mg/ml (t = 5 min), and from 0.0076 and 0.57 mg/ml (t = 15 min) for pesticide commercial formulations. The EC₅₀ database allowed classification of the pesticides under study into three categories according to their toxicity: very toxic, toxic and moderately toxic. These results demonstrated that the establishment of an EC₅₀ database and of linear curves of bioluminescence inhibition versus the pesticide concentration resulted in very important and irreplaceable tools to estimate the global and individual toxicity of pesticides present in environmental samples.

Tracking metal ions with polypyrrole thin films adhesively bonded to diazonium-modified flexible ITO electrodes

Adhesively bonded polypyrrole thin films doped with benzene sulfonic acid (BSA) were electrodeposited on aminobenzenediazonium-modified flexible ITO electrodes and further employed for the detection of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺ metal ions in aqueous medium. The aminophenyl (AP) adhesive layer was grafted to ITO by electroreduction of the in situ generated parent diazonium compound. Polypyrrole (PPy) thin films exhibited remarkable adhesion to aminophenyl (ITO-AP). The strongly adherent polypyrrole films exhibited excellent electroactivity in the doped state with BSA which itself served to chelate the metal ions in aqueous medium. The surface of the resulting, modified flexible electrode was characterized by XPS, SEM, and electrochemical methods. The ITO-AP-PPy electrodes were then used for the simultaneous detection of Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The detection limits were 11.1, 8.95, and 0.99 nM for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺, respectively. In addition, the modified electrodes displayed a good reproducibility, making them suitable for the determination of heavy metals in real wastewater samples.

Development of online automatic detector of hydrocarbons and suspended organic matter by simultaneously acquisition of fluorescence and scattering

Permanent online monitoring of water supply pollution by hydrocarbons is needed for various industrial plants, to serve as an alert when thresholds are exceeded. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a suitable technique for this purpose due to its sensitivity and moderate cost. However, fluorescence measurements can be disturbed by the presence of suspended organic matter, which induces beam scattering and absorption, leading to an underestimation of hydrocarbon content. To overcome this problem, we propose an original technique of fluorescence spectra correction, based on a measure of the excitation beam scattering caused by suspended organic matter on the left side of the Rayleigh scattering spectral line. This correction allowed us to obtain a statistically validated estimate of the naphthalene content (used as representative of the polyaromatic hydrocarbon contamination), regardless of the amount of suspended organic matter in the sample. Moreover, it thus becomes possible, based on this correction, to estimate the amount of suspended organic matter. By this approach, the online warning system remains operational even when suspended organic matter is present in the water supply.

Removal of lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions by using 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole films

Water pollution by heavy metals is a great health concern worldwide. Lead and cadmium are among the most toxic heavy metals because they are dangerous for the human and aquatic lives. In this work, the removal of lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions has been studied using electrosynthesized 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole (AHNSA-PPy) films as a new adsorbent. Two distinct methods, including the immersion method, based on the Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ spontaneous removal by impregnation of the polymer in the solution, and the electro-elimination method, consisting of removal of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from the solution by applying a small electrical current (5 mA) to the polymer film, were developed: the evolution of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ concentrations with time was monitored by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The effect of pH on the adsorption and electro-elimination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ using the AHNSA-PPy film was investigated and optimized, showing that the ionic adsorption and electro-elimination processes were highly pH-dependent. The kinetics of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ adsorption and electro-elimination were found to follow second-order curves. The maximum adsorption capacity values of the AHNSA-PPy film were 64.0 and 50.4 mg/g, respectively, for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The removal efficiency values were, respectively, for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, 80 and 63% by the immersion method, and 93 and 85% by the electro-elimination method. Application of both methods to Senegal natural waters, fortified with Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, led to removal efficiency values of, respectively for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, 76-77 and 58-59% by the immersion method, and of 82-90 and 80-83%, by the electro-elimination method.

Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using electrosynthesized 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid doped polypyrrole as adsorbent

Polypyrrole (PPy) conducting films, doped with 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene sulfonic acid (AHNSA), were electrosynthesized by anodic oxidation of pyrrole on Pt and steel electrodes in aqueous medium (0.01 M AHNSA +0.007 M NaOH, using cyclic voltammetry (CV), and their electrochemical properties were studied. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of AHNSA-PPy films. Their morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their optical properties, including UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence spectra, were also investigated. AHNSA-PPy films were used for the removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution, by means of the immersion method and the Cr(VI) electro-reduction method. The effect of various experimental parameters, including the adsorbent (polymer) mass, pH, type of electrodes, and current intensity, on the adsorption of chromium by the polymer was performed and optimized. The adsorption and electro-reduction of (Cr VI) on the AHNSA-PPy film surface were found to be highly pH-dependent, and the kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption and electro-reduction followed second-order kinetic curves. Apparent second-order rate constants were about three times higher for the Cr(VI) electro-reduction method than for the immersion method, indicating that the use of electro-reduction method significantly accelerated the chromium adsorption process on polymer. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AHNSA-PPy film for chromium was 224 mg g^-1. A 96% chromium removal from pure aqueous solution was reached within about 48 h by the immersion method, but only within about 6 h by the Cr(VI) electro-reduction method. Application of both methods to Cr(VI) fortified natural waters of Senegal led to chromium removal efficiency high values (93 to 96% according to the type of natural water).

Fluorescence Quenching of Two Coumarin-3-carboxylic Acids by Trivalent Lanthanide Ions

The effects of various trivalent lanthanide ions (acetates of Ce³⁺, Er³⁺, Eu³⁺, Nd³⁺) on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of un-substituted coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) and 7-N,N-diethylamino-coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DECCA) have been investigated in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at room temperature. Depending on the lanthanide ion nature and concentration, significant spectral changes of absorption bands occurred for both coumarin derivatives. These spectral changes were attributed to the formation of ground-state complexes between the coumarin carboxylate derivatives and lanthanide ions. The fluorescence quenching of CCA and DECCA upon increasing the lanthanide ion concentration was studied. Different quantitative treatments, including the Stern-Volmer equation, the Perrin equation and a polynomial equation, were applied and compared in order to determine the nature of the quenching mechanisms for both coumarin derivatives. The results suggested the contribution of both dynamic and static quenching. Significant differences of CCA and DECCA fluorescence quenching efficiency were also observed, depending on the lanthanide ion. DECCA fluorescence lifetime measurements, performed in the absence and in the presence of Ln³⁺, confirmed a contribution of static quenching.

Determination of the fenvalerate insecticide in natural waters by a photochemically-induced fluorescence method

<p>The fenvalerate pyrethroid insecticide was determined in various types of natural waters of Senegal by means of a newly-developed, simple, rapid and very sensitive photochemically-induced fluorescence (PIF) method. The PIF method was optimized with respect to the irradiation time, solvent and pH. The obtained calibration curves yielded correlation coefficients very close to unity. The limit of detection (LOD) and of quantification (LOQ) values were very low (LOD = 0.01–0.66 ng/ml and LOQ = 0.04–2.20 ng/ml, according to the solvent), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) values were small, ranging between 0.1 and 1.5 %, which indicated a very good analytical sensitivity and a great repeatability of PIF. Recovery studies were performed on spiked distilled water, tap water, sea water, well water, river water and draining water samples of Senegal, using the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), and standard addition procedures. Satisfactory recovery results (about 85–121%) were obtained for the determination of fenvalerate in an aquatic environment.</p>

Solvolysis kinetic study and direct spectrofluorimetric analysis of the fungicide benomyl in natural waters

