Using chemometric methods for overlap correction of sodium–zinc spectral lines generated by wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence in mineral samples

Partial least squares, principal component regression and support vector machine multivariate methods were used for overlap correction of sodium–zinc (Na(Kα)–Zn(Lα)) spectral lines generated by means of wavelength dispersion X‐ray fluorescence (WDXRF) combined with standard‐less software (IQ+) technique for the analyses of mineral samples. This methodology uses one scan channel using PX1 analyzer crystal, 550‐µm collimator, flow detector (Ar + CH₄), and rhodium (Rh) tube for determination of Na and Zn in mineral compositions in minimum time. The calibration matrix was made up of 35 samples containing different amounts of Na₂O and ZnO. The considered concentration ranges were 0–5% for both Na₂O and ZnO. The values for 2θ angle were recorded between 25° and 29.9° at every 0.1°. Variable tube powers (kV ? mA) were used to investigate the effect of tube power on the analyses of elements. The validation of the multivariate methods was realized by analyzing soil samples. Atomic absorption and flame photometry methods were used as reference methods for analyzing Zn and Na in the soil samples, respectively. The results of using chemometric methods, WDXRF (standard‐less software) and reference method determined partial least squares and support vector machine models obtained more acceptable results for Na₂O in presence of ZnO than those of WDXRF (standard‐less software). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles–N‐heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II): a new,efficient and robust recyclable catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions

A new and efficient nanoparticle–N‐heterocyclic carbene–palladium complex was synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry. This catalytic system was found to be a highly active catalyst in the Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions. These reactions were best performed in dimethylformamide and water, respectively, in the presence of only 0.054 mol% of palladium under mild conditions. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered easily and reused at least ten times without any considerable loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling interfacial properties of binary and ternary liquid mixtures of tetrahydrofuran, 2-propanol and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane

The present modelling study has been dedicated to determining the interfacial properties of binary and ternary liquid mixtures made up of tetrahydrofuran, 2-propanol and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane. The variation of the temperature is from 288 to 308 K. By using both UNIFAC activity model and the fugacity model based on the cubic plus association (CPA) equation of state (EOS), a model based on the equality of chemical potentials in the liquid and the surface layer is utilised to describe the liquid–vapour interface of these liquid mixtures. The surface tension, composition and density are simultaneously predicted. The results of this model show that experimental surface tension data are in a good agreement with the predicted ones. The model using CPA EOS and molar volume has a better performance than the one uses the UNIFAC activity model.     

LMG model: Markovian evolution of classical and quantum correlations under decoherence

We have investigated the quantum phase transition in the ground state of collective Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model (LMG model) subjected to decoherence due to its interaction, represented by a quantum channel, with an environment. We discuss the behavior of quantum and classical pair wise correlations in the system, with the quantumness of correlations measured by quantum discord (QD), entanglement of formation (EOF), measurement-induced disturbance (MID) and the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt-Bell function (CHSH-Bell function). The time evolution established by system-environment interactions is assumed to be Markovian in nature and the quantum channels studied include the amplitude damping (AD), phase damping (PD), bit-flip (BF), phase-flip (PF), and bit-phase-flip (BPF) channels. One can identify appropriate quantities associated with the dynamics of quantum correlations signifying quantum phase transition in the model. Surprisingly, the CHSH-Bell function is found to detect all the phase transitions, even when quantum and classical correlations are zero for the relevant ground state.     

Multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares in the quantitative determination of sulfur using overlapped S(Kα)–Mo(Lα) emission peaks by wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry

Spectral line overlap is a serious problem in quantitative X‐ray fluorescence analysis. In this study multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) approach was used to resolve the effect of overlapping S(K_α)–Mo(L_α) emission lines generated by standard‐less software of a wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer (WDXRF) for the quantitative monitoring of sulfur in mineral samples. Scan channel set contained Ge crystal, 550‐µm collimator, flow detector (Ar + CH₃) and rhodium (Rh) tube. The 18 calibration and 10 validation samples contain 0.00%–10.98% sulfate (SO₃) and 0.00%–92.40% MoO₃. The digitized spectral data were extracted in the range between 109° and 113.9° (2θ) at every 0.1 degree. Lack of fit percentage (LOF%) for experimental data and the variance explained at the optimum condition () were 2.32 and 99.94, respectively. The values of the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) for analyzing of sulfur were 0.23. MCR‐ALS was also compared with partial least squares (PLS) method for determination of sulfur in the presence of molybdenum. To evaluate the resolution and quantification performance of MCR‐ALS procedure, the method was used to determine sulfur in presence of molybdenum in two synthetic soil samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The density and tube energy dependency of cobalt Kα/Kβ in x‐ray fluorescence spectrometryfor thick target measurements

