New technique to trace [<Superscript>15</Superscript>O]water uptake in a living plant with an imaging plate and a BGO detector system

Summary We present a new trial to measure real time water movement in a living plant using the positron emitting radionuclide, ¹⁵O. ¹⁵O was prepared by ¹⁴N(d,n)¹⁵O reaction and 10 ml of ¹⁵O labeled water (2 GBq) was supplied from the root of a soybean plant. To detect activity, an imaging plate (IP) as well as a BGO detector system were used. Since the half-life of ¹⁵O is extremely short, (T_1/2= 122 s), water uptake measurement was performed only for 20 minutes. In order to get [¹⁵O]waterimage, an IP was exposed to the plant for 1 minute for two times. Since the exposure to an IP requires dark condition, a BGO detector system was developed to measure [¹⁵O]waterunder light condition. A couple of BGO probes was set at the lowest stem and the gamma-rays (0.511 MeV) emitted from the radionuclide were measured through coincidence counting and compared with the radioactivity measured from an IP image. Using this system, we have found that the water uptake activity of the plant was drastically reduced under high humidity (99%) and dark condition.     

Diffusion of iodide, cesium and strontium in charnockite rock mass

Experiments have been conducted to study the diffusion of iodide, cesium and strontium ions through intact and fractured rock samples of charnockite rock formation present at Kalpakkam, India. The diffusion coefficient (D _i ) of these ions for the intact and fractured rock samples has been evaluated and is found to be ranging from 0.76·10^–14 to 6.25·10^–14 m²/s and 0.67·10^–9 to 84.6·10^–9 m²/s, respectively. The study reveals that despite the sorbing nature of Cs and Sr, these ions diffuse comparatively faster than the iodide ion (non-sorbing) through the intact and fractured rock mass. The results have been validated vis-à-vis those reported in the literature and a good agreement has been noticed. This paper deals with details of the testing methodology developed to assess the radionuclide migration as well as the rock mass suitability for safe disposal of the radioactive waste.     

Thermal Decomposition of Some Chemical Compounds Used As Food Preservatives and Kinetic Parameters of This Process

Thermal decomposition processes of selected chemicals used as food preservatives such as sodium formate, sodium propionate, sodium nitrates(V and III) and sodium sulphate(IV) were examined by the derivatographic method. Based on the curves obtained, the number of decomposition stages and characteristic temperatures of these compounds have been found. Mass decrements calculated from TG curves ranged from 28.9% for sodium formate to 77.8% for sodium nitrate(V), while sodium sulphate showed a mass increment of 5.6%. Kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E _a ), frequency factor (A ) and reaction order (n ) were calculated from TG, DTG and T curves. Sodium formate shows the highest values of E _a and A which amount to 171.7 kJ mol^–1 and 5.8⋅10¹⁴ s^–1 , respectively, while the lowest ones, E _a =28.2 kJ mol^–1 and A =3.65⋅10² s^–1 belong to sodium nitrate(V). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diffusion of iodide, cesium and strontium in charnockite rock mass

Experiments have been conducted to study the diffusion of iodide, cesium and strontium ions through intact and fractured rock samples of charnockite rock formation present at Kalpakkam, India. The diffusion coefficient (D _i ) of these ions for the intact and fractured rock samples has been evaluated and is found to be ranging from 0.76·10^–14 to 6.25·10^–14 m²/s and 0.67·10^–9 to 84.6·10^–9 m²/s, respectively. The study reveals that despite the sorbing nature of Cs and Sr, these ions diffuse comparatively faster than the iodide ion (non-sorbing) through the intact and fractured rock mass. The results have been validated vis-à-vis those reported in the literature and a good agreement has been noticed. This paper deals with details of the testing methodology developed to assess the radionuclide migration as well as the rock mass suitability for safe disposal of the radioactive waste.     

ESR determination of the rate constant for the addition of CpW(CO)3 to spin traps

Conclusions The reaction of [CpW(CO)₃]₂ with PhCH₂Cl and the decomposition of CpW(CO)₃Me were studied by ESR spectroscopy using 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyinitrobenzene (BNB) and -phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PNB) as spin traps. The rate constants for the addition of CpW(CO)₃ radicals to the spin traps at 20°C were determined by identification of the intermediate radicals in these reactions: k _ad ^BNB =6.7·10⁵-7.0·10⁵ and k _ad ^PNB =5.8·10⁴-6.1·10⁴ liters/mole · sec.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2631–2633, November, 1984.     

