A conversion electron Mössbauer study on the photolysis of europium/III/ oxalate

The¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra were measured of surface-oxidized europium/II/ sulfate with the γ-ray transmission- and conversion electron technique. The comparison of such spectra demonstrated that the change in the oxidation state of trace amounts of europium induced by surface reactions could be characterized by the conversion electron Mössbauer technique. The photochemical reduction of europium/III/ oxalate to a Eu/II/species after irradiation with a low-pressure mercury lamp was demonstrated by means of this technique as well as ESR.     

Highly sensitive sorption-luminescence determination of trace europium with preconcentration on silica chemically modified with iminodiacetic acid

Features of a sorption-luminescence method for the determination of trace europium were studied. The method includes the preliminary sorption of europium at pH 7.1 from solutions with silica chemically modified with iminodiacetic acid, the subsequent treatment of the sorbent with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone at pH 8.0, and the measurement of the intensity of luminescence of the surface three-component europium complex at 613 nm. The effect of moisture as the quencher of luminescence of the surface europium complex was studied, and techniques for its removal were proposed. Sorption in the static mode provides the detection limit of europium of 7 × 10⁻⁵ μg/mL. The calibration plot is linear in the range of two orders of magnitude of europium concentration in solutions. The relative standard deviation in the determination of 1.5 × 10⁻² μg/mL europium is 5%. In the dynamic mode of sorption from 1000 mL of an analyzed solution with the use of sorption-desorption, the detection limit of europium of 8 × 10⁻⁷ μg/mL was attained. Original Russian Text ? R.D. Voronina, N.B. Zorov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 230–237.     

Flow-Injection Methods for Determining Europium in Mixtures of Lanthanides(III)

Possible approaches to the flow-injection determination of europium(III) in the presence of other lanthanides are studied. One of the approaches is based on the direct amperometric detection of europium(III) in a flow-injection system with a glassy-carbon electrode at a potential of –0.85 V (against a saturated calomel electrode). The linear calibration range is 5.0 × 10^–5–5.0 × 10^–4M of europium, and the limit of detection is 1.8 × 10^–5M (2.8 g/mL). The throughput capacity is 90 h^–1for a sample volume of 600 L. Another approach involves the online reduction of europium(III) to europium(II) in a flow Jones mini-reductor filled with amalgamated zinc, followed by the spectrophotometric detection of europium(II) using redox reactions between europium(II) and iron(III) in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline, molybdophosphoric acid, or Methylene Blue. In the latter case, the calibration curve is linear in the range 0–5.0 × 10^–6M europium(III), the limit of detection is 9.0 × 10^–8M (0.014 g/mL). The throughput capacity is 180 h^–1for a sample volume of 200 L. The performance parameters of the proposed flow-injection methods are estimated using the analysis of artificial mixtures and dissolved samples of samarium(III) oxide and lanthanum(III) fluoride containing europium impurities as an example.     

Eu3F4S2: Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of the mixed-valent europium(II,III) fluoride sulfide EuF2·(EuFS)2

