Amazon estuary — assessment of trace elements in seabed sediments

The interactive processes operating on the continental shelf adjacent to the river mouth control the amount and the characteristics of the Amazon discharge reaching the Atlantic Ocean. In this study, the distribution of trace elemental concentrations, with emphasis to the rare-earth elements, in sediment cores collected at several stations from the Amazon continental shelf during the falling water period was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Cores from the terrigenous and blue water zones have relatively uniform REE concentrations throughout the profile. Cerium anomalies for samples of the upper section of the eight stations are consistently positive and of high values (normally >2). Similar variation in the elemental concentration ratios between the seabed sediments and Amazon River suspended sediments was seen for stations located in the biogenic and blue water zones, with an enrichment for Ce, Sm, Fe, Th, and Sc and a depletion for the La, Eu, Tb, Yb, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Ta, and Zn. The shale-normalized REE patterns from shelf sediments are enriched in LREE relative to HREE, with enrichment factors varying from 1.5 for stations near the river mouth (terrigenous zone) to 1.9 for stations located far in the blue water zone. Published data for the Amazon River suspended sediment agree remarkably well with this observation of LREE-enrichment.     

Investigation of the origin and sedimentary environment of marine sediments from coastal areas of western Japan by INAA

Trace elements such as Sc, lanthanoids, Th and U were determined by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in marine sediment core samples collected from 5 coastal areas in western Japan mainly facing the Pacific. The origin of the coastal sediments and the sedimentary environment are discussed in terms of such parameters as the La*/Lu* and Ce*/La* ratios, the Th/Sc ratios and the Th/U-Ce/U plot obtained from the analytical data. In particular, it was confirmed that the Th/U-Ce/U plot introduced in this work is extremely useful for estimating the sedimentary environment, including redox conditions.     

Neutron activation analysis of rare earth elements in deep sea sediments from the Pacific Ocean and the Japan Sea

Seven REEs in the deep sea sediments from various regions /19 sites/ of the Pacific Ocean and the Japan Sea were determined with INAA. Regional variations of La/Yb ratio and Ce anomaly may reflect the relative contribution of the source materials in the formation of the deep sea sediments.     

INAA Study of the Vertical Distribution of Some Major and Trace Elements in Lacustrine Sediments of the Danube Delta

The vertical profiles of 4 major (Na, K, Ca and Fe) and 17 trace elements (Rb, Cs, Ba, Sc, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Th, U, Hf, Ta, Co and Cr) have been investigated in cores collected from three lakes: Lung, Mesteru and Furtuna, all of them situated in the Fluvio-lacustrine region of the Danube Delta. All profiles are characterized by a relatively uniform distribution of these elements. The total rare earth elements to Sc correlation, as well as their concentrations normalized to the upper continental crust, determine the continental origin of these sediments.     

Determination of 34 elements in Chinese geochemical standard reference materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Thirty four elements (Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, Ho, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Yb) were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in the second set of Chinese geochemical standard reference materials (sediments from GSD-9 to GSD-12, soils from GSS-1 to GSS-8, rocks from GSR-1 to GSR-6) using both thermal and epithermal irradiations. Irradiation schemes designed to utilise short, medium and long-lived nuclides were employed in order to analyse major, minor and trace elements with different half-lives. The gamma-ray spectra were measured by Ge(Li) and HP(Ge) detectors. Relevant nuclear data and possible interferences are listed, and analytical results are presented and discussed.     

Elemental content in ground and soluble/instant coffee

The concentration of thirty-four elements in twelve coffee brands has been measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The samples investigated included four brands of commercially available ground coffee and eight brands of soluble/instant coffee. The elements measured were Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tm, U, V, Yb and Zn. Twenty four elements were found to be below the detection limit in one or more samples. These elements were Ce, Cr, Fe, V, As, Eu, Ba, Dy, Gd, Hf, La, Lu, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Yb, Tm, and U.     

