Production of slow muonic hydrogen isotopes in vacuum

Muonic hydrogen isotopes (μ⁻ p, μ⁻ d, and μ⁻t) are simple quantum mechanical systems ideally suited for studies of numerous fundamental phenomena in electroweak and strong interactions as well as in applied areas such as muon chemistry or muon catalyzed fusion. Emission of muonic hydrogen isotopes into vacuum helps to overcome the limitations which are normally imposed on conventional investigations with gaseous and liquid targets. A proof of principle experiment for this new technique was performed at TRIUMF last year. Negative muons with 30 MeV/c momentum were stopped in a thin film of solid hydrogen and produced very low energy μ⁻d in vacuum. The distribution center of the normal velocity components of emitted μ⁻d atoms was measured to be ∼1 cm/μs. The yield of μ⁻d in vacuum is an increasing function of H₂ film thickness δ up to a value of δ≥1 mm.     

The rate of reduction of selenium(VI) to selenium(IV) in hydrochloric acid

The reduction of selenium(VI) to selenium(IV) in 4, 5 and 6M hydrochloric acid was studied at temperatures between 50 and 95 degrees . The reaction rate was determined by measurement of the selenium(IV) formed, by continuous-flow hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry. The most notable feature of the reaction is the strong increase in rate with increasing hydrogen-ion concentration and temperature. The rate increases initially with chloride concentration at constant acidity (mixtures of hydrochloric and perchloric acid) but levels off to an almost constant value at high chloride concentrations.     

A modified standard addition method in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A modified standard addition method for single element determination by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has been studied. The attenuation properties of the standard added samples are kept constant by adding decreasing amounts of an attenuation modifier along with increasing amounts of a standard. In this way the standard addition curve will be a straight line in cases where the ordinary standard addition curve is non-linear, and linear regression can be used to evaluate the concentration of the analyte. Standard additions of oxides of a number of elements, with and without modifier, have been made to cellulose powder or a mixture of aluminium oxide and polyethylene as matrices in order to test the method. The method has been applied to the determination of zinc in fly-ash from a steel work and of iron in cement. The fly-ash contained about 5% of zinc and the cement samples between 2 and 5% of Fe(2)O(3). The results were compared with those obtained by ICP-AES after decomposition of samples in lithium tetraborate or lithium metaborate and dissolution of the melt in 10%(v/v) nitric acid. The results agreed within 2%, relative, for fly-ash and within 3-6%, relative, for cement samples.     

Determination of dissolved selenium(VI) in freshwater

A procedure is proposed for the determination of selenate in freshwaters with a high content of dissolved organic material. After passage through an XAD-8 column, selenate is collected on a strong anion exchanger and subsequently eluted with hydrochloric acid. Following conversion into the tetravalent state, selenium is determined using atomic absorption spectrometry after hydride generation and preconcentration in a cold trap system. The two-column procedure effectively separates selenium(VI) from possible organic interferents and allows quantification at the low ng/l. level. Results from the investigation of waters from lakes and streams indicate that selenium(IV) and (VI) may constitute a very small part of total dissolved selenium.     

Preparation and some properties of a polyethyleneimine-agarose metal adsorbent

An adsorbent for metal ions has been prepared by reacting high molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) with a crosslinked and activated agarose gel, Novarose. The synthesis variables, i.e. time, temperature, pH, PEI concentration and PEI/Novarose ratio, were optimized in order to obtain a high metal binding capacity of the adsorbent. The binding capacity for Cu(2+) is 500 micromol/ml packed adsorbent. A number of properties of the adsorbent relevant for metal ion accumulation has been investigated for Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Cd(2+) and Zn(2+). Adsorption capacities, adsorption isotherms, distribution coefficients, recoveries and relative rates of accumulation were determined. The adsorbent can be used for preconcentration and for separation of interfering alkali and alkaline earth metals in analytical applications.     

Preconcentration and separation of inorganic selenium on Dowex 1X8 prior to hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry

Exchange reactions between inorganic selenium species and chloride were studied on Dowex 1X8. The concentration exchange constants were determined with the batch technique at room temperature and used to predict the chromatographic enrichment and separation of tetra- and hexavalent selenium. A procedure for the determination of total selenium after digestion with permanganate and anion exchange preconcentration was also developed. The enrichment techniques were applied to the determination of Se(IV) and total dissolved selenium in drinking water and fresh water using flow injection hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). Results agreed with those obtained in a HG-AAS system where selenium was preconcentrated as hydrogen selenide in a trap at liquid nitrogen temperature.     

On the accuracy of acid-base determinations from potentiometric titrations using only a few points from the titration curve

There are several procedures which use only a few points on the titration curve for the calculation of equivalence volumes in acid-base titrations. The accuracy of such determinations will depend on the positions of the points on the titration curve. The effects of errors in the stability constants and in the pH measurements on the accuracy of the analysis have been considered, and the results are used to establish the conditions under which these errors are minimized.     

A complexometric method for the determination of small amounts of an alkaline-earth metal in mixture with other metals

A discussion of the conditions for the complexometric determination of the minor component in a mixture of two metal ions is presented. It is based on expressions of the Ringbom type for the titration error. These are derived by the use of logarithmic diagrams. The results have been used to devise an analytical procedure for the determination of the alkaline earth metals in the presence of a large excess of nickel or zinc.