Preconcentration extractive separation, speciation and spectrometric determination of iron(III) in environmental samples

Preconcentration, speciation and separation with solvent extraction of Fe(III) from samples of different origin, using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as a solvent and the sodium salt of 2-carboethoxy-1,3-indandione (CEIDNa) as a complexing agent for Fe(III), were studied. CEIDNa reacts with Fe(III) in the pH range 1.5–3.5 to produce a red colored complex of Fe(III)–CEIDNa (1:3 molar ratio) soluble in MIBK. The investigation includes a study of the characteristics that are essential for solvent extraction, spectrophotometric and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination (AAS) of iron. A highly sensitive, selective and rapid spectrometric method is described for the trace analysis of iron(III) by CEIDNa. The complex formed obeys Beer's law from 0.06 to 1.8 mg l⁻¹ with an optimum range. A single step extraction was efficiently used with a distribution ratio (D)=10^3.6. The extracted red colored (1:3) Fe–CEIDNa was measured spectrophotometrically at 500 nm with a molar absorptivity of 1.2×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. In addition, the organic phase was directly aspirated to the flame for AAS determination and the signals related to Fe(III) concentration were recorded at 243.3 nm. The complexation of iron(III) with CEIDNa allows the separation of the analyte from alkali, alkaline earth and other elements, which are not complexed. The proposed preconcentration procedure was applied successfully to the determination of trace Fe(III) in soil, milk and natural water samples.     

Structure of iron and manganese ions substituted in the framework of nanoporous AlPO-5 material

The structure of iron and managanese ions substituted in the framework of nanoporous AlPO-5 is determined by ex situ and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Fe K-edge XANES and EXAFS studies clearly indicate that iron ions are present as Fe(III) in octahedral coordination in the assynthesised material and tetrahedral coordination in the calcined material in both pure FeAlPO-5 and FeMnalPO-5. XANES and EXAFS results also indicate that reaction with hydrogen peroxide causes the removal of Fe(III) ions from the framework. Mn K-edge XANES and EXAFS of FeMnAlPO-5 samples indicate that Mn(II) ions are present in the framework, tetrahedrally coordinated, in the as-synthesised material but upon calcination it is found that the Mn(II) ions are removed from the framework, suggesting a different synthesis strategy is necessary to stabilise the Mn(II) ions in the framework simultaneously with Fe(III) ions.     

Electronic Structure of Fe+X Alloys (X = Si, Ge, Co)

The electronic structure of Fe–Ge, Fe–Si, and Fe–Co alloys has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In Fe–Ge alloys with less than 10 at.% Ge, the Fe–Ge bond is mainly formed by the Fe 4sp- and Ge 4p-electrons. The results obtained for this system are identical to those for the Fe–Si system. The form of the valence band reflects the density distribution of both iron d-electronic states the and p-electronic states of the second component, having more extended density distribution of valence electrons. In FeCo alloys, strong spatial localization of d-electron density takes place in the vicinity of the corresponding atoms, which is stronger on the iron atoms compared to pure iron; the valence band has a two-band structure reflecting the density distribution of the d-states of each component. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data are in good agreement with kinetic data for the alloys.     

Electrochemical reactivity of Li–Mn–O and Li–Fe–Mn–O spinels

Electrochemical reductive dissolution of Li–Mn–O and Li–Fe–Mn–O spinels and Li⁺ extraction/insertion in these oxides were performed using voltammetry of microparticles. Both electrochemical reactions are sensitive to the Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio, specific surface area, Li content in tetrahedral positions, and Mn valence, and can be used for electrochemical analysis of the homogeneity of the elemental and phase composition of synthetic samples. The peak potential (E _P) of the reductive dissolution of the Li–Mn–O spinel is directly proportional to the logarithm of the specific surface area. E _P of Li–Fe–Mn–O spinels is mainly controlled by the Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio. Li⁺ insertion/extraction can be performed with Mn-rich Li–Fe–Mn–O spinels in aqueous solution under an ambient atmosphere and it is sensitive to the regularity of the spinel structure, in particularly to the amount of Li in tetrahedral positions and the Mn valence. Electronic Publication     

