Measuring nitrate concentration in wastewaters with high chloride content

The presence of chloride ions in wastewaters in concentrations above 50 mg/L poses interference in several methods used for the measurement of nitrate-nitrogen. The aim of this study was to characterise the reliability and costs of some commonly available methods for the analysis of nitrate concentration in landfill leachate which contains high chloride levels. To investigate the effect of chloride interference, several widely used methods [ion chromatography (IC), continuous flow analysis (CFA), the German standard method (DIN), cuvette test (CUV), standard addition method (SAM) and reflectometric test (REF)] were used to measure the nitrate concentration in synthetic solutions containing varying concentrations of chloride and nitrate-nitrogen. Nitrate recoveries of the various methods were found to decrease in the following rank order: CUV (>95%) > IC (>90%) > CFA (89%) > DIN (88%) > REF (70%) > SAM (<80%). In the second part of the study, the same methods were used to measure nitrate concentrations in samples of biologically nitrified landfill leachate with and without chloride elimination. For leachate samples without chloride elimination, CUV results were well correlated (linear regression) with IC results (slope = 1.02/R² = 0.99) but to lesser extents with results obtained by CFA (0.91/0.86), DIN (0.89/0.97) and REF (0.86/0.77), and not correlated with SAM (0.74/–1.3). The incurred measurement costs per sample (in Euros) for the methods were as follows: CFA (<0.1) < DIN (0.6) < REF (0.7) < SAM (3) < CUV (3.8) < IC (15). Cuvette tests are recommended as the method of choice due to their accuracy and lower cost than IC.     

Transition‐Metal π‐Ligation of a Tetrahalodiborane

The reaction of tetraiododiborane (B₂I₄) with trans‐[Pt(BI₂)I(PCy₃)₂] gives rise to the diplatinum(II) complex [{(Cy₃P)(I₂B)Pt}₂(μ₂:η³:η³‐B₂I₄)], which is supported by a bridging diboranyl dianion ligand [B₂I₄]^2?. This complex is the first transition‐metal complex of a diboranyl dianion, as well as the first example of intact coordination of a B₂X₄ (X=halide) unit of any type to a metal center.     

NH4NO3 extractable trace element contents of soil samples prepared for proficiency testing – a stability study

In view of its intended use as a sample for proficiency testing or as a reference material the stability of the extractable trace element contents of a soil from an irrigation field was tested using the extraction with 1 mol/L ammonium nitrate solution according to DIN 19730. Therefore, changes of the extractability of sterilized and non sterilized soil samples stored at different temperatures were evaluated over a period of 18 months. Sets of bottles were kept at –20?°C, +4?°C, about +20?°C and +40?°C, respectively. The NH₄NO₃ extractable contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined immediately after bottling and then after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months with ICP-AES or ETAAS. Appropriate storage conditions are of utmost importance to prevent deterioration of soil samples prepared for the determination of NH₄NO₃ extractable trace element contents. Temperatures above +20?°C must be avoided. The observed changes in the extractability of the metals (especially for Cr and Cu) most likely could be related to thermal degradation of the organic matter of the soil. There is no need to sterilize dry soil samples, because microbiological activity in soils with a low moisture content appears to be negligible with regard to trace element mobilization.     

[PtIn6][GaO4]2 – das erste Oxid mit [PtIn6]‐Oktaedern. Darstellung,Charakterisierung und Rietveldverfeinerung – mit einer Bemerkung zur Mischkristallreihe [PtIn6][GaO4]2–x[InO4]x (0 < x ≤ 1)

[PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ – The First Oxide Containing [PtIn₆] Octahedra. Preparation, Characterisation, and Rietveld Refinement – With a Remark to the Solid Solution Series [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2‐x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) The novel oxides [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) are formed by heating intimate mixtures of Pt, In, In₂O₃, and Ga₂O₃ in the corresponding stoichiometric ratio in corundum crucibles under an atmosphere of argon (1220 K, 70 h). The compounds are black, stable in air at room temperature, reveal a semiconducting behaviour, and decompose only in oxidizing acids. X‐ray powder diffraction patterns can be indexed by assuming a face centered cubic unit cell with lattice parameters ranging from a = 1001.3(1) pm (x = 0) to a = 1009.3(1) pm (x = 1). According to a Rietveld refinement [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ crystallizes isotypic to the mineral Pentlandite (Fm3m, Z = 4, R(profile) = 6.11%, R(intensity) = 3.95%). The characteristic building units are isolated [PtIn₆]¹⁰⁺ octahedra which are linked via [GaO₄]^5– tetrahedra to a three dimensional framework. Starting from [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ the substitution of Ga³⁺ ions by larger In³⁺ ions leads to the formation of a solid solution series according to the general formula [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x and becomes apparent in an increase of the lattice parameter.     

Aufbau von Erdalkalimetall‐Arsen‐Käfigstrukturen durch die Metallierung von Triisopropylsilylarsan mit Calcium‐, Strontiumund Barium‐bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amid] in Tetrahydrofuran

Formation of Alkaline Earth Metal‐Arsenic Cages via the Metalation of Triisopropylsilylarsane with Calcium, Strontium, and Barium Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] in Tetrahydrofuran The metalation of triisopropylsilylarsane with the alkaline earth metal bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amides] in tetrahydrofuran yields the THF complexes of calcium ( 1 ), strontium ( 2 ), and barium‐bis(triisopropylsilylarsanide) ( 3 ). Dissolving of these compounds in toluene leads to the elimination of triisopropylsilylarsane and the formation of the THF complexes of tetraalkaline earth metal hexakis(triisopropylsilylarsanide)‐triisopropylsilylarsanediide of calcium ( 4 ), strontium ( 5 ), and barium ( 6 ), respectively. The central polyhedron of compound 4 can be described as two trigonal bipyramids with the metal atoms in apical positions, connected via the arsanediide substituent as a common corner. The central moieties of the compounds 5 and 6 consist of four trigonal bipyramids which are connected by common edges as well as common faces.     

LiAlH4: From Stoichiometric Reduction to Imine Hydrogenation Catalysis

Imine‐to‐amine conversion with catalytic instead of stoichiometric quantities of LiAlH₄ is demonstrated (85 °C, catalyst loading≥2.5 mol %, pressure≥1 bar). The effects of temperature, pressure, solvent, and catalyst modifications, as well as the substrate scope are discussed. Experimental investigations and preliminary DFT calculations suggest that the catalytically active species is generated in situ: LiAlH₄+Ph(H)C=NtBu→LiAlH₂[N(tBu)CH₂Ph]₂. A cooperative mechanism in which Li and Al both play a prominent role is proposed.     

Systematic event generator tuning for the LHC

In this article we describe Professor, a new program for tuning model parameters of Monte Carlo event generators to experimental data by parameterising the per-bin generator response to parameter variations and numerically optimising the parameterised behaviour. Simulated experimental analysis data is obtained using the Rivet analysis toolkit. This paper presents the Professor procedure and implementation, illustrated with the application of the method to tunes of the Pythia 6 event generator to data from the LEP/SLD and Tevatron experiments. These tunes are substantial improvements on existing standard choices, and are recommended as base tunes for LHC experiments, to be themselves systematically improved upon when early LHC data is available.