Characterization of a microwave microstrip helium plasma with gas-phase sample introduction for the optical emission spectrometric determination of bromine,chlorine, sulfur and carbon using a miniaturized optical fiber spectrometer

Continuous flow generation of Br₂, Cl₂ and H₂S coupled to a low-power 2.45 GHz microwave microstrip He plasma exiting from a capillary gas channel in a micro-fabricated sapphire wafer with microstrip lines has been used for the optical emission spectrometric determination of Br, Cl and S using a miniaturized optical fiber CCD spectrometer. Under optimized conditions, detection limits (3σ) of 330, 190 and 220 μg l^− 1 for Br, Cl and S, respectively, under the use of the Br II 478.5 nm, Cl I 439.0 nm and S I 469.0 nm lines were obtained and the calibration curves were found to be linear over 2 orders of magnitude. In addition, when introducing CO₂ and using the rotational line of the CN molecular band at 385.7 nm the detection limit for C was 4.6 μg l^− 1. The procedure developed was found to be free from interferences from a number of metal cations and non-metal anions. Only the presence of CO₃²⁻ and CN⁻ was found to cause severe spectral interferences as strong CN and C₂ molecular bands occurred as a result of an introduction of co-generated CO₂ and HCN into the plasma. With the procedure described Br, Cl and S could be determined at a concentration level of 10–30 mg l^− 1 with accuracy and precision better than 2%.     

Exploiting LIBS as a spectrochemical analytical technique in diagnosis of some types of human malignancies

In the present work we are presenting a detailed in vitro study of using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a quick and simple method for spectrochemical analysis to identify and characterize some types of human malignancies. This has been performed via detection of the abundance of certain elements namely calcium and magnesium in malignant tissues with respect to the non-neoplastic ones. In order to improve the performance of the LIBS technique - in particular its sensitivity, reproducibility and limit of detection - the measurements have been performed under vacuum (10⁻² Torr) and the samples were frozen down to −196 °C in a specially designed vacuum chamber. Under such experimental arrangements a pronounced enhancement has been achieved in the signal to noise (S/N) ratio of different spectral lines. Significant discriminating results have been obtained in case of breast and colorectal cancers indicating the possibility of adopting LIBS in the early detection of the malignancy as well as the identification of the severity and the grade of the disease. The present work demonstrated that future in vivo measurements are also feasible and reliable using especial endoscopic systems for delivery of laser beam and collection of the emitted plasma light.     

Physico-chemical properties of the sodium salts of some fatty acids in formamide solution in the temperature range 15–45°C

The thermal stability of some boracites, CuB₇O₁₃Cl, NiB₇O₁₃Br and FeB₇O₁₃I, was investigated using thermogravimetry in air up to 1000°, DTA in air to 1200° and evolved gas analysis in vacuum to 1200°C. Only the FeI compound showed weight loss below 1000°C. The endothermic peaks associated with melting were CuCl (1025°C), NiBr (1150°C) and FeI) (965°C). Evolved gas analysis indicated major differences in the decomposition products of the three materials.     

高温热水解离子色谱法快速同时测定粘土中的卤素

建立高温热水解分解粘土样品,离子色谱快速同时测定其中的氟、氯、溴和碘含量的方法。优化了影响粘土高温热水解的主要参数,得到以下最佳测定条件:2.0 g粘土,反应温度1000℃,停留时间10 min,样品与催化剂V2O5质量比为1∶1,空气流量90 mL/min,15 mL 5.4 mmol/L Na2CO3和5.1 mmol/L NaHCO3混合溶液为粘土释放卤素的吸收液;考察了粘土高温热水解后卤素的赋存形态。结果表明,这些卤素在吸收液中以F!、Cl!、Br!和I!形式存在,且能被离子色谱很好地分离。粘土样品较好的卤素加标回收率和较小的相对标准偏差及土壤标准物质中卤素的评估说明本方法的准确度和精密度良好。分析了4个粘土样品,氟、氯、溴和碘的检出限分别为0.030,0.043,0.09和0.13#g/g,本方法简单、可靠、低消耗和快速,每小时可分析5个样品,可同时分析粘土和其它无机基质中的氟、氯、溴和碘的含量。     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for space exploration applications: Influence of the ambient pressure on the calibration curves prepared from soil and clay samples

