Optimization of neon soft X-rays emission from 200 J fast miniature dense plasma focus device: A potential source for soft X-ray lithography

The neon soft X-ray (SXR) emission characteristics of a Fast Miniature Plasma Focus (FMPF-3) device have been investigated. The FMPF-3 device used for our experiment is of sub-kilojoule energy capacity, which is an order of magnitude lesser than the other well established plasma focus devices. The influence of different geometrical parameters of the anode and the pressure of the filling gas on the SXR emission was investigated to optimize the neon SXR yield and thereby make it a potential source for X-ray lithography. The SXR signal, solely from the desired, characteristic spectral range (900–1600) eV was selectively extracted and acquired using appropriate X-ray absorption filters on diode X-ray spectrometer. It was found that the neon SXR emission from 17 mm long cylindrical anode, which produced best neutron yields, was rather poor, in a very narrow pressure range and that too at low operating pressure. With decrease in the length of cylindrical anode, the optimum operating pressure shifts to higher pressure side, the working pressure range widens and the SXR yield also increases until the anode length is reduced to 12 mm, after which, the SXR yield and working pressure range start to degrade. The highest neon SXR yield of 1.1 J/shot, corresponding to a wall plug efficiency of 0.57%, was obtained for 12 mm long cylindrical anode. The tapered anodes with different length were also designed and tested, but they did not show any significant improvement in neon SXR yield.     

Permeation of hydrocarbons through liquid surfactant membranes and formation of liquid crystalline structures

The separation of benzene from its mixture with heptane can be achieved by emulsifying the feed mixture to form an oil-in-water emulsion and then dispersing this emulsion in kerosene. At high agitation intensity a gel-like structure develops which prevents phase separation and thereby interferes with the overall mass transfer process. These gel-like structures have very high viscosities, and show rheopectic behaviour; polarising microscopic examination of these gel-like structures revealed the existence of liquid crystalline structures on the surface of the emulsion globules dispersed in kerosene. A possible mode of development of such liquid crystalline structures is presented, 1-Pentanol added to kerosene prevents gel formation and assists phase separation. Its action is explained on the basis of Winsor's theory of solubilization. Typical results for selectivity and benzene yield are presented.     

Studies on the permeation of aromatic hydrocarbons through liquid surfactant membranes

The effect of operating parameters on the batch scale permeation of hydrocarbons from benzene—heptane mixtures and a straight run naphtha through liquid membrane is reported. The thirteen operating parameters studied include: mixing intensity, surfactant concentration, treat ratios, contact times, temperature and additives. The variations observed in the two key properties of selectivity and aromatic recoveries as well as in product compositions with change in operating parameter is discussed. Surfactant concentration contact time during permeation, type and concentration of additive used appear to exert a marked effect on the enrichment obtained. The careful optimization of operating parameters give selectivities as high as 50 and aromatic recoveries of 75% in one stage at 30°C. Comparison of data with batch liquid—liquid extraction data from extraction of similar feed mixtures with the most widely used solvent, sulpholane, under typical industrial conditions, has shown that selectivities and aromatic recoveries in liquid membrane permeation (LMP) are much higher. Batch scale LMP experiments with straight run naphtha as feed show that under optimum conditions of membrane stability and operating parameters the dearomatization of naphtha from an initial aromatic level of 22 vol.% to 10.5 vol.% is possible in one stage at 30°C with a raffinate yield of 63%. The results obtained on benzene—heptane model mixture compare fairly well with those obtained on naphtha feed.     

Sensitive and selective ion exchange-combined atomic absorption: Spectrometric determination of trace elements in rocks

Ion-exchange precipitation was used in geochemical analysis where the various trace elements can be determined by prior separation over an ion-exchange column. By application of the principles of classical wet analysis the presence of trace elements was verified and their quantitative determination performed in rock samples by converting an anion exchanger into the respective ionic forms to obtain the insoluble salts through the action of counterion (an anion) of the resin and the metal ion in the solution. The metal ions are then eluted by suitable eluting reagents that form soluble salts. The columns of 5 g Amberlite IR-400 were used and were converted into the desired anionic forms. The different forms used were sulfide, hydroxyl, carbonate, chromate, and sulfate. Flow rate was maintained at 1 ml/min. Different rock samples were examined for Mn, Zn, Ba, Ni, Cu, and Sr, etc. The results have been compared with the standard results.     

Copper oxide nanoparticle catalysed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives,their optical properties and selective fluorescent sensor towards zinc ion

Synthesis of biologically active fused imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines were achieved via A³ coupling involving 2-aminobenzimidazole, aldehyde and terminal alkyne, followed by 6-endo-dig cyclization using copper oxide nanoparticles under solvent free condition. Further optical properties of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines were studied which showed the effect of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substitution on the fluorescence intensities of these compounds. Out of 20 compounds, 2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine can act as a fluorescent sensor for zinc ion with detection limit 4.74?μM, which is much lower than the maximum allowable zinc concentration in drinking water by WHO.     

Dielectric properties of NaCl1−xBr and KCl1−xBrx mixed ionic solution

In the present paper a three-body potential model (TBPM) has been employed for the analysis of dielectric behaviour of NaCl-NaBr and and KCl-KBr mixed crystals with varying compositions. The physical properties like dielectric constants ( ₀ and ), optic mode frequencies ( _OLO and _TO), effective charge parameter (e _s ^* ), optic mode Grüneisen parameters and strain derivatives of ₀ and dielectric constants have been calculated. The results achieved in the present study are found in fairly good agreement with the available experimental data. The results obtained by previous investigators are also shown for the sake of comparison.