Pollution characteristics of atmospheric fine particles and their secondary components in the atmosphere of Shenzhen in summer and in winter

Two field measurements for atmospheric fine particles were conducted in Baoan district of Shenzhen during the summer and winter in 2004. Totally 30 sets of 24 h samples were collected, and then the mass concentrations and chemical compositions were determined. The seasonal varia- tions and secondary pollution characteristics of fine particles during the sampling periods were dis-cussed with meteorological factors. The results show that seasonal variations of atmospheric particles are significant in Shenzhen. The average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in summer were 35 μg·m-3 and 57 μg·m-3, respectively, and those in winter were 99 μg·m-3 and 135 μg·m-3, respec-tively. The concentrations of both PM2.5 and PM10 in winter increased 184% and 137%, respectively, compared to those in summer. PM2.5 accounted for 61% and 75% of PM10 in summer and in winter, respectively, indicating severe fine particle pollution in Shenzhen. During the summer and winter sampling periods, the mean OC/EC ratios were 3.4 and 1.6, respectively. The estimated secondary organic carbon (SOC) averagely accounted for 56% and 6% of the total OC in summer and in winter, respectively, which implies a major contribution of SOC to OC in summer. During the continuous high temperature period in summer, both the concentrations and fractions of secondary aerosol compo-nents in PM2.5 were highly elevated, suggesting severe secondary pollution again. The prevailing wind was from South China Sea in summer, and the air quality was good. The prevailing wind in winter was from Mainland China to the north, and the polluted air mass led to poor air quality.     

Study of ion transport processes in soils by radioabsorption method

The transport processes of Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and HPO ₄ ²⁻ ions were studied in soils by radioabsorption method. The effective diffusion coefficients varied in the interval of 10⁻¹⁶–10⁻¹⁰ m²s⁻¹. The effective diffusion coefficient of Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions increased by several orders of magnitude as a result of the addition of a complex forming agent.     

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na–K–Mg–Ca–Cl–NO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and NO₃⁻ ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 °C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 °C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which can also detect solid phase precipitation. In addition to various Na–K–Mg–Ca–Cl–NO₃ systems, results are reported for LiCl solutions. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid–liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor–liquid and solid–liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems.     

Characterisation of the seasonal exposure to air pollutants for a respiratory epidemiological study

In 2006, elementary schools of inner-city Lisbon, Portugal were given questionnaires to identify respiratory problems. In 1,175 children aged 5–10 years, 27.7% reported rhinitis, 2.5% reported hay fever and 25.9% reported asthma symptoms. April and August were the months with higher incidence of rhinitis, with a considerable difference nonetheless (10.5% and 2.3%, respectively.). The former trends are addressed here by using meteorological data, PM_2.5, and its elemental speciation. Mann-Whitney U-tests were applied to the data sets. Significantly higher values were found for humidity, K⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Sb and Zn in April, and for temperature, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ in August. Commuter and heavy-duty traffic may contribute to rhinitis episodes.     

Local and non-local sources of airborne particulate pollution at Beijing

A new element tracer technique has firstly been established to estimate the contributions of mineral aerosols from both inside and outside Beijing. The ratio of Mg/Al in aerosol is a feasible element tracer to distinguish between the sources of inside and outside Beijing. Mineral aerosol, inorganic pollution aerosol mainly as sulfate and nitrate, and organic aerosol are the major components of airborne particulates in Beijing, of which mineral aerosol accounted for 32%–-67% of total suspended particles (TSP), 10% –70% of fine particles (PM2.5), and as high as 74% and 90% of TSP and PM_2.5, respectively, in dust storm. The sources from outside Beijing contributed 62% (38%–-86%) of the total mineral aerosols in TSP, 69% (52%–-90%) in PM₁₀, and 76% (59%–-93%) in PM_2.5 in spring, and 69% (52%–-83%), 79% (52%–-93%), and 45% (7% – 79%) in TSP, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5, respectively, in winter, while only ≈20% in summer and autumn. The sources from outside Beijing contributed as high as 97% during dust storm and were the dominant source of airborne particulates in Beijing. The contributions from outside Beijing in spring and winter are higher than those in summer, indicating clearly that it was related to the various meteorological factors.     

