The IINS, IR and DFT studies of hydrogen bonds in 6-Furfuryl and 6-Benzylaminopurines

FTIR and IINS spectra of 6-Furfurylaminopurine (6-FAP) and 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) taken at different temperatures have been analysed and compared with the spectra calculated by the ab initio DFT/B3LYP method and the semiempirical PM3 method in the isolated molecule approximation, for the tautomers N3-H, N7-H and N9-H, and dimers with hydrogen bonds. For 6-FAP the best agreement between the calculated and experimental (at 20 K) spectra has been found for the N9-H tautomer, whose structure was established by X-ray diffraction. For 6-BAP the analogous agreement for the N9-H tautomer structure has been poor and much better for the N7-H tautomer. The vibrational spectra calculated for dimers of the molecules studied involved in hydrogen bonds, permitted also an interpretation of the bands whose positions and FWHM in the FTIR spectra changed with temperature.     

Hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of As, Bi, Sb, Se(IV) and Te(IV) in aqua regia extracts from atmospheric particulate matter using multivariate optimization

A highly sensitive and simple method, based on hydride generation and atomic fluorescence detection, has been developed for the determination of As, Bi, Sb, Se(IV) and Te(IV) in aqua regia extracts from atmospheric particulate matter samples. Atmospheric particulates matter was collected on glass fiber filters using a medium volume sampler (PM1 particulate matter). Two-level factorial designs have been used to optimise the hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) procedure. The effects of several parameters affecting the hydride generation efficiency (hydrochloric acid, sodium tetrahydroborate and potassium iodide concentrations and flow rates) have been evaluated using a Plackett-Burman experimental design. In addition, parameters affecting the hydride measurement (delay, analysis and memory times) have been also investigated. The significant parameters obtained (sodium tetrahydroborate concentration, sodium tetrahydroborate flow rate and analysis time for As; hydrochloric acid concentration and sodium tetrahydroborate flow rate for Se(IV); and sodium tetrahydroborate concentration and sodium tetrahydroborate flow rate for Te(IV)) have been optimized by using 2ⁿ + star central composite design. Hydrochloric acid concentration and sodium tetrahydroborate flow rate were the significant parameters obtained for Sb and Bi determination, respectively. Using a univariate approach these parameters were optimized. The accuracy of methods have been verified by using several certified reference materials: SRM 1648 (urban particulate matter) and SRM 1649a (urban dust). Detection limits in the range of 6 × 10⁻³ to 0.2 ng m⁻³ have been achieved. The developed methods were applied to several atmospheric particulate matter samples corresponding to A Coruña city (NW Spain).     

Small angle neutron scattering studies on nonaqueous dispersions of calcium carbonate Part 2. Determination of the form factor for concentric spheres

Colloidal dispersions of calcium carbonate, stabilised primarily by a surface active agent, in both toluene and dodecane have been examined by small angle neutron scattering. A model has been developed to simulate the scattering behaviour of the particles and is based on the idea of a concentric sphere with a homogeneous layer of adsorbed material surrounding a core particle. Computations based on the model show a wide variation of scattering behaviour with variation of the coherent scattering length of the dispersion medium. These predictions were confirmed by experiment. A method is described for analysis of the experimental data which leads to a determination of the thickness of the adsorbed layer, the radius of the core particle and the standard deviation of core particle radius.     

Beer Digestions for Metal Determination by Atomic Spectrometry and Residual Organic Matter

Many standard and official sample digestion procedures for trace metal determination are carried out in open vessels on hot plates. A new procedure for the determination of trace metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectrometry in beer samples was developed to be performed in closed reactors assisted by microwaves. The results are compared with the ones obtained by other procedures by means of the analysis of the variance. The differences between the procedures are attributed to residual organic matter. Voltammetry, absorption molecular spectrophotometry and high pressure liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector are used to study the nature of these residues. Nitrobenzoic acids, phenolic acids and other organic compounds are often present after digestion. The results obtained are related to the precision in metal determination by atomic spectrometry. The need for elaboration of certified reference materials for trace metals in beer is suggested.     