Electrochemical lithium extraction from β-lithium nitride

In this paper we report the electrochemical characterization of mixtures of ball-milled lithium nitride and iron metal. Several samples were prepared with different lithium nitride to iron molar ratios. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra showed the presence of iron metal in all the samples and β-lithium nitride in the samples with higher Li₃N/Fe ratio. No evidence of other phases was detected. The milled powders were used to prepare composite cathodes for the electrochemical characterization. It was found that lithium can be extracted from the materials at a flat potential of 1.2 V vs. Li. The sample with Li₃N/Fe molar ratio 8:1 showed the highest specific capacity (1125 mAh g⁻¹) corresponding to the extraction of 1.8 Li equivalents per mole of lithium nitride. Only a fraction of the lithium extracted was re-inserted in the following discharge cycle. A drastic reduction of the capacity was observed for all the samples on further cycling. An enhancement of the cyclability was obtained by lowering the end-charge voltage that resulted in a reduction of the lithium extracted. The lithium extraction/insertion process was characterized by a large voltage difference indicating that the reaction is largely irreversible.     

Lithium Insertion Mechanism in Iron-Based Oxyfluorides with Anionic Vacancies Probed by PDF Analysis

The mechanism of lithium insertion that occurs in an iron oxyfluoride sample with a hexagonal–tungsten–bronze (HTB)-type structure was investigated by the pair distribution function. This study reveals that upon lithiation, the HTB framework collapses to yield disordered rutile and rock salt phases followed by a conversion reaction of the fluoride phase toward lithium fluoride and nanometer-sized metallic iron. The occurrence of anionic vacancies in the pristine framework was shown to strongly impact the electrochemical activity, that is, the reversible capacity scales with the content of anionic vacancies. Similar to FeOF-type electrodes, upon de-lithiation, a disordered rutile phase forms, showing that the anionic chemistry dictates the atomic arrangement of the re-oxidized phase. Finally, it was shown that the nanoscaling and structural rearrangement induced by the conversion reaction allow the in situ formation of new electrode materials with enhanced electrochemical properties.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies on the products of [2]ferrocenophane with CF3COOH,CCl3COOH,CF3SO3H,CH3COOH and SbCl5

Reaction products of [2]ferrocenophane with CF₃COOH, CCl₃COOH, CF₃SO₃H and SbCl₅ were prepared. Mössbauer spectroscopic data and magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest the bond formation of Fe–H⁺ and Fe–Cl⁺, in which iron atoms are in a high-spin Fe/II/state.     

Quantum-Chemical Calculation of the Electronic Structure and Ionic Conductivity of Lead Hexaferrite with a Magnetoplumbite Structure

The ab initio linear muffin-tin orbital method in a tight binding approximation (LMTO-TB) and semiempirical extended Hückel theory (EHT) were used to study the electronic structure, chemical binding, and ion conductivity of hexaferrite PbFe₁₂O₁₉. The analysis of chemical bonds showed that Fe–O interactions play the dominant role in the chemical bonding in hexagonal ferrites, the covalent component of the Pb–O bond being insignificant. The metallic Fe–Fe bonds have been found. The predicted increased mobility of Pb²⁺ ions in the structure of magnetoplumbite agrees well with the experimental parameters of lead diffusion and ion–electron conductivity in PbFe₁₂O₁₉. The mechanism of migration of lead ions in the structure of the hexaferrite is discussed.     

