Nuclear interferences of uranium and thorium in a reactor neutron activation analysis determination of cerium using the radionuclides141Ce and143Ce

The interference contributions of uranium and thorium to the determination of cerium based on radionuclides¹⁴¹Ce and¹⁴³Ce produced by irradiation in a reactor core was determined. The values of the interference contributions for¹⁴¹Ce were 0.28±0.01 g Ce/g U and /2.01±0.05/x10^–3 g Ce/g Th, and for¹⁴³Ce 1.33±0.03 g Ce/g U and /9.0±0.2/x10^–3 g Ce/g Th.     

Characterization of airborne particulates by laser microprobe mass analysis

Summary Laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) was applied to characterize aerosol particles collected and separated from 16m to 0.06m by a low pressure cascade impactor. Positive ion LAMMA spectra showed characteristic molecular peaks such as PbCl⁺, a series of Si₂O⁺–Si₂O₄ ⁺ and NaAl₂Si₂O₂ ⁺–NaAl₂Si₂O₅ ⁺, and TiO⁺ in 0.06–0.12m, 0.5–1m and 4–8m fraction, respectively. In the negative ion LAMMA spectra, it was observed that the fragment peaks of sulfate ions were deficient above 2m and those of nitrate ions were deficient under 2m. LAMMA allows remarkable insights into the chemical nature of aerosol particles.

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Charakterisierung luftgetragener Teilchen durch Laser-Microprobe-Massenspektrometrie

Zusammenfassung Laser-Microprobe-Spektrometrie (LAMMS) wurde zur Analyse atmosphärischen Aerosols herangezogen, welches im Korngrößenbereich zwischen 16m und 0.06m mit einem Niederdruckkaskadenimpaktor fraktioniert gesammelt wurde. Positive LAMMS-Spektren zeigten charakteristische molekulare Peaks, wie etwa PbCl⁺, eine Serie von Si₂O⁺–Si₂O₄ ⁺ und NaAl₂Si₂O₂ ⁺–NaAl₂Si₂O₅ ⁺, sowie TiO⁺ in der 0,06–0,12-m,- 0,5–1–m- bzw. 4–8-m-Fraktion. In den negativen LAMMS-Spektren konnten über 2m keine Fragmentpeaks für Sulfationen, unter 2m. keine für Nitrationen beobachtet werden. LAMMS ermöglicht eine bemerkenswerte Einsicht in die chemische Natur von Aerosolteilchen.

     

New cobalt trimethylacetate complexes with pyridine

The reaction of the tetranuclear trimethylacetate complex Co₄(₃-OH)₂(-OOCCMe₃)₄(²-OOCCMe₃)₂(EtOH)₆ with pyridine in acetonitrile was studied. Two new compounds, viz., the hexanuclear cobalt(ii) complex Co₆py₄(₃-OH)₂(-OOCCMe₃)₁₀ (25% yield) and the unusual ionic compound [Co₃py₃(₃-O)(-OOCCMe₃)₆]⁺[Co₄py(₄-O)(-OOCCMe₃)₇]^– (5% yield), were prepared. The structures of the new compounds were established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Controlled-potential coulometric studies on fluoride and sulphate complexes of neptunium (VI)

Fluoride and sulphate complexing of Np(VI) has been studied by controlled-potential coulometry at a constant ionic strength. The values of ₁ ^* and ₂ ^* for fluoride complexes were found to be 9.4 and 8.9, respectively, at an ionic strength =0.5. At an ionic strength =1.0, ₁ ^* and ₂ ^* obtained were 6.6 and 10.5, respectively. Sulphate complexing of Np(VI) was studied only at an ionic strength =0.5. The value of ₁ ^* obtained was 5.6.     

Reaction of the Hexa-1,3,5-triyne Me3SiC≡CC≡CC≡CSiMe3 with Ru4(CO)13(μ 3-PPh): Parallels with the Chemistry of Alkynes and Diynes

