Evaluation of strontium isotope abundance ratios in combination with multi-elemental analysis as a possible tool to study the geographical origin of ciders

In order to evaluate alternative analytical methodologies to study the geographical origin of ciders, both multi-elemental analysis and Sr isotope abundance ratios in combination with multivariate statistical analysis were estimated in 67 samples from England, Switzerland, France and two Spanish regions (Asturias and the Basque Country). A methodology for the precise and accurate determination of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio in ciders by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) was developed. Major elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) were measured by ICP-AES and minor and trace elements (Li, Be, B, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U) were measured by ICP-MS using a collision cell instrument operated in multitune mode. An analysis of variance (ANOVA test) indicated that group means for B, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Se, Cd, Cs, Ce, W, Pb, Bi and U did not show any significant differences at the 95% confidence level, so these elements were rejected for further statistical analysis. Another group of elements (Li, Be, Sc, Co, Ga, Y, Sn, Sb, La, Tl, Th) was removed from the data set because concentrations were close to the limits of detection for many samples. Therefore, the remaining elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba) together with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio were considered for principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Finally, LDA was able to classify correctly 100% of cider samples coming from different Spanish regions, France, England and Switzerland when considering Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio as original variables.     

La 0.9 M 0.1 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3 -α的中温质子导电性及其在常压合成氨中的应用

采用水热沉淀法制备了La0.9M0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-α (M＝Ca2＋, Sr2＋, Ba2＋)陶瓷样品的前驱体, 沉淀剂来自尿素在水热条件下的水解产物. 前驱体经煅烧和烧结后得到陶瓷样品. XRD显示样品具有单一的斜方晶LaGaO3钙钛矿结构. 同位素效应和氢的电化学透过(氢泵)实验证明陶瓷样品具有质子导电性. 用AC阻抗谱法测定了样品在300～600 ℃、氢气气氛中的质子电导率, 其大小取决于La位掺杂的碱土金属离子: σ(M＝Sr2＋)＞σ(M＝Ba2＋)＞σ(M＝Ca2＋). 以La0.9M0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-α为固体电解质进行了常压合成氨, 最佳合成温度为520 ℃. 当施加的电流密度为1 mA•cm－2、合成温度为520 ℃时, 氨产率分别为: 1.63×10–9 mol•s－1•cm－2 (M＝Ca2＋), 2.53×10－9 mol•s－1•cm－2 (M＝Sr2＋)和2.04× 10－9 mol•s－1•cm－2 (M＝Ba2＋).     

Luminescence of vanadium and rare earth ions in alkaline earth sulfates

The luminescence of samples MeSO₄V, RE (Me = Mg, Ca, Ba) depends strongly on the nature of the Me ions. The amount of association of the V⁵⁺ and RE³⁺ ions can be estimated from the measured quantum efficiencies.     

Doping strategies to optimise the oxide ion conductivity in apatite-type ionic conductors

The apatite-type phases, La(9.33+x)(Si/Ge)(6)O(26+3x/2), have recently been attracting considerable interest as potential electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. In this paper we report results from a range of doping studies in the Si based systems, aimed at determining the key features required for the optimisation of the conductivities. Systems examined have included alkaline earth doping on the rare earth site, and P, B, Ga, V doping on the Si site. By suitable doping strategies, factors such as the level of cation vacancies and oxygen excess have been investigated. The results show that the oxide ion conductivities of these apatite systems are maximised by the incorporation of either oxygen excess or cation vacancies, with the former producing the best oxide ion conductors. In terms of samples containing cation vacancies, conductivities are enhanced by doping lower valent ions, Ga, B, on the Si site. The presence of higher valent ions on these sites, e.g. P, appears to inhibit the incorporation of excess oxygen within the channels, and so limits the maximum conductivity that can be obtained. Overall the results suggest that the tetrahedral sites play a key role in the conduction properties of these materials, supporting recent modelling studies, which have suggested that these tetrahedra aid in the motion of the oxide ions down the conduction channels by co-operative displacements.     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of MgF co-doped PBSZT ceramics

