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- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (164) (entfernen)
Isotope analysis is a tool for material research. For example, it may provide information about the provenance of a sample or changes in dynamic systems. Here is presented optical spectroscopy as an analytical alternative to mass spectrometry for isotope quantification based on the isotopic shift of atoms and diatomic molecules.
Calcium isotope analysis can be an important tool for paleoclimate studies of the carbon cycle, as well in carbon capture technology, but its utility is limited by challenges using conventional mass spectrometry. We propose a new fast, precise, and high-throughput technology based on multiple complementary high-resolution spectroscopies analyzed by machine-learning.
Der Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Preis 2022 wurde am 23.06.2022 anlässlich der analytica conference in München an Dr. Carlos Abad verliehen - in Anerkennung seiner exzellenten Entwicklungen im Bereich der continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (CS-AAS).
Dr. Carlos Abad ist ein herausragender Experte auf dem Gebiet der Atom- und molekularen Absorptionsspektrometrie. insbesondere trug er maßgeblich zur substanziellen Weiterentwicklung von Echelle-Spektrometern für die CS-AAS bei. So gelang es, einen quantitativen Zugang zu Elementen wie Bor, Chlor, Fluor und Schwefel, mittels AAS zu erreichen. Erstmals demonstriert Dr. Carlos Abad am Beispiel eines Zr-Modifier, dass durch die Zeitauflösung der eingesetzten Echelle-Systeme mechanistische Untersuchungen zur Wirkung des Modifiers im Graphitrohrofen möglich sind.
Besonders hervorzuheben sind seine Arbeiten zum Einsatz der CS-AAS für die Analyse von Isotopen, die eine Genauigkeit aufweist, welche an die der Multikollektor-induktiv gekoppelten Plasma-Massenspektrometrie (MC-ICP-MS) heranreicht. Damit ergeben sich völlig neue Einsatzmöglichkeiten für technologisch hochrelevante Applikationen, wie z.B. die Untersuchung der Alterung von Lithium-Batterien oder die Lithium-Analyse in Blutserum.
Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) is a technique for the analysis of solids such as metals, semiconductors, and ceramics. A low-pressure glow discharge plasma is applied in this system, which ‘sputters’ and promotes the sample atoms to a higher energy state. When the atoms return to their ground state, they emit light with characteristic wavelengths, which a spectrometer can detect. Thus, GD-OES combines the advantages of ICP-OES with solid sampling techniques, which enables it to determine the bulk elemental composition and depth profiles. However, direct solid sampling methods such as glow-discharge spectroscopy require reference materials for calibration due to the strong matrix effect.
Reference materials are essential when the accuracy and reliability of measurement results need to be guaranteed to generate confidence in the analysis. These materials are frequently used to determine measurement uncertainty, validate methods, suitability testing, and quality assurance. In addition, they guarantee that measurement results can be compared to recognized reference values. Unfortunately, the availability of certified reference materials suited to calibrate all elements in different matrix materials is limited. Therefore various calibration strategies and the preparation of traceable matrix-matched calibration standards will be discussed.
Machine learning is an essential component of the growing field of data science. Through statistical methods, algorithms are trained to make classifications or predictions, uncovering key insights within data mining projects. Therefore, it was tried in our work to combine GD-OES with machine learning strategies to establish a new and robust calibration model, which can be used to identify the elemental composition and concentration of metals from a single spectrum. For this purpose, copper reference materials from different manufacturers, which contain various impurity elements, were investigated using GD-OES. The obtained spectra information are evaluated with different algorithms (e.g., gradient boosting and artificial neural networks), and the results are compared and discussed in detail.
An alternative method for lithium isotope analysis by using high-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-AAS) is proposed herein. This method is based on monitoring the isotope shift of approximately 15 pm for the electronic transition 22P←22S at around the wavelength of 670.8 nm, which can be measured by state-of-the-art HR-CS-AAS. Isotope analysis can be used for (i) the traceable determination of Li concentration and (ii) isotope amount ratio analysis based on a combination of HR-CS-AAS and spectral data analysis by machine learning (ML).
In the first case, the Li spectra are described as the linear superposition of the contributions of the respective isotopes, each consisting of a spin-orbit doublet, which can be expressed as Gaussian components with constant spectral position and width and different relative intensity, reflecting the isotope ratio in the sample. Precision was further improved by using lanthanum as internal spectral standard. The procedure has been validated using human serum-certified reference materials. The results are metrologically comparable and compatible with the certified values.
In the second case, for isotope amount ratio analysis, a scalable tree boosting ML algorithm (XGBoost) was employed and calibrated using a set of samples with 6Li isotope amount fractions ranging from 0.06 to 0.99 mol mol−1. The training ML model was validated with certified reference materials. The procedure was applied to the isotope amount ratio determination of a set of stock chemicals and a BAM candidate reference material NMC111 (LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2), a Li-battery cathode material. These determinations were compared with those obtained by MC-ICP-MS and found to be metrologically comparable and compatible. The residual bias was −1.8‰, and the precision obtained ranged from 1.9‰ to 6.2‰. This precision was sufficient to resolve naturally occurring variations. The NMC111 cathode candidate reference material was analyzed using high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry with and without matrix purification to assess its suitability for technical applications. The results obtained were metrologically compatible with each other.
NIR-excitable lanthanide nanocrystals (LnNC) show multi-color emission pattern composed of a multitude of narrow bands of varying intensity in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared detectable with miniaturized optical instruments and simple color (RGB) cameras in complex environments. This makes these chemically inert luminescent materials ideal candidates for anticounterfeiting and authentication applications as well as for modules in optical sensors in which the LnNCs can be used as nanolamps in combination with analyte-sensitive fluorophores or the temperature sensitivity of defined emission bands can be utilized.
Therefore, we are building up and exploring a platform of LnNC with application-specifically tuned size, composition, and surface chemistry.
Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die rekombinante Herstellung der AnFAO in E. coli, welche ursprünglich von A. niger produziert wird, und deren anschließende Anwendung in der Entwick-lung eines Fumonisin- Biosensors für die Lebensmittelanalytik. In Bezug auf die aktuell steigen-den Lebensmittel- und Rohstoffpreise ist die Entwicklung eines Schnelltestsystems zur Detektion von Kontaminationen mit Mykotoxinen besonders gefragt, da zusätzliche Verluste und Kosten verhindert werden können. Für die Herstellung der AnFAO als MBP-Fusionsprotein und Biotin-Fusionsprotein mit zusätzlichem 6x His-Tag wurden die pET-MBP-AnFAO und pRSET-BH6-An-FAO Expressionsvektoren erfolgreich konstruiert. Die lösliche Expression im Cytoplasma wurde von MBP-AnFAO erreicht, wobei die Expression von BH6-AnFAO in inclusion bodies erfolgte und keine Aktivität des Enzyms nachgewiesen wurde. Die Enzymaktivität von MBP-AnFAO wurde im optischen Assay und amperometrisch durch die Detektion von H2O2 ermittelt. Im optischen Assay wurde die maximale spezifische Aktivität von 2,45 U/mg bei 45 °C, einer Enzymkonzentration von 3 μM und 50 μM FB1 erreicht. Generell wurden mit FB1 als Enzymsubstrat höhere Fluoreszenzsig-nale und dementsprechend höhere Enzymaktivitäten als für FB2 beobachtet. Es wurde ein linearer Zusammenhang der Enzymaktivitäten mit der Substratkonzentration beobachtet. Außerdem wurde ein Anstieg der H2O2-Konzentration mit zunehmender Inkubationszeit (bis zu 60 Minuten) erkannt. Des Weiteren wurde der Einfluss des MBP-Fusionsproteins auf die Enzymaktivität des AnFAO untersucht. Dabei wurde anhand von wesentlich geringeren Aktivitäten für AnFAO allein ein eventueller Einfluss des MBP auf dessen Aktivität festgestellt. Ein elektrochemischer Aufbau wurde zur Entwicklung eines Fumonisin- Sensors genutzt. Dazu wurde nachgewiesen, dass FB1 von rekombinant hergestelltem MBP-AnFAO unter Bildung von NH3 und H2O2 zu weniger toxi-schem FB1, dem FPy1, oxidiert werden kann. An der PB/Kohlenstoff-Elektrode, welche sensitiver gegenüber H2O2 und stabiler als die CoPC/Kohlenstoff Elektrode war, wurde die Reduktion des enzymatisch gebildeten H2O2 gemessen. Die Erstellung einer FB1- Kalibriergerade mit FB1- Lösun-gen verschiedener Konzentrationen zeigte, dass das Enzym auch in immobilisierter Form in der Lage ist unterschiedliche Konzentrationen an FB1 zu desaminieren. Dazu gehört auch der Kon-zentrationsbereich unterhalb des festgelegten Grenzwertes von 2,7 μmol/kg für Fumonisin. Die amperometrischen Kurven hierfür wurden an der PB/Kohlenstoff-Elektrode erfolgreich aufge-nommen. Störungen des H2O2- Redoxstroms durch das Enzym, der Enzymsubstrate und der Ne-benprodukte während der amperometrischen Messung wurden ausgeschlossen. Sowohl im opti-schen als auch im amperometrischen Assay wurde ausschließlich das enzymatisch gebildete H2O2 bestimmt.
High polarity analyte(s) in aqueous media: determination of L-PFOA and L-PFOS in ground water
(2022)
The CCQM-K156 comparison was coordinated by TUBITAK UME on behalf of the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) for National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) which provide measurement services in organic analysis under the 'Comité International des Poids et Mesures' Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Perfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) such as PFOS and PFOA have been used in numerous industrial applications and products. Because of their high stability and resistance to biodegradation, atmospheric photooxidation, direct photolysis and hydrolysis, they are extremely persistent in the environment. The European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive lists PFOS as a priority hazardous substance that poses a significant risk to the aquatic environment. The use of PFOS-containing Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFFs) has been banned since June 2011 in the EU. As relatively water-soluble, effectively non-degradable compounds, PFOS and PFOA migrate to ground water. They are not removed in the conventional drinking water treatment, and therefore cause health risks in polluted areas. The EU Drinking Water Directive and the European Commission has proposed a limit value of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA.
This study provides the means for assessing measurement capabilities for determination of high polarity measurands in a procedure that requires extraction, clean-up, analytical separation and detection. Successful participation in CCQM-K156 demonstrates measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with a molecular mass of 200 g/mol to 700 g/mol, having high polarity pKow -2, in a mass fraction range from 0.5 ng/kg to 500 ng/kg in aqueous media.
Nine NMIs and DIs participated in the CCQM-K156 key comparison. Seven institutes reported their results. SPE was applied in the sample pre-treatment and LC-MS was applied for detection. All participating laboratories applied isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) techniques for quantification. Participants established the metrological traceability of their results using certified reference materials (CRMs) from NMIs with stated traceability; where commercially available high purity materials were used the purity was determined in-house. The CCQM-K156 results for L-PFOA and L-PFOS range from 2.75 ng/kg to 5.50 ng/kg with a % RSD of 19.5 % for L-PFOA and from 2.04 ng/kg to 4.45 ng/kg with a % RSD of 21.3 % for L-PFOS. The KCRV was assigned using a Hierarchical Bayesian Random Effects Model (HB REM) estimator from the values reported by six of the participants. One participant result of L-PFOS and one result of L-PFOA were excluded from the KCRV for technical reasons. The KCRV was 4.9 ng/kg ± 0.4 ng/kg for L-PFOA and 3.8 ng/kg ± 0.4 ng/kg for L-PFOS. The six institutes that were included in the assignment of consensus KCRV all agreed within their standard uncertainties.
To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Modular production involving benchtop NMR Current Application Examples Driven by Digitalization
(2022)
The demand for increasing product diversity in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry calls for new production processes that enable greater flexibility. Therefore, plants are needed which can be adapted to new processes in a fast manner and be scaled up and down easily to volatile market demands. Modular production techniques in combination with advanced process analytical technology (PAT) are considered as a promising solution able to fulfil these requirements.