Soil contamination in plant samples and in botanical reference materials: Signature, quantification and consequences

Individual samples of several sets of plants (lichens, tobacco, spruce needles, grass, botanical reference materials) show highly significant correlations of Al, Fe, Hf, La, Na, Th, Ti and V with Sc. These correlations result from the terrigenous part of aerosols deposited on and measured together with the plants. The composition of this contamination is almost uniform among the different plant sets and can be approximated by the composition of the upper continental crust. The mass of the terrigenous material ranges from <1 to >100 mg/g plant. Its presence is expected to lead to concentrations of the above and of other elements that deviate substantially from those of plants without contamination. This is proved by the comparison of two sets of spruce needles, one of which was measured without and the other after removal of the aerosol.     

Determination of heavy metals and other trace elements in lake sediments from a sewage treatment plant by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used to determine metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hf, Rb, Sc, Zn), semi-metals (As, Sb), actinides (U, Th) and rare earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu) in bottom sediments from one of the ponds of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in São Paulo, Brazil. The results obtained were compared with the concentration determined in a soil profile and in a rock sample, in natura, representing the lithologies of the region, and indicated that only As, Cr and Zn can have their origin associated with the residues disposed around the pond.     

Th,U and trace elements determination in Egyiptian Lake sediments by INAA and laser fluorimetry

A study was undertaken to determine element concentrations in Aswan High Dam Lake sediments. Sediment samples were collected from 40 to 500 km upstream of the dam to follow the sedimentation process and the distribution of Th, U and the trace elements in the lake. INAA was applied for the determination of Sm, Ce, Lu, Th, Cr, Yb, Au, Hf, Ba, Nd, Cs, Tb, Sc, Rb, Fe, Zn, Co, Eu, and Sb, while Laser Fluorimetry was applied for U determination. The accuracy and the reproducibility of the techniques were tested with IAEA standard materials (SL, Soil-7). The U values ranged from 4 ppm to 18 ppm, Th values were between 2 and 10 ppm, and showed a very good correlation with the rare earth elements and Fe. The distribution of most of the elements in the lake follows the same trend as the distribution of the clays in the sediments. Ba showed a negative correlation with most of the elements under investigation.Paper presented at the 3th International Conf. on Nuclear and Radiochemistry (NRC-3), Vienna, 1992.     

Nondestructive neutron activation analysis of some soil clays of Egypt

Fourteen clay samples separated from calcareous, lacustrine, Nile alluvium and desert alluvium soils of Egypt were analyzed by pure instrumental neutron activation analysis. Elemental composition was determined by high resolution gamma-spectrometry on samples irradiated with reactor neutrons using the monostrandard technique. This was carried out in the nuclear research center of Karlsruhe, West Germany. As many as 17 trace elements, beside Ca, K, and Na, were quantitatively determined. The spectra of chosen activated clays are given. Data reveal that the content of the trace elements As, Cs, Hf, Sb, Sc, Sm, Yb, Th and U were found within a narrow range despite location and depths of clay samples. Nevertheless, the contents of some elements mainly Ce, Cr and La had a wide range. In brief, the presence of any elements in higher or lower levels in certain clays is contingent on the occurence of its bearing minerals, nature of parent sediments and depositional environments of these sediments.     

微晶萘负载PMBP微柱分离预富集与电热蒸发-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱联用测定痕量稀土元素

报道了微晶萘负载1-苯基-3-甲基-4-苯甲酰基-5-吡唑酮(PMBP)微型柱分离预富集与电热蒸发-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ETV-ICP-AES)联用测定痕量稀土元素(Sc,Y,La和Yb)的新方法.试验了影响分离/预富集待测物的各种因素(包括溶液酸度、流速、试样体积、微柱尺寸);研究了吸附有待测物的微晶萘的溶解方法及共存元素对分离/测定的影响.在优化的实验条件下,方法的相对检出限为14pg/mL(Sc),32pg/mL(Y),190pg/mL(La)和26pg/mL(Yb),相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为3.1%,3.5%,4.8%和3.4%(n=9,c=10ng/mL).本法已成功地应用于生物样品中痕量稀土元素(Sc,Y,La和Yb)的测定,结果满意.     