<p>A direct spectrofluorimetric method for the quantitative analysis of benomyl in natural waters is described. Benomyl is an instable, fluorescent fungicide that mainly decomposes into carbendazim and n-butyl-isocyanate in organic and aqueous solutions. The kinetics of benomyl solvolysis reactions were investigated in organic solvents (methanol and acetonitrile) and in aqueous solvent systems, including β–cyclodextrin (β-CD), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTAOH), Brij-700, Triton X-100 and water, at different pH and/or NaOH concentrations. The benomyl fluorescence signal was found to be quasi-completely stable in 10^-2 M NaOH aqueous solution, various alkaline (10^-2 M NaOH) organized media, β-CD neutral solution and Triton X-100 aqueous solutions of different pH. Based on these results, a direct spectrofluorimetric analytical method was developed for the determination of benomyl in 10^-2 M NaOH aqueous solution and Triton X-100 solutions (pH7 and 10^-2 M NaOH), with wide linear dynamic range (LDR) values of two to three orders of magnitude, very low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of, respectively, 0.002-0.5 ng/mL and 0.007-2.0 ng/mL, and small relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 0.2-1.7 %, according to the medium. This direct spectrofluorimetric method was applied to the evaluation of benomyl residues in natural waters, with satisfactory recovery values (87-94%).</p>

Application of the electro-Fenton process to mesotrione aqueous solutions: Kinetics, degradation pathways, mineralization and evolution of the toxicity

<p>The kinetics and the mechanism of degradation of the mesotrione herbicide by three electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) systems, namely electro-Fenton (EF) with Pt anode (EF-Pt), anodic oxidation with BDD anode (AO) and EF-boron doped diamond anode (EF-BDD), were investigated in acidic aqueous solutions. The degradation of mesotrione obeyed apparent first-order reaction kinetics, and its absolute rate constant value with hydroxyl radicals at pH 3.0, determined by the competitive kinetics method, was found to be 8.20 × 10⁸ L mol^–1 s^–1. Fourteen different mesotrione degradation products were separated and/or identified using HPLC / MSⁿ analyses. A rationalized scheme was proposed for the reaction pathways of mesotrione degradation in the EF process. The mesotrione mineralization yield values ranged between about 58 and 97%<strong> </strong>for a 6-h electrolysis time, according to the type of EAOP system and the electrolysis current intensity value. The evolution of the toxicity of mesotrione aqueous solutions with electrolysis time (<em>t</em>) was investigated during treatment by the EF-Pt and EF-BDD systems. Toxicity was measured with the Microtox® method, based on the luminescence inhibition of marine bacteria <em>Vibrio fischeri</em>. The curves % inhibition <em>vs.</em> time were found to depend on the toxicity of formed mesotrione degradation products.</p>

Quantitative treatment of the effect of solvent on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of substituted coumarins: Evaluation of the first excited singlet-state dipole moments

The electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of coumarin and 11 substituted coumarins were measured in several solvents (dioxane, ethyl ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide). Ground-state dipole moments were determined in dioxane at 298 K. The results were used to obtain the first excited singlet-state dipole moments of the coumarins under study by the solvatochromic shift method (Bakhshiev, Kawski-Chamma-Viallet, McRae, and Suppan correlations). Also, the ground- and the first excited singlet-state dipole moments were calculated using a combination of the PPP method (π-contribution) and the vector sum of the σ-bond and group moments (σ-contribution). In general, the first excited singlet-state dipole moments of the coumarins are noticeably higher than the corresponding ground-state values, indicating a substantial redistribution of theπ-electron densities resulting in a more polar excited state. There is a reasonably good agreement between the calculated and the experimental dipole moments.

Synthesis and spectral properties of new fluorescent alkoxy-substituted thieno[3,2-b]indole derivatives

The synthesis and optical properties of three new fluorescent alkoxy-substituted thieno[3,2-b]indole (TI) derivatives, including 7-methoxy thieno[3,2-b]indole (7-MeOTI), 6,7- methylenedioxythieno[3,2-b]indole (6,7-MDTI) and 6,7-dihexyloxythieno[3,2-b]indole, (6,7-DHTI), were investigated. Electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF), lifetimes (τF), and other photophysical parameters of the three TI derivatives were measured in DMSO solutions at room temperature. Theoretical electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra were also calculated by means of a molecular orbital (MO) method. For all three alkoxy-TI derivatives, the fluorescence emission maximum wavelength was significantly red shifted relative to un-substituted TI, which was attributed to delocalization of the fused hetero-aromatic ring π electronic system by the electron-donating alkoxy group(s). ΦF values varied from 0.12 to 0.19, according to the compound. τF were short, in the range 0.56-1.13 ns.

