Implementation of an expert system for the qualitative interpretation of X-ray fluorescence spectra

The implementation of an expert system for the automated qualitative interpretation of energy-dispersive x-ray spectra is discussed. The first step in the interpretation process is the extraction of the relevant data from the spectrum, which is done by a preprocessor program, written in FORTRAN. The expert system itself consists of three parts. The knowledge base contains specific information on energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry presented in the form of IF/THEN rules. The data base contains the reduced spectral data and an array of certainty factors associated with each element; the certainty factor for an element represents the probability of its being present in the sample from which the spectrum was taken. Finally, the inference engine performs manipulation of the knowledge. For a particular state of the data base, the certainty factors for all the elements are iteratively modified until convergence is reached by using the rules from the knowledge base. During each cycle, the inference engine selects one rule from the knowledge base and executes it. Rules are selected on the basis of the chemical elements contained in their IF part and according to their previously assigned focus levels. Execution of the THEN part of the selected rule modifies the certainty factors of a number of elements. At the end of the interpretation session, the system lists the elements which have a high probability of being present in the sample. Optionally, the user can be provided with explanations of the reasoning steps taken during the interpretation. Application of the expert system to a particular spectrum shows that it is useful for the reliable interpretation of spectral data obtained from electron microprobe analysis of industrial aerosol particles.     

Dérivés propargyliques,XII et dérivés de la décahydroquinoléine,II Alkynyl-4, alkényl-4 et alkyl-4-décahydroquinolinols-4 N-substitués

The authors describe the synthesis of decahydro-4-quinolinones and N-substituted 4-alkynyl-, 4-allyl- and 4-alkyldecahydro-4-quinolinols and discuss the stereochemical problems of this compounds.     

Effect of pressure on free-radical copolymerization kinetics. I. A concept of additivity of partial molar volumes of activation

A short review of the effect of pressure on copolymerization kinetics shows the necessity of simple models for a better understanding of activation volumes. Therefore, a simple concept, possibly generally valid for free-radical polymerization, is proposed, based on the assumption that molar volumes of activation can be expressed as an addition of a characteristic radical and a monomer contribution, regardless of the combination involved. The scheme may facilitate the visualization of the transition state and contribute to the understanding of reaction mechanisms of radical polymerizations. Ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymerization at 62°C with tert-butyl alcohol as solvent agrees with the proposed scheme, appearing from the pressure independence of the product of reactivity ratios at the different levels (35,600, and 1200 kg/cm²). Implicitly it can be shown that an ethylene monomer contributes about 2 cm³/mole more to the activation volumes of the propagation reactions than does the vinyl acetate monomer, whereas for the radicals the difference of the respective contributions to the activation volumes is opposite in sign.     

Selenium in environmental waters: Determination, speciation and concentration levels

This article reviews the different methods used for the determination of selenium species in all types of environmental waters. Basic difficulties are discussed and the efficiency of the methods is explained in view of the sub-mug/1. concentration levels. Special attention is paid to preconcentration steps. Published data on speciation and concentration levels in various water samples are critically reviewed.     

Differentiation between dexamethasone and betamethasone in a mixture using multiple mass spectrometry

Direct gas chromatographic methods to analyse phenylurea pesticides are discouraged by the thermal instability of these compounds, that in conventional hot splitless inlet systems leads to extensive and irreproducible formation of isocyanates and amines. However a careful control of the operating conditions, like the inlet temperature, the pressure and the presence of suitable chemical additives (as acetic acid, low-molecular-mass amines, organic anhydrides) can either: (i) minimise the thermal decomposition enabling the direct GC-MS analysis of phenylureas, or (ii) lead to reproducible conversion to isocyanates. Experimental design was employed to study the effect of the experimental variables on the thermal transformation of phenylurea pesticides in splitless inlet system. Two strategies were alternatively optimised: (i) the minimisation of degradation reactions to increase the signal of phenylureas; (ii) the maximisation of the degradation to isocyanates that are in turn determined. The maximal yields in isocyanate were obtained with high inlet temperatures, low carrier flows in the injection phase and the presence of acetic anhydride. By contrast, the use of relatively low inlet temperatures, high carrier flows during the injection and the presence of an amine maximise the response of the parent compounds.     

Comparison of experimental and calculated relative sensitivity coefficients for spark-source mass-spectrometry of metals

Sensitivity calibration has been performed for the spark-source mass-spectrometric analysis of iron, copper and aluminium matrices, with standard reference materials. The experimental relative sensitivity coefficients, corrected for discrimination effects in the mass spectrometer, are compared with values obtained with various empirical approaches to calculate relative sensitivity coefficients for an r.f. spark. The best correlation found is only of the order of 50%.     

Synthesis of N-(tosyl)azetidin-2-imines

A synthetic route for N-(tosyl)azetidin-2-imines $\text{6}$, a novel class of derivatives of β-lactams, has been developed. The procedure is applicable to the synthesis of azetidin-2-imines related to penicillins and cephalosporins.     

The non-linear dielectric effect in liquid xenon

The non-linear dielectric effect (NLDE), that is the increase in the dielectric constant divided by the square of the applied field, is measured for a number of non-polar molecular liquids and for liquid xenon. The values of the NLDE are compared with results in the literature and with values predicted by theory. The agreement with other experiments is quite good, but with theory is very poor, the only exception being Liquid xenon, where agreement is good. A possible explanation is given. The prediction that the NLDE should increase strongly near the critical point due to the divergence of the isothermal compressibility could not be established by experiment. The conclusion is drawn that this failure is due to the reduction by the theory of second-order effects to first-order thermodynamic and molecular properties.     

Absorptiometric determination of microgram amounts of uranium with Rhodamine B

Uranium (VI) can be extracted as a complex with rhodamine B into a benzeneetherhexone solvent from a benzoate buffered solution. Optimum conditions for the colour development are defined, leading to a molar absorptivity of 102700 mmol^-1 cm² at 555 nm, the highest yet reported for a uranium complex. The determination of uranium in the range 0.02–3 μg/ml in nitrate samples is described. The relative standard deviation ranges from 20 to 0.6%. The interference of several ions is investigated.     

Conformations of luteoskyrin and rugulosin in solution

The pigments Luteoskyrin (Ls) and Rugulosin (Rg) might adopt a priori two extreme conformations, a planar and an angular one. To determine the predominant conformation in solution, the nature of the lowest energy transition of the chromophores and the presence of intramolecular H-bonding have been investigated. The solvent effects on electronic absorption and CD spectra indicated the π-π* nature of the lowest energy transition. Treatments of the electronic absorption results according to McRae and Kosower relations, IR absorption and PMR spectra suggested the presence of strong intra-molecular H-bonds. From these results it was concluded that Ls and Rg adopted in a variety of solvents the most planar conformation.