Unambiguous NMR Structural Determination of (+)-Catechin—Laccase Dimeric Reaction Products as Potential Markers of Grape and Wine Oxidation

(+)-Catechin—laccase oxidation dimeric standards were hemi-synthesized using laccase from Trametes versicolor in a water-ethanol solution at pH 3.6. Eight fractions corresponding to eight potential oxidation dimeric products were detected. The fractions profiles were compared with profiles obtained with two other oxidoreductases: polyphenoloxidase extracted from grapes and laccase from Botrytis cinerea. The profiles were very similar, although some minor differences suggested possible dissimilarities in the reactivity of these enzymes. Five fractions were then isolated and analyzed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The addition of traces of cadmium nitrate in the samples solubilized in acetone-d6 led to fully resolved NMR signals of phenolic protons, allowing the unambiguous structural determination of six reaction products, one of the fractions containing two enantiomers. These products can further be used as oxidation markers to investigate their presence and evolution in wine during winemaking and wine ageing.

Evaluation of the Effect of Deposition pH on the Physico-chemical Properties of Electrochemically Deposited Cadmium Telluride for Photovoltaic Device Applications

Two-electrode (2E) configuration was successfully utilised in the electrochemical deposition of cadmium telluride (CdTe) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate with the main emphasis on the electrolytic bath pH. The electrochemical deposition pH explored is within the range of (1.00 to 6.00)±0.02 for the aqueous electrolyte comprising of tellurium oxide (TeO2) and cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO3)2) which are the respective precursors of Te and Cd. The optical, structural, morphological, compositional, and electrical properties of the electroplated CdTe thin-films were respectively explored using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell measurements. The optical characterisation show that the CdTe samples exhibit dissimilar absorbance depending on the growth pH for both the as-deposited layers and post-growth treated CdTe layers. A decrease in the absorption edge slope and dip in the bandgap was observed away from pH2. The bandgap of the post-growth treated CdTe layers showed enhancement as it leans towards 1.45 eV, with the trend retention of absorption edge slope, similar to the as-deposited CdTe layers. The electrodeposited CdTe thin-films show a dominant orientation along the cubic (111) CdTe plane, while both the the calculated crystallite size and the XRD peak intensity Pi decreases with the electroplating pH outside the (2.00 to 3.00)±0.02 range. The EDX analyses depicts an alteration in the ratio of Cd to Te atomic percentage relative to the pH of the electrolyte. Comparatively high Te atomic ratio was observed at lower pH values and vice versa with increase alkalinity of the electrolyte. The obtained morphology depicts that the underlying FTO layers are well covered with a gradual reduction in the grain size of the CdTe observable away from pH value (2.00 and 3.00). The photoelectrochemical cell study depicts that the conduction type of the CdTe layers can also be attributed to the CdTe-electrolytic bath pH value.

Effect of Cadmium Chloride and Cadmium Nitrate on Growth and Mineral Nutrient Content in the Root of Fava Bean (Vicia faba L.)

The present study aimed to analyze the differences in the tolerance of fava bean (Vicia faba cv. Aštar) roots to cadmium in nitrate—Cd(NO3)2—and chloride—CdCl2—solutions. The physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed. The tested doses of Cd (50, 100, 150 and 300 mg/L) did not influence the germination of seeds. However, considerable growth inhibition and dehydration were observed after 96 h incubation. The thickness of roots and rupture of cell membranes increased along with the increasing concentration of the metal in the solution. At a Cd dose of 300 mg/L, irrespective of the solution used, increased nitrogen concentration and no change in sodium content were observed. The content of magnesium increased due to the dose of 100 mg/L (cadmium nitrate) and the content of calcium increased due to the dose of 300 mg/L (in either nitrate or chloride). The correlation analyses pointed to a possible effect of nitrates in the applied solutions on the accumulation of Cd and some minerals in the roots of the given variety of fava bean. This may be important for both research and agricultural practice. The identification of crops with high tolerance to cadmium, as well as knowledge about the mechanisms of ion interactions at the soil solution–plant level, is important in terms of such crops’ use in the process of the remediation of cadmium-contaminated soils coupled with food production.

Nonlinear evolution of the structure, morphology, and optical properties of PbS - CdS films with cadmium nitrate in the reaction mixture

The nonlinear processes of the formation of thin films of PbS-CdS system by using chemical bath deposition with a gradual change in the cadmium nitrate content in the reaction mixture...

Hematological parameters in rats poisoned with cadmium nitrate and in biocorrection with the infusion of Beta vulgaris seeds

Nowadays, using plant extracts and infusions as protectors against the impact of heavy metals, the molecular mechanisms, protective and adaptive reactions of plants are studied. The purpose of this article was to study the protective properties of beetroot seeds infusion in acute and sub-acute poisoning of rats with cadmium nitrate. For this experiment, we used 50 male rats. The animals were exposed to Cd nitrate, with an initial weight of 180 ± 30 g. The first groups of rats were injected with cadmium nitrate at a dose of 0.1 g/L intraperitoneally, the second groups received a 0.01 % solution of cadmium nitrate, 1 mL, 5 days a week, orally for 10 and 24 days. General blood tests and biochemical parameters in rats were investigated. By biochemical parameters, we determined liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, glucose, urea, creatinine, and total protein. The mean ± SEM values were calculated for each group to determine the significance of the intergroup difference. Each parameter was analyzed separately using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. To determine the difference between groups, Student’s «t»-test was used. Studies showed the presence of variations in the parameters of leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelets depending on the period of days of poisoning and biocorrection. There were small changes in the content of urea, creatinine, and protein, which were not reliably confirmed. As a result, our research allowed asserting that the use of Beta vulgaris infusion in acute and subacute experiments with poisoning of animals with cadmium nitrate had a positive hepatoprotective effect.

From 1D to 2D Cd(II) and Zn(II) Coordination Networks by Replacing Monocarboxylate with Dicarboxylates in Partnership with Azine Ligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Inclusion, and Emission Properties

Eight mixed-ligand coordination networks, [Cd(2-aba)(NO3)(4-bphz)3/2]n·n(dmf) (1), [Cd(2-aba)2(4-bphz)]n·0.75n(dmf) (2), [Cd(seb)(4-bphz)]n·n(H2O) (3), [Cd(seb)(4-bpmhz)]n·n(H2O) (4), [Cd(hpa)(3-bphz)]n (5), [Zn(1,3-bdc)(3-bpmhz)]n·n(MeOH) (6), [Cd(1,3-bdc)(3-bpmhz)]n ·0.5n(H2O)·0.5n(EtOH) (7), and [Cd(NO3)2(3-bphz)(bpe)]n·n(3-bphz) (8) were obtained by interplay of cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate or zinc nitrate hexahydrate with 2-aminobenzenecarboxylic acid (H(2-aba)), three dicarboxylic acids, sebacic (decanedioic acid, H2seb), homophthalic (2-(carboxymethyl)benzoic acid, H2hpa), isophthalic (1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H2(1,3-bdc)) acids, bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe) and with four azine ligands, 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine (4-bphz), 1,2-bis(1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethylidene) hydrazine (4-bpmhz), 1,2-bis(pyridin-3-ylmethylene)hydrazine (3-bphz), and 1,2-bis(1-(pyridin-3-yl) ethylidene)hydrazine (3-bpmhz). Compounds 1 and 2 are 1D coordination polymers, while compounds 3–8 are 2D coordination polymers. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods of analysis. The solvent uptakes and stabilities to the guest evacuation were studied and compared for 1D and 2D coordination networks. The de-solvated forms revealed a significant increase of emission in comparison with the as-synthesized crystals.