Determination of water-soluble inorganic and organic species in atmospheric fine particulate matter

The use of ion chromatography (IC) in conjunction with ultrasonic extraction is described for the routine analysis of water-soluble major inorganic ions and organic acids in atmospheric fine particles (PM_2.5). Both the extraction method and the IC analysis were validated using NIST SRM 1648 (urban particulate matter). In addition, the reliability of the IC method was established by intercomparison of results obtained with those from suitable alternative analytical techniques (atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry, and UV-Visible spectrophotometry). The validated IC method was successfully applied for field monitoring of PM_2.5 particles collected in Singapore over an extended period of time. The IC analysis revealed that the concentrations of individual ions were in the order, SO₄²⁻ > NH₄⁺ > NO₃⁻ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cl⁻, respectively. Among the major ionic components, SO₄²⁻ contributed 50% to the measured water-soluble aerosol mass followed by NH₄⁺ (16.5%) and NO₃⁻ (9.0%). The cations Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ accounted for 24% of the total water-soluble mass. The IC analysis was performed to quantify the organic acids, which typically account for a small fraction of water-soluble organic compounds in PM_2.5. Oxalate was found to be the dominant species among the organic acids measured in this work.     

Simultaneous determination of silicic acid, Ca, Mg and Al in mineral water and composite tablets by Ion chromatography

Summary A simple, selective and sensitive ion-chromatography method was investigated for simultaneously determining silicic acid, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺ and anions (Cl⁻ and NO ₃ ⁻ ) in real samples. It involved a single-column ion-chromatograph with sodium hydroxide-methanol-water eluent and conductometric detection. Cations were converted to complex anions by adding EDTA to the sample solution. A set of well-defined peaks of silicic acid, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Cl⁻ and NO ₃ ⁻ were obtained. Detection limits using 3.3σ (σ=standard deviation of blank solution) were 1.25×10⁻⁶ M for H₃SiO ₄ ⁻ , 1.32×10⁻⁶ M for Ca²⁺, 1.28×10⁻⁶ M for Mg²⁺, 1.33×10⁻⁶ M for Al³⁺, 1.31×10⁻⁶ M for Cl⁻ and 1.24×10⁻⁶ M for NO ₃ ⁻ . The method was successfully applied to analysis of mineral water and composite tablets.     

Recent trends of plutonium fallout observed in Japan: Comparison with natural lithogenic radionuclides, thorium isotopes

PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ samples were simultaneously collected monthly at a downtown site in Beijing from May 2002 to April 2003 and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) combined with organic solvent extraction method for the concentrations and distributions of extractable organohalogens (EOX), including extractable organochlorinated (EOCl), organobrominated (EOBr) and organoiodinated compounds (EOI). The concentrations of EOCl, EOBr and EOI were 10.5–79.2 ng/m³, ND-8.2 ng/m³ and 1.6–8.2 ng/m³ in PM_2.5, respectively, and 37.0–73.3 ng/m³, 1.6–12.8 ng/m³ and 1.6–8.5 ng/m³ in PM₁₀, respectively, which were increasing in the order of EOCl≫EOBr∼EOI. EOCl accounted for 73–88% and 69–91% of EOX in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, respectively, which showed that EOCl was the major component of the organohalogens. There was a significant difference of EOCl concentrations in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in different seasons, which suggested that the concentrations of EOCl in the atmosphere were significantly affected by the meteorologic conditions and anthropogenic activities.     