Reaction of Ru₄(CO)₁₃(₃-PPh) (1) with the 1,3,5-hexatriyne Me₃SiCCCCC CSiMe₃ under mild thermal conditions affords initially Ru₄(CO)₁₀(-CO)₂{₄-¹,¹,²-P(Ph)C(CCSiMe₃)C(CCSiMe₃) (2), via the facile formation of a P–C bond in a manner similar to that demonstrated previously with alkynes and diynes. The 62-CVE cluster 2 readily decarbonylates to give crystallographically characterised Ru₄(CO)₁₀(-CO)(₄-PPh){₄-¹,¹,²,²-Me₃SiCCC₂CCSiMe₃} (3). Attempts to further incorporate the pendant alkyne moieties in 3 into the Ru₄ coordination environment were partially successful with Ru₄(CO)₁₀(₄-PPh)(₄-¹,¹,³,³-RC₄R') (4, R/R'=SiMe₃/CCSiMe₃) being formed as a minor product together with the unusual toluene coordinated species Ru₄(CO)₇(⁶-C₆H₅Me)(₄-PPh)(₄-¹,¹,³,³-Me₃SiC₄CCSiMe₄) (5). Cluster 3 reacts with an excess of Me₃SiCCCCCCSiMe₃ to give the open chain cluster Ru₄(CO)₉(₃-PPh){₄-²,²,⁴,⁴,-C₄(CCSiMe₃)(SiMe₃)C₄(CCSiMe₃)₃} (6).     

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.     

The Aggregation of Cyclodextrins as Studied by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy

Photon correlation spectroscopy has been used to study theaggregation processes of natural and some modified cyclodextrins (CDs) in diluted aqueoussolutions. -, -, and -CD form large, polydisperse aggregatesin water, although the aggregation capability is different depending on the macrocycle considered. -CD solutions filtered through 0.2~m give a single-modaldistribution of aggregates of 224 nm in size. The monomeric -CD can be isolated by filtering through 0.1 m. -CD displays a bimodaldistribution (monomer + aggregates) with both pore sizes. At the concentrations studied (0.012 M) the contribution in mass of the aggregates with both CDs isnegligible. -CD is much more persistent in its aggregation, even after sievingits solutions through 0.02 m filters, and time dependent. The aggregation displayed byCDs with partial substitution of the OH groups (Methyl--CD and Hydroxypropyl--CD) is much weaker, indicating the implication of the hydrophilic rims ofthe CDs in the process. High temperatures, addition of urea or electrolytes andionisation of the OH groups by raising the pH, prevent the aggregation.     

Cleavage of 1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diyne on a ruthenium-cobalt cluster: Synthesis and molecular structure of Co2Ru3(μ4−C2Ph)(μ3−C2Ph)(μ-dppm)(μ-CO)2(CO)9

The reaction between Ru₃(₃-²-PhC₂C=CPh)(-dppm)(CO)₈ and Co₂(CO)₈ afforded dark red Co₂Ru₃(₄-C₂Ph)(₃-C₂Ph)(-dppm)(-CO)₂(CO)₉, shown by an X-ray structure determination to contain a strongly twisted Co₂Ru₃ bow-tie cluster (central Co), to which two PhC₂ units derived from cleavage of the original diyne are attached. One a these is strongly interacting with four metal atoms, the other being attached in the familiar ¹,2²-mode. The dppm ligand remains bridging two of the Ru atoms.     

Simultaneous determination of cobalt,nickel and iron by multi-wavelength spectrophotometry

A method for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of cobalt, nickel and iron based on the formation of their complexes with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridylmethylene) thiocarbonohydrazide is proposed. The absorption curves of these complexes overlap severely in the scanning range 390–510 nm. The analyte concentrations are calculated by a least squares fit of the pure spectra to the mixture spectra, which therefore makes the simultaneous determination of these metallic ions possible without tedious pretreatment. The detection limits afforded by the proposed method range from 0.05 g/ml for Fe and Ni to 0.1 g/ml for Co. Root-mean-squared errors of prediction of 0.085 g/ml for Co, 0.048 g/ml for Ni and 0.1172 g/ml for Fe were obtained using the wavelength range 400–510 nm and 0.147 g/ml for Co, 0.107 g/ml for Ni and 0.127 g/ml for Fe using the wavelength range 420–434 nm. The effect of interferences is studied and the proposed method is applied to analysis for the above elements in synthetic samples and real samples, such as biological materials and alloys.     

Production of96Tc and95mTc via the93Nb(α, xn) Reactions

Relatively longer liver technetium tracers such as^95mTc (61 d) are useful for the development, evaluation and comparison of new technetium complexes for eventual development of^99mTc radiopharmaceuticals. The feasibility of producing⁹⁶Tc (4.35 d) and^95mTc (61 d) was studied by the alpha bombardment of pure Nb targets (⁹³Nb-100%).⁹⁶Tc was obtained in a yield of 30 Ci/Ah using 16 MeV alphas, but it contained significant activity of⁹⁵Tc (20 h) Relatively pure⁹⁶Tc and^95mTc was produced in yields of 18 Ci/Ah and about 1 Ci/Ah respectively with alphas of suitable energy and after allowing for suitable cooling periods after the end of bombardment (EOB).     

