Isabelle Llorens

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of biological samples. A tutorial

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an element specific spectroscopy sensitive to the local chemical and structural order of the absorber element. XAS is nowadays increasingly used for the speciation analysis of chemical elements owing to the development of new synchrotron radiation facilities worldwide. XAS can be divided into X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), which provides information primarily about the geometry and oxidation state, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), which provides information about metal site ligation. The main advantages of the XAS method are its subatomic (angstrom) resolution, the ability to analyze almost any type of samples including amorphous (non-crystalline) materials, the possibility to analyze such materials in situ requiring minor or no sample preparation. The main limitations of XAS are its sensitivity in the mM (or μg g−1) range, the difficulty to deconvolute the bulk data when the sample is composed of a mixture of structures of the absorber element, and the limited chemical selectivity of ligands to within one row of the periodic table. This tutorial will discuss the strengths and limitations of XAS and compare them to those of alternative or complementary methods such as X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The tutorial will also present and discuss the specific needs in terms of sample preparation and preservation all along the process of storage and analysis, and discuss the importance of the use of cryogenic methods when XAS is applied to biological samples. Applications in life sciences are reviewed, not exhaustively, with a special emphasis on some characteristic examples. The article ends with some perspectives on future trends of XAS: micro- and nano-XAS, time-resolved XAS, and high energy resolution XAS.

High energy resolution five-crystal spectrometer for high quality fluorescence and absorption measurements on an x-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline

Fluorescence detection is classically achieved with a solid state detector (SSD) on x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) beamlines. This kind of detection however presents some limitations related to the limited energy resolution and saturation. Crystal analyzer spectrometers (CAS) based on a Johann-type geometry have been developed to overcome these limitations. We have tested and installed such a system on the BM30B/CRG-FAME XAS beamline at the ESRF dedicated to the structural investigation of very dilute systems in environmental, material and biological sciences. The spectrometer has been designed to be a mobile device for easy integration in multi-purpose hard x-ray synchrotron beamlines or even with a laboratory x-ray source. The CAS allows to collect x-ray photons from a large solid angle with five spherically bent crystals. It will cover a large energy range allowing to probe fluorescence lines characteristic of all the elements from Ca (Z = 20) to U (Z = 92). It provides an energy resolution of 1-2 eV. XAS spectroscopy is the main application of this device even if other spectroscopic techniques (RIXS, XES, XRS, etc.) can be also achieved with it. The performances of the CAS are illustrated by two experiments that are difficult or impossible to perform with SSD and the complementarity of the CAS vs SSD detectors is discussed.

X-ray absorption fine structure evidence for amorphous zinc sulfide as a major zinc species in suspended matter from the Seine River downstream of Paris, Ile-de-France, France.

Zinc is one of the most widespread trace metals (TMs) in Earth surface environments and is the most concentrated TM in the downstream section of the Seine River (France) due to significant anthropogenic input from the Paris conurbation. In order to better identify the sources and cycling processes of Zn in this River basin, we investigated seasonal and spatial variations of Zn speciation in suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the oxic water column of the Seine River from upstream to downstream of Paris using synchrotron-based extend X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy at the Zn K-edge. First-neighbor contributions to the EXAFS were analyzed in SPM samples, dried and stored under a dry nitrogen atmosphere or under an ambient oxygenated atmosphere. We found a sulfur first coordination environment around Zn (in the form of amorphous zinc sulfide) in the raw SPM samples stored under dry nitrogen vs an oxygen first coordination environment around Zn in the samples stored in an oxygenated atmosphere. These findings are supported by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry observations. Linear combination fitting of the EXAFS data for SPM samples, using a large set of EXAFS spectra of Zn model compounds, indicates dramatic changes in the Zn speciation from upstream to downstream of Paris, with amorphous ZnS particles becoming dominant dowstream. In contrast, Zn species associated with calcite (either adsorbed or incorporated in the structure) are dominant upstream. Other Zn species representing about half of the Zn pool in the SPM consist of Zn-sorbed on iron oxyhydroxides (ferrihydrite and goethite) and, to a lesser extent, Zn-Al layered double hydroxides, Zn incorporated in dioctahedral layers of clay minerals and Zn sorbed to amorphous silica. Our results highlight the importance of preserving the oxidation state in TM speciation studies when sampling suspended matter, even in an oxic water column.

Biotemplated synthesis of highly divided MoS2 catalysts

Cellulose fibres can be topotactically transformed to highly divided molybdenum sulfide by means of reflux in ethylene glycol in the presence of ammonium heptamolybdate and elemental sulfur. The product partially replicates the morphology features of the initial organic fibres and possesses high specific surface area and developed mesoporosity. As established by characterizations including EXAFS and TEM, during the solvothermal reaction, molybdenum sulfide with composition close to MoS3 is formed simultaneously with the reductive degradation of cellulose. Further heating in hydrogen yields carbon-stabilised MoS2 dispersions. Promotion with cobalt leads to a highly active unsupported hydrodesulfurization catalyst.

