The preparation and homogeneity study of synthetic multi-element standards (SMELS) for QC/QA of k0-NAA

Three new synthetic multi-element standards (SMELS) were developed for testing the performance of the k ₀-standardization neutron activation analysis (k ₀-NAA) method when implemented in a laboratory. SMELS consist of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer matrix spiked with different groups of elements according to the half-lives of the formed radionuclides. They are classified as Type I for short-, Type II for medium- and Type III for long-lived radionuclides. This article presents the preparation of SMELS including different aspects such as choice of the matrix and spiking elements, chemical compounds, target concentrations, purity of the matrix and spiking procedure and the homogeneity study for all the spiked elements in order to demonstrate the quality of the produced materials.     

Asymmetric zirconocene precursors for catalysis of propylene polymerization

Racemic isopropylidene (1-η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(1-η⁵-indenyl) dichlorozirconium and the 3-methylindenyl derivative have been synthesized and characterized. These precursors activated with methylaluminoxane produce poly(propylene) with hemiisotactic microstructures. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography of industrial paraffins and waxes

Summary The application of capillary SFC for SIMDIST investigations of paraffins and waxes is reported. Pressure, density and temperature of the mobile phase are optimized to obtain high chromatographic resolution of complex mixtures of industrial products. Isothermal linear pressure programming and asymptotic pressure and density programming are used in the range from 15 to 35 MPa in the isothermic mode above 100°C. SFC chromatograms of natural and synthetic paraffins, microcrystalline wax and candle wax are compared. The retention behaviour of paraffin mixtures and waxes has been investigated on methyl/phenyl and biphenyl capillary columns. The polarity of the stationary phases influences the absolute retention time more than it influences the chromatographic resolution.     

Photocyclization of 2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3-carboxylate derivatives: induced and noninduced diastereoselectivity

[reaction: see text] The decarboxylative photocyclization of potassium 2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octanoate ethylene-linked to phthalimide leads to a mixture of two diastereoisomeric products. The overall noninduced diastereoselectivity is remarkably high, indicating a preference of spin-orbit coupling controlled 1,7-biradical combination process. Memory of chirality vanished due to free rotation about the connecting spacer bonds.     

Automated separation and measurement of radioxenon for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

A fully automatic radioxenon sampler/analyzer (ARSA) has been developed and demonstrated for the collection and quantitative measurement of the four xenon radionuclides,^131mXe(11.9 d),^133mXe(2.2 d),¹³³Xe(5.2 d), and¹³⁵Xe(9.1 hr), in the atmosphere. These radionuclides are important signatures in monitoring for compliance to a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Activity ratios of these radionuclides permit source attribution. Xenon, continuously and automatically separated from the atmosphere, is automatically analyzed by electron-photon coincidence spectrometry providing a lower limit of detection of about 100 μBq/m³. The demonstrated detection limit is about 100 times better than achievable with reported laboratory-based procedures for the short-time collection intervals of interest.     

Collaborative monitoring study of airborne particulate matters among seven Asian countries

Summary Seven Asian countries have been collaborating in collecting airborne particulate matter (APM) in their individual countries and analyzing them by neutron activation analysis as a common analytical tool. APM samples were collected into two fractions of fine and coarse grains (PM2 and PM2-10, respectively). Analytical data were compared from several viewpoints such as particulate sizes, locality of sampling sites (either urban or rural) and geographical location of participating countries. Chemical composition and their monthly variations as well as mass concentrations appear to be highly characteristic for individual sampling sites, suggesting that NAA data are suitable for evaluating the air quality in each site.