Synthesis and characterization of isotopically enriched methylmercury (CH3201Hg+)

A simple procedure for the synthesis of an important standard, isotopically enriched methylmercury, which is not commercially available, has been established successfully. The isotopically enriched standard synthesized is utilized in conventional isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), as well as in speciated IDMS (SIDMS), for determination of the true concentration of methylmercury in environmental samples. The CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺ standard has been synthesized from commercially available ²⁰¹HgO and tetramethyltin. The synthesis time required is 1 h at 60°C. The product is highly pure, yielding more than 90% as ²⁰¹Hg in CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺. Hazardous dimethylmercury does not occur during this synthesis procedure. The product synthesized was analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and ICP‐MS alone in order to determine its concentration, isotopic composition and purity. The stability of the product was also evaluated for over 6 months and found to be stable at 4°C in the dark. The isotopically enriched methylmercury synthesized can be used in SIDMS and IDMS analyses as a standard. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ferromagnetic Properties of Bond-Dilution and Random Positive or Negative Uniaxial Anisotropy Blume-Capel Model

We study the ferromagnetic properties of spin-1 system, which is considered in the frame of the bond dilution and random positive or negative anisotropy Blume-Capel model in the effective field theory and a cutting approximation. The investigation of phase diagrams displays some rich properties of the trajectory of tricritical point, reentrant henomena at low temperatures. Under certain both bond concentrations and random negative anisotropy, there are new transition lines of double tricritical points. So special emphasis is placed on the influence of the bond dilution and random anisotropy on phase diagrams. The magnetizations of the system are also discussed. Some results have not been evealed in previous reports.     

Seawater—A test of multicomponent electrolyte solution theories. II. Enthalpy of mixing and dilution of the major sea salts

In a continuing effort to predict the physicochemical properties of seawater from the properties of single aqueous electrolyte solutions, the pairwise heats of mixing at constant molal ionic strength,I=1.0 ional, have been determined for the six possible pairs of salts from the set (NaCl, Na₂SO₄, MgCl₂, MgSO₄) at 30°C. In addition, heats of dilution for two aqueous solutions formed from these salts and havingI=1.0 ional have been determined at 30°C. In order to present the most thermodynamically consistent results, it was found necessary to apply a correction term to the relative apparent equivalent enthalpies given in the literature at 30°C. These correction terms derived from a consideration of published results on heats of dilution at very low concentrations. Further, in order to make predictions for seawater at 25°C, it was deemed desirable to refit existing heat-capacity data. The heats relative apparent equivalent enthalpies for the two mixtures mentioned as well as for seawater. The estimates are based on the theoretical equation of Reilly and Wood for charge-asymmetric mixtures which derives from the work of Friedman. In the most applicable cases, the estimates agree with experimental relative apparent equivalent enthalpies to within 5%. In general, the results substantiate the theoretical equation.Taken in part from the Ph.D. dissertation of W. H. Leung, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33149.     

A new method for the determination of the 34S/32S ratio of water-soluble sulphur in soil

A new method for the determination of the ³⁴S/³²S ratio of water-extractable sulphate in soil is described. Soils are extracted directly with deionized water, which is evaporated down. The remaining residue is then rehydrated and transferred to tin cups containing an adsorbent and mixed with an oxygen donor (V₂O₅). Samples are then analysed using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The new method requires around 10?g soil per determination, compared to much larger amounts (up to kilograms) of soil required for the previous methods. Sample preparation and subsequent analysis is quick and efficient. The method is demonstrated using a number of soils collected from around the world to provide a range of determined δ³⁴S values. The δ³⁴S values of water-extractable sulphur were broadly similar to those of the soil total sulphur.     

