Determination of impurities in titanium and titanium oxide by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis has been applied to 2N–4N grade titanium metal and its oxide. Twenty two impurities were separated in a group from scandium by a radiochemical separation method using cation exchange resin with HBr and HCl. The contents of the elements were calculated by a single comparator method using two monitors. The analytical results agree well within 10% deviation with those obtained by instrumental method. Eighteen elements, Na, Fe, Co, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Sb, La, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Th and U, are determined in titanium oxides and 17 elements, Na, Cr, Fe, Co, Se, As, Zr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ce, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W and Th, in titanium metals.     

On-line separation of short-lived tungsten isotopes from tantalum,hafnium and lutetium by adsorption on ion exchangers from aqueous ammonia solution

The title goal was achieved using a DOWEX 50Wx8 cation exchange column saturated with La(OH)₃ and ammonia solution as eluent. Hf, Ta and Lu were adsorbed on this column, whereas W remained in the solution. This chemical system may be used for fast on-line separations of element 106.     

Determination of admixtures of high-melting metals in rare-earth metals and their compounds

The study considers the possibility of using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) for the determination of admixtures of Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, and Te in rare-earth metals and their compounds using preliminary extraction or extraction-chromatographic preconcentration. The admixture elements have been separated by extraction with trioctylphosphine oxide in dichloroethane from hydrochloric acid media and back extraction with oxalic acid. Chemical separation provided a 1–4-order reduction of the lower quantification limit for these elements using ICP MS.     

Determination of impurities in niobium metal by a radiochemical neutron activation analysis

A radiochemical separation method using an anion exchange resin has been applied to 3N grade Nb for determining nine impurity elements. Five elements (Cr, Fe, Co, Zn and Se) were separated in 2M HF, three elements (Mo, W and Hf) in 32M HF, Nb in 0.5M HF/3M HCl, and Ta in 1M NH₄F/4M NH₄CCl. The contents of the elements were calculated by a single comparator method using two monitors of Au and Co. The main impurity was revealed to be Ta with a content of over 160 ppm.     

Gas-phase reactions of carbon dioxide with atomic transition-metal and main-group cations: room-temperature kinetics and periodicities in reactivity

The chemistry of carbon dioxide has been surveyed systematically with 46 atomic cations at room temperature using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. The atomic cations were produced at ca. 5500 K in an ICP source and allowed to cool radiatively and to thermalize by collisions with Ar and He atoms prior to reaction downstream in a flow tube in helium buffer gas at 0.35 +/- 0.01 Torr and 295 +/- 2 K. Rate coefficients and products were measured for the reactions of first-row atomic ions from K(+) to Se(+), of second-row atomic ions from Rb(+) to Te(+) (excluding Tc(+)), and of third-row atomic ions from Cs(+) to Bi(+). CO(2) was found to react in a bimolecular fashion by O atom transfer only with 9 early transition-metal cations: the group 3 cations Sc(+), Y(+), and La(+), the group 4 cations Ti(+), Zr(+), and Hf(+), the group 5 cations Nb(+) and Ta(+), and the group 6 cation W(+). Electron spin conservation was observed to control the kinetics of O atom transfer. Addition of CO(2) was observed for the remaining 37 cations. While the rate of addition was not measurable some insight was obtained into the standard free energy change, DeltaG(o), for CO(2) ligation from equilibrium constant measurements. A periodic variation in DeltaG(o) was observed for first row cations that is consistent with previous calculations of bond energies D(0)(M(+)-CO(2)). The observed trends in D(0) and DeltaG(o) are expected from the variation in electrostatic attraction between M(+) and CO(2) which follows the trend in atomic-ion size and the trend in repulsion between the orbitals of the atomic cations and the occupied orbitals of CO(2). Higher-order CO(2) cluster ions with up to four CO(2) ligands also were observed for 24 of the atomic cations while MO(2)(+) dioxide formation by sequential O atom transfer was seen only with Hf(+), Nb(+), Ta(+), and W(+).     

Elemental content in wheat products of Al-Qusim region, Saudi Arabia using the INAA technique

Wheat is one of the most grown crops in Saudi Arabia. It is grown in various regions of the country. Accurate knowledge of the elemental concentrations in wheat and its products (bran and flour) is of great importance from a nutritional point of view. Wheat samples were obtained from the Al-Qusim region, 300 km northwest of Riyadh, and analyzed. Up to 50 elements (Al, Sb, As, Ba, Br, Cd, Ca, Cs, Cl, Cr, Co, Cu, Ga, Au, Hf, In, I, Ir, Fe, Mg, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, K, Rb, Sc, Se, Ag, Na, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Sn, Ti, W, U, V, Zn, Zr, Ce, Dy, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb) were determined in the wheat products. It was observed that the elemental content of bran was much higher than that of white flour.     

