Rapid determination of molar ratios in binary systems by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis

The magnetic characteristics of barium ferrite, a compound widely used for magnetic materials, depend on the molar ratio of iron(III) oxide to barium oxide. On account of this fact, activation analysis using 14 MeV neutrons was applied for the rapid and non-destructive determination of the molar ratio of iron(III) oxide to barium oxide in barium ferrite. Iron was detected as⁵⁶Mn produced from the⁵⁶Fe(n, p)⁵⁶Mn reaction, and barium as^137mBa originating from the¹³⁸Ba(n, 2n)^137mBa reaction. A linear relation was obtained between the ratio of counts of⁵⁶Mn and^137mBa and the molar ratio of iron(III) oxide to barium oxide; the corrected gradient of the experimental calibration curve, obtained with^137mBa internal standard, agreed well with the calculated value. The molar ratios of iron(III) oxide to barium oxide obtained by activation analysis and by chemical analysis were in good agreement.     

Comparing the capability of collision/reaction cell quadrupole and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers for interference removal from 90Sr, 137Cs,and 226Ra

Here we report a quantitative comparison of sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) and collision/reaction cell inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) for the detection of ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and ²²⁶Ra at ultra-trace levels. We observed that the identification and quantification of radioisotopes by ICP-MS were hampered by spectral (both isobaric and polyatomic ions) and non-spectral (matrix effect) interferences. ICP-QMS has been used to eliminate the isobaric ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Zr interference through the addition of O₂ into the collision cell as a reactant gas. Zr⁺ ions were subsequently converted into ZrO⁺, whereas Sr⁺ ions were not reactive. In addition, the isobaric interference of ¹³⁷Ba on ¹³⁷Cs was eliminated by the addition of N₂O gas in the cell, which led to the formation of BaO⁺ and BaOH⁺ products, whereas Cs⁺ remained unreactive. Furthermore, He and H₂ were used in the collision/reaction cell to eliminate polyatomic ions formed at m/z 226. A comparison of the results obtained by ICP-SFMS after a chemical separation of Sr from Zr and Cs from Ba was performed. Finally, to validate the developed analytical procedures, measurements of the same samples were performed by γ-ray spectroscopy.     

A rapid separation of radioactive cesium by nitrobenzene extraction using the chromium complex [Cr(aniline)2(NCS)4]−

A rapid separation of radioactive cesium by the solvent extraction method was investigated. Cesium ions are quantitatively extracted with [Cr(NH₂C₆H₅)₂(NCS)₄]⁻ into nitrobenzene. EDTA is an effective masking agent for other polyvalent cations. The extracted cesium can be back-extracted into the aqueous phase by shaking with 6N HCl. The method was applied to samples of a natural mixture of fission products and a reactor coolant. The decontamination factors for other predominant isotopes in fission products were 10²∼10⁴. The separation of^137m Ba from a mixture of¹³⁷Cs and^137m Ba is also described.     

Vibrational population distribution of ground state BaO formed by the reaction Ba + O2

The vibrational population distribution of X ¹Σ(υ′' = 0 through ν′' = 7) BaO formed in the reaction Ba + O₂ at 0.3 torr has been measured by laser induced photoluminescence intensities. On the basis of the assumed similarity between the Ba + O₂ and Ba + N₂O reactions, these data suggest that a population inversion may exist between A ¹Σ(ν′ = 1) and X ¹Σ(υⁿ = 7) BaO formed in the latter reaction at ≈ 16 torr.     

Separation of alkaline earth elements by cation-exchange chromatography in ammonium malonate media

Be(II), Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) and Ba(II) can be separated by elution from a cation-exchange column in the ammonium form with increasing concentrations of ammonium malonate. A typical elution sequence for a 60-ml column (volume in H⁺-form) of AG₅₀-X8 resin is: 200 ml of 0.20 N ammonium malonate plus 0.10 N malonic acid for Be(II); 300 ml of 0.50 N, 450 ml of 0.70 N, 350 ml of 1.10 N ammonium malonate for Mg(II), Ca(II) and Sr(II), respectively, and 200 ml of 3.0 N nitric acid for Ba(II). Separations are sharp and quantitative for element pairs in weight ratios from 1:1000 to 1000:1. Distribution coefficients, elution curves and quantitative separations are presented.     

