Trace elements in human cancerous and healthy tissues: A comparative study by EDXRF,TXRF, synchrotron radiation and PIXE

It is known that trace elements play an important role in a number of biological processes. These include the activation or inhibition of enzymatic reactions, competition between elements and metal proteins for binding positions and modifications in the permeability of cellular membranes. These elements may also influence carcinogenic processes, thus the knowledge of trace element concentrations in healthy and neoplastic tissues might help in diagnostic and in the etiology and development of cancer.     

Evaluation of zirconium as a permanent chemical modifier using synchrotron radiation and imaging techniques for lithium determination in sediment slurry samples by ET AAS

In the present paper, lithium was determined in river sediment using slurry sampling and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) after L’vov platform coating with zirconium (as a permanent chemical modifier). The performance of this modifier and its distribution on the L’vov platform after different heating cycles were evaluated using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and imaging scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The analytical conditions for lithium determination in river sediment slurries were also investigated and the best conditions were obtained employing 1300 and 2300 °C for pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, respectively. In addition, 100 mg of sediment samples were prepared using 4.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃. The Zr-coating permitted lithium determination with good precision and accuracy after 480 heating cycles using the same platform for slurry samples. The sediment samples were collected from five different points of the Cachoeira river, São Paulo, Brazil. The detection and quantification limits were, respectively, 0.07 and 0.23 μg l⁻¹.     

Applications of synchrotron radiation in materials analysis

The synchrotron radiation (SR) emitted by circulating high-energy electrons has extraordinary properties: The light is intensive and bright, it is tunable and highly collimated, and finally, it is linearly polarized. These exceptional properties have initiated a unique revival of many spectroscopies using electromagnetic radiation. The techniques of special concern for materials analysis which are treated in this article are: X-ray absorption, reflection, fluorescence, diffraction and topography. A number of examples will be given in order to illustrate the possibilities of these techniques when SR is used.On leave of absence from Institut für Festkörperforschung, KFA Jülich, D-5170 Jülich, Federal Republic of Germany     

Applications of synchrotron radiation micro-focus techniques to the study of polymer and biopolymer fibers

Micro-X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation has been developed in recent years as a tool for the local analysis of bulk polymer and biopolymer samples. Developments in X-ray optics associated with the introduction of third generation synchrotron radiation sources now allow routine experiments at the 1 μm scale. Several experiments at the 100 nm scale have also been reported with future developments aiming for the 50 nm scale and smaller. In this review, the current state of experimental possibilities have been summarised with an emphasis on in-situ fiber scanning and deformation studies. Examples of unconventional in-situ studies such as microhardness testing or hydration by inkjet printing systems demonstrate the largely unexplored potential of micro-X-ray diffraction techniques.     

基于同步辐射X射线荧光光谱与机器学习的非靶标金属组学预测PVC纳米塑料对水稻毒性的浓度依赖性

环境中的微/纳米塑料污染引起了人们极大关注。土壤中的微/纳米塑料不可避免对植物产生影响,因此预测微/纳米塑料的植物毒性可为土壤中微/纳米塑料治理提供抓手。本文以水稻为研究对象,发展了基于同步辐射X射线荧光 (SRXRF) 光谱与机器学习的非靶标金属组学方法,以预测聚氯乙烯纳米塑料(nPVC) 对水稻的毒性。首先将水稻暴露于不同浓度(500 ppb与500 ppm) nPVC,培养35天后,收集水稻叶;其次,利用SRXRF研究暴露nPVC后水稻叶中金属组的变化;然后,利用机器学习方法区分暴露不同浓度nPVC水稻样品。对SRXRF光谱进行主成分分析 (PCA) 非监督聚类,发现500 ppm组能够良好聚类,而500 ppb组与对照组无明显差异,表明500 ppb的nPVC暴露对植物的毒性远低于500 ppm nPVC。对SRXRF全光谱,利用线性模型K近邻算法(KNN)和非线性模型支持向量机(SVM)建立预测模型,区分不同组别的准确率可达94.12%。为了提升运算速度,减少模型计算量,使用竞争性自适应加权重采样算法(CARS)挑选特征光谱建立预测模型,区分不同组别的准确率为89.51%。相对全光谱模型,特征光谱预测模型虽然预测准确率下降了4.61%,但模型输入参数减少了99.38%,因此同样具有良好潜力。本研究表明基于SRXRF和机器学习的非靶标金属组学可准确预测不同浓度nPVC对水稻金属组的干扰程度,从而反映nPVC对水稻毒性的浓度依赖性。该方法同样可用于预测其它微/纳米塑料毒性的浓度依赖性。     

