Speciation of sulfur in individual aerosol particles from work places by wavelength-dispersive electron-probe microanalysis.

The oxidation state of sulfur has been determined by measuring the energy shift of the S K(alpha) line by wavelength-dispersive electron-probe microanalysis. On flat polished samples the energy shift between sulfate (S(+6)) and sulfide (S(-2)) was 1.3 eV, in good agreement with previous literature data. The observed energy shift of the S K(alpha) line is dominated by the change of the valence state of sulfur--the effects of co-ordination geometry and nearest neighbours are small. The relationship between the energy shift of the S K(alpha) line and the oxidation number of sulfur is linear, to a first approximation. The effect of particle geometry on the position of the S K(alpha) line is usually small and introduces an error of approximately half an oxidation number. The apparent sulfur valence states observed for individual aerosol particles from work places in a nickel refinery are highly variable and most probably result from different mixtures of the two end-members sulfide and sulfate.

Fluorine determination in human and animal bones by particle-induced gamma-ray emission.

Fluorine was determined in the iliac crest bones of patients and in ribs collected from post-mortem investigations by particle-induced gamma-ray emission based on the 19F(p,p'gamma)19F reaction, using 2.0/2.5 MeV protons. The results indicate that for 68% of the human samples the F concentration is in the range 500-1999 microg g(-1). For comparison purposes fluorine was also determined in some animal bones; in some animal tissues lateral profiles of fluorine were measured.

Topochemical investigation of ancient manuscripts.

Various modern instrumental techniques for surface analysis were applied for the non-destructive physicochemical examination of works of art. As samples, pieces of ancient manuscripts endangered by iron-gall ink corrosion were used. Surface characterisation of the morphology of the cellulose fibres within corroded and non-corroded parts of the manuscript performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed seriously damaged cellulose fibres in the written parts. The elemental composition of selected parts of the manuscript was determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDX). A more detailed study of the paper surface was then performed by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). This technique yields the morphological characteristics of the surface as well as element distribution maps over the written area of the investigated manuscript.

Investigation of contemporary gilded forgeries of ancient coins.

Four contemporary forgeries of ancient gold coins were investigated regarding techniques used for gilding, and the composition of the gold cover and the base metal core. The forged coins are a Daric of the Persian Empire, a Gold Stater in the name of Alexander, and two Solidi of the late Roman Empire. A combination of modern analytical methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), and SecondaryIon Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) was used. The results demonstrate that the coins represent the main three technologies of gilding used in antiquity. The core of the Daric is a silver Siglos, plated by leaf gilding. The Gold Stater was forged by foil gilding using a silver core. The Roman Solidi have a core of either silver or copper and were plated by fire gilding. On account of our results it is possible to compare the forgers' profits made by use of the different technologies of forging.

Quantification of corrosion phenomena in plastic processing machines.

In a model platelet system the corrosion of metallic materials was studied by processing polyethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, and glass-fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide. The measurement methods used were scanning electron microscopy (images), electron-probe microanalysis (lateral element maps), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (depth profiles), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (chemical bonding), and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (structures of crystalline compounds). As nondestructive measure of corrosive attack, grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, using the intensity ratio (IFe-O/IFe), was found to be the method of choice. The reproducibility for the total procedure was found to range between 6 and 13% (rel.). The intensity ratio was examined as function of depth, of the time of stress, of material composition, and of the surrounding atmosphere. Oxides were identified as main corrosion products. The extent of oxide formation is proportional to the time elapsed after processing.

Non-invasive identification of chemical compounds by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, combined with chemometric methods of data evaluation.

