Lanthanum fluoride coprecipitation technique for the preparation of actinides for alpha-particle spectrometry

A simple and rapid procedure is described by which actinides can be mounted in a form suitable for alpha-particle spectrometry without recourse to electrodeposition. The actinides are coprecipitated as fluorides with 100 g of lanthanum carrier from an acidic solution. The precipitate is mounted on a 0.1 -pore membrane filter containing LaF₃ substrate, also prepared from 100 g of lanthanum. The resolution obtained using samples of pure radiotracers and of frations isolated from lake sediments is generally comparable to that afforded by the conventional electrodeposition technique. The coprecipitation yield is generally quantitative. The entire procedure can be completed in about 90 min.     

Electrodeposition of milligram amounts of uranium on electropolished stainless steel disks

Investigations have been carried out for the electrodeposition of milligram amounts of uranium on electropolished stainless steel disks with an objective of preparing good quality sources for -spectrometric studies on uranium. The parameters studied include the variation of electrodeposition yield as a function of voltage, time, distance between the cathode and anode, and the volume of 0.2M ammonium oxalate solution. The conditions selected for preparing good quality sources with nearly 100% yield were: electrodeposition voltage 25 V, time of deposition 15 min, volume of 0.2M ammonium oxalate solution in the cell 4 ml and a distance of 2 cm between the cathode and anode. The sources prepared using this method have been used successfully for the -spectrometric determination of²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratios in uranium samples.     

Modification of properties of ion exchange membranes. VI. Electrodialytic transport properties of cation exchange membranes with a electrodeposition layer of cationic polyelectrolytes

When a cation exchange membrane is immersed in a cationic polyelectrolyte solution to form a thin layer on the membrane surface, the membrane properties are changed: permselectivity between cations with different electric charges (a relative transport number of the calcium ions to sodium ions, P), current efficiency, and electric resistance of the membrane. Here the more compact the cationic polyelectrolyte layer, the more outstanding the change in permselectivity. To make a more compact layer, an electrodeposition method was adopted and a change in the permselectivity of the resultant cation exchange membrane was investigated. By using the electrodeposition method a strongly basic polyelectrolyte with a larger molecular weight effectively changed the permselectivity of the cation exchange membrane: the P value dropped to about 0.3 from about 2.5 of the P of the untreated membrane during electrodialysis of the sodium chloride—calcium chloride system, and an increase in the electric resistance of the membrane (i.e., organic fouling) due to a cationic surface-active agent could be prevented. It is noteworthy that by using the strongly basic polyelectrolyte with a larger molecular weight the electrodeposition method was effective, whereas the immersion method was ineffective. Furthermore, even with the electrodeposition method the cationic polyelectrolyte which had a relatively smaller molecular weight resulted in a more remarkable change in the P value than did that with a larger molecular weight. In the electrodeposition method the amount of polyelectrolyte cohered onto the membrane surface in creased with an increase in the concentration of the polyelectrolyte, and weakly basic polyelectrolyte, and weakly basic polyelectroyte (polyethyleneimine) was also available independent of its molecular weight.     

Determination of cadmium and copper with ET-AAS after electrochemical deposition on a graphite electrode

The electrodeposition of cadmium and copper on a special graphite disk electrode has been performed at controlled potential. The electrode with the deposit has been inserted into the graphite atomizer HGA-400 by an adapted automatic sampler for the final determination by ET-ASS. The sensitivity of determination has been 0.371 (gl^-1)^-1 for cadmium and 0.025 (gl^-1)^-1 for copper for 2 min electrodeposition and increased linearly with the time of deposition. The limit of detection (3s_bl) has been 7.9 ngl^-1 Cd²⁺ and 0.11 gl^–1 Cu²⁺ for 2 min deposition and it has been improved with increased time of electrodeposition. The technique has been applied to the determination of both metals in seawater and to speciation in the presence of EDTA complexing agent.     

