Critical evaluation of spiking of low-grade ore samples in activation analysis for gold and uranium

In applying non-destructive neutron-activation analysis for gold and uranium in spiked low-grade ore samples, the following extrapolated unspiked concentrations were measured: 0.27₈ ± 0.01₅ ppm gold (chemical assay: 0.20₂ ± 0.02₀ ppm gold); 25.1 ± 1.1 ppm uranium (chemical assay value: 19.5 ±2.0 ppm uranium). Different approaches to the fitting of results, and the influence of spiking non-uniformity, are discussed.     

Excess molar enthalpy of binary mixtures of hexane+ethyl benzene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-xylene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-xylene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-xylene at 298.15 K

Summary This paper reports excess molar enthalpies of the binary systems hexane+ethyl benzene, hexane+o-xylene, hexane+m-xylene and hexane+p-xylene at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, over the whole composition range. The data was measured directly using a Calvet microcalorimeter. The excess magnitude was correlated to a Redlich-Kister type equation for each mixture. Also, we will discuss the results for the four mixtures studied here and by comparison with the same binary systems but containing propyl propanoate as first component. Finally, we will correlate our results with the Nitta-Chao and the three UNIFAC theoretical approximations.     

Alpha emitters from uranium mining in the environment

Uranium mining and milling activities usually generate an enhancement of radionuclide concentrations in the environment that may cause increased radiological exposure to mankind. For risk assessment and radiological protection of man and environment in these areas, usually, it is needed to implement radiological surveillance of water, soils, agricultural products, aerosols, and mining waste discharges as well. Radionuclides to be monitored in priority are alpha-emitting nuclides of the uranium natural series. Radioactivity analysis of materials from uranium mining areas of Portugal shows departure from secular radioactive equilibrium amongst uranium series radionuclides, thus rendering invalid the assumption of equilibrium and requiring the actual determination of each radionuclide. Radionuclide measurements performed with high resolution alphaspectrometry, as reported herein, produce accurate results on specific radionuclides that are essential in computing radiation doses to critical groups of the population.     

Microdetermination of phosphate with EDTA

An indirect microdetermination of phosphate via EDTA titration is described, which can be applied to minerals, soils, fertilizers, biological samples, drugs and organo-phosphorus compounds. The method is based on the precipitation of phosphate as the very insoluble silver orthophosphate (K_sp = 1.3 × 10^?20), dissolution of this precipitate in a solution of potassium cyanonickelate and titration of the nickel displaced by silver. The phosphate content is obtained indirectly by multiplying the number of ml of the titrant by a factor. The method takes about an hour after the phosphate is brought into solution. The accuracy is about 1% for samples containing 5–50 mg PO₄^3? and about 3–5% for samples with 100 to 5000 μg PO₄^3?.     

Convenient synthesis of nucleoside and isonucleoside analogues

[reaction: see text]. A very simple methodology to stereoselectively achieve tricyclic isonucleosides (nucleobase = thymine, uracil, and 5-fluoruracil) and 3'-C-branched nucleosides (nucleobase = theophylline) was performed by means of a DBU-mediated addition process using a readily available 2-bromo sugar. The mechanism for these transformations implies the loss of both substituents at C-2 and C-3 on the sugar moiety, and although it seems that DBU is probably involved, its involvement has not yet been ascertained. Cytosine did not react under these conditions.     

Flow injection-spectrophotometric determination of cresol compounds in water by reaction withp-aminophenol

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofo-cresol andm-cresol in water by reaction withp-aminophenol (PAP). Three different methodologies have been assayed; (i) batch analysis, after reaction in an alkaline medium in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure, carried out in the presence of KIO₄ and (iii) a flow injection method based on the same approach. The batch procedure requires 22 min for the full development of colour witho-cresol and 12 min form-cresol. In the stopped-flow mode, using KIO₄ and a reaction time of 12 min, better sensitivity can be obtained for both compounds and limits of detection of 10 g 1^–1 foro-cresol and 30 g 1^–1 form-cresol were found. The flow injection method has a lower sensitivity but permits more than 80 injections per hour. Based on the different maximum absorbance wavelengths obtained for the reaction products of PAP witho-cresol (614 nm) andm-cresol (632 nm), both compounds can be simultaneously determined in water samples and recoveries of 90 to 115% were found in spiked water samples of different types.     

Polarographlc analysis for corticosteroids: Part 5. Reduction mechanism of halogen-containing corticosteroids and analysis of some preparations

In fluprednisolone and chloroprednisone acetate, the polarographic reduction of the carbon—halogen bond in position 6 occurs first. The carbanion—enolate formed is reduced at the dropping mercury electrode at more negative potentials than the conjugate acid. Controlled potential electrolysis at a mercury pool electrode where the carbanion—enolate can be protonated, yields the unsaturated ketone. Polarographic reduction of clobetasol-17-propionate and of clobetasone-17-butyrate results in cleavage of the C—Cl bond in the side-chain. This process is followed by reduction of the α,β-unsaturated ketone in the A-ring. Analytical methods for the determination of these compounds in ointments, creams and eye/ear drops gave results with standard deviations of 1–2%.     

Reagentless system for sulphite determination based on polyaniline

A new reagentless system for sulphite (or sulphur dioxide) determination is reported based on the use of an organic conducting polymer, polyaniline, and its absorbance variation at 550 nm, depending on the sulphite concentration. After chemical polymerisation of aniline a very thin film of polyaniline is obtained. Although the response is not fully reversible, each film can be used for at least 10 measurements for low analyte concentrations (up to 0.5 mg l⁻¹) and five measurements for higher sulphite concentrations. Moreover, the reproducibility, ease of preparation and low cost of the films, permit the use of a new disposable system for each measurement. When the change in absorbance at 550 nm was measured for 210 s (stabilisation time), the system showed a linear response, which ranged from 0.025 to 1.50 mg l⁻¹ of sulphite. A theory with regard to the reaction mechanism between the polyaniline films and sulphite is also proposed. The system was applied to sulphite determination in wine samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by the Official Method of Analysis (iodometric titration).     

Chlorination of α-sulfonyl carbanions with hexachloroethane: A novel preparation of α-halosulfones

The cyclic sulfones1,2, and3 are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium. Lithiation is demonstrated to lead to α-mono, α,α′-di and/or α,α-di and α,α,α′ trimetallation. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE). Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction of the lithiosulfones with vicinal dihalides are discussed.     

On the thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy

A simple physical picture is given of Fellner-Feldegg's thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy. From this picture an accurate analytical relation is derived for the total reflection coefficient.