Disha J. Vyas

Azocalix[4]pyrrole Amberlite XAD-2: new polymeric chelating resins for the extraction, preconcentration and sequential separation of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) in natural water samples.

Two novel azocalix[4]pyrrole Amberlite XAD-2 polymeric chelating resins were synthesized by covalently linking diazotized Amberlite XAD-2 with calix[4]pyrrole macrocycles. The chelating resins were used for extraction, preconcentration and sequential separation of metal ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) by column chromatography prior to their determination by UV/vis spectrophotometry or flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Various parameters such as effect of pH on absorption, concentration of eluting agents, flow rate, total sorption capacity, exchange kinetics, preconcentration factor, distribution coefficient, breakthrough capacity and resin stability, were optimized for effective separation and preconcentration. The resin showed good ability for the separation of metal ions from binary and ternary mixture on the basis of pH of absorption and concentration of eluting agents. The newly synthesized resins showed good potential for trace enrichment of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) metal ions, especially for Cu(II), as compared to the earlier reported resins. The synthesized resins were recycled at least 8-10 times without much affecting column sorption capacity. The presented method was successfully applied for determination of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) in natural and ground water samples.

Highly stable antibacterial silver nanoparticles as selective fluorescent sensor for Fe3+ ions

Calix[4]resorcinarene polyhydrazide (CPH) protected water dispersible fluorescent silver nanaoparticles (AgNps) were prepared by one-pot method using water soluble CPH and AgNO₃. (CPH) bearing hydrazide group on its periphery acts as a reducing agent and its web type of structure as a stabilizing agent for the formation of calix protected silver nanoparticles (CPH-AgNps). CPH-AgNps were found to be highly stable over 120 days at room temperature and at varied pH. CPH-AgNps were characterized by UV/Vis-spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Duly characterized nanoparticles were explored for their application as sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensors for various metal ions. It was found that nanoparticles were selective and sensitive only for Fe(3+) ions with the linear range of detection from 0.1 μM to 10 μM. CPH-AgNps were also found to exhibit good antimicrobial activity when compared with standard Chloramphenicol. The selectivity and antimicrobial activity of CPH-AgNps suggests its potential use as a sensor for Fe(III) ions in ecosystems prone to industrial pollution and as an antimicrobial agent in biological applications.

Highly stable water dispersible calix[4]pyrrole octa-hydrazide protected gold nanoparticles as colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensors for selective signaling of Co(II) ions.

Water dispersible stable gold nanoparticles (AuNps) have been synthesized by using calix[4]pyrrole octa-hydrazide (CPOH) as a reducing as well as stabilizing agent. CPOH-AuNps have been characterized by surface plasmon resonance, particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. CPOH-AuNps are water dispersible, highly stable for more than 150 days at neutral pH with a size of less than 10nm and zeta potential of 15±2 MeV. Ion sensing property of CPOH-AuNps has been investigated for various metal ions Pb(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) by colorimetry and spectrofluorimetry. Among all the metal ions investigated, only Co(II) ions gives sharp colour change from ruby red to blue and is easily detectable by naked-eye. CPOH-AuNps being fluorescent in nature also shows great sensitivity and selectivity for Co(II) ions. Co(II) ions can be selectively detected at very low concentration level of 1 nM in a facile way of fluorescence quenching.