Analysis of low Z elements on Si wafer surfaces with synchrotron radiation induced total reflection X-ray fluorescence at SSRL, Beamline 3-3: comparison of droplets with spin coated wafers

The unique properties of synchrotron radiation, such as high incident flux combined with low divergence, its linear polarization and energy tunability, make it an ideal excitation source for total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy in order to non-destructively detect trace impurities of transition metals on Si wafer surfaces. When used with a detector suitable for the determination of low energy radiation this technique can be extended to the detection of low-Z elements, such as Al, Na and Mg. Experiments have been performed at SSRL Beamline 3-3, a bending magnet beamline using monochromatic radiation from a double multilayer monochromator. The wafer was mounted vertically in front of the detector, which was aligned along the linear polarization vector of the incoming synchrotron radiation. This configuration allows the detector to accept a large solid angle as well as to take advantage of the reduced scattered X-ray intensity emitted in the direction of the linear polarization vector. A comparison between droplet samples and spin coated samples was done, in order to compare the capabilities of vapor phase decomposition (VPD-TXRF) with conventional SR-straight-TXRF. Detection limits in the range of 50 fg corresponding to 2E10 atoms/cm² have been obtained for Na. The spin coated samples, prepared from solutions containing an equal amount of Na, Mg and Al showed an unexpected result when performing a scan of the angle of incidence of the incoming X-rays suggesting a different adsorption behavior of the elements in a multielement solution on the wafer surface. The observation of this behavior is important because the spin coating technique is the standard method for the preparation of surface standards in semiconductor quality control. This effect could be characteristic of the Na, Mg, Al solution used, but the angle dependence of the fluorescence signal of a standard should always be investigated before using the standard for calibration of the apparatus and quantification.     

A wavelength-dispersive arrangement for wafer analysis with total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry using synchrotron radiation

Currently, the only apparent means to enhance the detection power of the TXRF technique would be to increase the intensity of the primary beam. Using synchrotron radiation, the most powerful X-ray source available, unfortunately, not only the fluorescence signal of the contaminant elements is increased, but also in equal measure, the intensities of the Si–K radiation from the wafer together with the scattered radiation. This results in an overloading of the energy-dispersive Si (Li) detector systems used hitherto, with the effect that the available primary intensity cannot be fully exploited. Wavelength-dispersive systems are free of such problems; they generate less detector background and can withstand higher count rates. Due to their small angle of acceptance, however, their detection efficiency is quite low. In this contribution we propose a wavelength-dispersive TXRF solution, which is optimized with regard to higher efficiency on the basis of large area multilayer mirrors in combination with a position-sensitive detector. The count rates in relation to energy-dispersive instruments and the energy resolution of the new system have been calculated using ray-tracing techniques.     

Analysis of mineral water from Brazil using total reflection X-ray fluorescence by synchrotron radiation

The total reflection X-ray fluorescence using synchrotron radiation (SRTXRF) has become a competitive technique for the determination of trace elements in samples that the concentrations are lower than 100 ng ml⁻¹. In this work, thirty-seven mineral waters commonly available in supermarkets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed by SRTXRF. The measurements were performed at the X-Ray Fluorescence Beamline at Brazilian National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), in Campinas, São Paulo, using a polychromatic beam with maximum energy of 20 keV for the excitation. Standard solutions with gallium as internal standard were prepared for calibration of the system. Mineral water samples of 10 μl were added to Perspex sample carrier, dried under infrared lamp and analyzed for 200 s measuring time. It was possible to determine the concentrations of the following elements: Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Rb, Sr, Ba and Pb. The elemental concentration values were compared with the limits established by the Brazilian legislation.     