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for stand-off detection of geological samples for use on landers and rovers to Mars, and for other space applications. For space missions, LIBS analysis capabilities must be investigated and instrumental development is required to take into account constraints such as size, weight, power and the effect of environmental atmosphere (pressure and ambient gas) on flight instrument performance. In this paper, we study the in-situ LIBS method at reduced pressure (7 Torr CO₂ to simulate the Martian atmosphere) and near vacuum (50 mTorr in air to begin to simulate the Moon or asteroids' pressure) as well as at atmospheric pressure in air (for Earth conditions and comparison). Here in-situ corresponds to distances on the order of 150 mm in contrast to stand-off analysis at distance of many meters. We show the influence of the ambient pressure on the calibration curves prepared from certified soil and clay pellets. In order to detect simultaneously all the elements commonly observed in terrestrial soils, we used an Echelle spectrograph. The results are discussed in terms of calibration curves, measurement precision, plasma light collection system efficiency and matrix effects.     

便携式激光诱导击穿光谱仪测定土壤中重金属

土壤重金属污染对农作物生长和人体健康都有严重危害,现场快速检测对土壤重金属污染调查、应急监测具有重要意义。采用自主研发的土壤重金属激光诱导击穿光谱现场快速检测仪对矿区周边土壤进行现场检测分析,以835个不同基质土壤的光谱数据建立定标数据库,通过支持向量机建立回归模型对土壤重金属元素含量进行定量反演。现场检测获取的全波段光谱波动在15%以内,Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn等6种元素光谱强度相对标准偏差平均值为6.31%。将检测结果与实验室电感耦合等离子体质谱法分析对比,6种元素的皮尔逊相关系数r在0.850 1～0.982 9,检测结果80%以上处于±30%相对误差区间分布。对比结果表明自主研发的土壤重金属激光诱导击穿光谱现场检测仪可以满足现场快速检测需求。     

Prediction of new halo-elpasolites

We predicted elpasolites having the composition A₂BCHal₆ (A and C stand for different monovalent metals; B stands for trivalent metals; and Hal for F, Cl, or Br) that have not been obtained yet. Prediction was based on the data on properties of elements and simple halides only. The computations were carried out using specialized software for computer-assisted data analysis relying on the precedent-based pattern recognition method.     

Simultaneous determination of bromine and chlorine in coal using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct solid sample analysis

A new method for the direct analysis of coal using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct solid sample analysis was developed, aiming at the determination of Br and Cl. The procedure does not require any significant sample pretreatment and allows simultaneous determination of both elements to be carried out, requiring small mass aliquots of sample (about 0.5 mg). All operating parameters, including carrier gas flow-rate and RF power, were optimized for maximum sensitivity. The use of modifiers/aerosol carriers (Pd, Pd + Al and Pd + Ca) was evaluated, and the mixture of Pd and Ca was chosen, allowing pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures of 700 °C and 1900 °C, respectively. Chlorine was accurately determined using calibration against solid standards, whereas Br could also be determined using calibration against aqueous standard solutions. The limits of quantification were 0.03 μg g⁻¹ for Br and 7 μg g⁻¹ for Cl, and no spectral interferences were observed.     

Physical and chemical forms of radionuclides of 38S, 38Cl, 39Cl, and 82Br, produced at a high-energy proton accelerator facility

High-energy protons and neutrons produce various radionuclides in the air, mainly through the nuclear spallation of atmospheric elements. Air samples were collected from the EP-2 tunnel of the KEK 12 GeV proton synchrotron facility with a filter pack, which consisted of a membrane filter for aerosols, a Na₂CO₃-impregnated filter for acidic gases, and an activated carbon fiber filter for non-acidic gases. Sulfur-38 was found on the membrane and Na₂CO₃-impregnated filters, ³⁸Cl and ³⁹Cl were on the membrane, Na₂CO₃-impregnated, and ACF filters, and ⁸²Br was only on the ACF filter. The results on the relative abundances of aerosol and gaseous acidic components have indicated that ³⁸Cl produced by thermal neutron capture, which is the main reaction for ³⁸Cl production in the EP-2 tunnel air, are likely not to be present as aerosol or acidic gas. This was similar to the case of ⁸²Br produced by thermal neutron capture.     