Using the method to synthesize rare-earth metal(III) fluoride sulfides MFS (M=Y, La, Ce–Lu), in some cases we were able to obtain mixed-valent compounds such as Yb₃F₄S₂ instead. With Eu₃F₄S₂ another isotypic representative has now been synthesized. Eu₃F₄S₂ (tetragonal, I4/mmm, a=400.34(2), c=1928.17(9) pm, Z=2) is obtained from the reaction of metallic europium, elemental sulfur, and europium trifluoride in a molar ratio of 5:6:4 within seven days at 850 °C in silica-jacketed gas-tightly sealed platinum ampoules. The single-phase product consists of black plate-shaped single crystals with a square cross section, which can be obtained from a flux using equimolar amounts of NaCl as fluxing agent. The crystal structure is best described as an intergrowth structure, in which one layer of CaF₂-type EuF₂ is followed by two layers of PbFCl-type EuFS when sheeted parallel to the (001) plane. Accordingly there are two chemically and crystallographically different europium cations present. One of them (Eu²⁺) is coordinated by eight fluoride anions in a cubic fashion, the other one (Eu³⁺) exhibits a monocapped square antiprismatic coordination sphere with four F⁻ and five S²⁻ anions. Although the structural ordering of the different charged europium cations is plausible, a certain amount of charge delocalization with some polaron activity has to take place, which is suggested by the black color of the title compound. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of Eu₃F₄S₂ show Curie–Weiss behavior with an experimental magnetic moment of 8.19(5) μ_B per formula unit and a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 0.3(2) K. No magnetic ordering is observed down to 4.2 K. In accordance with an ionic formula splitting like (Eu^II)(Eu^III)₂F₄S₂ only one third of the europium centers in Eu₃F₄S₂ carry permanent magnetic moments. ¹⁵¹Eu-Mössbauer spectroscopic experiments at 4.2 K show one signal at an isomer shift of −12.4(1) mm/s and a second one at 0.42(4) mm/s. These signals occur in a ratio of 1:2 and correspond to Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺, respectively. The spectra at 78 and 298 K are similar, thus no change in the Eu²⁺/Eu³⁺ fraction can be detected.     

Reduction of Eu3 + to Eu2 + in Al-Codoped Silica Glasses Fabricated by the Sol-Gel Technique and CO2-Laser Processing

The spectroscopic properties of europium in aluminium codoped silica glasses produced by the sol-gel technique have been studied with respect to the dopant concentrations and the thermal processing applied to the samples. After thermal annealing at temperatures up to 950_°C the bright red fluorescence around 613 nm characteristic for the trivalent europium ions (Eu^{3 +}) has been observed. The lifetime was measured to be 0.1–2.4 ms depending on dopant concentrations and thermal treatment. Subsequent CO₂-laser processing in air (short time remelting) gave rise to a bright blue fluorescence consisting of two broad bands, lying around 450 and 490 nm, with their peak position depending on the ratio between the aluminium and europium concentrations. The fluorescence lifetimes were found to be shorter than 1 s. This blue fluorescence is attributed to the divalent europium ion (Eu^{2 +}), leading to the conclusion that the CO₂-laser processing of europium doped alumina-silica glasses resulted in the reduction of the trivalent to the divalent europium ion. Laser processing could therefore be a valid alternative to conventional thermal annealing for the generation of Eu^{2 +} in alumina-silica glasses.     

STUDY ON FLUORESCENCE BEHAVIOUR OF EU~(3+) CONTAINING POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)

Fluorimetry has been used to characterize ionomers synthesized by copolymerization ofmethyl mehacrylate, methacrylic acid and europium methacrylate (EMA). Under excita-tion of UV light at 375 nm no seif-quenching was found in fluorescence of EMA containingionomers at 615nm within the concentration range of 1.6×10~(-2) to 11.49×10~(-2) mol%.This means that the distance between two Eu~(3+) ions is larger than 5nm. In the sameconcentration range seif-quenching took place in europium octanoate (EOA) containingpoly(methyl methacrylate) in which EOA was doped as an additive.     

Europium Structural Effect on a Borosilicate Glass of Nuclear Interest

Short and middle range order structure of a borosilicate glass of nuclear interest doped with europium oxide was investigated in this study. Neutron diffraction and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering were used as experimental techniques. Furthermore, Reverse Monte Carlo simulation technique was also applied to build reliable atomistic models of the different glasses involved. Simulation results show that europium is more efficiently 6-coordinated in the borosilicate glasses concerned, with a Eu-O distance of 2.31 ű 0.01 Å. Partial pair distribution functions and atom count mainly indicate that europium appears in both silicate and borate environments and that ^IVB/^IIIB ratio decreases with europium oxide increase.     

Ion beam induced emissions from solid europium compounds

Impact of energetic heavy particles on europium compound surfaces gives rise to radiative optical emission from reflected and sputtered particles and from the excited states of the solid compounds. In the present paper we discuss the optical spectrum and the sputtered secondary ion mass spectrum observed when solid europium oxide (Eu₂O₃) and europium chloride (EuCl₃) are bombarded with 90 keV Ar⁺ ions from an ion accelerator. We observe the reduction reaction in solid europium chloride (EuCl₃) by bombardment with a 20 A/cm² beam of 90 keV Ar⁺ ions.     