Calculation of IR- and Raman-active vibrations of hexacyano complexes of Fe, Co, Mn, Cr V

A complete vibrational analysis of the hexacyano complexes of Fe^II, Co^III, Mn^II, Cr^III V^II is presented on the basis of the valence force field method. The calculated frequencies of the complexes are in good agreement with the experimental values. The direct and inverse vibrational problems are solved for all the complexes and the correct force fields obtained. In the case of [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ the direct and inverse electrooptical problem is also solved. The calculated electrooptical parameters satisfactorily describe the experimental intensities of the bands in the mid-IR region.     

Applications of synchrotron radiation in forensic trace evidence analysis

Synchrotron radiation sources have proven to be highly beneficial in many fields of research for the characterization of materials. However, only a very limited proportion of studies have been conducted by the forensic science community. This is an area in which the analytical benefits provided by synchrotron sources could prove to be very important. This review summarises the applications found for synchrotron radiation in a forensic trace evidence context as well as other areas of research that strive for similar analytical scrutiny and/or are applied to similar sample materials. The benefits of synchrotron radiation are discussed in relation to common infrared, X-ray fluorescence, tomographic and briefly, X-ray diffraction and scattering techniques. In addition, X-ray absorption fine structure analysis (incorporating XANES and EXAFS) is highlighted as an area in which significant contributions into the characterization of materials can be obtained. The implications of increased spatial resolution on microheterogeneity are also considered and discussed.     

过渡金属(Ti,Zr,Mn,Cu,Mo,Cr,Co)离子掺杂的MCM-48的合成、表征与催化性能研究

合成了掺杂Ti、Zr、Mn、Cu、Mo、Cr、和Co过渡金属离子的中介孔分子筛MCM-48.通过TEM、孔分布测试、XRD、电子能谱、红外吸收及热失重分析对掺杂的MCM-48进行结构表征,并研究了其催化性能.结果表明,掺杂Ti、Cr、Zr的MCM-48具有优良的催化性能.     

过渡金属（Cu，Fe，Mn，Co）改性高分散V2O5/TiO2作为高效NH3-SCR脱硝催化剂

选择性催化还原(SCR)是目前固定源及移动源中控制NOx排放最为有效的技术手段之一.工业上应用最广泛的商业SCR催化剂是钒基催化剂.钒基催化剂经钨(钼)改性后具有较好的活性、稳定性和抗水抗硫性能,但在应用过程中仍存在N2选择性较低、活性温度窗口(300–400 oC)较窄及高温下V2O5极易流失等不足,且钨(钼)的价格十分昂贵.因此,用廉价组分提高钒基催化剂的催化性能在实际工业应用中仍具有重要意义.研究发现,很多非贵金属(如Cu, Fe, Mn, Co, Ce, Zr, Nb, Sn, La等)都可以代替钨(钼)用来提高钒基催化剂的选择性、活性温度窗口和(热)稳定性能等.引入的金属通常以氧化物或钒酸盐形式存在,并与活性组分钒物种有很强的相互作用,从而提高钒物种的氧化还原性能及分散度,同时增大表面酸性位数量,抑制锐钛矿向金红石相转变.近年来很多研究发现,经金属改性的钒基催化剂以钒酸盐形式存在时可有效提高催化剂活性和 N2选择性,尤其可显著提高催化剂的(热)稳定性.本文采用浸渍法以廉价易得、储量丰富的过渡金属改性钒基催化剂,得到高度分散的M-V/TiO2(M = Cu, Fe, Mn, Co)脱硝催化剂.结果发现, Cu-V/TiO2和Fe-V/TiO2催化剂表现出较好的催化活性和N2选择性以及优异的稳定性和抗H2O/SO2性能,其中Cu-V/TiO2的工作温度窗口扩展到225–375oC. X射线衍射、拉曼光谱和EDX-mapping表征结果证明,钒物种及引入的金属高度分散在TiO2载体表面,并生成了钒酸盐.氢气程序升温还原结果表明,钒酸盐的形成导致钒物种的还原峰向低温区移动,有利于催化剂氧化还原性能的提升. X射线光电子能谱结果表明, Cu-V/TiO2催化剂表面具有更多的活性氧物种(Oα),且具有较强的电子间相互作用,是SCR活性提高的关键原因之一. NH3程序升温脱附和原位红外光谱实验结果表明,金属的引入可以提高酸量和酸强度; Cu-V/TiO2催化剂表面主要为Lewis酸性位,而Fe-V/TiO2催化剂表面主要为Br?nsted酸性位,两者可能导致不同的SCR反应机理,但均可以提高催化剂在高温下的N2选择性.综上所述,过渡金属改性的钒基催化剂中Cu-V/TiO2具有最好的活性和N2选择性以及较强的稳定性和抗H2O/SO2性能,可能得益于其表面更多的活性氧物种和更多更强的酸性位.     

