Contribution a l'etude du dosage par radioactivation du sourfre et du phosphore en tres faibles concentrations dans les metaux de tres haute purete (Aluminium,magnesium, cuivre,fer, nickel)

The chemical separation of sulphur and phosphorus from pure iron and nickel, is described. Sulphur has been determined first by irradiation in fast neutrons, then by irradiation in mixed fast and thermal neutrons. The two methods gave two different results; so, we were led to point out the same phenomenon asJ. Le Hericy had already pointed out for the determination of sulphur in copper. We found that the abnormal amounts of sulphur came from external contamination with chlorine since sulphur is then produced by the³⁵Cl(n, p)³⁵S reaction. The diffusion of³⁵S atoms (produced on the edge of the samples) explains that the concentration of sulphur decreases from the edge to the middle of the sample. We prepared samples of iron and nickel, artificially covered with ammonium chloride, and we studied the apparent concentration of sulphur as a function of the depth in these samples. Our experiences pointed out that the contamination in sulphur yielded by the (n, p) reaction, reaches very quickly the middle of the samples. This phenomenon limits the determination of sulphur by the³⁴S(n, γ)³⁵S reaction, in nickel and iron.      

Nachweisgrenzen bei der R?ntgen-Emissionsspektralanalyse von Mineral?len

Zusammenfassung Die Nachweisgrenzen verschiedener Elemente in Mineralölen, mit Ordnungszahlen zwischen 82 und 15, wurden experimentell nach der Eichkurvenmethode nahe der Konzentration Null bestimmt. Unter Heranziehung aller instrumenteilen Möglichkeiten wurden Ergebnisse erhalten, die bis einschlie\lich Chlor unter 1 ppm, für Schwefel und Phosphor zwischen 1 und 3 ppm liegen. Die AbhÄngigkeit der Nachweisgrenze von WellenlÄnge und Me\zeit wurde ermittelt. Matrix-Elemente beeinflussen die Nachweisgrenze selbst in sehr hohen Konzentrationen nur unwesentlich. StÄrker wird durch sie die Nachweisempfindlichkeit gestört. Es empfiehlt sich deshalb auch bei Analysen im Spuren-Bereich die Verwendung innerer Standards.

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Summary The limits of detection of various elements in mineral oils, with atomic numbers between 82 and 15, were experimentally determined by the calibration curve method near zero concentration. By application of all given instrumental possibilities results were obtained which showed limits of detection well below 1 ppm for all elements down to chlorine, and between 1 and 3 ppm for sulphur and phosphorus. The dependence of the limit of detection on wavelength and test time has been investigated. Matrix elements affect the limit of detection only unessentially, even in very high concentrations. In contrary to that the sensitivity of the determination is lowered by them. Therefore the use of internal standards is highly recommendable even in analyses of trace amounts.

     

Determination of trace amounts of sulphur in selenium

Determination of trace amounts of sulphur as Methylene Blue after reduction of sulphate to sulphide by hydriodic and hypophosphorous acids in acetic acid solution is applied to the determination of trace amounts of sulphur in selenium after removal of the selenium by evaporation with hydrobromic acid. Samples of 100 mg or less of selenium are chosen if the sulphur content is greater than 5-10 ppm; the time required for the separation is about 1.5 hr; 100 ppm of sulphur has been determined with a coeffident of variation of 5.2%. If the sulphur content is less than 5 ppm, 1-g samples must be taken and the time required is then about 3 hr; 0.4 ppm of sulphur has been determined with a standard deviation of 0.13 ppm. The accuracy of the method seems to be well within the random error.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Time-resolved spectrochemical applications

We have added time resolution to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in two forms, by gating an optical multichannel analyzer (OMA) and by time-resolving the output of a photomultiplier with a boxcar amplifier. Spectra were obtained for temporal segments of 25 to 100 ns, from 25 ns to 50 µs after initiation of the breakdown. OMA spectra of oxygen illustrate the power of this technique for survey purposes. The photomultiplier-boxcar arrangement was used to detect phosphorus atoms from diisopropylmethyl phosphonate in air, and also to detect chlorine in air, both in real time. In the former experiments we detected 690 ppm (w/w) of phosphorus and project a limit of detection with our current apparatus of 15 ppm (w/w). For chlorine, we observed signal from 120 ppm (w/w) and project a limit of detection of 60 ppm (w/w).     