Chemicals from customers' returns have to be analyzed before they can be reused as raw materials in production. A procedure for non-invasive qualitative analysis of compounds in a closed container based on energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry is described. EDXRF was chosen as method for noninvasive analysis of chemicals through PE bottle walls without opening the bottle. This analysis aims for a quick proof of correspondence between the declaration of a reagent on the label of the bottle and its content. This analytical result cannot be achieved by a mere evaluation of characteristic element lines in EDXRF-spectra in combination with the method of matrix correction or the method of mean atomic number. These methods take into account only a small part of the total information available in an X-ray spectrum. It is shown here that valuable additional information is extractable from the spectral ranges of the Compton-scattering and Rayleigh-scattering areas by the use of methods of multivariate data analysis, especially by principle component analysis (PCA). Regularized discriminant analysis (RDA) was employed to establish a classification scheme for unknown samples.

Chemical composition of individual aerosol particles in workplace air during production of manganese alloys.

Aerosol particle samples were collected at ELKEM ASA ferromanganese (FeMn) and silicomanganese (SiMn) smelters at Porsgrunn, Norway, during different production steps: raw material mixing, welding of protective steel casings, tapping of FeMn and slag, crane operation moving the ladles with molten metal, operation of the Metal Oxygen Refinement (MOR) reactor and casting of SiMn. Aerosol fractions were assessed for the analysis of the bulk elemental composition as well as for individual particle analysis. The bulk elemental composition was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. For individual particle analysis, an electron microprobe was used in combination with wavelength-dispersive techniques. Most particles show a complex composition and cannot be attributed to a single phase. Therefore, the particles were divided into six groups according to their chemical composition: Group I, particles containing mainly metallic Fe and/or Mn; Group II, slag particles containing mainly Fe and/or Mn oxides; Group III, slag particles consisting predominantly of oxidized flux components such as Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Na and K; Group IV, particles consisting mainly of carbon; Group V, mixtures of particles from Groups II, III and IV; Group VI, mixtures of particles from Groups II and III. In raw material mixing, particles originating from the Mn ores were mostly found. In the welding of steel casings, most particles were assigned to Group II, Mn and Fe oxides. During the tapping of slag and metal, mostly slag particles from Group III were found (oxides of the flux components). During movement of the ladles, most particles came from Group II. At the MOR reactor, most of the particles belonged to the slag phase consisting of the flux components (Group III). The particles collected during the casting of SiMn were mainly attributed to the slag phase (Groups III and V). Due to the compositional complexity of the particles, toxicological investigations on the kinetics of pure compounds may not be easily associated with the results of this study.

Chemical composition of individual aerosol particles from working areas in a nickel refinery.

Individual aerosol particles (n = 1170) collected at work stations in a nickel refinery were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive electron-probe microanalysis. By placing arbitrary restrictions on the contents of sulfur and silicon, the particles could be divided into four main groups. Scanning electron images indicated that most of the particles examined were relatively small (< or = 2 microm, equivalent projected area diameter), and that their morphology suggested formation from a melt. There was an absence of well-defined phases and simple stoichiometries, indicating that exposures to pure substances such as nickel subsulfide or specific oxides appeared not to occur. Although the elemental composition of particles varied greatly, a rough association was evident with the known elemental content of the refinery intermediates. The implications of the findings for aerosol speciation measurements, toxicological studies and interpretation of adverse health effects are explored.

Oxygen determination in calcium fluoride by deuteron activation analysis.

Oxygen at trace level in calcium fluoride was determined by instrumental deuteron activation analysis based on the 16O(d,n)17F reaction. The irradiations were performed with 2.5 MeV deuterons for 60 s at currents ranging from 300 to 500 nA. The results obtained for powders and single crystals were compared.

Surface characterization of fluorinated polymers (PTFE, PVDF, PFA) for use in ultratrace analysis.

Surface characterization of new unused PTFE, PFA and PVDF labware has been carried out by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, profilometry and atomic force microscopy. It has been found that in spite of higher micro-roughness, PFA exhibits the lowest nano-roughness and hence seems best suited as vessel material for relatively mild pressureless chemical operations for sample preparation of ultrapure substances, as container material for storage of ultrapure liquids, and for transport of such liquids, e.g., from the producer in the chemical to the end user in the microelectronics industry. This suitability refers only to the surface quality of the investigated materials. PTFE-surfaces, due to the sintering process of production, exhibit the most unfavourable surface quality of the investigated fluorinated polymers.