Outer-Sphere electron-transfer and the effect of linkage isomerism in the titanium(III) reduction of nitro-pentacyanocobaltate(III) and nitro-, and nitrito-pentaamminecobalt(III) complexes in aqueous acidic media

The reductions of [Co(CN)₅NO₂]³⁻, [Co(NH₃)₅NO₂]²⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₅ONO]²⁺, by Ti^III in aqueous acidic solution have been studied spectrophotometrically. Kinetic studies were carried out using conventional techniques at an ionic strength of 1.0 mol dm⁻³ (LiCl/HCl) at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C and acid concentrations between 0.015 and 0.100 mol dm⁻³. The second-order rate constant is inverse—acid dependent and is described by the limiting rate law:- k₂ ≈ k₀ + k[H⁺]⁻¹,where k=k′K_a and K_a is the hydrolytic equilibrium constant for [Ti(H₂O)₆]³⁺. Values of k₀ obtained for [Co(CN)₅NO₂]³⁻, [Co(NH₃)₅NO₂]²⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₅ONO]²⁺ are (1.31 ± 0.05) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, (4.53 ± 0.08) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and (1.7 ± 0.08) × 10⁻² dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively, while the corresponding k′ values from reductions by TiOH²⁺ are 10.27 ± 0.45 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, 14.99 ± 0.70 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 17.93 ± 0.78 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively. Values of K _a obtained for the three complexes lie in the range (1–2) × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ which suggest an outer-sphere mechanism.     

Synthesis and complexing properties of four imidazolyl acetamido p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes

Four imidazolyl acetamido p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes 5–8 have been prepared by reacting the corresponding methyl esters derivatives 1–4 with histamine in 1:1 mixture of methanol:toluene. The yields ranged from 56 to 68%. 5–8 have been shown to be in cone conformation. The complexation behaviour of 5–8 towards monovalent metal picrates M⁺Pic⁻ with M⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ and divalent metal picrates M²⁺(Pic⁻)₂ with M²⁺ = Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺ are given. Tentative localisation of the metal cations in the receptors is given. The binding properties towards these cations have been determined along with stoichiometries of the complexes.     

Heat capacity,enthalpy and entropy of calcium niobates

Heat capacity and enthalpy increments of calcium niobates CaNb₂O₆ and Ca₂Nb₂O₇ were measured by the relaxation time method (2–300 K), DSC (260–360 K) and drop calorimetry (669–1421 K). Temperature dependencies of the molar heat capacity in the form C _pm=200.4+0.03432T−3.450·10⁶/T ² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for CaNb₂O₆ and C _pm=257.2+0.03621T−4.435·10⁶/T ² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Ca₂Nb₂O₇ were derived by the least-squares method from the experimental data. The molar entropies at 298.15 K, S _m⁰(CaNb₂O₆, 298.15 K)=167.3±0.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and S _m⁰(Ca₂Nb₂O₇, 298.15 K)=212.4±1.2 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, were evaluated from the low temperature heat capacity measurements. Standard enthalpies of formation at 298.15 K were derived using published values of Gibbs energy of formation and presented heat capacity and entropy data: Δ_f H ⁰(CaNb₂O₆, 298.15 K)= −2664.52 kJ mol^t-1 and Δ_f H ⁰(Ca₂Nb₂O₇, 298.15 K)= −3346.91 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Ion chromatographic method for the determination of cations of group IA and IIA in water samples, pharmaceuticals and energy drinks by non-suppressed conductometric detection

