Simultaneous determination of hafnium and zirconium in low grade uranium ores using INAA

A non-destructive neutron activation analysis technique has been developed for the determination of hafnium and zirconium in low grade uranium ores. In order to calculate the fission contribution of²³⁵U, thermal neutron absorption cross-section /_a/ for⁹⁴Zr has been determined. The study shows that 1 g of uranium produces the same activity as from 10.03 g of zirconium. Based on this fact, the degree of interferences have been calculated for each sample and the necessary corrections have been applied. The values have been compared with the reported IAEA and NBS values.     

Optical Emission Spectroscopy of Abnormal Glow Region in Nitrogen Plasma

Optical emission spectroscopy of the active species in N₂ plasma is carried out to investigate their concentration as a function of discharge parameters such as filling pressure (2.0–7.0 mbar), source power (100–200 W) and gas flow rate (50–300 mg/min). The primary motivation of this work is to obtain reliable information about the concentration of the active species of N₂ plasma, which play an important role in plasma surface nitriding processes. Emission intensity from the selected electronic excited states of molecular and atomic species is evaluated as a function of discharge parameters to investigate their concentration. The emission intensity ratio I(N₂⁺)/I(N₂) and I(N⁺)/I(N) of the electronic transitions is also evaluated as a function of discharge parameters to investigate the relative dependence of their concentrations. It is observed that the concentration of the active species of N₂ plasma is strongly affected by the filling pressure and source power whereas flow rate has no significant effect. An increased occurrence of N₂⁺ molecular ions in comparison with N₂ molecules, and N⁺ ions in comparison with N atoms is observed with source power whereas decreased occurrence of N₂⁺ molecular ions in comparison with N₂ molecules, and N⁺ ions in comparison with N atoms is observed with the rise in filling pressure.     

Separation and structural studies of manganese(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of benzilic and mandelic esters

Summary Solid metal complexes of benzilic and mandelic esters have been prepared and their structure elucidated using vis., i.r., n.m.r. and e.s.r. spectra. The results of elemental analysis are commensurate with the proposed formulae. Spectral studies indicate that the Ni complexes are octahedral, whereas the Co and Cu analogoues are distorted octahedral.     

INAA for the characterization of airborne particulate matter from the industrial area of Islamabad city

Air particulate matter (PM) was collected in two size fractions using stacked filter units (SFUs) provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from the industrial area of Islamabad. Nucleopore polycarbonate filters were used for collecting from Oct 98 to Jun 99 the particulate matter in coarse and fine size fractions. The samples were characterized by the instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). About 33 elements were quantified using different irradiation and counting protocols.     

Chemical composition and medicinal significance of Fagonia cretica: a review

Members of the family Zygophyllaceae are distributed in arid areas of the world and are traditionally used against various health insults ranging from skin lesions to lethal cancer. Fagonia cretica Linn. is a plant having novel compounds responsive in diseases that are still considered as incurable or are curable with serious side effects. Researchers, particularly of the Asian region elaborately studied the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of this plant. But further studies are still required to evaluate this plant in clinical trials in order to save humanity from synthetic chemical drugs yet disputed as ‘friends or foe’.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of different products from the sugarcane industry in Pakistan--part 1: essential elements for nutritional adequacy

Jaggery, brown sugar, white sugar, and molasses collected from the local sugarcane industry of Pakistan have been analyzed for essential elements in order to estimate their nutritional adequacy. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine Ca, CI, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn through sequential, short, medium, and long irradiation times. Maximum concentrations for most of these elements were determined in molasses, with lower concentrations determined in jaggery and brown sugar; white sugar contained trace amounts of all essential elements. Contributions to the weekly Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values for the elements were estimated only for jaggery, brown sugar, and white sugar because molasses in Pakistan is not consumed as a dietary item. Jaggery contributes the highest percentages of Cr, Mg, Mn, and Zn, whereas the highest percentages of Cl, Fe, K, and Na can be acquired from brown sugar. The contribution of white sugar to the weekly RDAs for these elements is negligible, indicating that white sugar is a poor source of the essential elements. However, the introduction of molasses to the diet can contribute to an adequate intake of these elements.     

Zinc (II), palladium (II) and cadmium (II) complexes containing 4‐methoxy‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylene) aniline derivatives: Synthesis,characterization and methyl methacrylate polymerization

A series of Zn (II), Pd (II) and Cd (II) complexes, [(L) _n MX ₂ ] _m (L = L‐a–L‐c; M = Zn, Pd; X = Cl; M = Cd; X = Br; n, m = 1 or 2), containing 4‐methoxy‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylene) aniline ( L‐a ), 4‐methoxy‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl) aniline ( L‐b ) and 4‐methoxy‐N‐methyl‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl) aniline ( L‐c ) have been synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structures of Pd (II) complexes [L ₁ PdCl ₂ ] (L = L‐b and L‐c) revealed distorted square planar geometries obtained via coordinative interaction of the nitrogen atoms of pyridine and amine moieties and two chloro ligands. The geometry around Zn (II) center in [(L‐a)ZnCl ₂ ] and [(L‐c)ZnCl ₂ ] can be best described as distorted tetrahedral, whereas [(L‐b) ₂ ZnCl ₂ ] and [(L‐b) ₂ CdBr ₂ ] achieved 6‐coordinated octahedral geometries around Zn and Cd centers through 2‐equivalent ligands, respectively. In addition, a dimeric [(L‐c)Cd(μ ‐ Br)Br] ₂ complex exhibited typical 5‐coordinated trigonal bipyramidal geometry around Cd center. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane was evaluated by all the synthesized complexes at 60°C. Among these complexes, [(L‐b)PdCl ₂ ] showed the highest catalytic activity [3.80 × 10⁴ g poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/mol Pd hr^?1], yielding high molecular weight (9.12 × 10⁵ g mol^?1) PMMA. Syndio‐enriched PMMA (characterized using ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy) of about 0.68 was obtained with T_g in the range 120–128°C. Unlike imine and amine moieties, the introduction of N‐methyl moiety has an adverse effect on the catalytic activity, but the syndiotacticity remained unaffected.