Simplex optimisation of conditions for the determination of antimony in environmental samples by using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Analysis of the total antimony in plant material was unsuccessful using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) conditions recommended by the instrument manufacturer. For this reason, an optimisation procedure utilising the Plackett-Burman method, simplex optimisation and visualisation of the generated response surface via principal components analysis, was carried out. The Plackett-Burman method was used to eliminate four of the initial variables chosen. Four variables (atomisation temperature, atomisation time, ash temperature and modifier concentration) were subsequently optimised using the composite modified simplex method and the results were visualised as a contour diagram, after reduction to two principal components. The optimised conditions were used for the analysis of both an acid digested pine needle standard reference material (NIST 1575) and a pond weed sample, collected from a contaminated site at Yellowknife Bay, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. The total concentration of antimony present in the pine needles was statistically indistinguishable from the non-certified value, as was the value for the pond weed sample, compared with a value determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA). The results for the analysis of the pond weed sample by ETAAS agreed with those obtained from a subsequent analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.     

Analyse heterogener Legierungen durch Isolierung und durch Lokalanalyse mit der Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosonde

Zusammenfassung Die beiden wichtigsten Verfahren zur quantitativen Analyse der Gefügebestandteile heterogener Legierungen sind die potentiostatische Isolierung und die Lokalanalyse mit der Elektronenstrahlmikrosonde. Manganstähle mit Carbiden definierter Zusammensetzung und Größe boten die Möglichkeit, erstmalig die quantitativen Aussagen dieser beiden Methoden miteinander zu vergleichen.Dabei erbrachte die Isolierung durch die gleichzeitige analytische Erfassung größerer Mengen der Matrix und der Carbidphasen sehr genaue Angaben ihrer durchschnittlichen Zusammensetzung. Örtliche Konzentrationsänderungen in derselben Phase werden jedoch nicht erfaßt. Dagegen zeigte sich, daß die lokale Röntgenspektralanalyse zwar vergleichbare Ergebnisse lieferte, aber auch bei Anregung mit einem feinfokussierten Elektronenstrahl (Durchmesser <1) die Genauigkeit der Werte bei Teilchengrößen <5 durch Anregung von Nachbarbereichen merkbar beeinflußt wird.Zerlegung und Phasenanalyse einerseits sowie Lokalanalyse mit der Elektronenstrahlmikrosonde anderseits haben ihren eigenständigen Anwendungsbereich. Unter Berücksichtigung der gegebenen Grenzen können sich beide Methoden zur Analyse metallischer Werkstoffe sinnvoll ergänzen.

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Summary The two most important procedures for the quantitative analysis of the structural constituents of heterogeneous alloys are the potentiostatic isolation and the local analysis by means of the electron beam microsonde. Manganese steels with carbides of definite composition and magnitude offered the possibility for securing quantitative statements for the first time with respect to the comparative merits of these two methods.The isolation gave very precise information concerning the average composition through the concurrent analytical involvement of larger amounts of the matrix and the carbide phases. However, local alterations in the concentration within the same phase were not revealed. On the other hand, it was found that though the local X-ray spectral analysis yielded comparable results, the accuracy of the values at particle sizes <5 is markedly influenced through excitation of neighboring regions when the excitation was due to a fine-focused electron beam (Ø <1).Decomposition and phase analysis on one hand and local analysis with the electron beam-microsonde on the other have their individual fields of application. If the given limitations are taken into account, both methods may contribute judiciously to the analysis of metallic industrial materials.

