Effect of selenium oxidation state on cadmium translocation in chamomile plants

Syntheses and spectral characteristics of cadmium(II) compounds (CdSeO₄, CdSeO₃, and Cd(NCSe)₂(nia)₂) containing selenium in oxidation states (VI), (IV), and (-II) are described. In Cd(NCSe)₂(nia)₂, nicotinamide (nia) and selenocyanate anions are bonded to Cd atom as N-donor monodentate ligands. Nicotinamide is coordinated through the ring nitrogen atom. The effects of these selenium compounds as well as Cd(NCS)₂(nia)₂ on the growth and Cd accumulation in roots and shoots of hydroponically cultivated chamomile plants (cultivar Lutea) were studied. In the applied concentration range (12–60 μmol dm⁻³) Cd(NCS)₂(nia)₂ affected neither the length nor the dry mass of roots and shoots. Other compounds applied at 24 μmol dm⁻³ and 60 μmol dm⁻³ significantly reduced dry mass of roots and shoots. Selenium oxidation state in the cadmium compounds affected Cd accumulation in plant organs as well as Cd translocation within the plants, which was reflected in the values of bioaccumulation (BAF) and translocation factors (S/R). Cd amount accumulated by shoots was lower than that in the roots. The highest BAF values determined for Cd accumulation in shoots were obtained with CdSeO₄. Substitution of S with Se in the Cd(NCX)₂(nia)₂ (X = Se or S) caused an increase of Cd translocation into the shoots. Presented at the XVIIIth Slovak Spectroscopic Conference, Spišská Nová Ves, 15–18 October 2006.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic property of a new nickel selenite chloride: Ni5(SeO3)4Cl2

The new nickel selenite chloride, Ni₅(SeO₃)₄Cl₂, was obtained by high-temperature solid state reaction of NiCl₂, Ni₂O₃ and SeO₂ in a 1:2:4 molar ratio at 700 °C in an evacuated quartz tube. Its structure was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ni₅(SeO₃)₄Cl₂ crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1 (No. 2) with cell parameters of a=8.076(2), b=9.288(2), c=9.376(2) Å, α=101.97(3), β=105.60(3), γ=91.83(3)° and Z=2. All nickel(II) ions in Ni₅(SeO₃)₄Cl₂ are octahedrally coordinated by selenite oxygens or/and chloride anions (([Ni(1)O₅Cl], [Ni(2)O₄Cl₂], [Ni(3)O₅Cl], [Ni(4)O₆] and [Ni(5)O₄Cl]). The structure of the title compound features a condensed three-dimensional (3D) network built by Ni(II) ions interconnected by SeO₃²⁻ anions as well as Cl⁻ anions. Magnetic property measurements show strong antiferromagnetic interaction between nickel(II) ions.     

Electron Transport Properties of Ions in Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Selenite

Ion diffusion kinetics has been studied using the data of conductivity measurements for aqueous solutions of sodium selenite with different concentrations and at different temperatures. Molecular and ionic self-diffusion coefficients have been determined for infinitely dilute solutions in the temperature range 288 K-313 K. The limiting values of ion mobility and changes in the energies of translation of water molecules from ions’ hydration shell have been found. At elevated temperatures, ΔE _tr ⁰ increases for both ions in direct proportion to the crystallographic radius of the latter. Ion hydration numbers at 298 K have been calculated. The results of this study are interpreted in the light of Samoilov’s theory on positive and negative hydration of ions.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by L. T. Vlaev and S. D. Genieva__________Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 870–876, September–October, 2004.     

不同调节剂制备MOF-Fe的性质及对Se（Ⅳ）的吸附性能

以HF、HCl、H₂O和NaAc溶液为调节剂合成了4种MOF-Fe样品,用X射线衍射（XRD）、透射电镜（TEM）、N₂等温吸附-脱附、综合热分析（TG/DTG和DTA）和质子电位滴定研究了4种样品的结构与表面性质,以及对亚硒酸根（Se（Ⅳ））等温吸附特性。MOF-Fe（HF）、MOF-Fe（HCl）、MOF-Fe（H₂O）和MOF-Fe（NaAc）四种样品均具有八面体MIL-100（Fe）的晶体结构,但它们的结晶度和晶面取向略有差异。4种样品的比表面积分别为1 683、1 517、1 641和1 734 m²·g^-1,其总孔体积依次降低,微孔孔径分别为1.27、1.22、1.22和1.17 nm。MOF-Fe（HF）样品的脱羧基失重峰温度最高（415℃）,苯环碳化失重峰温度最低（462℃）;MOF-Fe（HCl）、MOF-Fe（H₂O）和MOF-Fe（NaAc）样品出现了因氧化铁被碳还原所致的失重平台（566~716℃）。样品悬浮液从pH=6.0降到3.0时,消耗H⁺的量表现为MOF-Fe（H₂O） > MOF-Fe（HCl） > MOF-Fe（HF）=MOF-Fe（NaAc）,它们的电荷零点（pH_ZPC）依次为3.1、3.5、3.6和3.5。MOF-Fe（NaAc）、MOF-Fe（HCl）、MOF-Fe（H₂O）和MOF-Fe（HF）对Se（Ⅳ）的吸附亲和力依次减小,它们对Se（Ⅳ）的吸附容量（Q_m）分别为77.69、107.07、117.40和87.15 mg·g^-1。显著性分析显示,MOF-Fe的羟基密度与样品吸附Se（Ⅳ）的Q_m显著正相关。研究结果表明,MOF-Fe样品的结构热稳定性和羟基/配位水分子等活性位点密度受合成样品时加入的调节剂影响,用HF作为调节剂合成MOF-Fe样品有利于提高样品中羧基与苯环之间的C-C键合强度和热分解产物的稳定性,降低苯环碳化温度;HCl和H₂O作为调节剂有利于提高样品的活性位点密度,可提高MOF-Fe样品对Se（Ⅳ）吸附容量。     

