Trace element analysis of high-purity copper

Summary In copper samples trace impurities of the elements As, Bi, Cr, Fe, Pb, Sb, Se and Te in the low g/g range were coprecipitated with lanthanum hydroxide and determined by flame AAS (Fe) and electrothermal AAS (other elements). Reduction of the sample weight results in a considerable saving of time compared to elder procedures and allows to apply centrifugation instead of filtration as separation technique, by which the risk of contamination is decreased. The completeness of separation was examined by analyzing standard solutions. Additionally radio tracer experiments were employed with Sb and Se. Based on recovery data, a classification scheme was set up with regard to adsorption behaviour. High-purity copper samples were analyzed by the procedure described; INAA and ICP-MS were used as comparison methods. Parameters affecting the precision were examined; the main influence was caused by the separation step. The procedure is well suitable for the determination of 2–10 g/g As, Cr and Pb and 5–50 g/g Fe in high-purity copper.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Zum mechanismus des strahlenchemischen abbaus von polytetrafluorethylen

The present work studies the changes in polymer structure and the mechanism of the decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE) exposed to high energy radiation (electron beam). Spectroscopic and kinetic observations are used to interpret the degradation process. For the first time the decomposition of PTFE has been carried out on a preparative scale and new results obtained by analysing the degradation products. The radiation-induced degradation of PTFE is accompanied by thermal degradation under certain irradiation conditions. This is due to an increase in temperature of the polymer caused by retardation of highly accelerated electrons (heat accumulation effect).The kinetics are discussed in terms of the reactions and recombination of radicals produced by high-energy radiation both in the polymer melt and the polymer surface. These are related to the overall rate of decomposition.The primary radicals formed by decomposition of PTFE in an inert atmosphere (N₂, Ar) react to produce perfluorinated alkanes and alkenes. In the presence of reactive gases the decomposition fragments originated will react rapidly; e.g. if oxygen is present in the reactive area the radicals form perflourinated peroxyl and oxyl radicals which finally stabilize themselves by CC-scission to perfluorocarbon acid fluorides and carbonyldifluorides.     

Comparison of quantitative methods for analysis of polyphasic pharmaceuticals

Adequate very sensitive quantification methods are needed for the development and are also now required for the monitoring of undesirable solid form(s) as routine tests. The pre-requisite for quantitation are selectivity, sensitivity and most important the purity of standards and their proper storage, what is a challenge for metastable forms. Several analytical techniques are available such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis and microcalorimetry. The different steps of the validation of the analytical methods and problems to be solved are discussed. Examples illustrate the different techniques and compare their possible advantages and limits. The relative standard deviation of measurements should allow for checking the homogenization procedure of mixtures for calibration. The validation should be carried out following ICH guidelines for validation of analytical methods. Comparison of different techniques in adequate concentration range add confidence in the analytical results.     

The identification of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel particulate extracts and their potential formation as artifacts during particulate collection

Summary The highly complex matrix of diesel particulate extracts was analyzed for nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) using fused-silica capillary-column gas chromatography along with a thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detector (TID) and high-performance liquid chromatography followed by on-line catalytic reduction of the nitro-PAH to amino-PAH and subsequent fluorescence detection. Positive isomer identification and quantitation of nitro-PAH are from retention times of authentic standards and their mass spectra. The ease of nitro-PAH formation by nitration of PAH raises the question regarding the origin of these species, whether they are produced as “native” products during the engine combustion process and/or in the exhaust, or instead, formed as the result of chemical conversion to produce artifacts during the sampling procedure. This problem is assessed examing 1-nitropyrene-concentration in particulates of three light-duty diesel engines for different sampling times. 1-Nitropyrene concentrations show only a moderate increase with sampling time under average sampling conditions. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Convergence behavior of the density-matrix renormalization group algorithm for optimized orbital orderings

The density-matrix renormalization group algorithm has emerged as a promising new method in ab initio quantum chemistry. However, many problems still need to be solved before this method can be applied routinely. At the start of such a calculation, the orbitals originating from a preceding quantum chemical calculation must be placed in a specific order on a one-dimensional lattice. This ordering affects the convergence of the density-matrix renormalization group iterations significantly. In this paper, we present two approaches to obtain optimized orderings of the orbitals. First, we use a genetic algorithm to optimize the ordering with respect to a low total electronic energy obtained at a predefined stage of the density-matrix renormalization group algorithm with a given number of total states kept. In addition to that, we derive orderings from the one- and two-electron integrals of our test system. This test molecule is the chromium dimer, which is known to possess a complicated electronic structure. For this molecule, we have carried out calculations for the various orbital orderings obtained. The convergence behavior of the density-matrix renormalization group iterations is discussed in detail.     

Square-planar coordinated polyanions of palladium, platinum, and gold stannaborate [SnB11H11]2- coordination chemistry

The tetrasubstituted polyanions of platinum, palladium, and gold [M(SnB(11)H(11))(4)](x-) (x=6, M=Pd, Pt; x=5, M=Au) have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, Raman, (11)B, and (119)Sn heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the platinum derivative [Bu(3)MeN](6)[Pt(SnB(11)H(11))(4)] (2) (119)Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy has been carried out. The isolated salts are stable towards moisture and air and the complexes 2 and 3 were treated with 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) to give the respective substitution products [Bu(3)MeN](2)[(dppp)M(SnB(11)H(11))(2)] (M=Pd, Pt).     

Electron impact ionization mass spectra of 2,4,5,5-tetrasubstituted 1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thiones. The effect of the ethoxycarbonyl group at position 4

The electron impact ionization mass spectra of 2,4,5,5-tetrasubstituted 1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thiones studied confirmed that the substituent at position 4 has the most dramatic influence on the fragmentation pattern. When the substituent is a methylallyl group the molecular ions exhibit four main routes of fragmentation, but when it is an ethoxycarbonyl/acetyl or a methyl group these direct decompositions of the molecular ion become less abundant. Interestingly all 4-ethoxycarbonyl derivatives and the 4-acetyl derivative exhibited the ions [M-R⁴-COOC₂H₄]⁺ and [M-R⁴-COCH₂]⁺, respectively, with the same composition.