The Study of the Mechanism of the Local Order Formation near the Iron Atoms during Thermolysis of [Fe3O(OOCCH=CHCOOH)6]OH · 3H2O as the Initial Stage of Nanoparticle Nucleation in Metal–Polymer Systems1

Rearrangement of local order near the Fe atoms was analyzed by the EXAFS spectroscopy during thermal transformation of polymerizing [Fe₃O(OOCCH=CHCOOH)₆]OH · 3H₂O. The following processes were disclosed to be involved in the thermolysis: dehydration with simultaneous rearrangement of the ligand environment, partial removal of maleic acid molecules, and thermal polymerization of the rearranged monomer with the conserved coordination of a trinuclear Fe₃O fragment with maleic ligands. The metal carboxylate [Fe₃OR₆] cluster decomposes without the metal–metal bonding at the initial stage of decarboxylation followed by the formation of Fe–O-containing phases. This process can be considered as the nucleation of nanoparticles in the metal–polymer system.     

In situ study on the effects of Ni and Mo on the passive film formed on Fe–20Cr alloys by photoelectrochemical and Mott–Schottky techniques

Effects of alloying elements (Ni and Mo) on the structure of passive film formed on Fe–20Cr alloys in pH 8.5 buffer solution were explored by analyzing the in situ electronic properties measured using the photoelectrochemical technique and Mott–Schottky analysis. The passive film formed on Fe–20Cr–10Ni was found to be mainly composed of Cr-substituted γ-Fe₂O₃ from similarities in photocurrent response for the passive films formed on the alloy and Fe–20Cr. On the other hand, the photocurrent spectra for the passive films of Fe–20Cr–15Ni–(0, 4)Mo alloys exhibited the spectral components associated with NiO and Mo oxide (MoO₂ and/or MoO₃) in addition to that induced by Cr-substituted γ-Fe₂O₃. Mott–Schottky plots for the passive films formed on Fe–20Cr–(10, 15)Ni and Fe–20Cr–15Ni–4Mo confirmed that the passive films on Fe–20Cr–(10, 15)Ni–(0, 4)Mo alloys have a base structure of Cr-substituted γ-Fe₂O₃ with variation of densities of shallow and deep donors depending on the Ni and Mo contents in the alloys. We suggest that the passive film formed on Fe–20Cr–(10, 15)Ni and Fe–20Cr–15Ni–4Mo alloys are composed of (Cr, Ni, Mo)-substituted γ-Fe₂O₃ when the concentrations of Ni and Mo are below critical values. However, NiO and Mo oxide (MoO₂ and/or MoO₃) would be precipitated in the passive films when the concentrations of Ni and Mo exceed critical values.     

Single-ion magnetism in the extended solid-state: insights from X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy

Large single-ion magnetic anisotropy is observed in lithium nitride doped with iron. The iron sites are two-coordinate, putting iron doped lithium nitride amongst a growing number of two coordinate transition metal single-ion magnets (SIMs). Uniquely, the relaxation times to magnetisation reversal are over two orders of magnitude longer in iron doped lithium nitride than other 3d-metal SIMs, and comparable with high-performance lanthanide-based SIMs. To understand the origin of these enhanced magnetic properties a detailed characterisation of electronic structure is presented. Access to dopant electronic structure calls for atomic specific techniques, hence a combination of detailed single-crystal X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies are applied. Together K-edge, L_2,3-edge and Kβ X-ray spectroscopies probe local geometry and electronic structure, identifying iron doped lithium nitride to be a prototype, solid-state SIM, clean of stoichiometric vacancies where Fe lattice sites are geometrically equivalent. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and angular dependent single-crystal X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy measurements determine Fe^I dopant ions to be linearly coordinated, occupying a D_6h symmetry pocket. The dopant engages in strong 3dπ-bonding, resulting in an exceptionally short Fe–N bond length (1.873(7) Å) and rigorous linearity. It is proposed that this structure protects dopant sites from Renner–Teller vibronic coupling and pseudo Jahn–Teller distortions, enhancing magnetic properties with respect to molecular-based linear complexes. The Fe ligand field is quantified by L_2,3-edge XAS from which the energy reduction of 3d_z² due to strong 4s mixing is deduced. Quantification of magnetic anisotropy barriers in low concentration dopant sites is inhibited by many established methods, including far-infrared and neutron scattering. We deduce variable temperature L₃-edge XAS can be applied to quantify the J = 7/2 magnetic anisotropy barrier, 34.80 meV (∼280 cm⁻¹), that corresponds with Orbach relaxation via the first excited, M_J = ±5/2 doublet. The results demonstrate that dopant sites within solid-state host lattices could offer a viable alternative to rare-earth bulk magnets and high-performance SIMs, where the host matrix can be tailored to impose high symmetry and control lattice induced relaxation effects.

