On the determination of phosphorus via charged particle activation analysis

The application of charged particle activation analysis to the determination of phosphorus in a variety of sample materials is discussed. The activity produced via the³¹P(, n)^34mCl reaction is quantitated either nondestructively or using postirradiation radiochemical separations depending on the characteristics of the sample matrices. Corrections which are necessary for the determination of phosphorus in pure tantalum metal due to spectral interferences are discussed.     

Determination of the fission averaged cross sections of some threshold reactions induced on chlorine, potassium, and calcium, and their role in the development of self-validated methods of neutron activation analysis

The feasibility of validating data obtained in the determination of chlorine, potassium, and calcium by neutron capture activation analysis, through their determination using threshold reactions has been studied. To this purpose the authors experimentally determined the following fission neutron spectrum averaged cross sections (in mb):³⁷Cl(n,p)³⁷S, 0.234±0.015;⁴¹K(n,α)³⁸Cl, 0.740±0.044;⁴²Ca(n,p)⁴²K, 3.09±0.22;⁴³Ca(n,p)⁴³K, 2.27±0.12;⁴⁴Ca(n,p)⁴⁴K, 0.074±0.013. The application of these values to the analysis of some reference materials are presented. Also, the problem of mutual interferences has been addressed for the following pairs:³⁶S(n,Γ)³⁷S and³⁷Cl(n,p)³⁷S;³⁷Cl(n,Γ)³⁸Cl and⁴¹K(n,α)³⁸Cl;⁴¹K(n,ψ)⁴²K and⁴²Ca(n,p)⁴²K.     

Contribution a l’etude du dosage par radioactivation du soufre et du phosphore en tres faibles concentrations dans les metaux de tres haute purete (Aluminium,magnesium, cuivre,fer, nickel)

The analytical procedure for the determination of sulfur in copper by activation with thermal neutrons is given. The purifications necessary to obtain a radiochemically pure precipitate of baryum sulphate are described. The occurrence of some discrepant values in the determinations led to the observation, for the first time, of abnormally high contents of³⁵S^* at a relatively important depth in the samples of irradiated copper (as deep as about 300 μ). Therefore it is necessary to etch the samples to a depth of 300 μ at least on each surface, before doing the chemical separations. Owing to the great influence of the reaction³⁵Cl(n,p)³⁵S^*, the determination of sulfur by thermal neutrons is only possible at contents higher than 10⁻⁶, even if the chlorine concentration is very low (2·10⁻⁸ Cl introduces a correction in terms of sulfur of the order of 10⁻⁶). For sulfur contents lower than 10⁻⁶, the determination is made by irradiation in fast neutrons. The analytical procedure is described and the corrections in the presence of phosphorus and chlorine are discussed. At contents of the order of 10⁻⁸, the corrections are very small and the determination of some 10⁻⁷ of sulfur is easy. Finally, the determination of phosphorus in copper by activation in thermal neutrons is given. The chemical separations are the same as in the preceding case. Contents of the order of 10⁻⁸ phosphorus are determined without difficulty. The results of the determination of sulfur and phosphorus in many samples of copper are indicated: OFHC copper, High Purity copper (99.999%) and different samples of zone refined copper prepared at the Vitry’s Laboratory.      

Simultaneous determination of silicon and phosphorus in cast iron by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis

A fast (10 min), non-destructive simultaneous determination of silicon and phosphorus in cast iron and steel by 14 MeV neutron activation was developed. The 1.78 MeV²⁸Al activity (T=2.24 min) induced by the reaction²⁸Si(n, p)²⁸Al is counted on a NaI(Tl) detector. Two measurements are made to correct for the 1.81 MeV⁵⁶Mn activity (T=2.58 hr) from the iron matrix. However,²⁸Al is also produced via³¹P(n, α)²⁸Al. By (n, 2n) reaction, phosphorus yields also³⁰P (T=2.6 min), the 0.511 MeV annihilation radiation of which is counted by two opposite NaI(Tl) detectors in coincidence. Again, two successive coincidence measurements are carried out in order to take into account the⁵³Fe activity (β⁺; T=8.9 min) from⁵⁴Fe(n, 2n)⁵³Fe. The²⁸Al measurement is appropriately corrected via the computed phosphorus content. An oxygen flux monitor was used to normalize to the same flux. Nuclear interferences have been examined. Special attention has been paid to the presence of copper. The standard deviation for phosphorus being as high as ca. 0.09% P for a single determination, this technique can only be practical as an independent phosphorus analysis for high phosphorus cast irons. The precision on the²⁸Al measurement is 5% relative for 0.2% Si and 2.5% above 1% Si. Aspirant of the N.F.W.O.     