Determination of trace concentration of boron in ADU by the nuclear track technique

A method for the determination of boron concentration in extracted (NH₄)₂ U₂O₇·H₂O (ADU) has been used. One ml of the aqueous solution is irradiated with thermal neutrons from a 10 Ci Am/Be neutron source with a flux of 0.2·10⁵ n·cm^–2·s^–1 and thermal column in the IRT-5000 with a flux of about 10⁷ n·cm^–2·s^–1. The alpha-activity due to the reaction¹⁰B(n, )⁷Li is recorded by a CR-39 alpha track detector. After the exposure, the alpha tracks are made visible in an optical microscope at magnification of 800X by etching the detector in 6N NaOH, and the track density is determined using calibration curves of known concentrations of boron. The boron concentration of the extracted ADU was found to be 5 ppm.     

The preparation of tetracyanonickelates showing electrical conductivity

The tetracyanonickelates Ni(NH₃)₂Ni(CN)₄·1.9 H₂O (1), Ni(NH₃)_1.65(C₄H₈O₂)_0.2Ni(CN)₄·0.8 C₄H₈O₂·0.35 H₂O (2) and Ni(en)₃Ni(CN)₄·H₂O (3) exhibit, after contact with a solution of iodine (I₂/KI), appreciable weight gains. According to thermal analysis, IR spectra and chemical analysis the new products contain intercalated iodine and iodides with the highest iodine content found in the product formed from (3). The results of high frequency conductance measurements of this product showed the highest value of electrical conductivity (10^–6 S cm^–1). Other compounds show relatively low values of (10^–8–10^–11 S cm^–1).The iodine together with its iodide and polyiodide forms enters host (3) as an intercalated species. The iodide and polyiodide forms are formed during the initial redox reactions between the NH group of the ethylenediamine and the iodine.     

Simultaneous Production of 57Co and 109Cd in Cyclotron

⁵⁷Co and ¹⁰⁹Cd simultaneous production was studied, using composite targets of ^natNi and ^natAg. The targets were irradiated at the CV-28 Cyclotron, with proton beams of 24 MeV. The average production yields of ⁵⁷Co and ¹⁰⁹Cd were 1179.93 kBq/A·h, produced by direct and indirect reactions (11.31 days after the EOB) and 71.41 kBq/A·h (EOB), respectively. The chemical separation procedure was developed in order to obtain a mixed calibration source of ⁵⁷Co and ¹⁰⁹Cd, with a separation yield higher than 80%. The gamma spectroscopy technique was used for the radioactive analysis, using a HPGe detector. The stable elements were identified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.     

A sensitive method for the ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of chloride

A new method for the determination of chloride ion is based on the formation of phenylmercury(II) chloride, its extraction into chloroform and reaction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate to form phenylmercury(II) diethyldithiocarbamate. This complex has spectral maxima at 257 and 297 nm. either of which can he used for quantitative purposes. The molar absorptivities are 21.3·10³ and 6.5·10³ respectively. referred to the chloride ion. The method is especially suitable for the determination of trace amounts of chloride in aqueous solution and has been applied to samples of drinking water. Amounts of chloride in the range 0.04 0.32 p.p.m. can be determined in 250-ml aqueous samples with an average relative mean error of 12%. The method can be used also for bromide and iodide, and for organomercury(11) compounds. Interferences are minimal and the method compares favourably with the standard mercury(II) thiocyanate procedure.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of geochemical and cosmochemical samples: A fast and reliable method for small sample analysis

We have developed a fast and reliable procedure to routinely measure the abundances of up to about 35 elements even in small (<1 mg) samples. Depending on the type of samples, they are either irradiated for about 8 hours at a flux of about 2·10¹²n·cm^–2·s^–1, or up to 100 hours at a flux of about 6·10¹³n·cm^–2·s^–1. As standards, high-purity synthetic multielement standards and well-characterized geological reference materials are used. Synthetic standards are used as primary standards because they have several advantages over secondary (geological) standards. Three to four counts are done one each sample, starting 1–3 days after the end of the irradiation. We use high-purity germanium (HpGe) detectors with high efficiencies and very good energy resolution (1.6–1.8 keV at 1332 keV). To allow high throughput rates we use fast preamplifiers and gated integrator spectroscopy amplifiers with fast fixed conversion time ADCs. The signals are fed into an acquisition interface module (AIM) and via Ethernet into a Micro VAX. To allow better peak deconvolution, 8k spectra are taken where possible. A specially designed annular NaI(TI) guard detector allows Compton suppression spectrometry. The system uses standard software and was tested with sets of geological standards and has given reliable results for a wide variety of samples, e.g., cosmic spherules in the 30–200 g weight range.     

