Spectroscopic and analytical characteristics of an inductively coupled argon plasma combined with hydride generation with or without simultaneous introduction of the sample aerosol for optical emission spectrometry

A radially viewed inductively coupled argon plasma was used for optical emission spectrometry of volatile species formed by reaction with NaBH₄ (hydride generation). The volatile hydrides were either introduced into the plasma alone or at the same time as a sample aerosol generated by pneumatic nebulization with a commercially available Concomitant Metals Analyzer. The effects of the forward power, the presence of pre-reducing agents [(NH₂)₂SC, KI, KBr and hot HCl], the occurrence of easily ionized elements (Ca, K, Mg and Na) in the analyte solutions on the excitation temperature (as measured via Ar atomic lines) and the electron number density were investigated for both of the sample introduction modes applied. The detection limits and the signal-to-background intensity ratios for As, Bi, Sb, Se and Sn lines were also evalutated and were observed to deteriorate with increasing power. When simultaneous hydride generation and pneumatic nebulization was employed under optimized experimental conditions, detection limits of 3.5, 2.9, 4.3, 1.5 and 2.1 μg L⁻¹ for As, Bi, Sb, Se and Sn, respectively, were obtained, and the intensities of the analytical lines for elements that do not form volatile hydrides were found to be 40% (Cd), 30% (Ni), 20% (Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn) and 10% (Cu, Mg, V) greater than those obtained when only pneumatic nebulization was used.     

Analytical and spectral features of atomic magneto-optical rotation spectroscopy (the atomic Faraday effect) of Sb,Bi, Ag and Cu with a hollow cathode lamp operated in a pulse mode

In order to increase source intensity, hollow cathode lamps were operated in a pulse mode and combined with instrumentation for Faraday or atomic magneto-optical rotation spectroscopy. The analytical and spectral features of this method were studied for the trace determination of elements Sb, Bi, Ag and Cu. Novel line crossings between the σ^±-components in the analytical line Bi I 306.772 nm were found from the dependence of the transmitted intensity on the magnetic field strength. This is related to the theoretically calculated Zeeman splitting pattern. The enhancement in the source radiance by the pulse mode gave an increase in the detection power by a factor of ten.     

Optimization of thermostated electrodeless discharge lamps for analytical atomic spectrometry

Thermostated and unthermostated electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL's) operated at 2450 MHz with either an A-antenna or a $\text{3}\text{4}$-wavelength Broida cavity have been critically studied with respect to the effect of type and pressure of fill gas, lamp temperature, microwave power and the form of element and/or compound within the lamp, upon the source radiant output, atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence signals of Zn-213·8 nm, Pb-283·3 nm, Mn-279·5 nm, Hg-253·7 nm and Tl-377·6 nm. Temperature control of electrodeless discharge lamps eliminates most of the problems which have previously plagued their operation. Also as a result of these studies, certain misconcepts in the operation and characteristics of electrodeless discharge lamps have been clarified; e.g., the ‘skin effect’ is present in many electrodeless discharge lamps, but all lamps also exhibit a homogeneous glow discharge; at high microwave powers and/or at high lamp temperatures, spectral lines apparently exhibit little self-absorption and self-reversal; and most important, control of lamp temperature is the most critical parameter controlling spectral output because atomization within the lamps is predominantly thermal in origin. Also, contrary to the conclusions reached by some workers evaluating the analytical usefulness of atomic fluorescence flame spectrometry, it is shown that detection limits one-to-three orders of magnitude lower result when thermostated EDL's are used in atomic fluorescence spectrometry with C₂H₂-air flames.     