Investigation of biodeteriorated historical textiles by conventional and synchrotron radiation FTIR spectroscopy

We have examined specimens of historical biodeteriorated cellulose textiles using synchrotron radiation and conventional source FTIR spectroscopy. The main aim of our research was to investigate structural changes caused by ageing and biodeterioration in different types of cellulose fibres. We compared the results, obtained with both methods regarding spectral quality and information obtained with each method. Additionally, we obtained mapping images of the cross sections of the investigated specimens using synchrotron FTIR in order to analyze structural changes in cross sections, caused due to biodeterioration.     

Hf, Ta, W and Re experimental L X-ray fluorescence cross-sections at 12, 13 and 14 keV with synchrotron radiation

Experimental determinations of L X-ray fluorescence cross-sections for elements with 72≤Z≤75 at 12, 13 and 14 keV were carried out with synchrotron radiation. The experimental set-up provided a linearly polarized monoenergetic photon beam producing a very low background, which improved the signal-to-noise ratio and reduced the experimental uncertainties. Results of the experimental cross-sections obtained for the L lines were grouped considering the transitions scheme, the energies of the emission lines and the detector's resolution. The data obtained were compared with theoretical ones using two different data tables. A very good agreement was found between our experimental values and the theoretical values calculated using Puri's data (X-Ray Spectrom. 22 (1993) 358–361).     

Influence of alloying platinum for the hydrogenation of chloronitrobenzene over PtM/ZrO2 catalysts with M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu

Hydrogenation of chloronitrobenzene (CNB) over PtM/ZrO₂ (M= Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) catalysts has been studied in ethanol at 303 K and normal pressure. The results show that the hydrogenetion of CNB can be carried out over PtM/ZrO₂ catalysts. The order of the hydrogenation rates of CNB is p>m>o, and the yield of chloroaniline (CAN) is p>o>m. PtFe/ZrO₂ catalysts shows the highest catalytic activity on the hydrogenation of CNB. PtNi/ZrO₂ catalyst shows good yield of CNB to CAN, and 93.3 mol% for o-CAN, 98.0 mol% for m-CAN and 98.5 mol% for p-CAN, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorption isobars of nitrogen on Ni,Co, Fe,Mn, and Cr

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Hydroxide oxidation and peroxide formation at embedded binuclear transition metal sites; TM = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co

Key steps in electro-catalytic water oxidation on binuclear Transition Metal (TM) sites are addressed. These comprise (a) two one-electron oxidation steps of TM-OH moieties to form the corresponding two TM=O oxy-groups, and (b) a chemical step whereby the two oxy-species form a TM-O-O-TM peroxy-bridge. A test rig representing a generic low crystal field oxide support is described and employed. The energetics for homo-nuclear Cr(III-V), Mn(III-V), Fe(II-IV) and Co(II-IV) sites are compared. The uniqueness of the tyrosine/tyrosyl-radical (TyrOH/TyrO˙) reference potential for driving the oxidation steps is demonstrated. The oxidation of adsorbed TM-OH moieties on binuclear Mn and Co candidates requires an overpotential of approximately 0.5 V relative to the chosen reference potential. Correspondingly, the subsequent O-O bond formation becomes strongly exothermic, of the order of 1 eV. The hydroxide oxidation steps on binuclear CrCr and FeFe systems are, in total, exothermic by 1.21 and 0.61 eV, respectively, relative to the TyrOH/TyrO˙ reference potential. Consequently, the chemical step for transforming the TM=O moieties to the peroxo species is found to be endothermic by the order of 0.7 eV. Based on these findings, a catalyst containing one TM from each class is suggested. The validity of this concept is demonstrated for the FeCo binuclear site. The results are discussed in the context of experimental observations, which display a preference for mixed oxide systems.     

