Neutron Activation Analysis of Bottom and Fly Oil Ash Leachates

Seven samples of oil fly and bottom ashes were leached with water using a Canadian standard test method for shake extraction of solid waste. The concentrations of 20 elements in the leachates were determined by the computerized systematic instrumental absolute neutron activation analysis. The ranges of concentrations (in ppm) found for the elements in the leachates were: Al (3–526), Ba (0.5–6), Ca (100–695), Cl (13–59), Co (1–6.3), Cr (0.2–6.6), Cs (0.03–0.4), Eu (0.003–0.01), Fe (28–690), K (42–464), La (0.3–49), Mg (214–3150), Mn (1.2–20), Na (88–4050), Sb (0.04–0.4), Sc (0.003–0.07), Sr (1.2–23), U (0.07–1), V (1.2–4540) and Zn (2.3–200). These findings were compared with the maximum concentrations allowed for these elements by Canadian regulations. The concentrations of Cr and U were found to be higher than their permissible limits on 7 occasions. The purpose of this study was to determine the background levels of different elements in oil ash leachates, in order to evaluate their potential impact on underground water.     

Trace elements analysis in rice

Various rice species, marketed in Austria, were analyzed for their Se, Cr, Ni, Rb, Fe, Co, Cs, Ag and Hg contents by neutron activation analysis. The concentration values found for Se ranged between 0.023 and 0.265 ppm, for Cr 0.540–1.875 ppm, for Ni 0.359–0.965 ppm, for Rb 1.604–6.400 ppm, for Fe 24.3–139.8 ppm, for Co 0.026–0.055 ppm, for Cs 0.016–0.032 ppm, for Ag 0.0006–0.0034 ppm, for Hg 0.003–0.023 ppm. Statistical analysis showed in the majority of cases that there is a significant difference in Se, Cr, Ni, Rb, Fe, Co, Hg contents but not in Cs. Highest values of Se and Fe were found in rice from Belgium /long seed, super patna/, whereas the Cr concentration was the highest in rice from Thailand /siam patna/. Ni was highest in rice from Uncle Ben's, Rb in Kresto from USA.     

Physicochemical Study of New Mono- and Binuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Sterically Hindered Acylhydrazones and Azomethines

Series of new binuclear copper(II) complexes with acylhydrazones and azomethines of substituted derivatives of salicylaldehyde containing bulky tert-butyl substituents were synthesized. The target dimerization of the monomeric fragments of the complexes caused by the steric factors was shown to predetermine the specific features of their magnetochemical behavior. The calculated exchange parameters for the complexes based on acylhydrazones range from –110 to –138 cm^–1 and those for the complexes based on azomethines lie in the interval from –400 to –500 cm^–1.     

ZnO nanorods decorated calcined Mg–Al layered double hydroxides as photocatalysts with a high adsorptive capacity

The nanocomposites of magnesium–aluminium–carbonate–layered double hydroxides (Mg–Al–CO₃–LDHs) and ZnO nanorods were prepared via a homogeneous precipitation process. The presence of ZnO nanorods made the calcined Mg–Al–CO₃–LDHs, the strong adsorptive adsorbents for anions, have a photocatalytic activity. Both Mg–Al–CO₃–LDHs and the nanocomposites with various ZnO/Mg–Al–CO₃–LDHs mass ratios from 0.5:1 to 3:1 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The nanocomposites quickly adsorbed the anionic dyes such as acid red G (ARG) without the light illumination, and the adsorbed dyes on the recovered nanocomposites were then degraded in a separated photocatalytic reactor. The adsorption ability of the nanocomposites and their photocatalytic activities for the removal of ARG were evaluated by the Fourier transform infrared spectra and UV–vis extinction spectra. The sample at 3:1 ZnO/Mg–Al–CO₃–LDHs mass ratio was shown to have higher photocatalytic efficiencies.     

Synthesis and structure of amino esters of menthol

The conditions for the acylation of (–)-menthol with monochloroacetyl chloride have been studied. Amino esters of (–)-menthol have been obtained by the nucleophilic replacement of the chlorine in (–)-menthol monochloroacetate by residues of secondary amines. Their properties and their mass, IR, and¹³C NMR spectra are described.Institute of Physical Organic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Belorussian SSR, Minsk. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 728–733, November–December, 1981.     