Degradation and mineralization of sulcotrione and mesotrione in aqueous medium by the electro-Fenton process: a kinetic study

INTRODUCTION

The degradation and mineralization of two triketone (TRK) herbicides, including sulcotrione and mesotrione, by the electro-Fenton process (electro-Fenton using Pt anode (EF-Pt), electro-Fenton with BDD anode (EF-BDD) and anodic oxidation with BDD anode) were investigated in acidic aqueous medium.

METHODS

The reactivity of both herbicides toward hydroxyl radicals was found to depend on the electron-withdrawing effect of the aromatic chlorine or nitro substituents. The degradation of sulcotrione and mesotrione obeyed apparent first-order reaction kinetics, and their absolute rate constants with hydroxyl radicals at pH 3.0 were determined by the competitive kinetics method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The hydroxylation absolute rate constant (k(abs)) values of both TRK herbicides ranged from 8.20 × 10(8) (sulcotrione) to 1.01 × 10(9) (mesotrione) L mol(-1) s(-1), whereas those of the TRK main cyclic or aromatic by-products, namely cyclohexane 1,3-dione, (2-chloro-4-methylsulphonyl) benzoic acid and 4-(methylsulphonyl)-2-nitrobenzoic acid, comprised between 5.90 × 10(8) and 3.29 × 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1). The efficiency of mineralization of aqueous solutions of both TRK herbicides was evaluated in terms of total organic carbon removal. Mineralization yields of about 97-98% were reached in optimal conditions for a 6-h electro-Fenton treatment time.

CONCLUSIONS

The mineralization process steps involved the oxidative opening of the aromatic or cyclic TRK by-products, leading to the formation of short-chain carboxylic acids, and, then, of carbon dioxide and inorganic ions.

Revisiting the photophysical properties and excited singlet-state dipole moments of several coumarin derivatives

The solvent effects on the electronic absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of several coumarins derivatives, containing amino, N,N-dimethyl-amino, N,N-diethyl-amino, hydroxyl, methyl, carboxyl, or halogen substituents at the positions 7, 4, or 3, were investigated in eight solvents with various polarities. The first excited singlet-state dipole moments of these coumarins were determined by various solvatochromic methods, using the theoretical ground-state dipole moments which were calculated by the AM1 method. The first excited singlet-state dipole moment values were obtained by the Bakhshiev, Kawski-Chamma-Viallet, Lippert-Mataga, and Reichardt-Dimroth equations, and were compared to the ground-state dipole moments. In all cases, the dipole moments were found to be higher in the excited singlet-state than in the ground state because of the different electron densities in both states. The red-shifts of the absorption and fluorescence emission bands, observed for most compounds upon increasing the solvent polarity, indicated that the electronic transitions were of π-π* nature.

Luminescence methods for study and determination of pollutants in the environment

The analytical performances and applications of various luminescence spectrometric methods to the study and determination of pollutants present at low levels in the environment are reviewed for the last two decades (1990 – 2010). The first part concerns luminescence stationary systems, including fluorescence, photochemically-induced fluorescence, phosphorescence and related luminescence methods. In the second part, the combination of these luminescence methods with flow techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and flow injection analysis (FIA) for the detection and determination of environmental pollutants is investigated. A part of the review is also devoted to the usefulness of organized supramolecular systems, such as micellar media, cyclodextrins and calixarenes, for improving the efficiency of luminescence methods.