Flame-in-gas-shield miniature flame hydride atomizers for ultra trace element determination by chemical vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Flame-in-gas shield miniature hydride atomizers (FIGS) have been investigated and evaluated in view of their alternative use to miniature diffusion flame hydride atomizer (MDF) to determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Chemical vapour generation (CVG) by aqueous phase derivatization by NaBH₄ in a continuous flow generator (CF) was employed for the generation of volatile hydrides of As, Sb, Bi, Se, Te and Sn. A dispersive AFS apparatus using electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL) as the excitation sources has been employed for both spectra acquisition and analytical determinations. The characteristics of FIGS in terms of background emission spectra, most intense AF spectral lines and limits of detection were compared with those of most popular MDF. FIGS presents a lower background emission with respect to MDF, allowing also the control of the molecular fluorescence of OH radicals in the determination of bismuth. Limits of detection for FIGS compare very well with to those obtained by MDF giving improvement factor of 5.5, 4.4, 3.6, 3.6, 0.7 an 0.5 for Bi, As, Se, Son, Te and Sb. Accuracy of FIGS has proven by determination of arsenic and antimony in seawater (NASS-5) and river water (SRLS-4) certified reference materials and bismuth in unalloyed copper (CuV 398, CuVI 399) standard reference materials by dispersive CVG-AFS.     

UV photochemical vapor generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of conventional hydride generation elements

A systematic investigation of UV photochemical vapor generation (photo-CVG) and its potential application for seven typical hydride-forming elements (As, Sb, Bi, Te, Sn, Pb and Cd) when combined with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) detection is presented. These analyte ions were converted to volatile species following UV irradiation of their aqueous solution to which low molecular weight organic acids (such as formic, acetic or propionic acid) had been added, and introduced to an atomic fluorescence spectrometer for subsequent analytical measurements. The experimental conditions for photo-CVG and the interferences arising from concomitant elements were carefully investigated. Limits of detection as low as 0.08, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ng mL^− 1 were obtained for Te, Bi, Sb and As, respectively, comparable to those by hydride generation-AFS. The RSDs obtained with the proposed method for these elements were better than 5% at 50 ng mL^− 1. It is noteworthy that the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles combined with UV irradiation remarkably enhances the CVG efficiencies of Se(VI) and Te(VI), which cannot form hydrides with KBH₄/NaBH₄. Moreover, photo-CVG has a greater tolerance toward interferences arising from transition elements than hydride generation, and this facilitates its application to the analysis of complicated sample matrices.     

Carbonat-isostere Anionen [SnX3]5− in den Verbindungen Rb6[SnX3]O0,5 und Cs6[SnX3]O0,5 mit X = As,Sb und Bi

Carbonate Isostructural Anions [SnX₃]^5? in the Compounds Rb₆[SnX₃]O_0.5 and Cs₆[SnX₃]O_0.5 with X = As, Sb, and Bi The metallic shining compounds Rb₆[SnX₃]O_0.5 and Cs₆[SnX₃]O_0.5 with X = As, Sb, and Bi were prepared from the melt starting from adequate mixtures of the elements and SnO₂. They crystallize in the hexagonal system (space group P6₃/mmc, No. 194, Z = 2) with the lattice constants mentioned in ?Inhaltsübersicht”?. In the structures of the isotypic compounds tin and the main group(V) elements build up trigonal planar anions [SnX₃]^5? with X = As, Sb, and Bi isostructural to the carbonate anion, oxygen forms isolated O^2? ions. The bond lengths Sn? X are significantly shortened with respect to the sums of Pauling covalent radii. The atoms of the units [SnX₃]^5? are coordinated by alkali metal cations forming trigonal prisms and the O^2? anions occupy octahedral holes.     

