A DC excited waveguide multibeam CO2 laser using high frequency pre-ionization technique

High power industrial multibeam CO₂ lasers consist of a large number of closely packed parallel glass discharge tubes sharing a common plane parallel resonator. Every discharge tube forms an independent resonator. When discharge tubes of smaller diameter are used and the Fresnel numberN ≪ 1 for all resonators, they operate in waveguide mode. Waveguide modes have excellent discrimination of higher order modes. A DC excited waveguide multibeam CO₂ laser is reported having six glass discharge tubes. Simultaneous excitation of DC discharge in all sections is achieved by producing pre-ionization using an auxiliary high frequency pulsed discharge along with its other advantages. Maximum 170 W output power is obtained with all beams operating in EH₁₁ waveguide mode. The specific power of 28 W/m is much higher as compared to similar AC excited waveguide multibeam CO₂ lasers. Theoretical analysis shows that all resonators of this laser will support only EH₁₁ mode. This laser is successfully used for woodcutting     

Diphenylcarbazone as an internal indicator in mercurimetric analysis: The determination of cerium by potassium thiocyanate

Summary The quantitative oxidation of thiocyanate by ceric sulphate has been studied and the method utilised for the determination of small quantities of cerium by back titrating the excess (unreacted) KSCN against standard mercuric nitrate with diphenylcarbazone as the internal indicator. Accurate results are obtained under the specified experimental conditions and the procedure is more simple and direct than that adopted during earlier studies of the above redox reaction.Grateful thanks of the author are due to Professor S. S. Joshi for facilities during the work and to the National Institute of Sciences of India for award of a Research Fellowship.     

Products active on mosquitoes,IV: Synthesis and biological activity of 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl/6-octenyl ethers

Summary A series of 8-proparglyoxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl and 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl ethers were prepared from 8-hydroxygeranyl and 8-hydroxycitronellyl ethers, respectively. Almost all compounds showed high toxicity toCulex quinquefaciatus larvae at 1 mgl^–1 dose level.

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Gegen Mücken aktive Produkte, 4. Mitt.: Synthese und biologische Aktivität von 8-Propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl/6-octenyl-ethern

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von 8-Propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl- und 8-propargyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl-ethern wurden aus 8-Hydroxygeranyl- bzw. 8-Hydroxycitronellyl-ethern hergestellt. Fast alle Verbindungen zeigten hoch Toxizität gegenüber Larven vonCulex quinquefaciatus in einer Dosierung von 1 mgl^–1.

     

Polarographic separation of cobalt from nickel

Summary The polarographic behaviour of nickel and cobalt in the mixed base electrolytes, urea-pyridine and urea-hydrazine has been studied. The effect of p_H, concentration of supporting electrolyte and the presence of various other ions was investigated. Well defined polarograms for both the elements were obtained at p_H 6.0 and 5.0 respectively. Attempts were made to utilize these observations in the separation of the two cations. While the difference in E _1/2 of the ions in urea-pyridine was greater than –0.3 volts that in urea-hydrazine was about –0.2 volts or slightly less even under the optimum conditions. In a mixed solution the waves for Co and Ni were therefore well developed and separated in the former base electrolyte. The polarograms in urea-hydrazine were, however, of little analytical use because of the washing away of the Ni wave due to the presence of even small amounts of cobalt.

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Zusammenfassung Das polarographische Verhalten von Nickel und Kobalt in Harnstoff-Pyridin- und Harnstoff-Hydrazinlösung wurde untersucht und der Einfluß des p_H-Wertes, der Leitsalzkonzentration sowie der Gegenwart verschiedener anderer Ionen festgestellt. Bei p_H 6,0 bzw. 5,0 wurden für beide Elemente gut ausgebildete Polarogramme erhalten. Es wurde versucht, die erhaltenen Ergebnisse zur Trennung der beiden Ionen zu benutzen. In Harnstoff-Pyridinlösung beträgt der Unterschied der beiden Halbstufenpotentiale mehr als –0,3 V und man erhält gut ausgebildete und voneinander getrennte Stufen. In Harnstoff-Hydrazinlösung dagegen beträgt der Unterschied nur –0,2 V oder etwas weniger, selbst unter optimaler Bedingungen, und die Ni-Stufe wird schon durch kleine Kobaltmengen beeinträchtigt.

     

Oxidation of formate by alkaline ferricyanide

Summary A catalytic oxidation of formate by alkaline ferricyanide has been studied. To the formate solution an excess of ferricyanide and osmium tetroxide as catalyst were added and the excess ferricyanide was back titrated with arsenious oxide using the amperometric dead stop end point method. The method is superior to the oxidative determination of formate by alkaline permanganate.

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Zusammenfassung Formiat kann durch katalytische Oxydation mit alkalischer Hexacyanoferrat(III)-lösung bestimmt werden, indem man die Probelösung mit einem Überschuß des Reagenses sowie Osmiumtetroxid als Katalysator versetzt und den Überschuß mit Arsen(III)-lösung zurücktitriert.Der Endpunkt wird nach der Dead stop-Methode bestimmt. Das Verfahren ist der Oxydation mit alkalischer Permanganatlösung überlegen.

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Sincere thanks of the authors are due to Prof. G. B. Singh for providing the necessary facilities. The award of a U.G.C. Scholarship to one of them (A.L.J.R.) is also acknowledged.     

