The distribution and behaviour of artificial radionuclides in sediments of the north Wales coast,U.K.

The distribution of¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs and²¹⁴Am in surface and core sediments from areas in north Wales has been investigated. Coastal sites show a predominance of Sellafield-derived material for all three radionuclides whereas estuarine sites show an increased proportion of Chemobyl-derived caesium present. By the use of the¹³⁴Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratio, a mean proportion of Chemobyl-derived¹³⁷Cs in surface sediments collected in 1991 fell from 34% at an estuarine site to 11% at a coastal site. In deeper sections of cores representing sedimentation dates near the Chemobyl accident, up to 90% of¹³⁷Cs at the estuarine site and 26% at the coastal site can be attributed to Chemobyl. By using the position of the Chemobyl¹³⁴Cs and¹³⁷Cs peak in the cores, sedimentation rates of 0.7 mm·a^–1 were calculated.     

FTIR Emission Spectra, Molecular Constants, and Potential Curve of Ground State GeO

Extensive new high-temperature, high-resolution FTIR emission spectroscopy measurements for the five common isotopomers of GeO are combined with previous diode laser and microwave measurements in combined isotopomer analyses. New Dunham expansion parameters and an accurate analytical potential energy function are determined for the ground X1Sigma+ state. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

The use of a Remote Batch Terminal as an effective first step to the implementation of an inhouse computer facility

Summary The paper describes the experience gained in the Laboratory using a Remote Batch Terminal linked to a large Bureau Computer. Considerable advantages are shown particularly when hybrid solutions involving electronic modifications to instruments coupled to computer software are used. Some applications are considered in detail. The care taken on report presentation and to derive the maximum information inherent in analytical results is also discussed as are the advantages produced.     

Hammett Correlation in the Accelerated Formation of 2,3-Diphenylquinoxalines in Nebulizer Microdroplets

The accelerated formation of 2,3-diphenylquinoxalines in microdroplets generated in a nebulizer has been investigated by competition experiments in which equimolar quantities of 1,2-phenylenediamine, C₆H₄(NH₂)₂, and a 4-substituted homologue, XC₆H₃(NH₂)₂ [X = F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CH₃O, CO₂CH₃, CF₃, CN or NO₂], or a 4,5-disubstituted homologue, X₂C₆H₂(NH₂)₂ [X = F, Cl, Br, or CH₃], compete to condense with benzil, (C₆H₅CO)₂. Electron-donating substituents (X = CH₃ and CH₃O) accelerate the reaction; in contrast, electron-attracting substituents (X = F, Cl, Br and particularly CO₂CH₃, CN, CF₃ and NO₂) retard it. A structure–reactivity relationship in the form of a Hammett correlation has been found by analyzing the ratio of 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline and the corresponding substituted-2,3-diphenylquinoxaline, giving a ρ value of −0.96, thus confirming that the electron density in the aromatic ring of the phenylenediamine component is reduced in the rate-limiting step in this accelerated condensation. This correlation shows that the phenylenediamine acts as a nucleophile in the reaction.