Determination of silicon dioxide in iron and steel-making slags and fluorspars by 14 MeV neutron activation and high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry

Silicon as silicon dioxide in iron and steel-making slags and fluorspars was analyzed by 14 MeV neutron activation high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. Silicon was detected by measuring the 1.78 MeV γ-ray of²⁸Al, the product of the²⁸Si(n, p) reaction, using a 30 cm³ coaxial Ge(Li) detector. A modified TPA method was used for the calculation.²⁸Al is also produced from phosphorus by the³¹P(n,α) reaction, and from aluminium by the²⁷Al(n,γ) reaction. The contribution from the former reaction could be corrected experimentally when the P₂O₅ content of the sample was known, while the latter reaction could be neglected in this neutron energy region. The experimental correction coefficient for phosphorus agreed well with the theoretical value calculated from the nuclear properties of silicon and phosphorus. Yields of²⁸Al from SiO₂, P₂O₅ and Al₂O₃ of the same weight percentages were calculated as 1, 0.426 (experimentally 0.44) and 0.0022, respectively. The results of this method agreed well with the results of the usual chemical methods. The limit of detection of SiO₂ in iron and steel-making slags and fluorspars was calculated as 0.07%. The coefficient of variation of repeated experiments was compared with the statistical one.     

Contribution a l'etude du dosage par radioactivation du sourfre et du phosphore en tres faibles concentrations dans les metaux de tres haute purete (Aluminium,magnesium, cuivre,fer, nickel)

The chemical separation of sulphur and phosphorus from pure iron and nickel, is described. Sulphur has been determined first by irradiation in fast neutrons, then by irradiation in mixed fast and thermal neutrons. The two methods gave two different results; so, we were led to point out the same phenomenon asJ. Le Hericy had already pointed out for the determination of sulphur in copper. We found that the abnormal amounts of sulphur came from external contamination with chlorine since sulphur is then produced by the³⁵Cl(n, p)³⁵S reaction. The diffusion of³⁵S atoms (produced on the edge of the samples) explains that the concentration of sulphur decreases from the edge to the middle of the sample. We prepared samples of iron and nickel, artificially covered with ammonium chloride, and we studied the apparent concentration of sulphur as a function of the depth in these samples. Our experiences pointed out that the contamination in sulphur yielded by the (n, p) reaction, reaches very quickly the middle of the samples. This phenomenon limits the determination of sulphur by the³⁴S(n, γ)³⁵S reaction, in nickel and iron.      

Separation of carrier free95mTc from niobium targets irradiated with alpha-particles

A^95mTc tracer with an excellent quality was prepared by a simple sublimation method after α-bombardment of niobium metal. Technetium-95m produced by the⁹³Nb(α,2n)^95mTc reaction was separated from the niobium targets in a quartz tube by heating at 1100°C in an oxygen gas flow. Technetium-95m sublimed as an oxide was deposited on the inner wall of the quartz tube outside an electric furnace, and then collected as a pertechnetate solution by washing with water. The ICP-MS analysis of the^95mTc solution revealed its excellent quality, compared to a^95mTc solution prepared from the same targets through a wet chemical separation method and a commercial^95mTc solution. With this tracer, the precision of ICP-MS analysis of⁹⁹Tc in environmental samples are highly improved.     