微晶萘负载PMBP微柱分离预富集与电热蒸发—电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱

报道了微晶萘负载１－苯基－３－甲基－４－苯甲酰基－５－吡唑酮（ＰＭＢＰ）微型柱分离预富集与电热蒸发－电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱（ＥＴＶ－ＩＣＰ－ＡＥＳ）联用测定痕量稀土元素（Ｓｃ,Ｙ,Ｌａ和Ｙｂ）的新方法,试验影响分离／预富集待测物的各种因素（包括溶液酸度、流速、试样体积、微柱尺寸）;研究了吸附有待测物的微晶萘的溶解方法及共存元素对分离／测定的影响,在优化的实验条件下,方法的相对检出限为１４ｐｇ／ｍＬ（Ｓｃ）,３２ｐｇ／ｍＬ（Ｙ）,１９０ｐｇ／ｍＬ（Ｌａ）和２６ｐｇ／ｍＬ（Ｙｂ）,相对标准偏差（ＲＳＤ）分别为３．１％,３．５％,４．８％和３．４％（ｎ＝９,ｃ＝１０ｎｇ／ｍＬ）,本法已成功地应用生物样品痕量稀土元素（Ｓｃ,Ｙ,Ｌａ和Ｙｂ）的测定,结果满意。     

Multielement analysis of Northwestern Nigerian rocks by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Rock samples from seven different locations in northwestern Nigeria were analyzed by reactor instrumental neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry. Concentration values were obtained for 18 elements (As, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb). The geochemical implications of the results are discussed.     

Application of INAA to ancient bricks for grouping study using trace elements

The paper presents the chemical composition analysis results of 57 ancient clay bricks obtained from Buddhist sites of two major locations of Andhra Pradesh, India. Samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) using high flux reactor neutrons and high resolution gamma ray spectrometry. Major, minor and trace concentrations of 23 elements were determined by relative method of NAA. For the grouping/provenance study, statistical cluster analysis was performed using concentrations of 14 selected elements namely Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Cs, La, Ce, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Ta and Th. The cluster analysis results indicated two major groups, which are in good agreement with the collection history of samples. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing two IAEA reference materials, RMs SL-1 and Soil-7.     

Rare earth element patterns in lake sediments as studied by neutron activation analysis

Using instrumental neutron activation analysis, the vertical distribution of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu was determined in 3 well dated sedimentary cores collected from Laguna Mar Chiquita, Argentina. Validation of the methodology was done using the Soil 7 (IAEA) reference material. The REE contents vary according to core location and lithological units, depending on the proportion of fluvial terrigenous components in the lake sediments. Lithologies with higher proportion of terrigenous components show higher REE concentrations, suggesting that the dominant REE carrier phase might be a detrital mineral. There is a consistent value of about 1.2 for (La/Yb)_N and (LREE/HREE)_N ratios for all sediments at the three sites, indicating a slight LREE enrichment in relation to the average shale NASC. Ce/Ce* values are close to 1.0, meaning that Ce behaves similarly to other light REE's.     

Elemental analysis of local soda samples using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Nigerian soda samples have been analyzed for major, minor and trace elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The following elements were determined; Na, Sm, U, La, Cr, Eu, Zn, Hf, Fe, Sc, Ba, Rb, Cs, Co, Au, Yb, Lu, Th, Ce, Zr, Se, As and Ta. The samples appear safe to use in human diet, although they may still require industrial purification to bring down the level of nonessential elements and those that could be toxic when present at high concentration.     