A fluorine - oxygen substitution with yo at% F (yo = 2, 3 and 4) was performed in lead zirconate titanate ceramics with the nominal composition Pb_0.89(Ba, Sr)_0.11(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PBSZT). This starting material was also doped with x at% Mg (x = 0.4, 0.75 and 1). The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of undoped, (yo at% F) doped, (x at% Mg) doped and (x at% Mg and yo at% F) co-doped PBSZT ceramics were compared. The study of three coefficients - ϵ_τ, d₃₃ and Qm - revealed that F doping did not induce significant changes in PBSZT characteristics whereas (Mg and F) co-doping led to harder ceramics than MgO only doping. The influence of the different substitutions on the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and losses have been investigated. A drastic increase of the Curie point was observed after (Mg and F) co-doping associated with a diffuse ferroelectric/paraelectric phase transition. Experimental results indicated that neither Mg nor F has a dominating effect on the characteristics of these co-doped PBSZT specimens     

A new approach for determination of crustal and trace elements in airborne particulate matter

An ICP-OES procedure was developed for fast and accurate determination of various crustal (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Si) and trace elements (Ba, Cu, Mn, Na, K, Sr, Ti, Zn) in airborne particulate matter. The method is based on a preliminary treatment of the aerosol samples with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide at elevated temperature leading to a mineralization of the organic sampling substrate, dissolution of soluble material and homogeneous suspension of the remaining non-soluble fraction. After dilution the derived slurry solutions were measured using ICP-OES. The reproducibility of analysis given as the relative standard deviation (% RSD) varied between 3.2 and 6.8% for bulk constituents such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Si whereas values ranging from 3.5 to 9.1% were obtained for trace metals present with distinctly lower abundance in PM10 (e.g. Ba, Cu, Mn, Sr, Zn). The limits of detection (LOD) calculated as three times the standard deviation (3σ) of the signal derived from filter blank samples ranged from approximately 1?ng?m^?3 (Sr) to 71?ng?m^?3(Ca). The developed procedure was evaluated by comparing the obtained results with the findings derived for the same set of aerosol samples analyzed using a microwave procedure for sample dissolution with subsequent ICP-OES analysis. Finally the developed procedure was applied for the analysis of crustal and trace elements in PM10 samples collected at an urban site (Getreidemarkt, Vienna) and a rural site (Hartberg, Styria), in Austria. The concentrations of the investigated crustal elements varied between some hundred ng?m^?3 and few µg?m^?3 with highest concentrations for Fe and Si, distinctly reduced concentrations ranging from some ng?m^?3 (Sr) to more than hundred ng?m^?3 (K) were found for trace elements. Observed PM10 concentrations were found to be in accordance to literature findings from urban sites in central Europe.     

A group separation scheme for radiochemical neutron activation analysis for 24 trace elements in rocks and minerals

A group separation scheme has been developed for radiochemical neutron activation analysis for Ca, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Zr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W and Th in a wide variety of silicate rocks and minerals, especially ultrabasic rocks and mafic minerals. The samples are decomposed in a hydrofluoric acid-nitric acid mixture in a PTFE-lined bomb. The soluble fluorides (Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Zr, Sb, Cs, Ht, Ta, W and Pa) are separated into three groups of elements by sequential elution from a cationexchange resin. The insoluble fluorides (Ca, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba and REE) are dissolved and purified from interfering iron and scandium activities by extraction with tri-n-butyl phosphate. If necessary, the four main groups can be purified further from interfering activities such as ⁵⁹Fe, ⁵¹Cr and ⁶⁰Co. The accuracy and reproducibility of the procedure were tested by repeated analysis of U.S. Geological Survey standard granite G-2, andesite AGV-1 and dunite DTS-1.     

