A Variational Finite Element Discretization of Compressible Flow

Foundations of Computational Mathematics - We present a finite element variational integrator for compressible flows. The numerical scheme is derived by discretizing, in a structure-preserving way,...     

Comparison of different extraction techniques for the determination of polychlorinated organic compounds in sediment

The performance of various enhanced extraction techniques, such as accelerated solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction and fluidized-bed extraction for the determination of polychlorinated organic compounds in dry sediment was investigated in two laboratories. The results of the two laboratories were in good agreement. The extraction yields from the batch extraction methods were lower than those from the dynamic techniques. Accelerated solvent extraction, especially, exhibited higher extraction efficiency than the standard procedure, Soxhlet extraction, whereas the results of fluidized-bed extraction were comparable.     

Fluidized-bed extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soil samples

Summary Due to the carcinogenity and ubiquity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment they are of ongoing interest to analytical chemistry. In this study, a comparison of the classic Soxhlet extraction and, fluidized-bed extraction, has been conducted. The extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by this technique has been optimized considering as experimental variables the variation of the number of extraction cycles and the holding time after reaching the heating temperature by means of a surface response design. The significance of the operational parameters of the fluidized-bed extraction on the performance characteristics has been investigated. For the determination of the analytes a selective clean-up of the extracts followed by a fast gas chromatography method with mass spectrometric detection was used, resulting in low limits of detection (0.2 pg μL⁻¹). The accuracy of the complete analytical method was established by extraction and analysis of reference materials.     

Preservation of sensitive CRMs and monitoring their stability at IRMM

Over the years, the nature of CRMs has changed considerably. Recently, more and more CRMs have been certified in their "natural" form, that is processed as little as possible, with analytes at their natural concentration level. This and the trend towards certified properties other than the concentrations of clearly defined molecules/elements have made guaranteeing stability of CRMs and estimating a shelf life an even more important issue for reference material producers than it has been before. One way to meet this challenge is to take more care in processing, storage and dispatch of CRMs. At IRMM, approximately 20 % of the RMs are stored at –20 °C or below and about 10% require cooled transportation. In addition, increased efforts for assessing stability are needed. Shelf lives are estimated using addition of an uncertainty component based on real-temperature stability studies rather than by accelerated stability studies. These pre-certification efforts are complemented by a stability-monitoring program, which at IRMM includes 80 % of the non-nuclear and non-isotopic materials. Although the costs for these efforts are high in absolute terms, they are only a minor and indispensable contribution to the total costs of CRM production.     

Surface modifications of upgraded high-speed tool steel

The SW7M high-speed tool steel of composition Fe (80%), Mo (5%), Cr (4%), V (2%) and C (1%) was studied by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy at 293 K. The specimen consists mainly of -Fe, martensite and austenite grains. The unwanted fraction of austenite was reduced by polishing the sample in an external magnetic field. At elevated temperatures, the SW7M steel exhibits a selective oxidation of its fraction. The corrosion rate is sigificantly reduced by N and Ti low-energy ion bombardment.     

Advantages of boron filters in instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis of biological materials

Boron carbide (B₄C) and boron nitride (BN) irradiation filters have been constructed and used for epithermal neutron activation analysis of biological materials. The major advantage offered by these filters in this application is the substantial reduction of interfering matrix activities. Consequently some trace elements of interest can be determined instrumentally with minimum delay. The filters are particulary beneficial if utilized in short reactor irradiations for rapid analysis of biological materials.     

Speciation of Se,Fe and Zn in Human Milk Whey: The use of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) to corroborate element profiles measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

In human milk trace elements normally exist in a form which can easily be absorbed by the newborn infant. For investigations of the bioavailability of trace elements it is necessary to carry out a speciation analysis of the elements of interest. An independent analytical method has been used for the quality control of the shape of the element profiles obtained from the speciation analysis of Se, Fe and Zn in individual samples of human milk whey after chromatographic separation. For the element detection in the untreated milk fractions Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was chosen as the reference method. Element distribution patterns have been obtained with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) using on-line digestion of the fraction, reduction and hydride formation of Se ("T"-mode). Prior results are compared with those obtained by means of element detection in the untreated fractions ("U"-mode) with ICP-AES. The elution profiles of Se, Fe and Zn in human milk whey obtained by means of ICP-AES detection using the "T"-mode show good agreement with the distribution patterns obtained with INAA. Recoveries of 103% for Fe, 86% for Zn and 87% for Se were obtained. The element distribution patterns of Fe and Zn obtained with ICP-AES speciation using the "T"-mode also show good agreement with those obtained by means of ICP-AES using the "U"-mode.     

Larmor precession in polarization spectroscopy with spatially separated beams

Sodium vapour in a sealed cell is irradiated by two counter-propagating but laterally displaced beams from the same laser, tuned to one of the hf components of the D₁ line. Atoms pumped by the stronger beam, circularly polarized, precess in a transverse magnetic field, < 300 mG, during their passage to the weaker beam where their orientation is monitored. The observed signals are interpreted quantitatively.     

Iodine concentration in different human brain parts

Iodine is one of the most important essential elements as demonstrated by the fact that its deficiency can cause goitre. Nevertheless, quantitative data on its concentration in biological materials, especially in the human brain, are scarce. There is therefore a demand for accurate and reliable information on iodine in these types of samples. The purpose of the present work was to determine the concentration of total iodine in some control human brain parts by rapid radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Our second goal was to determine I distribution between lipid fraction and in brain tissue without lipid by applying two types of solvent extraction methods. The results were checked by the analysis of biological standard reference materials with certified or literature values for iodine and good agreement was found.