The sequestration of U(VI) on functional β-cyclodextrin-attapulgite nanorods

Eight elastomeric composites (NRU, GR1–GR4, NRBG08–NRBG24) containing mixtures of different proportions of heavy metal additives (Bi, W, Gd and Sb) have been synthesized and examined as protective shields. The NRU sample was a pure rubber matrix and served as a reference sample for heavy metal modified composites. Experimental procedure used for evaluation of the composite shields and their attenuation properties was based on the utilization of HPGe spectrometry and analysis of X-ray fluorescence radiation intensity of the heavy metal additives in the following energy ranges for: Sb (20–35 keV), Gd (35–55 keV), W (55–70 keV) and Bi (70–90 keV). The main contributor to the induced X-ray fluorescence radiation within the shield is Bi additive and the intensity of the X-ray radiation generated within the energy range of 70–90 keV strongly depends on its concentration. It was found that decreasing concentration of the Bi fraction from 0.35 (GR samples) to 0.15 (NRBG samples) results in significant lowering Bi X-ray fluorescence radiation within the 70–90 keV energy range. Secondary effect of decreasing Bi concentration was efficient diminishing excitation processes for lower Z heavy metal additives (W, Gd and Sb, GR vs. NRBG samples). As the final quality parameter of the shielding properties for the examined elastomers, dose reduction factor (DRF) coefficients were calculated for each shield. It was found, that the best shielding properties are observed for composites with lower Bi concentration (0.15 vs. 0.35 Bi mass fraction) with only slight further improvement of their parameters (DRF) with increasing of Gd concentration (Gd mass fraction 0.08, 0.16 and 0.24). The most efficient dose reduction composite was found to be NRBG24 elastomer with DRF value 0.47 (53 % dose reduction) for ca. 2 mm and 0.44 g/cm² layer thickness.     

原子荧光光谱法测定多金属矿标准样品中的砷、汞、铋

采取减少试样反应量及必要的分离手段，以原子荧光光谱法测定基体成分复杂、待测元素含量差异较大的多金属矿标标准样品中的砷、汞、铋，砷、汞、铋的检出限分别为0.2、0.01、1.3ng/mL，测定结果的相对标准偏差分别为1.88%-4.04%、2.1%-5.8%、1.1%-8.9%，线性相关系数均大于0.9970。标准样品的测定结果与推荐值基本吻合。该方法具有简单、快速、准确、精密度好等优点。     

预还原氢化物发生—原子荧光光谱法快速测定化探样品中的As,Sb,Bi,Hg

通过对化探样品进行王水密闭溶解,饱和的硫脲-抗坏血酸预还原,运用氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法实现了地质样品中As、Sb、Bi、Hg元素的任意配对以及连续快速测定。实验确定了原子化器高度为14mm,最佳溶样时间为1h。在优化条件下,结果显示还原剂(硫脲-抗坏血酸)对Hg、Bi测定结果无影响,且Hg、Bi测定结果在预还原20min至48h内都很稳定,测定结果良好,Cu、Co、Ni、Au、Ag、Cd、As、Sb、Bi、Se、Ge等金属离子对预还原测定汞均无干扰,对比实验表明还原剂体系下汞荧光强度值基本不变。方法的检出限低、精密度好、准确度高、操作简便,有效避免了元素污染问题,可满足大批量地质样品分析测定的需要。     

顺序注射氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法同时测定中草药中的铋和汞

建立了一种顺序注射氢化物发生一原子荧光光谱法测定中草药中的Bi和Hg的方法,同时讨论了共存离子的干扰情况。结果表明,在最佳实验条件下,Bi和Hg的检出限分别为0．0012和0．0045μ/L,加标回收率为93．2％-104．9％。     

氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定1：5万区域地质调查样品中的As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素

建立了氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定1∶5万区域地质调查样品中的As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素的分析方法,通过采用王水(1+1)分解样品,在盐酸(5%)介质中用硼氢化钾作为还原剂对As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素进行氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定。方法检出限为0.008 9(As)、0.008 1(Sb)、0.008 1(Bi)、0.001 7(Hg)μg/g,测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=12)为0.82%～7.6%,准确度△lgC=-0.01～0.02。方法简便、成本低,检测结果准确,检出限、准确度及精密度均能达到行业规范要求,适用于1∶5万区域地质调查样品水系沉积物、土壤中As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素的测定。     

Determination of Bismuth in Geological Materials by Flow Injection Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

Flow injection analysis (FIA) has been applied to sample introduction in conjunction with automated hydride generation and AAS techniques for the determination of Bi in rock samples. The powdered rock sample is digested with a mixture of hydrofluoric, perchloric, and nitric acids. The evolved hydride is carried through to a heated quartz tube by a stream of argon, and the atomic absorption of Bi is measured at 223.2 nm.