Entrapment of Metalloporphyrins Within an Electrodeposition Paint Layer as a Basis for Developing a Nitric Oxide Sensor

Ni tetra(4-N-methyl pyridyl)porphyrin was electrochemically entrapped within a polymer matrix formed by an anodic electrodeposition paint on the surface of Pt electrodes. Due to positive charges from the quaternised pyridinium side chains, the metalloporphyrin is soluble in water. By means of charge interactions between the positively charged metalloporphyrin and the negatively charged polymer backbone of the applied anodic electrodeposition paint, the entrapment of the metalloporphyrin in an insoluble polymer capsule prevents it from rapidly leaking off the electrode surface. The chemically modified electrodes obtained could be successfully applied to the sensitive determination of nitric oxide, and they displayed satisfactory stability for multiple nitric oxide measurements. The modified electrodes were employed for monitoring the decomposition of methylamine hexamethylene methylamine NONOate by continuous detection of the liberated nitric oxide.     

Influence of Ba on the electrodeposition of226Ra

A detailed study of the influence of barium on the electrodeposition of²²⁶Ra was made using two different procedures. High yields (80–90%) were attained when the amounts of barium were not very significant. However, the²²⁶Ra yields fell drastically for amounts slightly greater than 0.10–0.15 mg of Ba, according to the electrodeposition procedure. Samples containing trace amounts of barium less than 100–150 g can thus be treated with no barium-radium separation being required.²¹⁰Po was also deposited, although practically no influence of barium on the Po plating was observed. The²²⁵Ra resolution rose uniformly (25 to 55 keV) as the amount of barium rose up to 1 mg. These resolutions allow one to make a direct accurate determination of²²⁶Ra as well as an indirect determination of²²⁴Ra and²²³Ra via measurement of their daughter products.     

Information Obtained by Three Different Methods of U and Th Determination in Sediment and Algae Samples from the Romanian Sector of the Danube River and the Black Sea Coast

The concentration distributions of U and Th nuclides in some sediment and algae samples from the Romanian sector of the Danube river and the Black Sea coast are presented. Data are obtained by neutron-induced fission activation analysis, epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis and radiochemical separation using tracers followed by -spectrometry counting of stainless steel discs after electrodeposition. The analysing time, the working steps, the necessary equipment, the information and quality of the obtained results are discussed.     

Isotopic analysis of243Cm and244Cm by internal conversion electron spectrometry

The electrodeposition of uranium and trace quantities of²³⁹Pu,²³⁴Th,¹⁴⁴Ce on a stainless steel disk has been investigated from 0.5–2.0M NaOH and the two-phase system: extract of actinides in TBP-aqueous solution of NaOH. The electrodeposition yield of the above elements reaches 98–100% in 40 min of electrolysis with current density 0.4–0.5 A/cm². The presence of 0.5M Na₂CO₃, 2.0M NaNO₃, 2.0M NaNO₂, 0.2M NaF in alkaline solutions does not decrease the electrodeposition yield. The electrodeposited films meet all the requirements of -spectrometry. The uranium oxidation states (V) and (IV) have been determined in the electrodeposited films.     

Aspects of ZnSe electrosynthesis from selenite and selenosulfite aqueous solutions

Cathodic electrodeposition of ZnSe is studied in aqueous acidic selenite (Se^(IV)O₂) baths of free Zn²⁺ ions and alkaline selenosulfite (Se⁰SO₃^2–) baths of zinc complex ions. The synthesis of polycrystalline, cubic ZnSe by Se^(IV)-diffusion-controlled electrodeposition from acidic solutions is optimized in terms of selenite concentration, while the effect of Ti, Ni, anodized Ti and CdSe substrates on the obtained layers growth and structural properties is investigated. Furthermore, the production of stoichiometric though amorphous ZnSe is demonstrated using selenosulfite solutions. The results are valuated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and reflectance spectroscopy techniques.     