35Cl NQR spectra, structure, and mutual influence of substituents in the series of chlorine-containing organic compounds of pentavalent phosphorus

Regularities of transmission of the effect of equatorial and axial substituents were established for a number of chlorine-containing organic compounds of pentatalent phosphorus using³⁵Cl NQR spectra. The field constants of³⁵Cl NQR frequencies of the chlorine atoms participating in the P−Cl bond were estimated for a series of tetrahedral phosphorus ions. The³⁵Cl NQR frequencies of chlorine atoms in tetracoordinated ions of pentavalent phosphorus and in analogous isoelectronic silicon compounds are related by a linear dependence. Deceased Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 915–922, May, 1999.     

Radiochemical determination of the yields of transuranium nuclides produced from natural uranium irradiated in a reactor

Transuranium nuclides were produced by irradiating a pellet of natural uranium sulfide in the Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR). After irradiation, a successive separation of uranium, plutonium, americium and curium was carried out. The fractional concentrations of the nuclides²³⁸Pu,²³⁹Pu,²⁴⁰Pu,²⁴¹Am,²⁴³Am,²⁴²Cm and²⁴⁴Cm were determined by α-ray spectrometry, and those of²⁴¹Pu and^242mAm were estimated from the build-up of α-emitting daughters,²⁴¹Am and²⁴²Cm, respectively. As the yield of²⁴²Pu was too slight to be detected by α-counting, the neutron activation analysis of the plutonium fraction based on the²⁴²Pu(n, γ)²⁴³Pu reaction was carried out by γ-ray spectrometry, and it was shown that a few pg of²⁴²Pu could be determined. A burn-up of²³⁵U was also estimated by neutron activation analysis. The experimental results are compared with the calculated ones.     

Measurement of neutron-induced activation cross sections of lanthanum at 14.8 MeV

Cross-sections for (n,p), (n,α), (n,n′α), (n,t) and (n,2p) reactions have been measured on ¹³⁹La isotope at the neutron energy 14.8 MeV using the activation technique in combination with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. Neutrons were produced via the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction using a solid tritium–titanium target. The neutron fluences were determined using the monitor reaction ²⁷Al(n,α)²⁴Na. The neutron energy in this measurement was determined by cross section ratios for the ⁹⁰Zr(n,2n)^89m+gZr and ⁹³Nb(n,2n)^92mNb reactions. Data are reported for the following reactions: ¹³⁹La(n,p)¹³⁹Ba, ¹³⁹La(n,α)¹³⁶Cs, ¹³⁹La(n,n′α)^135mCs, ¹³⁹La (n,t)^137mBa, and ¹³⁹La(n,2p)¹³⁸Cs. The cross sections were discussed and compared with experimental data found in the literature, and with the comprehensive evaluation data in ENDF/B-VII.0, JENDL-3.3, JEFF-3.1/A, and TENDL-2008 libraries.     

13C and19F NMR study of α,β-difluorostyryl derivatives of transition metal carbonylates. A method of signal assignment based on the carbon—fluorine spin-spin coupling constants

The¹³C and¹⁹F NMR spectra ofZ- andE-isomers of β-X-substituted α,β-difluorostyrenes (X=F, Cl, CpFe(CO)₂, Re(CO)₅, Re₂(CO)₉Na) were studied. Direct and long-range (across 1–5 bonds) spin-spin coupling constants and the (¹³C−¹²C) isotope shifts in the¹⁹F NMR spectra were determined. The study of the¹³C satellites in the¹⁹F NMR spectra of substituted difluorostyrenes permitted assignment of the¹³C NMR signals of the vinylic carbon atoms. Similarly, the signals in¹⁹F NMR spectra were assigned based on coupling constants of fluorine withipso-carbon. These assignments were found to be in good agreement with the data available from the literature (X=F, Cl). The developed approach was applied to the elucidation of the structure ofZ−PhCF=CClFe(CO)₂Cp. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya. No. 8, pp. 1575–1579, August, 1998.     