The success and acceptance of modular concepts in both new and existing plants is dependent of its reliability, easy applicability, and standardization. In recent past, enormous efforts were made to overcome existing barriers in a superordinate level, e.g. DEXPI, ENPRO, or MTP naming just a few. Here, we’d like to present a few, more hands-on, application examples which are shown in Figure 1 aiming to increase process flexibility and applicability.
Modular production involving benchtop NMR Current Application Examples Driven by Digitalization
(2022)
The demand for increasing product diversity in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry calls for new production processes that enable greater flexibility. Therefore, plants are needed which can be adapted to new processes in a fast manner and be scaled up and down easily to volatile market demands. Modular production techniques in combination with advanced process analytical technology (PAT) are considered as a promising solution able to fulfil these requirements.
The success and acceptance of modular concepts in both new and existing plants is dependent of its reliability, easy applicability, and standardization. In recent past, enormous efforts were made to overcome existing barriers in a superordinate level, e.g. DEXPI, ENPRO, or MTP naming just a few. Here, we’d like to present a few, more hands-on, application examples which are shown in Figure 1 aiming to increase process flexibility and applicability.
Modular production involving benchtop NMR Current Application Examples Driven by Digitalization
(2022)
The demand for increasing product diversity in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry calls for new production processes that enable greater flexibility. Therefore, plants are needed which can be adapted to new processes in a fast manner and be scaled up and down easily to volatile market demands. Modular production techniques in combination with advanced process analytical technology (PAT) are considered as a promising solution able to fulfil these requirements.
The success and acceptance of modular concepts in both new and existing plants is dependent of its reliability, easy applicability, and standardization. In recent past, enormous efforts were made to overcome existing barriers in a superordinate level, e.g. DEXPI, ENPRO, or MTP naming just a few. Here, we’d like to present a few, more hands-on, application examples which are shown in Figure 1 aiming to increase process flexibility and applicability.
A new method combining isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) and standard addition has been developed to determine the mass fractions w of different elements in complex matrices: (a) silicon in aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), (b) sulfur in biodiesel fuel, and (c) iron bound to transferrin in human serum. All measurements were carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The method requires the gravimetric preparation of several blends (bi)—each consisting of roughly the same masses (mx,i) of the sample solution (x) and my,i of a spike solution (y) plus different masses (mz,i) of a reference solution (z).
Only these masses and the isotope ratios (Rb,i) in the blends and reference and spike solutions have to be measured. The derivation of the underlying equations based on linear regression is presented and compared to a related concept reported by Pagliano and Meija. The uncertainties achievable, e.g., in the case of the Si blank in extremely pure TMAH of urel (w(Si)) = 90% (linear regression method, this work) and urel (w(Si)) = 150% (the method reported by Pagliano and Meija) seem to suggest better applicability of the new method in practical use due to the higher robustness of regression analysis.
Lignin is a highly aromatic low value biomass residue, which can be utilized for chemicals, fuels and materials production. In recent years, significant attention has focused on adsorber materials based on lignin. However, only 5% of the available lignin is exploited worldwide, thus significant opportunities for materials development still exist. Lignin has been vastly utilized as a feedstock for the synthesis of adsorbers for the removal of dyes and toxic organic molecules . To improve adsorption capacity, lignin can be chemically modified with oxygen-, nitrogen-, or sulfur-containing functional groups. Most frequently the phenolic groups of lignin were modified. In order to extend the application of lignin as adsorbers, we are especially interested in the chemical modification of this natural resource with a bio-based linear difluoro oligomers LOx (di- or monofunctional) or a heterocyclic monomer (Figure).
The use of macromolecules and materials immobilized in the detection zone of test strips for indicator capture and focusing in label-free lateral flow assays (LFAs) is described, with emphasis on its future use in low number multiplexing. Several materials such as polyelectrolytes, functionalized mesoporous silica micro- and nanoparticles, chemically modified cellulose or glass fibre (GF) membranes and molecularly imprinted polymer gels coated onto membranes were studied in model assays, before the most promising materials were combined with antibody-gated indicator delivering (gAID) sensor materials. Cellulose, nitrocellulose and GF membranes were used as supports and highly fluorescent dyes of different charge states as model indicators. Combination of the best performing capture materials with gAID systems made it possible to distinctly increase the sensitivity and reduce the measurement uncertainty in the LFA testing of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in aqueous samples. In addition, dual-plexing of PETN and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was realized on a single test strip containing two dedicated capture zones.
Advances in high-resolution imaging of cell cultures and tissues exposed to airborne particles
(2022)
High-resolution microscopy techniques are fundamental to our ability to investigate and quantify the toxicological effects of airborne particulate pollutants via imaging of in vitro respiratory models exposed to well-characterised particle suspensions and aerosols. However, all imaging methods are limited in their spatio-temporal resolution, information capacity and suitability for minimally invasive time lapse imaging. Many traditional methods are incompatible with the more complex three-dimensional model systems which have potential for greater correlation between in vitro studies and real-world health effects. New techniques can overcome these limits, increasing our ability to understand and measure biological responses to particulate exposure at subcellular, cellular and multicellular scales. We have investigated a variety of microscopy methods for imaging different respiratory models.
With the development of hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies are increasingly important in therapeutic and analytical applications. For recombinant expression in mammalian cells, knowledge of the variable regions of both, heavy (VH) and light (VL) chain, is a necessary prerequisite for generating expression plasmids. Furthermore, cloning antibody sequences including constant regions CH1 to CH3 and CL reduces impact of hybridoma cell loss and associated full natural antibody sequence leakage. Here, we show a cost-effective workflow for amplification of IgG antibody variable regions in combination with advanced methods for full-length cloning of monoclonal antibodies.
The metrological analysis uses an unbroken chain of comparative measurements to trace results back to the national or international standard. This enables comparable, absolute quantification between laboratories. In 2020/2021, a pilot study for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was initiated with the involvement of BAM. Despite the consistent use of ID-MS, a large discrepancy in the results of the participating laboratories was found. This was the motivation for a project to systematically investigate and optimize traceable methods of protein quantification using mass spectrometric nontarget analysis (NTA) and recombinant antibody panels.