A search for losses of chemical elements during freeze-drying of biological materials

Possible losses of seven chemical elements were investigated in biological tissues during freeze-drying in vacuum. Thyroid glands were taken during post-mortem examination of 23 people died of different diseases. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used to estimate contents of Br, Ca, Cl, I, K, Mg, and Na. The nuclear reator vertical channel with flux density of 1.2·10¹³n·cm^–2·s^–1 was used for neutron irradiation. The analysis was carried out using short-lived radionuclides induced in samples after neutron irradiation. Then thyroids were freeze-dried at below 0 °C in vaccum up to the constant mass (lyophilisation) and then homogenized. Samples of lyophilised and homogenized tissues were again studied by INAA. The lack of difference between the results of the analysis before and after lyophilisation is an evedence of no loss of Br, Ca, Cl, I, K, Mg and Na during freeze-drying of biotissues in vaccum.     

Vibrational spectroscopic properties of botallackite-structure basic copper halides

Mid-infrared (4000-400 cm⁻¹) absorption and Raman (4000-95 cm⁻¹) spectra of the series of geometrically frustrated materials, botallackite-structure basic copper halides, α-Cu₂(OH)₃Cl and α-Cu₂(OH)₃Br polycrystalline samples were first, to the best of our knowledge, measured, respectively, to study the corresponding relationship between their vibrational spectral properties and crystal microstructures. Through the comparative analysis to the four spectra, the authors have definitely assigned or tentatively suggested the vibrational modes of hydroxyl groups in the trimeric hydrogen bond environment (OH)₃ Cl/Br, and atomic units O-Cu-O, Cu-O and Cl/Br-Cu-Cl/Br, etc. These results can be propitious to the low temperature spectral property of α-Cu₂(OH)₃Cl and α-Cu₂(OH)₃Br which must help to understand the underlying physics of their exotic geometric frustration phenomena at low temperatures.     

Fast decomposition of biological and other materials for radiochemical activation analysis: A radiochemical study of element recoveries following alkaline-oxidative fusion

Recoveries of selected elements were studied for fast decomposition of biological and other materials using alkaline-oxidative fusion in a mixture of NaOH and Na₂O₂ at 850–900 °C. The procedure yields total mineralization of samples within 2 to 3 minutes. It is especially suitable in radiochemical activation analysis (RAA) for the determination of elements forming short-lived radionuclides. Recoveries of the elements F, Si, S, Cl, Ti, V, Mn, Ge, As, Br, Mo, Ru, In, Sb, I, Re, Os, and U determined using radiotracers were in the range 95–100%, while those for Se and Hg were significantly lower and highly variable.     

Determination of Bromide,Chloride, and Fluoride in Cigarette Tobacco by Ion Chromatography after Microwave-Induced Combustion

A microwave-induced combustion (MIC) method was applied for cigarette tobacco digestion and further determination of bromide (Br), chloride (Cl), and fluoride (F) by ion chromatography (IC). Samples (up to 500 mg) were combusted at 20 bar of oxygen. Combustion was complete in less than 30 s, and analytes were absorbed in (NH₄)₂CO₃ solutions. A reflux step, not available in other systems, was applied to improve analyte absorption. Absorbing solution with 50 mmol L^?1(NH₄)₂CO₃ was selected because it showed recovery close to 100% for samples containing spikes of halogens. Accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials and the agreement was better than 97% for all analytes using 50 mmol L^?1 (NH₄)₂CO₃ as absorbing solution and 5 min of reflux. Temperature during combustion was higher than 1400°C and the residual carbon content was always lower than 1%. With the use of the MIC system, up to eight samples could be processed simultaneously, and a single absorbing solution was suitable for all analytes. Limits of quantification by MIC and further IC determination were 0.50, 0.20, and 0.10 µg g^?1 for Br, Cl, and F, respectively.     

An FTIR study of the Cl atom-initiated oxidation of CH2Cl2 and CH3Cl

The Cl atom-initiated oxidation of CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃Cl was studied using the FTIR method in the photolysis of mixtures typically containing Cl₂ and the chlorinated methanes at 1 torr each in 700 torr air. The results obtained from product analysis were in general agreement with those reported by Sanhueza and Heicklen. The relative rate constant for the Cl atom reactions of CH₂Cl₂ and CH₃Cl was determined to be k(Cl +CH₃Cl)/k(Cl + CH₂Cl₂) = 1.31 ± 0.14 (2σ) at 298 ± 2 K.     

