Trace element analysis of some shaving powders commonly marketed in Nigeria using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique has been employed viak ₀ approximation method to determine elemental composition of five shaving powders commonly marketed in Nigeria. Fe displayed the highest concentrations in the range 1000–2000 g·g^–1. Na and Zn concentrations were established in the range 200–400 g·g^–1. Heavy elements like Ga, La, Cr, Co, Ag, Ce and Nd concentrations were noted in the lower range of 1–10 g·g^–1 Br, As, Sb, Sm, Eu, W, Cs, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, Th and U concentrations were established in even lower traces in the <1 g·g^–1 range. Results obtained for a certified reference material, CANMET BL-1 and CERT (in house) Kaolin standard compared favourably with the literature values thus establishing the results presented for the shaving powders.     

Determination of magnesium in botanical reference materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to the rapid determination of magnesium in the botanical reference materials Beech Leaves-100 and Spruce Needles-101. The magnesium content was quantitatively determined by measuring the gamma-ray photopeak at 1014 keV of the short-lived radionuclide²⁷Mg (9.46 m). The magnesium concentrations in the two materials were found to be 834.6±50.2 g·g^–1 dry weight and 618.6±36.2 g·g^–1, respectively. When assaying a 0.1 g sample under the same experimental conditions the limit of detection is 30 g of Mg.Work carried out at Risø National Laboratory, Isotopes Division, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.     

Determination of nitrogen in uranium and uranium-oxide by high-temperature gas-extraction

Summary The reducing fusion gas extraction method has been used for the determination of nitrogen in uranium metal and uranium dioxide reference materials at levels of about 10–15g·g^–1. It has been found that when extracting at temperatures above 2700° C the use of a platinum flux is no longer necessary. Pure nitrogen and nitrogen-helium mixtures were used for calibrating the detection unit in the range of 1.5–670 g. The calibration of the extraction was performed with metallic reference materials in the range of 8–331 g N₂ content.

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Bestimmung von Stickstoff in Uran und Uranoxid durch Hochtemperatur-Gasextraktion

Zusammenfassung Die Gasextraktion aus reduzierender Schmelze wurde zur Stickstoffbestimmung in Uranmetall- und Urandioxid-Referenzmaterialien bei Gehalten von 10–15 g·g^–1 angewendet. Bei Temperaturen über 2700° C ist kein Platinbad mehr erforderlich. Zur Eichung der Detektionseinheit im Bereich von 1,5–670 g wurden reiner Stickstoff oder Stickstoff-Helium-Mischungen benutzt. Zur Eichung der Extraktion wurden metallische Referenzmaterialien mit (8–331g) N₂ eingesetzt.

     

Simultaneous determination of neodymium and erbium in rare earth mixture with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline and TX-100 by third-derivative spectrophotometry

The absorption spectra of 4f electron transitions of the complexes of neodymium and erbium with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of octylphenol poly(ethyleneglycol)ether have been studied by normal and third-derivative spectrophotometry. The proposed method is free of interference of other rare earths. The calibration graphs were linear up to 18 g/ml of neodymium and 21 g/ml of erbium (in the final solution). The derivative molar absorptivities are 395 l.mol^–1.cm^–1 for neodymium and 3421.mol^–1.cm^–1 for erbium. The corresponding values of Sandell's sensitivity were 0.36 and 0.49 g.cm^–1, respectively. The relative standard deviations evaluated from ten independent determinations of 2.5 g/ml of neodymium and erbium are 1.5 and 3.8% for neodymium and 1.8 and 4.1% for erbium in absence and presence of 70 g of lanthanum, respectively. The detection limits (signal to noise ratio=2) are 0.23 g/ml for neodymium and 0.30 g/ml for erbium. The method has been used for the determination of neodymium and erbium in mixed rare earths with satisfactory results.     

A toxic reagent-free method for normal-phase matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of aldrin,dieldrin, and DDTs in animal fats

A method for the determination of aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, DDE, and DDD contamination in animal fats (beef tallow, lard, and chicken fat) without using toxic reagents is developed, that uses high-performance liquid chromatography after the sample has been prepared by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) with acidic alumina oxide. A reversed-phase C₁-silica column with a mobile phase of 50% (v/v) ethanol solution (in water) and a photo-diode array detector were used for the determination. Average recoveries of the target compounds (0.2–5.0 g g^–1) ranged from 84–98%, with coefficients of variation of <5%. The limits of quantitation were 0.16 g g^–1 for AD, 0.10 g g^–1 for DD, 0.06 g g^–1 for DDT, 0.07 g g^–1 for DDE, and 0.05 g g^–1 for DDD. No toxic reagents were used at all.     