New Possible Applications of Heavy Main-Group Elements in Organic Synthesis

Aside from elements of the 2nd row, and one element of the 3rd row of the periodic system—Si, P, S, and Se, respectively, whose organoelement groups such as Me₃Si and Ph₃P^⊕ have proven useful in numerous organic syntheses—other elements of the 3rd as well as 4th and 5th row (Ge, As, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, Bi) can also be used as components of synthetically useful organoelement groups, the elements As, Sn, and Pb, in particular, offering certain advntages over the others. Some of these organoelement groups are suitable equivalents for Li- or halogen-substituents attached to carbon; they stabilize carbanionic centers (minimum of this effect at the 3rd-row elements), and owing to their suitability as leaving groups in β-eliminations, also open up interesting synthetic possibilities. The thermally unduced syn- and silica-gel induced anti-elimination of Ph₃Sn, Ph₂Sb, Ph₃Pb, together with β-OH, are novel. With the newly synthesized compounds Ph_nEl—Ch₂—Li (El = Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi) and other α- and β-lithiated R_nEl- and Ph₂As(O)-reagents such organoelement groups can be introduced into organic compounds and exploited in organic and organoelement synthesis.     

A reproducible method for preparation and operation of microwave excited electrodeless discharge lamps: SIMPLEX optimization of experimental factors for a cadmium lamp

By means of a SIMPLEX optimization procedure, cadmium electrodeless discharge lamps (EDLs) operated at microwave frequencies (2450 MHz) were prepared and optimized with respect to: weight of cadmium, W₁ = 680–750 μg; time interval of the EDL blank under vacuum after water removal, t₁ = 0–1000 s; pressure of argon gas (under microwave excitation) during preparation, A₁ = 1–2.5 torr; microwave power for discharge during preparation, P₁ = 90–10O W; time interval for microwave discharge during preparation, t₂ = 20–28 s; time for EDL to cool before evacuation, t₃ = 240 s; time under vacuum after cooling period, t₄ = 0–500 s; pressure of argon to fill lamp, A₂ = 6–9 torr; microwave power for operation of EDL, P₂ = 55–65 W; and operating temperature of EDL, T = 290–330°C. Under the above conditions, EDLs were prepared reproducibly (atomic fluorescence detection limits were all within a factor of 3 or less). The resulting EDLs were consistently as good as or better than the best EDLs prepared in the past by the laboratory. Throughout the SIMPLEX optimization procedure, no EDL failed; all EDLs behaved as would be predicted by the preparation procedure.     

p-Block Bismuth Nanoclusters Sites Activated by Atomically Dispersed Bismuth for Tandem Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Constructing electrocatalysts with p-block elements is generally considered rather challenging owing to their closed d shells. Here for the first time, we present a p-block-element bismuth-based (Bi-based) catalyst with the co-existence of single-atomic Bi sites coordinated with oxygen (O) and sulfur (S) atoms and Bi nanoclusters (Bi_clu) (collectively denoted as BiOS_SA/Bi_clu) for the highly selective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) into hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). As a result, BiOS_SA/Bi_clu gives a high H₂O₂ selectivity of 95 % in rotating ring-disk electrode, and a large current density of 36 mA cm⁻² at 0.15 V vs. RHE, a considerable H₂O₂ yield of 11.5 mg cm⁻² h⁻¹ with high H₂O₂ Faraday efficiency of ∼90 % at 0.3 V vs. RHE and a long-term durability of ∼22 h in H-cell test. Interestingly, the experimental data on site poisoning and theoretical calculations both revealed that, for BiOS_SA/Bi_clu, the catalytic active sites are on the Bi clusters, which are further activated by the atomically dispersed Bi coordinated with O and S atoms. This work demonstrates a new synergistic tandem strategy for advanced p-block-element Bi catalysts featuring atomic-level catalytic sites, and the great potential of rational material design for constructing highly active electrocatalysts based on p-block metals.     