Contamination of the environment with antibiotics is of great concern as it promotes the evolution of antimicrobial resistances. In case of amoxicillin (AMX) in the aquatic environment, further risk arises from hydrolysis products (HPs) which can cause allergy. To assess these risks, a comprehensive investigation and understanding of the degradation of AMX is necessary. We investigated the hydrolysis rate of AMX in different types of water as well as the influence of temperature and irradiation. The content of the heavy metal ions copper and zinc was found to be crucial for the hydrolysis rate of AMX and stability of HPs. Eventually, a new degradation pathway for AMX could be elaborated and confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Contamination of drinking water with pharmaceuticals is an emerging problem and a potential health threat. Immunochemical methods based on the binding of the analyte to specific antibodies enable fast & cost-effective on-site analyses. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays (MBBAs) allow for implementation into an immunosensor for online testing. Particles are prepared by either coupling the analyte molecule (diclofenac) or the respective antibody (amoxicillin) to the surface. For miniaturization, detection is performed electrochemically (chronoamperometry) on a microfluidic chip. The developed immunosensor will enable detection of pharmaceuticals directly in water supply pipes.
Contamination of drinking water with pharmaceuticals is an emerging problem and a potential health threat. Immunochemical methods based on the binding of the analyte to specific antibodies enable fast & cost-effective on-site analyses. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays (MBBAs) allow for implementation into an immunosensor for online testing. Particles are prepared by either coupling the analyte molecule (diclofenac) or the respective antibody (amoxicillin) to the surface. For miniaturization, detection is performed electrochemically (chronoamperometry) on a microfluidic chip. The developed immunosensor will enable detection of pharmaceuticals directly in water supply pipes.
Contamination of drinking water with pharmaceuticals is an emerging problem and a potential health threat. Immunochemical methods based on the binding of the analyte to specific antibodies enable fast & cost-effective on-site analyses. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays (MBBAs) allow for implementation into an immunosensor for online testing. Particles are prepared by either coupling the analyte molecule (diclofenac) or the respective antibody (amoxicillin) to the surface. For miniaturization, detection is performed electrochemically (chronoamperometry) on a microfluidic chip. The developed immunosensor will enable detection of pharmaceuticals directly in water supply pipes.
Aroma Sensing of Truffles
(2022)
The aim of this project is to develop a mobile technical device to search for truffles. This way, truffles can be harvested faster, cheaper and more efficiently compared to the current method using dogs.
For this purpose, suitable marker substances in the aroma of ripe truffles were identified using analytical-chemical methods. The collected data was used to create aroma profiles of different truffle species.
The specificity of possible marker substances was confirmed with a truffle dog study. The hypothesis “If trained truffle dogs recognize the substances as supposed truffles in the context of an experiment, they can be regarded as specific” was made. The results show that the truffle aroma is mainly characterized and perceived by dogs by dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide.
For the concentration measurement of these markers in the ambient air, we are currently building our own detector. The Challenge is to get a fast measurement with a very low limit of detection at the same time. The device will resemble a metal detector in terms of shape and handling and be particularly suitable for mobile use.
The R&D cooperation project between the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and sglux GmbH thus enables truffles to be harvested professionally and systematically. This brings the technical advances that have revolutionized agriculture over the last hundred years to truffle cultivation for the first time.
The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in December of 2019, led to a worldwide still on-going pandemic. Since then, several so-called waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a time period with a high and fast rising number of new infections, have occurred all over the world. Classic surveillance approaches are hardly applicable, and further, non-detected cases cannot be covered by them. Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE) was proven to be a reliable tool for the prediction of new SARS-CoV-2 infection waves, due to the discharge of virus particles in fecal shedding of infectious people. Until now, for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is used as analytical tool. Even though PCR is a highly sensitive analytical tool, is presents several disadvantages, such as the need for trained personnel, specific technical equipment, as well as a difficult performance. An analytical tool, to which these disadvantaged do not apply, are immunoassays. In this work, a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), with the immobilization of the capture antibodies on the surface of a Microtiter Plate (MTP), as well as a sandwich Magnetic Bead-Based Assay (MBBA), with immobilization of the capture antibodies on the surface of Magnetic Beads (MBs), targeting the SARS-CoV-2 N-protein, were developed and optimized. Both assay formats were performed with a colorimetric and chemiluminescent detection. The developed assay is composed of the two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) AH2 and DE6 - which was biotinylated in the course of the work - which bind to two different epitops of the antigen N-protein. As tracer, Neutravidin-HRP was used, which binds, through interaction of the Neutravidin with the biotin, to the mAb DE6-Biotin. The assay development and optimization procedure included the investigation of the surface saturation with the mAb AH2, the concentration and dilution of the mAb DE6-Biotin and Neutravidin-HRP, the ideal MBs, the ideal coating as well as dilution buffers, and the colorimetric and chemiluminescent substrates. For the developed and fully optimized colorimetric ELISA, a test midpoint x0 of 388 μg/L, for the chemiluminsecent ELISA of 371 μg/L, for the colorimetric MBBA of 251 μg/L and for the chemiluminescent MBBA of 243 μg/L was obtained. Validation of the colorimetric MBBA was done by measurement of three wastewater samples collected at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Potsdam. Whilst no N-protein could be detected in the samples, by spiking of the wastewater samples with certain concentrations of the N-protein, 10- to 18-times lower concentrations could be back-calculated, which can be attributed to matrix-effects of the wastewater sample. Next to the matrix-effects, also several other reason exist, why no N-protein could be determined in the samples. Because of that, further investigation of the handling, and the measurement of the wastewater samples, as well as the improvement of the assay sensitivity through further optimization steps or exchange of the antibodies, is still necessary.
The fabrication of nanostructures with ever-decreasing sizes has increased the demand of suitable characterization methods which allow to determine their shape and size at the true nanoscale, and similarly important, enable the investigation of their optical properties beyond the diffraction limit. Due to its high spectral and spatial resolution down to the (sub-) nanometer range, electron beam-based techniques, namely cathodoluminescence (CL) has become a powerful characterization tool, particularly to study plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures. However, the interpretation of the resulting spectral CL maps is not always unambiguously straightforward.