Method comparison study on soot-selective techniques

In a long-term field study at two locations with different air pollution levels several soot-selective measurement techniques were compared with a thermochemical method which measures non-extractable carbon (NEC) detecting the evolved CO₂ by means of coulometric titration. The attenuation measurement technique (aethalometer) and the aerosol photoemission method showed good correlations to NEC for concentrations ranging from 1.6g/m³ to 40.8g/m³. The specific mass absorption coefficient of black carbon with respect to NEC varied between 8.4m²/g and 13.7m²/g with respect to the measurement sites, but the value was found to remain constant at each site independent of seasonal or meteorological variations. The ratio of photoelectric signal to NEC varied between 16 fA·(g/m³)^–1 and 33 fA·(g/m³)^–1 depending on the age of the aerosol. The diurnal variations of that ratio showed strong similarities to the traffic patterns. Additionally a slight temperature dependence of this ratio was found for the aged aerosol with a proportionality factor of – 0.35 fA·(K·g/m³)^–1. With the reflectance measurement technique (smoke shade method) reliable NEC determination was not possible for NEC concentrations 5 g/m³.     

Die Bestimmung von 800 bis 30μg Blei(II) durch potentiometrische Titration mit Molybdat

Zusammenfassung Die Bestimmung von 800 bis 30g Pb(II) durch potentiometrische Titration mit Molybdat unter Verwendung einer bleispezifischen Elektrode wurde untersucht. Unter geeigneten Bedingungen sind mit 4·10^–3 M Molybdat 800 bis 300g Pb(II) in wäßriger Lösung mit einer Genauigkeit von ±0,57% bzw. 0,45% und einer Reproduzierbarkeit von ±0,43% bzw. ±0,30% (Standardabweichung=0,25% bzw. 0,17%) je nach Titrationsart automatisch bzw. manuell bestimmbar.Zur Bestimmung von Pb(II)-Mengen <300g ist eine 2·10^–3 M Molybdatlösung zu verwenden. 300 bis 100g Pb(II) sind in wäßriger Lösung mit zufriedenstellenden Resultaten bestimmbar, jedoch verbessert eine Titration in 40% igem Ethanol nicht nur die Genauigkeit in diesem Bereich, sondern erlaubt auch noch 30g Pb(II) mit einer Genauigkeit von ±1% und einer Reproduzierbarkeit von ±2% (Standardabweichung aus 20 Titrationen von 100g Pb(II)= 0,60%) zu bestimmen.Die Titration von 300–800g Pb(II) in wäßriger Lösung und von 30–300g Pb(II) in 40% igem Ethanol läßt sich auch in 0,1M NaNO_3– 0,1M NaClO_4– Lösung durchführen und ermöglicht somit auch zuverlässige Bleibestimmungen in organischen Verbindungen nach Mineralisierung mit HNO₃–HClO₄–H₂O₂.

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The determination of 800 to 30 g lead(II) by potentiometric titration with molybdate

Summary The determination of 800 to 30g Pb(II) by potentiometric titration with molybdate by using a lead(II)-selective electrode was investigated. Under suitable conditions, 800 to 300g Pb(II) in aqueous solution by automatic or manual titration with 4·10^–3 M molybdate can be determined with an accuracy of ±0.57% and ±0.45% and a precision of ±0.43% and 0.30% (standard deviation=0.25% and 0.17%, resp.).For determining amounts of Pb(II) below 300g, a 2·10^–3 M molybdate solution has to be used. Although 300 to 100g Pb(II) are determinable again in water with satisfactory results, the titration in 40% ethanol is however more reliable: in this medium, amounts of 300 to 30g Pb(II) can be determined with an accuracy of ±1% and a precision of ±2% (standard deviation from 20 titrations of 100g Pb(II)=0.60%).The titration of 300–800g Pb(II) in water and of 30–300g Pb(II) in 40% ethanol is also possible in 0.1M NaNO_3– and 0.1M NaClO_1– medium and can be used in the lead determination in organic compounds after mineralization with HNO₃-HClO₄-H₂O₂.