New NIST sediment SRM for inorganic analysis

NIST maintains a portfolio of more than 1300 standard reference materials (SRM), more than a third of these relating to measurements in the biological and environmental fields. As part of the continuous renewal and replacement efforts, a set of new marine sediments has been recently developed covering organic and inorganic determinations. This paper describes the steps taken in sample preparation, homogeneity assay, and analytical characterization and certification with specific emphasis on SRM 2702 inorganics in marine sediment. Neutron activation analysis showed the SRM to be highly homogeneous, opening the possibility for use with solid sampling techniques. The certificate provides certified mass fraction values for 25 elements, reference values for eight elements, and information values for 11 elements, covering most of the priority pollutants with small uncertainties of only several percent relative. The values were obtained by combining results from different laboratories and techniques using a Bayesian statistical model. An intercomparison carried out in field laboratories with the material before certification illustrates a high commutability of this SRM.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at     

K3MnH5, das erste salzartige Manganhydrid

K₃MnH₅, the First Salt-like Manganese Hydride K₃MnH₅ and K₃MnD₅ were synthesized by the reaction of potassium hydride (deuteride) with manganese powder under a hydrogen pressure above 3000 bar at 875 K. X-ray investigations on powdered samples and elastic neutron diffraction experiments on the deuterated compound at the time-of-flight spectrometer LAD in the temperature range 5–600 K led to the complete structure determination. The atomic arrangement is isotypic with that of Cs₃[CoCl₄]Cl (space group: 14/mcm, Z = 4). The structure of K₃MnH₅ contains isolated [MnH₄]^2?-tetrahedra and additional hydrogen ions which are exclusively coordinated by potassium cations. The magnetic susceptibilities show Curie-Weiss behaviour. At temperatures below 50 K there are obviously antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Some Comments on the Matter Wave-light Wave Hypothesis

From the de Broglie matter wave hypothesis and Planck’s energy quantization law, and assuming conservation of energy in the absorption of a photon and its consequent conversion to kinetic energy of motion by a material particle initially at rest, one can deduce a simple mathematical relationship between the wavelength λ (or frequency ν), of the photon absorbed by the particle at rest, and the resulting de Broglie matter wave length, λ_D, of the particle with kinetic energy of motion of mv²/2. The relationship so deduced, λ_D∝√λ, suggests that visible wavelengths of light, from about 4000 ?, in the violet, to beyond about 7000 ?, in the red, on absorption by an electron at rest, lead to material electron wavelengths, λ_D, of the order of the size of the electron transfer proteins seen in the photosynthetic reaction centers of photosynthesizing organisms, at about a size of 50–100 ?. In addition to understanding the mechanism of photosynthesis as a material wave mediated phenomenon, further areas of importance of the relations pointed out in this paper are in the design of experiments to gain a deeper understanding of the basic tenets of wave mechanics, and in the use of tunable lasers to probe various properties of material waves, and to precisely control their properties for applications including lithography.     

Dispersion of silica nano-particles in sol-gel hybrid resins for fabrication of multi-scale hybrid nanocomposite

Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites containing both ∼15 nm silica colloids and ∼2 nm oligosiloxanes in a methacryl polymer matrix were newly designed and fabricated. Colloidal silica sols were dispersed in methacryl oligosiloxanes nano-hybrid resins synthesized by sol-gel reaction of methacryloxypropylmethoxysilane and diphenylsilanediol. On the basis of TEM and SANS analyses, it was confirmed that the silica colloids were compatibly dispersed and different sizes of colloidal silica and oligosiloxanes co-exist in the solutions. Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites fabricated by UV and thermal curing with incorporation of silica colloids in the nano-hybrid materials show enhanced mechanical and thermal characteristics.     

Synthese und Struktur von Li3RhH6, einem ternären Hydrid mit isolierten [RhH6]3−-Oktaedern

Synthesis and Structure of Li₃RhH₆ — a Ternary Hydride with Isolated [RhH₆]^3? Octahedra The ternary rhodium hydride Li₃RhH₆ was synthesized by the reaction of lithium hydride with rhodium under a hydrogen pressure of 80 bar. X-ray investigations on powdered samples and an elastic neutron diffraction experiment on the deuterated compound led to the complete structure determination (space group: Pnma, Z = 4). The atomic arrangement is isotypic to the Na₃RhH₆ structure type. The crystal structure contains isolated [RhH₆]^3? octahedra, which are separated by the lithium ions.     

The application of the OTA of kerogen to the evaluation of the rockmass heating

Oxyreactive thermal analysis (OTA) carried out in the conditions of full access of oxygen to each reacting particle of the sample investigated is a suitable method for the determination of important properties of the organic matter dispersed in the rocks. Its results may be easily evaluated to the form of values to be used in a clear diversification and classification system of organic matter/kerogen, as well as to the evaluation of its transformation process in a rockmass. The OTA also enables the distinguishing of the transformation stages and the investigation of the results of the gaseous products liberation from organic matter and kerogen. The OTA method may be applied as a complementary one for the Rock Eval analysis and be used for the organic geochemical and bituminological studies for geological bitumen prospecting.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.