Taking advantage of synchrotron light source methods, we present the geometric and electronic structure of iron doped in lithium nitride.     

Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy reveals the FeS cluster composition and active site vibrational properties of an O2-tolerant NAD+-reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase

Hydrogenases are complex metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible splitting of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons essentially without overpotential. The NAD⁺-reducing soluble hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha is capable of H₂ conversion even in the presence of usually toxic dioxygen. The molecular details of the underlying reactions are largely unknown, mainly because of limited knowledge of the structure and function of the various metal cofactors present in the enzyme. Here, all iron-containing cofactors of the SH were investigated by ⁵⁷Fe specific nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). Our data provide experimental evidence for one [2Fe2S] center and four [4Fe4S] clusters, which is consistent with the amino acid sequence composition. Only the [2Fe2S] cluster and one of the four [4Fe4S] clusters were reduced upon incubation of the SH with NADH. This finding explains the discrepancy between the large number of FeS clusters and the small amount of FeS cluster-related signals as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of several NAD⁺-reducing hydrogenases. For the first time, Fe–CO and Fe–CN modes derived from the [NiFe] active site could be distinguished by NRVS through selective ¹³C labeling of the CO ligand. This strategy also revealed the molecular coordinates that dominate the individual Fe–CO modes. The present approach explores the complex vibrational signature of the Fe–S clusters and the hydrogenase active site, thereby showing that NRVS represents a powerful tool for the elucidation of complex biocatalysts containing multiple cofactors.     

Changes in electronic structure upon lithium insertion into Fe2(SO4)3 and Fe2(MoO4)3 investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Changes in electronic structure upon electrochemical lithium insertion into two iron compounds, namely, rhombohedral Fe2(SO4)3 with a NASICON-type structure and monoclinic Fe2(MoO4)3, were investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Fe K-edge and L(III)- and L(II)-edge XAS revealed that the rearrangement of Fe d electrons or rehybridization of Fe d-O p bonding took place accompanied by the reduction of Fe ions upon Li insertion for both samples and that a larger change in spectra was observed in Fe2(SO4)3. In addition, the changes in the electronic structure of the polyanion units XO4(2-) (X = S or Mo) after Li insertion were also investigated by O K-edge and S K-edge or Mo L(III)-edge XAS. The results indicated that the electronic structure around oxygen markedly changed in Fe2(MoO4)3, while no significant change was observed in Fe2(SO4)3.     

Mössbauer study of Al6 (Fe,Mn) formation in Al-rich Al−Fe−Mn alloys

Al–Fe–Mn alloys containing 0.5 wt. % iron and 0–3.0 wt. % manganese were prepared at different cooling rates from 0.1 to 500 K/s and studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Beyond the usual phase analysis, it was found that the presence of manganese is responsible for the decrease of the quadrupole splitting and isomer shift of the Al₆(Fe,Mn) phase, compared to those of Al₆Fe. It was also shown that the Mössbauer parameters are characteristic of the average manganese content of Al₆(Fe,Mn) only if there are no substantial fluctuations of the Fe/Mn ratio in the Al₆(Fe,Mn) phase. Accurate Mössbauer parameters for the Al₆Fe phase were also determined.     