Thiosemicarbazide and 1,10 - phenanthroline are used as masking agents to control interferences from Cu and Ni. The method permits the accurate determination of Bi in geological materials at levels as low as 10 ppb with an analysis rate of more than 50 digested samples per hour. Bi values on 13 international geological reference samples are reported.     

Elucidating the structure-dependent photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6: a synthesis guided investigation

Polycrystalline microspheres and single-crystalline microplates of Bi(2)WO(6) have been synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. Herein, these materials are evaluated as photocatalysts for the visible light mediated degradation of rhodamine B, a model pollutant, and the results compared to those obtained with Bi(2)WO(6) prepared by traditional methods. The microplates, which displayed the best crystallinity and highest surface area, were anticipated to facilitate the greatest rate of dye photodegradation. However, the polycrystalline microspheres outperformed both the Bi(2)WO(6) microplates and traditional samples. To understand the origin of this result, the local and macroscale structures of the Bi(2)WO(6) samples were comprehensively characterized by spectroscopy techniques (diffuse reflectance, fluorescence, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) as well as electron microscopy and diffraction. This analysis found that the enhanced performance of the Bi(2)WO(6) microspheres results from the expression of a hydrophilic surface, a low concentration of point defects, and a moderate surface area. This finding highlights the significant role synthesis plays in imparting structure and functionality to solid materials.     

Determination of ultratrace bismuth in milk samples by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A sensitive procedure was developed for determination of bismuth (Bi) in milk samples by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) after microwave-assisted sample digestion with HNO3 and H2O2. The method provides a sensitivity of 1832 fluorescence units (ng/mL) with a detection limit of 0.01 ng/mL, which corresponds to 20 pg absolute limit of detection, equivalent to 0.50 ng/g in the original sample. Application of the methodology to cow milk samples from the Spanish market showed the presence of Bi at a concentration of 11.8-28.8 ng/g, which compared well with data obtained after dry ashing of samples and with data obtained by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion.     

顺序注射氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法同时测定中草药中铋和汞

建立了一种顺序注射氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定中草药中的Bi和Hg的方法,讨论了共存离子的干扰情况。在最佳实验条件下,Bi和Hg的检出限分别为0.0057μg/L和0.0197μg/L,加标回收率为93.4%~104.7%,相对标准偏差小于4.3%,被测中草药试样中共存的离子对Bi和Hg的测定没有干扰。方法可用于中草药试样中Bi和Hg的同时测定。     

修饰铂电极上Bi(Ш)的示波双电位滴定法

制备了Bi(Ⅲ)修饰铂电极,用循环伏安法表征了Bi(Ⅲ)在电极上的吸附特性,探讨了电极的响应机理。 通过优化实验条件,建立了一种测定Bi(Ⅲ)的示波双电位滴定法。 在0.1 mol/L的硝酸溶液中(pH=1.0),用制备的修饰铂电极作为双指示电极,以EDTA标准溶液滴定Bi(Ⅲ),利用示波器屏幕上荧光点的显著最大位移指示滴定终点。 Bi(Ⅲ)在1.19×10-4～1.44×10-2 mol/L时,回收率为99.8%～100.1%,检出限(S/N=3)为1.0×10-4 mol/L。 该修饰电极具有良好的稳定性和重现性,在含有1.0×10-2 mol/L Bi(Ⅲ)的溶液中,连续7次测定,所得终点电位值均在100 mV左右,其相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.04%。 应用该方法测定含铋样品,RSD值(n=7)小于0.25%,回收率为99.5%～100.5%,测定结果与指示剂法测定值相符。     

Determination of Te,Bi, Ni,Sb and Au by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry following electroenrichment on a copper cathode

The electrodepositons of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb and Au from aqueous solution of pH = 1 on the cathode surface have been studied for X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). A special holder for a copper electrode has been constructed to perform the electrodeposition process on only one side of the electrode. After electrolysis, the copper electrode can be easily removed from the holder; after rinsing it with water and drying it can be analyzed by XRF. The proposed method of sample preparation and preconcentration of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb, Au provides suitable samples which are devoid of the negative and undesirable effects of XRF analysis, such as particle size and matrix effects. The influence of time on the deposition yield has been examined. The method of preconcentration is efficient. The inhomogeneity of the prepared specimens has been studied using internal standard method. The calibration is based on using synthetic standards, certified reference materials and standard addition method. The best results are achieved by the standard addition method. The agreement between results obtained with XRF analysis and certified values is satisfactory and indicates the usefulness of the proposed method for determination of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb and Au in anode slime.     

