Microanalysis of Hydrogen, Boron and Fluorine in Vesuvianite by Means of SIMS, EPMA and FTIR

Vesuvianite, a complex sorosilicate, often contains variable (from trace-to-minor-element) amounts of H, B and F. We describe a microanalytical study of H, B and F in vesuvianite by means of Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), and single-crystal Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy. Most crystals investigated are B- (up to 3.67 wt% B₂O₃) and F-rich (up to 2.38 wt%); H₂O ranges from 0.243 to 0.665 wt%. The H data obtained by SIMS allowed us to calibrate the quantitative analysis of H₂O by FTIR spectroscopy. The resulting molar absorption coefficient (ɛ _i = 100 000 ± 2000 L · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻²) is in excellent agreement with working curves available from the literature. Moreover, the SIMS data allowed us to obtain the calibration curve to estimate the B₂O₃ content on the basis on the FTIR absorbance: a _i = 34000 ± 1400 · B₂O₃ (wt%).     

New SIMS Procedures for the Characterization of a Complex Silicate Matrix, Na3(REE,Th,Ca,U)Si6O15·2.5H2O (Sazhinite), and Comparison with EMPA and SREF Results

Analytical methods based on secondary ion mass spectrometry were developed for the characterisation of a complex layered silicate REE-mineral, named sazhinite, for which a number of issues are still open regarding its chemistry and structure. Such procedures involved the analysis and quantification of light, volatile, alkaline, medium-Z, rare earth and actinide elements. The accuracy of the SIMS data is within the assigned precision of the concentration values assumed as reference in the calibration standards employed. REE and actinide data yield a good agreement in terms of calculated site scattering at the M site: 58.42 electrons per formula unit (epfu) vs. 60.39epfu obtained by Single Crystal Structure-Refinement (SREF). Accuracy is estimated on the order of 5% rel. for H, Li, Be and B, and 10% rel. for F. Na analysis was crucial to solve the open questions about the structure, and excellent agreement was obtained by comparing data from SIMS (REE, Y, actinides, Na)+EMPA (SiO₂, CaO, SO₃ and K₂O) with information derived from SREF: site scattering of the M site+Na sites=92.56epfu calculated from chemical data, against 91.95epfu from SREF. Such procedures can be easily extended to the analysis of variously complex, silicate REE-minerals.     

EPMA and Quantitative MCs+-SIMS of Metal-DLC Coating Materials

 Compositional characterization of metal-DLC (metal-containing diamond-like carbon) hard coatings is carried out by (WDS)-EPMA and MCs⁺-SIMS. EPMA enables accurate (± 5% relative) quantitative analysis including minor concentrations (0.1–10 at%) of N, O and Ar. Under conditions of “near-surface” EPMA (E₀ < 10 keV) the influence of surface oxide films on “pure” metal standards may be a limiting factor in respect of accuracy. Depth profiling of sufficiently “thick” layered structures (film thickness ≥ 2 μm) is carried out by EPMA-line scans along mechanically prepared bevels. The depth resolution is about 0.2 μm. SIMS in the MCs⁺-mode enables high resolution (< 20 nm) depth profiling of metal-DLC layered structures including the determination of H (1–20 at%). MCs⁺-SIMS, i.e. employing Cs⁺ primary ions and monitoring MCs⁺ molecular secondary ions (M is the element of interest) is presented as a promising route towards sufficiently accurate (10–20%) SIMS-quantification. Matrix-independent relative sensitivity factors for MCs⁺-SIMS are derived from homogeneous coating materials defined by EPMA. EPMA proves to be also useful to detect problems related to SIMS of Ar in metal-DLC materials. The combination EPMA-SIMS is demonstrated as an effective analytical strategy for quality control in industrial production and to support the development of metal DLC layered structures with optimum tribological properties.     

Strategies for Quantification of Light Elements in Minerals by SIMS: H, B and F

Using a large set of silicate crystals, characterized by Structure REFinement (SREF), Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), and mounted with known crystallographic orientation [1], we propose a new SIMS quantification for H, B and F (from ppm level to several wt.%), using ²⁷Al⁺ and ⁴⁴Ca⁺, in turn, as the reference isotope for the matrix, and propose suitable calibration standards to obtain accurate results. The final SIMS data are then compared to those obtained using Si as the reference element, with those available from EMPA (B and F), and with the crystallographic constraints derived from SREF investigation. The results of this study can be extended to the measurement of light elements in complex silicate or non-silicate samples.     

Electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction and determination of salicylic acid from blood samples by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry

The electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction of salicylic acid (SA) at graphite-epoxy-composed solid electrode surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry. SA was oxidized electrochemically in pH 12.0 aqueous solution at 0.70 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) for 7 s. The oxidized product shows two surface-controlled reversible redox couples with two proton transferred in the pH range of 1.0∼6.0 and one proton transferred in the pH range of 10.0∼13.0 and is extracted on the electrode surface with a kinetic Boltzman function of i _p = 3.473–4.499/[1 + e^{(t − 7.332)/6.123}] (χ ² = 0.00285 μA). The anodic peak current of the extracted specie in differential pulse voltammograms is proportional to the concentration of SA with regression equation of i _p = −5.913 + 0.4843 c (R = 0.995, SD = 1.6 μA) in the range of 5.00∼200 μM. The detection limit is 5.00 μM with RSD of 1.59% at 60 μM. The method is sensitive and convenient and was applied to the detection of SA in mouse blood samples with satisfactory results.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

Summary.  Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions. Received May 17, 2001. Accepted (revised) July 3, 2001     

The Thermal Dehydration of Magnesium Aluminum Pentafluoride Dihydrate: Crystal Structures of MgAlF5(H2O)2 and MgAlF5

 Small plate-like single crystals of MgAlF₅(H₂O)₂ have been obtained during hydrothermal treatment (270°C) of microcrystalline material prepared by precipitation of stoichiometric solutions of Al₂(SO₄)₃ ·  18H₂O and Mg(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O with diluted hydrofluoric acid. The crystal structure of MgAlF₅(H₂O)₂ has been refined from single crystal data (Imma (# 74), Z = 4, a = 7.0637(7), b = 10.1308(10), c = 6.7745(7) ?, 398 structure factors, 33 parameters, R(F² > σ(F ²)) = 0.0245, wR(F² all) = 0.0525). Main features of the inverse weberite type structure are infinite chains of trans-bridged [AlF₆] octahedra which are connected via common fluorine atoms by isolated [MgF₄(H₂O)₂] octahedra. MgAlF₅(H₂O)₂ dehydrates at temperatures above 300°C to give MgAlF₅. XRPD analysis of this phase has revealed isotypism with FeAlF₅. The crystal structure of MgAlF₅ (Immm (# 71), Z = 2, a = 7.268(1), b = 6.123(2), c = 3.543(1) ?) is built of infinite chains of edge-sharing [MgF₆] octahedra and chains of corner-sharing [AlF₆] octahedra along [001]. Upon further heating to temperatures above 500°C, MgAlF₅ decomposes to MgF₂ and α − AlF₃.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

 Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions.     

Effect of pH and ionic strength on the interaction of humic acid with aluminium oxide

The effect of pH and neutral electrolyte on the interaction between humic acid/humate and γ-AlOOH (boehmite) was investigated. The quantitative characterization of surface charging for both partners was performed by means of potentiometric acid–base titration. The intrinsic equilibrium constants for surface charge formation were logK _a,1 ^int=6.7±0.2 and logK _a,2 ^int = 10.6±0.2 and the point of zero charge was 8.7±0.1 for aluminium oxide. The pH-dependent solubility and the speciation of dissolved aluminium was calculated (MINTEQA2). The fitted (FITEQL) pK values for dissociation of acidic groups of humic acid were pK ₁ = 3.7±0.1 and pK ₂ = 6.6±0.1 and the total acidity was 4.56 mmol g⁻¹. The pH range for the adsorption study was limited to between pH 5 and 10, where the amount of the aluminium species in the aqueous phase is negligible (less than 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³) and the complicating side equilibria can be neglected. Adsorption isotherms were determined at pH ∼ 5.5, ∼8.5 and ∼9.5, where the surface of adsorbent is positive, neutral and negative, respectively, and at 0.001, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.50 mol dm⁻³ NaNO₃. The isotherms are of the Langmuir type, except that measured at pH ∼ 5.5 in the presence of 0.25 and 0.5 mol dm⁻³ salt. The interaction between humic acid/humate and aluminium oxide is mainly a ligand-exchange reaction with humic macroions with changing conformation under the influence of the charged interface. With increasing ionic strength the surface complexation takes place with more and more compressed humic macroions. The contribution of Coulombic interaction of oppositely charged partners is significant at acidic pH. We suppose heterocoagulation of humic acid and aluminium oxide particles at pH ∼ 5.5 and higher salt content to explain the unusual increase in the apparent amount of humic acid adsorbed. Received: 20 July 1999 /Accepted in revised form: 20 October 1999     