An efficient ion chromatographic (IC) method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Be²⁺ in energy drinks, pharmaceutical and drinking water samples by non-suppressed conductometric detection. The separation of ten cations including ammonium was achieved using a cation-exchange column and low conductivity mobile phase. The mobile phase consisted of tartaric acid, dipicolinic acid and boric acid. The separation of the cations was completed in less than 18 min, with a flow rate of 1.2 mL min⁻¹. The separation was not affected by the existence of cations Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Bi³⁺, Ag⁺, Fe³⁺ and Zn²⁺ in concentrations up to 20 mg L⁻¹. Using an injection volume of 20 μL the obtained detection limits were 0.003 mg L⁻¹, 0.02 mg L⁻¹, 0.01 mg L⁻¹, 0.01 mg L⁻¹, 0.10 mg L⁻¹, 0.01 mg L⁻¹, 0.02 mg L⁻¹, 0.02 mg L⁻¹, 0.003 mg L⁻¹ and 0.1 mg L⁻¹, for Li⁺, Na⁺, NH⁴⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, Be²⁺ and Ba²⁺ respectively. The intra-day repeatability (RSD%, n=5) ranged from 1.1% to 4.8%, and the inter-day (n=5) between 1.8% and 5.4% respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of various bottled and tap water, pharmaceutical preparations and energy drinks commercially available.      

Determination of soluble ions and elements in ambient air suspended particulate matter: Inter-technique comparison of XRF, IC and ICP for sample-by-sample quality control

In this paper, we describe a validation procedure for chemical fractionation analysis of elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Si, Sr, Ti and V) and soluble ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) in suspended particulate matter (PM). The procedure applies three distinct measurement techniques (XRF, IC and ICP-OES) to the analysis of individual samples. The techniques used generate different outputs at different stages in the procedure. This makes it possible to identify the contributions of specific parameters to measurement uncertainty. On this basis, we propose a scheme for controlling the analytical quality of data from individual samples in which inter-technique comparisons is used in the same way many analytical methods use surrogates. We apply this scheme to about 310 samples of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 identifying and assessing the main factors contributing to measurement uncertainty. This procedure successfully resolved a number of difficulties frequently encountered during the analysis of PM, including lack of appropriate reference materials and the low reliability of alternative techniques of quality control. The results demonstrate the critical importance of sample treatment prior to destructive analysis by IC and ICP.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the electron-transfer reactions between diaquabisethylenediaminecobalt(III) and ethylenediaminetetraacetatocobaltate(III) with promazine in acidic aqueous media

The kinetics of the electron-transfer reactions between promazine (ptz) and [Co(en)₂(H₂O)₂]³⁺ in CF₃SO₃H solution ([Co^III] = (2–6) × 10⁻³ m, [ptz] = 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ m, [H⁺] = 0.02 − 0.05 m, I = 0.1 m (H⁺, K⁺, CF₃SO ₃ ⁻ ), T = 288–308 K) and [Co(edta)]⁻ in aqueous HCl ([Co^III] = (1 − 4) × 10⁻³ m, [ptz] = 1 × 10⁻⁴ m, [H⁺] = 0.1 − 0.5 m, I = 1.0 m (H⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻), T = 313 − 333 K) were studied under the condition of excess Co^III using u.v.–vis. spectroscopy. The reactions produce a Co^II species and a stable cationic radical. A linear dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k _obs) on [Co^III] with a non-zero intercept was established for both redox processes. The rate of reaction with the [Co(en)₂(H₂O)₂]³⁺ ion was found to be independent of [H⁺]. In the case of the [Co(edta)]⁻ ion, the k _obs dependence on [H⁺] was linear and the increasing [H⁺] accelerates the rate of the outer-sphere electron-transfer reaction. The activation parameters were calculated as follows: ΔH ^≠ = 105 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS ^≠ = 93 ± 11 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for [Co(en)₂(H₂O)₂]³⁺; ΔH ^≠ = 67 ± 9 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS ^≠ = − 54 ± 28 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for [Co(edta)]⁻.     

