Influence of the Excited States of Atomic Nitrogen N(<Superscript>2</Superscript>D), N(<Superscript>2</Superscript>P) and N(R) on the Transport Properties of Nitrogen. Part II: Nitrogen Plasma Properties

In this paper, the calculated values of the viscosity and thermal conductivity of nitrogen plasma are presented taking into account five (e, N, N⁺, N₂ and N₂⁺) or eight (e, N(⁴S), N(²P), N(²D), N(R), N⁺, N₂ and N₂⁺) species. The calculations are based on the supposition that the temperature dependent probability of occupation of the states is given by the Boltzmann factor. The domain for which the calculations are performed, is for p = 1 and 10 atm in the temperature range from 5,000 K to 15,000 K. Classical collision integrals are used in calculating the transport coefficients and we have introduced new averaged collision integrals where the weight associated at each interacting species pair is the probable collision frequency. The influence of the collision integral values and energy transfer between two different species is studied. These results are compared which those of published theoretical studies.     

Thermal behavior of Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> phenyl-vinyl-phosphonates under non-isothermal condition

The thermal behavior of Cd²⁺ and Co²⁺ phenyl-vinyl-phosphonates was studied using two different experimental strategies: the coupled TG-EGA (FTIR) technique by decomposition in nitrogen respectively air, and the kinetic analysis of TG data obtained in dynamic air atmosphere at four heating rates. In nitrogen two decomposition steps were observed: the loss of crystallization water, respectively the decomposition of the phenyl-vinyl radical. In air, the same dehydration was observed as the first step, but the second one is a thermooxidation of the organic radical with formation of the pyrophosphoric anion. The kinetic analysis of the TG non-isothermal data was performed by the isoconversional methods suggested by Friedman and Flynn, Wall and Ozawa, as well as by the non-parametric (Sempere-Nomen) method. All processes put in evidence in TG curves exhibit strong changes of the activation energy values with the conversion degree, which mean that these processes are complex ones. Assuming that each of these processes consists in two steps, the application of non-parametric method leads to average values of the activation energy close to the average values of this parameter obtained by isoconversional methods.     

Structure and conformational dynamics of the cyclopropanecarbaldehyde molecule in the ground (S<Superscript>b0</Superscript>) and lowest excited (T<Superscript>b1</Superscript> and S<Superscript>b1</Superscript>) electronic states

The structure and conformational dynamics of nonrigid cyclopropanecarbaldehyde (CPCA) molecule in the ground (S^b0) and lowest excited triplet (T^b1) and singlet (S^b1) electronic states were calculated using the MP2, DFT, CASSCF, CASPT2, and CCSD quantum chemical methods. According to ab initio calculations, in the S^b0 electronic state there are two symmetrical (cis and trans) conformers of the CPCA molecule. Excitation of the CPCA molecule to the ?1 and S1 electronic states causes significant structural changes: carbonyl CCHO fragment becomes nonplanar, cyclopropane fragment rotates around the C–C bond, thus changing the relative positions of the formyl and cyclopropane fragments. Using sections of the potential energy surfaces (PES) of the CPCA molecule in the T^b1 and S^b1 states, we calculated the torsion and inversion wave functions and vibrational transition energies. The results obtained suggest a strong coupling of the torsion and inversion motions in the T^b1 and S^b1 excited states.     

New gamma-ray intensities for the <Superscript>14</Superscript>N(n,γ)<Superscript>15</Superscript>N high energy standard and its influence on PGAA and on nuclear quantities

The ¹⁴N(n,γ)¹⁵N reaction is a primary γ-ray source for high energy calibration of detectors. The relative γ-ray-intensities of ¹⁵N and the relative γ-ray detection efficiency function have been simultaneously determined up to 10 MeV from γ-peak areas alone. Absolute γ-ray-intensities were obtained with proper renormalization to known absolute intensity. The influence of these new intensity values are assessed for use in PGAA. Any consistently used set of calibration intensities applied in the creation of library values and for analysis do not influence the concentrations. Contrary to this, quantities based on sums of γ-ray cross sections may provide different answers with the new ¹⁵N intensities and they give means to validate them.     

Chemometrics of the distribution and origin of <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra, <Superscript>228</Superscript>Ra, <Superscript>40</Superscript>K and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in plants near the West Macedonia Lignite Center (Greece)

Summary The distribution and origin of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ¹³⁷Cs has been investigated in trees, mosses and lichens in the basin of the West Macedonia Lignite Centre. In tree leaves ¹³⁷Cs is negligible, while the ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra concentrations are affected by the fly ash particles. Concerning ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra values of mosses and lichens, which are systematically larger than those of unpolluted areas, the application of chemometrics proved that they originate mainly from the lignite fly ash.     

