Determination of palladium and platinum by atomic absorption

Palladium and platinum are determined by atomic absorption after fire-assay concentration into a gold bead. The limit of determination is ~0.06 ppm in a 20-g sample. Serious depressive interelement interferences are removed by buffering the solutions with a mixture of cadmium and copper sulphates with cadmium and copper concentrations each at 0.5%. Substantial amounts of Ag, Al, Au, Bi, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Te, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and the platinum metals do not interfere in the atomic-absorption determination.     

The determination of palladium by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A commercial atomic absorption apectrophotometer was used without modification to establish the most suitable operating, conditions for the determination of palladium. A study of the effect of organic solvents miscible with water, and of acids was then carried out. In general, organic solvents led to increased sensitivity. With a complex of palladium, Pd(py)₂Cl₂, in 50% ethanol, the sensitivity was also enhanced and, with a hexone solution of the complex, Pd(py)₂(SCN)₂, amounts of palladium below 2 p.p.m. could be determined.     

Local correlation measures in atomic systems

The phenomenon of electron correlation in atomic systems is examined and compared from the statistical, information theoretic, and energetic perspectives. Local correlation measures, based on the correlation coefficient, information entropies, and idempotency measure, are compared to the correlation energy density. Analysis of these local measures reveals that the chemically significant valence region is responsible for the behavior of their respective global measures in contrast to the correlation energy density which has large contributions to the correlation energy from both the core and valence regions. These results emphasize the difference in the mechanisms inherent in the different perspectives, the similarity between the statistical, information entropic, and idempotency views, and provides further evidence for the use of information theoretic based quantities in studies of electron correlation.     

Mechanism of modification by palladium in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The effects of palladium and mixtures containing palladium on the absorbance characteristics of lead, thallium, cadmium, selenium, manganese and cobalt are described. These data, together with results of scanning electron microscopy showing the distribution of palladium on the graphite surface, indicate that palladium has a physical mechanism of analyte modification. During furnace heating, the analyte dissolves in molten palladium and may combine with it chemically. However, the rate limiting step leading to atomization appears to be diffusion of the analyte from palladium. The addition of magnesium, molybdenum or powdered carbon increases the speed of diffusion by causing palladium to form smaller droplets, and hence produces sharper absorbance peaks. Palladium becomes less effective as the atomization temperature increases, because the rate of diffusion is higher. This accounts for palladium having only a small stabilizing effect on less volatile elements such as manganese and cobalt. The addition of ascorbic acid to palladium has no significant effect on its modifying properties in a dilute nitric acid matrix. Results of kinetic studies on the atomization of gold are consistent with analyte diffusion out of palladium as the rate-limiting step leading to atomization.     

Electron holography for analysis of atomic structures

The major limitation of electron microscopy can be overcome by means of electron holography; the electron wave carrying the object information is optically transferred from the electron microscope to a computer for subsequent correction of aberrations and thorough wave optical analysis.     

GaN nanowire functionalized with atomic layer deposition techniques for enhanced immobilization of biomolecules

We report the use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating as a nanobiosensor functionalization strategy for enhanced surface immobilization that may enable higher detection sensitivity. Three kinds of ALD coating films, Al(2)O(3), TiO(2), and SiO(2), were grown on the gallium nitride nanowire (GaN NW) surfaces and characterized with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and vacuum Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results from HRTEM showed that the thicknesses of ALD-Al(2)O(3), ALD-TiO(2) and ALD-SiO(2) coatings were 4-5 nm, 5-6 nm, and 12-14 nm, respectively. Results from FTIR showed that the OH contents of these coatings were, respectively, ～6.9, ～7.4, and ～9.3 times that of piranha-treated GaN NW. Furthermore, to compare protein attachments on the different surfaces, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-biotin was grafted on the OH-functionalized GaN NW surfaces through active Si-Cl functional groups. Streptavidin protein molecules were then attached to the biotin ends via specific binding. The immobilized streptavidin molecules were examined with scanning electron microscopy, HRTEM, and fluorescent imaging. Results from HRTEM and energy-dispersive X-ray revealed that the nitrogen concentrations on the three ALD coatings were significantly higher than that on the piranha-treated surface. Results from fluorescent imaging further showed that the protein attachments on the Al(2)O(3), TiO(2), and SiO(2) ALD coatings were, respectively, 6.4, 7.8, and 9.8 times that of piranha-treated surface. This study demonstrates that ALD coating can be used as a functionalization strategy for nanobiosensors because it is capable of creating functional groups with much higher density compared to widely used acid modifications, and among the three ALD coatings, ALD-SiO(2) yielded the most promising results in OH content and protein attachment.     

