Yonghoon Lee

Preparation and characterization of bio-nanocomposite films of agar and silver nanoparticles: Laser ablation method

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by a laser ablation method and composite films with the AgNPs and agar were prepared by solvent casting method. UV-vis absorbance test and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis results revealed that non-agglomerated spherical AgNPs were formed by the laser ablation method. The surface color of the resulting agar/AgNPs films exhibited the characteristic plasmonic effect of the AgNPs with the maximum absorption peaks of 400-407 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results also exhibited characteristic AgNPs crystals with diffraction peaks observed at 2θ values of 38.39°, 44.49°, and 64.45°, which were corresponding to (111), (200), and (220) crystallographic planes of face-centered cubic (fcc) silver crystals, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that thermal stability of the agar/AgNPs composite films was increased by the inclusion of metallic silver. Water vapor barrier properties and surface hydrophobicity of the agar/AgNPs films increased slightly with the increase in AgNPs content but they were not statistically significant (p>0.05), while mechanical strength and stiffness of the composite films decreased slightly (p<0.05). The agar/AgNPs films exhibited distinctive antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli O157:H7) bacterial pathogens.

Polymorph-Tuned Synthesis of α- and β-Bi2O3 Nanowires and Determination of Their Growth Direction from Polarized Raman Single Nanowire Microscopy

We report polymorph-tuned synthesis of α- and β-Bi(2)O(3) nanowires and their single nanowire micro-Raman study. The single crystalline Bi(2)O(3) nanowires in different phases (α and β) were selectively synthesized by adjusting the heating temperature of Bi precursor in a vapor transport process. No catalyst was employed. Furthermore, at an identical precursor evaporation temperature, α- and β- phase Bi(2)O(3) nanowires were simultaneously synthesized along the temperature gradient at a substrate. The growth direction of α-Bi(2)O(3) nanowires was revealed by polarized Raman single nanowire spectra. For thin β-Bi(2)O(3) nanowires with a very small diameter, the polarized Raman single nanowire spectrum was strongly influenced by the shape effect.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) of Heavy Metal Ions at the Sub-Parts per Million Level in Water:

We report a simple sub parts per million (sub-ppm) detection method for heavy metals in water by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Filter papers were used as the substrates for both transforming aqueous solutions to solid samples and for pre-concentrating dissolved heavy metal ions. The amount of sample uptake was 1.2 g by soaking a filter paper. This provides limit-of-detection (LOD) values of 2.7 and 0.36 ppm for Pb and Cr, respectively. The LODs could be improved remarkably by pre-concentrating the heavy metal ions. When a 40 g sample solution was evaporated on a filter paper, the LODs of 75 and 18 parts per billion (ppb) were obtained for Pb and Cr, respectively. Moreover, by either increasing the evaporated amount of sample solution or applying an argon gas flow, further improvement of the LODs was found to be very promising. The LIBS spectra of tap water were recorded using the pre-concentration method and are discussed in comparison with the results from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). We could observe strong emission lines of Ca, Mg, K, Cu, and Sr in the tap water, of which concentrations were determined to be 6.3, 1.3, 1.1, 0.64, and 0.046 ppm, respectively, by ICP-AES. Our method shows promise as a fast, reliable, water-quality monitoring tool for heavy-metal concentrations as well as for hardness.

Uptake, Accumulation and Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticle in Autotrophic Plants, and Heterotrophic Microbes: A Concentric Review

Nanotechnology is a cutting-edge field of science with the potential to revolutionize today’s technological advances including industrial applications. It is being utilized for the welfare of mankind; but at the same time, the unprecedented use and uncontrolled release of nanomaterials into the environment poses enormous threat to living organisms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in several industries and its continuous release may hamper many physiological and biochemical processes in the living organisms including autotrophs and heterotrophs. The present review gives a concentric know-how of the effects of AgNPs on the lower and higher autotrophic plants as well as on heterotrophic microbes so as to have better understanding of the differences in effects among these two groups. It also focuses on the mechanism of uptake, translocation, accumulation in the plants and microbes, and resulting toxicity as well as tolerance mechanisms by which these microorganisms are able to survive and reduce the effects of AgNPs. This review differentiates the impact of silver nanoparticles at various levels between autotrophs and heterotrophs and signifies the prevailing tolerance mechanisms. With this background, a comprehensive idea can be made with respect to the influence of AgNPs on lower and higher autotrophic plants together with heterotrophic microbes and new insights can be generated for the researchers to understand the toxicity and tolerance mechanisms of AgNPs in plants and microbes.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Analysis of Calcium Ions Dissolved in Water Using Filter Paper Substrates: An Ideal Internal Standard for Precision Improvement

We report an approach for selecting an internal standard to improve the precision of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis for determining calcium (Ca) concentration in water. The dissolved Ca2+ ions were pre-concentrated on filter paper by evaporating water. The filter paper was dried and analyzed using LIBS. By adding strontium chloride to sample solutions and using a Sr II line at 407.771 nm for the intensity normalization of Ca II lines at 393.366 or 396.847 nm, the analysis precision could be significantly improved. The Ca II and Sr II line intensities were mapped across the filter paper, and they showed a strong positive shot-to-shot correlation with the same spatial distribution on the filter paper surface. We applied this analysis approach for the measurement of Ca2+ in tap, bottled, and ground water samples. The Ca2+ concentrations determined using LIBS are in good agreement with those obtained from flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Finally, we suggest a homologous relation of the strongest emission lines of period 4 and 5 elements in groups IA and IIA based on their similar electronic structures. Our results indicate that the LIBS can be effectively applied for liquid analysis at the sub-parts per million level with high precision using a simple drying of liquid solutions on filter paper and the use of the correct internal standard elements with the similar valence electronic structure with respect to the analytes of interest.