Voltammetric sensor for caffeine based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion and graphene oxide

A facile, one-step and template-free method has been developed for the electrodeposition of well-dispersed platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on a glassy carbon electrode. The effects of various inorganic anions and overpotential on the morphologies and dimensions of the final products were investigated. The resulting Pt-NPs show high electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation and are less easily poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Electrolytical microcell for on-line preconcentration of trace metals in flow systems

Summary The separation of trace metals from solutions of electrolytes by electrodeposition in a 30 l electrolytical flow-through cell was studied. The working electrode of the flow cell was made from powdered spectral or glassy carbon. The electrodeposition is complete for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Pb²⁺, partial for Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ni²⁺. Mn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ can also be deposited by anodic oxidation on the working electrode. The deposition is complete up to sample flow rates of 3–4 ml/min. The deposited elements are dissolved by short-circuiting the electrodes and flushing the cell with diluted acid. The dissolved elements are determined on-line by flame AAS. Data evaluation through peak area measurement is discussed.     

Electrodeposition of lead on to a graphite probe for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple system for controlled potential electrodeposition on to a graphite probe electrode is described. Totally pyrolytic graphite was found to be better for electrodeposition than microporous glassy carbon or electrographite coated with pyrolytic graphite. Lead can be deposited by anodic and cathodic processes as PbO₂ and Pb, respectively. Potentials of + 1.2 to + 2.0 V were best for anodic deposition and – 0.8 to– 2.0 V were best for cathodic deposition. With an electrodeposition time of 120 s, AAS sensitivity gains of × 9 and × 3.5 were achieved for anodic and cathodic deposition, respectively, in comparison with the results obtained by direct injection of 20 1 sample volumes on to the probe. The lead cathodic process was unaffected by NaCl concentrations up to 10^–2 M, but only 10^–3 M NaCl could be tolerated by anodic deposition.     

Electrostatically Dissipative Polystyrene Nanocomposites containing Copper Nanowires

Summary: A scalable synthesis of copper nanowires by alternating current electrodeposition into porous aluminium oxide was used to produce multigram quantities of 16 nm diameter by >2 µm long nanowires. Polystyrene nanocomposites were prepared by solution processing. The composites containing unpassivated nanowires were non‐uniformly dispersed and showed electrical percolation at ≈2 vol.‐% Cu loading, while the composites containing HSC₁₈H₃₇‐passivated nanowires were uniformly dispersed, but remained resistive up to at least 10 vol.‐% Cu loading.

Copper nanowires prepared by alternating current electrodeposition into porous aluminium oxide templates.     

Enhancement of antibacterial efficiency at silver electrodeposited on coconut shell activated carbon by modulating pulse frequency

The natural antibacterial activity of silver represents an alternative to deal with the ever increasing pathogenic breakouts related with contaminated water resources. In this study, silver was deposited on the surface of activated carbon (AC) particles via pulsed electrodeposition (PED) employing an electrochemical reactor operating at fixed and fluidized bed regimes. Silver-coated activated carbon (Ag/AC) particles were prepared at different current pulse frequency values. Antimicrobial properties of the produced material were tested against two well-known foodborne pathogens, i.e., Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium. The results demonstrate a strong influence of the applied current pulse frequency on both the bactericidal efficiency and the specific surface of silver deposited on the activated carbon. Antibacterial results demonstrate up to eight orders of magnitude decrease in the CFU cm^?3 (colony-forming units per cm³) against both microorganisms in just 20 min contact time. Additional chronoamperometry transient data were fitted to the Scharifker-Hills nucleation model for the electrodeposition of silver at a rotating disk electrode, revealing an instantaneous nucleation growth processes. The Ag/AC particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), specific surface area (S_BET), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), demonstrating the existence of crystalline phase formation of a preferential (200) plane growth with silver and silver oxide being present.

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On the determination of radium by alpha-spectrometry

In order to determine radium in environmental samples by -spectrometry, the way in which some changes in the chromatographic conditions can affect the purification of the element on cation exchange columns from hydrochloric solutions have been studied. Some modifications have also been introduced in the method of electrodeposition of radium from an ammonium oxalate electrolyte.     