Determination of As, Sb, Se, Te and Bi in milk by slurry sampling hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A simple and fast analytical procedure has been developed for the determination of As, Sb, Se, Te and Bi in milk samples by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). Samples were treated with aqua regia for 10 min in an ultrasound water bath and pre-reduced with KBr for total Se and Te determination or with KI and ascorbic acid for total As and Sb, the determination of Bi being possible in all with or without pre-reduction. Slurries of samples, in the presence of antifoam A, were treated with NaBH₄ in HCl medium to obtain the corresponding hydrides, and AFS measurements were processed in front of external calibrations prepared and measured in the same way as samples. Results obtained by the developed procedure compare well with those found after microwave-assisted complete digestion of samples. The proposed method is simple and fast, and only 1 ml of milk is needed. The values obtained for detection limit are 2.5, 1.6, 3, 6 and 7 ng l⁻¹ for As, Sb, Se, Te and Bi respectively in the diluted samples, with average relative standard deviation values of 3.8, 3.1, 1.9, 6.4 and 1.2% for three independent analysis of a series of commercially available samples of different origin. Data found in Spanish market samples varied from 3.2±0.3 to 11.3±0.2 ng g⁻¹ As, from 3.1±0.2 to 11.6±0.4 ng g⁻¹ Sb, from 10.7±0.5 to 25.5±0.4 ng g⁻¹ Se, from 0.9±0.2 to 9.4±0.6 ng g⁻¹ Te and from 11.5±0.1 to 27.7±0.4 ng g⁻¹ Bi.     

Determination of bismuth in solid samples by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry with a dielectric barrier discharge atomizer

An atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atomizer was investigated for bismuth (Bi) determination with hydride generation (HG) atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The characteristics of the atomizer and the effects of experimental parameters, including observation height, discharge power, flow rate of discharge gas and AFS carrier gas were optimized. The linear range of present method for Bi determination is 0.5-300.0 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.07 μg L⁻¹ (3σ). The method was validated by the analysis of reference materials (GBW08517 and GSB-14) and the results agreed well with the reference values. The established method was applied to the determination of Bi in ore, soil and ash samples.     

Enhancing the Photocatalytic Activity of Sr4Al14O25: Eu2+, Dy3+ Persistent Phosphors by Codoping with Bi3+ Ions

The photocatalytic activity of Bismuth‐codoped Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ persistent phosphors is studied by monitoring the degradation of the blue methylene dye UV light irradiation. Powder phosphors are obtained by a combustion synthesis method and a postannealing process in reductive atmosphere. The XRD patterns show a single orthorhombic phase Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺, Bi³⁺ phosphors even at high Bismuth dopant concentrations of 12 mol%, suggesting that Bi ions are well incorporated into the host lattice. SEM micrographs show irregular micrograins with sizes in the range of 0.5–20 μm. The samples present an intense greenish‐blue fluorescence and persistent emissions at 495 nm, attributed to the 5d–4f allowed transitions of Eu²⁺. The fluorescence decreases as Bi concentration increases; that suggest bismuth‐induced traps formation that in turn quench the luminescence. The photocatalytic evaluation of the powders was studied under both 365 nm UV and solar irradiations. Sample with 12 mol% of Bi presented the best MB degradation activity; 310 min of solar irradiation allow 100% MB degradation, whereas only 62.49% MB degradation is achieved under UV irradiation. Our results suggest that codoping the persistent phosphors with Bi³⁺ can be an alternative to enhance their photocatalytic activity.     

Preconcentration of traces of silver and bismuth from cobalt and nickel and their nitrates, with activated carbon

A method is described for the preconcentration of trace metals Ag and Bi, present as impurities in high-purity cobalt and nickel metals and their nitrates. After the metal samples have been dissolved in nitric acid (or the salts in water) the trace elements are complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC). The sample solution is then filtered through a 2-cm filter paper coated with 50 mg of activated carbon, whereby the complexed trace metals are adsorbed on the activated carbon and separated from the matrix. The trace elements are dissolved off with nitric acid and determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (AAS). The detection limits for the analysis of 10 g of metal samples and 50 g of the nitrate samples were 0.002-0.035 ppm Ag and 0.04 ppm Bi for the metal samples, and 0.0003-0.0004 ppm Ag and 0.004-0.005 ppm Bi for the nitrate samples. The coefficient of variation, in general, is 10-25% for Ag and 33% for Bi.     