Mixed hydrazido amido/imido complexes of tantalum, hafnium and zirconium: potential precursors for metal nitride MOCVD

The coordination chemistry of the hydrazine derivatives dimethylhydrazine (Hdmh) and N-trimethylsilyl-N'N'-dimethylhydrazine (Htdmh) at Ta, Zr and Hf was investigated aiming at volatile mixed ligand all-nitrogen coordinated compounds. The hydrazido ligands were introduced either by salt metathesis employing the Li salts of the hydrazines and the tetrachlorides MCl(4) (M = Zr, Hf) or by amine substitution using M(NR(2))(4) (R = Me, Et) and [(t-BuN)Ta(NR(2))(3)]. The new complexes were fully characterised including (1)H/(13)C NMR, mass spectrometry and a study of their thermal behaviour. The crystal structures of [ZrCl(tdmh)(3)] and the all-nitrogen coordinated complex [Ta(N-t-Bu)(NMe(2))(2)(tdmh)] are discussed as well as the structure of the by-product [Li(tdmh)(py)](2). Preliminary MOCVD experiments of the liquid compound [Ta(NEt(2))(2)(N-t-Bu)(tdmh)] were performed and the deposited TaN(Si) films were analysed by RBS and SEM.     

A cyclopentadienyl ring exchange method for the attachment of early transition metal metallocene dichlorides to a polymer support

PMR and mass spectral analysis have been used to study the interchange of π-bonded cyclopentadienyl rings with σ-bonded cyclopentadienyl rings in the compounds (C₅H₅)₄M (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo and W) and (C₅H₅)₃V or a-bonded benzylcyclopentadienyl rings in the compounds (C₆H₅CH₂C₅H₄) (C₅H₅)₂MC1 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo and W). As soon as the Cp₄M species are generated (indicated by a color change), the interchange occurs and the equilibrium is established. As reported, no such interchange was observed in (C₅H₅) ₄Mo in the PMR time scale; however, it does occur after a longer time. By using this interchange behavior of the cyclopentadienyl ring, metallocene dichlorides of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W have been attached to polystyrene-divinylbenzene beads.     

Characterization of the interfacial structure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in CoFeB‐MgO structures with different buffer layers

In this study, we describe the deposition of Hf and Mo metal layers individually on Ta to compose new buffer layers, ie, Ta/Hf and Ta/Mo, where CoFeB/MgO stacks are deposited using magnetron sputtering. The synthesised Ta/Hf buffer has higher surface roughness, while the Ta/Mo buffer has lower surface roughness as compared with the Ta buffer. The surface roughness of the buffer appears to influence the interface of the subsequently deposited layers, resulting in rougher or smoother CoFeB/MgO interfaces. Additionally, we present a report on the magnetic properties of Ta, Ta/Hf, and Ta/Mo buffer samples. As the annealing temperature is below 200 °C, the saturation magnetisation (Ms) values for all buffer layers increase at similar rates, whereas the effective magnetic anisotropy energy (K_eff) values increase at varying rates. After annealing at 350 °C, K_eff reaches its maximum value for Ta/Hf and Ta/Mo buffer layers, whereas the CoFeB/MgO interface width decreases to a minimum value. The width increases as the annealing temperature is increased over 350 °C, and K_eff gradually decreases with increase in the annealing temperature. The CoFeB/MgO interface width is primarily dependent on the buffer/CoFeB interface width, which is a critical parameter to obtain high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and high‐quality films. This work provides perspectives for understanding and controlling PMA from the viewpoint of interfacial structure.     

Determination of Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf in Micro-Phases at Low Concentrations by EPMA

 Depletion of high field strength elements (HFSE: Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf ) relative to other lithophile trace elements in arc magmas and variations of Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios in mantle-derived rocks can be addressed through studies of minerals, which concentrate and fractionate these elements. The presence of rutile, a common accessory Ti-oxide phase in various mantle rocks, has often been invoked to explain the Nb and Ta depletion in arc lavas because it has the highest HFSE abundances among the known mantle minerals. In this study, we measure the concentrations of Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf (at > 200 ppm) in rutile of two metasomatized mantle lherzolites using a Cameca SX-100 electron microprobe and obtain Nb/Ta ratios with an accuracy of about ± 5%. Mass balance calculations indicate that ≤ 1−5% of Nb and Ta in the rocks reside in major minerals and that the balance is hosted by accessory Ti-oxides. The Nb/Ta ratios vary significantly in nearby rutile grains in both peridotites (17–33, average 23; 12–37, average 21). Therefore, individual rutile grains may not be representative of the total grain population. However, Nb/Ta ratios measured in the bulk rock lherzolites by solution ICP-MS (21 ± 0.3) are within the analytical error of the average Nb/Ta values calculated for 5–7 rutile grains in both samples. These results emphasise that a representative grain selection must be analysed in order to determine trace elements contents of bulk rocks from data on accessory phases.     

