Distribution of137Cs,40K,238U and232Th in soils from Northern Venezuela

More than one hundred undisturbed soil samples from Northern Venezuela and the islands of Margarita and Los Roques have been analyzed for¹³⁷Cs,⁴⁰K,²³⁸U and²³²Th by -ray spectroscopy. The specimens were taken from between 5–10 cm below the earth's surface. Thus, they are valid not only for the¹³⁷Cs deposition studies but also for the estimation of the natural -ray dose from primordial radionuclides that form the terrestrial component. The concentration of⁴⁰K was directly determined from its 1461 keV -ray, while those of¹³⁷Cs,²³⁸U and²³²Th were performed using a -ray from one of their daughter radionuclides: the 661 keV -ray of^137mBa for¹³⁷Cs, the 1760 keV -ray of²¹⁴Bi for²³⁸U and the 2620 keV -ray of²⁰⁸Tl for²³²Th. Finally, the concentration values were compared with those of global estimates.     

Uranium and thorium determination in Brazilian coals by epithermal neutron activation analysis

An experimental technique has been developed to determine impurities in coal. Uranium was determined by counting the²³⁹Np 106.1 keV -ray with a LEPS detector and thorium by counting the²³³Pa 311.8 keV -ray with a Ge(Li) detector. Seventeen coal samples were analyzed with an average precision of 3% and a quantitative determination limit of 0.153 g/g for uranium and 0.078 g/g for thorium. The technique allows determinations of up to twenty elements besides U and Th and can be applied in routine analysis.     

A New Gamma-Ray Spectrum Catalog for PGAA

A major obstacle to the use of the prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) method has so far been the lack of a suitable library. Therefore, new measurements have been performed at the PGAA facility at Budapest Research Reactor (BRR) in order to create a prompt -ray catalog for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Prompt -ray energies and associated k ₀-factors have been determined by internal standardization. The resulting catalog contains prompt -ray data from neutron capture and other reactions such as (n,), and decay -ray data from short-lived reaction products. Data have been measured for nearly all stable elements, from hydrogen to uranium. Generally, data for several isotopes are given, to enable isotopic analysis as well.     

A new gamma-ray spectrum catalog and library for PGAA

New measurements have been performed at the PGAA facility at the Budapest Research Reactor (BRR) in order to create a prompt -ray catalog for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The measured spectra were accurately analyzed by HYPERMET-PC. Prompt -ray energies and associated -ray production cross-sections have been determined by internal standardization. The resulting catalog contains prompt -ray data from neutron capture and other reactions such as (n,), and decay -ray data from short-lived reaction products. Data have been measured for nearly all stable elements, from hydrogen to uranium. Generally, data for several isotopes are given, to enable isotopic analysis as well. The whole library, including elemental spectra, will be available as a book.     

Analysis of gamma-ray continuum spectra to determine the chemical composition

Neutron induced -ray spectra from various geological samples were analyzed to evaluate the usefulness of continuum spectra in deriving the chemical composition information. A fast Fourier transform technique has been used to estimate the signal content of selected energy bands of the continuum spectra. Monte Carlo calculations have been performed using the major -ray energy sources (due to Fe, Ca, Si and Al) to generate the corresponding detected -ray spectra. The experimental spectra are compared to the simulated spectra to check the consistency of the signal distribution between the peak and the continuum. The continuum above and below a chosen -ray line is calculated to find what fraction of the lower energy continuum is due to that line. The accuracy of the relative elemental concentrations determined by this method is confirmed through comparison with laboratory elemental analysis of the samples. It is found that using the continuum could greatly increase the sensitivity and precision of the measurement of elemental concentrations determined from -ray spectra of thick target sources, for spectra having peaks of poor statistical significance. However, for thin target sources or spectra with very good statistics in their peaks, this method may not be very advantageous.     

High precision determination of uranium in ore by gamma-ray spectrometry

A new approach for the determination of elemental uranium in uranium bearing ore, using high resolution -ray spectrometry, was applied. Using a variant of the enrichment technique an agreement of better than 1% has been obtained between -ray measurement results and a certified value obtained by other analytical methods. For the calibration of the -ray spectrometer uranium reference samples have been used which are made available jointly in Europe and the USA as Certified Reference Materials for Gamma-Ray Spectrometry (EC NRM 171 and NBS SRM 969, respectively). The measured ore has been put in a special designed container which ensured in all directions seen from the radiation window an uniform degree of infinite thickness of about 95%. The results can be taken as an example for the applicability of -ray spectrometry when high accuracy is required and under conditions were homogeneously distributed elemental uranium is embedded in larger amount of matrix material.     