A New Fluorimetric Reagent for Determination of Trace Amounts of Europium

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Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of europium using chlortetracycline

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric determination of europium (III) is described, based on the complexation between europium (III), and chlortetracycline (CTC) in a Tris-buffer pH 8.0 medium. The resulting yellow-coloured complex is measured at its absorption maximum of 400 nm after 100 μl of sample or standard solution containing europium (III) are injected into the merged streams of CTC and Tris-buffer solutions. Optimum conditions for determining μg amounts of europium (III) are achieved by univariate method. Various types of reactors are also investigated. It is shown that the use of a single bead string reactor gives rise to the enhancement of peak height. A linear calibration curve over the range of 0.10-0.60 μg ml⁻¹ europium (III) is established with the regression equation (n=6) Y=34.93X+0.01 and the correlation coefficient of 0.9994 is obtained. A detection limit (3σ) of 0.01 μg ml⁻¹ of europium (III) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 4.32% for determining 1.0 μg ml⁻¹ of europium (III) (n=7) are obtained. The recommended method has been applied to the quantitation of europium (III) in spiked water and stream sediment samples with average recoveries of 99.9 and 97.5%, respectively. The sampling rate is found to be 85 h⁻¹.     

Mössbauer study on the state of dispersion of Eu/II/in frozen aqueous solutions and its photooxidation to Eu/III/

Line-broadening due to paramagnetic relaxation was observed in Mössbauer spectra of Eu²⁺ in glassy frozen solutions; such broadening may be used as an indicator of the state of dispersion of europium. It was demonstrated by the Mössbauer technique that Eu²⁺ was oxidized to Eu³⁺ by photoirradiation at >300 nm and that this oxidation reaction was induced by photoexcitation of the 320-nm band of Eu²⁺.     

Luminescence Determination of Europium in High-Purity Yttrium and Gadolinium Oxides

ABSTRACT

A luminescence spectrometric method was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of europium (down to 1×10^?10 M) in high-purity yttrium and gadolinium oxides. This is based on the enhanced luminescence of europium thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)-Tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO)-Triton X-100 in the presence of terbium. The luminescence intensity is linear with europium concentration in the range 1×10^?9 to 1×10^?6 M under the recommended conditions. The optimized procedure is successfully utilized for the determination of ultratrace amounts of europium in yttrium and gadolinum oxides.     

Energy transfer between 1,3-dimethylxanthine and europium(III) in aqueous solution

Luminescence of 1,3-dimethylxanthine in solution is impaired owing to collisional deactivation by solvent molecules and matrix interferences. Energy absorbed by 1,3-dimethylxanthine has been transferred to trivalent europium which emits narrow-band radiation in a region distant from background interferences. The enhanced luminescence of trivalent europium was utilized for the determination of 1,3-dimethylxanthine in buffered aqueous solution. An analytically useful range from 1.1 × 10^?5?5.0 × 10^?4 M and a detection limit of 1.1 × 10^?5 M were obtained. The methodology for the analytical procedure was determined.     

Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Europium(III) DO3A as a Bimodal Imaging Probe

A new prototype consisting of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles decorated with europium(III) ions encapsulated in a DO3A organic scaffold was designed as a platform for further development of bimodal contrast agents for MRI and optical imaging. The USPIO nanoparticles act as negative MRI contrast agents, whereas the europium(III) ion is a luminophore that is suitable for use in optical imaging detection. The functionalized USPIO nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and TXRF analysis, and a full investigation of the relaxometric and optical properties was conducted. The typical luminescence emission of europium(III) was observed and the main red emission wavelength was found at 614 nm. The relaxometric study of these ultrasmall nanoparticles showed r₂ values of 114.8 mm ^?1_Fes^?1 at 60 MHz, which is nearly double the r₂ relaxivity of Sinerem^®.     