Chemical behaviour of helium muonide just after muon catalyzed fusion

Chemical behaviour of a helium muonide atom /He^o/ can be understood on the analogy of its hydrogen homologues, muonium /Mu/, deuterium /D^o/ and tritium /T^o/. In muon catalyzed fusion /CF/, a small fraction of negative muon in the fusion cycle sticks to helium to give proton-like He⁺ which easily picks up one electron forming He^o. The energy of He⁺ at birth is about 3.5 MeV being in a similar situation to the case of a hot tritium atom produced by /n, p/ or /n, / reaction. The reaction cross section and rate of He^o reactions are estimated.     

Fallout analysis of atmospheric water precipitations

Summary A rapid ion-exchange method for the determination of ¹⁴⁴Ce, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Sr and ¹⁴⁰Ba in 2–30 liter samples of atmospheric water precipitations is described. The samples, containing up to 300 mg of calcium, are sorbed on a specially shaped column filled with Dowex 50, X-8 or Dowex 50W, X-8. Radio-cerium and radio-caesium are stripped from the column with 0.6 M ammonium glycolate/ 0.2 M NaCl, pH 5, radio-strontium and radio-barium with 0.15 M ammonium citrate, pH 7.5. The isolated radio-nuclides are counted on a low-background beta-counter: ¹⁴⁴Ce as CeO₂, ¹³⁷Cs as Cs-dipicrylaminate, ⁸⁹Sr/⁹⁰Sr as SrCO₃, ⁹⁰Y as Y₂O₃, and ¹⁴⁰Ba as BaCO₃. The mean chemical yields amount to 95% for cerium, 85% for caesium, 95% for strontium, 95% for yttrium and 65% for barium. With parallel determinations at levels of a few picocuries, the deviations of the results from the respective mean values generally do not exceed ± 5%. With a 30 l sample the limit of detection amounts to 0.005 Ci/l for ¹⁴⁴Ce, 0.006 Ci/l for ¹³⁷Cs, 0.005 Ci/l for ⁹⁰Sr, and 0.006 Ci/l for ¹⁴⁰Ba.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird eine schnelle Ionenaustauschmethode für die Bestimmung von ¹⁴⁴Ce, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Sr und ¹⁴⁰Ba in 2–30 l Proben von atmosphärischen Wasser-Niederschlägen beschrieben. Die Proben, mit einem Calciumgehalt bis zu 300 mg, werden in eine besonders gestaltete, mit Dowex 50, X-8 oder Dowex 50 W, X-8 gefüllte Säule eingewaschen. Radio-Cer und Radio-Caesium werden mit 0,6 M Ammoniumglykolat/0,2 M NaCl, pH 5, Radio-Strontium und Radio-Barium mit 0,15 M Ammoniumcitrat pH 7,5 eluiert. Die isolierten Radio-Nuklide werden in einem Beta-Antikoinzidenzzähler gemessen: ¹⁴⁴Ce als CeO₂, ¹³⁷Cs als Cs-dipikrylaminat, ⁸⁹Sr/⁹⁰Sr als SrCO₃, ⁹⁰Y als Y₂O₃ und ¹⁴⁰Ba als BaCO₃. Die mittlere Rückgewinnung der zugesetzten Träger beträgt für Cer 95%, 85% für Caesium, 95% für Strontium, 95% für Yttrium und 65% für Barium. In Parallelbestimmungen mit Gehalten von einigen Ci/l, überschreiten die Abweichungen der Ergebnisse von den entsprechenden Mittelwerten im allgemein nicht 5%. Bei einer 30 l-Probe beträgt die untere Nachweisgrenze 0,005 Ci/l für ¹⁴⁴Ce, 0,006 Ci/l für ¹³⁷Cs, 0,005 Ci/l für ⁹⁰Sr und 0,006 Ci/l für ¹⁴⁰Ba.

