Monte Carlo source simulation technique for solution of interference reactions in INAA experiments: a preliminary report

A new method using Monte Carlo source simulation of interference reactions in neutron activation analysis experiments has been developed. The neutron spectrum at the sample location has been simulated using the Monte Carlo code MCNP and the contributions of different elements to produce a specified gamma line have been determined. The produced response matrix has been used to measure peak areas and the sample masses of the elements of interest. A number of benchmark experiments have been performed and the calculated results verified against known values. The good agreement obtained between the calculated and known values suggests that this technique may be useful for the elimination of interference reactions in neutron activation analysis.     

Elimination of Carbon Monoxide in the Gas Streams by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Systems with Mn Catalyst

Elimination of CO in air stream using the plasma catalytic reactors was investigated. Two plasma catalytic systems were evaluated in this study, one consisting of a catalyst-bed packed in plasma zone of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor directly (CID reactor), and the other (CAD reactor) consisting of a catalyst-bed after a DBD reactor. The examined operating parameters in this study included applied voltage, discharge power, the lengths of plasma zone and catalyst-bed, and inlet CO concentration. It was found that the glass packed DBD reactor without catalyst cannot eliminate CO in air stream effectively. When MnO_x catalyst applied to DBD reactors, the removal of 1000 ppm CO can achieve to 97% by both type reactors. Under constant energy input condition, the CO removal of a CID reactor increased with the decrease of the initial CO concentration and the increase of the length of catalyst beds. In addition, the operating energy consumption of CID system was lower than that of CAD system.     

Determination of Endocrine Disruptors in Environmental Water Samples by Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction-Liquid Desorption - Large Volume Injection-Gas Chromatography

A method based on stir bar sorptive extraction with liquid desorption combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry detection has been developed to determine a group of endocrine disruptors in water samples. Large volume injection was used with a programmed temperature vaporiser injector in gas chromatography to enhance sensitivity. The parameters affecting stir bar sorptive extraction and large volume injection were optimised. The limits of quantification in the full scan mode were between 0.02 and 0.2 g L^–1 and the limits of detection were between 0.005 and 0.02 g L^–1 for river water samples. The reproducibility between days of the method (n=3) for river water samples spiked at 0.2 g L^–1 was below 15%. The performance of the method was checked with several water samples from the sea, and effluent and influent sewage treatment plants. We found 4-tert-octylphenol, benzylbutyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in all the water samples analysed at levels between 0.02–14.04 g L^–1. Diazinon was found in only one effluent wastewater sample at 0.16 g L^–1.Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (projects AMB1999-0875 and PPQ2001-1805-CO3). We would like to thank Dr P. Sandra for kindly providing the stir bars.     

Multiresidue analysis of phenylurea herbicides in environmental waters by capillary electrophoresis using electrochemical detection

A rapid multiresidue method has been developed for the analysis of seven phenylurea herbicides in the presence of two s-triazines in environmental waters. A simple end-column electrochemical detector was used in combination with a commercially-available capillary electrophoresis instrument with UV detection. The determination of phenylurea pesticides using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with electrochemical detection represents the first such determination that has been reported. In both detection systems, linear ranges were obtained for the seven phenylurea herbicides at concentrations lower than 2.0×10^–5 mol l^–1, in 0.020 mol l^–1 phosphoric acid at pH 7.0 and containing 0.020 mol l^–1 of sodium dodecylsulfate, in order to obtain selectivity in the additional separation by a micellar distribution process. Under these conditions a detection limit lower than 5.0×10^–6 mol l^–1 (0.25 pmol of pesticide) was achieved for most of them. The pesticides were resolved in less than 30 min.     

Solid-phase extraction of room-temperature imidazolium ionic liquids from aqueous environmental samples

Owing to their favorable properties, ionic liquids have recently gained recognition as possibly environmentally benign solvents. Now among the most promising industrial chemicals, they have already been labeled green, but this appellation seems due entirely to their very low vapor pressure. This growing interest in the various applications of ionic liquids will soon result in their presence in the environment. Therefore, reliable analytical tools for the environmental analysis of ionic liquids need to be developed urgently. This paper presents a newly developed analytical procedure for the enrichment of 1-alkyl- and 1-aryl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids from water samples. The method is based on cation exchange solid-phase extraction followed by selective elution. Pre-concentrated samples are subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an advanced methodology for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The overall procedure was verified by using standard spiked samples of tap water, seawater, and freshwater.     

