Polyhalite and its analogous triple salts

Polyhalite (K₂SO₄ · MgSO₄ · 2CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) and analogue triple salts, where Mg²⁺ is substituted by Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, have been synthesized. The salts were characterized by thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Diffraction patterns and Raman spectra resemble those of natural polyhalite, except K₂SO₄ · CuSO₄ · 2CaSO₄ · 2H₂O. The latter corresponds to the mineral leightonite, which is structurally different.     

C-14 tracer studies on zeolite catalysis

To elucidate the mechanism of hydrocarbon conversion on zeolite catalysts, small amount of ¹⁴C-labelled substances were added to the regular feed. Catalytic studies on isomerization of m-xylene and n-butene were carried out in a fixed-bed microreactor and the ¹⁴C distribution was determined by Radio-GC and Radio-HPLC.     

Hot particles in industrial waste and mining tailings

Industrial waste was studied concerning its radioactive pollution. Using known properties of the solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 we found among a high concentration of more or less homogeneously distributed single α-tracks discrete spots of very high enrichments of α-particles created by so called hot particles. We will report about the α-activity, the concentration of hot particles and about their ability to be air borne.