Use of the Absolute Parametric Method to Evaluate the Analytical Significance of Threshold Reactions on P, Si, Al and Mg by NAA

We investigated the use of threshold reactions on magnesium, aluminum, silicon and phosphorus to determine elemental concentrations and also to correct analytical interferences, using the parametric method. The reactor neutron spectrum averaged cross sections of the threshold reactions on these elements were referred to the (111±3) mb value for the ⁵⁸Ni(n,p)^58g+mCo reaction cross section. The results of the cross section measurements are: ²⁵Mg(n,p)²⁵Na, 1.57±0.12 mb; ²⁸Si(n,p)²⁸Al, 5.68±0.25 mb; ²⁹Si(n,p)²⁹Al, 3.02±0.15 mb; ³⁰Si(n,)²⁷Mg, 0.1346±0.0090 mb; and ³¹P(n,)²⁸Al, 1.912±0.083 mb. The values for the cross sections of the following reactions: ²⁴Mg(n,p)²⁴Na, 1.441±0.092 mb; ²⁷Al(n,p)²⁷Mg, 3.84±0.18 mb; and ²⁷Al(n,)²⁴Na 0.721±0.028 mb were re-measured to check the methodology. We present the application of these values to the analysis of some reference materials.     

Rapid multi-element analysis of groundwater by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method was developed to determine, with a single dilution, the concentration of 33 major and trace elements (Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca, Li, Al, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Re, Hg, Pb, Bi, U) in groundwater. The method relies on high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR ICP-MS) and works across nine orders of magnitude of concentrations. For most elements, detection limits for this method are considerably lower than methods based on quadrupole ICP-MS. Precision was within or close to ±3% (1) for all elements analyzed, with the exception of Se (±10%) and Al (±6%). The usefulness of the method is demonstrated with a set of 629 groundwater samples collected from tube wells in Bangladesh (Northeast Araiharzar). The results show that a majority of tube well samples in this area exceed the WHO guideline for As of 10 g L^–1, and that those As-safe wells frequently do not meet the guideline for Mn of 500 µg L^–1 and U of 2 µg L^–1.     

INAA of toxic elements in coal and their transfer into environments

An instrumental neutron activation analytical (INAA) technique is described for the determination of 26 toxic and other trace elements in Eastern Coal (NBS SRM-1632a), local coal and its ash. The coal ash was produced by heating coal at 750°C in a muffled furnace. The transfer of these elements to the environment on the complete compustion of coal is estimated from the difference between the elemental concentration of coal and its ash.     

Trace elements in brown coal and its products of combustion

Concentrations of 38 elements in brown coal, bottom ash and size fractionated ESP coal ash from the Belchatów I Power Plant were determined by INAA. Based on enrichment factors calculated relatively to iron and average crustal rock composition as a function of particle size the elements are grouped into three classes: Group I, elements that show little or no enrichment in the small particles /Na, Mg, Al, K, Sc, Ti, Mn, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Lu, and Th/; Group II, elements whose enrichment increases greatly with decreasing particle size /Cl, Zn, As, Se, Br, Cd, Sb, and I/; and Group III, elements whose behaviour is intermediate to that of elements in Group I and II /Ca, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ga, Sr, Mo, In, W, and Au/.     

高温弱还原气氛下高硅铝比煤灰变化行为的研究

利用XRD和FT-IR考察了两种高硅铝比煤(小龙潭褐煤、府谷烟煤)灰中矿物质在高温(1 100~1 500 ℃)弱还原气氛下的演变行为。通过FACT sage对煤中矿物质主要组分在高温下的变化进行了计算,并与XRD和FT-IR结果进行了比较和验证。结果表明,两种高硅铝比煤中矿物质在高温下的演变行为具有很大的差异,高温下,氧化钙含量较高的煤灰主要生成钙镁黄长石和钙长石等长石类矿物质,氧化钙含量较低的煤灰主要生成铝硅酸盐和少量的钙长石、拉长石等。氧化铁对晶体组成影响不明显;二氧化硅的含量随着温度的升高逐渐减少;低温共熔体系的存在降低了高硅铝比煤灰的灰熔点,同时,增加了高温煤灰中非晶体的含量。FACT sage热力学计算结果与XRD、FT-IR分析结果一致。     