Activity reduction of radioactive mixed wastes for subsequent carboxylate determinations

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) based on a nuclear reactor and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) based on a 2 Me V Van de Graaff accelerator were used to analyse different environmental samples including coal, sawdust, fly ash and landfill materials. These samples represent a large component of the solid waste being buried in the ground, and may be a potential source of toxicity which can have not only adverse effects on the soil and ground water, if diffused during leaching processes, but may also be transferred to humans through the food chain. Both techniques were employed to determine trace element concentrations in these matrices. The concentration of 30 elements were detemined, namely Na, Mg. Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Cd, Ba, La, Sm, Eu, Tb, Ho, Yb, Hf, Ta and Th. The detection limits in the various sample matrices were calculated and a comparison was made for those elements commonly detected by both techniques.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of limestone and associated calcite samples from Abakaliki,lower Benue Trough,Nigeria

Twenty four elements: Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Sc, Sr, Co, Cr, Zn, V, Hf, Ir, W, REE (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu) and Th were determined in limestone and associated calcite from Abakaliki, South-Eastern Nigeria, by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique. The USSG reference materials BCR-1 and AGV-1 were included in the analysis to assure quality control of the accumulated data. Hitherto, there is very little work of this type on the deposits in the region being studied. This study, therefore, provides baseline data for the deposit.     

Elemental analysis of limestone by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Limestone samples from Assuit Governrate in Upper Egypt were subjected to elemental analysis by instrumental neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence techniques. The samples were properly prepared together with their standards and simultaneously irradiated in a neutron flux of the order 7 × 1011 n/cm² s using TRIGA research reactor at Mainz. After activation the samples were subjected to γ-ray spectrometry using a high purity germanium detection system and computerized multichannel analyzer. Nineteen elements: Na, Ca, Mn, Fe, Sc, Cr, Co, Zn, Sn, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Sm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Th and U were analyzed. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry have been also used. The presence of any elements in higher or lower levels in certain limestone samples is contingent on the occurrence of its bearing minerals, nature of parent sediments and depositional environments of these sediments. The major elements in the samples were also observed to be among the elements that had high enrichment factors in the study of suspended dust particulate within and around cement industries. This confirms cement as the major contributor to the airborne particulate matter in the environs.     

Multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy of doped lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles

Multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments are applied to comprehensively characterize a series of pure and lanthanide-doped LaF3 nanoparticles (NPs) that are capped with di-n-octadectyldithiophosphate ligands (Ln3+ = diamagnetic Y3+ and Sc3+ and paramagnetic Yb3+ ions), as well as correlated bulk microcrystalline materials (LaF3, YF3, and ScF3). Solid-state 139La and 19F NMR spectroscopy of bulk LaF3 and the LaF3 NPs reveal that the inorganic core of the NP retains the LaF3 structure at the molecular level; however, inhomogeneous broadening of the NMR powder patterns arises from distributions of 139La and 19F NMR interactions, confirming a gradual change in the La and F site environments from the NP core to the surface. 139La and 19F NMR experiments also indicate that low levels (5 and 10 mol %) of Ln3+ doping do not significantly change the LaF3 structure in the NP core. Similar doping levels of paramagnetic Yb3+ ions severely broaden 19F resonances, but only marginally effect 139La powder patterns, suggesting that the dopant ions are uniformly distributed throughout the NP core and occupy vacant La sites. Measurements of 139La T1 and T2 relaxation constants are seen to vary between the bulk material and NPs and between samples with diamagnetic and paramagnetic dopants. 45Sc NMR experiments confirm that the dopants are integrated into the La sites of the LaF3 core. Solid-state 1H and 31P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra aid in probing the nature of the capping ligands and their interactions at the NP surface. 31P cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR experiments identify not only the dithiophosphate head groups but also thiophosphate and phosphate species which may form during NP synthesis. Finally, 19F-31P CP/MAS and 1H MAS experiments confirm that ligands are coordinated to the NP surface.