The effect of a magnetic field on the singlet/triplet ratio in geminate ion recombination

Excited state formation by ion recombination in solutions of fluorene in squalene has been studied by pulse radiolysis at the center of a large electromagnet. The products of the slower part of the ion recombination are affected by an applied magnetic field. The fluorescence yield increases by a factor of about 1.5 whereas the triplet yield decreases.     

PIXE-RBS combination to measure uranium and thorium in environmental and biological samples

A combination of two techniques, PIXE (particle induced x-ray emission) and RBS (Rutherford backscattering), is proposed as an analytical tool to measure uranium and thorium in environmental and biological samples and in the study of the micro-distribution of uranium is low Z matrices such as biological tissue.Work supported by U.S. Department of Energy Contracts DE-AC02-76CH-00116 (MC, KWJ) and DE-AC02-76EV-00119 (NPS, MEW). One of us (ASP) is grateful to FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Technológico).     

Extraction of Zr(IV) by TBP-DMSO and TBP-Py from aqueous solutions containing monobasic acids

The distribution ratios for the extraction of Zr(IV) by TBP and its binary mixtures with DMSO or Py in n-dodecane in the presence of HNO₃, and HClO₄ have been determined. Based on stoichiometric and slope analysis methods a possible mechanism for the extraction has been proposed.     

Synthesis of ultrafine SiC from rice hulls (husks): A plasma process

Heat-treated rice hulls have been used as precursor material for synthesis of ultrafne SiC in a RF plasma reactor. Rice hulls containing finely distributed silica and active carbon act as a source for SiC formation. The plasma-synthesized powder contained ultrafnc -SiC with excess carbon and some unreacted silica. Post-treatment processes such as oxidation and acid (HF) treatment appear to be effective in removing the excess carbon and silica.     

Electrical conduction in copper vanadate

A.C. and d.c. electrical conductivities, thermoelectric power and dielectric constant of copper vanadate (CuV₂O₆) have been measured in the temperature range 300–1000 K in order to discuss the electrical conduction in the compound. The extrinsic conduction, which takes place below 500 K, has been explained by small polaron hopping mechanism while intrinsic conduction, which takes place above 500 K, has been explained by large polaron band mechanism in view of the values of activation energy and charge carrier mobility in the temperature ranges 300–500 K and 500–1000 K.     

Titrimetric estimation of phosphate, molybdate, tungstate and sulphate with lead nitrate solution, using 1,2-naphthoquinone-2-semicarbazone-4-sulphonic acid (NQS-4S) and 1,2-naphthoquinone-2-thiosemicarbazone-4-sulphonic acid (NQTS-4S) as visual indicators

The use of 1,2-naphthoquinone-2-semicarbazone-4-sulphonic acid and 1,2-naphtho-quinone-2-thiosemicarbazone-4-sulphoic acid as indicators in the titrimetric estimation of phosphate, molybdate, tungstate and sulphate with lead has been examined. The precision, accuracy and applicability of the methods have been evaluated.     

Preparation, characterization and thermolysis of metal nitrate complexes with 4,4’-bipyridine

Two bis(bipyridine) polymeric metal nitrate complexes with 4,4’-bipyridine of simple formula like [M(bipy)₂](NO₃)2⋅xH₂O (where M=Co, Ni and Cu; x=4, 2 and 0, respectively) have been prepared and characterized. Their thermal decomposition has been undertaken using simultaneous TG-DTG-DTA and DSC in nitrogen atmosphere and non-isothermal TG in air atmosphere. Isothermal TG has been performed at decomposition temperature range of the complexes to evaluate the kinetics of decomposition by applying model-fitting as well as isoconversional method. Possible mechanistic pathways have also been proposed for the thermolysis. Ignition delay measurements have been carried out to investigate the response of these complexes under the condition of rapid heating.