Determination of Mo, Zn, Cd, Ti, Ni, V, Fe, Mn, Cr and Co in crude oil using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and sample introduction as detergentless microemulsions

A procedure to prepare crude oil samples as detergentless microemulsions was optimized and applied for the determination of Mo, Zn, Cd, Si, Ti, Ni, V, Fe, Mn, Cr and Co by ICP OES. Propan-1-ol was used as a co-solvent allowing the formation of a homogeneous and stable system containing crude oil and water. The optimum composition of the microemulsion was crude oil / propan-1-ol / water / concentrated nitric acid, 6 / 70 / 20 / 4 w/w/w/w. This simple sample preparation procedure together with an efficient sample introduction (using a Meinhard K3 nebulizer and a twister cyclonic spray chamber) allowed a fast quantification of the analytes using calibration curves prepared with analyte inorganic standards. In this case, Sc was used as internal standard for correction of signal fluctuations and matrix effects. Oxygen was used in the nebulizer gas flow in order to minimize carbon building up and background. Limits of detection in the ng g^− 1 range were achieved for all elements. The methodology was tested through the analysis of one standard reference material (SRM NIST 1634c, Residual Fuel Oil) with recoveries between 97.9% and 103.8%. The method was also applied to two crude oil samples and the results were in good agreement with those obtained using the acid decomposition procedure. The precision (n = 3) obtained was below 5% and the results indicated that the method is well suited for oil samples containing low concentrations of trace elements.     

Electronic structure and bonding of the 3d transition metal borides, MB, M=Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu through all electron ab initio calculations

The electronic structure and bonding of the ground and some low-lying states of all first row transition metal borides (MB), ScB, TiB, VB, CrB, MnB, FeB, CoB, NiB, and CuB have been studied by multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods employing a correlation consistent basis set of quintuple cardinality (5Z). It should be stressed that for all the above nine molecules, experimental results are essentially absent, whereas with the exception of ScB and CuB the remaining seven species are studied theoretically for the first time. We have constructed full potential energy curves at the MRCI/5Z level for a total of 27 low-lying states, subsequently used to extract binding energies, spectroscopic parameters, and bonding schemes. In addition, some 20 or more states for every MB species have been examined at the MRCI/4Z level of theory. The ground state symmetries and corresponding binding energies (in kcal/mol) are 5Sigma-(ScB), 76; 6Delta(TiB), 65; 7Sigma+(VB), 55; 6Sigma+(CrB), 31; 5Pi(MnB), 20; 4Sigma-(FeB), 54; 3Delta(CoB), 66; 2Sigma+(NiB), 79; and 1Sigma+(CuB), 49.     

The influence of substituting metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co and Ni) on the thermal stability of magnetite

In this paper, a systematic study on the influence of substituting metals on the thermal stability of magnetite was carried out. Six series of substituted magnetite (Fe_3?x M _x O₄, M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co and Ni) and Ti–V co-doped magnetite were prepared by a precipitation-oxidation method, followed by the characterization of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analyses. XRD patterns confirmed the formation of samples with spinel structure and XANES probed the valence and site occupancy of the substituting ions. From the TG-DSC analysis results, the substitution of Ti⁴⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ stabilizes the magnetite structure, while V³⁺ and Cr³⁺ do not show such an effect. For the thermal stability of maghemite, V³⁺ has a negative effect while the other studied ions show a positive effect. In Ti–V co-doped magnetites, the influence of Ti⁴⁺ and V³⁺ on the thermal stability of magnetite is similar to the case of their single-metal-substituted magnetites. The mechanism about the thermal stability change of magnetite by metal substitution was also discussed. The obtained results will be of high importance for the industrial applications of magnetite.