Cathodic europium(III) electroluminescence at an oxide-coated aluminum electrode

Electroluminescence is produced at an oxide-coated aluminum electrode during cathodic polarization of the electrode in an acetate solution containing nitrate and traces of europium(III). The europium(III) ion in the ⁵D₀ state is the emitter. Linear log-log calibration plots are obtained for the range 1 × 10^?8?1 × 10^?5 M europium(III). A mechanism for the cathodic luminescence is proposed.     

Spectral properties of Eu(III) compound with antibacterial agent ciprofloxacin (cfqH). Crystal structure of [Eu(cfqH)(cfq)(H2O)4]Cl2 · 4.55H2O

A novel europium complex of fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (cfqH) with formula [Eu(cfqH)(cfq)(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ · 4.55H₂O (1) was synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The coordination number of europium is eight and in this structure two bidentate, O,O-bonded quinolone molecules and four aqua ligands are coordinated to the metal. One molecule of quinolone is anionic whereas the other is zwitterionic. Additionally, two chloride ions are also present in the structure to compensate the charge of the europium(III) whilst disordered solvent water molecules too are present. The spectral properties (IR, Raman, luminescence) of compound 1 were studied. Analysis of the Stark structure of the luminescence spectra was carried out and the scheme of the electronically excited states and photophysical processes of compound 1 was arranged. The spectral properties show that europium–ciprofloxacin complexes could be suitable for various applications based on their solution-state stability as measured by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR.     

Preparation and Luminescence Properties of the Ternary Europium Complex Incorporated into an Inorganic/Polymer Matrix by a Sol-Gel Method

Ternary europium complexes with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) and phenanthroline (phen) were incorporated into SiO₂/polymer matrix by a sol-gel method. The gels exhibit the characteristic emission bands of europium ion. In addition, Eu³⁺ presents a longer fluorescence lifetime in gel than in the corresponding pure complex powder. Concentration effects on the luminescence intensity were investigated. The reasons that are responsible for above results are also discussed in the context.     

Kinetics of americium and europium extraction by tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene from alkaline media

Kinetics of ¹⁵²Eu and ²⁴¹Am extraction by nitrogen-bearing alkyl amino phenol oligomer YaRB and tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene TCA from carbonate-alkaline media was studied. Both extractants efficiently extract americium and europium in pH interval 12–14. The maximum of americium extraction is located at the lower values of pH, compared with europium. YaRB extracts americium and europium faster than TCA, and at the same time, americium is extracted faster than europium by both extractants. In general, thiacalixarene TCA is regarded as more efficient extractant than alkyl amino phenol oligomer YaRB.

     

Solution Chemistry of Europium(III) Aqua Ion at Micromolar Concentrations as Probed by Direct Excitation Luminescence Spectroscopy

Direct excitation europium(III) luminescence spectroscopy is used to study the speciation of aqueous europium(III) ions at micromolar concentrations and near neutral pH. The pH and concentration dependence of the europium(III) ⁷F₀→⁵D₀ excitation peak is consistent with the formation of both mononuclear and dinuclear europium(III) hydroxide complexes at pH 6.5. Luminescence intensity and lifetime quenching studies in the presence of Nd^III at pH 5.0 and 6.5 support the formation of a dinuclear complex at pH 6.5. Steady state excitation and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy are consistent with the formation of innersphere nitrate and fluoride complexes, but outersphere perchlorate and chloride complexes at pH 6.5 and 5.0.     

Synthesis of nanosize europium oxide particles by using W/O microemulsion

Europium hydroxide particles with an average diameter of 10 run and a BET surface area of 127 m2 /g have been prepared by controlled precipitation in the polyoxyethylene octylphenol (Triton X-100) (hex-anol)/cyclohexane/water microemulsion system. After calcination in air at 750℃, the obtained europium hydroxide particles were readily converted to the nanosize Eu2O3 particles with an average size of 30 nm and a high BET surface area of 36.5 m2/g.