A weak acid extraction method as a tool for the metal pollution assessment in surface sediments

A simple technique has been evaluated for the initial assessment of heavy metal pollution in coastal sediments, in order to overcome many difficulties involved in routine monitoring of such analytes.The leaching of sediment samples with a cold dilute HC1, which affects only the non-residual part of the metals, gives the anthropogenic fingerprints on the bottom deposits and provides more data on the extent of heavy metal pollution relatively to the total sediment analysis.The proposed technique has been applied in most Hellenic coastal regions, both polluted and unpolluted. Comparisons between the various regions with the use of an enrichment factor have been made, which establish the gross degree to which a sediment population has been subjected to heavy metal pollution from the overlying waters.     

Determination of poisonous metals in wastewater collected from paint manufacturing plant using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system was developed for determination of toxic metals in wastewater collected from local paint manufacturing plant. The plasma was generated by focusing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm on the solid residue from wastewater collected from paint industry. The concentration of different elements of environmental significance like, lead, copper, chromium, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, zinc, titanium, strontium, nickel, silicone, iron, aluminum, barium, sodium, potassium and zirconium, in paint wastewater were 6, 3, 4, 301, 72, 200, 20, 42, 4, 1, 35, 120, 133, 119, 173, 28 and 12 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The evaluation of potential and capabilities of LIBS as a rapid tool for paint industry effluent characterization is discussed in detail. Optimal experimental conditions were evaluated for improving the sensitivity of our LIBS system through parametric dependence study. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) results were compared with the results obtained using standard analytical technique such as inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). The relative accuracy of our LIBS system for various elements as compared with ICP method is in the range of 0.03-0.6 at 2.5% error confidence. Limits of detection (LOD) of our LIBS system were also estimated for the above mentioned elements.     

Removal of pollutants from indoor air using zeolite membranes

MFI-type zeolite membranes prepared by liquid phase hydrothermal synthesis on tubular commercial supports were used to remove model pollutants n-hexane, formaldehyde and benzene present at very low concentration levels (2–230 ppmv) in indoor air. The influence of several operating parameters was studied both in batch and continuous separation experiments. Depending on the operation conditions, permeation fluxes of the organic compound up to 3300, 130 and 30 mg/(m² h) and organic/air separation factors of 250, 6.3 and 38 were achieved for n-hexane, formaldehyde and benzene, respectively.     

Thermo-valorisation in integrated waste management

In 2002, approximately 25 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) were produced in Italy, but no more than 5.5 million were collected separately. Data analysis shows that despite the progress in differentiated waste collection and in the process of quality recovery, dumps are still the most common means of disposal.With reference to thermo-valorisation, although the number of active thermal plants and the amount of thermo-valorised waste has increased (by over 10% from 1999 to 2000), total processed waste appears to be excessively low compared to the amount of waste produced. Moreover, it is below the EU average.Our objective was to analyse three different scenarios for the quantity of thermally valorisable waste through to 2005.We have also evaluated the incineration of MSW taking into account the technological, environmental and economic factors in different plant types (with and without energy and heat recovery) considering emission quantity and quality with possible CO₂ recovery.The most economical and environmental solution might be the transformation of waste to synthetic gas for use as an energy and heat source in a conventional power plant in the future.From current information we understand that today thermo-destruction with energy recovery and a combined energy–heat cycle could be an option with great benefits for the environment, and could even be competitive compared to other solutions for replacing some energy sources.     

Operator related attenuation effects in radiometric surveys

Radiometric surveys using airborne, vehicular mounted or backpack detector systems are increasingly used to identify and evaluate complex distributions of radioactivity in the environment. The signals detected depend on the energy and spatial distribution of radioactive sources, the material properties of the environment and the specific properties of the detector systems employed. Materials in close vicinity to the detector such as housings, and intermediate materials may have a critical impact on detection efficiency, and must therefore be taken into account in calibration. This study evaluates the effect of shielding by the body of the operator in backpack surveys. Controlled experiments using point sources and absorbers, chosen to represent the form and composition of human tissue, were conducted, and coupled to an analytical radiation transport model to estimate attenuation factors for mapping of ¹³⁷Cs. In this way generic factors to correct for this effect using portable spectrometers have been determined. The results compare well with observations at sampled calibration sites in Fukushima and the Solway area in Scotland. Reductions of the ¹³⁷Cs full-energy peak intensity between 20% and 30% may be expected depending on operator stature and the offset position of backpack systems. Similar effects may be present for other radiometric systems carried by a human operator.