Simultaneous determination of sulfonylurea herbicide synthetic binary mixtures by a partial least square method combined with micellar-enhanced photochemically-induced fluorescence application to tap water analysis

A combination of the partial least square method in its first variable (PLS-1) with micellar-enhanced photochemically- induced fluorescence (MEPIF) was developed for the simultaneous determination of synthetic binary mixtures of four sulfonylurea herbicides in aqueous micellar solutions, and applied to tap water analysis. Because of their similar features, the MEPIF emission spectra of these herbicides were found to severely overlap in the whole wavelength region. After optimization of the calibration matrix, the PLS-1-MEPIF method was applied to the resolution of chlorsulfuron/metsulfuron methyl and sulfometuron methyl/3-rimsulfuron binary mixtures. The analytical results obtained by the PLS-1-MEPIF method were presented and compared to those of the first-derivative PIF one. An application of the PLS-1-MEPIF method to the quantitative analysis of Paris tap water samples spiked with the herbicide binary mixtures led to recovery values ranging between 63 and 118 %, depending on the mixture.

Toxicological study of pesticides in air and precipitations of Paris by means of a bioluminescence method

A detailed toxicological study on several pesticides, including chlorothalonil, cyprodynil, dichlobénil, pendimethaline, trifluraline, and alpha-endosulfan, present at trace levels in air and total atmospheric precipitations of Paris is presented. The pesticides contained in the atmospheric samples, collected during sampling campaigns in February-March 2007, are identified and quantified by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)-UV detection method. The toxicity measurements are performed by means of the Microtox bioluminescence method, based on the evaluation of the bioluminescence inhibition of the Vibrio fischeri marine bacteria at two exposure times to the pesticide solutions. The specific toxicity, corresponding to the particular toxicity of the compound under study and represented by the EC(50) parameter, is determined for these pesticides. Also, the global toxicity, which is the toxicity of all micro-pollutants present in the sample under study, is estimated for the extracts of air and atmospheric precipitation (rainwater) samples. The specific toxicities strongly vary with the nature of the pesticide, the EC(50) parameter values being comprised between 0.17 and 0.83 mg/mL and 0.15 and 0.66 mg/mL, respectively, for exposure times of 5 and 15 min. The importance of the atmospheric samples' global toxicity and the respective contribution of the toxic potency of the various pesticides contained in these samples are discussed.

Study of the toxicity of diuron and its metabolites formed in aqueous medium during application of the electrochemical advanced oxidation process "electro-Fenton"

Diuron (N'-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-N,N-dimethylurea) is a herbicide belonging to the phenylurea family, widely used to destroy weeds on uncultivated surfaces. Because of its toxicity for aquatic organisms and suspicion of being carcinogenic for humans, diuron is the object of growing environmental concern. Therefore, we have developed the electro-Fenton method, an electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP), to degrade diuron in aqueous medium, and we have studied the evolution of the toxicity of treated solution during the process. Indeed, the EAOPs catalytically generate hydroxyl radicals that oxidize the persistent organic pollutants, and can ultimately destroy and mineralize them. But, sometimes, relatively toxic organic metabolites are formed during the oxidation reaction. In this work, the evolution of toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions was studied at different initial concentrations, during treatment by the electro-Fenton method. Samples were collected at various electrolysis times and mineralization degrees during the treatment. The toxicity of the samples was measured using the bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox) and the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. Our results demonstrated that the toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions (concentrations=3.0-27.6 mg L(-1)) varied considerably with time. The formation and disappearance of several metabolites, having toxicity often stronger than that of the initial herbicide, were observed. To improve the efficiency of water decontamination, the electro-Fenton method should be applied during a time long enough (several hours) and at relatively high electrolysis current (I=250 mA) to reach a nearly complete mineralization of the herbicide in the aqueous medium.

