Synthesis and characterization of ETS-10: supported hollow carbon nano-polyhedrons nanosorbent for adsorption of krypton at near ambient temperatures

Hollow carbon nano-polyhedrons (HCNPHs) supported on Engelhard Titanosilicate-10 (ETS-10) were synthesized by wet impregnation technique using tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. Synthesized HCNPHs/ETS-10 nanosorbent was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, N₂-adsorption–desorption isotherm, BET surface area, and scanning electron microscopy to confirm the morphology and uniformity of carbon particles ranging from 50 to 70 nm in diameter. Sorption characteristics of this nanosorbent for krypton at various carbon loadings were determined using a bench-scale column apparatus. The dynamic sorption capacity of HCNPHs/ETS-10 nanosorbent calculated from the breakthrough curve, 0.75 mmol/kg, which was ~15 % higher than for that of activated carbon. The effect of temperature on the adsorption capacity was studied between 263–293 K. Operational capacity of the nanosorbent was found to be 0.45 mmol/kg at 263 K. The experimental results indicate that 10 wt% HCNPHs/ETS-10 nanosorbent showed promising results for krypton adsorption, indicating its potential as an economical and active sorbent for krypton removal from the off-gas streams resulting from operations for recycle of used nuclear fuel.     

Amino-calixarene-modified graphitic carbon as a novel electrochemical interface for simultaneous measurement of lead and cadmium ions at picomolar level

Amino-calixarene-derivatized graphitic carbon electrode has been used in the simultaneous quantification of lead and cadmium ions at picomolar level. The graphitic carbon has been chemically modified using amino-calixarene as an indicator molecule through microwave irradiation, and it has been characterized by NMR, mass, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The proposed sensor has shown linearity in the concentration range 10–120 pM with detection limits of 3.3 and 3.5 pM for lead and cadmium, respectively. The proposed sensor has been successfully applied to quantify lead and cadmium levels in battery effluents, alloy materials, and sewage water sample matrices. The results obtained by the proposed sensor are in agreement with the results of the standard protocols.     

Isomerism and decoherence

In the present paper we address the problem of optical isomerism embodied in the socalled “Hund’s paradox”, which points to the difficulty to account for chirality by means of quantum mechanics. In particular, we explain the answer to the problem proposed by the theory of decoherence. The purpose of this article is to challenge this answer on the basis of a conceptual analysis of the phenomenon of decoherence, that reveals the limitations of the theory of decoherence to solve the difficulties posed by optical isomerism and, in general, by quantum measurement.     

Precipitation of mixed Ca–Ba,Ca–Cd and Ca–Mn carbonates with distinct morphologies under cooperativity of divalent metal ions and protein

According to the basic principles of biomineralization, a homogeneous precipitation process involving BSA as the matrix was used to precipitate mixed Ca–Ba, Ca–Cd and Ca–Mn carbonate particles with distinct morphologies and structures at room temperature. The structures and morphologies of these carbonates were investigated using SEM and XRD. It was found that there were distinct differences when two different kinds of divalent metal ions were simultaneously precipitated in the reacting solutions. Moreover, according to the results of FT-IR and TG-DTA, we could conclude that bovine serum albumin also affected the diverse morphologies of Ca–M carbonates besides the influence of divalent metal ions. A self-assembly process coupled with an Ostwald ripening mechanism was also discussed based on a series of time-dependent SEM observations.     

Determination of oxygenated and native polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban dust and diesel particulate matter standard reference materials using pressurized liquid extraction and LC–GC/MS

The objective of this study was to develop a novel analytical chemistry method, comprised of a coupled high-performance liquid chromatography–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system (LC–GC/MS) with low detection limits and high selectivity, for the identification and determination of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban air and diesel particulate matter. The linear range of the four OPAHs, which include 9,10-anthraquinone, 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene-4-one, benzanthrone, and 7,12-benz[a]anthraquinone, was 0.7 pg–43.3 ng with limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) on the order of 0.2–0.8 and 0.7–1.3 pg, respectively. The LODs in this study are generally lower than values reported in the literature, which can be explained by using large-volume injection. The recoveries of the OPAHs spiked onto glass fiber filters using two different pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) methods were in the ranges of 84–107 and 67–110 %, respectively. The analytical protocols were validated using the following National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference materials: SRM 1649a (Urban Dust), SRM 1650b (Diesel Particulate Matter), and SRM 2975 (Diesel Particulate Matter, Industrial Forklift). The measured mass fractions of the OPAHs in the standard reference materials (SRMs) in this present study are higher than the values from the literature, except for benzanthrone in SRM 1649a (Urban Dust). In addition to the OPAHs, 44 PAHs could be detected and quantified from the same particulate extract used in this protocol. Using data from the literature and applying a two-sided t test at the 5 % level using Bonferroni correction, significant differences were found between the tested PLE methods for individual PAHs. However, the measured mass fractions of the PAHs were comparable, similar to, or higher than those previously reported in the literature.     

Study of the distribution of actinides in human tissues using synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

This study aims at evaluating the capabilities of synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SR micro-XRF) for qualitative and semi-quantitative elemental mapping of the distribution of actinides in human tissues originating from individuals with documented occupational exposure. The investigated lymph node tissues were provided by the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR) and were analyzed following appropriate sample pre-treatment. Semi-quantitative results were obtained via calibration by external standards and demonstrated that the uranium concentration level in the detected actinide hot spots reaches more than 100 μg/g. For the plutonium hot spots, concentration levels up to 31 μg/g were found. As illustrated by this case study on these unique samples, SR micro-XRF has a high potential for this type of elemental bio-imaging owing to its high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and non-destructive character.

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Graphical Abstract SR micro-XRF study of the distribution of actinitides in human tissues. Left Location of the U-contaminated tissue sample in the human body. Middle U distribution derived from the high resolution SR micro-XRF scan on the tissue sample, indication of five U hot spots. Right Detail of the point measurement spectrum of U hot spot 3, intense U-L_α fluorescence peak located at 13.6 keV.