Simultaneous multi-species determination of trimethyllead,monomethylmercury and three butyltin compounds by species-specific isotope dilution GC–ICP–MS in biological samples

An accurate and sensitive multi-species species-specific isotope dilution GC–ICP–MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of trimethyllead (Me₃Pb⁺), monomethylmercury (MeHg⁺) and the three butyltin species Bu₃Sn⁺, Bu₂Sn²⁺, and BuSn³⁺ in biological samples. The method was validated by three biological reference materials (CRM 477, mussel tissue certified for butyltins; CRM 463, tuna fish certified for MeHg⁺; DORM 2, dogfish muscle certified for MeHg⁺). Under certain conditions, and with minor modifications of the sample pretreatment procedure, this method could also be transferred to environmental samples such as sediments, as demonstrated by analyzing sediment reference material BCR 646 (freshwater sediment, certified for butyltins). The detection limits of the multi-species GC–ICP–IDMS method for biological samples were 1.4 ng g⁻¹ for MeHg⁺, 0.06 ng g⁻¹ for Me₃Pb⁺, 0.3 ng g⁻¹ for BuSn³⁺ and Bu₃Sn⁺, and 1.2 ng g⁻¹ for Bu₂Sn²⁺. Because of the high relevance of these heavy metal alkyl species to the quality assurance of seafood, the method was also applied to corresponding samples purchased from a supermarket. The methylated lead fraction in these samples, correlated to total lead, varied over a broad range (from 0.01% to 7.6%). On the other hand, the MeHg⁺ fraction was much higher, normally in the range of 80–100%. Considering that we may expect tighter legislative limitations on MeHg⁺ levels in seafood in the future, we found the highest methylmercury contents (up to 10.6 μg g⁻¹) in two shark samples, an animal which is at the end of the marine food chain, whereas MeHg⁺ contents of less than 0.2 μg g⁻¹ were found in most other seafood samples; these results correlate with the idea that MeHg⁺ is usually of biological origin in the marine environment. The concentration of butyltins and the fraction of the total tin content that is from butyltins strongly depend on possible contamination, due to the exclusively anthropogenic character of these compounds. A broad variation in the butylated tin fraction (in the range of <0.3–49%) was therefore observed in different seafood samples. Corresponding isotope-labeled spike compounds (except for trimethyllead) are commercially available for all of these compounds, and since these can be used in the multi-species species-specific GC-ICP-IDMS method developed here, this technique shows great potential for routine analysis in the future.     

Study of Complex Formation between N-Phenylaza-15-Crown-5 with Mg2+, Ca2+, Ag+ and Cd2+ Metal Cations in Some Binary Mixed Aqueous and Non-aqueous Solvents using the Conductometric Method

The complexation reactions between Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ metal cations with N-phenylaza-15-crown-5 (Ph-N15C5) were studied in acetonitrile (AN)–methanol (MeOH), methanol (MeOH)–water (H₂O) and propanol (PrOH)–water (H₂O) binary mixtures at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stochiometry of all of the complexes with Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations is 1:1 (L:M). The stability of the complexes is sensitive to the solvent composition and a non-linear behaviour was observed for variation of log K _f of the complexes versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents. The selectivity order of Ph-N15C5 for the metal cations in neat MeOH is Ag⁺>Cd²⁺>Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺, but in the case of neat AN is Ca²⁺>Cd²⁺>Mg²⁺>Ag⁺. The values of thermodynamic parameters (ΔH _c ^o , ΔS _c ^o ) for formation of Ph-N15C5–Mg²⁺, Ph-N15C5–Ca²⁺, Ph-N15C5–Ag⁺ and Ph-N15C5–Cd²⁺ complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of stability constants and the results show that the thermodynamics of complexation reactions is affected by the nature and composition of the mixed solvents.     