     

Bestimmung von Chrom in menschlichem Serum und Plasma mit der flammenlosen Atomabsorptions-Spektrophotometrie

Zusammenfassung Die bis heute in der Literatur mitgeteilten Werte für Chrom im Serum nüchterner gesunder Probanden unterscheiden sich um Größenordnungen. Die in der vorliegenden Arbeit mitgeteilten Untersuchungen betreffen die analytische Problematik der Chrombestimmung mit Hilfe der flammenlosen Atomabsorptions-Spektrometrie, wobei aufgezeigt wird, daß diese Methodik für die Chrombestimmung in biologischem Material ohne großen statistischen Aufwand zu keiner sicheren Beurteilbarkeit und Interpretierbarkeit der gemessenen Werte führt. Mit Hilfe synthetischer Chromkomplexverbindungen werden die Probleme der Standardaddition zur Chrombestimmung untersucht. Unter Berücksichtigung der Blindwerte und der daraus resultierenden Nachweisgrenze sowie Garantiegrenze für Reinheit, wurde Chrom in einem Standardreferenzmaterial (1569 Brewers yeast [U. S. National Bureau of Standards]) im Rahmen eines Ringversuchs zur Chromanalyse sowie im Serum und Plasma von 41 Probanden bestimmt. Für das Referenzmaterial wurde ein Wert von 45±4 mol/kg (2,3±0,2 g/g) ermittelt. Der Referenzwert betrug 41±1 mol/kg (2,12±0,05 g/g). Im Serum wird eine lognormale Verteilung der Chromkonzentration mit den zentralen Parametern ±_M=132,2 nmol/l (0,72,2 g/l) ermittelt. Im Plasma lagen die Werte zwischen 20 und 30 nmol/l (1–1,5 g/l). Aufschluß, Durchführung der Bestimmung sowie die biologische Bedeutung und Interpretation des Parameters Chrom im Serum und Plasma werden eingehend diskutiert.

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Determination of chromium in human serum and plasma by flame-less atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Summary Concentrations of Cr in serum of overnight fasting volunteers differ over a wide range in the literature. The investigations of the analytical problems of Cr determination by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry underline the necessity of statistical methods for the interpretation of the measurements of Cr in biological matrices. With nine different synthetic chromium complexes the method of standard addition was investigated. Considering the blank values, the limit of detection and the limit of guarantee for purity, Cr was determined in the standard reference material 1569 brewers yeast (National Bureau of Standards) with 45±4 Mol · kg^–1 (2.3±0.2g·g^–1), compared with the reference data 41±1 Mol·kg^–1 (2.12±0.05 g±g^–1). In serumuuuuu we found a lognormal distribution with the central parameters 132.2 nMol ·1^–1 (0.72.2 g·1^–1). In plasma the values were in the range between 20 and 30 nMol·1^–1 (1–1.5 g·1^–1). The ashing process and the determination are demonstrated and discussed in detail.

     

Thorium in man and environment uptake and clearance

The intake and tissue distribution of thorium (^{2 3 2}Th) was studied in an urban (Bombay) population in India. From the analysis of 16 whole diet samples, the average daily intake through food was found to be 2 g (range 0.8–4.3 g·d^–1). The estimated intake through drinking water and inhalation comes out to be 0.03 and 0.02 g per day. From the analysis of human autopsy tissue samples it is observed that the concentration ranges in lungs and bone are 1.5–16 g/kg and 0.2–9.0 g/kg fresh weight respectively. The average urinary concentration is 12 ng/1 (range 7–22 ng/l for 10 samples). Among the different body tissues, pulmonary lymph nodes were found to contain the highest concentration (geometric mean 53.4 g/kg, range 31.4–85.5 g/kg for 6 samples). Analysis of the samples was done by the neutron activation technique. 311.8 keV gamma photons of^{2 3 3}Pa which is the activation product of^{2 3 2}Th, were counted after chemical separation. A 54 cm³ intrinsic Ge detector coupled to 1024-channel analyser was used. Using the average lung content and the daily average intake values of thorium through inhalation, the clearance half-time from lung was estimated.     

Determination of cesium, manganese and terbium by intracavity laser spectroscopy

The statistical characteristics of the intracavity laser spectrometer are investigated by analysis of cesium in aqueous solutions. The error distribution of measurements is normal. The relative standard deviation of the analysis in the middle of the dynamic range is equal to 9.7%. The intracavity spectral analysis was carried out at low contents of cesium, manganese and terbium in aqueous solutions. The limits of detection are: 5 gl^-1 (Cs), 20 gl^-1 (Mn) and 1000 gl^-1 (Tb). Owing to the high spectral resolution of the spectrometer used the hyperfine structure of the thallium absorption line (535.05 nm) was recorded.     