Determination of cadmium,mercury and lead in coal fly ash by slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (USS-ETV-ID-ICP-MS) has been applied to the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in coal fly ash samples. Thioacetamide (TAC) was used as the modifier. Since the sensitivities of the elements studied in coal fly ash slurry and aqueous solution were quite different, isotope dilution method was used for the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in these coal fly ash samples. The isotope ratios of each element were calculated from the peak areas of each injection peak. This method has been applied to the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in NIST SRM 1633a coal fly ash reference material and a coal fly ash sample collected from Kaohsiung area. Analysis results of reference sample NIST SRM 1633a coal fly ash agreed satisfactorily with the certified values. The other sample determined by isotope dilution and method of standard additions was agreed satisfactorily. Precision was better than 6% for most of the determinations and accuracy was better than 4% with the USS-ETV-ID-ICP-MS method. Detection limits estimated from standard addition curves were in the range of 24–58, 6–28 and 108–110 ng g⁻¹ for Cd, Hg and Pb, respectively.     

Elemental characterization of coal ash and its leachates using sequential extraction techniques

Over 50 million tons of coal ash are produced annually in North America. Technological improvements in air pollution control have decreased stack emissions but have also increased contaminant concentrations in the ash of coal-fired boiler applications. The leaching of heavy metals and other elements during regulatory tests may cause coal ash ro be classified as hazardous waste, complicating land disposal. The hazardous nature of coal ash remains unclear because current toxicity tests fail to effectively characterize the elemental distribution and chemical solubility of trace metals in the landfill environment. Leaching characteristics of ash samples can be investigated with various laboratory extraction procedures in association with multi-elemental analytical techniques (e.g., neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy). Such methods provide more thorough analyses of coal ash leaching dynamics than the regulatory assessments can demonstrate. Regulatory elements including Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se were shown to remain in largely insoluble forms while elements such as B and S leached at higher levels. Experimental results may assist operators of coal-fired boiler industries in selecting coal types and disposal options to curtail the leaching of potentially toxic inorganic contaminants.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of coal and its combustion residues from a power plant

A growing demand of electrical energy derived from coal combustion led to a significant increase of coal ash as residues. Approximately 70 % of the fly ashes are recycled, while most of the bottom ashes have been land-filled in the ash pond in Korea. In this work, to evaluate the potential impacts of the residues from a coal power plant on the environment, its inorganic elemental components were determined by INAA and PGAA. Coal ash samples were collected from the biggest power plant complex in Korea. These samples were analyzed by using the NAA facilities in the HANARO research reactor of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. A total of 31 elements were analyzed in the samples, and certified reference materials were used for the analytical quality control. The enrichment status of a given metal in fuel coal and ashes was investigated by its concentration ratio. In order to assess the impact of the coal combustion residues on ecosystem, their concentrations determined for each respective type of the samples were compared to both reference data and nearby beach sand samples.     

Homogeneity tests and certification analyses of coal fly ash reference materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The instrumental neutron activation analysis technique (INAA) was used for homogeneity tests and certification analyses of coal fly ash reference materials ENO, ECH, and EOP prepared at the Institute of Radioecology and Nuclear Techniques (IRANT), Koice, Czechoslovakia. Quantitative estimation of a degree of inhomogeneity was suggested. The relative standard deviations due to inhomogeneity were found to be <1% for macroconstituents and <3% for minor and trace elements for sample weights about 25 mg. The results of determination of the elements Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, In, K, La, Mn, Na, Nd, Ni, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Th, Ti, U, V, W, and Zn were compared with the IRANT certified or information values. NBS SRM 1633a Trace Elements in Coal Fly Ash was also analyzed as a control sample and the results for the above elements were compared with the NBS certified, information or literature available values. From these comparisons, inference was made on the quality of the IRANT specified values for the element contents.     

