Internal biokinetic behaviour of molybdenum in humans studied with stable isotopes as tracers

Although molybdenum is considered to be an essential trace metal for humans, the knowledge about its metabolism is rather limited. The present study was aimed at the assessment of biokinetics following intravenous injection of trace amounts of 95Mo or 96Mo into five healthy volunteers. In a total of 11 investigations, the plasma clearance up to eight hours and the urinary excretion for at least three days after the injection were evaluated. The tracer concentrations were determined by proton nuclear activation analysis in blood plasma and by thermal ionization mass spectrometry in urine samples respectively. In all subjects, the plasma clearance is much faster than expected from the literature. The data obtained for the plasma clearance of the tracer can reasonably be fitted by a two exponential equation. The half times of the fast component range between 4 and 70 minutes and for the slow component between 3 and 30 hours. The urinary excretion of the injected tracer seems also to be faster than expected and the fractions lost are higher for larger doses administered. For the smallest dose given, 34% of the injected tracer were excreted within one day whereas for the four times larger dose about 60% were lost. These findings on urinary excretion are in agreement with recently published results.     

Fractal Characterization of Wide Pore Range Catalysts: Application to Pd-Ag/SiO(2) Xerogels

Fractal analysis has been applied to characterize the structure of Pd-Ag/SiO(2) catalysts dried under vacuum (150 degrees C and 12 hPa) with different concentrations of Pd-Ag. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, mercury porosimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements have been used. The different approaches to fractal analysis and their conditions of applicability are briefly described. Results are discussed in relation to those derived previously from classical interpretations. This analysis shows that Pd-Ag/SiO(2) xerogels exhibit a very open self-similar pore structure analogous to the structure of supercritically dried aerogels and that the micropore texture can be tailored by varying the silver content. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Trace element analysis and microanalysis of silicate and carbonate rocks by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary Flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods for the microanalysis and trace element analysis of rocks are described. The microanalysis of the elements Al, Fe, Mn and Ti so far determined can be carried out in the diluted solution of the digested samples (2.5 mg substance/250 ml to 5 mg/100 ml) without additional separation. In the case of trace element analysis the elements may be determined either directly in the solution (Sr, Pb) or after separation. Separation can be carried out by extraction from the solution (Tl) or by the volatilization technique with the solid substance heated to 1000–1200°C (Tl, Pb, Cd, Bi). For Hg the method of electrolytical separation together with the volatilization technique is suitable. The methods were tested with rock standards for precision and accuracy.

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Spuren- und Mikroanalyse von Silicat- und Carbonatgesteinen durch flammenlose Atomabsorptions-Spektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Verfahren zur Mikro- und Spurenanalyse von Gesteinen mit Hilfe der flammenlosen Atomabsorptions-Spektralphotometrie werden beschrieben. Bei der Mikroanalyse können ohne zusätzliche Trennverfahren die bisher untersuchten Elemente Al, Fe, Mn und Ti direkt aus den verdünnten Aufschlußlösungen (2,5mg Probe/ 250 ml bis 5 mg/100 ml) bestimmt werden. Bei der Spurenanalyse erfolgt die Bestimmung entweder direkt aus der Aufschlußlösung (Sr, Pb) oder nach Abtrennung des Elementes. Die Abtrennung kann mittels Extraktion aus der Aufschlußlösung (Tl) oder auch durch Verdampfung aus der Festsubstanz bei 1000–1200°C (Tl, Pb, Cd, Bi) erfolgen. Für Hg eignet sich ein elektrolytisches Trennverfahren in Verbindung mit der Verdampfungsanalyse. Die Verfahren wurden mit Gesteinsreferenzproben auf ihre Reproduzierbarkeit und Genauigkeit geprüft.

We thank Prof. Dr. K. H. Wedepohl for his continued interest in our work and we are grateful to him for his generous support. We are much obliged to Prof. Dr. A. G. Herrmann for his valuable advice and encouragement in technical matters. Financial assistance from the DFG is gratefully acknowledged.