In this work, Mie resonances in single Si nanospheres of different sizes have been systematically studied, using experimental CL spectroscopy and an analytical CL model. For smaller spheres (r ~ 75 nm), the eigenmodes can be unequivocally identified, with relative changes in intensity of the electric and magnetic dipole depending on the electron beam position within the sphere. However, in larger spheres (r ~ 105 nm), the modal assignment becomes increasingly difficult due to a larger number of Mie modes in the visible spectral range. Additionally, penetrating electron beams generate two radiating dipoles at the two Si interfaces – due to the electron and its image charge collapsing at those interfaces – which can, depending on the electron beam’s velocity and its path length inside the particle, produce distinct resonances or dips (constructive or destructive interference of those two radiative dipoles). It is demonstrated that superimposed on the eigenmodes of the studied nanospheres, these resonances can distort the recorded spectrum and lead to potentially erroneous assignment of modal characters to the spectral features. An intuitive analogy is developed to unambiguously distinguish those resonance induced by transition radiation from the nanoparticle-specific Mie resonances.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in Polycarbonate (PC), Polyacrylic resins (PAR), Polysulfones (PSU), Epoxy resins (ER), and Polyetherimides (PEI). It is also used in recycled Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) [1–3]. These BPA-containing materials have a wide area of application, especially outside. All outdoor applications are exposed to a variety of environmental impacts, like temperature, solar radiation (physical influences), chemical influences (rain or ozone), biological influences (microorganisms), and mechanical influences (hail, sand). These impacts are damaging and aging the material which can be followed by leaching or migration of pollutants like Bisphenol A into the environment. Understanding the fate and behavior of the released pollutants is very important. Therefore, different transformation products of selected Bisphenols will be generated and analyzed.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in many Polymers. Many outdoor applications are made from BPA-based materials which are exposed to a variety of environmental impacts, like temperature, solar radiation, rain, and others. This could lead to damaging and aging of the material which might cause leaching or migration of pollutants into the environment. To understand the fate and behavior different transformation products of selected Bisphenols will be generated and analyzed.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in Polycarbonate, Polyacrylic resins, Polysulfones, Epoxy resins, and Polyetherimides. It is also used in recycled Polyvinyl chloride [1–3]. BPA has been classified as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH [4] due to its endocrine disrupting properties. The German competent authorities want to reduce the content of BPA in the environment. Possible substitutes for BPA are Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol E (BPE),
Bisphenol F (BPF), or Bisphenol S (BPS), as they are similar in structure.
BPA-based materials have a wide area of application especially outside. These outdoor applications are exposed to different external influences, including physical, biological, mechanical and chemical influences. This results in damage and aging of the material with leaching or migration into the environment. There, the substance is transformed by various transformation processes. The emerging metabolites and transformation products (TPs) can have different properties than the parent substance. Understanding the fate and behavior of the emerging pollutants is very important.
Therefore, different transformation products of selected bisphenols will be generated and analyzed:
To investigate the fate of different bisphenols in water treatment plants technical transformation products [5] will be generated by chlorination, ozonization, the Fenton reaction, and UV-radiation.
For the investigation of the fate of Bisphenols in surface water global radiation will be simulated with UVA-lamps
Simulation of phase-I-metabolism with an electrochemical cell coupled to mass spectrometry (EC-MS).
Glyphosate (GPS) is the most widely used pesticide in the world whose use increased dramatically after the introduction of genetically modified crops engineered to resist its herbicidal action during application. In recent years, there have been growing concerns over its toxicity following its classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable carcinogen as well as reports of its ecotoxicological effects. This resulted in increased efforts to develop quick and sensitive detection methods.
In this work, molecular imprinting was combined with direct fluorescence detection of GPS by improving its solubility in organic solvents using tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) and tetrahexylammonium (THA+) as counterions. To achieve fluorescence detection, a fluorescent crosslinker containing urea binding motifs was used as a probe for GPS-TBA and GPS-THA salts in chloroform, generating stable complexes through hydrogen bond formation. The GPS/fluorescent dye complexes were imprinted into 2–3 nm molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on the surface of sub-micron silica particles. Thus, the MIP binding behavior could be easily evaluated by fluorescence titrations in suspension to monitor the spectral changes upon addition of the GPS analytes. While MIPs prepared with GPS-TBA and GPS-THA both displayed satisfactory imprinting following titration with the corresponding analytes in chloroform, GPS-THA MIPs displayed better selectivity against competing molecules. Moreover, the THA+ counterion was found to be a more powerful phase transfer agent than TBA+, enabling the direct fluorescence detection and quantification of GPS in water in a biphasic assay. A limit of detection of 1.45 µM and a linear range of 5–55 µM, which matches well with WHO guidelines for the acceptable daily intake of GPS in water (5.32 µM), have been obtained. The assay can be further optimized to allow miniaturization into microfluidic devices and shows potential for on-field applications by untrained personnel.
Per- und polyfluorierte Alkylsubstanzen (PFAS) bilden eine sehr komplexe Schadstoffgruppe mit über 6300 Einzelsubstanzen, die in vielfältiger Form in die Umwelt eingetragen werden. Für ein effektives Monitoring dieser Schadstoffklasse benötigt es ein Zusammenspiel aus Summenparameter-Analytik zur hot-spot-Identifizierung und Klassifizierung von Belastungssituationen sowie einer nachgeschalteten target-Analytik zur Identifizierung von Eintragswegen, die zugleich ein tieferes Verständnis von Transformationsprozessen ermöglicht. In diesem Beitrag präsentieren wir eine optimierte Extraktions-Methode für die PFAS-Summenparameteranalytik. Mit Hilfe dieser können bisher verwendete zeit- und kostenintensive Festphasenextraktionen (SPE) umgangen und PFAS-Extraktionseffizienzen gesteigert werden. Die methodische Bestimmungsgrenze (LOQ) war mit 10,30 μg/kg (Fluor pro Bodenprobe) ausreichend für alle 9 untersuchten Realbodenproben.