Rapid polarographic method for the microdetermination of organically- bound phosphorus

An indirect polarographic method for the microdetermination of phosphorus in organophosphorus compounds is described. Alkaline hypobromite is used as oxidizing absorbent. Quinoline phosphomolybdate is precipitated with a measured excess of standard molybdate solution. The unreacted Mo(VI) is determined polarographically. Nitrogen, chlorine, bromine and sulphur do not interfere. One determination takes 40 min. The results obtained fall generally within the acceptable limits of error.     

Multivariate data analysis of some Finnish water courses

Summary The following parameters were analyzed 2 to 4 times a year from 37 sampling sites; T, O₂, O₂%, Turbidity, Suspended solids, Conductivity, Alkalinity, pH, Color, COD_Mn, Total nitrogen, Total phosphorus, Cl, Fe, Mn, Total sulphur, K, Na, Ca, Mg, SiO₂, Total organic chlorine and Total organic bromine. Samples were taken from waters loaded by chemical pulp mills, other industries, municipal waste waters and agriculture. Also waters under natural conditions were included. Water samples have been collected and analyzed in co-operation with the National Board of Waters and the Environment. The data set was analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to determine correlations between variables, especially between Total organic chlorine and Total organic bromine and others. Typically Total organic chlorine and Total organic bromine correlated with Na, Cl and Total sulphur. It is interesting to note that Total organic chlorine and Total organic bromine did not follow each other in all components. Total organic chlorine was predicted using other variables and Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. Very satisfactory correlation was obtained between analyzed and predicted lgTOCl values. Optimally three different object classes were found from the whole data using fuzzy clustering analysis. One class represents waters in a natural condition, one water loaded mainly by agriculture and one represent the rest of the waters.     

13C NMR of organosulphur compounds: I—the effects of sulphur substituents on the 13C chemical shifts of alkyl chains and of S-heterocycles

The ¹³C NMR spectra have been determined of: (i) aliphatic compounds having at one end a functionalized sulphur atom (? SH, ? S^?, ? SMe, ? S(O)Me, ? SO₂Me and ? S⁺Me₂) and (ii) saturated sulphur heterocycles variously substituted at the S-atom . The results are discussed in terms of the familiar deshielding effects for α- and β-carbons and shielding effects for γ-carbons, exerted by the sulphur atom itself and/or by the atoms or groups of which the sulphur function is made up. The γ-effect of the S-atom appears to be nearly independent of the nature of the S-function and of comparable magnitude to that of an aliphatic carbon (?2·5 + ?3·0 ppm). Surprisingly, however, a S? CH₃ group shields the carbon in γ position with respect to CH₃ by an amount (?5·4 ppm) which is more than twice that (?2·5 ppm) exerted by the aliphatic γ-carbon on the S-CH₃ carbon itself. As to the cyclic compounds, the shieldings of the α- and β-carbons can be rationalized in terms of the conformational orientation of the substituent at sulphur, and the equilibrium distribution of the conformers. The results confirm the great value of ¹³C NMR for configurational and conformational assignment of S-heterocycles.     

Standard-addition procedure for the determination of traces of lead in solid samples by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A standard-addition procedure for analysis of powdered solid samples by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence is described. Different amounts of the element to be determined are added to 4–6 specimens of the unknown sample. The spiked samples are prepared by mixing the powdered sample with an aqueous standard solution and drying the mixture. Homogeneously spiked samples are thus obtained with analyte and spike concentrations at the ppm level. The procedure has been investigated theoretically, and it is found suitable for the quantitative determination of lead at the ppm level. The accuracy of the technique for traces of lead has been tested on solid reference materials for the determination of lead. The quantitative results obtained compare well with those found by potentiometric stripping analysis.     

Relationship among iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk in Japan

In order to know the relationship among some elements in biological materials, iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk samples in Japan were determined by the thermal neutron activation analysis using a low power research reactor and a Van de Graaff accelerator. The iodine contents in cow's milk samples ranged from 0.041 to 0.316 ppm with an average of 0.096 ppm. The bromine and chlorine in these samples ranged from 2.3 to 11.1 ppm and from 475 to 1650 ppm, respectively. The average concentration of the bromine was calculated to be 5.6 ppm and that of the chlorine was 853 ppm. The relationship among iodine, bromine and chlorine concentrations in cow's milk samples in Japan was studied with a regression analysis. It was suggested that the correlation has a power function as follows; Y = K(Z)-A where, Y is elemental concentration in ppm, Z is atomic weight [corrected] of element, A (= 7.4) is exponent and K (= 14.7) is a constant.     