Plutonium-244 dating VI. Initial ratios of plutonium to uranium in achondrites

Re-examination of all known xenon isotopic data for achondrites reveals that²⁴⁴Pu fission xenon can be resolved in about three-fourths of the meteorites of this class. The amounts of²⁴⁴Pu fission xenon found in these meteorites range from ca. 1–2 up to 20–40·10^–12 ccSTP/g. These meteorites started to retain their xenon some 200–500 million years later than did the carbonaceous chondrites Allende, Groznaya, Mokoia, Murchison, Murray, and Renazzo, which began to retain their xenon over 4800 million years ago.     

Porphyrins

The low and high-resolution mass spectra and the spectra of the metastable ions (DADI) of a number of porphyrins and their copper complexes with –CR=N–R, –CH₂NHR, and –CH₂NRR substituents in the meso position of the porphyrin ring were investigated. The principal pathways of fragmentation of the meso-substituted porphyrins were established.See [1] for communication VI.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 773–779, June, 1978.     

Differentiation and quality estimation of Cordyceps with infrared spectroscopy

Heretofore, a scientific and systemic method for differentiation and quality estimation of a well-known Chinese traditional medicine, ‘Cordyceps’, has not been established in modern market. In this paper, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy (2D-IR) are employed to propose a method for analysis of Cordyceps. It has presented that IR spectra of real Cordyceps of different origins and counterfeits have their own macroscopic fingerprints, with discriminated shapes, positions and intensities. Their secondary derivative spectra can amplify the differences and confirm the potentially characteristic IR absorption bands 1400–1700 cm⁻¹ to be investigated in 2D-IR. Many characteristic fingerprints are discovered in 2D-IR spectra in the range of 1400–1700 cm⁻¹ and hetero 2D spectra of 670–780 cm⁻¹ × 1400–1700 cm⁻¹. The different fingerprints display different chemical constitutes. Through the three steps, different Cordyceps and their counterfeits can be discriminated effectively and their qualities distinctly display. Successful analysis of eight Cordyceps capsule products has proved the practicability of the method, which can also be applied to the quality estimation of other Chinese traditional medicines.     

Use of atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of metals in sediments in south-west Louisiana

The relatively recent introduction of atomic absorption spectrometry has produced a rapid and relatively inexpensive method for the determination of metal concentrations in a wide variety of samples. One such application is in the determination of metal concentrations in soils and sediments. Soils and sediments represent concentrated reservoirs for these metals that serve as sinks for introduced trace metals or can become environmental sources. The coastal zone of Louisiana provides a ‘living laboratory’ to investigate the mechanisms of transport, deposition, and dissolution of trace metals into this fragile environment. Investigations done in the coastal zone have found trace metals tend to concentrate near pollution inputs and sources and have not migrated to or significantly impacted the coastal zone of Louisiana. Common trace metals determined and their range of concentrations in coastal soil and sediments are chromium (10–30 ppm), copper (10–25 ppm), iron (0.6–2.1%), manganese (200–600 ppm), nickel (6–20 ppm), lead (8–20 ppm), and zinc (30–55 ppm).     

Daily dietary intake of trace elements of radiological and nutritional importance by the adult Indian population