石嘴山电厂煤中微量元素的迁移释放行为

应用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）和原子荧光光谱（AFS）对中国西北部石嘴山电厂的原煤、底灰和飞灰中Hg、As、Se、Pb、Cr、Cd、Mo、Ni、Co、U和Th 11种微量元素的含量进行了测定。根据底灰和飞灰的产率, 结合微量元素在底灰和飞灰中的含量计算了电厂燃煤过程中微量元素的挥发性。结果表明, Hg、Cd、Se、As四种元素在燃煤过程的挥发率均在50%以上, 最高可达70%。通过对底灰和飞灰在酸性介质下的柱淋滤实验研究了底灰和飞灰中微量元素在60h内的迁移释放行为。Mn、Ni、Co、As四种元素的最大淋出率均超过2.0%, 最高接近10.0%, 并且还未达到淋滤平衡。根据微量元素的挥发和淋滤释放特性建立了电厂煤中有害微量元素在燃烧和淋滤过程中的释放分配模型。结果显示, 燃煤过程中的挥发是微量元素释放的主要形式, 部分元素的淋滤释放也可对周围水环境造成污染。
     

煤粉物化特性对燃烧后灰颗粒物的影响

以三种煤粉在沉降炉中做燃烧实验,用Andersen粒子撞击器分离并捕集燃烧后的灰颗粒物,借助于压汞仪、扫描电镜及能谱、ICP-AES等对煤粉及分级颗粒物进行检测,研究煤粉物化特性对灰颗粒物的粒径分布、形貌、组成、痕量元素的富集等特性的影响。结果表明,煤粉孔结构、组分的赋存方式及含量等影响其破碎行为及组分迁移、转化的过程...     

AES and XPS investigations for the topochemical characterization of dope elements on WC powders

Summary Trace elements bias the hard metal production and can deteriorate the technological and mechanical properties of sintered tools. Therefore, within the COST 503 action, the surface enrichment of the dope elements Ca, Si, Al, P on 1.5 m WC milling grade starting powders has been investigated by AES and XPS. AES depth profiles and high resolution AES (HRAES) elemental maps describe the microscopic distribution of traces. XPS spectra are compared with the AES results and contribute to the understanding of the topochemical structure of doped WC-powder grains.     

Multi-element analysis of environmental samples by cold and thermal guided neutron induced prompt gamma-ray measurement

Non-destructive multi-element determination in environmental samples by neutron-induced prompt -ray analysis (PGA) has been investigated. Comparative standardization for the elements including H, B, C, N, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cd, Sm, Gd, Hg by PGA has been carried out using the cold and thermal guided neutron beams of JRR-3M reactor and then several environmental reference materials have been analyzed. Accuracy and precision of better than 20% were found for these elemental analyses except for H, C, N and Cl in biological samples. Detection limits in various environmental matrices were 25 to 820 ng/g for B, Cd, Sm and Gd, 1.1 to 820 g/g for H, Na, S, Cl, K, Ti, Mn, Co and Hg, and 0.031 to 10% for C, N, Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca and Fe. The present method is being applied to environmental studies of post war Persian Gulf together with INAA and ICP-MS.     