Phase behavior and solution properties of sodium (3-dodecanoyloxy-2-hydroxy-propyl) succinate in water

Sodium (3-dodecanoyloxy-2-hydroxy-propyl) succinate (SLGMS) is a conjugated anionic surfactant in which a glycerol residue connects with a hydrophilic sodium succinate and dodecanoate. Aqueous micellar phase (W_m), hexagonal (H₁), bicontinuous cubic (V₁), and lamellar (L_α) phases are successively formed with increasing the surfactant concentration in a binary SLGMS-water system. The Krafft point is below 0 °C. The effective cross sectional area per surfactant molecule, a _s, in the H₁ phase is almost constant, 0.5 nm², and the shape of cylindrical micelle is almost unchanged with surfactant concentration. The cmc value of SLGMS measured by means of surface tension, electrical conductivity, and fluorescence probe methods is in the range of 4∼9 × 10⁻⁵ mol/l that is much lower than that of sodium dodecanoate, 2 × 10⁻² mol/l, or SDS, 8 × 10⁻³ mol/l. Hence, it is considered that the polar glycerol part in the SLGMS acts as a hydrophobic part. The solubilization of oil in the SLGMS solution is much higher than that in the SDS solution and this also suggests that the glycerol and succinic units act as lipophilic moieties. Received: 15 June 2000/Accepted: 27 July 2000     

Investigation of polymer thin films by use of Bi-cluster-ion-supported time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

The investigation and analysis of polymer thin films with Bi _n ⁺, n = 1–7 cluster ions has been demonstrated by means of static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The highly specific signal enhancement of these primary ions combined with the individual fragmentation pattern of poly(4-vinylphenol) and poly(methyl methacrylate) is the basic principle for a modified approach of data reduction derived from the well-established g-SIMS procedure. Based on mass spectra, which correspond to different cluster ion sizes, not only a clear distinction between the two polymers is feasible but also a further simplification of the data can be demonstrated. It has been successfully proven that characteristic polymer-relevant species can be refined out of the large amount of unspecific and highly fragmented secondary ions, which are usually present in SIMS spectra. Therefore, a more precise and direct interpretation of complex organic fragments becomes feasible, which consequently enables the investigation of even more sophisticated samples.     

First results on Fe solid-phase extraction from coastal seawater using anatase TiO2 nano-particles

This paper describes the application of TiO₂ nano-particles (anatase form) for the solid-phase extraction of iron from coastal seawater samples. We investigated the adsorption processes by infra-red spectroscopy. We compared in batch and on-(mini)column extraction approaches (0.1 and 0.05 g TiO₂ per sample, respectively), combined to external calibration and detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at medium mass resolution. Globally, this titania phase was slightly more efficient with seawater than with ultra-pure water, although between pH 2 and pH 7, the Fe retention efficiency progressed more in ultra-pure water than in seawater (6.9 versus 4.8 times improvement). Different reaction schemes are proposed between Fe(III) species and the two main categories of titania sites at pH 2 (adsorption of [FeL _x ]^{(3 − x)+} via possibly the mediation of chlorides) and at pH 7 (adsorption of [Fe(OH)₂]⁺ and precipitation of [Fe(OH)₃]⁰). Under optimised conditions, the inlet system was pre-cleaned by pumping 6% HCl for ∼2 h, and the column was conditioned by aspirating ultra-pure water (1.7 g min⁻¹) and 0.05% ammonia (0.6 g min⁻¹) for 1 min. Then 3 g seawater sample was loaded at the same flow rate while being mixed on-line with 0.05% ammonia at 0.6 g min⁻¹ to adjust the pH to 7. The iron retained on the oxide powder was then eluted with 3 g 6% HCl (<0.002% residual salinity in the separated samples). The overall procedural blank was 220 ± 46 (2 s, n = 16) ng Fe kg⁻¹ (the titania was renewed in the column every 20 samples, with 2-min rinsing in between samples with 6% HCl at 1.5 g min⁻¹). The recovery estimated from the Canadian certified reference material CASS-2 was 69.5 ± 7.6% (2 s, n = 4). Typically, the relative combined uncertainty (k = 2) estimated for the measurement of ∼1 μg Fe kg⁻¹ (0.45 μm filtered and acidified to pH 1.5) of seawater was ∼12%. We applied our method to a similar sample, from the coastal region of the North Sea. The agreement well within stated uncertainties of our result with the value obtained independently by isotope dilution mass spectrometry further validated our method.     