Non-destructive neutron-activation analysis for determining the chlorine content of paper-pulp

Non-destructive neutron-activation analysis is used for determining chlorine in paper-pulp. Numerical data have been obtained for bleached and unbleached paper-pulps of different types and origins. The sensitivity of this method is 100 ppm for an irradiation time of 30 min and a neutron flux of 6 x 10(10) neutrons.cm(-2).sec(-1) and 10 ppm for an irradiation time of 1 min and a neutron flux of 2 x 10(12) neutrons.cm(-2).sec(-1). In both cases the amount of chlorine that can be determined depends on the presence of the interfering elements manganese and sodium in the paper-pulp. The time required for a complete analysis, after irradiation, is 5 min.     

Determination of fluorine and chlorine in geological materials by induction furnace pyrohydrolysis and standard-addition ion-selective electrode measurement

Fluorine and chlorine in geological materials are volatilized by pyrohydrolysis at about 1150 degrees in a stream of oxygen (1000 ml/min) plus steam in an induction furnace. The catalyst is a 7:2:1 mixture of silica gel, tungstic oxide and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The sample/catalyst mixture is pyrohydrolysed in a re-usable alumina crucible (already containing four drops of 1 + 3 phosphoric acid) inserted in a silica-enclosed graphite crucible. The absorption solution is buffered at pH 6.5 and spiked with 1.6 mug of fluoride and 16 mug of chloride per g of solution, to ensure rapid and linear electrode response during subsequent standard-addition measurement. The simple plastic absorption vessel has 99.5% efficiency. The 3s limits of detection are 5-10 mug/g and 40-100 mug/g for fluorine and chlorine respectively. The procedure is unsuitable for determining chlorine in coal.     

Determination of lead in household refuse fly-ash by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and a modified standard-addition technique

Lead in fly-ash from a garbage incinerator has been determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) and a modified standard-addition method. To keep the attenuation properties of the spiked samples constant, decreasing amounts of an attenuation modifier [mercury (II) acetate] were added together with increasing amounts of the standard (lead nitrate). Linearity between fluorescence intensity and amount of lead was thus obtained, so the amount of lead in the sample could be evaluated by linear regression. The amount of modifier needed could be calculated from a simple expression. The method was validated by comparison with the results obtained by applying atomic-absorption spectrometry (AAS) to solutions made by leaching the fly-ash with strong acid. For 8 fly-ash samples, containing between 0.8 and 1.35% lead, the largest absolute difference between the two sets of results was 0.03%. Theoretical calculations based on a simplified version of the Sherman equation were performed to confirm the linearity of the modified standard-addition curves.     

A comparative study of IC,ICP-AES,and NAA measurements on chlorine,bromine, and sodium in natural waters

A suite of shallow and deep subsurface waters from southwestern Illinois has been analyzed for chlorine (CT), bromine (Br^?), and sodium (Na⁺) using three different methods. Cl and Br were analyzed by ion chromatography (IC) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). Na was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AESS) and NAA. In addition, five water standards were prepared with compositions over the range of Cl, Br, and Na concentrations in the natural waters were analyzed using the same methods. Analytical results for the prepared standards by the different methods were in good agreement. However, analytical results on natural waters yielded generally poor agreement between the methods. Our results suggest that solute concentrations and ratios between major solutes in subsurface waters determined by IC and ICP-AES may involve substantial laboratory error.     

Comparison of various detection limit estimates for volatile sulphur compounds by gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection

This paper addresses the variations that presently exist regarding the definition, determination, and reporting of detection limits for volatile sulphur compounds by gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection (GC-PFPD). Gas standards containing hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S), carbonyl sulphide (COS), sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), methyl mercaptan (CH(3)SH), dimethyl sulphide (DMS), carbon disulphide (CS(2)), and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) in concentrations varying from 0.36ppb (v/v) up to 1.5ppm (v/v) in nitrogen were prepared with permeation tubes and introduced in the gas chromatograph using a 0.25-ml gas sampling loop. After measuring the PFPD response versus concentration, the method detection limit (MDL), the Hubaux-Vos detection limit (x(D)), the absolute instrument sensitivity (AIS), and the sulphur detectivity (D(s)) were determined for each sulphur compound. The results show that the MDL determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency procedure consistently underestimates the minimum concentrations of volatile sulphur compounds that can be practically distinguished from the background noise with the PFPD. The Hubaux-Vos detection limits and the AIS values are several times higher than the MDL, and provide more conservative estimates of the lowest concentrations that can be reliably detected. Sulphur detectivities are well correlated with AIS values but only poorly correlated with MDL values. The AIS is recommended as a reliable and cost-effective measure of detection limit for volatile sulphur compounds by GC-PFPD, since the AIS is easier and faster to determine than the MDL and the Hubaux-Vos detection limit. In addition, this study confirmed that the PFPD response is nearly quadratic with respect to concentration for all volatile sulphur compounds.     