Properties of boron,boride, and indium nanomaterials: The melting temperatures of spherical nanoparticles,nanowires, and nanofilms

High-temperature synthesis of boron nanowires with a fixed structure, spherical nanoparticles, cylindrical nanowires, and nanofilms of indium created a basis for theoretical studies of the nanochemistry of the boron family. The melting temperatures of these nanomaterials were studied as depending on their structural properties and electronic structure, as well as T _m trends in M _x B _y nanoborides, where M = Ti, Zr, or Hf; V, Nb, or Ta; Cr, Mo, or W; Fe, Co, or Ni.     

Structure and donor–acceptor properties of Au<Subscript>12</Subscript>M (M = Hf,Ta, W,Re, and Os) intermetallic clusters

Evolution of three-dimensional configurations, electronic properties, and energies of attachment of donor and acceptor ligands to Au₁₂M (M = Hf, Ta, W, Re, and Os) intermetallic clusters were studied by quantum-chemical methods. The attachment of F to clusters Au₁₂Re and Au₁₂Os and the attachment of H to clusters Au₁₂Ta and Au₁₂Hf are found to give rise to more symmetric structures. The energies of attachment of F to >18-electron Au₁₂M clusters and the energies of attachment of H to <18-electron clusters exceed the energies of attachment of the same atoms to 18-electron cluster Au₁₂W and to cluster Au₁₂.     

Determination of impurities in natural diamonds using neutron activation and high-resolution gamma-spectrometry

Thirty-five natural diamonds from six widely differing localities, weighing from 3.6 mg to 305.3 mg were subjected to instrumental neutron activation analysis using high-resolution semiconductor gamma-spectrometry. By means of short-term and long-term activation in a nuclear reactor, Na, Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Hf, Au, Hg, and Th were determined in all the samples, K, Sr, Ag, Cs, Ba, Yb, Lu and W in some, and qualitative determination was carried out with Ca, Fe, Ni, Ga, As, Zr, Sb, Tb, Dy, Ta, It and U. The study serves as a basis for the study of the relationship between the colour, morphology and luminescence of diamonds and their impurity contents.     

Direct solvothermal synthesis of early transition metal nitrides

Solvothermal reactions of TaCl5 with LiNH2 in benzene result in nanocrystalline Ta3N5 at 500 or 550 degrees C. The approximately 25 nm Ta3N5 particles have a band gap of 2.08-2.10 eV. The same reactions in mesitylene resulted in a higher crystallization temperature and large amounts of carbon incorporation due to solvent decomposition. Reactions of Ta(NMe2)5 with LiNH2 under the same conditions resulted in TaN. Rocksalt-type MN phases are obtained for Zr, Hf, or Nb when their chlorides (ZrCl4, HfCl4, or NbCl5) or dialkylamides (M(NEtMe)4, M = Zr, Hf) are reacted with LiNH2 under similar conditions. With the amides, there is some evidence for nitrogen-rich compositions (HfN >1), and carbon is incorporated into the products through pyrolysis of the dialkylamide groups.     

On-line ion-exchange separation and determination of niobium,tantalum, tungsten,zirconium and hafnium in high-purity iron by flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A study was made to investigate the feasibility of using an anion-exchange resin for on-line separation of trace amounts of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium and hafnium from iron matrix samples. The incorporation of a micro-column packed with Dowex 1X8-100 ion-exchange resin into a flow injection system is presented. The detection was done with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sample treatment, optimization of analytical variables and measurable concentration levels are discussed. Recoveries from standard additions to a high-purity iron were for all the analytes close to 100%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.7 to 3.0%. The limits of quantification (10 s_n−1) calculated from a 5% (m/v) iron sample solution were 8, 5, 14, 12 and 10 ng g⁻¹ for Nb, Ta, W, Zr and Hf, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was tested by determining these elements in Euronorm-CRM 098-1 reference material. Recoveries from 0.250 g test portions of the above reference material spiked with 2.5 and with 12.5 ng each of the five analytes are reported.     