Determination of traces of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in molybdenum and tungsten.

The determination of carbon and nitrogen in molybdenum and of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in tungsten, is described. The analytical techniques applied were charged-particle activation (carbon, nitrogen and oxygen), photon activation (carbon and oxygen), combustion (carbon) and vacuum-fusion extraction (nitrogen and oxygen). Chemical methods yielded upper limits in the 2-5 mug/g range. Activation analysis yielded 100 and 8 ng/g for carbon in molybdenum and tungsten respectively, 500 and 74 ng/g for nitrogen in molybdenum and tungsten respectively and 70 ng/g for oxygen in tungsten. The results obtained by charged-particle and photon activation agreed satisfactorily.

The determination of traces of O, N and C in the refractory metals Mo and W-an international effort.

The influence of traces of O, N and C on the physical and especially the mechanical properties of the refractory metals Mo and W is discussed. The technological and economic importance of determination of O, N and C in Mo and W is elucidated. The Commission of the European Communities launched a relevant multidisciplinary Community Programme as early as 1969. The present state, within this programme, of the determination of O, N and C in Mo and W is outlined. Additional studies by the refractory metals group of the chemistry section of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Metallhütten and Bergleute (GDMB) are also reported on. Oxygen. Two round-robin tests were conducted by the "non-metals in refractory metals" group of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) for the determination of oxygen in molybdenum. Reducing fusion, 14-MeV neutron-, photon- and charged-particle activation analysis yielded comparable results of about 15 ppm O. Homogeneity studies were conclusive and the reference material was certified and is available from BCR. Oxygen concentrations in tungsten turned out to be even lower, certainly below 5 ppm. Only activation analytical methods will be adequate to determine the true oxygen content and work in this direction is being undertaken. Nitrogen. Relevant BCR round-robin tests for traces of N in Mo and W were not conclusive. Discrepancies were also found in a first round-robin test by the GDMB. It was possible, however, to reveal systematic errors frequently encountered in the classical Kjeldahl method, which turned out not to be applicable to the determination of nitrogen below 1O ppm. Only a newly devised micro-Kjeldahl method is capable of determining nitrogen down to 1 ppm and results for Mo are in good agreement with those of fusion methods. Nitrogen contents in W are presumably in the 100 ppM range and only determinable by ultrahigh-vacuum diffusion extraction and activation methods. Carbon. Carbon contents in Mo and W are also often presumably in the range of 1-10 ppm and thus not determinable by classical combustion methods. Additionally, discrepancies occur between results of combustion in resistance-heated furnaces with temperatures up to 1300 degrees and in high-frequency induction furnaces with temperatures up to 2000 degrees . The GDMB-group is investigating this phenomenon.

A sensitive atomic-absorption spectrometric method for the determination of tin with atomization from impregnated graphite surfaces.

The atomization of Sn from graphite surfaces is potentially hindered by reactions with the surface. The impregnation of graphite tubes with other carbide-forming elements (W, Zr, Ta, Mo) favourably alters the surface characteristics of the graphite furnace for the atomization of Sn. At the acid concentrations needed to prevent the hydrolysis of Sn, these surfaces are considerably more stable (even after more than 100 atomization cycles) than those of pyrolytic graphite. Two graphite furnaces of different design, the HGA 72 and the HGA 76, were tested. With impregnated graphite tubes the determination of Sn is possible in the HGA 72 with a detection limit of approximately 15 pg. In the HGA 76 the tin determination is vastly improved with respect to prolonged lifetime of the furnaces and stable signals over much longer periods of time. Detailed interference studies reveal that the use of the "gas stop" mode minimizes the influence of many ions that are frequently either introduced by the decomposition reagents or present in the sample itself. The practical potential of this method is demonstrated for the determination of Sn in a slag material and in copper- and aluminium-based alloys.