Phthalocyanines : photochemical, electrochemical and biomimetic catalytic behaviour

This thesis explored use of metallophthalocyanines as electrocatalysts towards thiol and thiocyanate oxidation, nitrosothiol decomposition and reduction of oxygen, as well as biomimetic and photo-catalysts of cyclohexene oxidation. 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), L-cysteine (CYS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) thiols were oxidized on cobalt tetra ethoxythiophene and cobalt tetra phenoxy pyrrole phthalocyanine modified glassy carbon electrodes, whose catalytic activity was found to depend on pH, film thickness and method of electrode modification. Oxidation of thiocyanate (SCN-), CYS and 2-ME was catalyzed by a selfassembled monolayer of cobalt tetraethoxythiophene Thiocyanate oxidation occurred via two electron transfer, whereas that of CYS and 2-ME required 1 electron. The oxidations of SCN- and 2-ME were catalyzed by ring based processes, while CYS was catalyzed by both Co[superscript III]/Co[superscript II] process and ring-based processes. Oxidation of GSH and 2-ME was conducted on screen printed graphite electrodes modified with cobalt phthalocyanine. Activity depended on method of electrode modification and CoPc % composition. Decomposition of Snitrosoglutathione occurred in the presence of copper ions and NaBH[subscript 4]. Reduced and oxidized glutathione were detected as products using cobalt phthalocyanine adsorbed on an ordinary pyrolytic graphite electrode. Reduction of oxygen was electro-catalyzed by adsorbed manganese phthalocyanine complexes on glassy carbon electrodes. FePc, FePc(Cl)[subscript 16], CoPc and CoPc substituted with phenoxypyrrole and ethoxythiophene ligands were also used as electro-catalysts. Oxygen reduction occurred via two electron transfer in acidic and neutral media forming hydrogen peroxide, while water was formed in basic media via four electron transfer. Cyclohexene oxidation using tert-butylhydroperoxide or chloroperoxy benzoic acid as oxidants in the presence of FePc, FePc(Cl)[subscript 16] and CoPc formed cyclohexene oxide, 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, 2- cyclohexen-1-one and adipic acid. Product selectivity depended on the nature of catalyst and oxidant. The FePc(Cl)[subscript 16] catalyst was transformed into a µ-oxo dimer during the oxidation process while M[superscript III]Pc intermediates were formed with Co[superscript II]Pc and Fe[superscript II]Pc catalysts. Cyclohexene photooxidation catalyzed by zinc phthalocyanine using either red or white light formed 2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, transcyclohexane diol, cyclohexene oxide and cyclohexene hydroperoxide via singlet oxygen and radical mechanisms. Product yields depended on the light wavelength and intensity, solvent, irradiation time and the rate of photodegradation of the catalyst

Electrocatalytic oxidation of thiocyanate, L-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol by self-assembled monolayer of cobalt tetraethoxy thiophene phthalocyanine

Catalytic activity of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of cobalt tetra ethoxythiophene phthalocyanine (CoTEThPc-SAM) complex towards oxidation of thiocyanate (SCN−), L-cysteine (CYS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) is reported. The oxidation of thiocyanate occurs via a two electron transfer, whereas L-cysteine and 2-ME require 1 electron. The oxidation of thiocyanate is catalysed by ring based processes, while L-cysteine is catalysed by both CoIII/CoII process and by ring based processes. 2-ME is catalysed by CoIII/CoII process. The oxidation of thiocyanate on CoTEThPc was performed in acid media instead of basic media commonly employed. The reaction order was found to be unity for all the analytes, showing that only one molecule of analyte interacts with one molecule of the catalyst during the rate determining step