Neutron activation analysis of iron and copper at 1013–104 atoms·m−2 on silicon wafer surface

The surface concentrations of copper and iron in currently used silicon wafers are lower than 10¹⁴ atoms·m^–2. To determine such ultra-trace elements accurately by neutron activation analysis, we measured the efficiencies of a well-type Ge detector for⁵⁹Fe -rays and⁶⁴Cu annihilation -rays. We also developed methods for preparing samples for copper and iron analysis including a low-temperature silicon direct-bonding technique. We have applied these techniques to determine copper and iron on the surface of clean silicon wafers, and obtained concentrations of 10¹³–10¹⁴ atoms·m^–2.     

New Measurements Concerning a Non-Resonant Photoactivation Cross Section for 115In

In recent years, several groups have reported measurement of a finite non-resonant photoactivation cross section for ¹¹⁵In. Present evaluations of this same parameter have made use of an irradiation arrangement and detector which differ from those of other groups. Our values for the resonant and non-resonant contribution to the photoactivation cross-section are (1.6±0.3)·10^–28 cm² keV and (4.0±0.9)·10^–32 cm², respectively, comparing favourably with counterpart results by TUSTONIC et al.⁵ of (1.3±0.1)·10^–28 cm² keV and (5.5±0.8)·10^–32 cm².     

New mercury(II) and silver(I) complexes containing NHC metallacrown ethers with the π-π stacking interactions

The oligoether-linked bis-benzimidazolium salt 1,1′-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)]bis[(3-^secbutyl)benzimidazolium-1-yl]iodide (H₂L¹ · I₂), 1,1′-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)]bis[(3-ethyl)benzimidazolium-1-yl]iodide (H₂L² · I₂) and 1,1′-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)]bis[(3-^secbutyl)benzimidazolium-1-yl]hexafluorophosphate (H₂L¹ · (PF₆)₂) and their three new mercury(II) and silver(I) complexes containing NHC metallacrown ethers, HgL¹ · (Hg₂ · I₆) (1), HgL² · I₂ (2) and AgL¹ · PF₆ (3) were prepared and characterized. In the packing diagrams of H₂L² · I₂, 1, 2 and 3 benzimidazole ring head-to-tail π-π stacking interactions are observed.     

Determination of rare earth elements in phosphorites by neutron activation analysis

Fourty three phosphorite rocks from Western Iraq were analyzed for eleven REE as well as uranium by NAA using IRT Reactor with a neutron flux of 2.3·10¹³ n·cm^–2·s^–1. The gamma activity from each sample was counted with a Ge(Li) and well-type HPGe, each detector connected to an on-line computer. Uranium fission products and different reaction interferences were assessed and allowed for. The results were also checked against international reference materials.     

The calibration and response of ion-selective electrodes at low concentrations of primary ions

Electrolytic generation of ions is proposed for the preparation of standard solutions for the calibration of iodide and silver ion-selective electrodes in the concentration range 10^-4–10^-7 M. The responses of these electrodes and also the copper(II) ion-selective electrode were examined in various electrolyte solutions. The current efficiencies of the electrolytic generation of the iodide ions into the various solutions were measured coulometrically. The advantages of this newly proposed calibration technique are discussed.     

Extraction and neutron activation analysis of humic substances

Methods are described for the isolation of humaic substances from a soil samples. The produres and based on extractions with sodium hydroxide or sodium pyrophosphate. Four of the humic samples were dried and then analysed by thermal neutron activation analysis. The humic samples along with three standard rocks were irradiated for 15 hours in a flux of 10¹² n·cm^–2·s^–1. Counting was carried out using both a large volume Ge(Li) detector and a high resolution LEP detertor. Quantitative analysis was based on the known element concentrations in the standard rocks. The elements determined were Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, As, Se, Br, Mo, Sb, La, Ce, Eu, Hf, Ta, Th, and U. concentrations ranged from 0.02 ppm (La) to 7900 ppm (Fe).     