Mechanism of thermal decomposition of hydrogenphosphities

Evolution of hydrogen during thermal decomposition of some M^IIHPO₃ (M= Mg, Ca, Zn, Sr, Cd, Ba) phosphities under nitrogen atmosphere was investigated. Step mechanism of thermal decomposition has been proposed.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wasserstoffentwicklung während der thermischen Zersetzung einiger Phosphite M^II)HPO₃ (mitM=Mg, Ca, Zn, Sr, Cd, Ba) in einer Stickstoffatmosphäre untersucht. Es wurde ein schematischer Mechanismus für die thermische Zersetzungsreaktion gegeben.

     

Effect of transition element doping on crystal structure of rare earth borosilicides REB44Si2

On a previous study on samples of doped-YB₄₄Si₂, an improvement of thermoelectric properties has been achieved. Regarding the interesting effect of the doping of transition elements on the thermoelectric properties, a single crystal study has been carried out on Zn doped, Rh doped and Ni doped samples to assess how the transition element doping affects the crystal structure. Refinements were carried out based on the structural model solution of YB₄₄Si₂ reported in a previous study. Variations in the silicon contents were found in the doped single crystals. Splitting of partially occupied sites has also been detected for some of the doped samples. In this paper we present differences in the partial occupations of boron and silicon sites. Possibility of transition elements insertions based on the differences in crystal structures will be presented.     

Comparative instrumental multi-element analysis I: Comparison of ICP source mass spectrometry with ICP atomic emission spectrometry, ICP atomic fluorescence spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry for the analysis of natural waters from a granite region

Summary Multi-element analysis by ICP source mass spectrometry for practically matrix-free natural waters, coming from a granitic area and, therefore, rich in trace elements, has been compared with ICP-atomic emission, ICP atomic fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry. The following elements have been investigated and their concentrations are in the decreasing order: Ca, Si, Na, Mg, K, Al; Sr, Mn, Ba, Fe, Rb, Zn, B, U, Y, Li, La, Be, Cs, Co, Cr, V, Sb, Bi, Th, Cu, Cd, Ni, Se, Pb, As, Hg, Mo, Tl, Sn. The concentration ranges were between 10 ppm and <0.01 ppb.As a measure of agreement between the different methods under investigation, two criteria have been used (a) the relative variation coefficient VK (%) of the mean element concentration of an element, determined by different methods in all the 98 water samples and (b) the linear, logarithmic and Spearman rank correlation coefficients between ICP-MS and each of the other methods. Detection limits are given from literature for about 32 elements using different methods.The elements Ca, Na, Mg, K, Mn, Sr, Zn, Fe, Li, Cu have been determined with ICP-MS, ICP-AES and AAS; Al, Ba with ICP-MS and ICP-AES; Si only with ICP-AES, whereas B, Be, Bi, Co, Cr, Cs, Hg, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Th, Tl, U, V, Y only with ICP-MS. In all 34 of the investigated 36 elements could be analysed by ICP-MS, 14 (from about 20 possible) by AAS, 13 by ICP-AES and 12 by ICP-AFS.The agreement between ICP-MS and ICP-AES as well as between ICP-MS and AAS in most cases is remarkably good according to (a). VK (%) for each element in 98 water samples is in the range from ±2.6 to 10% for Na, Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Sr, Ba, Cu, Li (increasing order). Cd and Zn have unexpectedly higher values (±17.3 and ±20.5%); Cd concentrations are, however, near the detection limit.Comparing the different methods on the basis of correlation coefficients according to (b), gives for the Spearman rank correlation coefficient over the whole range of concentrations, respectively for ICP-MS/ICP-AES, AAS, ICP-AFS in case of Ca: 0.998; 0.984; 0.899; Na: 0.993; 0.991; 0.978; Mg: 0.997; 0.993; 0.959; K: 0.986; 0.942; 0.677; Al: 0.987; -; -; Fe: 0.864; 0.974; 0.701; Mn: 0.989; 0.990; 0.198; Sr: 0.988; 0.992; -; Zn: 0.894; 0.819; 0.300; Cu: -; 0.977; 0.202; Li: -; 0.907; 0.586.It is evident from these trace element concentrations as well as the electrical conductivities, that only about three fourths of the investigated samples are typical granitic waters and the remaining ones are associated with different geological background. The samples have been mainly radon waters with more than 18 nCi/l of Rn-222.

