Hydrophobic metal complexes interphases

INTERACTION OF HYDROPHOBIC METAL COMPLEXES AND ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS WITH BIOLOGICAL INTERPHASES... 

On the other hand, the presence of hydrophobic complexes is a prerequisite for partitioning and diffusion of metals into the lipid bilayer. In the following paragraphs, various types of metal complexes will be discussed, which are relevant to the interactions of metals in aquatic systems. The role of these various types of metal complexes with respect to interactions at the biological interphases will be systematically examined. 

The vast majority of corrosion inhibitors in neutral environment as well as a number of acid corrosion inhibitors form protective 3D films on the metal surface ( interphase inhibition [4]). These films may consist of adsorbate multilayers, ox-ide/hydroxides, salts, or reaction products formed by interaction of the inhibitor with solution species on or near the corroding metal surface (e.g. dissolved metal ions). The type, structure, and thickness of the inhibiting films are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions. The interphase films act as a physical barrier that blocks or retards transport processes and the kinetics of the corrosion reactions at the metal surface. The inhibitive properties could, in some cases, be correlated with the chemical stability of the corresponding insoluble complexes as well as with the solubihty, adsorbabOity, and hydrophobicity of the inhibitor molecules [35]. Often, other ions from the electrolyte, such as... 

In the following section, the role of the various types of complexes mentioned above will be discussed with regard to various mechanisms of interactions at biological interphases. It is clear that metal ions and hydrophilic complexes cannot distribute into the membrane lipid bilayer or cross it. The role of hydrophilic ligands has thus to be discussed in relation to binding of metals by biological ligands. In contrast, hydrophobic complexes may partition into the lipid bilayer of membranes (see below, Section 6). 

There is an abundant research on the interactions of HIOCs and metals with biological interphases, in which organic chemicals and metals are treated independently. However, few studies have considered the role of combinations of HIOCs with metals. There is a particular lack of mechanistic approaches. With regard to the metals, the FIAM has been very successful, but it remains to be shown under which conditions additional interactions, such as partitioning of hydrophobic complexes and uptake of specific complexes, are important for metal uptake and toxic effects. In particular, the role of hydrophobic complexes with both natural and pollutant compounds in natural waters has not yet been fully elucidated, since neither their abundance nor their behaviour at biological interphases are known in detail. 

The effect of the inhibitor is generally rather complex (Fig. 9-5) (K ilm n, 1994). The situation may be even more complicated in the case of an interphase (oxide, hydroxide, salts, etc.) existing in neutral aqueous solutions (Fig. 9-6) (Kdlmdn, 1994). The inhibitor can modify the surface layer by precipitation, pore plugging, enhanced film growth, etc. In some cases, polymer layers can even be formed by the inhibitor. Some surface active agents may act as inhibitors through hydrophobicity. Therefore the inhibition effect may be due to film formation, adsorption on metal surfaces or on... 

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