Optimization of a microwave-assisted extraction method for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls in ash samples

An alternative method for the extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ash samples, which is less time and solvent consuming than Soxhlet extraction, is presented. A study was carried out to evaluate the possibilities of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) to determine exactly which parameters affect the efficiency of the process, since direct extrapolation of extraction conditions for PCBs in other solid matrices, failed when applied to coplanar congeners in ash samples. Influence of the organic solvent on the yield of the extraction was first evaluated using two ash samples with different percentages of carbon. Once the extraction solvent was fixed, the effects of solvent volume, extraction temperature and extraction time were investigated using an experimental design. It was found that the volume of organic solvent played a more important role in the extraction efficiency than the other factors. In the optimal conditions microwave extractions were performed at 110 degrees C. for 10 min and using 30 ml of toluene. Recoveries higher than 80% were obtained for all the highly chlorinated congeners. including coplanar species, in a spiked ash sample containing a relatively high concentration of carbon. The proposed method was also applied to the determination of PCBs in a reference material of urban dust. Recoveries were similar to those obtained for spiked ash samples.     

Structure and aggregation number of a lyotropic liquid crystal: a fluorescence quenching and molecular dynamics study

The structure and aggregation number of a discotic lyotropic liquid crystal, prepared from tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TDTMACl)/decanol (DeOH)/NaCl/H2O, have been examined using fluorescence quenching of pyrene by hexadecylpyridinium chloride and molecular dynamics (MD). The fluorescence method gives an aggregation number of 258 +/- 25 units (DeOH + TDTMACl). From the MD simulation, a lower limit for the aggregate dimension of 130 units of DeOH + TDTMACl is predicted. A stable oblate aggregate of 240 units was studied in detail. A strong polarization between the ammonium headgroups and chloride ions is observed from the calculated trajectory. DeOH headgroups are located, on average, 0.3 nm more to the interior of the aggregate than the TDTMACl headgroup and contribute to widening the interface by forming H-bonds with water. The radial distribution function of the ammonium headgroup shows that there are 16 water molecules in the first solvation sphere. The diagonal elements of the order parameter tensor of the tail atoms of both surfactants indicate that the interior of the micelle preserves about the same degree of order as at the interface, up to the last three atoms of the aliphatic chain, where the order starts to decrease.     

Improvements on radiochemical method for the determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants

The determination of Am and Cm in typical waste streams from nuclear power plants using anion exchange chromatography has some drawbacks like the contamination by Pu and Po. This improved procedure solves these problems, and it has been applied with success to the analysis of Am and Cm in nuclear waste samples: ion exchange resins, ion exchange resins solidified with cement and evaporator concentrates.     

Continuity equation constraint in the transverse quadrupole electric-type form factors

The analysis of nuclear convection-current contributions to the transverseE 2 isoscalar and isovector form factors in¹²C initiated by Flanz et al. has been extended. It is shown that the continuity equation of the nuclear electromagnetic current provides the constraint needed to explain the behaviour of the form factors studied in the range 0<q<2fm^–1.     

Temperature dependence of development of slip bands and of strain hardening in AgCl crystals

The dependence of the flow stress and the slip band density on the plastic strain has been measured at 201 K, 293 K and 363 K. The growth of deformation concentrated in an average slip band has been stated. The types of obstacles acting against the rise and development of a slip band and the temperature dependence of the strain hardening in AgCl crystals are discussed. An equation stating the dependence of the flow stress on the slip band density is presented. The hardening in AgCl crystals is classified as the stage III — hardening.     

Method for measuring the electron distribution function in the low temperature plasma with a high time resolution

A hybrid method for measuring the electron distribution function in the low temperature plasma is described. The time resolution of the measurement is of the order of several sec.     

160Tb nuclear orientation in yttrium single crystal

First experimental results of¹⁶⁰Tb nuclear orientation in yttrium single crystal matrix are described. The influence of external magnetic field in combination with the crystal field interaction is discussed.     

56,57,60CoFe NMR/ON,hyperfine anomalies and γ-factors of cobalt isotopes

The results of NMR/ON measurements on^56'57'60Co isotopes in iron are presented. To avoid the uncertainties caused by local demagnetizing field inhomogenities the measurements on two cobalt isotopes in one sample have been carried out. The values of nuclear-factor ratios ⁵⁷/ ⁶⁰ = 1.805 (20), ⁶⁰/ ⁵⁶ = 0.761 (20), ⁵⁶/ ⁵⁷ = 0.726 (20) and hyperfine anomalies⁵⁶⁶⁰ = -0.036 (10),^{60 57} = 0.017 (10) and⁵⁷⁵⁶ = 0.018 (10) have been calculated from the experimental results.