     

Triiron and Triruthenium Carbonyl Clusters Bearing Bridging Long Chain Diphosphine and Capping Chalcogenido Ligands

Treatment of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with dpphSe₂ (dpph = 1,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane) in refluxing toluene in the presence of Me₃NO afforded two new compounds, Ru₃(CO)₇(-CO)(₃-Se)(-dpph) (1) and Ru₃(CO)₇(₃-Se)₂(-dpph) (2). A similar reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with dpppeSe₂ (dpppe = 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane) gave exclusively Ru₃(CO)₇(₃-Se)₂(-dpppe) (3). Treatment of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with dpphS₂ and dpppeS₂ at 110°C in the presence of Me₃NO afforded Ru₃(CO)₇(₃-S)₂(-dpph) (4) and Ru₃(CO)₇(₃-S)₂(-dpppe) (5), respectively. Reactions of Fe₃(CO)₁₂ with dpphSe₂ and dpppeSe₂, under identical conditions, afforded Fe₃(CO)₇(₃-Se)₂(-dpph) (6) and Fe₃(CO)₇(₃-Se)₂(-dpppe) (7), respectively. Compounds 1–7 were characterized spectroscopically and the molecular structures of compounds 1–4 were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The core of 1 contains an equilateral triangle of ruthenium atoms with one capping selenium, one bridging dpph, one doubly bridging carbonyl and seven terminal carbonyl ligands. Complexes 2–4 have a square-pyramidal structure with two metal and two chalcogenide atoms alternating in the basal plane and the third metal atom at the apex of the pyramid, and belong to the family of well-known nido clusters with seven skeletal electron pairs.     

Addition of HCl to a Cluster-Bound Vinylidene Ligand: Preparation and Structure of Ru5(μ3-SMe)(μ3-CMe)(μ-Cl)(μ-SMe)(μ-PPh2)2(CO)9·PhMe

Addition of aqueous HCl to Ru₅( ₃-C=CH₂)(-SMe)₂(-PPh₂)₂(CO)₁₀ afforded the structurally characterized carbyne complex Ru₅( ₃-SMe)( ₃-CMe)(-Cl)(-SMe)(-PPh₂)₂(CO)₉, formed by addition of H to the vinylidene ligand; a Cl atom bridges an Ru–Ru bond.     

The oxidative addition of diphenylphosphine and monophenylphosphine to the electron-rich rhenium-rhenium triple bond. The isolation and characterization of compounds that contain the four-center Re(μ-X)(μ-PR2)Re cluster (X=halide)

Diphenylphosphine oxidatively adds to the ReRe bonds of Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ (X=Cl or Br; dppm=Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) and Re₂Cl₄(-dpam)₂ (dpam=Ph₂AsCH₂AsPh₂) to afford the dirhenium(III) complexes Re₂(-X)(-PPh₂)HX ₃(-LL)₂. The dppm complexes have also been prepared from the reactions of Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)X ₄(-dppm)₂ with Ph₂PH, and a similar strategy has been used to prepare Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dmpm)₂ (dmpm=Me₂PCH₂PMe₂) from Re₂(-O₂CCH₃)Cl₄(dmpm)₂. Phenylphosphine likewise reacts with Re₂ X ₄(-dppm)₂ to give Re₂(-X)(-PHPh)HX ₃(-dppm)₂. An X-ray crystal structure determination on Re₂(-Cl)(-PPh₂)HCl₃(-dppm)₂ confirms its edge-shared bioctahedral structure. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 148) witha=21.699(3) Å, =84.50(4)°,V=10084(5) ų, andZ=6. The structure was refined toR=0.049 (R _w 0.069) for 5770 data withI>3.0(I). The Re-Re distance is 2.5918(7) Å. Oxidation of the bromide complex Re₂(-Br)(-PPh₂)HBr₃(-dppm)₂ with NOPF₆ produces the unusual dirhenium(III, II) cation [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]⁺ which has been structurally characterized as its perrhenate salt, [Re₂(-H)(-Br)[P(O)Ph₂]Br₂(NO)(-dppm)₂]ReO₄ · 2CH₂Cl₂. This complex crystallizes in the space group (No. 2) witha=14.187(7) Å,b=16.419(5) Å,c=16.729(5) Å, =98.76(2)°, =110.11(3)°, =104.66(3)°,V=3414(6) ų,Z=2. The structure was refined toR=0.040 (R _w =0.051) for 5736 data withI>3.0(I). The presence of a phosphorus-bound [P(O)Ph₂]^– ligand, a linear nitrosyl and a bridging hydrido ligand has been confirmed. The Re-Re distance is 2.6273(8) Å.     

