Abdulrahman Al-Warthan

Graphene based metal and metal oxide nanocomposites: synthesis, properties and their applications

Graphene, an atomically thin two-dimensional carbonaceous material, has attracted tremendous attention in the scientific community, due to its exceptional electronic, electrical, and mechanical properties. Indeed, with the recent explosion of methods for a large-scale synthesis of graphene, the number of publications related to graphene and other graphene based materials has increased exponentially. Particularly the development of easy preparation methods for graphene like materials, such as highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) via reduction of graphite oxide (GO), offers a wide range of possibilities for the preparation of graphene based inorganic nanocomposites by the incorporation of various functional nanomaterials for a variety of applications. In this review, we discuss the current development of graphene based metal and metal oxide nanocomposites, with a detailed account of their synthesis and properties. Specifically, much attention has been given to their wide range of applications in various fields, including electronics, electrochemical and electrical fields. Overall, by the inclusion of various references, this review covers in detail the aspects of graphene-based inorganic nanocomposites.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by Pulicaria glutinosa extract

The green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has attracted tremendous attention in recent years because these protocols are low cost and more environmentally friendly than standard methods of synthesis. In this article, we report a simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver NPs using an aqueous solution of Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract as a bioreductant. The as-prepared silver NPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, the effects of the concentration of the reductant (plant extract) and precursor solution (silver nitrate), the temperature on the morphology, and the kinetics of reaction were investigated. The results indicate that the size of the silver NPs varied as the plant extract concentration increased. The as-synthesized silver NPs were phase pure and well crystalline with a face-centered cubic structure. Further, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the plant extract not only acted as a bioreductant but also functionalized the NPs’ surfaces to act as a capping ligand to stabilize them in the solvent. The developed eco-friendly method for the synthesis of NPs could prove a better substitute for the physical and chemical methods currently used to prepare metallic NPs commonly used in cosmetics, foods, and medicines.

Chemiluminescent determination of tryptophan in a flow injection system

A method is described for the determination of tryptophan in which it reacts with cerium(IV) in 0.15 M sulphuric acid. The method is rapid and precise and solutions can be analysed at a rate of 211 h −1 with a relative standard deviation of ca. 0.45% at 12.5 μg ml−1 and a limit of detection of 0.1 μg ml−1. The effect of some common amino acids and monosaccharides which may be present along with tryptophan in tissue or protein hydrolysates has been investigated.

Determination of ascorbic acid by flow injection with chemiluminescence detection

Flow injection was used in combination with chemiluminescence detection to determine 30 amol of ascorbic acid based on a luminol–Fe3+–hydrogen peroxide system. The method was applied to the determination of ascorbic acid in pure form, pharmaceutical preparations and fruit juices. The method is sensitive, rapid (sampling rate 2–56 samples h–1) and tolerates the presence of common ingredients usually found in fruit juices and drug formulations.

Advances in enantiomeric resolution on monolithic chiral stationary phases in liquid chromatography and electrochromatography

During the last decade, chiral monolithic stationary phases have been prepared and used for rapid enantioseparations in CEC and HPLC. Various chiral selectors are used to prepare these CSPs. The preparation, properties, and applications of these CSPs are discussed in this paper. Attempts have been made to describe optimization strategies and the chiral recognition mechanisms. A comparison of chiral separations in CEC and HPLC is described. Efforts have also been made to predict the future perspectives and challenges of chiral monolithic stationary phases. The most effective chiral selectors include polysaccharides, cyclodextrins, and macrocyclic glycopeptide antibiotics. These chiral phases produced acceptable analytical enantiomeric separation of a variety of racemates. However, the development of these CSPs for preparative-scale separations is needed.

Flow-injection chemiluminometric analysis of some benzamides by their sensitizing effect on the cerium-sulphite reaction

A simple, highly sensitive chemiluminescent method using flow injection is described for the determination of three substituted benzamides, namely: sulpiride, sultopride and tiapride. The method is based on the sensitizing effect of these drugs on the chemiluminometric oxidation of sulphite by cerium(IV). The different experimental parameters affecting the chemiluminescence intensity were carefully studied and incorporated into the procedure. The method permits the determination of 0.05-2.5 mug ml(-1) sulpiride, 0.01-2.5 mug ml(-1) sultopride hydrochloride and 0.01-1.5 mug ml(-1) tiapride hydrochloride with minimum detectability of 0.01 mug ml(-1). The method was applied to the determination of these benzamides in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids.