The relative intensity of K_α/K_β for cobalt in thick targets with cobalt mass densities from 0.51 to 22.49% has been measured by the wavelength dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer. The measuring conditions are: tube current ranging from 10 to 60 mA and voltages ranging from 20 to 60 kV. We plotted the K_α/K_β ratio vs Co densities for different tube voltages and currents. Our study shows that the K_α/K_β ratio is below the theoretical value for low Co densities and it increases with increasing Co density. For higher x‐ray energies, the K_α/K_β ratio shows a sharp growth at the special density and then reaches a nearly constant value. However, K_α/K_β ratio is theoretically constant and independent of energy in thin target measurements. The changes of this ratio according to the x‐ray energy and the element density have been studied in thick target measurements. The results provide experimental evidence to suggest that exciting energy and element density can indeed affect the K_α/K_β ratio. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemistry and Reactivity of Chelation-stabilized Hypervalent Bromine(III) Compounds

Hypervalent bromine(III) reagents possess a higher electrophilicity and a stronger oxidizing power compared to their iodine(III) counterparts. Despite the superior reactivity, bromine(III) reagents have a reputation of hard-to-control and difficult-to-synthesize compounds. This is partly due to their low stability, and partly because their synthesis typically relies on the use of the toxic and highly reactive BrF₃ as a precursor. Recently, we proposed chelation-stabilized hypervalent bromine(III) compounds as a possible solution to both problems. First, they can be conveniently prepared by electro-oxidation of the corresponding bromoarenes. Second, the chelation endows bromine(III) species with increased stability while retaining sufficient reactivity, comparable to that of iodine(III) counterparts. Finally, their intrinsic reactivity can be unlocked in the presence of acids. Herein, an in-depth mechanistic study of both the electrochemical generation and the reactivity of the bromine(III) compounds is disclosed, with implications for known applications and future developments in the field.     

Preparation and characterization of copper/polysulfonamide complex immobilized on geraphene oxide as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles

Copper–polysulfonamide complex immobilized on geraphene oxide as a novel heterogeneous catalyst (GO@PSA-Cu) was synthesized and the structure and morphology of catalyst were characterized with various analytical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, N₂ isotherms, elemental mapping, inductively coupled plasma–MS, and thermogravimetric analysis. The GO@PSA-Cu catalyst demonstrated good to excellent yields for the synthesis new derivatives of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles via one-pot three-component condensation reaction of various aromatic aldehydes, 2-aminobenzimidazole, and ethyl acetoacetate in ethanol. The method presented herein has several prominent advantages such as cost-effectiveness, operational simplicity, short reaction times, high yields, and reusability of the catalyst even after six consecutive runs.     

Nicotine functionalized‐silica palladium (II) complex: a highly efficient,environmentally benign and recyclable nanocatalyst for C‐C bond forming reactions under mild conditions

An environmentally friendly silica‐grafted nicotine‐based palladium(II) complex was successfully prepared and evaluated for the first time as novel and efficient nanocatalyst in C‐C bond forming reactions. Grafted‐nicotine in this catalytic system plays an important role, and as an effective ligand and a quaternary ammonium salt demonstrates an efficient stabilizing effect on the Pd(II) species by a synergistic effect of coordination and electrostatic interactions. The catalyst was well characterized by FT‐IR, CHN, XRD, TEM, SEM–EDX, ICP and TG analysis, and demonstrated a highly efficient catalytic activity in the reaction system under phosphine‐free and low Pd loading conditions, and the coupled products were produced in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the catalyst can be easily recovered and reused without a significant loss of activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.