TLC technique for the detection and determination of gamma- BHC in biological material

Summary Five isomers present in technical benzene hexachloride were successfully separated by TLC on silica-gel G impregnated with silver nitrate solution. The -isomer was identified by running a control sample of -BHC. Measurement of the spot area was found suitable for the estimation of 5–20g of-BHC, and was applied to analysis of autopsy tissues. The limit of identification is 0.1g.

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Zusammenfassung Auf mit Silbernitratlösung imprägniertem Kieselgel G konnten dünn-schichtchromatographisch fünf Isomere aus technischem Hexachlorbenzol erfolgreich getrennt werden. Das-Isomere wurde mit Hilfe einer Vergleichsprobe identifiziert. Die Planimetrie der Flecken eignet sich zur Schätzung von 5–20 g-Hexachlorbenzol. Die Methode wurde zur Untersuchung von Autopsieproben angewendet. Die Nachweisgrenze beträgt 0,1g.

     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of cadmium using Cd(II)-KI-Crystal violet system in the presence of triton X-100 and PVA

A new highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for determination traces of cadmium using Cd-(II)-KI-Crystal Violet system in the presence of Triton X-100-poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) mixture has been developed. The apparent molar absorptivity of the system is 1.77 × 10⁵ 1-mol^–1 cm^–1 and its Sandell's sensitivity is 6.35 × 10^–4 g·Cd·cm^2–. Beer's law is obeyed up to 0.32 g·Cd(II)·ml^–1. The method has been applied to determine Cd(II) in waste water, rice and pork meat samples with satisfactory results.     

Thallium determination in reference materials by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) using thermal ionization

Summary Using Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) with thermal ionization, thallium concentrations were determined in reference materials from NIST and BCR, from other sources, and reference materials from the German Environmental Specimen Bank. ²⁰³Tl spike solution is applied for the isotope dilution technique. Thallium concentrations in the investigated materials range from 2.67 g Tl·kg^–1 to 963 g Tl·kg^–1 with a relative standard deviation from 0.14 to 10%. The detection limit was 0.1 ng thallium for this work.     

Determination of boron traces in rye grass BCR 281 by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Summary A method for the isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) determination of boron in rye grass at the 5 g · g^–1 level has been developed. The mass spectrometric measurements are performed using negative thermal ionization at masses 42 (¹⁰B¹⁶O¹⁶O^–) and 43 (¹¹B¹⁶O¹⁶O^–). The ¹⁰B/¹¹B ratios are corrected for the ¹⁰B¹⁶O¹⁷O^– contribution at mass 43 and for mass fractionation. The chemical blank is determined using the standard addition method. The numerical calculations are done with a least square fit computer program. The method has been applied for the certification of boron in BCR 281 (Rye Grass). The boron content of this reference material has been established as (5.64±0.56) g·g^–1.

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Bestimmung von Borspuren in Rye Grass BCR 281 durch Isotopenverdünnungs-Massenspektrometrie

     

Ferroelectric Thin Films of Bismuth Strontium Tantalate Prepared by Alkoxide Route

Study of the interactions in Bi(OR)3-Ta(OR)5-ROH (R = Me, Et, iPr) at 20°C show that metal ethoxides are the best of the investigated precursors for the production of bismuth tantalates via alkoxides. Polycrystalline SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBTO) and BiTaO4 films on Si-SiO2-Ti-Pt substrates with thicknesses of 0.4–0.5 m and 0.4 m, respectively, have been formed by sol-gel processing. The most stable solutions for film application were obtained by using mixed-metal Bi-Ta ethoxides and solutions of Sr carboxylate (2-ethylhexanoic acid derivative) in 2-ethylhexanoic acid. Films annealed at 700–750°C for 30 min were single-phased. SBTO films demonstrated good ferroelectric properties: remanent polarization ranged from 3.5 to 4.0 C/cm2 and coercive voltage 1.5–2.0 V, whereas BiTaO4 films showed dielectric behavior.     