Determination of dimethoate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, mecoprop and linuron pesticides in environmental waters in Republic of Macedonia by high performance liquid chromatography

An HPLC-UVDAD method for determination of dimethoate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), mecoprop (MCPP) and linuron in environmental waters was developed. The water samples were concentrated and extracted by a solid phase extraction (SPE) method on Bond Elut PPL cartridges. After extraction the investigated compounds were separated on Stability RP Pesticides chromatographic column using mobile phase composed of acetonitrile- water-acetic acid in volume fractions of 39:59:2 and flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Ultraviolet absorption detection was carried out for dimethoate, 2,4-D and MCPP at 229 nm, and for linuron at 249 nm. Recoveries made from 500 mL of drinking waters using solid phase extraction ranged between 64.3–92.1 %. The method was applied to environmental waters in Macedonia that receive runoffs from agriculture lands. The levels of pesticides under study ranged between 0.31 μg/L and 7.05 μg/L, depending on the compound and sampling period.

Luminescence and Photophysical Properties of Benzo[a]phenothiazines - Therapeutic, Physico-Chemical, and Analytical Applications

Luminescence studies on a series of new 12H-benzo[a]phenothiazines (BPHTs), possessing potentially useful antitumor therapeutic properties, are reviewed. The electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of BPHTs, as well as their triplet- and singlet-excited states luminescence quenching are reviewed. Ground-state and singlet-excited state dipole moments and solvatochromic relationships are also described for these compounds. Studies on the formation of inclusion complexes between BPHTs and cyclodextrins (CDs), including CD-enhanced fluorescence, and thermodynamic constants and molecular geometry of these complexes, are discussed. The BPHTs antitumor properties in relation to their pi-electron density, and the physico-chemical and analytical applications based on their fluorescence and photophysical properties are also presented. This review article is based on selected literature data published in the last ten years (1993-2004).

Fluorescence Studies of Anti-Cancer Drugs - Analytical and Biomedical Applications

The fluorescence properties of anticancer drugs (ACDs), including steady-state native fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarization, excimer and exciplex emission, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) with one- or two-photon excitation are reviewed, as well as the use of fluorogenic labels and fluorescent probes for the non-fluorescent ACDs. The interest of monitoring the fluorescence spectral changes to study the interactions of ACDs with biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, vesicles, and the formation of complexes is discussed. The fluorescence methodologies used for ACDs studies, including fluorescence with two-photon excitation, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, and fluorescence microscopy, are also surveyed. Analytical and bioanalytical applications of fluorescence, indicating good selectivity and very low limits of detection at the nanomolar and picomolar level for most ACDs, are described. Biomedical and clinical applications of the fluorescence methods, mostly oriented towards the evaluation of the cytoxicity and anti-tumor potential of ACDs in single cells as well as in biological fluids, including blood, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and feces, are also discussed in detail. This review is based on selected literature published in the last decade (1994-2003).

Environmental analysis based on luminescence in organized supramolecular systems

The use of organized supramolecular systems-including micellar media and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes-combined with luminescence techniques in the study and determination of compounds and elements of environmental interest from 1990 to 2005 is reviewed. Analyses of environmental samples performed using fluorescence, photochemically induced fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy as well as liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and flow injection with luminescence detection in the presence of these organized media are described in detail.

Solvatochromic correlations and ground- and excited-state dipole moments of curcuminoid dyes

Experimental dipole moments of curcumin (1) and of its parent compound dicinnamoylmethane (2) were determined in dioxane and benzene, respectively. Theoretical dipole moments were calculated using a combination of the PPP method (pi-moment) and a vector sum of the sigma-bond moments (sigma-moment) as well as by the ZINDO/1 method. Solvatochromic correlations were used to obtain the experimental first excited singlet-state dipole moments. The experimental electronic absorption spectra were compared with the calculated transitions.

A comparison of the environmental impact of pesticide multiresidues and their occurrence in river waters surveyed by liquid chromatography coupled in tandem with UV diode array detection and mass spectrometry

Twenty-two pesticides and metabolites selected on the basis of a regional priority list, were surveyed in surface river waters by high performance liquid chromatography coupled in tandem with UV diode array detection and mass spectrometry, after an off-line pre-concentration step. Pesticide concentrations ranged between 0.07 and 4.8 microg/l according to the compound and sampling period. Analytical results were linked to the environmental risk of pesticides, evaluated by their system investigation of risk by integration of score (SIRIS) rank.