A calorimetric study of N,N-diethyl-N′-furoylthiourea and N,N-diisobutyl-N′-furoylthiourea

The standard ( p^o =  0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of combustion in oxygen, at T =  298.15 K, were measured by rotative bomb calorimetry for crystalline N, N -diethyl- N^′-furoylthiourea, (2-C₄H₃O)CONHCSN(C₂H₅)₂, HFET, and N, N -diisobutyl- N^′-furoylthiourea, (2-C₄H₃O)CONHCSN(iso-C₄H₉)₂, HFIB. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation of both HFET and HFIB were measured by high-temperature Calvet microcalorimetry. These values were used to derive the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds, in their crystalline and gaseous phases.     

Effects of dual initiators and catalytic additives on atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene

The effect of two initiators, so-called dual initiators system on atom radical transfer polymerization (ATRP), were studied with dimethyl-2,6-dibromohepanedioate (DMDBHD) and ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (EBIB). Cu(I)Br as catalyst and N,N,N??,N??,N??-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine as ligand were employed for styrene ATRP. Interestingly, bimodal MWD were shown for the dual initiator system, and one of the peaks had higher molecular weight (MW) and the other had lower MW compared to a one-initiator system. The lower MW peak in bimodal peaks seemed to be mainly resulting from EBIB and the higher MW peak from DMDBHD. Furthermore, methylaluminoxane (MAO) was fed into the ATRP reaction to observe the effect of it on ATRP. As the MAO/CuBr molar ratio in feed increased from 0 to 1, the molecular weight and conversion increased without a notable change in PDI and curve shape of GPC. The conversion in the presence of MAO was also increased with the increase in MAO/CuBr molar ratio. The effect of Cp^*TiCl₃ on the ATRP was opposite to that of MAO. As the Cp^*TiCl₃/CuBr molar ratio increased from 0 to 1, the conversion of polymerization was down from 56 to 35%. Furthermore, the molecular weight was drastically decreased from 10,000 to 5,500, but their PDI did not show a significant change. These results can elucidated by the retarding effect of Cp^*TiCl₃ on the propagation of polymerization.     

Experimental thermochemical study of the enthalpies of formation and sublimation of isonicotinamide,picolinamide, nicotinamide,isonicotinamideN-oxide,and nicotinamideN-oxide. The dissociation enthalpies of the N–O bonds

The standard (p ^∘  =  0.1MPa) molar enthalpies of combustion in oxygen, at T =  298.15 K, for crystalline picolinamide (2-NH₂COPy), nicotinamide (3-NH₂COPy), isonicotinamide (4-NH₂COPy), nicotinamide N -oxide (3- NH₂COPyNO), and isonicotinamide N - oxide (4-NH₂COPyNO) were measured by static-bomb calorimetry. These values were used to derive the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the crystalline compounds. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T =  298.15 K, for the three pyridinecarboxamide isomers were measured by microcalorimetry and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation for the two pyridinecarboxamide N -oxide compounds were measured by a mass-loss effusion technique. From the enthalpies of formation of the gaseous compounds, the molar dissociation enthalpies D_m^oof the (N ⁺ – O ⁻ ) covalent bonds were derived. Comparison has been made with D_m^o(N–O) values in pyridine N -oxide derivatives.     

