Separation of americium from europium by biopolymer microcapsules enclosing Cyanex 301 extractant

Microcapsules enclosing an extractant with strong affinity for Am were prepared by employing a biopolymer gel as an immobilization matrix. A relatively large separation factor between Am and Eu was exhibited by the microcapsule containing of bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 301, HA) and alginic acid (HALG). The chromatographic separation of these metal ions was accomplished by gradient elution through the column packed with HA-HALG.     

On an application of the QMR_SYM method to complex symmetric shifted linear systems

We consider the solution of complex symmetric shifted linear systems. Such systems arise in large scale electronic structure theory and there is a strong need for the fast solution of the systems. In this paper, we describe an algorithm for solving the systems, which is based on the QMR_SYM method for solving complex symmetric linear systems. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Pu isotopes and137Cs in the surrounding areas of the former Soviet Union's Semipalatinsk nuclear test site

Field missions were sent to Semipalatinsk City and several settlements near the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to investigate the current radioactive contamination levels of the land coming from long-lived radionuclides. The soil was sampled at about 20 sites, including some settlements such as Mostik, Dolon and Chagan, forest and pasture areas, along the roads from Semipalatinsk City to Kurchatov City and to Korosteli settlement in the direction of the Altai District. The radioactivities of¹³⁷Cs,²³⁸Pu and^239,240Pu as well as²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atomic ratios in the soil were determined by non-destructive γ-ray spectrometry and radiochemical separation followed by α-ray spectrometry and/or ICP-MS, respectively. The results showed a distinction of¹³⁷Cs and^239,240Pu inventories in soil depending on the site where we visited. While the overall¹³⁷Cs levels were as same as or slightly lower than the domestic global fallout level (3·10³–7·10³ Bq/m²),^239,240Pu levels at some sites were several to a few ten times higher than the domestic level (40–120 Bq/m²). The atomic ratios of²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu in the soil were in the range of 0.024–0.125, which were significantly lower than the value of 0.18 commonly accepted for global fallout Pu.     

Conformational Analysis and Selection of Odor‐Active Conformers: Synthesis of Molecules Designed for the Lily‐of‐the‐Valley(Muguet)‐Type Odor

The selection of odor‐active conformers and the construction of a model for a targeted odor type, i.e., for the lily‐of‐the‐valley odor, were examined. The disagreement of the odors of 1,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐2‐benzoxepin derivative 1 and 3‐[4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl]‐2‐methylpropanal ( 2 ) is discussed in terms of their stable conformers. The conformer active for the lily‐of‐the‐valley odor was investigated by conformational analyses of several related compounds. Based on the integrated model consisting of the assumed active conformers (Fig. 5), compounds anticipated to possess the lily‐of‐the‐valley odor were designed and synthesized. The odor of synthetic 7‐(tert‐butyl)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrahydro‐3H‐benzocyclohepten‐3‐one ( 8 ) and 3‐[4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl]cyclopentanone ( 13 ) were evaluated by perfumers to have a floral odor and to recall the lily‐of‐the‐valley and lilac odors, respectively. Our methodology to design new odoriferous compounds, based on conformational analysis, selection of odor‐active conformers, and construction of a model, proved to be satisfactory.