A multi-residue method for characterization and determination of atmospheric pesticides measured at two French urban and rural sampling sites

The extensive use of pesticides to protect agricultural crops can result in the transfer of these compounds into the atmosphere and their diffusion towards urban areas. Precise evaluation of the geographic impact of this type of pollution is important environmentally. In this paper, analytical methods for the sampling, characterization, and determination of agricultural pesticides in air were developed; the methods were then applied in the Paris and Champagne regions. Sixteen pesticides belonging to nine chemical families were monitored. Sampling was carried out in urban (Paris) and rural (Aube district) sites, utilizing either a high-volume pump (12.5 m3 h(-1)) (urban site) or a low-volume pump (2.3 m3 h(-1)) for the rural site. Quartz filters and polyurethane foams (PUF) were used for sampling in all cases. After extracting the samples and concentrating the recovered solutions, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis with UV detection was performed. Identification of the pesticides was confirmed by applying to the HPLC measurements a novel UV-detection procedure based on the normalized absorbance variation with wavelength (Noravawa procedure). The presence of metsulfuron methyl, isoproturon, linuron, deltamethrin (and/or malathion), and chlorophenoxy acids (2,4-D and MCPP) was found at the urban sampling site at levels ranging from about 1 to 1130 ng m(-3) of air, depending on the compound and sampling period. On the rural sampling site residues of isoproturon, deltamethrin (and/or malathion), MCPP, and 2,4-D were generally detected at higher levels (19-5130 ng m(-3)) than on the urban site, as expected. The effects of the weather conditions and agricultural activity on the atmospheric concentrations of pesticides are discussed, as are long-range atmospheric transfer processes for these pesticides.

The role of organic colloids in herbicide transfer to rivers: a quantitative study of triazine and phenylurea interactions with colloids

For moderately hydrophobic compounds such as most pesticides adsorption on colloids (<0.2 microm) may play a key role in pesticide mobility as well as in their degradation by chemical and microbiological processes. However, until now, pesticide-organic colloid interactions are poorly understood. Quantitative data for sorption equilibria on colloids of two series of herbicides including triazines (atrazine, simazine, terbutylazine, prometryne, desethylatrazine, and desisopropylatrazine) and phenylureas (isoproturon, linuron, neburon, and diuron) sampled in the Seine river (urban zone) and the Marne river (agricultural zone) are presented. Partition coefficient of herbicides on colloids (K(com)), were evaluated by solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV diode-array detection (SPE-HPLC-UV/DAD). In the case of triazines a satisfactory log-log correlation was found between K(com) and octanol-water coefficient (K(ow)) values. Phenylureas did not obey this correlation, with K(com) values being about two times higher than those of triazines. The existence of two distinct types of adsorption behaviour on colloids partly explains the different occurrence of triazines and phenylureas in surface waters.

Applying non-parametric statistical methods to the classical measurements of inclusion complex binding constants

A study on using non-parametric statistical methods was carried out to calculate the binding constant of an inclusion complex and to estimate its associated uncertainty. First, a correct evaluation of the stoichiometry was carried out in order to ensure an accurate determination of the binding constant. For this purpose, the modified Benesi-Hildelbrand method had been previously applied. Then, four statistical methods (three non-parametric methods: two bootstrap approaches, the jackknife method and a parametric one: Fieller's theorem) were employed in order to compute the binding constant. The results obtained from applying these methods and the combination of the methods: jackknife after bootstrap and bootstrap after jackknife were compared. The best results in terms of accuracy were obtained from the application of a bootstrap method: the resampling residuals approach. These procedures were applied to the inclusion complex 2-hydroxil-propyl-beta-cyclodextrin-2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic, which shows photochemically-induced fluorescence.