An internal doping method for the preparation of transparent hybrid xerogels containing nano-sized iron particles

Sol-gel copolymerization of iron tricarbonyl-2-(triisopropoxysilyl)-1,3-butadiene with 1,6-bistriethoxysilylhexane and 1,4-bistriethoxysilylbenzene followed by drying produced bridged polysilsesquioxane xerogels. These porous, transparent hybrid materials containing the iron metal precursor were irradiated (UV) and heated under vacuum resulting in the deposition of nano-sized iron particles doped in the xerogels. EDAX and electron diffraction techniques were used to characterize the iron phases. The TEM images of these doped xerogels provided additional information regarding the domain size of the iron phase.Using a combination of external doping of Cd²⁺ and S^2– ions and internal doping of Fe°, mixed Fe/CdS phases were prepared within the porous bridged polysilsesquioxane xerogels. The resulting doped xerogels were found to have retained their porous morphology.     

A Mössbauer study on remarkable changes in chemical states of iron in silica-supported Pd-Fe bimetallic catalysts by varying Fe contents

Fe-57 Mössbauer spectra of silica-supported Pd–Fe bimetallic catalysts show remarkable changes with varying Fe/Pd atomic ratios. From the spectra, the main Fe-component is estimated as highly dispersed Fe in the Fe/Pd range of 0.05–0.3 and -Fe ensemble and Fe–Pd intermetallics in the Fe/Pd range above 0.3. It is suggested that the chemical state of iron is associated with the catalytic performance in effective CO–H₂ conversion to methanol.     

Synthesis and X-ray and Spectral Study of the Compounds [Q4N]2[Fe2(S2O3)2(NO)4] (Q = Me,Et, n-Pr,n-Bu)

Iron nitrosyl complexes with general formula [Q₄N]₂[Fe₂(S₂O₃)₂(NO)₄] (Q = Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu) were synthesized by the exchange reaction of K₂[Fe₂(S₂O₃)₂(NO)₄] with tetraalkylammonium bromides. The molecular and crystal structure of [(CH₃)₄N]₂[Fe₂(S₂O₃)₂(NO)₄] were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The iron atom in the four-membered cycle of the [2Fe–2S] anion is bound to another Fe atom and to two sulfur atoms and is coordinated by two nonequivalent NO groups, each bridging sulfur atom being bound to the SO₃group. The structurally equivalent iron atoms are in the state Fe^1–(S= 1/2). The Mössbauer spectroscopy method shows that the complexes are diamagnetic due to the strong Fe–Fe bond. It is found that the SO₃group provides higher stability of the thiosulfate anion than the anion in Roussin's red salt [Fe₂S₂(NO)₄]^2–.     

Quantum chemical analysis of the process of reduction of nitrogen oxide by ammonia

We have carried out a quantum chemical analysis of the electronic structure of the nitroprusside ion [Fe(CN)₅NO]^2– and also the transition complex [Fe(CN)₅NO· NH₃]^2– arising in the course of the reaction of reduction of coordinated nitrogen oxide with a nucleophile (ammonia). We consider the characteristics of the redistribution of electron density in the nitroprusside accompanying the nucleophilic attack. We discuss the role of the central iron ion and the CN-ligands during nucleophilic reduction.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 432–439, July–August, 1989.     

Characterization of Sol-Gel-synthesized LiFePO4 by multiple scattering XAFS

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to investigate the local structure arrangements of submicrocrystalline lithium iron phosphate and its precursors. The former material, proven to be very promising as active cathode material in lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, was synthesized through a new procedure that combines a simple sol-gel precipitation with a moderate temperature (e.g., low cost) heat treatment. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra taken at the Fe K-edge pointed out the modification of the Fe site during the synthesis steps that allow one to produce the submicrometer size crystalline LiFePO4 (active material) useful for batteries applications. The XAS investigation has shown that such a material is different from the conventional crystalline LiFePO4 on the short-range order. The difference is attributed to the synthesis procedure.     

Synthesis of nanosize metallic and alloyed particles in ordered phases

Functionalized reverse micelles have been used to synthesize Copper and Cobalt nanoparticles differing by their size and shape. They can be also used to synthesize Fe–Cu alloy (at 30% Fe) and composite (at 70% Fe) particles. In the case of Fe–Cu system, the magnetic properties are presented.