Synthesis and interface structures of zinc sulfide sheathed zinc-cadmium nanowire heterojunctions

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) sheathed zinc (Zn)-cadmium (Cd) nanowire heterojunctions have been prepared by thermal evaporating of ZnS and CdS powders in a vertical induction furnace at 1200 degrees C. Studies found that both the Zn and Cd subnanowires, within a single nanoheterojunction, are single-crystallines with the growth directions perpendicular to the [210] plane, whereas the sheathed ZnS is polycrystalline with a thickness of ca. 5 nm. The Zn/Cd interface structure in the ZnS sheathed Zn-Cd nanowire heterojunctions was thoroughly experimentally studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and theoretically studied using a near-coincidence site lattice (NCSL) concept. The results show that the Cd and Zn have a crystalline orientation relationship as [0001]Zn//[0001]Cd, (10(-)10)Zn//(10(-)10)Cd, (01(-)10)Zn//(01(-)10)Cd, and ((-)1100)Zn//((-)1100)Cd.     

On-line determination of trace levels of palladium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A preconcentration method is developed for the on-line determination of palladium in complex matrices with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The flow system comprised of a minicolumn filled with polyamine Metalfix-Chelamine resin which is highly selective for Pt(IV), Au(III) and Pd(II). Best preconcentration conditions are established by testing different resin quantities, sample and eluent solution volumes, and adsorption and elution steps flow rates. Sample volumes of 4.7 ml of palladium solutions resulted in an enrichment factor of twenty at the optimum hydrodynamic conditions. This value can be increased by injecting larger volumes of sample solution. The method is sensitive, easy to operate and permitted the determination of sub-mg l⁻¹ levels of palladium with a detection limit of 0.009 mg l⁻¹. The resin was used up to 60 times in consecutive retention-elution cycles without any appreciable deterioration in its performance. The applicability of this method was tested by determining the palladium content in synthetic geological samples as well as in the pellet-type used car catalyst reference material.     

Determination of palladium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy without matrix matching

A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy method for the analysis of the palladium (Pd) content in bulk pharmaceutical drug substances and their intermediates prepared in aqueous solutions is extended to samples prepared in acetonitrile (ACN) and ACN-water mixtures as well to samples prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and DMSO-water mixtures. The Pd content in samples solubilized in these solvents can be accurately determined with calibration established with standards prepared in aqueous solutions without matrix matching or using the method of standard additions. The validity of this method is demonstrated by spike recovery studies and by the agreement with results for the same samples prepared in these solvents, in concentrated nitric acid, and prepared by a microwave digestion system.     

石墨炉原子吸收法测定3-苯基丙烯酸酯类化合物中微量钯

利用高灵敏的石墨炉原子吸收法,在V(HCl):V(HNO3):V(H2O)＝5:1:94混合酸介质中测定苯基丙烯酸酯类化合物中的钯量.已纯化样品钯量的平均值是6.76 μg/g,标准相对偏差是4.8%,平均回收率为99.3%;未纯化样品钯量的平均值是121.2 μg/g,平均相对偏差是5.4%.还讨论酸介质对测定钯吸光度的影响,通过比较找到了合适的酸介质组成.     

Halo-like structures studied by atomic force microscopy

Nanometer-sized clusters of copper have been produced in a hollow cathode sputtering source and deposited on SiO_x. Halo-like structures consisting of micrometer sized protrusions in the silicon oxide surface surrounded by thin rings of smaller particles are observed. The area in between seems to be depleted of particles. We propose that the halo-like structures are a result of electrostatic forces acting between the incoming charged clusters and charged regions on the surface. A simple computer simulation supports this suggestion.     