Zinc phthalocyanine photocatalyzed oxidation of cyclohexene

Cyclohexene photooxidation catalyzed by zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) using either red or white light results in the formation of cyclohexenone, cyclohexenol, trans-cyclohexanediol, cyclohexene oxide and cyclohexene hydroperoxide. The product yield increased as follows: cyclohexenone > cyclohexenol > trans-cyclohexanediol > cyclohexene oxide > cyclohexene hydroperoxide. The mechanism for the formation of these products involves both singlet oxygen and radicals (Type II and Type I mechanisms, respectively). The catalyst degraded slowly when low light intensities were employed. The product yields were found to depend on the light intensity, the nature of solvent, irradiation time and the rate of photodegradation of the catalyst

Catalytic activity of iron and cobalt phthalocyanine complexes towards the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert-butylhydroperoxide and chloroperoxybenzoic acid

Cyclohexene oxidation using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or chloroperoxybenzoic acid (CPBA) in the presence of iron(II) polychlorophthalocyanine (Cl16PcFe), iron(II) phthalocyanine (PcFe) and cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (PcCo), results in the formation of the following products: cyclohexene oxide, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 2-cyclohexene-1-one. Adipic acid was also formed after long reaction times. The selectivity for 2-cyclohexene-1-one is favoured when Cl16PcFe or PcCo catalysts are employed, while PcFe is selective towards the formation of 2-cyclohexene-1-ol. The Cl16PcFe catalyst is transformed into a μ-oxo dimer (Cl16PcFeIIIOIIIFePcCl16) during the oxidation process. The catalytic process using the unsubstituted PcCoII and PcFeII catalysts involved PcMIII species as an intermediate. The active form of the Cl16PcFe catalyst was stable to degradation in that it was still active even after 4 weeks of continued catalysis

Effects of ring substituents on electrocatalytic activity of manganese phthalocyanines towards the reduction of molecular oxygen

Reduction of oxygen electrocatalyzed by adsorbed films of manganese phthalocyanine complexes is reported. The complexes studied were: manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc, 1); manganese tetraamino phthalocyanine (MnTAPc, 2); manganese tetrapentoxy pyrrole phthalocyanine (MnTPePyrPc, 3); manganese tetra phenoxy pyrrole phthalocyanine (MnTPPyrPc, 4); manganese tetra mercaptopyrimidine phthalocyanine (MnTMPyPc, 5) and manganese tetra ethoxy thiophene phthalocyanine (MnTETPc, 6). The reaction was conducted in buffer solutions of pH range 1–12. Rotating disk electrode voltammetry revealed two electron reduction in acidic and slightly alkaline media due to the formation of hydrogen peroxide. In highly basic media, water is the major product formed via four electron transfer. The reaction was found to be first order in the diffusing analyte oxygen

Catalytic activity of iron and cobalt phthalocyanine complexes towards the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert-butylhydroperoxide and chloroperoxybenzoic acid

Cyclohexene oxidation using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or chloroperoxybenzoic acid (CPBA) in the presence of iron(II) polychlorophthalocyanine (Cl16PcFe), iron(II) phthalocyanine (PcFe) and cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (PcCo), results in the formation of the following products: cyclohexene oxide, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 2-cyclohexene-1-one. Adipic acid was also formed after long reaction times. The selectivity for 2-cyclohexene-1-one is favoured when Cl16PcFe or PcCo catalysts are employed, while PcFe is selective towards the formation of 2-cyclohexene-1-ol. The Cl16PcFe catalyst is transformed into a μ-oxo dimer (Cl16PcFeIIIOIIIFePcCl16) during the oxidation process. The catalytic process using the unsubstituted PcCoII and PcFeII catalysts involved PcMIII species as an intermediate. The active form of the Cl16PcFe catalyst was stable to degradation in that it was still active even after 4 weeks of continued catalysis

Catalytic activity of iron and cobalt phthalocyanine complexes towards the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert-butylhydroperoxide and chloroperoxybenzoic acid