Characterization of active phosphorus surface sites at synthetic carbonate-free fluorapatite using single-pulse 1H, 31P, and 31P CP MAS NMR

The chemically active phosphorus surface sites defined as PO(x), PO(x)H, and PO(x)H2, where x = 1, 2, or 3, and the bulk phosphorus groups of PO4(3-) at synthetic carbonate-free fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) have been studied by means of single-pulse 1H,31P, and 31P CP MAS NMR. The changes in composition and relative amounts of each surface species are evaluated as a function of pH. By combining spectra from single-pulse 1H and 31P MAS NMR and data from 31P CP MAS NMR experiments at varying contact times in the range 0.2-3.0 ms, it has been possible to distinguish between resonance lines in the NMR spectra originating from active surface sites and bulk phosphorus groups and also to assign the peaks in the NMR spectra to the specific phosphorus species. In the 31P CP MAS NMR experiments, the spinning frequency was set to 4.2 kHz; in the single-pulse 1H MAS NMR experiments, the spinning frequency was 10 kHz. The 31P CP MAS NMR spectrum of fluorapatite at pH 5.9 showed one dominating resonance line at 2.9 ppm assigned to originate from PO4(3-) groups and two weaker shoulder peaks at 5.4 and 0.8 ppm which were assigned to the unprotonated PO(x) (PO, PO2-, and PO3(2-)) and protonated PO(x)H (PO2H and PO3H-) surface sites. At pH 12.7, the intensity of the peak representing unprotonated PO(x) surface sites has increased 1.7% relative to the bulk peak, while the intensity of the peaks of the protonated species PO(x)H have decreased 1.4% relative to the bulk peak. At pH 3.5, a resonance peak at -4.5 ppm has appeared in the 31P CP MAS NMR spectrum assigned to the surface species PO(x)H2 (PO3H2). The results from the 1H MAS and 31P CP MAS NMR measurements indicated that H+, OH-, and physisorbed H2O at the surface were released during the drying process at 200 degrees C.     

Characterisation of H2S···CuCl and H2S···AgCl isolated in the gas phase: a rigidly pyramidal geometry at sulphur revealed by rotational spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Pure rotational spectra of the ground vibrational states of eight isotopologues of H(2)S···CuCl and twelve isotopologues of H(2)S···AgCl have been analysed allowing rotational constants and hyperfine coupling constants to be determined. The molecular structures have been determined from the measured rotational constants and are presented alongside the results of calculations at the CCSD(T) level. Both molecules have C(s) symmetry at equilibrium and are pyramidal at the sulphur atom. The chlorine, metal, and sulphur atoms are collinear while the local C(2) axis of the hydrogen sulphide molecule intersects the axis defined by the heavy atoms at an angle, φ = 74.46(2)° for Cu and φ = 78.052(6)° for Ag. The molecular geometries are rationalised using simple rules that invoke the electrostatic interactions within the complexes. Centrifugal distortion constants, Δ(J), and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants, χ(aa)(Cu) and χ(aa)(Cl) for H(2)S···CuCl are presented for the first time. The geometry of H(2)S···AgCl is determined with fewer assumptions and greater precision than previously.     

Determination of sulphide, polysulphide, thiocarbonates and sulphur by extraction with tributyltin hydroxide, and of thiosulphate by hydrogenation

The methods presented involve the separation of sulphur compounds by means of a hexane solution of tributyltin hydroxide (TBT), followed by titration with o-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid in the presence of dithizone as indicator. Free sulphide is selectively extracted from strongly alkaline solution, whereas the polysulphides and thiocarbonates are extracted at pH 9-10. The polysulphide and thiocarbonate extracts decompose to form TBT-sulphide, sulphur and carbon disulphide. Treatment with sulphite, stannate(II), copper, vinyl cyanide and ethylenediamine, and hydrogenation with zinc and hydrobromic acid have been applied in the course of the analysis. The sulphur is determined by its attack on copper to form copper(I) sulphide which is subsequently dissolved in aqueous potassium cyanide solution and the sulphide separated by extraction.     