Sensitivity enhancement by palladium addition in the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry of mercury

In graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry of mercury, addition of 50 μg ml^?1 palladium improves the peak height for 5 μg Hg ml^?1 50 times. Further addition of 20 μg ml^?1 platinum doubles the enhanced peak height. The effect is due to amalgam formation. The best sensitivity is 0.3 ng (1% absorption) and the detection limit is 0.1 ng. The method allows higher ashing temperatures than for solutions without noble metal addition and can be applied to solutions containing substantial amount of organic matter.     

浊点萃取-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定催化剂中痕量钯的研究

研究了以1-（2-吡啶偶氮）-2-萘酚（PAN）为络合剂,以非离子型表面活性刺Triton X-100为萃取剂的浊点萃取分离富集-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定痕量钯的新方法。详细考察了溶液的pH、络合剂和表面活性剂浓度、平衡温度和时间等条件对浊点萃取效果的影响。该方法对钯的检出限为30．8ng／mL,相对标准偏差（RSD）为2．1％（n=10）,回收率在97．8％-106．6％之间。可用于催化剂中Pd（Ⅱ）的测定。     

On the extended method of calculation of atomic structures

The extended method of calculation of atomic structures is characterized. This method is understood as the use of as many radial orbitals as there are electrons in the atom under consideration. The process of passing from the ordinary method of calculation to the extended one is described. In the method proposed the additional complications appear within the confines of dealing with radial variables only. The general rules for carrying out the calculations, in applying the extended method, are formulated.     

Local atomic structure of a zirconia-based americium transmutation fuel

(Zr,Y,Am)O₂ with 6 and 19 mol% Am were prepared by infiltration of americium in porous yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) beads. Samples were sintered at 1600 °C in Ar/H₂ to yield Am(III). By annealing them at 1000 °C in flowing air, the Am is oxidised to Am(IV). Both Am(III) and Am(IV) samples exhibit the presence of a single (Zr,Y,Am)O₂ phase with fluorite structure. The local atomic structure around the Zr, Y, and Am atoms is determined by EXAFS analysis. The Zr-O bond distance decreases from 2.15 to 2.12 Å with increasing Am(III) content, whereas the Y-O bond distance is independent of Am content and oxidation state. The Am(III)-O bond distance is 2.37 Å for both Am concentrations, while oxidation to Am(IV) decreases the Am(IV)-O distance to 2.28 Å, with a simultaneous expansion of the environment around the Zr atoms. The Am-O bond distances are contracted compared with the compounds Am₂Zr₂O₇ and AmO₂ and the distances expected from the ionic radii.     

Build-up algorithm for atomic correspondence between chemical structures

Determining a one-to-one atom correspondence between two chemical compounds is important to measure molecular similarities and to find compounds with similar biological activities. This calculation can be formalized as the maximum common substructure (MCS) problem, which is well-studied and has been shown to be NP-complete. Although many rigorous and heuristic algorithms have been developed, none of these algorithms is sufficiently fast and accurate. We developed a new program, called "kcombu" using a build-up algorithm, which is a type of the greedy heuristic algorithms. The program can search connected and disconnected MCSs as well as topologically constrained disconnected MCS (TD-MCS), which is introduced in this study. To evaluate the performance of our program, we prepared two correct standards: the exact correspondences generated by the maximum clique algorithms and the 3D correspondences obtained from superimposed 3D structure of the molecules in a complex 3D structure with the same protein. For the five sets of molecules taken from the protein structure database, the agreement value between the build-up and the exact correspondences for the connected MCS is sufficiently high, but the computation time of the build-up algorithm is much smaller than that of the exact algorithm. The comparison between the build-up and the 3D correspondences shows that the TD-MCS has the best agreement value among the other types of MCS. Additionally, we observed a strong correlation between the molecular similarity and the agreement with the correct and 3D correspondences; more similar molecule pairs are more correctly matched. Molecular pairs with more than 40% Tanimoto similarities can be correctly matched for more than half of the atoms with the 3D correspondences.     

Determination des structures du cyclooctadiene dichloro palladium et du cyclooctadiene-1,5 (phenyl sulfonyl methanato) chloro palladium

A crystalline derivative is formed when lithiated phenyl methyl sulfone is treated with CODPdCl₂. The X-ray structure determination is described. The anionic carbon is tetrahedral.