Determination of nitrous acid in air using wet effluent diffusion denuder-FIA technique

A sensitive and fast method for the determination of nitrous acid (HONO) in air is described. The method combines a continuous collection of nitrous acid into a thin film of absorption liquid in a cylindrical wet effluent diffusion denuder (CWEDD) and on-line analysis of collected nitrous acid at the denuder concentrate employing a flow-injection analysis (FIA) where nitrous acid is oxidized into peroxynitrous acid and a chemiluminescent light emitted during the reaction of peroxynitrite with luminol is detected. Various absorption solutions (carbonate, bicarbonate, phosphate) as well as deionized water were compared from point of view of collection efficiency of nitrous acid at the CWEDD and selectivity and sensitivity of nitrous acid determination in air.All tested liquids provide quantitative collection of HONO in the CWEDD at the air flow rate of 1 L min⁻¹. The detection limit of nitrous acid of 15 ppt (v/v) is the same for all tested liquids. Small positive interference of nitrogen dioxide and peroxyacetylnitrate has been found. The lowest interference of NO₂ was found for 1 × 10⁻⁴ M NaHCO₃ (pH 6.4; 0.18%) while for deionized water interference of NO₂ (0.28%) was slightly higher. The lowest interference of peroxyacetylnitrate was found for deionized water (1.46%). No enhanced formation of HONO inside the cylindrical wet effluent diffusion denuder was observed for simultaneous bringing of nitrogen dioxide together with phenol, p-cresol, guaiacol, catechol, o-nitrophenol as well as with n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane, isoprene, α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, 3-carene, α-phellandrene, S-limonene, benzene, toluene or o-xylene in comparison with formation of HONO only in the presence NO₂.Deionized water was chosen as the optimum absorption liquid for the sampling of atmospheric nitrous acid at the CWEDD as well as for FIA chemiluminescent detection. The time resolution is 70 s and the response time is 164 s. The calibration curve is linear over 4 orders of magnitude (0.045-450 ppb HONO). The CWEDD-FIA technique has been applied to the measurement of nitrous acid in urban air.     

Anti-Stokes Yb3+ emission--valuable structure information in spectra of rare earth compounds measured with FT-Raman spectrometers

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and simple method which proved to be very useful in studies of solids. The most widely used Raman spectrometers are FT-Raman instruments with YAG:Nd(3+) laser as an excitation source. However, in the case of samples containing rare earth elements, the quality of FT-Raman spectra is often low due to strong fluorescence effects. We show that, in such cases, anti-Stokes part of the Raman spectra often contains strong, well resolved bands identified as multiphonon-assisted emission bands of Yb(3+) present as an impurity. We show on several examples that analysis of these bands may provide useful structure information, similar to that obtained by "Eu structure probe" method in optical spectroscopy. The Yb(3+) emission can be also measured using standard luminescence detection systems. However, the application of FT-Raman system allows one to obtain good quality spectra in a much cheaper, easier and faster way (in times as short as a few seconds). Moreover, high-sensitivity of FT-Raman spectrometers allows to detect even very small amounts of Yb(3+) impurity.     

All-valence-electron and transition density matrix calculations of the electronic spectra of [2.2]paracyclophanequinones

The combined CNDO/S and transition density matrix methods reproduced well the UV-VIS spectra of the intramolecular charge-transfer complexes of double- and triple-layered [2.2]paracyclophanequinones in which benzene and p-benzoquinone represent the donor and acceptor layers: DA, DDA and DAD. Calculations pointed to the already known experimental bathochromic shifts of the longest wavelength absorption band for the DADDADAD transformations. The electronic transitions corresponding to this band are for DA and DDA the CT transitions of the ^* type; however, for DAD the band represents the n ^* transition localized on the acceptor ring.     

The vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of tetracyclopropyllead

All the fundamental frequencies observed in IR and Raman spectra have been assigned to the normal modes of the molecule (C₃H₅)₄Pb (C₃H₅ = cyclopropyl). The calculated force field is compared to that of (C₃H₅)₂Hg and the Cmetal stretching force constants are discussed along with those of Me₄Pb and Me₂Hg; The similarity of the spectra of cyclopropyllead and cyclopropyl-mercury proves that the vibrations of cyclopropyl structural units are isolated in both molecules.     

New evidence on the structure of potassium salts of 12-tungstophosphoric acid, KxH3-xPW12O40

Physicochemical properties and compositions of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < or = 3, have been investigated. It has been found that freshly prepared K2HPW12O40 salt (drying at 313 K) contains particles of heteropolyacid and particles of the neutral potassium salt, the sample being in 78.6% amorphous. On aging at room temperature, the heteropolyacid spreads to form a surface layer covering the neutral potassium salt particles K3PW12O40. Heat treatment of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < 3, from 313 K to higher temperatures induces the transformation of the heteropolyacid-covering K(3) core into a well-dispersed, amorphous surface layer. On further heating of the acidic potassium salts, the surface layer decomposes between 855 and 915 K with the formation of a PW8O26-type bronze as a new phase, the K3PW12O40 salt remaining unchanged. The latter starts to decompose at 1093 K, and in the case of all samples, the process is completed at about 1183 K. Rietveld structure refinement, XPS, and 31P NMR measurements of acidic potassium salts indicate that the core of these salts is always formed by the K3PW12O40 salt, which is covered by a heteropolyacid. Comparison of lattice parameters of the K3 salt and HPW leads to the conclusion that the layer is composed of partially or completely dehydrated heteropolyacid molecules. The coverage of the core by HPW in the K2 sample was estimated to be equal to one monolayer.     

Modification of the Two-Point Scaling Theory for the Description of the Phase Transition in Solution. Analysis of Sodium Octanoate Aqueous Solutions

On the basis of conventional scaling theory, the two-point scaling theory was modified in order to describe the influence of composition on the partial molar heat capacity and volume during the micellization process. To verify the theory, isobaric heat capacities and densities of aqueous sodium octanoate solutions were measured over wide composition and temperature ranges and the modified approach was used to analyze the calculated partial molar heat capacities and volumes of the surfactant in water. The results obtained indicate that the micellization process is subject to the scaling laws. The results were compared with those for other systems. Peculiar behavior of the critical indices was observed and correlated with the structure of the micelles.     

An apparent critical point in binary mixtures: experimental and simulation study

We report the experimental and simulation studies for the system of nitrobenzene-cyclododecane, showing an apparent critical point, which lies in their metastable, experimentally inaccessible state, below their melting point, affecting physical and chemical properties of this system in the stable liquid phase. The nonlinear dielectric effect (NDE) was measured in the mixture of nitrobenzene with cyclododecane. The mixture has been found to show an apparent critical point which lies below the melting point, manifested as anomalous NDE behavior in the vicinity of the critical concentrations in the stable liquid phase. The melting temperature of this system was estimated using the differential scanning calorimetry method. For such a system, we also performed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that aimed to analyze the kinds of phase transitions observed and the conditions of their occurrence in Lennard-Jones mixture. The enthalpy, configurational energy, and radial distribution function have been estimated by the MC simulation method in the N-P-T system. Immiscibility conditions according to the approach by Schoen and Hoheisel [Mol. Phys. 57, 65 (1986)] are also discussed.