Cyclohexene oxidation using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or chloroperoxybenzoic acid (CPBA) in the presence of iron(II) polychlorophthalocyanine (Cl16PcFe), iron(II) phthalocyanine (PcFe) and cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (PcCo), results in the formation of the following products: cyclohexene oxide, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 2-cyclohexene-1-one. Adipic acid was also formed after long reaction times. The selectivity for 2-cyclohexene-1-one is favoured when Cl16PcFe or PcCo catalysts are employed, while PcFe is selective towards the formation of 2-cyclohexene-1-ol. The Cl16PcFe catalyst is transformed into a μ-oxo dimer (Cl16PcFeIIIOIIIFePcCl16) during the oxidation process. The catalytic process using the unsubstituted PcCoII and PcFeII catalysts involved PcMIII species as an intermediate. The active form of the Cl16PcFe catalyst was stable to degradation in that it was still active even after 4 weeks of continued catalysis

The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore

Water scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability of using AMD as a replacement for potable water in the flotation of a platinum-group-minerals (PGM)-bearing Merensky ore. Rougher and cleaner flotation testwork was conducted at laboratory scale to compare the performances of potable water (baseline water), AMD treated with Ca(OH), and AMD treated with the Veolia process. Water analysis showed that the three water types differed in pH, water hardness, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. The results showed the AMD treated with Ca(OH) was detrimental to PGM recovery compared to potable water at depressant dosages of 50 g/t. Specifically, AMD treated with Ca(OH) achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 67.8%, while potable water achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 88.4%. Depressant dosage optimisation and treatment of the AMD using the Veolia process were investigated as potential strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of the AMD treated with Ca(OH) on the flotation performance of a Merensky ore. The AMD treated with the Veolia process achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 70.8%. Thus, treatment of the AMD was beneficial, though the PGM and base metal sulphides (BMS) recoveries were still lower than those achieved in potable water. Reducing the depressant dosage to 25 g/t in AMD treated with Ca(OH) resulted in the highest PGM, Cu, and Ni rougher recoveries of 91%, 60.2%, and 58%, respectively. The AMD treated with Ca(OH) at lower depressant dosage outperformed the potable water in terms of PGM and BMS recoveries and concentrate grades, indicating that AMD has the potential to replace potable water as make-up water in Merensky ore processing plants. The results showed that depressant optimisation is important to achieve superior metallurgical results when using AMD treated with Ca(OH). The use of AMD in Merensky ore processing plants not only conserves freshwater in minerals processing plants but also reduces high volumes of contaminated effluents

Electrocatalysis of oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol, L-cysteine and reduced glutathione by adsorbed and electrodeposited cobalt tetra phenoxypyrrole and tetra ethoxythiophene substituted phthalocyanines

Catalytic activity of cobalt tetra ethoxythiophene and cobalt tetra phenoxypyrrole phthalocyanine complexes towards oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol, L-cysteine and reduced glutathione is reported. It was found that the activity of the complexes depends on the substitution of the phthalocyanine ring, pH, film thickness and method of electrode modification. The high electrocatalytic activity obtained with adsorbed complexes in alkaline medium clearly demonstrates the necessity of modifying bare carbon electrodes to endow them with the desired behaviour

Effects of the number of ring substituents of cobalt carboxyphthalocyanines on the electrocatalytic detection of nitrite, cysteine and melatonin

Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt tetracarboxy phthalocyanine (CoTCPc) and cobalt octacarboxy phthalocyanine (CoOCPc), adsorbed onto glassy carbon electrodes, have been used for the electrocatalytic detection of nitrite, L-cysteine and melatonin. The modified electrodes electrocatalytically detected nitrite around 800 mV vs.Ag|AgCl, a value less positive compared to that of an unmodified glassy carbon electrode (at 950 mV vs.Ag|AgCl) and also gave detection limits in the 10-7 M range for nitrite detection. L-cysteine was detected by the modified electrodes at potentials between 0.50 to 0.65 V vs.Ag|AgCl, with L-cysteine detection limits also in the 10-7 M range. The detection limits for melatonin ranged from 10-7 to 10-6 M. CoPc-modified electrodes displayed good separation of interferents (tryptophan and ascorbic acid) in the presence of melatonin. Analyses of commercial melatonin tablets using modified electrodes gave excellent agreement with manufacturer's value for all modified electrodes of this work