Precision measurement ofK-shell fluorescence yields in actinide elements

High-precision measurements ofK Auger electron andK x-ray intensities have been made for several transuranium elements and these have been used to determineK-shell fluorescence yields (ω _K ). The electron spectra were measured with a cooled Si(Li) spectrometer and the photon spectra were taken with Ge(Li) diodes. Very thin mass-separated samples of nuclides, which decay predominantly by electron capture, were used in the present experiments. From our present measurements the following values ofK- shell fluorescence yield have been obtained: Np, 97.2±0.3%; Pu, 97.2±0.4%; Cm, 97.1 ±0.6%; Bk, 97.1±0.4%; Cf, 97.3±0.4%; and Es, 97.2±0.5%. These numbers indicate that theK-fluorescence yield for elements in theZ=93 toZ=99 region remains constant within the experimental error. The weighted average of these numbers is 97.19% with external error of 0.03% and internal error of 0.17%. This value is in excellent agreement with known theoretical calculations.     

Development of a Validated High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Method for the Simultaneous Estimation of Caffeic Acid,Ferulic Acid, β-Sitosterol,and Lupeol in Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy and Its Adulterants/Substitutes

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The present paper reports a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)—densitometric method for the...     

A validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the determination of two bioactive lignans,phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin,in the seasonal variation study of Phyllanthus amarus

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, commonly known as “Bhooamalakee” or...     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of NAD+ adsorption on a glassy carbon electrode

Thermodynamics and kinetics of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) adsorption on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface was investigated at various electrode potentials and NAD⁺ concentrations using differential capacitance (DC) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) techniques. Equilibrium adsorption measurements confirmed that NAD⁺ spontaneously and strongly adsorbs on the GC electrode surface. The affinity of NAD⁺ towards adsorption on the GC electrode surface was found to increase with an increase in electrode potential (charge) to more positive values; the corresponding apparent Gibbs free energy of adsorption was ?32.80?±?0.25, ?35.61?±?0.86, and ?38.02?±?0.40 kJ mol^?1 on negatively, neutral, and positively charged electrode surfaces, respectively. The kinetics of NAD⁺ adsorption is also found to be highly dependent on the electrode surface potential (charge), and it increases with an increase in electrode potential (charge) to positive values. The adsorption process was modeled using a two-step kinetic model, in which the adsorption process involves the formation of two forms of NAD⁺ on the surface: the thermodynamically unstable (NAD⁺ _ads,rev) and stable (NAD⁺ _ads,stable) forms. ATR-FTIR further confirmed that NAD⁺, indeed, adsorbed on the GC electrode surface.     

The3He(γ,2p)n reaction for Eγ=80-170MeV

The cross section for the³He(γ, 2p) reaction has been measured in a complete kinematics experiment in the energy rangeE _γ=80–170 MeV, forθ _P1=θ _P2=90°. This configuration was selected in order to investigate the role of proton-proton final state interactions in the three-body breakup process. The measured proton spectra are seen to be consistent with a prediction using the Watson-Migdal formalism. The magnitude of the observed cross section clearly indicates an enhancement over phase space, presumably due to the strong proton-proton interaction in the final state. The experimental results agree, within their limited statistical accuracy, with a theoretical calculation which includes this effect.     

Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies of Chromium(III) Removal by Macroporous Ion Exchanger Amberlyst‐15 (H+)

Chromium(III) sorption on macroporous strong cation exchanger Amberlyst‐15 (H⁺) was studied as a function of time and temperature. The rate constant values for chromium(III) sorption were calculated both for film and particle diffusion processes. The temperature was found to have a positive effect on both the diffusional processes. From the rate constant values, the energy of activation was calculated using the well‐known Arrhenius equation. The high values of energy of activation confirmed the film diffusional nature of the process. Equilibrium data were explained with the help of Langmuir equation. Various thermodynamic parameters (ΔH^?, ΔS^? and ΔG^?) from chromium(III) exchange on the resin were calculated. The ΔG^? values were found to be negative while both the ΔH^? and ΔS^? were positive.     

Living fungal hyphae-templated porous gold microwires using nanoparticles as building blocks

Abstract  

A simple and environmentally benign green method is reported to decorate growing fungal hyphae with high loading of gold nanoparticles, which were initially produced using aqueous tea extract as a sole reducing/stabilizing agent. Inoculation of fungal spores in aqueous suspension of nanoparticles led to the growth of intensely red-coloured fungal hyphae due to the accumulation of gold nanoparticles. Heat treatment of these hybrid materials led to the formation of porous gold microwires. This report is thus an interesting example of using green and sustainable approach to produce nanostructured materials which have potential applications in catalysis, sensing and electronics.     

Synthesis of hierarchically porous inorganic-metal site-isolated nanocomposites

Hierarchically porous inorganic nanocomposites have been synthesized combining interconnected macropores and mesopores with a high loading of site-isolated gold nanoparticles.