Analytical characterization of laser excited atomic fluorescence of bismuth

The possibilities of direct determination of Bi traces by laser excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry were investigated. Practically all one-color excitation-detection schemes were examined. For the resonance fluorescence at 306.8 nm, the main source of background was a molecular fluorescence of residual water vapors. The background characteristic OH rotational lines of O-O band of ²Σ - ²Π transition were registered in the excitation spectra. From the relative intensities of the rotational components, the gas temperature of the analytical volume above the open graphite cup of the atomizer was estimated as 680 ± 120°C. A detection limit (LOD) of about 1 pg/ml was achieved for the resonance scheme. For the excitation wavelength shorter than 230 nm, broadband fluorescence of unidentified species in the 300-400 nm spectral range was the main source of background. The best LOD of 0.05 pg/ml was realized for the 223.1/ 299.3 nm excitation-detection scheme. This LOD is the best one for the one-color LEAFS technique. Possible ways of further increasing the LEAFS sensitivity of Bi traces detection are briefly discussed.     

Raman Spectroscopy-Based Assessment of the Liquid Water Content in Snow

In snow, water coexists in solid, liquid and vapor states. The relative abundance of the three phases drives snow grain metamorphism and affects the physical properties of the snowpack. Knowledge of the content of the liquid phase in snow is critical to estimate the snowmelt runoff and to forecast the release of wet avalanches. Liquid water does not spread homogeneously through a snowpack because different snow layers have different permeabilities; therefore, it is important to track sudden changes in the amount of liquid water within a specific layer. We reproduced water percolation in the laboratory, and used Raman spectroscopy to detect the presence of the liquid phase in controlled snow samples. We performed experiments on both fine- and coarse-grained snow. The obtained snow spectra are well fitted by a linear combination of the spectra typical of liquid water and ice. We progressively charged snow with liquid water from dry snow up to soaked snow. As a result, we exploited continuous, qualitative monitoring of the evolution of the liquid water content as reflected by the fitting coefficient c.     

An Attempt to Interpret the Spread of Element Concentration in Antarctic Surface Snow: The Same Element in a Given Test Field, Several Elements in Different Sampling Fields

Sampling surface snow on a large test field always leads to a spread of analyte concentration data which partly follows a Gaussian distribution and partly a rectangular one as can be observed from the analysis of literature data. The spread depends on the nonuniformity of the air–snow interface in the field and on the extent of reproducibility of all the procedures used from sampling to analysis. Consequently a sample relevant to a restricted surface might be poorly representative of the surrounding area. Contamination of the sample during the gathering and storing steps is assumed to be the main source of nonrandom results (outliers). Using various statistical tools we were able to evaluate which part of the spread was due to the snow surface nonuniformity in the case of many samples collected in the same test field. In the case of samples gathered in different geographical areas, the possibility of finding correlations among points is greatly enhanced when three or more analytes are considered for each sample. When the same correlation is found for some analytes and a variable tentatively tested, information can be gained about the source of chemical content of snow samples. The use of UV pretreatment of snow samples has been proven to cut down the interference of organics on the electrochemical process in DPASV, allowing one to obtain accurate and reproducible data.     

The synthesis of nano-sized undoped,Bi doped and Bi,Cu co-doped SrTiO3 using two sol–gel methods to enhance the photocatalytic performance for the degradation of dibutyl phthalate under visible light

Two sol–gel methods (the citric acid gel and the Pechini methods) were used for the preparation of nano-sized undoped, Bi-doped and Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ samples to optimize their properties for the photocatalytic degradation of dibutyl phthalate. The perovskite-like phase was detected for the samples prepared by the citric acid gel method after calcination at 800 °C for 3 h, while in the case of the Pechini method; it was detected after calcination at 800 °C for 9 h. The particle size of the samples prepared by the citric acid gel method is greater than that of the samples prepared by the Pechini method. Cu doping in both methods increased the particle size. Cu doping, Bi doping and Bi, Cu co-doping in both methods shifted the absorption edge to the visible light range as well. The band gap of Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ is smaller than that of Bi doped SrTiO₃, which in turn is smaller than that of undoped SrTiO₃. The highest removal of the total organic carbon (TOC) of DBP was obtained using a Bi, Cu co-doped SrTiO₃ sample prepared by the citric acid gel method. TOC removal of DBP followed pseudo-first order kinetics.     

Analysis of Organic Compounds in Antarctic Snow and Their Origin

Abstract

Organic compounds extractable with n-hexane were identified and quantitatively determined in pack, surface and deep snow samples taken at different depths and collected at several altitudes above sea level from Antarctica during the 1993/94 Italian expedition. The comparison between the composition of organic compounds in snow and the ones in pack and sea-water samples pointed out that the three matrices substantially contain the same biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds. The contribution of marine aerosol to organic content in the snow is confirmed by the enrichment ratios calculated for the more representative classes of identified compounds (n-alkanes, phthalates and low molecular weight alkylbenzenes). The changes in the composition of organic compounds in snow as the altitude increases seem to depend on the dimensional spectrum of the aerosol. Thus, smallest particles, richest in surfactant material, reach the highest altitudes.