煤中痕量元素在循环流化床锅炉中的迁移行为与富集特性

对天津市某电厂循环流化床(CFB)锅炉燃用的原煤及燃烧产物底灰、飞灰、细飞灰(≤50 μm)进行痕量元素含量的测定,分析了Be、Zn、Hg、V、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、As、Se、Cd、Pb 13种痕量元素在燃烧过程中的迁移行为,揭示了痕量元素在CFB锅炉中的分配、富集特性。结果表明,CFB锅炉中,较低的炉温对于痕量元素的迁移富集产生了较大的影响。由相对富集系数得知,Be、V、Co、Se在底灰中耗散,在飞灰中富集,Zn、Mn倾向于在底灰中富集,元素Cd、Pb、Ni、Cu挥发性较强,在底灰和飞灰中均是耗散。As受钙氧化物影响,挥发性表现并不明显。Hg在底灰和飞灰中相对富集系数均很低,表明Hg在整个燃烧过程中以气态形式排放;Hg、As、Se、V、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb均有向小颗粒物中富集的趋势。根据相对富集系数以及研究的13种元素在低温CFB锅炉中的迁移行为,将这些元素分为三类:A类(E_R<0.1),主要是以气态形式排放元素Hg;B类(0.1R≤0.85),较易挥发元素As、Be、Ni、Cu、Se、Cd、Pb、Co、V;C类(E_R>0.85),主要残留在固体产物中元素Zn、Mn、Cr。     

湖南辰溪特高有机硫煤的稀土元素特征及其成因

采用高分辨率电感耦合等离子质谱(HR-ICP-MS)技术测定辰溪晚二叠世高有机硫(7.75%)煤中的稀土元素(REEs)。辰溪煤中∑REE变化较大,从38.84 μg/g至305.85 μg/g,加权平均值为104.57 μg/g,高于世界煤均值,与中国煤相近。辰溪煤中有明显的Ce负异常(δCe=0.74~0.84)和Eu的负异常(δEu=0.55~0.69)。煤层剖面上稀土元素含量和分布模式的变化反映了成煤环境的波动,从底板到顶板陆源物质的影响减弱,而海水的影响增强。沉积环境的阶段性变化是导致剖面上下有机硫与黄铁矿硫比值相差悬殊的原因。辰溪煤中稀土元素与铁呈现了显著的正相关性(n=11,r=0.95),说明其物质来源和富集条件有一定相似性,即陆源物质和海水共同影响的结果。稀土元素的分布模式以及∑REE与灰分、Si、Al的相关性说明了其主要来源于陆源物质;辰溪煤中δCe与δEu在剖面上变化很小,说明海水对煤中的稀土元素存在重新改造的作用。     

Natural radioactivity of Zambian coal and coal ash

²²⁶Ra and²³²Th specific activities in coal from Maamba Collieries in Zambia have been measured at 46±8 and 56±9 Bq kg^–1, respectively. These values are nearly two and a half times larger than the world average for coal and are close to those for lignite or brown coal. Determination of specific activities in coal waste at Maamba and coal ash at the fertilizer factory in Kafue showed enhancement factors of 2.6 and 2.0, respectively. These values are well within the world range of enhancement factors in coal ash.     

水煤浆燃烧炉内固体残留物的微观分析

以不同特性煤浆的炉内燃烧固体残留物为研究对象，对取自炉内不同部位及沉积于硅碳棒和灰污探针上的典型燃烧灰的化学成分、矿物组成、元素分布及微观结构等进行分析研究。结果表明，水煤浆灰样中含Al、Fe、Ca的化合物和矿物的质量分数高于黑液浆，Na、K、S、Cl的情况与此相反。Fe的富集是造成水煤浆沾污结渣的根本原因。Na和Fe是引起黑液浆沾污结渣的主要矿物元素，Na的作用比Fe更大。黑液浆灰样中含有大量的霞石和硫酸钠等低熔融温度富钠化合物，Na是引起沾污结渣的根源。微观分析结果与实际燃烧状况是一致的，黑液浆结渣特性强于水煤浆，并且二者的灰沉积机理是不同的。     