This study describes the motion of magnetizable particles of spherical shape with radius at most of 1 μm, also referred to as microbeads, immersed in a liquid under laminar flow conditions in a microfluidic channel. An external magnetic field is applied in part of the system such that it permeates the channel and is characterized by a spatially varying magnetic field, i.e., the gradient of the magnetic field is nonzero. The beads are superparamagnetic; hence they can reach high level of magnetization in the presence of a magnetic field, and this magnetization disappears when the field is zero. Therein lies the attractiveness of these microbeads and the potential for applications because their motion can be controlled using an external magnetic field. The motion is governed by several factors, including the magnetic force acting on microbeads (particles), the drag force due to viscosity, the interaction between particles and the fluid, as well as the interaction between particles themselves. For a single particle case, the trajectory of the motion is determined by balancing the drag and magnetic forces acting on the particle, a calculation that in general requires numerical integration. For a system consisting of an ensemble of interacting particles, several regimes of motion dominated by one of the factors are identified. Of particular interest are the systems dominated by the large number of particles in the ensemble, i.e., high particle concentration, in which cases the wake influences the flow downstream. This effect is qualitatively investigated by considering the Navier-Stokes equation with and without the magnetic force contribution.
Calibration-free methods in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, CF LIBS, serve as an alternative to calibration-based LIBS techniques. Their major advantage is the ability for fast chemical analysis in situations where matrix-matched standards are not readily available (as, e.g., in the analysis of biological materials and remote analysis) or amount of samples are limited. Their main applications are in the industry, geology, biology, archeology, and even space exploration. This chapter overviews the principle of operation and performance of CF LIBS techniques.
Laser-induced plasmas are widely used in many areas of science and technology; examples include spectrochemical analysis, thin film deposition, and material processing. Several topics will be addressed. First, general phenomenology of laser-induced plasmas will be discussed. Then, a chemical model will be presented based on a coupled solution of Navier-Stokes, state, radiative transfer, material transport, and chemical equations. Results of computer simulations for several chemical systems will be shown and compared to experimental observations obtained by optical imaging, spectroscopy, and tomography. The latter diagnostic tools will also be briefly discussed. Finally, a prospective application of laser-induced plasma and plasma modeling will be illustrated on the example of chemical vapor deposition of molybdenum borides and micro processing and coating of titanium dental implants.
Laser metal deposition is a rapidly evolving method for additive manufacturing that combines high performance and simplified production routine. Quality of production depends on an instrumental design and operational parameters, which require constant control during the process. In this work, feasibility of using optical spectroscopy as a control method is studied via modeling and experimentally. A simplified thermal model is developed based on the time-dependent diffusion-conduction heat equation and geometrical light collection into detection optics. Intense light emitted by a laser-heated spot moving across a sample surface is collected and processed to yield the temperature and other temperature-related parameters. In the presence of surface defects, the temperature field is distorted in a specific manner that depends on shape and size of the defect. Optical signals produced by such the distorted temperature fields are simulated and verified experimentally using a 3D metal printer and a sample with artificially carved defects. Three quantities are tested as possible metrics for monitoring the process: temperature, integral intensity, and correlation coefficient. The shapes of the simulated signals qualitatively agree with the experimental signals; this allows for a cautious inference that optical spectroscopy can detect surface defects and, possibly, predict their characters, e.g., inner or protruding.
Back Deposition of Titanium Oxides under Laser Ablation of Titanium: Simulation and Experiment
(2022)
Titanium is widely used in medicine for implants and prostheses, thanks to its high biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, and high corrosion resistance. Pure titanium, however, has low wear resistance and may release metallic titanium into surrounding tissues. Structuring and coating its surface with oxide layers are necessary for high wear resistance and improved biocompatibility. In this work, a combination of theoretical and experimental methods was used to study processes responsible for deposition of titanium oxides during ablation of titanium in air.
The deposition process was modeled via the Navier-Stokes equations that accounted for the material removal and accumulation of the deposit on the ablation surface. The chemical part was based on the equilibrium model embedded into the hydrodynamic code. Simulations showed that the most active zone of production of condensed titanium oxides were at plasma periphery whereas a zone of strong condensation of titanium metal was above the molten pool.
In experiment, a pulsed Yb fiber laser was scanned across a titanium surface. The temperature and composition of the plasma were inferred from plasma emission spectra. The post-ablation surface was analyzed by SEM, TEM, STEM, AFM, and XRD.
The developed model well reproduced the main features of experimental data. It was concluded that the deposition of condensed metal oxides from the plasma is a principal mechanism of formation of nanoporous oxide layer on the metal surface. The method of surface structuring and modification by nanosecond laser ablation can be developed into a useful technology that may find applications in medicine, photonics, and other areas.
A brief introduction will be given on modeling chemical reactions in laser induced plasmas using stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric approaches. Several applications will be considered, which can benefit from such modeling. Those include plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), surface modification and surface coating, and molecular analysis by LIBS. Each application will be illustrated by simulations of relevant chemical systems. For PECVD, chemical systems are BCl3/H2/Ar, BF3/H2/Ar, BCl3/BF3, Mo/BF3/H2; for surface modification/coating it is Ti/air; for molecular LIBS they are CaCO3/Ar, Ca(OH)2/Ar, and CaCl2/Ar. Advantages and shortcomings of equilibrium chemical hydrodynamic models of laser induced plasmas will be discussed.
This course will provide an introduction to plasma diagnostic techniques. The major focus of the course will be on the discussions of the practical procedures as well as the underlying physical principles for the measurements of plasma fundamental characteristics (e.g., temperatures and electron number density). Particular emphasis will be placed on laser induced plasma–atomic emission spectrometry, but other analytical plasmas will also be used as examples when appropriate. Selected examples on how one can manipulate the operating conditions of the plasma source, based on the results of plasma diagnostic measurements, to improve its performance used for spectrochemical analysis will also be covered. Topics to be covered include thermal equilibrium, line profiles, temperatures, electron densities, excitation processes, temporal and spatial resolution.
Surface modification of titanium by laser ablation is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The modification consists in texturing the surface and redeposition of chemically transformed material from the ablation plasma. The redeposition is driven by the hydrodynamic flow in the plasma. Such surface modification improves the biocompatibility of titanium implants.