The Influence of Dopant Concentration on Optical-Electrical Features of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell

In this study, TiO₂/CdS/Cd_xCu_1−xSe, TiO₂/CdS/Cd_xMn_1−xSe, and TiO₂/CdS/Cd_xAg_2−2xSe thin films were synthesized by chemical bath deposition for the fabrication of photoanode in quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells. As a result, the structural properties of the thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction, which confirmed the zinc Blende structure in the samples. The optical films were researched by their experimental absorption spectra with different doping concentrations. Those results were combined with the Tauc correlation to estimate the absorption density, the band gap energy, valence band and conduction band positions, steepness parameter, and electron–phonon interaction. Furthermore, the electrical features, electrochemical impedance spectrum and photocurrent density curves were carried out. The result was used to explain the enhancing performance efficiency.     

Selenium speciation in soil extracts using LC-ICP-MS

Selenium (Se) speciation in soil affects its bioavailability to crops. An analytical procedure for the determination of inorganic Se species (selenite and selenate) in soil extracts by anion-exchange liquid chromatography (LC) with ICP-MS detection has been developed, with 10-fold higher sensitivity than existing HGAAS-based soil Se measurements. A comparison of phosphate extraction solutions on agricultural soils amended with 20?µg?kg^–1 selenate or selenite was carried out, and a 0.016?M?KH₂PO₄ extraction solution is recommended. Recovery of selenate was >91%; however, selenite recovery ranged between 18.5% and 46.1%, due to rapid binding to the soil. Soil preparation did not have a significant (p?>?0.05) effect on the extractability of the selenate or selenite amendments. The stability of Se species in the phosphate extracts was variable, depending on temperature and storage time. Therefore, immediate (<1?h) analysis of the soil extracts is preferable. The method developed was applied to the determination of extractable Se from six arable soils in the UK. Extractable Se levels in these soils ranged between 6 and 13?µg?kg^–1 consisting of selenite and some soluble organic Se.     

Direct alpha spectrometry for characterising hot particle properties

Non-destructive analysis methods, especially direct alpha spectrometry but also gamma ray spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy were applied to a nuclear bomb particle from the Thule accident. The use of high-resolution direct alpha spectrometry with the aid of Monte Carlo simulations was demonstrated here in order to determine the properties of this particle. In general, the information that can be obtained through direct alpha spectrometry depends on the information available a priori. For example, known elemental composition makes the assessment of particle dimensions possible even if scanning electron microscopy images are unavailable. Although direct alpha spectrometry may be applied for particle characterisation, further developments in spectrum analysis tools are necessary.     

Rapid isolation of plutonium in environmental solid samples using sequential injection anion exchange chromatography followed by detection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This paper reports an automated analytical method for rapid determination of plutonium isotopes (²³⁹Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu) in environmental solid extracts. Anion exchange chromatographic columns were incorporated in a sequential injection (SI) system to undertake the automated separation of plutonium from matrix and interfering elements. The analytical results most distinctly demonstrated that the crosslinkage of the anion exchanger is a key parameter controlling the separation efficiency. AG 1-×4 type resin was selected as the most suitable sorbent material for analyte separation. Investigation of column size effect upon the separation efficiency revealed that small-sized (2 mL) columns sufficed to handle up to 50 g of environmental soil samples. Under the optimum conditions, chemical yields of plutonium exceeded 90% and the decontamination factors for uranium, thorium and lead ranged from 10³ to 10⁴. The determination of plutonium isotopes in three standard/certified reference materials (IAEA-375 soil, IAEA-135 sediment and NIST-4359 seaweed) and two reference samples (Irish Sea sediment and Danish soil) revealed a good agreement with reference/certified values. The SI column-separation method is straightforward and less labor intensive as compared with batch-wise anion exchange chromatographic procedures. Besides, the automated method features low consumption of ion-exchanger and reagents for column washing and elution, with the consequent decrease in the generation of acidic waste, thus bearing green chemical credentials.     

Uranium and Plutonium Extraction by N,N-dialkylamides Using Multistage Mixer-settler Extractors

N,N-Dialkylamides (monoamides) are known as extractants for U and Pu, and many studies have been carried out mainly by single-stage batch method. We have focused on two monoamides: N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)-2,2-dimethylpropanamide (DEHDMPA) and N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)butanamide (DEHBA), and proposed a multistage extraction process for recovering U and Pu by these monoamides. A continuous counter-current experiment was carried out to demonstrate the validity of this process. This process consisted of two cycles, and the 1st cycle and the 2nd cycle employed DEHDMPA and DEHBA as extractants, respectively. The feed solution for the 1st cycle was 5.1 mol/dm³ (M) nitric acid containing 0.92 M U, 1.6 mM Pu, and 0.6 mM Np. The raffinate collected in the 1st cycle was used as the feed for the 2nd cycle. The ratios of U recovered in the U fraction and U-Pu fraction were 99.1% and 0.8%, respectively, and the ratios of U in the used solvents were <0.04%. The ratio of Pu recovered in the U-Pu fraction was 99.7%, and the ratio of Pu in the used solvents was in the order of 10^–3–10^–4%. The concentration ratio of U with respect to Pu in the U-Pu fraction was 9, and this indicated that Pu was not isolated. The decontamination factor of U with respect to Pu in the U fraction was obtained as 4.5×10⁵. These results supported the validity of the proposed process.