Reply to query related to “Study of uranium contamination of ground water in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique”

The queries made by Rathore in the preceding Letter to Editor (J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2013) regarding the “Studies of ground water contamination in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique” by Alrakabi et al. (J Radioanal Nucl Chem 294:221–227, 2012. doi: 10.1007/s10967-011-1585-x), are responded. The points raised by Rathore are important in case of sensitive analytical techniques, where only a small fraction (~few hundred μL of water) of the water sample collected in the container is effectively used as analyte. The biasing due to chemical speciation and physical escape of element of interest becomes significant in such rapid techniques if the ionic species of interest in the analyte are not stabilised using suitable additives. In the reported study based on X-ray fluorescence technique, the analyte used for elemental analysis was obtained by drying about 500–1000 mL of water sample. Adequate precautions were taken to minimize possibility of element of interest to escape or adhere to the bottle surface or lost as residue. The onsite acidification of collected water sample to pH 1 with reagent-grade nitric acid for sample preservation is not a pre-requisite in the procedure followed. The contribution of particulate matter to the reported concentrations of uranium was estimated to be insignificant. Also, the query related to effect of co-precipitation of uranium with formation of CaF₂ is found to be inconsequential. The comment made by Rathore (J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2013) stating that ‘proceeding further in the measurement of uranium is a waste of time and has no meaning and results and discussion have no meaning too’ is extraneous.     

Study of chemical shift in Ll and Lƞ X‐ray emission lines in different chemical forms of 48Cd and 50Sn compounds using WDXRF technique

Chemical shift in Ll and L? X‐ray emission lines of ₄₈Cd and ₅₀Sn elements in various chemical compounds was determined with high resolution wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer. The positive and negative shifts were measured in ₄₈Cd compounds viz, CdS, CdB₄O₇, CdCl₂, Cd₃(PO₄)₂, CdCO₃, CdI₂ and CdO with reference to pure Cd foil and ₅₀Sn compounds viz, Sn(CrO₄)₂, SnO, SnO₂, SnCl₂, SnF₂, SnF₄ with reference to pure Sn foil. The measured energy shifts in Ll X‐ray emission lines range from ?0.47 to 1.82 eV and L? emission lines range from ?2.67 to 1 eV for both compounds. The effective charges (q, q ^/ , q ^// , and q ^/// ) were calculated from four models (Pauling method, Suchet method, Levine method and Batsonav method) and found to be linear dependence with chemical shift. The measured chemical shifts were correlated with effective charge, number of ligands and electronegativity of the central metal atom in the given compounds.     

插层FeSe高温超导体的高压研究进展

通过对FeSe进行化学插层可以将其超导转变温度（T_c）从约8 K提高到40 K以上,实现高温超导电性.最近,我们对两种插层FeSe高温超导材料（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se和Li_0.36（NH₃）_yFe₂Se₂开展了高压调控研究,发现压力会首先抑制高温超导相（称为SC-I相）,然后在临界压力P_c以上诱导出第二个高温超导相（称为SC-Ⅱ相）,呈现出双拱形T-P超导相图.这两个体系的P_c分别约为5和2 GPa,两个体系SC-Ⅱ相的最高T_c分别可以达到约52和55 K,比相应SC-I相的初始T_c提高了10 K.对（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se的正常态电输运性质分析表明,SC-I和SC-Ⅱ相的正常态分别具有费米液体和非费米液体行为,意味着这两个超导相可能存在显著差异.此外,还发现这两个体系的SC-Ⅱ相的T_c与霍尔系数倒数1/R_H（∝载流子浓度n_e）具有很好的线性依赖关系.对（Li_0.84Fe_0.16）OHFe_0.98Se的高压X射线衍射测量排除了其在10 GPa以内发生结构相变的可能,因此P_c以上SC-Ⅱ相的出现和载流子浓度的增加很可能起源于压力导致的费米面重构.     

Pb掺杂对Cd_2Ru_2O_7反常金属态的调控

具有烧绿石结构的Cd_2Ru_2O_7在形成长程反铁磁序的同时进入反常的金属态.采用高压高温方法制备了一系列Pb掺杂的Cd_(2-x)Pb_xRu_2O_7(0≤x≤2)多晶样品,并系统研究了其晶体结构和电阻率、磁化率、热电势等物理性质.尽管Pb_2Ru_2O_7是泡利顺磁金属,但少量Pb~(2+)掺杂的样品Cd1.8Pb0.2Ru2O7却呈现出明显的金属-绝缘体转变,与施加静水压和少量Ca~(2+)掺杂的效果类似.通过与类似的烧绿石Ru~(5+)氧化物进行对比,提出Cd_2Ru_2O_7中的Ru~(5+)-4d~3电子态恰好处于巡游到局域过渡的区域,少量Pb~(2+)掺杂造成的晶格无序增强了电子的局域性,使得形成反铁磁序的同时伴随出现了金属-绝缘体转变.这表明具有烧绿石结构的Ru~(5+)氧化物是研究巡游-局域电子转变的理想材料体系.     

Characteristics and degradation of hybrid composite films prepared from PVA,starch and lignocellulosics

A research cooperation between USDA and the University of Pisa led to the development of several composite blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lignocellulosic fibers. The cast films were prepared by blending orange fibers (OR-fibers) and PVA with and without cornstarch to yield flexible and cohesive films. To improve properties, films were also prepared by crosslinking PVA, starch and OR-fibers with hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM). Films were evaluated for their thermal stability, water permeability and biodegradation. Thermal gravimetric analyses indicated the potential usefulness of such blends in several thermoplastic applications. Films were permeable to water, and retained the moisture content in the soil while retaining their integrity. Films generally biodegraded within 30 days in compost, achieving between 50-80% mineralization. Both neat PVA and blends that had been crosslinked showed comparatively slow degradation. A possible stimulating effect of lingocellulosic fillers on the biodegradation of PVA in blends has been observed.