Simulation of radioactive decay by barium substitution for cesium in sodium aluminum-iron phosphate glass

Simulation of ¹³⁷Cs radioactive decay to ¹³⁷Ba by an equiatomic substitution of Cs with Ba in a 30 Na₂O, 10 Cs₂O, 10 Al₂O₃, 10 Fe₂O₃, 40 P₂O₅ (mol%) glass was studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and measurement of hydrolytic durability. Gradual Ba substitution for Cs yielded minor changes in the structural network but did not offer appreciable effect on phase composition and hydrolytic durability of the glasses.

     

A facile sulfonylation method enabling direct syntheses of per(2-O-sulfonyl)-β-cyclodextrins

Cs₂CO₃ was found to efficiently catalyze the reaction of β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole. Stirring β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole in 1/1.2 molar ratio in DMF in the presence of catalytic amount of Cs₂CO₃ at rt for 1.5 h afforded 2^A-mono(O-tosyl)-β-cyclodextrin in 32% yield. The 2^A,2^B-, 2^A,2^C- and 2^A,2^D-ditosylates were isolated in ca. 6-7% yields, respectively, when β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole were used in 1/2.5 molar ratio. The charge of excess (10 equiv) of N-tosylimidazole ensured a one-step direct (protection-free) synthesis of the per(2-O-tosyl)-β-cyclodextrin in 5% isolated yield. N-(m-Nitrobenzenesulfonyl)imidazole even allowed a much faster access to the corresponding persulfonate in only 1 h reaction.     

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of Mn-activated M2Si5N8 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors

Mn²⁺-doped M₂Si₅N₈ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors have been prepared by a solid-state reaction method at high temperature and their photoluminescence properties were investigated. The Mn²⁺-activated M₂Si₅N₈ phosphors exhibit narrow emission bands in the wavelength range of 500-700 nm with peak center at about 599, 606 and 567 nm for M=Ca, Sr, Ba, respectively, due to the ⁴T₁(⁴G)→⁶A₁(⁶S) transition of Mn²⁺. The long-wavelength emission of Mn²⁺ ion in the host of M₂Si₅N₈ is attributed to the effect of a strong crystal-field of Mn²⁺ in the nitrogen coordination environment. Also it is observed that there exists energy transfer between M₂Si₅N₈ host lattice and activator (Mn²⁺). The potential applications of these phosphors have been pointed out.     

Thermodynamics of liquid mixtures containing a very strongly polar compound: Part 6. DISQUAC characterization of N,N-dialkylamides

Systems of N,N di(n-alkylamides) (hereafter, N,N-dialkylamides) with alkane, benzene, toluene, 1-alkanol or 1-alkyne have been investigated in the framework of the DISQUAC model. The corresponding interaction parameters are reported. They change regularly with the molecular structure of the mixture components. This variation is similar to those encountered when treating other systems in terms of DISQUAC. The model describes consistently a whole set of thermodynamic properties: liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE), vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE), solid–liquid equilibria (SLE), molar excess Gibbs energies (G^E), molar excess enthalpies (H^E), molar excess heat capacities at constant pressure (C_P^E), partial molar excess properties at infinite dilution, enthalpies and heat capacities. The model also provides good results for the Kirkwood–Buff integrals and for the linear coefficients of preferential solvation. For ternary systems, DISQUAC predictions on VLE and H^E, obtained using binary parameters only, are in good agreement with the experimental data. A short comparison between DISQUAC and Dortmund UNIFAC results is shown. DISQUAC improves UNIFAC results on H^E and C_P^E, magnitudes which strongly depend on the molecular structure. The investigated mixtures behave similarly to those characterized by thermodynamic properties which arise from dipolar interactions. Association/solvation effects do not play, as a whole, an important role in the studied systems. This may explain that the ERAS model fails when representing the thermodynamic properties of dimethylformamide + 1-alkanol mixtures.     

<Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs/<Superscript>137m</Superscript>Ba radioisotope generator based on 6-tungstocerate(IV) column matrix

Summary Barium-137m radioisotope generator of the chromatographic column elution mode based on loading 1.5 g 6-tungstocerate(IV) gel matrix with ~54 kBq of fission-produced ¹³⁷Cs is described. The elution performance of the generated ^137mBa radionuclide was investigated as a function of chemical composition of the eluent, flow rate, elution frequency, and age of the generator system. At comparable conditions, ^137mBa eluates with 0.9% NaCl-0.1M HCl eluent had higher elution yields and radionuclidic purity than with 0.1M NH₄Cl-0.1M HCl eluent. The generator has been repeatedly eluted for 311 days by passing 4810 ml of the saline eluent (10 ml × 481 elution operations) at a flow rate of 3.0 ml/min. Barium-137m eluates of high and reproducible elution yields, chemical and radionuclidic purities of (≥ 99.99%) were obtained.     

Rapid determination of Cs and precise Cs/Cs atomic ratio in environmental samples by single-column chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

For source identification, measurement of ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs atomic ratio not only provides information apart from the detection of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, but it can also overcome the application limit that measurement of the ¹³⁴Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratio has due to the short half-life of ¹³⁴Cs (2.06 y). With the recent advancement of ICP-MS, it is necessary to improve the corresponding separation method for rapid and precise ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs atomic ratio analysis. A novel separation and purification technique was developed for the new generation of triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). The simple chemical separation, incorporating ammonium molybdophosphate selective adsorption of Cs and subsequent single cation-exchange chromatography, removes the majority of isobaric and polyatomic interference elements. Subsequently, the ICP-MS/MS removes residual interference elements and eliminates the peak tailing effect of stable ¹³³Cs, at m/z 134, 135, and 137. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to measure ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs atomic ratios and ¹³⁵Cs activities in environmental samples (soil and sediment) for radiocesium source identification.     

Extraction-chromatographic separation of137mBa from137Cs

The possibilities of extraction-chromatographic separation of^137mBa from¹³⁷Cs in genetic succession were studied, using columns filled with support beads loaded with the extractant H⁺[)–(3)–1,2–B₉C₂H₁₁]₂Co^–, further referred to as dicarbolide-H⁺, in nitrobenzene. The dependence of the amount of separable activities on experimental conditions was established. Optimal conditions were selected for the separation process. The effects of isotopic and nonisotopic carriers of^137mBa on the separation and the degree on saturation of extraction-chromatographic column with Ba²⁺ ions were evaluated. The effects of acidity of the elution solutions, of flow-through velocity, the amount of elution solution and the quality of carrier beads on the separation process were assessed. The extraction-chromatographic yield was calculated and the number of possible repeated elution cycles for^137mBa with saline and some other eluents was determined.     

Properties of new inorganic membranes prepared by metal alkoxide methods Part II: New inorganic-organic anion-exchange membranes prepared by the modified metal alkoxide methods with silane coupling agents

Four types of inorganic-organic anion exchangeable membranes were prepared on a microporous alumina substrate by dipcoating with solution containing Si(OC₂H₅)₄, C₂H₅OH, H₂O, CH₃COOH, two silane coupling agents in molar ratio 1:6.8:2:0.03:0.02, and on a silica membrane by liquid-phase coupling method with two solutions containing C₆H₅CH₃, H₂O, 2-(trimethoxysilyl)ethyl-2-pyridine in molar ratio 11:0.06:0.04 or C₂H₅OH, H₂O, N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride in molar ratio 21:0.06:0.06. The alumina substrate and silica membrane showed cation exchangeability, but membranes dip-coated and liquid-phase coupled showed anion exchangeability and their ion-exchange capacity per unit area of membrane surface were in the range 4–9 × 10⁻³ meq. cm⁻². The static transport number for liquid-phase coupled membranes was in the range of 0.6–0.9, but for dip-coated membranes it was 0.5.     