A sensitive sensor for determination of l-tryptophan based on gold nanoparticles/poly(alizarin red S)-modified glassy carbon electrode

This work described a novel sensor for detection of l -tryptophan (Trp) by electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the poly(alizarin red S) film pre-cast on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Alizarin red S (ARS) was deposited on the surface of the GCE by electropolymerization, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were attached onto the poly(ARS) film by electrodeposition, forming an AuNPs–PARS nanocomposite film-modified GCE (AuNPs–PARS/GCE). Then electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize modified electrodes. The Nyquist diagrams of EIS indicated that the PARS film and AuNPs were successfully immobilized on the surface of GCE, and the electron transfer resistance value of electrode changed efficiently. The SEM image showed that the immobilized AuNPs were spherical in shape. The AuNPs–PARS/GEC displayed excellent amperometric response for Trp. The amperometric responses have two linear ranges from 0.02 to 0.5 μM and 0.5 to 20.0 μM, with sensitivities of 1.63(±0.08) and 0.21(±0.01)?μAμM^?1, respectively. Its detection limit was 6.7 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The proposed method was applied to determine Trp.

Electrode Processes during Aluminum Electrodeposition in Aromatic Solvents

The aluminum electrodeposition kinetics is studied in solutions of aluminum bromide in such aromatic solvents as benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and ethylbenzene. The effect of the aluminum bromide concentration on the rate of aluminum electrodeposition from a xylene electrolyte is investigated. A failed aluminum-plating electrolyte can be restored to full working capacity by treating it with an alkyl halide. This capability to restore the covering power of aluminum-plating electrolytes decreases in the series CH₃Cl > C₂H₅Br > n-₃H₇Br > n-C₄H₉Br. The temperature dependence of the rate of cathodic aluminum deposition is determined. The calculated effective activation energy for aluminum electrodeposition from a xylene–durene electrolyte is 44.5–64.5 kJ mol^–1.     

Kinetics of Gold Electrodeposition from Cyanide Electrolytes at a Monitored Surface Coverage by Thallium Atoms

A procedure for measuring kinetic parameters of gold electrodeposition in the presence of catalytically active thallium(I) ions while monitoring the coverage of the gold surface by thallium adatoms, , is described. The procedure accounts for the duration of contact between a freshly renewed surface of gold and a thallium-containing solution and assumes that the incorporation rate of thallium adatoms is proportional to and the current density of gold electrodeposition. At = const, kinetic dependences correspond to the Tafel equation. Values of and i ₀ increase with . At = 0.3, 0.6 and i ₀ 3 × 10^–4 A cm^–2, which conforms to values calculated from anodic curves obtained in similar conditions.     

Polymer coatings onto anodized aluminum plate by anodic electrodeposition from alkali-swollen carboxylated acrylic emulsion

Polymer coating of an anodized aluminum plate was carried out by anodic electrodeposition from alkali-swollen ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid (45/45/10, mole ratio) terpolymer emulsion with dimethyl aminoethanol. The alkali-swollen state was controlled by heating time at 60°C prior to the elctrodeposition. The similar complicated behaviors were observed in the relationships between the alkali-swollen state and the primary current density, the current density after 2 min, the quantity of electricity, and the amount of polymer deposited. The appearance of coatings changed correspondingly with such behaviors. These results indicate that the properties of the coatings are complicatedly affected by the degree of alkali-swollen state.Part CXII of the series Studies on Suspension and Emulsion.     

Simultaneous electrodeposition of actinides

A new system for simultaneous electrodeposition of U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm has been developed. The system consists of (NH₄)₂C₂O₄–H₂SO₄–HCl. The effects on recovery of pH, current density, interfering ions and the amount of added HCl have been studied. The optimum condition for simultaneous electrodeposition of actinides has been recommended. Under the recommended condition recoveries of U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm have been obtained by using²³²U,²³⁷Np,²⁴¹Am,²⁴²Pu and²⁴⁴Cm. The counting sources prepared are uniform, adherent and suitable for -spectrometry.