Chemometric data analysis of pollutants in wastewater—a case study

In this study, chemometric techniques such as cluster analysis (CA), discriminant analysis (DA), principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) were used to analyse the wastewater dataset to identify the factors which affect the composition of sewage of domestic origin, spatial and temporal variations, similarity/dissimilarity among the wastewater characteristics of cis- and trans-drains and discriminating variables. Samples collected from 24 wastewater drains in Lucknow city and from three sites on Gomti river in the month of January/February, May, August and November during the period of 5 years (1994-1999) were characterized for 32 parameters. The multivariate techniques successfully described the similarities/dissimilarities among the sewage drains on the basis of their wastewater characteristics and sources signifying the effect of routine domestic/commercial activities in respective drainage areas. Spatial and seasonal variations in wastewater composition were also determined successfully. CA generated six groups of drains on the basis of similar wastewater characteristic. PCA provided information on seasonal influence and compositional differences in sewage generated by domestic and industrial waste dominated drains and showed that drains influenced by mixed industrial effluents have high organic pollution load. DA rendered six variables (TDS, alkalinity, F, TKN, Cd and Cr) discriminating between cis- and trans-drains. PLS-DA showed dominance of Cd, Cr, NO₃, PO₄ and F in cis-drains wastewater. The results suggest that biological-process based STPs could treat wastewater both from the cis- as well as trans-drains, however, prior removal of toxic metals will be required from the cis-drains sewage. Further, seasonal variations in wastewater composition and pollution load could be the guiding factor for determining the STPs design parameters. The information generated would be useful in selection of process type and in designing of the proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) for safe disposal of wastewater.     

Chemometric analysis of groundwater quality data of alluvial aquifer of Gangetic plain, North India

Water quality data set from the alluvial region in the Gangetic plain in northern India, which is known for high fluoride levels in soil and groundwater, has been analysed by chemometric techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA) and partial least squares (PLS) in order to investigate the compositional differences between surface and groundwater samples, spatial variations in groundwater composition and influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. Trilinear plots of major ions showed that the groundwater in this region is mainly of Na/K-bicarbonate type. PCA performed on complete data matrix yielded six significant PCs explaining 65% of the data variance. Although, PCA rendered considerable data reduction, it could not clearly group and distinguish the sample types (dug well, hand-pump and surface water). However, a visible differentiation between the water samples pertaining to two watersheds (Khar and Loni) was obtained. DA identified six discriminating variables between surface and groundwater and also between different types of samples (dug well, hand pump and surface water). Distinct grouping of the surface and groundwater samples was achieved using the PLS technique. It further showed that the groundwater samples are dominated by variables having origin both in natural and anthropogenic sources in the region, whereas, variables of industrial origin dominate the surface water samples. It also suggested that the groundwater sources are contaminated with various industrial contaminants in the region.     

New families of graceful banana trees

Consider a family of stars. Take a new vertex. Join one end-vertex of each star to this new vertex. The tree so obtained is known as abanana tree. It is proved that the banana trees corresponding to the family of stars

1. (K_1,1, K_1,2,…, K_{1,t ?1}, (α + l) K_1,t, K_{1,t + 1}, …, K_1,n), α ? 0
2. (2K_1,1, 2K_1,2,…, 2K_{1,t? 1}, (α + 2)K_1,t, 2K_{1,t + 1, …}, 2K_1,n), 0 ? α <t and
3. (3K_1,t, 3K_1,2, …, 3K_1,n) are graceful.

     

Determination of thiourea and its methyl derivatives by hypoiodite oxidation, and iodine monochloride end point; iodine bromide end point in the titration of thiourea with iodate

Summary Procedures have been described for the quantitative determination of thiourea and its methyl derivatives, wherein iodate, permanganate, and ceric sulphate have been used as direct titration solution, either following preoxidation by alkali hypoiodite via (ICI + KOH) or in case of thiourea, by iodine bromide method. Apart from using standard oxidants the methods have an added advantage of a high conversion factor due to oxidation of sulphur to sulphate. Alternative physical methods of detecting the end point is an added feature of these procedures.The authors wish to express their grateful thanks to Dr. S. S. Joshi, D. Sc. (London), for his kind interest in the work.     

Amperometric determination of calcium as selenite

Summary An amperometric titration of calcium with selenite is described. Barium, strontium, and other cations forming insoluble selenites interfere, but magnesium does not. The method is rapid and suitable for routine analysis, the error being less than 10 parts per 1000 over the range 50 to 70 mg of calcium.

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Zusammenfassung Ein amperometrisches Titrationsverfahren für Calcium mit Selenit wurde beschrieben. Barium, Strontium und andere Kationen, die unlösliche Selenite bilden, stören, nur Magnesium nicht. Das Verfahren ist rasch und für Routineanalysen geeignet. Im Bereich zwischen 50 und 70 mg Calcium ist der Fehler geringer als 1% relativ.

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Résumé On décrit un titrage ampérométrique du calcium par l'ion sélénite. Le baryum, le strontium et les autres cations formant des sélénites insolubles interfèrent, excepté le magnésium. La méthode est rapide et convient à l'analyse en série, l'erreur étant inférieure à 10 parties pour 1000 dans le domaine de 50–70 mg de calcium.