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Vergleichende Instrumentelle Multielementanalyse I: Vergleich von ICP-Massenspektrometrie mit ICP-Atomemissionsspektrometrie, ICP-Atomfluorescenzspektrometrie und Atomabsorptionsspektrometrie zur Analyse natürlicher Wässer aus einem Granitgebiet

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6th Contribution to the principles of trace analysis of elements and radionuclides

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Dedicated to Professor Dr. H. Kelker, Frankfurt, on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

The Recently Synthesized Dimagnesiabutadiene and the Analogous Dimetalla‐Beryllium, ‐Calcium, ‐Strontium,and ‐Barium Compounds

The 2014 synthesis of the remarkable dimagnesium compound Mg₂[C₄(CH₃)₂(Si(CH₃)₃)₂](C₃H₇)₂(C₄H₈O)₂ may point the way to a new chapter in alkaline earth organometallic chemistry. Accordingly, we have studied the known Mg compound and the analogous Be, Ca, Sr, and Ba structures. Although most of our theoretical predictions come from density functional methods, the latter have been benchmarked using coupled cluster theory including single, double, and perturbative triplet excitations, CCSD(T) using cc‐pVTZ basis sets. Among our most important predictions are the energies for dissociation to the butadiene plus the RM?MR [R=(C₃H₇)₂(C₄H₈O)₂; M=Be, Mg, Ca, Si, and Ba] entities. The most reliable predictions for the dissociation energies are 99–104 (Be), 85–93 (Mg), 90–99 (Ca), 83–92 (Sr), and 83–94 (Ba) kcal mol^?1. Thus, there is reason to anticipate that the four unknown compounds should be achievable synthetically. The predicted metal–metal distances (not single bonds) are 2.89 Å (Mg???Mg), 3.46 Å (Ca???Ca), 3.75 Å (Sr???Sr), and 4.04 Å (Ba???Ba). The separated RM?MR compounds have longer M?M distances but genuine metal–metal single bonds. This perhaps counter intuitive result is due to the presence of the bridging carbons in the alkaline earth butadiene compounds. All five compounds incorporate metal–carbon ionic interactions.     

Mössbauer study on the CMR double perovskite AFe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 </Subscript>with A=(Ba,Sr) or (Sr,Ca): Chemical pressure effect

Summary The double perovskites, AFe_0.5Mo_0.5O₃with A=(Ba,Sr) or (Sr,Ca), were prepared by a sol-gel method, and the substitution effect at site A was studied by M?ssbauer spectrometry. In the M?ssbauer spectra of the double perovskite (Ba, Sr)Fe_0.5Mo_0.5O₃, the isomer shifts decreased fromδ=0.72 mm/s to δ=0.4 mm/s and the internal magnetic fields increased with the increase of the Sr content. The Ba-rich samples were shown to contain superparamagnetic components under the same preparation conditions. Better crystallinity and larger hyperfine fields were obtained when 5% of the Sr-content of SrFe_0.5Mo_0.5O₃was substituted by Ca as compared with substitution by Ba. Phonon density of states (DOS) of SrFe_0.5Mo_0.5O₃substituted with Ca or Ba were obtained by nuclear inelastic scattering. The peaks of phonon DOS were shifted, depending on chemical compression/expansion of the lattice. The chemical pressure effect could be observed in the M?ssbauer spectra and the phonon DOS spectra.     