Identification of organically associated trace elements in wood and coal by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) was used to extract samples of wood (forest residue) and coal; the extracts were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) using two different sample preparation methods, in order to identify trace elements associated with the organic part of the samples. A sample of fly ash was similarly extracted and analysed in order to assess the behaviour of the mineral matter contained within the wood and coal samples. 32% of the biomass was extracted at the higher temperature and 12% at room temperature while only 12% of the coal was extracted at the higher temperature and 3% at room temperature. Less than 2% of the ash dissolved at the higher temperature. Size exclusion chromatograms of the extracts indicated the presence of significant amounts of large molecular mass materials (>1000 mu) in the biomass and coal extracts but not in the ash extract. Trace element analyses were carried out using ICP-MS on the acid digests prepared by 'wet ashing' and microwave extraction. Sixteen elements (As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn) were quantified, in the samples before extraction, in the extracts and in the residues. Concentrations of trace elements in the original biomass sample were lower than in the coal sample while the concentrations in the ash sample were the highest. The major trace elements in the NMP extracts were Ba, Cu, Mn and Zn from the forest residue; Ba, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn from the coal; Cu and Zn from the ash. These elements are believed to be associated with the organic extracts from the forest residue and coal, and also from the ash. Be and Sb were not quantified in the extracts because they were present at too low concentrations; up to 40% of Mn was extracted from the biomass sample at 202 degrees C, while Se was totally extracted from the ash sample. For the forest residue, approximately 7% (at room temperature) and 45% (at 202 degrees C) of the total trace elements studied were in the extract; for the coal, approximately 8% (at room temperature) and 23% (at 202 degrees C) were in the extract. For the ash, only 1.4% of the trace elements were extracted at 202 degrees C, comprising 25% of Cd but less than 1% of Pb.     

煤催化气化条件下不同煤种煤灰烧结行为研究

选取9类典型煤种,利用压差法测定烧结温度的实验装置,结合灰渣的XRD分析结果,考察了添加K基碱金属催化剂、不同煤种灰成分对烧结温度的影响。结果表明,碳酸钾催化剂的添加,明显降低高铁钙含量的WJT煤的灰熔点及烧结温度,碱金属K化合物极易同煤中Fe、Ca的矿物质反应生成低温共融物进而加剧煤灰的熔融结渣。不同煤种烧结温度的差异与煤灰中硅、铝、铁、钙含量密切相关。铝、硅含量高的煤灰烧结温度较高,而铁、钙含量高的煤灰烧结温度相对较低。碱金属K催化剂的添加加剧了煤灰的烧结结渣,而钙、铁的存在会加速硅铝酸盐间的反应生成低温共融物进而加速灰熔融。各煤种烧结温度的变化与其灰成分在CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃、FeO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃三元相图上的位置相吻合。     

Direct multielement determination of trace elements in boron carbide powders by direct current arc atomic emission spectrometry using a CCD spectrometer

The use of direct current arc atomic emission spectrometry (DC-arc-AES) with a CCD spectrometer for the direct determination of the trace impurities Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Si, Ti, and Zr in three well characterized boron carbide powders is described. The detection limits obtained by the procedure were found to be between 0.2 (Mg) and 25 (Na) ??g?g^?1 for the above elements. Three boron carbide powder samples with trace element concentrations between 0.9 (Cu) and 934 (Si) ??g?g^?1 for Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Si, Ti, and Zr ?? including the standard reference material ERM?-ED102 ?? were analyzed by DC-arc-AES. The relative standard deviations for 9 measurements when using 5.0?±?0.3?mg of the respective samples were found to vary from 6.2 to 27% for Al and Cu, respectively. The trace elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, Ti and Zr could be determined in the standard reference material and their concentrations determined by DC-arc AES were found to be between 89 and 116% of the accepted values. Fe and Ti were determined by DC-arc AES in the three boron carbide samples as well as in Al₂O₃, BN, SiC, coal fly ash, graphite and obsidian rock. The correlation coefficients of the plots of the net intensities versus the accepted values over the concentration ranges from 18 to 1750 and from 6 to 8000???g?g^?1 are 0.999 and 0.990 for Fe and Ti, respectively.