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α‐Cyclodextrin and methylmercury chloride: a new strategy to recover organomercurials
Author(s) -
Vaz de Melo Mattos Silvânia,
Oliveira Luiz Fernando Cappa de,
Nascimento Andréia A. M.,
Peres Demicheli Cynthia,
Sinisterra Rubén Dario
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
applied organometallic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1099-0739
pISSN - 0268-2605
DOI - 10.1002/1099-0739(200009)14:9<507::aid-aoc27>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - chemistry , cyclodextrin , methylmercury , chloride , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , bioaccumulation
Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic forms of mercury in the environment. It can be accumulated in fish through the food chain; after, consumption the fish is then dangerous to fetuses and younger children, causing abnormal brain development and nervous system disorders. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of six, seven or eight units of glucose. In accord with the dimensions and hydrophilic–lipophilic properties, one can obtain inclusion of hydrophobic guests in a CD cavity. In the present work we used this characteristic of CD to obtain an inclusion compound between MeHgCl and the α‐cyclodextrin, looking for a new method to reduce MeHgCl toxicity and pre‐concentration. The inclusion compound was characterized through IR, 1 H, 13 C NMR and Raman spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction and thermal analysis (TG, DTG and DSC) methods were also used. Finally, biological tests were carried out and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for MeHgCl, α‐cyclodextrin, the MeHgCl–CD complex and a physical mixture were determined. This host–guest strategy using cyclodextrins offers an alternative and powerful method for mercury remediation. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.