Permanganate-based chemiluminescence analysis of cefadroxil monohydrate in pharmaceutical samples and biological fluids using flow injection

A chemiluminescent method using flow injection is described for the determination of cefadroxil monohydrate. The method is based on the chemiluminescence reaction of cefadroxil with potassium permanganate in sulphuric acid, sensitized by quinine. The proposed procedure allows the determination of cefadroxil over the concentration range 0.1-30 mug ml(-1) with a detection limit of 0.05 mug ml(-1) and a sample measurement frequency of 150 samples h(-1). The method was successfully applied to the determination of cefadroxil in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids.

Advances in chiral separations of small peptides by capillary electrophoresis and chromatography

Many chemical and biological processes are controlled by the stereochemistry of small polypeptides (di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexapeptides, etc). The biological importance of peptide stereoisomers is of great value. Therefore, the chiral resolution of peptides is an important issue in biological and medicinal sciences and drug industries. The chiral resolutions of peptide racemates have been discussed with the use of capillary electrophoresis and chromatographic techniques. The various chiral selectors used were polysaccharides, cyclodextrins, Pirkle types, macrocyclic antibiotics, crown ethers, imprinted polymers, etc. The stereochemistry of dipeptides is also discussed. Besides, efforts are made to explain the chiral recognition mechanisms, which will be helpful in understanding existing and developing new stereoselective analyses. Future perspectives of enantiomeric resolution are also predicted. Finally, the review concludes with the demand of enantiomeric resolution of all naturally occurring and synthetic peptides.

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes incorporation into benzyl methacrylate monolithic columns in capillary liquid chromatography

This work describes the preparation of polymer based monolithic materials and their use as stationary phases in capillary liquid chromatography. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were incorporated into a mixture containing benzyl methacrylate (BMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as co-monomers. The optimized porogenic mixture was a ternary solution composed of cyclohexanol, 1,4-butandiol and butanol which resulted in a stable and homogeneous suspension. Six capillary columns with increasing amounts of MWCNT, from 0 to 0.4 mg mL(-1), were prepared by thermal polymerization in 0.32 mm (i.d.) and 150 mm length fused silica tubing. The chromatographic evaluation showed that the synthesized monolithic beds were mechanically stable while their porosity and permeability increased with the MWCNT content. The prepared capillary columns were tested for the separation of mixtures of ketones and phenols at an optimum flow rate of 2 μL min(-1). The results showed that incorporation of MWCNT slightly affected the retention while it enhanced the column efficiency by increasing the column efficiency by a factor of up to 9. This effect corresponded also to an improved resolution and full separation of the solutes.

Green Approach for the Effective Reduction of Graphene Oxide Using Salvadora persica L. Root (Miswak) Extract

Recently, green reduction of graphene oxide (GRO) using various natural materials, including plant extracts, has drawn significant attention among the scientific community. These methods are sustainable, low cost, and are more environmentally friendly than other standard methods of reduction. Herein, we report a facile and eco-friendly method for the bioreduction of GRO using Salvadora persica L. (S. persica L.) roots (miswak) extract as a bioreductant. The as-prepared highly reduced graphene oxide (SP-HRG) was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Various results have confirmed that the biomolecules present in the root extract of miswak not only act as a bioreductant but also functionalize the surface of SP-HRG by acting as a capping ligand to stabilize it in water and other solvents. The dispersion quality of SP-HRG in deionized water was investigated in detail by preparing different samples of SP-HRG with increasing concentration of root extract. Furthermore, the dispersibility of SP-HRG was also compared with chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG). The developed eco-friendly method for the reduction of GRO could provide a better substitute for a large-scale production of dispersant-free graphene and graphene-based materials for various applications in both technological and biological fields such as electronics, nanomedicine, and bionic materials.