Determination of sulphur in liquids obtained by thermal cracking of waste polymers and commercial fuels with different analytical methods

Low sulphur concentration in hydrocarbon products as fuels or lubricants is an important requirement for the high quality standards of refineries. A non-polarised energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRFS) and sample combustion technique (ASTM D6428-99) was compared. A new application of energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry as analytical method for the determination of sulphur in fuels and fuel-like fractions was investigated. Low sulphur containing fuels and hydrocarbon mixtures obtained by thermal cracking of waste polymers were measured and the influence of C/H ratio on accuracy was studied. The concentration of sulphur in samples was measured with calibration graphs of different hydrocarbon matrices (commercial gasoline, diesel oil and white oil were used). Good correlation was observed between the different methods, but the correlation was depending on the characteristics of the matrices. Detection limits of 1.0 ppm, 1.1 ppm and 0.9 ppm were obtained for S in gasoline, diesel oil and white oil, respectively.     

Alkaline earth chloride hydrates: chlorine quadrupolar and chemical shift tensors by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and plane wave pseudopotential calculations

A series of alkaline earth chloride hydrates has been studied by solid-state (35/37)Cl NMR spectroscopy in order to characterize the chlorine electric field gradient (EFG) and chemical shift (CS) tensors and to relate these observables to the structure around the chloride ions. Chlorine-35/37 NMR spectra of solid powdered samples of pseudopolymorphs (hydrates) of magnesium chloride (MgCl(2).6H(2)O), calcium chloride (CaCl(2).2H(2)O), strontium chloride (SrCl(2), SrCl(2).2H(2)O, and SrCl(2).6H(2)O), and barium chloride (BaCl(2).2H(2)O) have been acquired under stationary and magic-angle spinning conditions in magnetic fields of 11.75 and 21.1 T. Powder X-ray diffraction was used as an additional tool to confirm the purity and identity of the samples. Chlorine-35 quadrupolar coupling constants (C(Q)) range from essentially zero in cubic anhydrous SrCl(2) to 4.26+/-0.03 MHz in calcium chloride dihydrate. CS tensor spans, Omega, are between 40 and 72 ppm, for example, Omega= 45+/-20 ppm for SrCl(2).6H(2)O. Plane wave-pseudopotential density functional theory, as implemented in the CASTEP program, was employed to model the extended solid lattices of these materials for the calculation of their chlorine EFG and nuclear magnetic shielding tensors, and allowed for the assignment of the two-site chlorine NMR spectra of barium chloride dihydrate. This work builds upon our current understanding of the relationship between chlorine NMR interaction tensors and the local molecular and electronic structure, and highlights the particular sensitivity of quadrupolar nucleus solid-state NMR spectroscopy to the differences between various pseudopolymorphic structures in the case of strontium chloride.     

31P solid state NMR studies of metal selenophosphates containing [P2Se6]4-, [P4Se10]4-, [PSe4]3-, [P2Se7]4-, and [P2Se9]4- ligands

31P solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of 12 metal-containing selenophosphates have been examined to distinguish between the [P(2)Se(6)](4-), [PSe(4)](3-), [P(4)Se(10)](4-), [P(2)Se(7)](4-), and [P(2)Se(9)](4-) anions. There is a general correlation between the chemical shifts (CSs) of anions and the presence of a P[bond]P. The [P(2)Se(6)](4-) and [P(4)Se(10)](4-) anions both contain a P[bond]P and resonate between 25 and 95 ppm whereas the [PSe(4)](3-), [P(2)Se(7)](4-), and [P(2)Se(9)](4-) anions do not contain a P[bond]P and resonate between -115 and -30 ppm. The chemical shift anisotropies (CSAs) of compounds containing [PSe(4)](3-) anions are less than 80 ppm, which is significantly smaller than the CSAs of any of the other anions (range: 135-275 ppm). The smaller CSAs of the [PSe(4)](3-) anion are likely due to the unique local tetrahedral symmetry of this anion. Spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) have been determined for the solid compounds and vary between 20 and 3000 s. Unlike the CS, T(1) does not appear to correlate with P-P bonding. (31)P NMR is also shown to be a good method for impurity detection and identification in the solid compounds. The results of this study suggest that (31)P NMR will be a useful tool for anion identification and quantitation in high-temperature melts.