First‐principles study of molecular hydrogen dissociation on doped Al12X (X = B,Al, C,Si, P,Mg, and Ca) clusters

Inspired by the concept of superatom via substitutionally doping an Al₁₃ magic cluster, we investigated the H₂ molecule dissociation on the doped icosahedral Al₁₂X (X = B, Al, C, Si, P, Mg, and Ca) clusters by means of density functional theory. The computed reaction energies and activation barriers show that the concept of superatom is still valid for the catalysis behavior of doped metal clusters. The hydrogen dissociation behavior on metal clusters characterized by the activation barrier and reaction energy can be tuned by controllable doping. Thus, doped Al₁₂X clusters might serve as highly efficient and low‐cost catalysts for hydrogen dissociation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

Comparitive study of the sample decomposition procedures in the determination of trace and rare earth elements in anorthosites and related rocks by ICP-MS

ICP-MS has been used for the determination of over 30 geochemically significant trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th, U and REEs) in anorthosites and related rock reference samples. Open acid digestion, pressure decomposition using HF, HNO₃ and HClO₄, and a fusion method using lithium metaborate and subsequent dissolution in dil. HNO₃ were adopted for the decomposition of these rock samples before analysis. The dissolution problems and interference effects are discussed. Rh and Bi were used as internal standards. The first set of data on several rare earths and other trace elements in the Russian anorthosite reference sample, MO-6 are presented along with data on other samples. The data are compared with the available data. The results obtained with different dissolution methods were found to be in good agreement for the majority of the trace elements. The accuracy and precision achieved (better than 6% RSD in most cases) suggested that the data obtained by ICP-MS for such samples are best suited for geochemical interpretations.     

Orthogonalization of Polyaryl Linkers as a Route to More Porous Phosphonate Metal-Organic Frameworks

The coordinative pliancy of the phosphonate functional group means that metal-phosphonate materials often self-assemble as well-packed structures with minimal porosity, as efficient inter-ligand packing is enabled. Here, we report a multistep synthesis of a novel aryl-phosphonate linker with an orthogonalized ligand core, 1,3,5-tris(4’-phosphonophenyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (H₆L2) designed to form more open structures. A series of crystalline metal-phosphonate frameworks (CALF-35 to -39) have been assembled by coordinating to divalent metals (Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Zn). H₆L2 is unable to pack efficiently and, as a consequence, yields several distinct microporous structures. The resulting structures are discussed in detail, with a focus on the solid-state packing of the sterically rigidified linker. Combined with larger cations (Sr, and Ba), H₆L2 packs in a parallel-offset manner, yielding isomorphous and microporous metal-organic frameworks (CALF-35 (Sr), and (Ba)). When coordinated to smaller metals (Ca, Mg, Zn), H₆L2 forms four new structures. Two Ca MOFs of different stoichiometry, (CALF-36 and 37) and a Mg MOF CALF-38 show narrow pores and have high selectivities for CO₂ over N₂ and CH₄. Finally, in CALF-39 (Zn), H₆L2 linkers pack in a herringbone fashion, resulting in a material with 10.9×10.1 Ų square channels. The stability of all structures was tested, and the most porous structure, CALF-39 (Zn), was found to retain its structure and gas adsorption after immersion in water over pH 3–11.     

Alkaline earth metal salts of 1‐naphthoic acid

The structures of the Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba salts of 1‐naphthoic acid are examined and compared with analogous structures of salts of benzoate derivatives. It is shown that catena‐poly[[[diaquabis(1‐naphthoato‐κO)magnesium(II)]‐μ‐aqua] dihydrate], {[Mg(C₁₁H₇O₂)₂(H₂O)₃]·2H₂O}_n, exists as a one‐dimensional coordination polymer that propagates only through Mg—OH₂—Mg interactions along the crystallographic b direction. In contrast with related benzoate salts, the naphthalene systems are large enough to prevent inorganic chain‐to‐chain interactions, and thus species with inorganic channels rather than layers are formed. The Ca, Sr and Ba salts all have metal centres that lie on a twofold axis (Z′ = ) and all have the common name catena‐poly[[diaquametal(II)]‐bis(μ‐1‐naphthoato)‐κ³O,O′:O;κ³O:O,O′], [M(C₁₁H₇O₂)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, where M = Ca, Sr or Ba. The Ca and Sr salts are essentially isostructural, and all three species form one‐dimensional coordination polymers through a carboxylate group that forms three M—O bonds. The polymeric chains propagate via c‐glide planes and through MOMO four‐membered rings. Again, inorganic channel structures are formed rather than layered structures, and the three structures are similar to those found for Ca and Sr salicylates and other substituted benzoates.     