Carbon and oxygen isotope working standards from C3 and C4 photosynthates

A preparation of organic working standards for the online measurement of ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios in biological material is presented. The organic working standards are simple and inexpensive C₃ and C₄ carbohydrates (sugars or cellulose) from distinct geographic origin, including white sugar, toilet and XEROX papers from Switzerland, maize from Ivory Coast, cane sugar from Brazil, papyrus from Egypt, and the core of the stem of a Cyperus papyrus plant from Kenya. These photosynthetic products were compared with International Atomic Energy standards CH-3 and CH-6 and other calibration materials. The presented working standards cover a 15 ‰ range of ¹³C/¹²C ratios and 9 ‰ for ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, with a precision<±0.2 ‰ for n>10.     

Estimation of lake water—groundwater interactions in meromictic mining lakes by modelling isotope signatures of lake water

Abstract

A method is presented to assess lake water–groundwater interactions by modelling isotope signatures of lake water using meteorological parameters and field data. The modelling of δ¹⁸O and δD variations offers information about the groundwater influx into a meromictic Lusatian mining lake. Therefore, a water balance model is combined with an isotope water balance model to estimate analogies between simulated and measured isotope signatures within the lake water body. The model is operated with different evaporation rates to predict δ¹⁸O and δD values in a lake that is only controlled by weather conditions with neither groundwater inflow nor outflow. Comparisons between modelled and measured isotope values show whether the lake is fed by the groundwater or not. Furthermore, our investigations show that an adaptation of the Craig and Gordon model [H. Craig, L.I. Gordon. Deuterium and oxygen-18 variations in the ocean and the marine atmosphere. In Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperature, Spoleto, E. Tongiorgi (Ed.), pp. 9–130, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Laboratorio di Geologia Nucleare, Pisa (1965).] to specific conditions in temperate regions seems necessary.     

2. Mitteilung: Tetraphenylarsoniumverbindungen und Pentaphenylarsen

Es wurde ein Trennverfahren ausgeabeitet, das es gestattet, die Aktivitätsausbeuten für Mono-, Di- und Triphenylarsenverbindungen, für Tetraphenylarsoniumverbindungen und für Pentaphenylarsen sowie für nicht organisch gebundenes Arsen in neutronenbestrahlten Tetraphenylarsoniumver erbindungen und in Pentaphenylarsen zu bestimmen. Als Trennmethoden werden Extraktion, Ionenaustauwsch und Al₂O₃-Chromatographic benutzt. Zur Reinigung und Ausbeutebestimmung von Di- und Triphenylarsenprodukten sowie von Tetraphenylarsonimverbindungen finden Kristallisations- bzw. Fällungsreaktionen Anwendung unter Ausnutzung des Prinzips der Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse.     

Analyse der Rückstoßprodukte in neutronenbestrahlten Phenylarsenverbindungen, 3. Mitteilung: Über die Bestimmung der Ausbeute an Diphenylarsen-Rückstoßprodukten

Für das in der 1. Mitteilung [1] beschriebene Trennverfahren zur Anfarbeitung bestrahlter Mono-, Di- und Triphenylarsenverbindungen sollte die Effektivität der chromatographischen Trennung an dem Kationenaustauscher KPS (6% DVB) mit Hilfe einer unabhängigen Methode überprüft werden. Außerdem sollten Hinweise über Art und Anzahl der nichtidentifizierten ?unbckanntcn Produkte“ erhalten werden, die gemeinsam mit den Diphenylarsen-Rüekstoßprodukten im NaOH-Eluat auftreten. Zu diesem Zweck wurde die von Siuda [2] vorgeschlagene papierelektrophoretische Trennung benutzt.     

Isotopenverdünnungsanalytische Multielementanalyse mit der Funkenquellen-Massenspektrographie

Es wird ein Verfahren zur Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse mit stabilen Isotopen unter Verwendung einer Funkenionenquelle und einem doppelfokussierenden Massenspektrographen beschrieben, welches die gleichzeitige Analyse mehrerer Elemente in pulverförmigen Feststoffen erlaubt.

Die Leistungsfähigkeit des Analysenverfahrens wild am Beispiel der Spurenanalyse geologischer Standardproben demonstriert.

Das Analysenverfahren erlaubt die Bestimmung von Spurenkonzentrationen bis in den ppb-Bereich mit Standardabweichungen zwischen 2 und 10%.