Thermal analyses of aerosols

Thermal analysis as an analytical tool has been applied to the study of suspended liquid and solid matter in air. The aerosol is heated in a glass pipe, and the light scattering coefficient is used for thein situ detection of aerosol. Results of thermal analysis of the Los Angeles smog, and of St. Louis aerosol on dry and humid days, are presented, all indicating distinctly different thermo-nephelograms. On polluted days in St. Louis, over 50% of the light scattering coefficient is lost at about 100, which indicates the presence of H₂SO₄.

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Zusammenfassung Die Thermoanalyse wurde als analytische Methode zur Untersuchung von in Luft suspendierten flüssigen und festen Substanzen eingesetzt. Das Aerosol wird in einem Glasrohr beheizt und Lichtstreuungskoeffizient zumin situ Nachweis des Aerosols verwendet. Die Ergebnisse der Thermoanalyse von Smog aus Los Angeles und von Aerosol aus St. Louis an trockenen und feuchten Tagen werden bekanntgegeben; diese zeigen deutlich verschiedene Thermonephelogramme. An Tagen bei besonders starker Verschmutzung in St. Louis, gehen mehr als 50% des Lichtstreuungskoeffizienten bei etwa 100 verloren, was auf Gegenwart von H₂SO₄ zurückzuführen ist.

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Résumé Application de l'analyse thermique comme moyen d'analyse des matériaux liquides et solides en suspension dans l'air. L'aérosol est chauffé dans un tube de verre et le coefficient de diffusion de la lumière est utilisé pour analyserin situ l'aérosol. Les résultats de l'analyse du brouillard de Los Angeles et de l'aérosol de St. Louis par temps sec et humide sont présentés, indiquant tous des néphélogrammes thermiques différents. Les cas de pollution à St. Louis se traduisent par une déperdition du coefficient de diffusion de la lumière de plus de 50% à 100 environ, ce qui indique la présence de H₂SO₄.

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, , . , . - - , . - , 50% 100C, .

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This research was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Atmospheric Aerosol Research Section, Research Triangle Park, N.C.     

Carbon monoxide hydrocondensation on iron catalysts prepared from metal carbonyl compounds

The iron/alumina catalysts prepared by the impregnation of Fe(CO)₅ on the support have properties quite different from those of the conventional catalysts in the CO+H₂ reaction. However, the preparation procedure or the activation of the solid has a decisive effect on the activity, selectivity and stability.

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Fe(CO)₅ , , CO+H₂. , , .

     

LLX separation of carrier-free,94,95,97,103Ru,93,94,95,96,99mTc and95,96Nb produced in alpha-particle activated molybdenum by TOA

A radiochemical charged particle activation procedure for the simultaneous production of carrier-free radioisotopes of more than one element in a single target and their subsequent separation through LLX has been demonstrated. The carrier free isotopes,^95,96Nb,^{93,94,95,96,99m}Tc and^94,95,97,103Ru formed through Mo(,pxn), Mo(,pxn) and Mo(,xn) nuclear reactions with 40 MeV -particle as detected by nondestructive -ray spectroscopy, have been effectively separated through LLX using TOA as an anionic extractant. Separation of the bulk matrix of molybdenum from the carrier free products has been monitored radiometrically using isotopic^93,99mMo formed through the Mo(,xn) reaction, as radioindicators for the target element. Purity of the separated carrier free radionuclide has been verified by -ray spectrometry.     

High resolution solid state1H NMR spectra of hydroxy groups in aluminas

Using magic angle spinning technique, the¹H NMR spectra of surface hydroxy groups of different alumina modifications (-, -, and -Al₂O₃) have been studied. Several types of hydroxy groups that differ in their chemical shifts are tentatively attributed to different types of coordination of OH groups to aluminium atoms.

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¹H (-, -, -Al₂O₃). , , , .

     

Effect of heating rate on the thermal decomposition of lead dioxide

Experimental data are presented on the kinetics and mechanism of PbO₂ decomposition at heating rates varying from 0 to 2.5 · 10³ °/sec. The studies were carried out with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer MSKH-4, a Paulik-Paulik-Erdey derivatograph and an X-ray diffractometer DRON-0.5At low heating rates (0 to 0.2 °/s) oxygen is evolved in four stages: PbO₂ PbO_1.56 PbO_1.44 PbO. At extremely high heating rates (2 · 10²–2.5 · 10³ °/s) the number of stages is reduced to two: PbO₂ PbO_1.4 PbO. An attempt is made to connect the observed change in the decomposition mechanism of PbO₂ with the crystal structure formation of the lead oxides.