Genetic Engineering of Caulobacter crescentus for Removal of Cadmium from Water

Hexa-histidine (6His) peptide was inserted to a permissive site of the surface layer (S-layer) protein RsaA of Caulobacter crescentus. The recombinant strain JS4022/p723–6H, expressing RsaA-6His fusion protein was examined for its ability to sequester Cd(II) from the bacterial growth medium. When mixed with 1 ppm CdCl₂, JS4022/p723–6H removed 94.3 ∼ 99.9% of the Cd(II), whereas the control strain removed only 11.4 ∼ 37.0%, depending on experimental conditions. The effective contact time of the cells and Cd(II) was as short as 15 min. When higher concentrations of CdCl₂ were tested, JS4022/p723–6H consistently demonstrated enhanced binding capacity over the control strain. At 15 ppm of Cd(II), each gram of JS4022/p723–6H dry cells retrieved 16.0 mg of Cd(II), comparing to 11.6 mg g⁻¹ achieved by the control strain. This work provides a potential cost-effective solution toward bioremediation of heavy metals from aqueous systems.     

Hydrogen-Bonded Dimers in Dipyrrinones and Acyldipyrrinones

Summary.  A crystal structure determination of the 9-acyl-dipyrrinone 9-butanoyl-2,3,7,8-tetramethyl-(10H)-dipyrrin-1-one indicates the presence of intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded dimers; however, in CHCl₃ solution the pigment is monomeric as determined by vapor pressure osmometry measurements. Lacking an alkyl group at C(8), the 9-acyl-dipyrrinone exhibits only a weak tendency to form dimers in CHCl₃ (K _A ∼ 60 M ⁻¹) as determined by analysis of variable temperature ¹H NMR data. In contrast, when the 9-acyl group is replaced by formyl or when the acyl group is fixed in a syn orientation to the pyrrole NH, the dipyrrinone is strongly prone to dimerization in CHCl₃. Received August 22, 2000. Accepted September 5, 2000     

Electrophoresis of colloidal α-alumina

Measurements of the electrophoretic mobility (u _E) of particles of colloidal α-alumina were made as a function of pH, electrolyte concentration and electrolyte type (NaCl, NaNO₃ and KCl) using two similar instrumental techniques. Significant differences (50% or less) in the values of u _E of particles in NaCl were obtained from the two instruments; however, the isoelectric points (IEPs) (the pH at which u _E=0), estimated from the two sets of measurements, occurred at 7.5 ± 0.3 and 7.8 ± 0.05 and were not significantly different. The latter estimate corresponds with those for particles in KCl and NaNO₃ of 8.05 ± 0.11 and 7.95 ± 0.18, respectively, made using the same instrument and indicate that the IEP was a weak function of electrolyte type. When cations acted as counterions (pH > IEP), the absolute magnitudes and the ranges of u _E with electrolyte concentration were found to be significantly less than when anions acted as counterions (IEP > pH). Estimates of the zeta potential (ζ), made using various procedures, showed variations of up to 25% at low ratios of electrical-double-layer thickness (κ ⁻¹) to particle radius (a) (κa∼10) and were of a similar scale to differences in u _E, but no significant variations (95% confidence) in ζ were obtained at high values (κa∼200). Received: 12 July 2000 Accepted: 17 October 2000     

AxMn1-xFe2O4铁氧体(A=Zn,Ni)中阳离子的占位有序化行为研究

基于尖晶石晶体结构信息,本文采用热力学三亚晶格模型,将材料热力学计算和第一性原理计算相结合,研究了Zn_xMn_(1-x) Fe_2O_4和Ni_xMn_(1-x)Fe_2O_4立方相中的Zn~(2+)、Ni~(2+)、Mn~(2+)以及Fe~(3+)在8a和16d亚晶格上的占位有序化行为。结果表明:在锰铁氧体中,室温下Mn~(2+)完全占据在8a亚晶格上,Fe~(3+)完全占据在16d亚晶格上,属于正尖晶石结构;随着热处理温度升高,在1 273 K达到热处理平衡时的占位构型为(Fe~(3+)0.09Mn~(2+)0.91)[Fe~(3+)1.91Mn~(2+)0.09]O_4,在热处理温度升至1 473 K时,达到热处理平衡时的占位构型为(Fe~(3+)0.11Mn~(2+)0.89)[Fe~(3+)1.89Mn~(2+)0.11]O_4,均与实验结果符合较好。在锌铁氧体中,室温下Zn~(2+)完全占据在8a亚晶格上,Fe~(3+)完全占据在16d亚晶格上,属于正尖晶石结构;在热处理温度较高时,Zn~(2+)和Fe~(3+)发生部分置换,符合实验结果。在镍铁氧体中,半数的Fe~(3+)在室温下占据在8a亚晶格上,Ni~(2+)与剩下另一半的Fe~(3+)共同占据在16d亚晶格上,仅在热处理温度较高的时候发生微弱变化,亦与已有的实验结果吻合。在此基础上,本文进一步通过热力学模型研究了立方相尖晶石结构的Zn_xMn_(1-x)Fe_2O_4、Ni_xMn_(1-x)Fe_2O_4复合体系中阳离子占位行为与热处理温度对占位的影响规律。     