Vertical ionization energies of halogen anions in solution

Based on the constrained equilibrium state theory, the nonequilibrium solvation energy is derived in the framework of the continuum model. The formula for spectral shift and vertical ionization energy are deduced for a single sphere cavity with the point charge assumption. The new model is adopted to investigate the vertical ionization for halogen atomic and molecular anions X^? (X = Cl, Br, I, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂) in aqueous solution. According to the calculation using the CCSD-t/aug-cc-pVQZ method in vacuum, our final estimated vertical ionization energies in solution are very close to the experimental observations, while the traditional nonequilibrium solvation theory overestimates these vertical ionization energies.     

Study of phase transformation in iron oxides using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Synthetic magnetite (Fe₃O₄) was heated in air at 200–500 °C for different time periods to study its phase transformation to maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to take the spectra of these samples which were then compared to the spectra of standard iron oxide powders using linear correlation. The linear correlation procedure used showed probabilities of identification close to unity. Complementary techniques to LIBS, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis were also used to characterize iron oxides. By taking advantage of the time gated detector capability of LIBS, the identification of iron oxide phases was found to be in good agreement with FTIR and XRD analysis. This study demonstrates that LIBS can be successfully applied to the characterization of the oxidation states of multivalent oxides of elements like Fe, Cr, Pb, and others.     

Eu~(3+)激活的LaNb(Ta)复合卤氧化物的合成和光谱特性

采用真空气体输运技术制备了Eu0 .0 6La0 .94 M2 O6X(M =Nb ,Ta ;X =Cl,Br) ,测定了它们的晶体结构及光谱 ,研究了其光谱性质与晶体结构的关系 ,不同金属阳离子和卤素配体对铕光谱性质的影响及其变化规律。     

Amelioration in the Detection of Chlorine Using Electric Field Assisted LIBS

The detection of chlorine and improvement in its detection has remained a challenge despite the use of a single pulse and a dual pulse laser induced breakdown spectroscopic technique (LIBS). In this article, we presented an alternate technique for improving the detection of chlorine (Cl) using LIBS in conjunction with an external electric filed. A comparison of the emission intensity enhancement and plasma parameters in the absence and presence of an external field has been also presented. The implication of the presented technique for the detection of Cl is much easier and inexpensive as compared with the dual pulse LIBS.

     

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy as a tool for discrimination of glass for forensic applications

Materials analysis and characterization can provide important information as evidence in legal proceedings. The potential of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the discrimination of glass fragments for forensic applications is presented here. The proposed method is based on the fact that glass materials can be characterized by their unique spectral fingerprint. Taking advantage of the multielement detection capability and minimal to no sample preparation of LIBS, we compared glass spectra from car windows using linear and rank correlation methods. Linear correlation combined with the use of a spectral mask, which eliminates some high-intensity emission lines from the major elements present in glass, provides effective identification and discrimination at a 95% confidence level.     

Competitive Bond Rupture in the Photodissociation of Bromoacetyl Chloride and 2‐ and 3‐Bromopropionyl Chloride: Adiabatic versus Diabatic Dissociation

Competitive bond dissociation mechanisms for bromoacetyl chloride and 2‐ and 3‐bromopropionyl chloride following the ¹[n(O)→π*(C?O)] transition at 234–235 nm are investigated. Branching ratios for C? Br/C? Cl bond fission are found by using the (2+1) resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) technique coupled with velocity ion imaging. The fragment branching ratios depend mainly on the dissociation pathways and the distances between the orbitals of Br and the C?O chromophore. C? Cl bond fission is anticipated to follow an adiabatic potential surface for a strong diabatic coupling between the n(O)π*(C?O) and n_p(Cl)σ*(C? Cl) bands. In contrast, C? Br bond fission is subject to much weaker coupling between n(O)π*(C?O) and n_p(Br)σ*(C? Br). Thus, a diabatic pathway is preferred for bromoacetyl chloride and 2‐bromopropionyl chloride, which leads to excited‐state products. For 3‐bromopropionyl chloride, the available energy is not high enough to reach the excited‐state products such that C? Br bond fission must proceed through an adiabatic pathway with severe suppression by nonadiabatic coupling. The fragment translational energies and anisotropy parameters for the three molecules are also analyzed and appropriately interpreted.