A spectroscopic study of the fluorescence quenching interactions between biomedically important salts and the fluorescent probe merocyanine 540

The effects of several biologically important inorganic salts, including NaCl, NaI, NaBr, KCl, MgCl2, MgSO4 and CaCl2 on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of Merocyanine 540 (MC-540) have been investigated in aqueous media at 25 degrees C. Depending on both the MC-540 concentration and the nature of salt, a new absorption band appears at about 515 nm, above the critical salt concentration (CSC), corresponding to salt-induced MC-540 aggregation. Several types of MC-540 fluorescence quenching by the salts are observed, according to their cationic charge and the nature of anion: in the case of monovalent ions (Na+, K+), a non-linear Stern-Volmer behaviour is observed, indicating variable contributions of dynamic and static quenching mechanisms, whereas for divalent alkaline-earth (Mg2+, Ca2+) ions, linear Stern-Volmer relationships are obtained. Using these results, an analytical quenchofluorimetric approach is proposed for the determination of magnesium ions.

Theoretical and Experimental Dipole Moments of Purines

As a follow-up on our previous study of a series of purines (purine, 6-chloropurine, purine-6-thiol, hypoxanthine, theobromine, theophylline, caffeine, and uric acid), we have investigated six additional biologically important purines (adenine, guanine, isoguanine, thioguanine, xanthine, and kinetin). Their ground-state dipole moments were measured in dioxane at 293 K. The first excited singlet-state dipole moments were obtained using the solvatochromic shift equations (McRae, Suppan, Bakhshiev, and Kawski-Chamma-Viallet). The theoretical dipole moments were calculated as a combination of the π-moment (PPP method) and the σ-moment (vector sum of the σ-bond and σ-group moments). The same approach was used to obtain their first excited singlet-state dipole moments (excited state π-moment; σ-moment assumed to be the same as in the ground state). Ab initio HF 6-31G** calculations were also used to obtain ground-state dipole moments for all the fourteen purines under study. In addition, a DFT/B3PW91/6311++(2df,2p) calculation has been carried out for purine for comparison. The different sets of theoretical dipole moments were compared with the respective experimental values. There is an approximately equally good agreement among the experimental dipole moments and the PPP + σ dipole moments (±6.9%) and the ab initio dipole moments (±7.4%). The effect of structure on the dipole moments is discussed.

Simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of sulfonylurea herbicides in water by first-derivative photochemically induced spectrofluorimetry

First-derivative photochemically induced spectrofluorimetry (PIF-1D) is applied to the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of 4 sulfonylurea herbicides in aqueous micellar samples. Synthetic binary mixtures of sulfometuronmethyl with chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and 3-rimsulfuron, respectively, are well resolved by using the zero-crossing point procedure. PIF-1D allows the determination of binary mixtures of these herbicides with linear dynamic ranges over about 2 orders of magnitude, limits of detection between 0.5 and 52 ng/mL, and relative standard deviations within 0.3-2.9%. Application to the determination of binary mixtures of these herbicides in spiked tap water samples yielded satisfactory recoveries (90-117%).

Photophysical properties of sexi(3-methoxythiophene): evidence for energy migration in a conducting oligomer, based on fluorescence quenching

The electronic absorption and fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of poly(3-methoxythiophene) (PMOT), a soluble, electroactive oligomer mainly constituted of hexamer, were investigated in dimethylsulfoxide at room temperature. The study of PMOT photophysical properties suggests the existence of important pi-electronic delocalization in the oxidized and reduced form of the oligomer. A significant fluorescence quenching of PMOT takes place in the presence of various quenchers such as dimethylterephthalate, potassium iodide and thallium acetate. Quenching mechanisms implying a quencher-induced intersystem-crossing step are proposed. Modified Stern-Volmer relationships were obtained with large quenching bimolecular rate constants (2.7 x 10(9)-6.1 x 10(11) l mol(-1) s(-1)), which suggests electronic energy migration throughout the repeat units of the PMOT hexamer.