Spectroscopic, Thermal Studies and Antimicrobial Activity of Nitrilotriacetates, (NTA)–Ce(III) and –Ce(VI) Complexes

Abstract

Two new complexes [Ce(NTA)(H₂O)₂] (1), H[Ce(NTA)(H₂O)₂]SO₄·4H₂O (2) were obtained during the reactions of metal salts CeCl₃·7H₂O and Ce(SO₄)₂ with nitrilotriacetic acid, H3NTA. The infrared and ¹H NMR spectra of the solid complexes have been obtained and assigned. Thermogravimetry, differential thermal gravimetry and differential thermal analyses were also carried out. The data obtained agree quite well with the proposed structures and show that the complexes finally decompose to the corresponding cerium oxides and sulphate. The kinetics of thermal decomposition of the complexes have been studied. The complexes were screened for their antimicrobial activities by the agar-well diffusion technique using DMSO as a solvent against the E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aereuguinosa, S. aureus and fungi: A. niger, A. fluves; C. albican and S. cervisiea. It has been found that the complexes show a considerable antimicrobial activity.