Production of carrier-free radioisotopes from targets irradiated with deuterons or alpha particles in the U-120 Cracow Cyclotron

The results of experiments on the preparation of carrier-free lanthanides from some targets irradiated in the U-120 cyclotron are presented. In the reactions¹⁵¹Eu(α, n)^154m,154Tb,¹⁵¹Eu(α, 2n)¹⁵³Tb,¹⁵⁵Gd(α, 2n)¹⁵⁷Dy,¹⁶⁹Tm(α, n)¹⁷²Lu and¹⁶⁹Tm(α, 2n)¹⁷¹Lu, the isotopes^154m,154+153Tb,¹⁵⁷Dy and^172+171Lu were obtained. These were seaprated by means of ion-exchange chromatography. Part II: see Ref. 2     

Ab initio calculations ofo- andm-Cl2C6H4 molecules and their35CI NQR parameters

The MNDO andab initio (Hartree—Fock method, split 6-31G^* basis set, full optimization of geometry) calculations for theo- andm-dichlorobenzene molecules have been performed. The populations of the valent p-orbitals of the carbon and chlorine atoms have been analyzed. Estimations of the³⁵Cl NQR frequencies and the asymmetry parameters of the electric field gradient at the³⁵CI nuclei have been made. It was confirmed that these values are not determined by the contribution of the whole valent p-shell, but only by its less diffuse component.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2180–2183, September, 1996.     

Determination of phosphorus in polymers by INAA

An INAA technique employing beta spectrometry was developed for the determination of phosphorus in polymers. The (n,γ) reaction on phosphorus produces³²P, half-life 14.3 days, a pure beta emitter with end-point energy 1.71 MeV. Polymer samples in the form of powders, films and pellets are irradiated and then counted with a plastic scintillator. The beta spectrum is corrected for interferences (especially Sb, Zn and Br which are quantified by gamma spectrometry) and for energy loss in the thick sample. Samples must also be analyzed for S and Cl which cause nuclear interferences. With an irradiation time of 4 hours at a neutron flux of 5·10¹¹ n·cm^{−2 s −1}, decay time 10 days and counting time 10 minutes, the sensitivity is 520 counts/μg phosphorus and the detection limit is typically 2μg/g.     

Method for determination of silicon in plant materials by neutron activation analysis

Silicon has been found to be an essential element for the growth and development of many ecomomically important plants such as sugarcane, rice, oats, and wheat. A method is described for the quantitative determination of silicon in plant samples. Measurements were made with two Ge(Li) detectors matched with a multiplexing unit to provide a single amplified signal to a computerized analyzer system. For those materials containing greater than 0.5 weight percent silicon, the reaction²⁹Si(n, p)²⁹Al (1273 keV) provides a direct measurement of the quantity of silicon provided the irradiation is done in a special boron nitride capsule to reduce interferences from thermal neutron reactions and a correction is made for the single escape line from²⁸Al (1268 keV). For lesser quantities of silicon, a technique which utilizes the fast neutron reaction²⁸Si(n, p)²⁸Al is preferred. Corrections for the interference produced by the presence of phosphorus³¹P(n, α)²⁸Al are made by determining the phosphorus content following the instrumental analysis using a unique application of neutron activation analysis, i. e., measurement of tungsten in tungstomolybdophosphoric acid produced when molybdate and tungstate ions are added to dissolved samples of the plant material containing phosphorus. Aluminum, which may also produce an interference by thermal neutron reaction²⁷Al(n, γ)²⁸Al, is determined directly from the original activation data after subtracting out the effect of the phosphorus. Thus, three irradiations in the pneumatic sample irradiator are necessary; one short irradiation (1 min) without thermal neutron shielding, a longer irradiation (6 min) in the boron capsule, and a final irradiation of the tungstomolybdophosphoric acid provide all data required to accurately determine silicon in plant materials. A computer program has been developed that provides rapid reduction of the data in final report format. Elements such as sodium, chlorine, calcium, manganese, potassium, and magnesium extrinsic to the analysis for silicon are also determined by this method. The method has been tested on a large number of samples and reliable results are obtained with less than 0.2 g of sample. This work was supported by Grant 533 from the Michigan Memorial—Phoenix Project.     