The concentrations of eleven trace elements: Ca, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, I,K, Se, Sr, Th and Zn were determined in total diet samples and also in individualfood materials which constitute the typical Indian diet. Instrumental neutronactivation analysis (INAA) and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA)were employed for the analysis. Whereas the elements Fe, Co, Cr, Se and Znare important from the view point of their role in nutrition, the elementsCs, K, Sr and Th are of importance in radiation protection, and Ca and I havedual importance: both in nutrition as well as in radiation protection. Basedon the analysis of twenty total diet samples, prepared as per the data onthe dietary intake pattern of four provinces of India and the data on intakepattern of an average adult Indian, the geometric mean (GM) intake of variouselements was estimated to be 0.33 g (0.2–0.67) for Ca, 16.5 µg(8.3–31.1) for Co, 52.3 µg (35.1–131) for Cr, 4.7 µg(2.79–11.8) for Cs, 94.6 µg (60.6–201) for I, 1.90 g (1.25–3.54)for K, 1.13 mg (0.78–2.97) for Sr, 0.76 µg (0.45–1.66) forTh, 15.9 mg (10.2–34.3) for Fe, 56.3 µg (27.6–105.3) forSe and 8.6 mg (5.1–16.7) for Zn. Some of the important individual foodmaterials, such as cereals, pulses, milk, vegetables etc., were also analysedfor these elements to observe the contributions of the individual food materialsto their daily dietary intake. The results of the analysis showed that inthe case of Cs, K, Sr, Th, Fe, Zn and Co, almost 50% of the daily dietaryintake of the above stated elements is contributed by cereals and pulses.In the case of Ca however, significant amount is contributed by milk and incase of I, iodised salt could make significant contribution. The data collectedso far, for Se and Cr, was not sufficient to draw any definite conclusion.     

2-(5-Nitro-2-Pyridylazo)-5-(N-Propyl-N-Sulfopropylamino)Phenol as a new analytical reagent for flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of trace vanadium(V)

A flow injection method using 2-(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-sulfopropylamino)phenol-(Nitro-PAPS) as a new chromogenic reagent is presented for sensitive and rapid determination of vanadium. Nitro-PAPS reacts with vanadium(V) in weakly acidic medium to form a water soluble complex of molar absorptivity of 8.0 × 10⁴L mol^–1 cm^–1 at 592 nm (maximum absorption wavelength), which permits the straightforward application of a flow injection system to the sensitive determination of vanadium. Under the optimum conditions established, a linear calibration graph was obtained in the range 1–120 ng mL^–1. The relative standard deviation for 60 ng mL^–1 vanadium was 2.2% (n = 5) and the limit of detection was 1 ng mL^–1. The sample throughput is about 40 h^–1. Most inorganic and organic anions examined did not interfere even at concentrations of 3000–6000 times of vanadium. Interference from cobalt(II), copper(II) and nickel(II) at 200ng mL^–1 levels can be overcome by the addition of N-(dithio-carboxy)sarcosine. The recoveries for each 20 and 10 ng mL^–1 vanadium added to the river water were 98 and 97%, respectively.The authors express their thanks to Miss Miho Suzuki and Miss Hiroyo Yamada for their experimental assistance in part.     

Some data on transuranium element distribution in particle size fractions of Chernobyl soils

Some Chernobyl soils were collected in the north-west direction. The samples have been separated into particle size fractions 1–2; 0.5–1; 0.25–0.5; 0.16–0.25; 0.05–0.16; 0.01–0.05; 0.005–0.01; 0.002–0.005; 0.00005–0.002; and less than 0.00005 mm. The fractions were analyzed on^238,239,240Pu,²⁴¹Am,^242,244Cm content. In contrast to the global plutonium fallout, the peak of plutonium activity falls in the particle size range of 0.01–0.05 or 0.005–0.01 mm in Chernobyl soils. Transplutonium elements are more mobile in the soil. As the distance from Chernobyl increases, the trend of their distribution becomes much similar to the global fallout. It is found that the most mobile part of soil with particles of sizes less than 0.05 mm contains 55–70% of plutonium activity and 30–65% of americium and curium activity.     

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.     

Determination of rare earth elements in mineral raw materials and rare earth industry products by neutron activation analysis

To determine REE in mineral raw materials, high purity RE metals and their compounds, neutron activation analysis with extraction chromatographic REE separation has been developed. Combination of the developed RE extraction and separation procedures with subsequent -spectrometric analysis of the RE radionuclides allows to determine their content with the lower detection limit –10^–5–10^–8%. The relative standard deviation is 0.2–0.3.     