Cation binding by 2<Superscript>1</Superscript>,3<Superscript>1</Superscript>-diphenyl-l <Superscript>2</Superscript>,4<Superscript>2</Superscript>-dioxo-7,10,13-trioxa-1,4(3,1)-diquinoxalina-2 (2,3),3(3,2)-diindolizinacyclopentadecaphane and its acyclic analog

The binding of cations Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, NH₄ ⁺ (group I), H⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Ga³⁺ (group II), and Ca²⁺, Pb²⁺ (group III) by 2¹,3¹-diphenyl-l ²,4²-dioxo- 7,10,13-trioxa-l,4(3,1)-diquinoxalina-2(2,3),3(3,2)-diindolizinacyclopentadecaphane (1), which contains two indolizine and two quinoxaline fragments and 3,6,9-trioxaundecanes spacer, and by its acyclic analog (2) was studied using cyclic voltammetry in MeCN/0.1 M Bu₄NBF₄. It was concluded that the ions of group I are not bound by these compounds, the ions of group II exhibit the reversible redox-switched binding by the carbamoyl groups of the quinoxaline fragments, whereas the ions of group III are bound not only by the initial compounds and radical cations 1 and 2, but also by dication 1. This binding of the Ca²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions stabilizes dication 1.     

Measurement of <Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo production cross-section from the <Superscript>100</Superscript>Mo(n,2n) reaction with quasi monoenergetic neutron based on the <Superscript>9</Superscript>Be(p,n) reaction

The production cross-section of the medical isotope, ⁹⁹Mo from the enriched ¹⁰⁰Mo(n,2n) reaction with the average neutron energies of 21.9 and 26.5 MeV has been determined for the first time by using an off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique. The average neutron energies were generated by using the ⁹Be(p,n) reaction with the proton energies of 35 and 45 MeV from the MC50 cyclotron of the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) at Seoul, South Korea. The ¹⁰⁰Mo(n,2n) reaction cross-section as a function of neutron energy was also calculated theoretically by using the computer code TALYS-1.8 and EMPIRE-3.2 Malta. The experimental results are in close agreement with the theoretical values from TALYS-1.8. However, the present data at the neutron energy of 21.9 MeV is slightly lower and at 26.5 MeV is higher than the values from EMPIRE-3.2 Malta.     

Investigation of radionuclide <Superscript>63</Superscript>Ni(II) sorption on ZSM-5 zeolite

The sorption of ⁶³Ni(II) from aqueous solution using ZSM-5 zeolite was investigated by batch technique under ambient conditions. ZSM-5 zeolite was characterized by point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) titration. The sorption was investigated as a function of shaking time, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and temperature. The results indicate that the sorption of ⁶³Ni(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite is strongly dependent on pH. The sorption is dependent on ionic strength at low pH, but independent of ionic strength at high pH values. The presence of HA/FA enhances ⁶³Ni(II) sorption at low pH values, whereas reduces ⁶³Ni(II) sorption at high pH values. The sorption isotherms are simulated by Langmuir model very well. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ∆H ⁰, ∆S ⁰ and ∆G ⁰) for the sorption of ⁶³Ni(II) are determined from the temperature dependent sorption isotherms at 293.15, 313.15 and 333.15 K, respectively, and the results indicate that the sorption process of ⁶³Ni(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite is spontaneous and endothermic.     

Hydrolytic Behavior of La<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Sm<Superscript>3+</Superscript> at Various Temperatures

The hydrolytic species of lanthanide ions, La³⁺ and Sm³⁺, in water at I = 0.1 mol·dm^?3 KCl ionic strength and temperatures of 298.15, 310.15 and 318.15 K were investigated by potentiometry. The hydrolytic species were modeled by the HySS simulation program. From the results, the hydrolytic species of each metal ion at different temperatures were calculated using the program HYPERQUAD2013. The hydrolysis constants (log₁₀ β) of [La(OH)]²⁺ and La(OH)₃ were calculated as ?8.52 ± 0.46, ?26.84 ± 0.48, and log₁₀ β values of [Sm(OH)]²⁺, [Sm(OH)₂]⁺, Sm(OH)₃ were calculated as ?7.11 ± 0.21, ?15.84 ± 0.25 and ?23.44 ± 0.52 in aqueous media at 298.15 K, respectively. The dependence of the hydrolysis constants on the temperature allowed us to calculate the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy of hydrolysis values of each species.     