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Résumé L'isolement potentiostatique et l'analyse locale par la microsonde électronique représentent les deux procédés les plus importants pour l'analyse quantitative des constituants entrant dans la texture des alliages hétérogènes. Les aciers au manganèse avec carbures en composition et quantité définies offrent la possibilité, pour la première fois, de comparer entre elles les indications quantitatives de ces deux méthodes.L'isolement par détermination analytique simultanée de plus grandes quantités de matrice et de la phase carbure a rendu des données très précises de leur composition moyenne. Les modifications de concentration locale dans la même phase n'ont pourtant pas été atteintes. Par contre, il s'est avéré que l'analyse spectrale locale par rayons X conduisait à des résultats comparables, mais en excitant par un faisceau d'électrons finement focalisé (Ø<1), l'exactitude de la valeur pour les particules de dimensions inférieures à 5 se trouve influencée de façon notable par excitation des régions voisines.La séparation et l'analyse des phases d'une part, l'analyse locale par la microsonde à faisceau d'électrons d'autre part, ont leur domaine d'application propre. En tenant compte des limites données, les deux méthodes peuvent se compléter d'une manière judicieuse pour l'analyse des produits métalliques oeuvrés.

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Vortrag anläßlich des Kolloquiums für metallkundliche Analyse mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Elektronenstrahl-Mikroanalyse, Wien, 22. Oktober 1964.     

Polystyrene/thermoplastic starch blends with different plasticizers

Conventional plastics has a large impact in increasing the environment’s pollution. That’s why the interest has turned towards novel partially and completely biodegradable polymers. In this work, blends of polystyrene and thermoplastic starch with glycerol and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) oil as plasticizers were prepared. Samples were analyzed using TG/DTG and DSC techniques. The TG results indicated that the blends with Buriti oil are thermally more stable than those with glycerol. The DSC analysis that Buriti oil provides a higher degree of plasticization of PS, compared to the blends plasticized using glycerol under the studied conditions.     

Synthèse partielle et propriétés oncostatiques des pseudo-tubulosines,analogues de l'émétine et de la tubulosine

Partial Synthesis and Oncostatic Properties of Pseudotubulosines, Analogues of Emetine and Tubulosine Pseudotubulosines, structural analogues of emetine and tubulosine, have been synthesized by either Pictet-Spengler or Bischler-Napieralski condensation from dihydrocorynantheal or corynantheidal. Spectral data, cytotoxic and oncostatic properties of these new alkaloids are described.     

Emissionsspektrometrische Analyse von Roheisen

Zusammenfassung Die spektrometrische Analyse von weiß erstarrtem Roheisen (auf C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cu) ist mit der gleichen Anregung und in der gleichen Funkzeit wie diejenige von Stahl möglich. Eine spezielle Kalibriertechnik mit Stahlproben garantiert ein ausreichend reproduzierbares und richtiges Resultat in relativ kurzer Zeit (20 sec).

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Emission-spectrometrical analysis of pig iron

The conditions of pig iron analysis by using a direct reading spectrometer for routine determination of C, Si, Mn, P, S and Cu, the influence of sampling and a new calibration technique of the instrument are described. The whole time needed for complete spectrometrical analysis is about 20 sec.

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Wir sind Herrn T. Nientiedt für zahlreiche Anregungen und Diskussionen zu Dank verpflichtet.     

Partial cross sections and density-of-states effects in the valence-band photoemission from solid nitrogen

Photoelectron energy distribution curves from solid nitrogen were measured for excitation energies to 40 cV using synchrotron radiation. Partial cross sections for emission from 3σ_g, 1π_u and 2σ_u derived valence bands show pronounced mauna 3, 4, 2.9 and 3.0 eV above the vacuum levels, interpreted as due to high density of conduction-band final states. These states are related to π*_g negative-ion shape resonances.     

Eine neue Untersuchungstechnik in der Metallanalyse

A method, named “cold oxidation” was developed, by which structures of isotropic looking pyrocarbon coatings of nuclear fuel particles can be made visible. It is based on a dry oxidation of the pyrocarbon at room temperature by highly excited oxygen. The amorphous parts of the pyrocarbon coatings burn off more quickly than the pyrocarbon itself and thereby a relief-like coating structure appears. It could be shown that a connection exists between the structure of the pyrocarbon coatings after “cold oxidation” and their behaviour under fast neutron irradiation.