Structural manipulation of pyrochlores: Thermal evolution of metastable Gd2(Ti1−yZry)2O7 powders prepared by mechanical milling

The structural and microstructural characteristics of metastable Gd₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇ powders prepared by mechanical milling have been studied by a combination of XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Irrespective of their Zr content, as-prepared powder phases present an anion-deficient fluorite-type of structure as opposed to the pyrochlore equilibrium configuration obtained for the same solid solution by other synthetic routes. These fluorites are stable versus thermal activation, at least up to temperatures of 800 °C. For the Ti-rich compositions, thermal treatments at higher temperatures facilitate the rearrangement of the cation and anion substructures and the relaxation of mechanochemically induced defects whereas for compositions with high Zr content, the fluorite crystal structure is retained even at temperatures as high as 1200 °C. Interestingly enough, transient pyrochlores showing a very unusual cation distribution were observed during the thermally induced defect-recovery process.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of palladium and gold by the sulphide podand 1,12-di-2-thienyl-2,5,8,11-tetrathiadodecane

The extraction properties of the sulphide podand 1,12-di-2-thienyl-2,5,8,11-tetrathiadodecane (TTD), an open-chain neutral polythioether with six sulphur donor atoms in 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and MIBK for Pd and Au in hydrochloric, nitric and perchloric acid media have been examined. The kinetic aspects of the extraction of palladium(II) from hydrochloric acid by TTD and dioctyl sulphide (DOS) were compared. The rate of Pd extraction with TTD is considerably higher than that with DOS, especially with chloroform. Combined use of a reducing agent and TTD enhances the extraction of gold(III) into 1,2-dichloroethane.     

Discretization of the thermal excitation in highly excited matter

In this paper the thermal energy diffusion for quantum particles is described. The quantum heat transport equation is obtained. It is shown that, for a short-time thermal excitation (of the order of the relaxation time), the excited matter response is quantized on the different levels (atomic, nuclear, quark) with quantum thermal energy equalE ^atomic 9 eV,E ^nuclear 7 MeV, andE ^quark 139 MeV.     

Solvated electron in liquid methanol. An example of a statistical species in chemistry

The methods of analysis of the statistical ensembles of trapping sites, before and after electron localization, for electrons in disordered media are surveyed. The review covers the computer-search methods for pre-existing traps in polar matrices, random field theory of disordered polar matrices and the path integral simulations of solvated electron. The common picture provided by all these methods is emphasized: the solvated electron is a unique in chemistry statistical species characterized by statistical distributions of the structural parameters, energy states, reactivity, etc. The numerical examples are provided by the simulations of the trapping sites and the solvated electron in liquid methanol.     

Tetrabutylammonium bromide/thenoyltri-fluoroacetone/mibk extraction for aas determination of cobalt, nickel, and manganese in copper ores and concentrates

An extraction-AAS method of determination of Co, Ni, and Mn in metallurgical copper materials containing considerable amounts ofCu, Fe, Pb, Zn, and Al has been developed. Good selectivity of group separation of Co, Ni, and Mn has been achieved by (a) the use of tetrabutylammonium bromide to improve extractability of HTTA complexes by ion-pair formation, and (b) the masking of major elements with sodium thiosulphate and sulphosalicylic acid. The extracts are stable for at least 3 weeks.     

Note on vertex degrees of planar graphs

In this note the second moment of the vertex degree sequence of planar graphs is considered. We prove that

• 1 If G is an outerplanar graph of order n ? 3 then

• 2 If G is a planar graph of order n ? 4 then

where d₁,…,d_n is the vertex degree sequence of G. We exhibit all graphs for which these upper bounds are attained.     

Comparison of sulphur and sulphur–oxygen ligands as ionophores for liquid–liquid extraction and facilitated transport of silver and palladium

The reactivity of new ligands described as S₁, S₅, S₂O₉ (in respect to character and amount of donors) towards metal ions was examined by extraction from HNO₃ and HCl media. These ligands were next utilised as carriers for Ag and Pd transport through a supported liquid membrane (SLM). The effect of collecting a greater number of S donors in one molecule and the influence of type of donors (O–S versus S) on efficiency and selectivity of Ag and Pd(II) extraction and transport were examined.

The extraction of Ag from HNO₃ solutions increased with increasing amount of S-donors in one molecule (S₁2O₉5). For palladium the sequence was different (S₅12O₉). The transport of Ag through SLM impregnated with m-chlorotoluene solution of ionophore increased in the same order as in the case of extraction, whereas for Pd the row was different: S₅2O₉1. The highest fluxes of Ag and Pd transported from HNO₃ equalled to 5.25×10⁻⁷ and 1.37×10⁻⁷ mol/m² s, respectively. Palladium flux depended on stripping solution type (Na₂S₂O₃相似文献   

2‐Methoxynaphthylnaphthoquinone and its solvate: synthesis and structure–properties relationship

Because of their unique visual optic and electronic properties, substituted quinones are commonly used as dyes and pigments; nevertheless, a theoretic background of relationship between the structures and optical properties of such compounds seems to be still undeveloped. Two crystalline forms of 2‐methoxynaphth‐1‐yl‐naphthoquinone (MNQ) have been synthesized and characterized by means X‐ray, NMR, UV–VIS, as well as, MS spectroscopy. The interpretation of intriguing optical properties of two crystalline forms of MNQ, based on detailed spectral and structural characterization, as well as, DFT and MP2 computations clearly connects the conformation of the molecules with their optical and electronic properties. Thus, flatter conformation, stabilized by crystal net force, favours the intense electron density transition from auxochrome to chromophore moiety (which corresponds excitation from HOMO to LUMO), as well as, favours the π‐stacking interaction, that eventually results in colour enhancement. At the same time, small molecules of solvents included into the crystal net allow molecules of arylnaphthoquinones to adopt less rigid conformation what has a dramatic optical outcome. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radon in well waters in the Kraków area

The method and the results of radon concentration measurements in water samples are presented. Since May 2000, measurements of radon concentration in well waters in the Kraków area have been carried out--both in urban wells (depth above 50 meters) and in other private wells (depth of several meters). The ionisation chamber AlphaGUARD PQ 2000PRO along with the additional special equipment AquaKIT were used for determination of radon concentration in water samples. A total of 45 wells were examined for radon concentration in water--19 urban wells, 21 private ones (from Nowa Huta, Ojcowska, Wola Justowska area--parts of Kraków) and 5 mineral water sources. Wola Justowska is a region where tectonics faults occur and radon can easily migrate from deep basement structure. All the obtained values of radon concentration are below 12 Bq/l. These preliminary results do not show a direct correlation between geological structure and radon concentration in water samples. However, further investigation is needed and is planned to be undertaken.