Computational study on the reaction mechanism of the gas-phase atom-negative ion of S?+?NO2 ?: comparative study of mechanism with S?+?O3 reaction as isoelectronic and isostructure systems

The reaction mechanism of sulfur vapor (S) with nitrite ion (NO₂ ⁻) has been investigated theoretically on the triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces (PESs). All stationary points for the title reaction have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level. The energetic data have been obtained at the CCSD(T)//B3LYP level employing the 6-311+G(3df) basis set. Five stable collision complexes, ³IN1 (S–ONO⁻), ³IN2 (cyclic SONO⁻), ¹IN1 (cis S–ONO⁻), ¹IN2 (S–NO₂ ⁻), and ¹IN3 (trans S–ONO⁻), have been considered on the triplet and singlet PESs through barrier-less and exothermic processes. By starting from these complexes, a simple mechanism has been obtained on the triplet PES while a complex mechanism has been considered on the singlet PES. The calculated results show that there are no favorable paths for the reaction of S with NO₂ ⁻ on the singlet PES. Therefore, the S + NO₂ ⁻ reaction proceeds only on the triplet PES to produce ³SO + ³NO⁻ as main products. The results from the comparative study of S + NO₂ ⁻ reaction mechanism with S + O₃ (as isoelectronic and isostructure reactions) on the singlet PES show similarities in the overall trend of reaction mechanism and atom connectivity and differences in the stability of intermediates and the energy barriers of transition states.     

A Simple Fluorometric Method Using Chlorophyll a for Determination of Hg2+ Ion

A simple and green analytical procedure based on chlorophyll a is presented for the determination of Hg²⁺ ion. Chlorophyll a was extracted and purified from the leaves of pea and is employed as a reagent for analysis of Hg²⁺ ion. It displays remarkable fluorescence emission at 674 nm when excited at 412 nm. The emission intensity decreased significantly on exposure to various concentrations of Hg²⁺ ion. This forms the basis for the determination of Hg²⁺ ion. The proposed method was evaluated for sensitivity and selectivity. The linear concentration range was found to be 2.0–10 μM with r² = 0.997 and the limit of detection for Hg²⁺ ion was 1.3 μM. Ions including Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ru³⁺, Er³⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, CH₃COO⁻ and SO₄²⁻ did not interfere with the measurement of Hg²⁺ ion even at 500-fold excess. Since chlorophyll a is widely available in the leaves of most plants, and the extraction and purification process is simple, this technique can provide an alternative, sensitive and economical way to determine Hg²⁺ ion.     

Study of kinetics,equilibrium and isotope exchange in ion exchange systems. II

The kinetics of isotope exchange in the²³⁸U(VI)-²³³U(VI)-strongly acidic cation exchanger Ostion KS system was studied in the temperature range 275–307K and for total uranium concentration 2.94·10⁻⁴–1.75·10⁻² mol·l⁻¹ in UO₂(NO₃)₂ solution. The experimental results were evaluated by means of the “two-film mass-transfer model” and by the use of Fick's diffusion equations which have been proved more suitable for the system studied than McKay's equation. The influence of the temperature was evaluated using the Arrhenius equation. The diffusion character of the process follows also from the value of the activation energy (15.12 kJ·mol⁻¹). In comparison with the UO ₂ ²⁺ ↔H⁺ ion exchange⁶ the isotope exchange studied is faster and less dependent on temperature (the activation energy is substantially lower).     

Formation of active species in spark discharge and their possible use

The chemical effects of self-sustained spark discharge with an energy per pulse of 5.9 × 10⁻² J, a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz, and a spark-gap breakdown voltage of 6 kV have been studied. The discharge generated a UV photon flux of (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10¹⁵ cm⁻² s⁻¹ with an energy density of (2 ± 0.3) × 10⁻³ J cm⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the emission spectrum maximum at 220 nm. The action of the discharge on water samples leads to a decrease in pH and to buildup of oxidizing and reducing species. The formation of HO₂^· radicals with an initial yield of (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹ has been detected in the liquid. The initial yields of acid residues (increment in [H⁺]), oxidants, and reducing agents are (5.8 ± 1.6) × 10⁻⁷, (3.3 ± 1) × 10⁻⁶, and (4.2 ± 1) × 10⁻⁷ mol equiv L⁻¹s⁻¹, respectively. The formation of NO₃⁻ and NO₄⁺ ions, nitrosamines, and organic compounds has been established.