Preparation and x-ray structure analysis of [Rh2Cl2(μ-CO)(μ-vdpp)2] [vdpp=H2C=C(PPh2)2]

Summary The complex [Rh₂Cl₂(-CO)(-vdpp)₂] (1) (vdpp=H₂C=C(PPh₂)₂) was prepared by reaction of [Rh₂(CO)₄-(-Cl)₂] with vdpp. When (1) is allowed to stand overnight under an atmosphere of CO without stirringtrans-[Rh₂Cl₂(CO)₂(-vdpp)₂] is formed as a red precipitate in low yields. On rapid addition of CO the tricarbonyl complex [Rh₂(CO)₂(-CO)(-Cl)(-vdpp)₂]-Cl is formed instead. The chemical behaviour of the vdpp-substituted complex (1) is very similar to that of the corresponding dppm-substituted complex [Rh₂(Cl₂-(-CO)(-dppm)₂] (dppm=H₂C(PPh₂)₂). this similarity also extends to the molecular structures of both compounds. Unit cell parameters of (1): space group Pben (Z=8),a=2344.7(5),b=1506.9(7),c=3021.6(9)pm. Rh-Rh 267.4(1) pm.     

Synthesis and Structure of the Complex [Mo3(μ3-S)(μ2-S2)3(Et2NCS2)3 +Br-

Tri-₂-disulfido-₃-thiotris(diethyldithiocarbamato)-S,S'-triangle-trimolybdenum bromide [Mo₃(₃-S)(₂-S₂)₃(Et₂NCS₂)₃ ⁺Br^- was obtained and characterized.     

Simultaneous determination of neodymium and erbium in rare earth mixture with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline and TX-100 by third-derivative spectrophotometry

The absorption spectra of 4f electron transitions of the complexes of neodymium and erbium with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of octylphenol poly(ethyleneglycol)ether have been studied by normal and third-derivative spectrophotometry. The proposed method is free of interference of other rare earths. The calibration graphs were linear up to 18 g/ml of neodymium and 21 g/ml of erbium (in the final solution). The derivative molar absorptivities are 395 l.mol^–1.cm^–1 for neodymium and 3421.mol^–1.cm^–1 for erbium. The corresponding values of Sandell's sensitivity were 0.36 and 0.49 g.cm^–1, respectively. The relative standard deviations evaluated from ten independent determinations of 2.5 g/ml of neodymium and erbium are 1.5 and 3.8% for neodymium and 1.8 and 4.1% for erbium in absence and presence of 70 g of lanthanum, respectively. The detection limits (signal to noise ratio=2) are 0.23 g/ml for neodymium and 0.30 g/ml for erbium. The method has been used for the determination of neodymium and erbium in mixed rare earths with satisfactory results.     

Microwave Spectrum and Dipole Moment of 1,3‐dioxolane in the Hindered‐Pseudorotation States v = 0, 1, 2, and 3

The microwave spectrum of 1,3dioxolane (C₃H₆O₂) in the ground and first three excited states of hindered pseudorotation was studied. The transitions corresponding to the _b, _c, and _a components of the dipole moment were identified. The spectrum was analyzed using numerical diagonalization of the effective rotational Hamiltonian for four interacting states of hindered pseudorotation. The rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, the constants of interaction between general rotation and hindered pseudorotation, and the distances between the quasidegenerate vibrational levels ₀₁ = 64840.5, ₁₂ = 122231.7 and ₂₃ = 119732.7 MHz are determined. From the Stark effect of microwave transitions, the dipole moment components (in Debye units) in the hinderedpseudorotation states v = 0, 1, 2, and 3 are determined: 0|_b|0 = 1|_b|1 = 1.22, 2|_b|2 = 1.20, 3|_b|3 = 1.21, 0|_c|1 = 0.77, 2|_c3 = 0.66, and 1|_a|2 = 0.19.     

The composition of volatile and particulate hydrocarbons in urban air

Summary The hydrocarbon composition of the particle and gas phases in the urban atmosphere has been studied by filtration and parallel adsorption on active charcoal and polyurethane foam (PUF). Gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) have been used for the analysis of the organic matter extracts obtained with each system. In the case of the particle and PUF samples these extracts were fractionated into aliphatic and aromatic compounds. This approach has allowed to identify up to 247 hydrocarbon molecules showing that C0–C5 alkylbenzenes are the major compounds in the charcoal extracts whereas C14–C23 n-alkanes, C0–C4 alkylnaphthalenes, C0–C4 alkylbiphenyls and C3–C5 alkylbenzenes are those predominantly found in the PUF materials. The particles essentially contain C17–C38 n-alkanes and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These qualitative differences are paralleled by a progressive concentration decrease from the more to the less volatile hydrocarbons. Thus, the total charcoal extracts average 80 g/m³, the PUF compounds represent 4 /m³ and the particle hydrocarbons 0.7 g/m³. These latter airborne materials are essentially composed of petrogenic residues 0.6 g/m³ (aliphatic fraction) whereas the pyrolytic PAH only involve 0.08 g/m³.