The synthesis of Au nanoparticles (NPs) in ionic liquid (IL) supported on biopolymers films applied in the investigation of antimicrobial activity was introduced as a new experimental practice for undergraduates in the nanotechnology discipline at the Department of chemistry, at University Federal of Rio Grande- FURG. The Au NPs were synthesized by reduction of tetrachloroauric acid complex trihydrate (HAuCl4.3H2O) in IL 1-n-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF6) using sodium borohydride at room temperature. Subsequently, the Au NPs were supported in the biopolymers films using a solution of cellulose acetate dissolved in acetone. The biopolymers films containing supported Au NPs were applied in the investigation of antimicrobial activity against bacteria Escherichia coli e Staphylococcus aureus.

This article describes the development of a new catalytic reactor designed to operate with nanoparticle-embedded polymer thin films. Stabilization of metal nanoparticles in films that serve as catalysts in organic reactions is relatively new; therefore, the development of reactors to facilitate their use is necessary. We describe in detail the preparation of the GDCR reactor-type "dip catalyst" and its evaluation in the Suzuki - Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of phenylboronic acid and 4-bromoanisole catalyzed by palladium nanoparticle-embedded cellulose acetate thin film (CA/PD(0)). Compared with earlier prototypes, GDCR reactor showed excellent results when operating with CA/PD(0) thin films.

No presente trabalho foi avaliado um novo material como adsorvente, SiO2/Al2O3/Nb2O5 (designado SiAlNb), empregado na determinação e pré-concentração online de Zn2+ por um método espectrofotométrico por injeção em fluxo. O método de pré-concentração é baseado na adsorção de Zn2+ em meio alcalino (pH 9,0) sobre a superfície de SiAlNb. A etapa de eluição é realizada usando solução de HNO3 e é seguida da reação dos íons Zn2+ com 1-(2-piridilazo)-2-naftol (pan) na presença de Tween-80 em solução amoniacal (pH 9,3). O complexo formado, [Zn(pan)2], é posteriormente determinado a 560 nm. O método apresentou faixa linear entre 7,6 e 180,0 µg L-1 (r = 0,9992) e limites de detecção e quantificação de 2,3 e 7,6 µg L-1, respectivamente. De acordo com o modelo linear de Langmuir, a capacidade máxima de adsorção foi de 7,0 mg de Zn2+ por grama de SiAlNb. O método proposto foi aplicado com sucesso na determinação de Zn2+ em amostras de água (lago, mineral e torneira) e material certificado de referência (TORT-2 Lobster Hepatopancreas).

In the present work, a new material, SiO2/Al2O3/Nb2O5 (designated as SiAlNb), was evaluated as an adsorbent in a flow injection spectrophotometric method for online preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of Zn2+ ions. The preconcentration method is based on Zn2+ adsorption onto the surface of SiAlNb in alkaline medium (pH 9.0). The elution step is carried out using HNO3 solution, followed by reaction of the Zn2+ ions with 1-(2-piridylazo)-2-naphtol (pan) in ammoniacal buffer solution (pH 9.3) containing Tween-80. The [Zn(pan)2] complex formed is determined at 560 nm. The method presented a linear range between 7.6 and 180.0 µg L-1 (r = 0.9992) and limits of detection and quantification of 2.3 and 7.6 µg L-1, respectively. According to the Langmuir linear model, the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 7.0 mg of Zn2+ g-1 of SiAlNb. The proposed method was successfully applied to the Zn2+ determination in water samples (lake, mineral, tap) and certified reference material (TORT-2 Lobster Hepatopancreas).