Determination of potassium in beet by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis

The applicability of 14 MeV neutron activation analysis for the determination of K in beet has been investigated by measuring the 2.167 MeV gamma-line from the decay of³⁸gK produced in the³⁹K(n, 2n) reaction. Beet samples were treated in different solutions of KCl and HgCl₂ to study the diffusion of K⁺ ions into the beet cells. The contribution of the gamma-line to the measured peak area from³⁸Cl produced in the³⁷Cl(n, γ) reaction was found to be 1%. Results obtained by fast neutron activation analysis and by flame spectrometry have been compared, and good agreements were found.     

Rapid separation of carrier-free inorganic and organic compounds of radioiodine and astatine by high-pressure liquid chromatography

The radioisotopes¹²³I (T=13.3 h) and, potentially,²¹¹At(T=7.2 h) find increasing interest for radiopharmaceutical applications in diagnosis and therapy. They were produced via the¹²²Te(α, 3n)¹³Xe(α⁺)¹³I and the²⁰⁹Bi(α, 2n)²¹¹At processes. Fast and efficient separations of carrier-free species obtained from target processing, as well as from classical or decay-induced synthesis were archieved by means of high-pressure ion-exchange and partition chromatography. Inorganic forms (X⁻, XO ₃ ⁻ , At⁺) could be identified and separated on pretreated Aminex A 27 and A 7 resins, and biomolecules such as 5-halodeoxyuridines and-uracils on Aminex A 25 resins and Merckosorb Si 60 silica. The chromatographic methods can also be used for stability tests of radiopharmaceuticals in biochemical mixtures, notably physiological fluids.     

Oxygen and nitrogen in coal by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The feasibility of using fast neutron (14 MeV) activation analysis techniques for the determination of oxygen and nitrogen in coal has been investigated. Conditions that favor instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) include the absence of problems associated with sample dissolution and the capability of extremely rapid analyses as compared to older techniques such as the Kjeldahl method for nitrogen. Most previous oxygen determinations have been by difference after major component analyses. In the present study, oxygen was determined in sized coal and its low temperature ash (LTA) with the difference representing the organic oxygen content. Both the oxygen and nitrogen analyses employ a multiscaling technique with the former based on the¹⁶O(n, p)¹⁶N reaction, while the latter utilizes the annihilation radiation produced by the product of the¹⁴N(n, 2n)¹³N reaction. The high-energy gamma-radiation associated with the decay of¹⁶N was essentially free of spectral interferences for coal analysis, although fluorine could cause a primary interference if the F/O ratio exceeds 0.02. In the nitrogen work, experiments were performed to determine correction factors to account for the effects of the¹²C(p, γ)¹³N and¹³C(p, n)¹³N “knock-on” reactions and the³⁹K(n, 2n)³⁸K reaction which produce interfering β⁺ emitting radionuclides. Data are presented for oxygen in Western Kentucky No. 9 and No. 11 coal and coal ash and for nitrogen in eleven different coals.     

Determination of silicon in aluminium by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis

A method has been developed for determining silicon in aluminium by fast neutron activation. It is based on the separation of two gamma lines by a Ge(Li) detector: the 1.73 MeV line from the product of²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na and the 1.78 MeV line from the²⁸Si(n, p)²⁸Al reaction. In the case of aluminium-silicon alloys 100 μg silicon can be determined, with an error of 10% in an aluminium sample of 1 g. This work was supported in part by the International Atomic Energy Agency.     

On the estimation of the field constant of 35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance frequency in the series of [R1R2R3AsCl]+M? compounds

The field constant of the NQR frequency of a chlorine atom (³⁵Cl) in a series of arsenic derivatives [R¹R²R³AsCl]⁺M⁻ was estimated from correlations. The field frequency is ∼41.5±3.5 Hz cm kV⁻¹, which is nearly twice as much as that in analogous phosphorus compounds. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1758–1760, August, 2005.