COHN analysis: Body composition measurements based on the associated particle imaging and prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis techniques

The measurement of the body’s carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N) content can be used to calculate the relative amounts of fat, protein, and water. A system based on prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA), coupled with the associated particle imaging (API) technique, is being developed for this purpose. A compact D, T neutron generator (∼10⁷ n/s output) with an internal alpha-particle detector is used. The counting system consists of 6 shielded bismuth germanate (BGO) detectors (10.2 cm × 10.2 cm × 10.2 cm) operated with fast-timing electronics to detect only gamma-rays within a 100 ns time window following a trigger pulse generated by the alpha detector. The body can be scanned from the shoulders to the knees within about 30 min, with the equivalent whole-body dose <0.4 mSv. The cumulative gamma-ray spectra in the 2 MeV to 8 MeV region is collected and analyzed for multiple peaks attributed to body C,O,H, and N. Measurement precision for each element, based on tissue-equivalent phantoms, are in the 2–5% range, which are sufficient for population studies in adults. Further improvements are needed to extend the measurements to pediatric clinical research studies.     

The behaviour of plutonium in aqueous basic media

Behaviour of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in basic media has been investigated by studying their stabilities and quantitative determination by spectrophotometry. Beer's law was found to be obeyed in the range of 1·10^–3 to 5·10^–3 M Pu(IV) at 485 nm peak with a molar absorption coefficient of 95M^–1· cm^–1 in sodium carbonate medium. In case of Pu(VI), in the same medium Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2·10^–3 to 1·10^–2M at 550 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 50M^–1·cm^–1. Distribution ratios of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) for their sorption on Al₂O₃ and Amberlyst A-26 (MP) resin from bicarbonate and carbonate media have been determined. High distribution ratios obtained indicate the feasibility of decreasing the plutonium content of basic carbonate streams in reprocessing. 10% breakthrough capacities for Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) with these exchangers during column operations have also been determined.     

Gamma-spectrometry and residual nuclide analysis of pion irradiated PbWO4 crystals

The electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS detector at CERN, Geneva will consist of PbWO₄ crystals and be exposed to a hadron flux of 10⁶ cm^-2·s^-1, mostly pions, during its operation. We have used FLUKA and DETRA codes for advance prediction of the activation of the detector. To assess the accuracy of these calculations, a small PbWO₄ crystal was irradiated in a 345 MeV/c pion beam of the PSI to a fluence of 1.6·10¹² cm^-2. The resulting activation was measured using an HPGe-detector after cooling times varying from a few minutes to 14 months. The spectra were analyzed using the SAMPO 90 code for peak search and area determination and the SHAMAN code for radionuclide identification and quantification. The spectra were extremely complex and the first ones measured not useful due to violent peak overlap and pile-up. The number of found peaks in the spectra we analyzed varied between 841 and 128 peaks depending on the cooling time. The corresponding number of nuclides identified per spectrum varied between 116 and 15. The comparisons between the predicted time-development of the nuclide composition by FLUKA/DETRA and the analyzed results show that the activities of nuclides agree excellently for the most important nuclides and very well even for the less abundant ones. The total dose rate in the vicinity of the activated crystals, including its time dependence, is very well reproduced by the FLUKA/DETRA calculations.     

An evaluation of trace element analysis in the forensic investigation of fibre samples

The use of trace element analysis in the forensic examination of fibres has been investigated. Samples of both natural and synthetic fibres have been analysed to show that it is possible to both identify and discriminate between samples that would, by present methods, be considered indistinguishable. A number of wool garments of predetermined trace element composition were sent for wear for a period of nine months. The conditions and frequency of wear and cleaning were reported to enable their effect upon the trace element composition of these garments to be determined. The wool samples were analysed by both short (30 min) and long (50 hrs) irradiations in a reactor flux of about 10¹² n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹. This permitted the concentrations of the elements such as sodium, chlorine, iodine, manganese, cobalt and chromium to be determined. Both sodium iodide and lithium drifted germanium detectors were used to measure the induced activity of the wool samples. The composition of a range of acrylic fibres from a variety of sources has also been examined using a sodium iodide detector. The concentrations of sodium chlorine, bromine, managese, copper, aluminium, titanium, indium and barium were determined in these samples.