Hyperfine structure and Zeeman effect studies in the 6p7p-6p7s transitions in Bi II

The hfs and hfs Zeeman splitting of nine lines from the array 6p7p→6p7s as well as lines λ = 496.9 nm (6p8p ³D₂→6p7s ³P₂) and λ=581.8 nm (6p8s ³P₀→6p7p ³D₁) of Bi II have been analysed. The Zeeman effect studies were performed for transverse direction of observation and separated π; and σ components of lines. The electrodeless discharge tube containing metallic Bi was used as the light source. The spectral apparatus consisted of a sliver-coated Fabry-Perot etalon and a grating spectrograph combined with a diode array detector. In the analysis of the spectra we used the computer simulation technique. The magnetic-dipole (A) and the electric-quadruple (B) hfs constants as well as Lande-g_j factors for the level 6p8p ³D₂ and all levels of configurations 6p7s and 6p7p (with the exception of 6p7p ³S₁) were determined. Our results are compared with recent theory and other experiments.     

Line profiles emitted by Cu and Ca hollow cathode lamps pulsed to one ampere

Interferometrically measured emission resonance line profiles are presented for commercial copper and calcium hollow cathode lamps, pulsed at frequencies from 10 to 300 Hz with pulses having a constant current-duration product. Pulses ranged from 7.8 mA at 1280 μs to 1000 mA at 10 μs. Time integrated profiles show that self-reversal increases with repetition frequency and that the lines broaden with increased current. Time resolved profiles show that self reversal developes during a pulse. A simple transport model is proposed to account for the observed blue shifts in the emission profile and in the self-reversal dip of the copper resonance line. The analytical significance of the results is briefly discussed.     

Bismuth(III) Complexes with N,N‐Di(2‐hydroxylethyl)aminodithiocarboxylate: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of {Bi[S2CN(C2H4OH)2]2[1, 10‐Phen]2(NO3)}·3H2O and (Bi[S2CN(C2H4OH)2]3}2

Two novel one‐ and two‐dimensional network structure bismuth(III) complexes with N, N‐di(2‐hydroxylethyl)‐aminodithiocarboxylate, {Bi[S₂CN(C₂H₄OH)₂]₂[1, 10‐Phen]₂(NO₃)}·3H₂O (1) and (Bi[S₂CN(C₂H₄OH)₂]₃)₂ (2) were synthesized. Their crystal and molecular structures were determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction analysis. The crystal 1 belongs to monoclinic system with space group C2/c, a=1.6431(7) nm, b=2.4323(10) nm, c= 1.2646(5) nm, β=126. 237(5), Z=4, V=4.076(3) nm³, D_c=1.757 Mg/m^3, μ=4.598 mm^?1, F(000)=2156, R= 0.0211, wR=0.0369. The structure shows a distorted square antiprism configuration with eight‐coordination for the central Bi atom. The one‐dimensional chain structure was formed by H‐bonding interaction between hydroxyl group of N, N‐di(2‐hydroxylethyl)aminodithiocarboxylate ligands and crystal water. The crystal 2 belongs to monoclinic system with space group p2(1)/c, a= 1.1149(4) nm, b=2.1274(8) nrn, c=2.2107(8) nm, β=98.325(8)°, 2=4, V=5. 188(3) nm³, Dc=1.920 Mg/m³, μ=7.315 mm^?1, F(000)=2944, R=0.0565, wR=0.0772. The structure shows a distorted square antiprism configuration with eight‐coordination for the central Bi atoms. The two‐dimensional network structure was formed by H‐bonding interaction between adjacent molecules.     

Observation of spectral line profiles emitted by an inductively coupled plasma—I.: On the wavelength shift of spectral lines

Profiles of 16 spectral lines stemming from 8 elements (Ar, Na, Cu, Sr, Cd, Ba, Mg and Li) emitted by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) have been observed and measured with a pressure-scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. In the process of profile observations, we have found wavelength shifts of spectral lines in an ICP and for the first time studied this phenomenon quantitatively and systematically in a spectrochemical source. The profiles of spectral lines emitted by the ICP have been compared with those emitted by hollow cathode lamps. The magnitude of the wavelength shift to the red or the blue varied more or less with the plasma conditions, observation position and the concentration of a concomitant, cesium. In the present work the observed line profiles were not deconvoluted for the apparatus profiles. Typically the order of magnitude of the wavelength shift measured for spectral lines that show large shifts at an observation height of about 4 mm in an “analytical” ICP is n × 10^?3 nm, where n is about 4 for Ar I 427.2 nm and about 1 for Cu I 521.8 nm and Sr II 430.5 nm. With regard to the wavelength shift, several trends and/or regularities were found. The Stark effect is considered as the main cause of the phenomena.     