Synthesis,structures, and properties of the niobium and tantalum telluride cubane clusters [M4(μ4-O)(μ3-Te)4(CN)12]6– (M = Nb or Ta)

The new cubane cluster complex K₆[Ta₄(₄-O)(₃-Te)₄(CN)₁₂]·KOH·4H₂O was prepared from a mixture of TaTe₄ and KCN by the high-temperature synthesis followed by crystallization from aqueous solutions. The compound was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and IR, Raman, and electronic spectroscopy. A comparative study of the clusters [M₄(₄-O)(₃-Te)(CN)₁₂]^6– (M = Nb or Ta) containing the ₄-O ligands was carried out. These clusters are the first molecular chalcogenide cubane complexes of Group V metals.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of nickel as Ni-(PAR)2-(CTAB)2 complex in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and steels

A red, water-soluble complex of nickel with PAR can be extracted into chloroform with CTAB at pH 7.0. The system obeys Beer's law upto 0.5 g/ml with a molar absorptivity of 45 200 L·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 540 nm. Job's method of continuous variations revealed that the composition of the extracting species is 1:2:2 for nickel:PAR:CTAB. Based on this extraction, a highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of nickel in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and in steels, after prior separation of iron and manganese, was developed. The standard deviation was 0.04–0.127 g for 5–25 g of nickel.     

The oxidative addition of diphenylphosphine and monophenylphosphine to the electron-rich rhenium-rhenium triple bond. The isolation and characterization of compounds that contain the four-center Re(μ-X)(μ-PR2)Re cluster (X=halide)

Diphenylphosphine oxidatively adds to the ReRe bonds of Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ (X=Cl or Br; dppm=Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) and Re₂Cl₄(-dpam)₂ (dpam=Ph₂AsCH₂AsPh₂) to afford the dirhenium(III) complexes Re₂(-X)(-PPh₂)HX ₃(-LL)₂. The dppm complexes have also been prepared from the reactions of Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)X ₄(-dppm)₂ with Ph₂PH, and a similar strategy has been used to prepare Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dmpm)₂ (dmpm=Me₂PCH₂PMe₂) from Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)Cl₄(dmpm)₂. Phenylphosphine likewise reacts with Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ to give Re₂(-X)(-PHPh)HX ₃(-dppm)₂. An X-ray crystal structure determination on Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dppm)₂ confirms its edge-shared bioctahedral structure. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 148) witha=21.699(3) Å, =84.50(4)°,V=10084(5) ų, andZ=6. The structure was refined toR=0.049 (R _w 0.069) for 5770 data withI>3.0(I). The Re-Re distance is 2.5918(7) Å. Oxidation of the bromide complex Re₂(-Br)(-PPh₂)HBr₃(-dppm)₂ with NOPF₆ produces the unusual dirhenium(III, II) cation [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]⁺ which has been structurally characterized as its perrhenate salt, [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]ReO₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 2) witha=14.187(7) Å,b=16.419(5) Å,c=16.729(5) Å, =98.76(2)°, =110.11(3)°, =104.66(3)°,V=3414(6) ų,Z=2. The structure was refined toR=0.040 (R _w =0.051) for 5736 data withI>3.0(I). The presence of a phosphorus-bound [P(O)Ph₂]^– ligand, a linear nitrosyl and a bridging hydrido ligand has been confirmed. The Re-Re distance is 2.6273(8) Å.     

Assessment of the essential element and heavy metal content of edible fish muscle

The aim of this work was to determine the concentrations of some essential and toxic elements in the muscle of ten species of commercial fish consumed in Portugal. We combined two different techniques for determination of the elements—energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to quantify K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Rb, and Sr and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry for analysis of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The latter technique was used because of its higher sensitivity, because these elements were not detected by EDXRF. The results obtained show a similar pattern for the trace elements. K and Ca are present at the highest concentrations in all the samples studied, from 0.6–1.3% and from 0.04–0.08%, respectively, followed by Zn, Fe, Sr, Se, and Rb. Sr is present at higher concentrations than Rb in all the species studied except meagre. Concentrations of the elements in octopus do not follow this pattern—Fe is present at a higher concentration than Zn. Low concentrations of Cr (0.66–1.5 g g^–1), Ni (0.11–0.24 g g^–1), Cd (0.01–0.08 g g^–1), Hg (0.49–2.74 g g^–1), and Pb (0.02–0.06 g g^–1) were observed in all the samples analysed. The concentration of Hg was highest in Helicolenus dactylopterus—5.4 g g^–1 in one sample.     

Complexometric determination of mercury(II) in waters by spectrophotometry of its dithizone complex

This paper presents a new method for the determination of Hg(II) in waters, using indirect spectrophotometric measurements of the Hg(II) dithizone complex. The reagent is a mixture of dithizone, CDTA (1,2-cyclohexylene-dinitrilo-tetraacetic acid), thiourea, ethylic alcohol and glycine. Sensitivity and working range are 0.4 g · l^–1 and 2–100 g · l^–1, respectively. A comparison of the results with those of the cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry shows a good correlation for different samples revealing only small interferences. The new method is well suited for on-line measurements, easy to run and has low cost equipment.