Kinetic aspects of the ion-exchange reactions of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript>and Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions on the H<Superscript>+</Superscript> form of chromium hexacyanoferrate(II)

Summary This paper reports the radiochemical study of the ion-exchange of Cs⁺, Na⁺, Sr²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions with H⁺ by chromium hexacyanoferrate(II) which was prepared in a granular form using a gel method. The slow steps which determine the rate of exchange of these ions are directly proportional to the particle diameter and this is confirmed from the linearity test of Bt vs. t plots at different particle diameters. Boyed’s equation and Reichenberg’s tables were used for evaluating all the kinetic parameters. The results reveal that the effective particle radii are unchanged for both chromium hexacyanoferrate(II) dried at 60 and 120 °C. The obtained data were analyzed using McKay plots and Arrhenius equation and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, e.g., effective diffusion coefficient, activation energies and entropies of activation have been evaluated. The mobility of these ions inside the particles of chromium hexacyanoferrate(II) decrease in the order of Eu³⁺>Sr²⁺>Na⁺⊃Cs⁺.     

Calculations of IR-spectra of metastable bond isomers of ruthenium nitrosocomplexes [Ru(NO)Cl<Subscript>5</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> [Ru(NO)(CN)<Subscript>5</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> by DFT method

IR-spectra of stable and metastable isomers of ruthenium nitrosocomplexes, [Ru(NO)Cl₅]^2? and [Ru(NO)(CN)₅]^2?, have been calculated within the frames of density functional theory. Frequency assignment was refined on the base of analysis of normal vibration in internal vibrational coordinates. Calculation results confirm that spectrally observed metastable states are bond isomers with ν¹-ON and ν²-NO coordination.     

Removal of <Superscript>60</Superscript>Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions from low radioactive solutions using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Azolla caroliniana</Emphasis> willd. water fern

This study concerns the removal of the ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ β+γ-radioactive ions in Azolla caroliniana Willd. water fern. The living fern and two different types of biosorbent prepared from Azolla caroliniana were tested to remove the above-mentioned radioactive ions from dilute solutions, in the absence and in the presence of the ionic competition. Effective ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ ions removal from low radioactive wastewaters was demonstrated. The time dependent K _d (t) values were calculated from the absorption data. These results indicate that removal process achieved equilibrium in about 120 min and that it involves two steps: rapid and slow absorption; the active process (metabolic bioaccumulation on the living fern) was responsible for above one half of the total removal process. A thin layer radiochromatography study leads to the conclusion that the biochemical components in which ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ place themselves are of a polysaccharide and lipoid fractions.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H and <Superscript>7</Superscript>Li NMR in defect cobaltite Li<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>CoO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Within a temperature range of 120–330 K, ⁷Li NMR spectra in Li_0.6CoO₂ are obtained. It is shown that as the temperature increases, both smooth and stepwise variation of ⁷Li NMR contact shifts occurs. The observed effects are explained by the occupation of the excited levels of cobalt ions. The stepwise change of the resonance line width depending on the temperature is revealed. It is driven by the features of the diffusive motion of lithium ions. The calculation of the ¹H NMR line shape provides the determination of the ratio of one-, two-, and three-spin proton clusters in Li_0.6CoO₂·xH₂O.     

Interaction energies of histidine with cations (H<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>)

The imidazol side group of histidine has two nitrogen atoms capable of being protonated or participating in metal binding. Hence, histidine can take on various metal-bound and protonated forms in proteins. Because of its variable structural state, histidine often functions as a key amino acid residue in enzymatic reactions. Ab initio (HF and MP2) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) interaction with side chain of histidine. The region selectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the side of attack. In the imidazol unite of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity. The complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.     

The Association Constants of H<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">+</Emphasis></Superscript> and Ca<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">2 +</Emphasis></Superscript> with 2-Keto-D-Gluconate in Aqueous Solutions

2-Keto-D-gluconate (kG) is naturally produced in soils, sediments and rock faces through the microbial oxidation of glucose. Studies have qualitatively shown kG to enhance the dissolution of soil minerals. However, quantitative information, such as the log K values for the formation of metal–kG complexes, are not available. This paper presents the results of potentiometric titration studies that employ H⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion selective electrodes (ISEs) to determine the conditional ion association constants (log Q values) for the protonation and deprotonation of kG and the formation of Ca–kG complexes. The experimentally-determined log Q values were then converted to the corresponding ion association constants (the zero ionic strength condition; log K values) by employing a modified Davies equation for charged species and the Setchenów equation for neutral species. The log K values were determined by potentiometric titrations at constant kG concentration, varied ionic strengths, 25 or 22 ^∘C, and in the absence of CO₂. The computer model GEOCHEM-PC was used to determine the aqueous speciation of ions other than kG and the computer model FITEQL was used to estimate conditional log Q values for reactions in the various chemical models. Based on our evaluations, equilibrium constants for the following reactions were determined: H⁺+ kG^– ⇌ HkG⁰, log K_a1 = (3.00 ± 0.06), kG^–⇌ H_–1kG^2–+ H⁺, log K_a–1 = –(11.97 ± 0.41), and Ca²⁺+ kG^–⇌ CakG⁺, log K₁₀₁ = (1.74 ± 0.04).     