Occurrence of Volatile Metal and Metalloid Species in Landfill and Sewage Gases

Abstract

Speciation of volatile metals and metalloids in the environment is extensively described in literature. In order to investigate unstable volatile organometallics, on-line coupling of GC with ICP-MS was used. Preliminary results for gases of sewage sludge fermentation at thermophilic and mesophilic conditions are compared with the metal and metalloid speciation in landfill gases. In each case 20 L gas were sampled by cryogenic trapping. The species were identified by element-specific detection either by retention time of standards or by calculation of the boiling point correlation. Characteristic of the separation is the linear correlation of boiling point (bp/°C) versus retention time (rt/min) (bp = 6.39?rt -109.2, r² = 0.9926). The amounts of total volatile elements are estimated by semi-quantification. Cd, Sn. Hg, Pb (sewage gas) and Se, Te, Hg, Pb (landfill gas) were determined in the range of ng m^?3 level; As, Sb, Te and Bi (sewage gas) and As, Sn, Sb and Bi (landfill gas) in the μg m^?3 level range.     

Optimization of parameters for semiempirical methods. III Extension of PM3 to Be,Mg, Zn,Ga, Ge,As, Se,Cd, In,Sn, Sb,Te, Hg,Tl, Pb,and Bi

Using a recently developed procedure for optimizing parameters for semiempirical methods,¹ PM3 has been extended to a total of 28 elements. Average ΔH_f errors for the newly parameterized elements are Be: 8.6, Mg: 8.4, Zn: 5.8, Ga: 14.9, Ge: 11.4, As: 8.5, Se: 11.1, Cd: 2.6, In: 11.3, Sn: 9.0, Sb: 13.7, Te: 11.3, Hg: 6.8, Tl: 6.5, Pb: 7.4, and Bi: 10.9 kcal/mol. For some elements the paucity of data has resulted in a method, which, while highly accurate, is likely to be only poorly predictive.     

Nitrogen Doped Carbon Coated Bi Microspheres as High-performance Anode for Half and Full Sodium Ion Batteries

As two-dimensional (2D) materials, bismuth (Bi) has large interlayer spacing along c-axis (0.395 nm) which provides rich active sites for sodium ions, thus guaranteeing high sodium ion storage activity. However, its poor electrical conductivity, combined with its degraded cycling performance, restricts its practical application. Herein, Bi microsphere coated with nitrogen-doped carbon (Bi@NC) was synthesized. Owing to the unique Bi crystals and nitrogen-doped carbon layer, the obtained Bi@NC anode exhibited satisfactory cycling stability and superior rate capability. Moreover, after assembling Bi@NC anode with Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃@C cathode to full battery, excellent sodium storage performance was obtained (57 mA h g⁻¹ after 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g⁻¹).     

Studies of Sb and Bi cluster produced by laser desorption

Direct production of cations and anions of metal clusters of Sb and Bi by laser evaporation in a vacuum has been studied. Bulk sample substrates are irradiated by 1064, 532 and 355 nm beams at variable intensity, and the ions produced are accelerated and identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. At 1064 nm, the cation distributions show that Sb ₃ ⁺ and Bi ₃ ⁺ are the most abundant species, while the monomer and dimer cations are almost non-existent. The anion spectra indicate very low yields of Sb^? and Bi^? with dominant dimer anion species. These patterns persist with laser power variation within the stable operation domain. With lower incident laser wavelength, the mass distributions are modified, favouring the production of the light cluster ions. In no circumstances were Sb and Bi ions withn>5 observed. Many of the observed phenomena can be explained if one assumes that for these elements, clusters withn<6 are formed on the substrate surface. Cluster ions are produced via a prompt desorption process, and are subjected to photon induced reactions due to the same incident laser beam. However, more detailed investigation of the desorption properties will be necessary to confirm such a desorption mechanism.     

