A new highly sensitive sensor was prepared for metronidazole (MNZ) employing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as ionic liquid (IL). The utilization of IL as a binder in the paste increased the response of the electrode. The performance of the obtained carbon paste electrode was examined by differential pulse voltammetry. Various factors like electrode composition, types of supporting electrolyte, pH, stirring rate, scan rate were studied and optimized. The modified sensor demonstrated high recognition ability and sensitivity for MNZ when compared with the unmodified sensor. Moreover, the sensor also demonstrated good stability and acceptable reproducibility for the determination of MNZ. In the optimum experimental conditions, the current response of the electrochemical sensor studied for metronidazole solution and linearity was obtained in the range of 5.00 X 10-5 to 5.00 X 10-3 mg L-1, with a detection limit of 1.238 X 10-5 mg L-1. The method was successfully used for the analysis of MNZ in the milk and egg samples with acceptable recoveries of 90.33-108.0 %. In addition, the non-covalent interactions of the metronidazole with the SWCNT were investigated employing the density functional theory (DFT) method.

The competitive bulk liquid membrane transport of six metal cations from an aqueous source phase (SP) containing Ag+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ through an organic membrane phase (MP) facilitated by 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)bis(3-allylthiourea) as a carrier into an aqueous receiving phase (RP) was studied and compared. Fluxes and selectivities for competitive metal cation transport have been determined in a variety of source solution pH and membrane solvent types. The obtained results showed that the carrier is selective for Ag+ cation. The effect of different experimental conditions that affect the transport efficiency were studied and optimized. In the optimum condition, the transport of a 5 × 10-4 mol L−1 solution of Ag+ cations was observed 92.3 ± 5.3% after 4 h in the presence of equimolar concentrations of other metal cations. A possible application of this carrier system and transport process for separation and recovery of Ag+ cation from real samples has also been examined.