Study of <Superscript>63</Superscript>Ni(II) sorption on CMC-bound bentonite from aqueous solutions

Bentonite was investigated to remove Ni(II) from aqueous solutions because of its strong sorption ability. Herein, bentonite was modified with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and used as an adsorbent to remove Ni(II) from aqueous solutions. The results indicated that CMC-bentonite had higher sorption capacity than bare bentonite in the sorption of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions. Sorption of Ni(II) on CMC-bentonite was mainly dominated by ion exchange or outer-sphere surface complexation at low pH values, but by inner-sphere surface complexation or surface precipitation at high pH values. The thermodynamic data calculated from temperature dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of Ni(II) to CMC-bentonite hybrids was an spontaneous process and enhanced with increasing temperature.     

Determination of <Superscript>228</Superscript>Ra in human bone ash containing significant quantities of <Superscript>40</Superscript>K and Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

The determination of ²²⁸Ra by means of γ-spectrometry, in material containing significant quantities of ⁴⁰K and Ca²⁺ such as bone ash results in increased values of counting uncertainty and lower limit of detection (LLD) because of a significant contribution from the Compton continuum of ⁴⁰K. However, ⁴⁰K is widely removed from bone ash if ²²⁸Ra is coprecipitated with barium sulfate. As a result, the counting uncertainty and LLD are significantly reduced. A method is presented for determination of very low activity concentrations of ²²⁸Ra. Impurities introduced by precipitation are negligible when applying high resolution γ-spectrometry.     

Vibrational linestrengths for the ground and first excited electronic states of HeH<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript>

Together with recent improved potential-energy surface calculations for the ground (X) and first excited (Ã) electronic states of HeH₂ ⁺, the electric dipole moment surfaces for each state and the transition dipole moments connecting the two states were evaluated for the entire range of the energy calculations. Using these functions the linestrengths of all dipole-allowed transitions between the bound vibrational levels within each of the two states (XX) and (ÃÃ) as well as between them (ÃX) are evaluated here. These data are believed to be useful both in the experimental search for the yet unobserved molecular spectra of HeH₂ ⁺ and in evaluating theoretical rates for the radiative association or photodissociation processes involving the two lowest electronic states of the ion.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Distribution of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs, <Superscript>40</Superscript>K, <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th and <Superscript>238</Superscript>U in coastal marine sediments of Margarita Island,Venezuela

This work presents the results of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²³⁸U concentration (Bq kg⁻¹) values in coastal marine sediments collected from 38 sites along the coastline of the island of Margarita, Venezuela. The purpose was to determine baseline values for these radionuclides in surface marine sediments and to detect if there were any anomalously high concentration values. Only three of the 38 sediments analyzed had measurable values above the detection limit of 0.9 Bq kg⁻¹ for ¹³⁷Cs and the highest only being 1.4 Bq kg⁻¹. While, the concentration (Bq kg⁻¹) ranges for the primordial radionuclides, ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²³⁸U were as follows: 12.2–211.7, <1.5–9.8 and <4.4–20.7, respectively. These concentration ranges for the primordial radionuclides can be considered as baseline values for surface marine sediments for areas that are considered not polluted by man or contaminated by nature. Finally, the concentration range of ¹³⁷Cs can also be employed as baseline values, which only seem to have been the result of the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the past.     

Calculation of transport properties and intermolecular potential energy function of the binary mixtures of H2 with Ne,Ar, Kr and Xe by a semi-empirical inversion method

The present paper contains inspection of the improved corresponding states principle for transport properties of hydrogen and the binary mixtures of hydrogen with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe. The set of corresponding states parameters has been defined by a complex numerical analysis of a carefully selected body of experimental data. The obtained correlations for the reduced orientation-averaged diffusion and viscosity collision integrals are restricted to low densities in a temperature range from T = ?/k to the onset of ionization. These equations have been inverted directly to give the isotropic and effective intermolecular potential energy curve for binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe corresponding to the viscosity collision integrals. The results are then used to obtain the best Morse-Spline-Van der Waals (MSV) potential parameters. Our inverted potential energies have been compared with experimental intermolecular potentials that were obtained by molecular beam scattering and infrared spectroscopic measurements. In this research, the Chapman–Enskog and Wang Chang-Uhlenbeck-de Boer (WCUB) version of kinetic theory have been used in conjunction with our inverted potential energies to reproduce viscosity, diffusion, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusion factor of binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe in a wide temperature range for equimolar composition. As the deviation plots illustrate, our obtained intermolecular potential energies (on the basis of the algorithm presented in the inversion process) represent the low-density transport properties of binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe within their expected experimental uncertainties. Close agreement between the predicted values and the literature results of transport properties demonstrates the predictive power of the inversion scheme.