Detection Limits of Grazing-Exit EPMA for Particle Analysis

 In conventional electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), the electron-induced X-rays are measured at large take-off angles of about 45°. In the grazing exit EPMA (GE-EPMA) method, they are measured at small angles (< 1°). X-rays emitted from deep positions can not be detected at grazing exit angles due to refraction effects at sample-vacuum interface; therefore, it is possible to measure X-rays emitted only from near the surface with a low background. GE-EPMA is especially suitable for the analysis of particles deposited on a flat sample carrier. The detection limits of GE-EPMA were investigated for artificial particles (Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and PbO₂ , particle sizes: 1 ∼ 18 μm) deposited on flat sample carriers of Au thin films–Si wafers. The detection limits improved with decreasing exit angle. The detection limits for characteristic X-rays at an exit angle of approximately 1.1° were 2–4 times lower than at 45°. A minimum detection limit of ca. 0.1% was obtained for Al in small particles.     

Electrochemical behaviors of metol on ionic-liquid-modified carbon paste electrode and its analytical application

The electrochemical behaviors of metol on an ionic liquid N-butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate modified carbon paste electrode (IL-CPE) were studied in this paper. The results indicated that a pair of well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks of metol appeared with the decrease of overpotential and the increase of redox peak current, which was the characteristics of electrocatalytic oxidation. The electrocatalytic mechanism was discussed and the electrochemical parameters were calculated with results of the charge-transfer coefficient (α) as 0.45, the electrode reaction rate constant (k _s) as 4.02 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, and the diffusion coefficient (D) as 6.35 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/s. Under the optimal conditions, the anodic peak current was linear with the metol concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ ∼ 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol/L (n = 11, γ = 0.994) and the detection limit was estimated as 2.33 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L (3σ). The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of metol content in synthetic samples and photographic solutions.     

Formation of cuprous oxide layers in Cu(II) solutions containing gluconic acid

In accordance with thermodynamic analysis, cuprous oxide layers are formed spontaneously in the Cu|Cu(II), gluconic acid system at pH > 3.7 under open-circuit conditions. A current peak of Cu₂O reduction is observed on cathodic voltammograms at ca −0.7 V, its height being dependent on the exposure time. The analysis of the charge transferred in this region yields the rate of Cu₂O formation equal to 1.25 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹. The light perturbation of Cu electrode under open-circuit conditions results in the generation of a negative photopotential, which is indicative of n-type conductivity. The threshold wavelength is equal to ∼590 nm and is consistent with a band gap of ∼2.1 eV. Anodic photocurrents, which are observed near the open-circuit potential, decrease with cathodic polarization and change their sign at ∼0.05 V. Analysis of impedance data was performed, invoking the equivalent circuit that accounts for the two-step charge transfer. In the presence of Cu₂O, some retardation of Cu(II) reduction was found to occur with a slight increase in the admittance of the double layer. The suggestion has been made that oxide layers formed in Cu(II) gluconate solutions cannot be compact and uniformly distributed over the entire electrode surface. Relevant investigations of surface morphology support this conclusion.     

Self-assembled sulfonated β-Cyclodextrin layer on gold electrode for the selective electroanalysis of dopamine

Gold electrode with self-assembled D,L-cysteine grafted β-cyclodextrin sulfonic acid (Cys-β-CD∼SO₃) layer was fabricated and used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of dopamine. The experimental results indicated that the self-assembled Cys-β-CD∼SO₃ layer modified gold electrode has selective electrochemical response to dopamine with high sensitivity and excellent tolerance of ascorbic acid, which is the most common accompanying component in biological samples. Dopamine could be accurately determined in the concentration range of 1–200 μM in the presence of ascorbic acid of 5 mM. The relative standard deviation of 1.9% (n = 5) was achieved at a dopamine concentration of 5 × 10⁻⁵ M. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of dopamine in human blood serum samples.