Metal–Metal Single Bonds with the Magnetic Anisotropy of Quadruple Bonds: A Systematic Series of Heterobimetallic Bismuth(II)–Rhodium(II) Formamidinate Complexes

The first set of five heterobimetallic MM′(form)₄ (form=formamidinate) complexes containing a BiRh core has been successfully synthesized. The Bi?Rh bond lengths lie between 2.5196(6) and 2.572(2) Å, consistent with Bi?Rh single bonds. All complexes have rich electrochemistry, with the [BiRh]^4+/5+ redox couples spanning approximately 700 mV and showing a strong correlation to remote ligand substitution. Visible spectroscopy showed two features for complexes 1 – 5 at approximately 459 and 551 nm, unique to BiRh paddlewheel complexes that are attributed to LMCT bands into the Bi?Rh σ* orbital. The large spin–orbit coupling (SOC) of Bi creates a massive Bi?Rh magnetic anisotropy, Δχ, approximately ?4800×10^?36 m³molecule^?1, which is the largest value reported for any single bond to date.     

Determination of Trace Elements in Dendrobium Officinale Cultivated in Various Conditions

Dendrobium officinale is an important medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine. The consumption of D. officinale has increased rapidly in recent years due to the health awareness among Chinese people. The present study aimed to determine trace elements levels in 42 D. officinale samples and to utilize the elemental data for identifying the cultivation technique. Eighteen trace elements (B, V, Cr, As, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Sn, Ti, Al, Co, As Pb, Cd, and Bi) were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Of the 11 essential elements, the mean concentrations ranged from 30.6?µg?kg^?1 (Mo) in D. officinale with greenhouse cultivation to 161?mg?kg^?1 (Fe) in D. officinale with rock cultivation, and the contributions of Mn may exceed the dietary reference intake value by the uptake of 20?g of D. officinale. Of the seven toxic elements, the mean concentrations ranged from 3.29?µg?kg^?1 (Bi) in the D. officinale with greenhouse cultivation to 342?mg?kg^?1 (Al) in the D. officinale with rock cultivation, and the contributions of Al may exceed the provisional tolerable daily intake value by the uptake of 20?g of D. officinale. The concentrations of seven metals (Bi, Pb, Fe, Al, Cr, As, and Mo) were utilized to identify the cultivation technique of the analyzed D. officinale samples through linear discriminant analysis.     

Heavy Chains: Synthesis,Reactivity and Decomposition of Interpnictogen Chains with Terminal Diaryl Bismuth Fragments

In this work, we report the preparation of multiple interpnictogen chain compounds with three consecutive pnictogen atoms and terminal Ar₂Bi fragments (Ar=Ph, Mes). Symmetrical compounds of the form Ar₂Bi−E(tBu)−Bi₂Ar ( 1 : Ar=Ph, E=P; 2 : Ar=Ph, Mes, E=As) as well as ternary interpnictogen compounds of the form Ar₂Bi−E¹(tBu)−E²tBu₂ (Ar=Ph, Mes; 4 : E¹=P, E²=As; 5 : E¹=P, E²=Sb; 6 : E¹=As, E²=P) were prepared. The decomposition in solution at room temperature and under the influence of light was studied for compounds 1 – 6 . The reactivity of 1_Ph and 2_Ph with the small N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene (Me₂IMe) was also studied. In the case of 1_Ph , the formation and consecutive decomposition of Me₂IMe=PtBu ( 8 ) was observed in solution. Hence, it was shown that 1_Ph can react as a “masked phosphinidene”. In the case of 2_Ph , no reaction with Me₂IMe was observed. All isolated compounds were analysed by NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.