2,3,7-Trihydroxyfluorones immobilized on cellulose matrices in test methods for determining rare elements

It was shown that 2,3,7-trihydroxyfluorones immobilized by adsorption on cellulose matrices can be used as reagents for the test determination of Mo(VI), Ti(IV), Ge(IV), Hf(IV), Nb(V), Ta(V), W(VI), Bi(III), V(IV), and Zr(IV). The change of the protolytic and complexing properties of trihydroxyfluorones immobilized on cellulose matrices was considered in comparison to corresponding properties in a solution. It was found that the reactions of trihydroxyfluorones with rare elements on cellulose matrices and in a solution exhibit similar effects upon the addition of cetylpyridinium. These effects are the bathochromic shift of the absorption maxima of the reagents and their complexes with analytes and the extension of the range of optimum acidity for complex formation. The complexation of salicylfluorones with the titanium(IV) in solution and on cellulose paper was studied by IR spectrometry. Phenylfluorone immobilized on a mixed-fiber cloth as used in test determinations of (mg/L) 0.05–5 Ti(IV), V(IV), Hf(IV), Nb(V), and Mo(VI); 0.01–5 Ge(IV) and Zr(IV); 0.05–1 Bi(III) and W(VI); and 0.1–5 Ta(V) by the color intensity of the indicator matrix after passing through 20 mL of a test solution. It was shown that phenylfluorone immobilized on cellulose paper can be used to determine (mg/L) 0.05–50 Ti(IV), 0.5–1000 Ge(IV), 0.5–500 Zr(IV), 5–200 Bi(III), 0.1–50 Mo(VI), 0.1–1000 V(IV), 0.1–100 Nb(V), 0.1–800 Hf(IV), 1–100 Ta(V), and 1–800 W(VI) by the length of the colored zone of a test strip after it was brought into contact with a test solution.     

某些Al2Cu型和CrSi2型化合物的能带结构研究

Al2Cu型和CrSi2型固相过渡金属原子簇化合物M2B(M=Mo, W),M2Ni(M=Zr, Hf)和MGe2(M=Nb, Ta)在低温下出现超导行为。本文采用扩展的Huckel近似下的紧束缚能带方法, 计算了它们的能带结构, 给出了其能带、态密度与晶体轨道重叠布居, 讨论了晶体中化学键强度与超导转变温度的关系。     

The distribution of elements between polyether-type polyurethane foam, cyclic polyethers and hydrofluoric acid solution

The extraction of fifteen elements in the systems ?onsisting of polyurethane foam (polyether type)/HF-alkali-metal fluoride and cyclic polyether/HF-alkali-metal fluoride has been investigated. Little or no extraction was found for Co, Zn, Fe, Zr, Hf, Sn(IV), Nb, Pa, As(V), Mo, and W. Only Ta, Sb, Re, and Tc are well extracted with either polyurethane foam or dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 in dichloro-ethane under the conditions investigated. The mechanism of the extraction is discussed. The most interesting separation possibilities have been tested.     

Determination of 30 elements in coal and fly ash by thermal and epithermal neutron-activation analysis

Thirty elements are determined in coal and fly ash by instrumental neutron-activation analysis using both thermal and epithermal irradiation. Gamma-ray spectra were recorded 7 and 20 days after the irradiations. The procedure is applicable to the routine analysis of coals and fly ash. Epithermal irradiation was found preferable for the determination of Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, Sm, Tb, Hf, Ta, W, Th and U, whereas thermal irradiation was best for Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Yb and Lu. Results for SRM 1632 (coal) and SRM 1633 (fly ash) agree with those of other investigators.     

Electrothermal atomization of arsenic,antimony and thallium using a graphite atomizer with refractory metal platforms

The electrothermal atomization of the volatile elements arsenic, antimony and thallium from a refractory metal platform consisting of a tungsten coil and/or a refractory metal foil with the dimensions of a conventional graphite platform was studied. Several combinations of refractory metal platforms were investigated, as follows: W platform; Ta platform; W coil; W coil on a W platform and W coil on a Ta platform. The best combination for these elements as regards both thermal stabilization and sensitivity is the W coil on a Ta platform. Thermal stabilization is also achieved with a W coil on a W platform. The presence of Pd-containing chemical modifier favors the thermal stabilization of the analytes. The sufficient amount is 2 micrograms of Pd. The maximal temperatures of pyrolysis are higher (arsenic, antimony) or equal (thallium) to those when using different chemical modifiers, added as solutions. It may be concluded, that the refractory metal platforms act as "built-in modifiers". They are suitable for the determination of arsenic, antimony and thallium in samples of complex matrix composition where high thermal stability of the analytes during the pyrolysis step is required.