Radiochemical solvent extraction of Au(III) using thionalide in ethyl methyl ketone/iso buthyl methyl ketone

A radiochemical method for the determination of gold using¹⁹⁸Au, has been developed. It is based on the synergistic extraction of Au(III) with thionalide (TA) in ethyl methyl ketone (EMK) or isobuthyl methyl ketone (IBMK) at pH 5.0.Effect of various parameters such as pH, nature of solvent and interferences due to other radionuclides have been studied. The method can be used up to 25 ng of Au.     

Radiochemical solvent extraction of Mn(II) using54Mn tracer

A radiochemical solvent extraction method has been developed for the determination of Mn(II) using⁵⁴Mn tracer. Mn(II) is complexed with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) at pH 8.5 and extracted in isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK). Different parameters affecting the extraction, and interferences due to diverse ions have been studied. The method can be used for the determination of Mn in microgram amounts.     

Neutron activation analysis of geological and biological samples using short-term reactor irradiation and successive counting

Short-term reactor irradiation followed by successive counting over long periods has been used for the nondestructive determination of more the 20 elements in geological and biological samples. The samples, along with USGS standards and NBS SRMs, were irradiated for 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 1 h, 2.5 h, and 10 h, followed by counting on a Ge/Li/ gamma-ray spectrometer. The technique has been employed for the determination of several major, minor, and trace constituents in geological, biological and environmental samples.     

A comparative study of trace elements in water from various sources in surrounding areas of Nagpur city (India) by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been used for the determination of 27 elements (Ag, Au, Ba, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Hf, K, La, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Se Sr, Th, P, Ta, Tb, Zn and Zr) in 15 water samples collected from different sources (reservoirs, well, borewell, sewage tank, river, rain) in and around Nagpur city (central India) including doubly distilled and a sea water sample from Bombay. Sample residues after evaporation were irradiated at a thermal neutron flux of 10¹²–10¹³ n·cm^–2·s^–1 for 10 min, 1d and 1wk and counted using a HPGe detector and an 4k MCA at different intervals. Several environmental standards from NIST (USA), NIES (Japan) and USGS rock were also analysed for quality assurance. Wide variations in elemental concentrations have been observed in water samples from different sources. Most elemental concentrations in drinking water from various sources, are within ISI/WHO limits. Sea water showed very high concentrations of Ba, Cr, Co, Fe, Hg, Sb, Se and Zn. For doubly distilled and rain waters, however, very low elemental concentrations of Ba, Ce, Fe, Sc, Hg, Se, Sr and Th were observed.     

Elemental composition studies of fugitive and ambient air dust particulates from a thermal power station by instrumental neutron activation analysis

In order to assess the source of pollutants and the atmosphere quality in and around a thermal power plant, fugitive dust particulates from seven different locations and ambient air dust from six locations have been analyzed for 32 elements (As, Au, Ba, Br, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, W and Yb) by employing instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The method involves the irradiation of samples and comparator standards in a thermal neutron flux range of 10¹²–10¹³ n·cm^–2·s^–1 in a nuclear reactor for 10 min and 1 day followed by high resolution -spectrometry. Wide differences have been observed in the mean elemental concentrations of Fe, Co, Br, Mn, As, P. Ba and Cu in fugitive and ambient dust particulates coliected from these different locations. Further, a comparison of the elemental contents of the dust particulates from the plant with environmental standards (Urban Particulate Matter, Coal Fly Ash, Vehicle Exhaust and Coal) show significantly lower or comparable amounts of toxic and pollutant elements in the environmental samples.     

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as a novel and highly efficient catalyst for Michael addition of mercaptans to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate has been found to be a new and highly efficient catalyst for Michael addition of thiols to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions and in H₂O at room temperature. The reactions are very fast and are completed in 2 min to 1 h affording high yields. The rate of thiol addition was dependent on the steric hindrance at the β-carbon of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl substrate. In the case of chalcones, the reactions are best carried out in MeOH as solvent.     

Ammonium 2-(2'-lepidylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulphonate as indicator in mercurimetric determination of halides

The use of ammonium 2-(2'-lepidylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulphonate as indicator in titrimetric estimation of chloride, bromide and iodide with mercury(II) has been examined. The precision, accuracy and applicability of the procedures have been evaluated.