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Zusammenfassung Versuchsergebnisse bezüglich der Kinetik und des Mechanismus der Zersetzung von PbO₂ bei Aufheizgeschwindigkeiten zwischen 0 und 2.5 · 10³°/s werden mitgeteilt. Die Untersuchungen wurden mittels eines time-of-flight Massenspektrometers MSKH-4, eines Derivatographen des Typs Paulik-Paulik-Erdey und eines Röntgendiffraktometers DRON-0.5 durchgeführt.Bei niedrigen Aufheizgeschwindigkeiten (0 bis 0.2 °/sec) wird Sauerstoff in vier Stufen entwickelt: PbO₂ PbO_1.56 PbO_1.44 PbO. Bei extrem hohen Aufheizgeschwindigkeiten (2 · 10² – 2.5 · 10³°/s) wird die Zahl der Stufen auf zwei herabgesetzt: PbO₂ PbO_1.4 PbO. Es wird versucht die beobachtete Ánderung in dem Zersetzungsmechanismus von PbO₂ mit der Kristallstrukturbildung der Bleioxide in Verbindung zu bringen.

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Résumé On présente des résultats expérimentaux concernant la cinétique et le mécanisme de la décomposition de PbO₂ pour des vitesses de chauffage allant de 0 à 2.5 · 10³°/s. Les études ont été effectuées à l'aide d'un spectromètre de masse du type MSKH-4, d'un Dérivatograph du type Paulik-Paulik-Erdey et d'un diffractomètre des rayons X du type DRON-0,5.Aux faibles vitesses de chauffage (0 à 0.2°/s) l'oxygène se dégage en quatre étapes: PbO₂ PbO_1.56 PbO_1.44 PbO. Aux vitesses de chauffage très élevées (2 · 10² à 2.5 · 10³°/s) le nombre des étapes se réduit à deux: PbO₂ PbO_1.4 PbO. On essaye de relier le changement observé dans le mécanisme de décomposition de PbO₂à la structure cristalline des oxydes de plomb.

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PbO₂ 2.5 · 10³°/c. — — MCX — 4, — — — 0.5. (0–0.2°/c) : PbO₂ PbO_1.56. PbO_1.44 PbO. (2 · 10²–2.5 · 10³°/c) : PbO₂ PbO_1.4 PbO. PbO₂ .

     

A new improved expression for gamma-ray detection efficiency of Ge(Li) detectors

In the present paper, a new improved expression for -ray detection efficiency of Ge(Li) detectors, ⁰ , is given. It is represented as a continuous function of x (viz. E ^–1) with a maximum and decreases very rapidly to a small positive value as -ray energy, E, drops to 40 keV or lower, but slowly as E rises to 1.7 MeV or higher. Since it can well represent the whole physical process of the -ray detection, this expression may be one of the simplest and most precise representations, for ⁰ at the present time.     

14 MeV neutron activation analysis of ternary copper ilver selenide by X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometry

14 MeV neutron activation of ternary copper silver selenide gives rise to a predominant activity from the 0.511 MeV annihilation peak from the three elements when -ray spectrometry is used. To overcome the interference problems, X-ray spectrometry was applied to the simultaneous nondestructive determination of silver and selenium, after which copper can be determined by -ray spectrometry. The results of analysis show a relative error not higher than ±5%, when the samples were diluted with H₃BO₃ /90%/ to minimize the interelement effects.     

Study of nitric oxide interaction with the Pt(100) surface by electron energy loss spectroscopy

The adsorption and dissociation of nitric oxide on the Pt(100) surface have been studied using Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy.

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Pt(100).

     

On the entropies of glassy and monoclinic selenium at 0 K

The entropies of trigonal, monoclinic and glassy selenium are discussed based on the ATHAS data bank data and third law entropy considerations. Within the error limit both trigonal and monoclinic selenium have zero residual entropy at zero kelvin temperature. The residual entropy of glassy Se is similar in magnitude to other linear macromolecules.

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Zusammenfassung Basierend auf Daten der ATHAS-Datenbank und auf den dritten Hauptsatz der Thermodynamik basierenden Entropiebetrachtungen werden die Entropien von trigonalem, monoklinem und glasartigem Selen diskutiert. Beim absoluten Nullpunkt haben innerhalb der Fehlergrenzen sowohl das trigonale als auch das monokline Selen eine Restentropie von Null. Die Restentropie von glasartigem Selen ist größenordnungsmäßig gleich der anderer linearer Makromoleküle.