New water-soluble hydrogen donors for the enzymatic spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide

Eight N -alkyl-N-V-sulphopropylaniline derivatives have been synthesized and assessed as water-soluble hydrogen donors for the spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of peroxidase. The sodium salts of N-ethyl-N-sulphopropylaniline (ALPS), N-ethyl-N-sulphopropyl-m-toluidine (TOPS) and N -ethyl-N-sulphopropyl-m-anisidine (ADPS) are recommended. They have excellent water solubilities, and the optimum pH range for oxidative condensation with 4-aminoantipyrine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and peroxidase is 5.5–9.5. The absorbances of the resulting chromogens are 2–3 times higher than that achieved with phenol. The molar absorptivities of the chromogens with 4-aminoantipyrine are 41300 (ALPS, λ_max 561 nm), 37400 (TOPS, λ_max 550 nm) and 27900 (ADPS, λ_max 540 nm). Calibration graphs for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a control serum are linear for 7–40 × 10^-6 mol H₂O₂ l^-1.     

Interaction of amines with rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates in solution: formation of nitrogenous stereogenic center

The ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectra of amines: N,N-dimethylisopropylamine, N-ethyl-N-methylbenzylamine, N,N-dimethyl-1-phenylethylamine and N-methyl-1-phenylethylamine in the presence of dirhodium(II) tetratrifluoroacetylate and a dirhodium(II) Mosher’s acid derivative were measured in CDCl₃ as the solvent. Dirhodium(II) salts with amines form 1:1- and 1:2-adducts, respectively, depending on the amine and dirhodium salt molar ratio. The formation of the Rh–N bond slows down the nitrogen atom inversion process and causes either non-equivalency of the two methyl groups in N(CH₃)₂ or the formation of a nitrogenous stereogenic center in the molecule having an –NR′R″ group. The latter causes the formation of additional diastereoisomers in solution. Application of NMR spectroscopy at low temperature (253 K) allows us to observe separately the signals of all compounds in solution, despite ligand chemical exchange between species.     

A multi-method approach for determination of radionuclide distribution in trinitite

The spatial distribution of radiation within trinitite thin sections have been mapped using alpha track radiography and beta autoradiography in combination with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Alpha and beta maps have identified areas of higher activity, and these are concentrated predominantly within the surficial glassy component of trinitite. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses conducted at high spatial resolution yield weighted average ²³⁵U/²³⁸U and ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratios of 0.00718 ± 0.00018 (2σ) and 0.0208 ± 0.0012 (2σ), respectively, and also reveal the presence of some fission (¹³⁷Cs) and activation products (^152,154Eu). The LA-ICP-MS results indicate positive correlations between Pu ion signal intensities and abundances of Fe, Ca, U and ¹³⁷Cs. These trends suggest that Pu in trinitite is associated with remnants of certain chemical components from the device and surrounding Trinity test-related structures at ground zero. In contrast, negative correlations between Pu ion signals and SiO₂ and K₂O contents were observed within the glassy matrix of trinitite. This LA-ICP-MS result was corroborated by combined back-scattered electron imaging and alpha radiography, and indicates that Pu was not incorporated into unmelted crystalline grains of precursor minerals (i.e., quartz-SiO₂ and K-feldspar-KAlSi₃O₈) present within the desert sand at the Trinity site. The results from this study indicate that the device-related radionuclides were preferentially incorporated into the glassy matrix in trinitite.     

Study on the preparation of a137Cs/137mBa radionuclide generator

^137mBa has been applied successfully to dynamic studies for diagnosis in nuclear medicine for a long time. A variety of inorganic exchangers have been employed for the separation of^137mBa from its parent¹³⁷Cs. In the present study, cupric cobaltic ferrocyanide and amorphous zirconyl phosphate were synthesized and compared for use in a¹³⁷Cs/^137mBa generator. The results show that the former can adsorb¹³⁷Cs more efficiently and provide high elution yield of^137mBa with greater than 99.99% radionuclide purity. A new generator involving multimillicuries of^137mBa, in connection with a computerized detection system, has been constructed.