Unravelling Complex Spectra of a Simple Molecule: REMPI Study of the 420 nm Band System of KRb†

Complex spectra of the KRb 420 nm system are analyzed by mass-resolved resonance enhanced two-photon ionization in a cold molecular beam. Vibronic structures of three singlet-singlet (4(1)Π, 7(1)Σ(+), and 5(1)Π←X(1)Σ(+)) transitions were identified for the first time. By comparing with highly accurate ab initio calculations, we assigned the singlet excited electronic states, and determined their electronic term values and vibrational constants. Weak singlet-triplet transitions were observed and identified as the 5(3)Π(0(+))←X(1)Σ(+) transitions by the homogeneous perturbation selection rule.

Laser-Ablation Sampling for Accurate Analysis of Sulfur in Edible Salts:

We evaluated the performance of laser ablation analysis techniques such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), laser ablation inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (LA-ICP-OES), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), in comparison with that of ICP-OES using aqueous solutions for the quantification of sulfur (S) in edible salts from different geographical origins. We found that the laser ablation based sampling techniques were not influenced by loss of S, which was observed in ICP-OES with aqueous solutions for a certain salt upon their dissolution in aqueous solutions, originating from the formation of volatile species and precipitates upon their dilution in water. Although detection of S using direct laser sampling with LA-ICP-MS has well-known isobaric and polyatomic interferences, LIBS and LA-ICP-OES showed good accuracy in the detection of S for all salts. LIBS also provided the ability to identify the dominant chemical form in which S is present in salts. Correlation between S and oxygen, observed in LIBS spectra, provided chemical information about the presence of S2– or SO 4 2 - , which are associated with the origin and quality of edible salts.

Laser-induced plasma emission spectra of halogens in the helium gas flow and pulsed jet

Abstracts: Detection of halogens using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in open air is very difficultsince their strong atomic emission lines are located in VUV region. In NIR region, there are other emissionlines of halogens through electronic transitions between excited states. However, these lines undergo Starkbroadening severely. We report the observation of the emission lines of halogens in laser-induced plasma (LIP)spectra in NIR region using a helium gas flow. Particularly, the emission lines of iodine at 804.374 and 905.833nm from LIPs have been observed for the first time. In the helium ambient gas, Stark broadening of the emissionlines and background continuum emission could be suppressed significantly. Variations of the line intensity,plasma temperature, and electron density with the helium flow rate was investigated. Detection of chlorine andbromine in flame retardant of rubbers was demonstrated using this method. Finally, we suggest a pulsed heliumgas jet as a practical and ecomonical helium gas source for the LIBS analysis of halogens in open air.요약: 할로겐족 원소들의 강한 원자 방출선들은 진공자외선 영역에 존재하여, 공기 중에서 레이저 펄스를 시료에 집속하여 플라즈마 방출 스펙트럼을 얻어 원소 분석을 수행하기 매우 어렵다. 또한 근적외선 영역에 할로겐족 원소들의 들뜬 전자 상태들 사이의 전이에 의한 원자 방출선들이 존재하는데, 이들은 스타크 효과에 의한 선폭 넓어짐 현상이 매우 커서, 공기 중에서 원소 분석에 충분한 신호 대 잡음비를 얻기 어렵다. 헬륨 가스 플로우를 이용하여 근적외선 영역의 할로겐족 원소들의 원자 방출선들은 레이저유도 플라즈마로부터 관측하였다. 특히, 804.374 nm와 905.833 nm의 아이오딘 원자 방출선들은 레이저유도 플라즈마에서 처음으로 관찰된 것이다. 헬륨 분위기에서 스타크 효과에 의한 선폭 넓어짐 현상과 연속 배경복사의 세기는 현저히 억제되었다. 헬륨 가스 플로우의 유량에 따른 원자 방출선의 세기, 플라즈마 온도, 전자 밀도의 변화를 조사하였다. 이 방법을 이용하여 고무의 난연제 성분에 포함된 염소와

An alternative analytical method for determining arsenic species in rice by using ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Qualitative and quantitative determination of total arsenic content and arsenic species in rice is very important because rice is one of the main sources of human arsenic intake. However, extraction and determination of arsenic species in rice has been very difficult due to severe matrix interference. An alternative analytical method was developed in this study to determine arsenic species in rice by using ion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Two internal standards were used. The first internal standard was injected before sample introduction to correct signal change with time. The second internal standard was spiked into the sample to reduce matrix interference. Using the developed method, recoveries of dimethylarsinic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, and inorganic arsenic compared to certified values (NIST SRM 1568b rice flour) were 116%, 107%, and 92%, respectively.

Feasibility of Separation and Quantification of Inorganic Arsenic Species Using Ion-Exchange Membranes and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT Analytical methods for the determination of inorganic arsenic species have attracted much attention due to the high toxicity of these compounds and related legislative regulations for food. A new method for the separation and quantitation of As(III) and As(V) was developed using ion-exchange membranes and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Using the anion-exchange polymer membrane, As(V) was selectively collected on the membrane, and As(III) was filtered through the membrane. The separated As(V) on the membrane was directly determined by LIBS. The As(III) in the filtrate was subsequently oxidized to As(V) and collected by the membrane for LIBS analysis. The detection limit for As(V) was estimated to be 10 mg/kg. The recovery efficiencies for the arsenic species as standards were in the range of 97–99%. This method was applied for the analysis As-spiked water certified reference materials, and the results showed that the recovery for As(V) was 98.9%. This new speciation method is cost-effective, simple, and low labor-intensive for the quantitation of inorganic arsenic.