Researches on 2, 1, 3-thia- and selenadiazole

4-Hydroxy-, 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-, 4-hydroxy-7-methylbenzo-2,1,3-thiadiazoles are polymorphous.4-Hydroxybenzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole (I), 4-hydroxy-5-methyl- and 4-hydroxy-7-methylbenzo-2, 1, 3-thiadiazoles (II and III) melt at 114–115°, 110–112°, 100–102° C, respectively, after recrystallization from water [2–4], but after recrystallization from petrol ether [5] they melt at 128–129°, 124–125°, and 119–120° C [5]. In this connection we recrystallized these phenols repeatedly from petrol ether after recrystallizing them from water, and their melting points rose as expected [5]. On the other hand, the compounds with melting points 128–129°, 124–125°, 119–120° C (ex petrol ether), after repeated crystallization from water melted at 114–115°, 110–112°, 100–102° C, respectively.For Part XXXVIII see [1].     

Metrology of polymorph identification tests

Identification of polymorphs – compounds containing the same chemical entities, but differing by their solid state properties – is a challenge for analytical chemists, since the solid state characteristics of polymorphs sometimes have subtle differences in their infrared (IR) spectra. A method based on the evaluation of FTIR spectra by Principal Component Analysis and a Software Independent Modelling Class Analogy package is proposed for estimation of reliability of polymorph identification. It is demonstrated that by proper choice of the spectral region, the same approach can be used for identification of polymorphs in low dosage formulations.Presented at the Second International Conference on Metrology – Trends and Applications in Calibration and Testing Laboratories, November 4–6, 2003, Eilat, Israel.     

Probing the accuracy of the isomerization energy of the 3-D morphed potential of Ar–HBr

Investigations of the lowest Σ-bending vibrations of Ar–DBr (v = 0) and Ar–HBr (v = 1) are reported using a co-axially configured submillimeter supersonic jet spectrometer. The v = 1 spectra were obtained using glow discharge excitation. Analyses of hyperfine substructure in these spectra provide accurate molecular parameters for Ar–DBr and Ar–BrD isomeric states, direct determination of their corresponding isomerization energies, and respective parameters in the v = 1 HBr stretching vibration of the Ar–HBr isotopomer. This experimental data provides a sensitive probe of the relative energies of potential minima for previously determined 3-D Ar–HBr morphed potential and compared with results from extrapolations to the CCSD(T)/CBS limit.     

A comparison of different types of gold–carbon composite electrode for detection of arsenic(III)

A study has been conducted using abrasively modified basal and edge-plane graphite, carbon-paste, and carbon–epoxy electrodes to create gold–carbon composite electrodes. Using either nano or micro-sized gold particles their suitability for use in detecting arsenic(III) is assessed. It was found that gold arrays prepared from micron-sized particles gave the best performance for arsenic detection. In particular micron arrays produced in carbon-paste electrodes with an easily renewable surface work well for detection of arsenic, producing a detection limit of 5(±2)×10^–9 mol L^–1, with a high sensitivity of 10(±0.1) A mol^–1 L.     

Reductive alkylation of p-phenylenediamine and its hydroquinone complex with ketones in presence of rhenium and palladium sulfides

Conclusions Conditions were found (150–200°, hydrogen pressure 110–150 atm, reaction time 3 h) for the reductive alkylation of p-phenylenediamine and its hydroquinone complex with acetone, butanone, and cyclohexanone in presence of Re₂S₇ or PdS as catalyst, and N,N'-diisopropyl-, N,N'-di-s-butyl-, and N,N'-dicyclohexyl-p-phenylenediamines and their hydroquinone complexes were obtained in 60–90% yield.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1601–1605, July, 1968.     

A new selective reagent for the spectrofluorometric determination of beryllium

The fluorescence properties of the beryllium and aluminum complexes with 2, 4-dioxo-4-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone-3-yl) butyric acid ethyl ester (Ligand) were studied and optimal conditions for their fluorometric determination were established. Beryllium can be determined in the linearity range of 0.5–2.0 μg/ml and aluminum 0.5–1.5 μg/ml. The effect of diverse ions on the determination of beryllium is discussed.A simple procedure for the fluorometric determination of beryllium in human blood plasma in the concentration range of 5–50 μg Be/ml is described.