Energetics of magnesium, strontium, and barium doped lanthanum gallate perovskites

LaGaO₃ perovskites doped with Sr or Ba at the La site and Mg at the Ga site were prepared by solid-state reaction or sol-gel method and characterized. Enthalpies of formation from constituent oxides at 298 K were determined by high-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. Energetic trends are discussed in terms of defect chemistry. As oxygen deficiency increases, formation enthalpies define three trends, LaGa_1−yMg_yO_3−δ (LGM), La_1−xSr_xGa_1−yMg_yO_3−δ (LSGM), and La_1−xBa_xGa_1−yMg_yO_3−δ (LBGM). They become less exothermic with increasing doping, suggesting a dominant destabilization effect from oxygen vacancies. The endothermic enthalpy of vacancy formation is 275±37, 166±18 and 138±12 kJ/mol of V_O^·· for LGM, LBGM and LSGM, respectively. Tolerance factor and ion size mismatch also affect enthalpies. In terms of energetics, Sr is the best dopant for the La site and Mg for the Ga site, supporting earlier studies, including oxygen ion conductivity and computer modeling.     

Unravelling the specific site preference in doping of calcium hydroxyapatite with strontium from ab initio investigations and Rietveld analyses

Strontium can be substituted into the calcium sublattice of hydroxyapatite without a solubility limit. However, recent ab initio simulations carried out at 0 K report endothermic nature of this process. There is also striking discrepancy between experimentally observed preference of Sr doping at Ca-II sites and the first principles calculations, which indicate that a Ca-I site is preferred energetically for the Sr substitution. In this paper we combine insights from Density Functional Theory simulations and regular configurational entropy calculations to determine the site preference of Sr doping in the range of 0-100 at% at finite temperatures. In addition, samples of Sr-HA are synthesized and refinement of the relevant structural information provides benchmark information on the experimental unit cell parameters of Sr-HA. We find that the contribution of the entropy of mixing can efficiently overcome the endothermic excess energy at a temperature typical of the calcining step in the synthesis route of hydroxyapatite (700-950 °C). We observe that the most preferential substitution pattern is mixed substitution of Sr regardless of the concentration. For a wet chemical method, carried out at a moderate temperature (90 °C), the mixed doping is still slightly favourable at higher Sr-concentrations, except the range at 20% Sr, where Site II substitution is not restricted energetically and equally possible as the mixed doping. We observe a close correspondence between our theoretical results and available experimental data. Hence it should be possible to apply this theory to other divalent dopants in HA, such as Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Ba(2+), Cd(2+) etc.     

Shell structure of inorganic nanoparticles

A method for calculation of the size properties of nanoparticles M _N and M _N ⁺ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ag, Au, B, Al, In, Ta; M⁺ = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Hg) has been suggested. Excited states of M atoms are shown to have an effect on the structural organization of nanoparticles.     

Determination of metal impurities in ultrapure CaCl2 and MgCl2 by ICP OES

An effective, rapid and simple analytical method for the determination of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cd, Pb, Ba, Fe, Mn, Sr, Zr, Cu, Zn and Al at mg kg⁻¹ levels in the ultrapure salts MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ using optical emission spectrometry was developed. Optimisation of the operation conditions was performed with real samples of ultrapure MgCl₂ and CaCl₂. The results of the determination with multi-elemental water standards were compared to the internal standardisation, the standard addition method, and the maximum allowable content of the above mentioned elements in pure chemicals. The method was shown to be very sensitive with the following limits of detection: Na 1.01, K 3.12, Ca 0.263, Mg 0.275, Cd 0.0832, Pb 0.482, Ba 0.0153, Fe 0.0528, Mn 0.0473, Sr 0.0203, Zr 0.638, Cu 0.0732, Zn 0.0686 and Al 0.459 (all in mg kg⁻¹). The method exhibited satisfactory precision, high analytical recoveries, linear responses of an accuracy of at least 4 orders of magnitude and low contamination susceptibility.