In this presentation, I will give a brief overview of my personal experience with laser induced plasma (LIP). I will start from my and colleagues’ early works, where we used LIP as an atomic reservoir for laser induced fluorescence (LIP). We applied LIP-LIF for a sensitive detection of trace elements in various materials and demonstrated that under certain conditions the technique can even be used for isotope analysis. Next, I will discuss the application of LIP spectroscopy, i.e., LIBS, to material identification that nowadays constitutes one of the best applications of this technique. In those early days, we used correlation analysis for spectra processing; it is now replaced by more powerful chemometric methods. Further, I will stop on our efforts in modeling LIP that we first intended for the improved quality of spectroscopic analysis and later extended to non-spectroscopic fields such as chemical vapor deposition and surface structuring. We developed a version of calibration-free LIBS, in which we iterated model-generated spectra until a close match was achieved between experimental and synthetic spectra to determine concentrations. Next, I will briefly overview our recent developments in plasma modeling that include plasma chemistry. This was important in view of widening application of LIBS as a molecular technique. I will also address several plasma diagnostics, e.g., Radon transform tomography that we developed to get more insight about LIP that was helpful for both analytic spectroscopy and modeling. Finally, I will mention several exotic applications of LIP such as LIP-based lasers and chemical reactors to illustrate a real multifaceted character of laser induced plasma and usefulness of its study for many science fields.
Modeling is an important tool for understanding a physical phenomenon. It helps to interpret results of experiments and optimize experimental parameters for obtaining a desirable result. Modeling laser induced plasma is beneficial for many scientific and industrial fields, e.g., analytical chemistry, pulsed laser deposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, laser welding, additive manufacturing etc. In this presentation, a personal experience in development of a physical model of laser induced plasma will be given in a chronological sequence starting from early 2000th and until now.
Over the time, the model evolved from its simple analytical form that described plasma emission spectra to its current numerical form that describes plasma dynamics, chemistry, and interaction with a substrate surface. Several examples will be given for the application of the model to practical problems such as spectroscopic chemical analysis, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, and surface modification by laser ablation.
New Reference Materials for Quantification and Standardization of Fluorescence-based Measurements
(2022)
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and non-destructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument specific effects and the compound-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements, while the relative determination of the latter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known photoluminescence quantum yields. For the simple correction of instrument specific effects in the wavelength region of 300 nm to 950 nm, the set of the five certified spectral fluorescence standards (CRM) BAM-F001 – BAM-F005, has been extended to the NIR range by including two new fluorescence standards currently under certification.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and non-destructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument specific effect and the compound-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements, while the relative determination of the latter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known photoluminescence quantum yields (QY). For the simple correction of instrument specific effects in the wavelength region of 300 nm to 950 nm, the set of the five certified spectral fluorescence standards BAM-F001 – BAM-F005, has been extended to the NIR range by including two new fluorescence standards currently under certification. For the reliable and accurate determination of QY which is the key performance parameter for the comparison of different luminophores, we certified a set of 12 quantum yield standards, which absorb and emit in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 1000 nm.
In der Masterarbeit wurde ein Screening gegen den CCMV mit einer linearen Peptidbibliothek entwickelt, wobei zwei lineare Binder identifiziert wurden. Das resynthetisierte Peptid wurde auf seine Bindungseigenschaften mittels ELISA und MST untersucht. Aufgrund eines Aminosäurefehlers in der selbst durchgeführten Resynthese des Peptids sind die Ergebnisse nicht vollständig übertragbar. Um eine umsetzbare Cyclusgröße für die Peptidbibliothek zu finden, wurden Ringgrößen mit sechs bis acht Aminosäuren untersucht. Da keiner der gewählten Ringgrößen bevorzugt war, wurde die Ringgröße aus acht Aminosäuren für die Peptidbibliothek gewählt. Der Ringschluss wurde durch die Bildung einer Disulfidbrücke erreicht. Dadurch war die Alkylierung der vorhandenen Thiolgruppe in den Abbruchsequenzen notwendig.
Neben den etablierten Alkylierungsreagenzien Iodessigsäure, Iodacetamid und Acrylamid wurden zwei Epoxide mituntersucht. Hierbei konnte nur bei Acrylamid und Propylenoxid eine vollständige Alkylierung beobachtet werden. Eine synthetische Peptidbibliothek aus zehn Aminosäuren pro Kopplungsschritt und einer Peptidlänge von acht Aminosäuren wurde erfolgreich nach der Split-and-Mix-Synthese hergestellt. Neben den kanonischen Aminosäuren wurde die synthetische Aminosäure 3-(3-Pyridyl)-alanin in die Peptidbibliothek mit eingebaut. Peptidsequenzen aus der cyclische Peptidbibliothek konnte mittels MALDI-TOF-MS identifiziert werden. Es konnte außerdem gezeigt werden, dass synthetische Aminosäuren mit proteinogenen Aminosäuren erfolgreich übersetzt werden. Anschließend wurde das entwickelte Screening auf eine cyclische Peptidbibliothek übertragen. Dabei konnte kein Binder identifiziert werden, da zu viele Nebenreaktionen auftraten. Ein alternativer Ringschluss über die Seitenketten von Lysin und Cystein wurden mit ortho-Phthaldialdehyd und 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazin (Cyanurchlorid) untersucht. Beide Bedingungen wiesen keinen erfolgreichen Ringschluss auf. Obwohl der Ringschluss über die Seitenketten von Lysin und Cystein nicht erfolgreich war, sollte ein Austausch von Cystein angestrebt werden, so dass kein freies Cystein in den Abbruchsequenzen vorhanden ist und die Alkylierung überflüssig wäre. Der Ringschluss durch Verwendung anderer Seitenketten bietet einen vielseitigen Ansatz.
Substitution of lead oxide in low-melting glasses, e.g., for application in silver metallization pastes, is a current research goal. This work is focused on the investigation of silver diffusion in alkali zinc borate glasses (X2O-ZnO-B2O3, X = Li, Na, K, Rb). In addition, the redox state of silver (Ag) and thus the type of diffusing silver species were studied. For this purpose, a metallic silver coating was applied on glass cubes by means of sputtering. Heat treatment of the samples was performed close to the glass transition temperatures at 470 °C for 2 h under air and nitrogen atmosphere. Coating thickness was 1.8 µm after heat treatment, measured by a white light interferometer.