Actinide uptake by transferrin and ferritin metalloproteins

Summary In order to better understand the mechanisms of actinide uptake by specific biomolecules, it is essential to explore the intramolecular interactions between the cation and the protein binding site. Although this has long been done for widely investigated transition metals, very few studies have been devoted to complexation mechanisms of actinides by active chelation sites of metalloproteins. In this field, X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been extensively used as a structural and electronic metal cation probe. The two examples that are presented here are related to two metalloproteins in charge of iron transport and storage in eukaryote cells: transferrin and ferritin. U(VI)O22+, Np(IV) and Pu(IV) have been selected because of their possible role as contaminant from the geosphere.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigations on radioactive matter using MARS beamline at SOLEIL synchrotron

Abstract The MARS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron is dedicated to the characterization of radioactive material samples. One great advantage of the beamline is the possibility to characterize about 380 radionuclides by different X-ray techniques in the same place. This facility is unique in Europe. A wide energy range from around 3.5 keV to 36 keV K-edges from K to Cs, and L3 edges from Cd to Am and beyond can be used. The MARS beamline is optimized for X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques (XANES/EXAFS), powder diffraction (XRD) but x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detected -XAS (HERFD-XAS), X-ray Emission (XES) and μ-XAS/XRD are also possible. A description of the beamline as well as its performances are given in a first part. Then some scientific examples of XAS studies from users are presented which cover a wide variety of topics in radiochemistry and nuclear materials.

Surface Science Approach to the Solid–Liquid Interface: Surface‐Dependent Precipitation of Ni(OH)2 on α‐Al2O3 Surfaces

Surface-dependent precipitation: The adsorption of Ni(II) complexes in aqueous solution on (0001) and (1102) α-Al(2)O(3) single-crystal surfaces has been studied (see the X-ray absorption spectra obtained for parallel and perpendicular polarization directions). The use of planar model systems emphasizes the crucial role of the Al(2)O(3) orientation for Ni dispersion with practical implications in catalyst preparation procedures.

VOx/SiO2 Catalyst Prepared by Grafting VOCl3 on Silica for Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

The VOx/SiO2 catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane were synthesized by a simple grafting method. The VOCl3 was first grafted at the surface of SiO2, which was dehydrated at different temperature (from 200 to 1000 °C). The formed grafted complexes were then calcined in air, leading to the formation of VOx/SiO2 catalysts. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction, and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The SiO2 pretreatment temperature has an evident effect on the loading and dispersion of VOx on SiO2, which finally affects their catalytic performance. High SiO2 treatment temperature is beneficial to dispersing the vanadium oxide species at the SiO2 surface. These materials are efficient catalysts for the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene. The best selectivity to propylene is achieved on the VOx/SiO2‐(1000) catalyst. The high selectivity and activity are well maintained for three days catalytic reaction.

SOMC-Designed Silica Supported Tungsten Oxo Imidazolin-2-iminato Methyl Precatalyst for Olefin Metathesis Reactions

Synthesis, structure, and olefin metathesis activity of a surface complex [(≡Si-O-)W(═O)(CH3)2-ImDippN] (4) (ImDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-iminato) supported on silica by a surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) approach are reported. The reaction of N-silylated 2-iminoimidazoline with tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride generated the tungsten oxo imidazolin-2-iminato chloride complex [ImDippNW(═O)Cl3] (2). This was grafted on partially dehydroxylated silica pretreated at 700 °C (SiO2-700) to afford a well-defined monopodal surface complex [(≡Si-O-)W(═O)Cl2-ImDippN] (3). 3 underwent alkylation by ZnMe2 to produce [(≡Si-O-)W(═O)(CH3)2-ImDippN] (4). The alkylated surface complex was thoroughly characterized by solid-state NMR, elemental microanalysis, Raman, FT-IR spectroscopies, and XAS analysis. 4 proved to be an active precatalyst for self-metathesis of terminal olefins such as propylene and 1-hexene.

Uranium association with iron-bearing phases in mill tailings from Gunnar, Canada.

The speciation of uranium was studied in the mill tailings of the Gunnar uranium mine (Saskatchewan, Canada), which operated in the 1950s and 1960s. The nature, quantification, and spatial distribution of uranium-bearing phases were investigated by chemical and mineralogical analyses, fission track mapping, electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies at the U LIII-edge and Fe K-edge. In addition to uranium-containing phases from the ore, uranium is mostly associated with iron-bearing minerals in all tailing sites. XANES and EXAFS data and transmission electron microscopy analyses of the samples with the highest uranium concentrations (∼400-700 mg kg(-1) of U) demonstrate that uranium primarily occurs as monomeric uranyl ions (UO2(2+)), forming inner-sphere surface complexes bound to ferrihydrite (50-70% of the total U) and to a lesser extent to chlorite (30-40% of the total U). Thus, the stability and mobility of uranium at the Gunnar site are mainly influenced by sorption/desorption processes. In this context, acidic pH or alkaline pH with the presence of UO2(2+)- and/or Fe(3+)-complexing agents (e.g., carbonate) could potentially solubilize U in the tailings pore waters.