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, , ATHAS . , , . .

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This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, Polymers Program, Grant=DMR 83-17097.     

Die γ-Bestrahlung von synthetischem β-Carotin

Zusammenfassung Das feste -Carotin ist gegen -Strahlung ziemlich stabil. Bei Bestrahlung unter Sauerstoffbegasung treten deutliche -Carotin-Verluste erst bei der hohen Dosis von 12 Mrad auf; bei Bestrahlung an der Luft werden ähnliche Radiolyseerscheinungen erst durch wesentlich höhere Strahlendosen ausgelöst. Spaltungsprodukte, die bei 12 Mrad und Sauerstoffbegasung auftraten und dünnschichtchromatographisch aufgetrennt werden konnten, waren Isozeaxanthin, -Carotin-5,6-5, 6-diepoxid, -Carotin-5,8-5,8-diepoxid, -Apo-12-carotinal, -Apo-10-carotinal, 3,3,6-Trihydroxy--carotin-5,8-epoxid und Vitamin-A-Alkohol. Es ist bemerkenswert, daß ein Teil der Radiolyseprodukte (z. B. Vitamin-A₁-Alkohol, -Apo-12-carotinal und -Apo-10-carotinal) Vitamin-A-Wirksamkeit besitzt.

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The -Irradiation of synthetic -carotene. Some physico-chemical and thin-layer chromatographic studies of radiolysis products

Solid -carotene is remarkably stable to -irradiation. In an oxygen atmosphere doses as high as 12 Mrad were required to bring about significant losses of -carotene, whereas in air even larger doses had to be applied in order to effect a comparable degree of radiolysis. Cleavage products which arose in O₂ at a dose of 12 Mrad and which could be separated from each other by thin-layer chromatography were isozeaxanthin, -carotene-5,5-5,6-diepoxide, -apo-12-carotenal, -apo-10-carotenal, 3, 3, 6-trihydroxy--carotene-5,8-epoxide and vitamin A₁. It is notable that some of the radiolysis products (e.g., vitamin A₁, -apo-12-carotenal and -apo-10-carotenal) possess vitamin A activity.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.O. Hromatka zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

The effect of the network structure of the thermal properties ofcis-1,4-polyisoprene vulcanizates

The thermal properties ofcis-1,4-polyisoprene and its vulcanizates were investigated by means of thermal analysis and complementary methods. It was found that cross-linking generally increases the thermal stability of this elastomer, though distinct differences between peroxide and sulphur vulcanizates were observed. Polysulphide cross-links cleave readily at elevated temperature, and transform to cross-links of lower sulphidity, mainly disulphide. However, some of them are probably oxidized first to sulphoxides, and further to sulphenic or thiosulphoxylic acids. The products formed involve the ionic decomposition of the peroxides and thereby prevent the autocatalytic thermooxidative destruction ofcis-1,4-polyisoprene.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden die thermischen Eigenschaften voncis-1,4-Polyisopren und dessen Vulkanisaten untersucht. Dabei wurden die Derivatographie und komplementäre analytische Methoden benutzt. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die Vernetzung im allgemeinen die thermische Stabilität von diesen Elastomeren erhöht, obwohl ein ausgeprägter Unterschied zwischen Peroxid- und Schwefelvulkanisaten beobachtet wurde. Die polysulfidischen Brücken wurden bei erhöhter Temperatur leicht gespalten und verwandeln sich in Brücken, die eine niedrigere Schwefelatomzahl besitzen und zwar hauptsächlich disulfidisch sind. Ein Teil der Schwefelatome wurde jedoch wahrscheínlich unter Bildung von Sulfin- und Thio-Sulfoxysäuren oxydiert. Diese Produkte verursachen ionische Zersetzung von Peroxiden und verhindern auf diese Weise die autokatalytische thermooxidative Zersetzung voncis-1,4-Polyisopren.

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-1,4- . , , , , . , , , . , , , . , -1,4 .

     

Kinetic study of the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde by aqueous chlorine

The kinetics of oxidation of isobutyraldehyde with aqueous chlorine has been investigated in 11.6 vol. % aqueous acetic acid. The reaction is first order with respect to both substrate and chlorine. Molecular chlorine is the principal oxidant. The influence of various factors, e.g. ionic strength, inorganic salts, D₂O and temperature on the initial rate has been studied. The activation parameters have been calculated and a possible mechanism is suggested.

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11,6% . , . . ( , , D₂O) . .