Silver diffusion profiles were measured by means of secondary neutral mass spectrometry. The silver diffusion coefficients are in the range of ~10-14 cm2/s and indicate no significant differences depending on the type of alkali ions in the glass. Dissolved Ag+-ions and [Agm]n+-clusters in the glasses were differentiated using fluorescence spectroscopy.
Precipitated metallic silver particles in the sodium containing glass were observed by means of transmission electron microcopy. Their mean particle diameter was ~6 nm.
This study presents a practical procedure to give access to more information by tilting the sample holder and hence allowing images of a single particle to be recorded at different orientations under the same view angle. From the analysis of these images, extended information on surface roughness of the particle can be extracted. Thus, instead of obtaining 2D information from a single SEM image, three-dimensional (3D) information is obtained from 2D projections recorded at different particle orientations.
Core-shell (CS) particles have been increasingly used for a wide range of applications due to their unique properties by merging individual characteristics of the core and the shell materials. The functionality of the designed particles is strongly influenced by their surface roughness. Quantitative evaluation of the roughness of CS microparticles is, however, a challenging task for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
The SEM images contain two-dimensional (2D) information providing contour roughness data only from the projection of the particle in the horizontal plane. This study presents a practical procedure to achieve more information by tilting the sample holder, hence allowing images of different areas of a single particle to be recorded at different orientations under the same view angle. From the analysis of these images, quasi three-dimensional (3D) information is obtained.
Three types of home-made particles were investigated: i) bare polystyrene (PS) particles, ii) PS particles decorated with a first magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticle shell forming CS microbeads, iii) PS/Fe3O4 particles closed with a second silica (SiO2) shell forming core-shell-shell (CSS) microbeads. A series images of a single particle were taken with stepwise tilted sample holder up to 10° by an SEM with high-resolution and surface sensitive SE-InLens® mode.
A reliable analysis tool has been developed by a script in Python to analyze SEM images automatically and to evaluate profile roughness quantitatively, for individual core-shell microparticles. Image analysis consists of segmentation of the images, identifying contour and the centre of the particle, and extracting the root mean squared roughness value (RMS-RQ) of the contour profile from the particle projection within a few seconds.
The variation in roughness from batch-to-batch was determined with the purpose to set the method as a routine quality check procedure. Flow cytometry measurements provided complementary data. Measurement uncertainties associated to various particle orientations were also estimated.
CS particles show unique properties by merging individual characteristics of the core and the shell materials. An alteration particularly in their surface roughness affects the final performance of the particles in the targeted application. Quantitative evaluation of the roughness of CS microparticles is, however, a challenging task employing microscopic techniques being scarce and showing large differences in terms of methodology and results.
In our previous work, we have reported a systematic study with a reliable analysis tool, which evaluates profile roughness quantitatively, for individual core-shell microparticles using electron microscopy (EM) images of both types, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and transmission mode SEM (or TSEM). The SEM images contain two-dimensional (2D) information, therefore, provide profile roughness data only from the projection in the horizontal plane (in other words, from the “belly”) of a spherical particle. The present study offers a practical procedure to give access to more information by tilting the sample holder and hence allowing images of a single particle to be recorded at different orientations under the same view angle. From the analysis of these images, extended information on surface roughness of the particle can be extracted. Thus, instead of obtaining 2D information from a single SEM image, three-dimensional (3D) information is obtained from 2D projections recorded at different particle orientations.
Industrial and agricultural waste streams (waste waters, sludges, tailings etc.), which contain high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals, are environmentally harmful due to their toxic pollutants. At the same time, phosphorus and selective transition metals such as Cobalt could be potentially depleted as a critical raw material due to the high demand and rapidly declining natural ore deposits. Therefore, due to simultaneous scarcity and abundance, the phosphorus and 3d metal recovery from agricultural, industrial, mining, or urban wastewaters have been an important factor in sustaining our global consumption and preservation of the natural environment. Typically, separate pathways have been considered to extract hazardous substances such as transition metals or phosphate, independently from each other. Here, we investigate the crystallization of transition metal phosphate (TMP) compounds (NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M3(PO4)2∙8H2O with M = Ni2+, Co2+, NixCo1-x2+ M-struvite and M-phosphate octahydrate) out of aqueous solutions, which allow for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. The precipitation of these compounds from industrial and agricultural waste waters has high potential as a P- and 3d metal recovery route. For this purpose, a detailed understanding of the crystallization process beginning from combination of solved ions and ending in a final crystalline product is required. Through adjusting the reaction conditions, the stability, crystallite size and morphology of the as-obtained TMPs could be controlled. Detailed investigations of the precipitation process in time using ex- and in-situ techniques provided new insights into their non-classical crystallization mechanism/crystal engineering of these materials. These TMPs involve transitional colloidal nanophases during the crystallization process. Over time, their complex amorphous framework changes significantly resulting simultaneously in an agglomeration and densification of the compound. After extended reaction times these colloidal nanophases condensed to a final crystal. However, the reaction kinetics of the formation of a final crystalline product and the lifetime of these intermediate phases vary significantly depending on the metal cation involved in the precipitation process. Ni-struvite is stable in a wide reactant concentration range and at different metal/phosphorus (M/P)-ratios, whereas Co tends to form Co-struvite and/or Co-phosphate octahydrate depending on the (M/P)-ratio. The mixed NixCo1-x system shows a significantly different crystallization behavior and reaction kinetics of the precipitation compared to the pure endmembers. The observed various degree of stability could be linked to the octahedral metal coordination environment in these compounds. The achieved level of control over the precipitates, is highly desirable for 3d- and P-recovery methods. Under this paradigm, the crystals can be potentially upcycled as precursor materials for (electro)catalytical applications.
Screening against ADAMTS4 reveals a specific peptide, which was turned into an MRI probe. The aneurysm in a mouse modal was visualized via MRI. A differentiation between stable and unstable aneurysm in an early state was performed. Using the probe as tool for an easy and non-invasive rupture assessment is possible.